Showing posts with label World. Show all posts
Showing posts with label World. Show all posts

Amazing World Of Museums in London

Finally in London, if you are at this majestic place that offers undisputed scenic beauty, hold your breath because London has so much more to offer. What better way to learn about a city's culture than a visit to its varied heritage of museums.

What museums in London should you visit?

If you are wondering what all and where all, here is a list of museums in London that will leave you spellbound with its undisputed approach to the traditions and culture of London.

• British Museum: With a vast variety of collection only a limited part is exposed to public display. It is the world's oldest museum and is famous for mummies like Rosetta Stone, Lindow Man, the Lewis Chessmen and the Sutton Hoo Ship Burial.

• V&A: It is the home to the finest decorative arts in terms of ceramic and portrait. It is also a place where the wide variety of sculpture and photography is displayed. Highlights from the British galleries (1500-1900) are arranged systematically so that the history of occupants of the throne from Henry VIII to Queen Victoria is understood.

• Natural History Museum: Another museum in London that comprises of 70 million flora and fauna, rocks, and minerals. It displays a wide range of animal life and its attributes starting from reptiles, herbivorous and carnivorous animals.

•  Science Museum: It is perfectly laid out on 7 floors. It includes the Apollo 10 command module and another piece of attraction is its flight simulator. It shows the development in fields like science, technology, and medicines.

•  National Gallery: It was founded in 1824, at that time it was home to only 36 paintings. The latest count is 2000 paintings that are masterpieces from the European school of art. It as a modern Sainsbury Wing extension that features the gallery's earliest works that include Italian paintings by Giotto and Piero Della Francesca.

• Tate Modern: One of the most beautiful museums in London. It has a beautiful architecture design from outside and inside it displays a mesmerising view of original cavernous turbines. The collection of this museum ranges from Matisse, Rothko, Bacon, Twombly and Beuys.

• National Maritime Museum: Located near the Queen's House and the Royal Observatory this museum was founded in 1675 by Charles II. It displays the importance of London's maritime heritage along with its impact on world trade.

• Design Museum: it was opened in 1989 after the incarnation of Boilerhouse established in the V&A by Terence Conran), this museum was made by Tower Bridge and it displays modern and contemporary faces of industrial culture. It is also home to many fashion designs, up toned graphics, architecture and many multimedia layouts.

• London Transport Museum: The most prominent feature of the museum in London is the display of its first underground train that had windows. It caused a lot of confusion as the passengers were not aware of the stop.

A visit to London must be completed by tasting scrumptious food on the street and collecting souvenirs for your loved ones. London has a lot to offer, be prepared to take the best.



 By Naila Khan


Article Source: Amazing World Of Museums in London
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Cowboys Kick Dirt

My oldest son is a soldier. He arrived in this life, the day before my 34th birthday, kicking and screaming like a banchee, and to be honest, he hasn't stopped. He'll take a good battle over the easy road any day of the week, but he gets things done.

As a toddler, his big plan for life was to grow up and be a cowboy. He loved to walk around in his Daddy's boots, and even though Daddy complained about it, Sean did it anyway. I remember telling him once that those were big boots to fill, and he said, "My feet are going to be bigger."

At the time, I laughed it off, didn't think much about it, and I spent a good amount of time helping him find ways to learn, grow, and become the independent young man that he is today.

He learned that choices have consequences.

When he was about seven we dug a pond in our front yard, and after it had been dug, he and his friends filled it full of rocks. The friends went home, and the next morning, his job was to take all the rocks out of the pond and stack them on the side so we could put the liner in the pond. Two days later, when his friends came back to visit, he shared his experience with them, and convinced them that since he had to clear out the pond by himself, they should help clean out the chicken coop. Choices have consequences.

Reading wasn't his strong suit, but he found alternatives.

He loved to learn, but he hated to read. He would beg his sisters to read to him, and listened intently anytime anyone read a book. He could memorize details faster than anyone I've ever known, and his memory of historical facts is second to none. He loved History, so he would find documentaries about history, and listen or watch those, then he'd spend hours studying up on the details of the documentary. Studying, researching was more interesting than just reading about it, and he was able to answer a lot of his own questions. Education became a game of challenge, research, and learn more.

Working to learn, learning from work.

On the job training became part of his process of learning, and he loved travel. He would grab any opportunity to travel and learn more. Apprenticeships are difficult to come by, but he found three ways to get apprenticeships, and learn as he worked. Farm jobs were plentiful, and he loved working in the country. Political training, jobs, and working with political leaders became a strong second alternative way to learn history. He would spend hours pouring over historical journals and documents.

Cowboys do life better.

When he came home after a long political journey one night, wearing a pair of leather cowboy boots, I knew he had found his niche.

Blogging your experiences is one great way to market your business - let's talk - visit Jan at http://janverhoeff.com for more information.


 By Jan Verhoeff


Article Source: Cowboys Kick Dirt

Find the Best Place to Relax Yourself

They are looking for a way to get away from the loud hustle bustle of the city and being served instead of serving others. They want to be pampered and feel relaxed at the holiday destination because that is the whole purpose of it; Relaxation of the mind and body.

One such way in which you can pamper yourself is by getting a place where you can have all the facilities that are available at your house. Nothing is better than home that is why getting a comfortable accommodation such as your home can prove to be just that.

Many top vacation rental websites provide the facility of fulfilling all the needs of a person while on holiday. They provide transport services right from picking you up at the airport to touring the city for your desired places. Also, booking of air tickets and getting discounts on them is one of their most important facilities. Of Course, reservation of hotel rooms and vacation homes, according to requirement, can also be done through these websites. These sites take care of the extra provisions that a traveller may require.

For people travelling with families or large group of friends it is always preferable to choose an apartment or bungalow, depending on their budget, as it is more spacious and can prove to be less expensive. Many holiday homes have in-house facility of a chef, butcher, 24*7 cleaners, babysitters. They provide transport services right from picking you up at the airport to touring the city for your desired places.

They go an extra mile to give the customer what they want by fulfilling their extra needs as well like the availability of cribs and strollers for children, a fireplace or even a mini bar if a person requests for one.

The top vacation rental websites that are listed amongst the top 10 according to NBC news are:

1) Airbnb: This website tops the chart in every list as they have their services in almost all the locations of the world. The specialty of their services is that they hold the payment for hotel rooms for 24 hour in order to make sure that the customer is satisfied with the hotel room.

2) Couchsurfing: They also offer almost all services starting from ticket booking to hotel reservation.

3)  FlipKey. It is a website owned by TripAdvisor.com.

With the help of their expertise one can be sure to feel at home even when away from home.

Brad Haddin is the author of this article. To Know More about top vacation rental websites please visit our website.



By Brad Haddin


Article Source: Find the Best Place to Relax Yourself

Travel By Cruise Ship

Traveling by any means can be exciting, depending on a person's state of mind. To diminish the stress of your trip, a person needs to think ahead. A wise start would be to start packing at least two weeks before your departure. Some people begin packing as early as a month before they travel!

You need to think of everything that you would need to bring on your trip, making sure not to over-pack! You know, the stuff that you just engage temporarily if for only a moment? That would be like taking your medication, what about taking care of your personal effects, like shaving or waxing cream, (if that's your preference). Hair appliances, curling irons or rollers, scarves to tie your hair up at night, if you so choose. Be mindful of what you are able to take on a plane, liquids must be measured,.3 ozs. These rules need to be looked up on your flight information.

Are you going to get Dressed-to-the-Nines for the up-coming Captain's Dinner? Oh wait! Depending on how long you will be cruising, you may need an extra formal set of attire. A five-day cruise, you need only one form of formal wear. Plan on being gone longer? A seven-day cruise may require two formal nights of dining, where as a three-week cruise you may need to dress formally three or more times. The first night would be dinner with the captain. Dining with the Captain is a great honor.

Perhaps you're not interested in all of that fan fare. There are other restaurants that you may enjoy. There can be an international restaurant, or any of the specialty restaurants throughout the ship. There are also casual dining areas, such as buffets. What ever suits your taste!

Did you know that there is a spa treatment area right there on the ship? It's usually on the highest floor. If you look at the ships. there are plenty of levels. At least 13 floors! The Spa treatment area is usually on the ninth floor. There is so much to see! Yes, they do have the little shops that sell jewelry; clothes and other small trinkets and keepsakes for you to purchase if you want.

Any more, there is also a gaming area for adults who like to have fun gambling. If you are adventurous enough to play and win, you can collect your winnings up to a day before your cruise adventure is over. There is also Karaoke bar where people can sing like they just won an Oscar, somewhere!

Let's go back to the spa center. A passenger can get a facial; mani/pedi (Manicure/Pedicure); and there is also a beauty salon. Then, there is an option for full body treatment that could take up a few hours. This is a great time to pass the time away on the days where the ship is sailing toward a planned destination.

How about family time, where there are performances for children and adults alike? Do you like comedy? What about plays? There is so much to do, it's hard to get them all in, unless you are that traveller that can plan things to a T, going strictly by the time schedule you've allotted for your vacation.

Everyday, when you wake up, get dressed, and attend your adventure on the ship. Each cabin or suite has a steward that tends to your every need, makes sure your bed is made, the room is cleaned, with a towel animal left behind on your bed. After being away for a while, you may be tired, and want to take a rest for a moment to soak in the moment of your surroundings, realizing that you are actually where you are!

A well thought out vacation can be great if things turn out to be a success, but what happens to those time that don't go over so well? For a person who refuses to find any fault in their vacation, they will always have a follow-up just in case things go awry. When you as a traveller returns home, you will reflect on your cruise and say, "Wow! That was fun! I want to do that again!" OR you can be the one who could have had more fun, saying, "Next time, I'll do it differently." With a look of disappointment on your face.

I find it hard to believe that ANYONE would go on a cruise and say they had a bad time. One footnote to keep in mind, is that the ship is on a tight schedule. There is an itinerary that they do follow. Remember when I mentioned people who are very strict about keeping their schedule to they can squeeze as much activity as they could? This cruise schedule would probably work our perfectly for that person! These are not the best instructions on taking a problem-free cruise, but it's a start!

Previous cruise experience. For the first time ever, my family of four took a cruise. It was fun, but I was planning scared, because I didn't think we'd the money. I'm in need for a "prescription re-fill! We're planning another one this summer, taking all of the tours that we can afford!


 By Brigitte M Hinton



Article Source: Travel By Cruise Ship

The Basics of the Calvin Cycle

The Calvin Cycle-or also known as the C3c cycle, Calvin-Benson Bassham (CBB) cycle, dark reaction, or reductive pentose phosphate cycle- was discovered by Melvin Calvin, James Bassham, and Andrew Benson in the year of 1950. This cycle does not directly require light making it a light independent reaction of photosynthesis.

The Calvin Cycle starts out with carbon dioxide entering a plant through its leaves that contain pores called the stomata. The reactions that occur are called light-independent reactions because of their lack of use of light. Carbon atoms-which are provided by the carbon dioxide- are then incorporated into organic molecules and used to build glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate(G3P). Such process uses the help of ATP and NADPH from light reactions. Different from the light reactions, which occur in the thylakoid membrane, the cycle happens in the stroma. Then, the G3P is used as the starting point to make glucose, cellulose, starch, and other organic compounds that the plant might need

To simplify, the Calvin Cycle can be filtered down to 4 simple steps. In step one, carbon is changed. The enzyme rubisco combines a carbon dioxide molecule with the a 5-carbon sugar ribulose bisphosphate. This unstable result causes the molecule to split into 2 molecules of 3-carbon phosphoglyceric acid. The end result of this are 6 molecules of 3 carbon 3-PGA. The second step is reduction of 3-PGA molecules. Energy from the 6 molecules of ATP is used to react NADPH TO NADP+. From there, the product is six molecules of energy-rich 3-carbon sugar G3P. The third step is the releasing of a molecule of the G3P.

This leaves the remaining 5 molecules to continue the process. The final step of this cycle is to renew the RuBP. This is done through a series of chemical reactions that uses the energy of ATP to rearrange the atoms of the 5 G3P molecules, (15 carbon molecules), which forms 3 RuBP molecules (15 total carbon molecules). The end result of the last step ends with three molecules of five carbon RuBP. This is only one turn of the Calvin Cycle. This whole process will cycle again repeatedly.

To summarize, the equation of the Calvin Cycle is 3 O2+9ATP+6 NADPH+ 5H20-> glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (G3P) + 2H+6+NADPH+9 ADP+ 8 Pi. Pi is the same as inorganic phosphate. The main reactant of the Calvin Cycle is C02, and the main product is glucose.



 By Alondra Jimenez



Article Source: The Basics of the Calvin Cycle

Time to Get Over the "Yuck Factor"

Potable water has traditionally been perceived as an unlimited resource-something that would always be available in endless supply. As a result, water conservation has often been viewed as unnecessary. But California has been in a drought since 2009; it persists despite last winter's rainy season and reservoir levels that are approaching normalcy.

Households consume 40% of California's potable water through toilet use. Since toilets are plumbed with the same water that runs to kitchen sinks, toilet water is fine for drinking. Yet after only one use it is promptly returned to Waste Water Treatment plants. Recycled water from sinks and showers, defined as "Grey Water," can be used for non-potable uses such as washing cars or watering plants. This recycled water, better known as water that comes from the purple pipe, is treated to a purity level only slightly lower than potable water standards.

Hopefully, after years of drought messaging the average person is aware that water conservation is something that we all need to think about.

The question is," What stops people from recycling Grey Water to bring it up to drinking standards?" The answer is not technology-based, since reverse osmosis systems provide the technology to remove any particle, virus or contaminant in water that might be harmful to people if it is consumed.

The answer is marketing. The overriding perception is that drinking recycled water is the same as water that is flushed down the toilet. This is simply not true. Orlando, Florida and Orange County, California have both used recycled water in this way since recycled water systems became required by law in 1986.

Examples of places where water is recycled to drinking level include Singapore, where cleanliness standards are more stringent than average, and Windhoek, Naimbia, the first city in the world to use recycled water to address its drinking water requirements.

Converting previously used water to drinking standards, the true definition of "Toilet-to-Tap," is also cheaper and creates a smaller carbon footprint when it is purified locally than when it is pumped to purification plants that may be hundreds of miles away.

In the state of California, these facts are difficult to avoid. Scientists predict that climate change will result in lower amounts of snowfall in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The spring snowmelt from this mountain range comprises much of California's water supply. The population growth trajectory indicates that the state's population will be over 50 million by 2050 and, of course, all residents will require water.

An alternate source of water that has been suggested is desalinated ocean water. Desalination, however, is an energy-intensive process that currently has only niche applications. This leaves us asking: Where will our drinking water come from?

During their drought the Australians considered converting the water used recycled well enough to wash coal directly to drinking water with some added purification. Charles Fishman illustrated in his book "The Big Thirst", Toomba Australia's Director of Water and Waste Water services Kevin Flanagan came up with the idea based if water could be used to wash coal then why not clean it to a level where people could drink it. Once the politicians in opposition implemented a marketing campaign utilizing fear tactics they were able to affect public opinion and derail the project.

The people of Australia failed to understand the term toilet-to-tap means the water that was in your toilet is processed before being made available for drinking. Every drop of water has been recycled at some point in the earth's history.

Water is naturally filtered by the ground, through the soil, through the zone where both water and air fill spaces between soil particles above the area where water alone fills the pore spaces. Larger particles, such as silt, leaves, and twigs are filtered out because they can't fit through the small pore spaces. Smaller particles such as suspended clay and microorganisms become adsorbed to the soil particles. Some microorganisms are eaten by other organisms. And some dissolved chemicals such as nitrates and pesticides are consumed up by bacteria which live underground.

Our lakes and streams, provide filtering through the actions of plants and bottom-dwelling animals (like freshwater clams and mussels) which take in water, remove nutrients, and return the purified water to the environment.

Water which evaporates from the ocean due the heat provided by sunlight eventually condenses as water droplets in clouds. If the cloud grows large enough, the droplets coalesce and fall typically as rain sometimes as snow or ice. A majority of the water evaporated into the atmosphere falls as precipitation on the ocean, mostly in the tropics.

Some cities have so little clean natural water that treated sewage is reused by filtering it through the ground. Why not utilized a process used by nature for millions of years and use current technology to increase the speed and efficiency of the process?

We need to get over "the yuck factor" and take advantage of every possible resource to ensure that there is ample drinking water for everyone. I shudder to think of the ramifications if we do not.

Tony Green is a speaker/consultant and the founder of Speaking Green Communications which was founded to be voice for the adoption of sustainability and the adoption of alternative energy technologies including water conservation. More about how I can help you or your organization conserve water can be found either at my website at the link below: http://www.speakinggreencommunications.com


 By Tony Green



Article Source: Time to Get Over the "Yuck Factor"

A Starry Look Is The Latest Trend In Ear Piercing

Have you got your ears pierced? Only once? Boring. Once just isn't enough for fashion conscious tweens, teens and twenteens in this day and age. Now you should have not just a single star sparkling on your earlobe but should instead get a whole constellation of piercings. This starry, mix and match look is the latest trend in the world of ear piercing and a way to add subtle and not so subtle visual interest to your profile.

With this look, the lobe can be pierced with at least three holes, designed to allow the wearing of several different earrings at the same time. A collection of three delicate studs or small hoops creates a minor galaxy of your ear, a galaxy that can of course be added to with further piercings higher on the ear. With this look, delicate sparkle is usually the order of the day. Though sometimes one or two larger earrings can be intermingled with the smaller ones, becoming a star orbited by planets, moons round a planet, or the moon in a sparkling night sky.

With a small cluster of piercings on your lobe and another cluster high on the cartilage, you could really incorporate a little sparkle which could lift your skin tone and brighten your eyes, showing your face off to its best advantage. Earrings can help you to soften the shape of your face, elongate it, broaden it or draw attention to your best features and away from those you are not so happy with. Take care when choosing where to place your constellation piercings and how to fill them as the exact configuration and look could be used to enhance your appearance, while if you get it wrong it could end up having the opposite effect.

Look at yourself carefully in the mirror and play around with a pen or some stickers to see what you would look like with different patterns of piercings. Piercing your ears in a way that is a little out of the ordinary could help you to create your own personal look and stand out from the crowd in the best possible way. Be quirky and be yourself and your character and charm is bound to shine through.

This look will mean that you will not just have to choose one pair of earrings to put on each day and so can be a lot more creative when it comes to constructing your own signature look.

Visit   https://www.missbella.co.uk


 By Katie Louise Whitbread


Article Source: A Starry Look Is The Latest Trend In Ear Piercing

How To Decide If An Action Movie Is Appropriate For Your Child

As a parent, you want to make sure your child is getting the best education possible and learning things at a pace that is appropriate for him or her, all while blending in well with other same-aged children. That is why it can be very difficult knowing when to allow your child to see certain action movies. Most of us have been there when a child is begging to see a new release because all of his friends have already been to the theater. Consider the following suggestions and tips to help you decide whether he is ready to see that particular movie:

Check online review sites.

Thanks to the Internet today, there are a few online websites devoted completely to reviewing movies for the benefit of parents. These review pages are written primarily for parents and detail what type of language and scenes are within a movie. They typically document any troublesome scenes and themes and some are even written by other parents. These sites can be an invaluable resource when determining whether certain action movies are appropriate.

Discuss movies with like-minded parents.

This can be a bit trickier to navigate, as no one parents exactly alike. And what one parent may deem appropriate for his child, another may feel completely aghast. With that thought in mind, it isn't entirely wise to discount the thoughts of other parents. The trick is to find another parent whose philosophy and parenting style closely aligns with yours. It is easier to decide whether something falls in line with your beliefs if you have someone you respect and agree with sharing their opinion, as well.

Don't be afraid to delay a movie-viewing experience.

If you are uncertain as to whether current-playing action movies are suitable for your kids, then wait before making a decision. Check out the reviews online, as well as any and all trailers. If you have an opportunity to see the movie, then do so. If you are on the fence about a movie, then make time and view the film with your child. Do not be scared to leave the theater with your child, if you feel it is necessary. But viewing a movie together can allow you to discuss the moments that you felt were too mature for your child. Additionally, making the time to see a movie with your child can be a great bonding experience for you both. It is also easier to explain negative values and the problems therewith if you are attending and seeing the same film.

Pay attention to ratings, of course.

Finally, each movie should detail the reasons of why a rating was given. These can include nudity, language use, drug use, and thematic elements in general. Decide which headings are deal breakers. Understand you can always discuss less offending subjects with your child, and it may be an excellent teaching moment.

The key to parenting a child who wants to see action movies is to become involved. Research the potential films and discuss the issues with the child. In the end, you are a parent trying to do what is right, so rely on your gut feelings. Chances are, you will be right.

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 By Kaitlyn LaPenn


Article Source: How To Decide If An Action Movie Is Appropriate For Your Child

5 Must Watch Matt Damon Movies

1. Good Will Hunting (1997)

The movie script is jointly written by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. The movie deals with quite a complex theme highlighting the unique characteristics of human relationships and social problems. Matt and Ben both star in the movie. The lead role of Will Hunting is played by Damon while the role of his best friend, Chuckie Sullivan is played by Affleck.

The movie tells the story about a mathematical genius (Will Hunting) who works as a janitor at MIT. As he is severely abused all his life, he decides to commit a series of hostile acts against those who tortured him during his childhood days. But things take a different course when Will meets professor Gerald Lambeau, a psychological therapist. After discovering Will's potential, the professor tries to put him on the road of success and fame.

2. Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Saving Private Ryan is a nonstop, action-packed war movie that will absorb you to the extent that the experience becomes a predominantly visceral one.
Three elder brothers of Private Ryan have been killed in battles (World War II). To alleviate his mother's pain, it is decided that Ryan will be sent back to home. Captain Miller reluctantly accepts the job and prepares himself to accompany Ryan. But it is a very challenging job as Ryan is in German-dominated-France-area.

3. The Departed (2006)

The film has a great storyline that centers around an entire police department's chase of a top boss in Boston. However, the plot may not seem original as it is greatly influenced by a Hong Kong action movie Infernal Affairs.
Leonardo Dicaprio (Billy) plays the role of a rookie cop in the movie who works undercover gathering intelligence. Matt Damon (Colin Sullivan) is another rookie cop who has an honorable family history and starts his career with a good job. Colin and Billy must maneuver and lie their way out of trouble infiltrating the Irish gang in South Boston.

4. True Grit (2010)

A farmer is murdered by his employee Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin). The employee steals his money and flees to the Indian Territory. The farmer's teenager daughter Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) goes to bring the body of her father back home. While there, Mattie meets Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), an old big fellow with eye pad. Later on they are joined by a Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (Matt Damon) and the trio starts their dangerous journey to seek out Tom Chaney in the Indian Territory.

5. Interstellar (2014)

Matthew McConaughey (Cooper) is a NASA pilot while Anne Hathaway (Amelia) is a scientist. Together they travel through a wormhole in space with a mission to prevent extinction of humanity. Cooper and Amelia meet scientist Dr. Mann (Matt Damon) after landing on a remote planet. Now they all are stranded. Things get interesting when Dr. Mann tries to kill Cooper for some unknown reason. Eventually, Cooper becomes successful to visit his daughter in her childhood. Even though Cooper's age doesn't change, his daughter is now old. He warns her to lead humanity to explore other worlds.



 By Saidur Rahman


Article Source: 5 Must Watch Matt Damon Movies

5 Interesting Trends in Current Movies That Are Worth Noting

With the granddaddy of all awards shows in the books, we can seemingly look back at movies of the last year, as well as current movies, and realize that there are some intriguing trends emerging. On the surface, it may seem as though we're doing a bit of a disservice to some of these films as they tend to be very different from each other.

Nonetheless, here are what appear to be the most interesting trends visible in current cinema that are worth mentioning if only to see what may change down the road:

1. Stronger Female Characters - A common archetype of the big screen has been the ever-present good-looking damsel in distress. Female characters have often been relegated to nothing more than second-tier ancillary characters subject to their emotions and devoid of logic. Lately, though, there have been more female characters taking the lead. Certainly, this has been a long trend in animated film, but even live-action film has taken notice and realized that there is a population interested in seeing stronger woman on the big screen.

2. More Diversity is Being Seen - In the last few years, controversies have erupted over the lack of minority actors in film, as well as the lack of minority actors being acknowledged for their acting prowess. The idea of diversity has always been a thorny subject for movie makers, and in many ways, the movie industry has as sorted a history with race as does the country. Even more problematic has been the portrayal of minority characters by Caucasian/Anglo actors. Luckily, things are changing.

3. Comic Book Movies Are Being Mined for All Their Worth - Though films based on comic book characters have been en vogue for well over a decade, there seems to be a need to rehash and retread storylines based on either new material from the source (comics) or a fresh take from a new writer/director at the helm.

4. Classic Movies & Fan Favorites Are Being Remade for No Reason - The idea of the remake seems at odds with so many moviegoers because they go to the movies for the precise reason of seeing something that they haven't seen before. Moreover, actors associated with original films have been forthright in their wish to not be a part of the new version. An argument could be made for remaking these classic movies with actors that current younger movie lovers may recognize, but in many cases, the original films were a product of the era in which they were released and capturing that magic again may not be possible.

5. The Era of the Prequel, Sequel, and other Movement through Time - The movie industry has weathered quite a number of financial storms in its history because it knows what sells and what doesn't. Even in the face of some failures, movies that essentially take off from lucrative releases are worth the risk because the reward can be massive. However, moviegoers are savvy and have been quick to skip movies they know are a veritable "money-grab".

Trends aside, current movies are showing a tremendous amount of breadth and scope. At the center of all movies is the want to tell a story, and regardless of the current trends in cinema, a good story is hard to ignore.

For more information on what current movies have to offer,    click here today.


 By Morris Raymond


Article Source: 5 Interesting Trends in Current Movies That Are Worth Noting

How To Choose The Best Film To Watch When You Rarely Go To The Movies

There is something so magical about watching a movie. Whether you're by yourself or with someone, even with a group, the ability to ride the "suspension of disbelief" wave during the course of a film is an experience that everyone should have at least once in their life. But if you're not a frequent movie watcher, you'll have a few decades of films to watch. What's more, if you tend to stay away from the theater, how exactly do you find your way back again?

Choosing a movie, at least for the standard moviegoer, isn't a science, but for the infrequent movie watcher, there's more involvement and requires a little more work.

For starters, reading some film critiques may be a good way know what to expect before you venture out. You have a chance to learn about film plots, and let you make an educated decision about whether a movie is right for you. Newspapers, websites, and magazines all have film critiques for your consumption. Though movie critics are often looked at as being a little out of touch with what actually is good and may strike a chord with the general public, it's important to know you, too, are a bit out of the loop with watching movies, so you could learn a lot from some of their reviews.

Also, don't be afraid to check out lists of movies that will be, or are already, out. Trying to keep track of all available films is almost impossible. Think about how many times you've seen a list of movie award show winners and thought, 'I have never even heard about these movies'.

You can also use the internet and try going through the filmography of a great director. You may realize that the same directors are attached to some of the best movies in recent history. Their names carry weight, and that may be a good reason to check out a new movie. You can also do the same with actors' names whose work you've enjoyed in the past. As much of a fan as you are, some actors have a ridiculously long list of acting credits for things you may have missed but won critical acclaim.

Finally, ask your family and friends for some advice. You no doubt have at least one movie buff around you who has seen everything, critiqued everything, and can give you a thorough rundown of all theatrical offerings. They not only can give you a better idea of what to expect but can perhaps steer you in the right direction based on your tastes. They can also steer you to various online video sites that have movie trailers galore, both short and theatrical versions.

In the end, only you can make the decision that suits you best when it comes to choosing a movie to watch. It's important to remember that there will always be films to watch, but going to the movie theater to check out a film where it was meant to be watched shouldn't be missed.

For more information on the total movie theater experience,   click here today.


 By Morris Raymond


Article Source: How To Choose The Best Film To Watch When You Rarely Go To The Movies

Top 4 National Parks to Visit in Madhya Pradesh

India is known for its diversity and cultural richness. Known for its glorious past and brave stories, India offers its every traveller a warm welcome with all open hearts. If you are thinking to visit India in the near future, plan your vacations to one of the most amazing state of the country, Madhya Pradesh.

As its name suggests Madhya (center) Pradesh (area), the state is located in the middle of the country. The state is blessed with a bundle of natural richness and wildlife reserves. It is the state of Madhya Pradesh, which is crowned with the title of having maximum wildlife reserve centuries in the country.

To make your wildlife tour more enchanting we have brought to you the best of the 4 wildlife sanctuary of Madhya Pradesh which are visited by thousands of travellers every year. So let us start with this amazing jungle tour-

1. Bandhavgarh National Park

Bandhavgarh National Park is one of the famous National Parks which is spread at Vindhya hills at Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the best places to see royal Bengal tigers in India. The density of tiger's population is highest known in India in this park. It is a home to 80 species of aquatic animals, 250 species of birds and 37 species of mammals.

How to reach

This national park is well-connected through a nicely cluster of roads and railways. One can reach Bandhavgarh National Park via railways, roadways and airways. Khajuraho and Jabalpur Airport is near from this park. Nearest railway station is Umaria and Katani railway station. This park is well-connected from various cities like Jabalpur, Satna, Umaria and Khajuraho.

Hotels

Seeing the large number of travellers from across the country, one can find a plethora of hotels which offers you a nice stay. These Madhya Pradesh hotels are -



Aranyak Resort

Nature heritage Resort

Jungle Mantra

Tiger Trails Resort and many more

2. Kanha Tiger Reserve

Kanha National Park is one of the famous tourist attractions which is situated in the heart of Madhya Pradesh, India. The famous author Rudyard Kipling got inspired from this park and he wrote his masterpiece called Jungle Book. Kanha is also famous for sightseeing of tigers, Barasinga (Swamp deer), Blackbuck and peacock. The reserve also has a thick forest which includes Sal, Bamboo and Mahua trees. Kanha Park is also famous for a large variety of birds. There are two entrance gates for this park- Khatia and Mukki entrance gate. Khatia entrance gate falls on Mandla district &Mukki on Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh state.

How to reach

It is well-connected through roadways, railways and airways. There are direct flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport-Nagpur, Swami Vivekananda Airport -Raipur and Jabalpur. There are regular trains from Jabalpur, Nagpur and Gondia to this park that will ease your India tours.

Hotels

One can find the finest of the hotels in and near Kanha National Park, which are equipped with necessary contemporary amenities. These hotels are -



Taj BanjaarTola

Tuli Tiger Corridor

Kanha Earth Lodge

The Baagh Resort

3. Pench National Park

This National Park is quite different from others as Pench National Park is situated partially in Madhya Pradesh and partially in Maharashtra in the district of Seoni and Chhindwara. It derives its name from Pench River which divides the park into western and eastern halves. It is a famous tourism spot which is spread in an area of 758 sq kms. Your India tourism get more exciting as the place is a rich reservoir of flora and fauna. It is a safe shelter for many endangered species.

How to reach

Pench National Park is well-connected to other cities via railways, roadways and airways. Nagpur and Jabalpur airport are nearest from this park. Nagpur railway station is the nearest railway station from Pench National Park.

Hotels

Here are the finest hotels near the park -



Taj Baghvan Wildlife Resort

Tuli Tiger Corridor

Pench Jungle Camp

Mahua Vann Resort

Tiger Valley Resorts

4. Panna National Park

It is the famous national park which is situated in Panna and Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh. It is listed as the twenty second best National Park in India and fifth in Madhya Pradesh. A visit to this national park is a treat for your Rajasthan Tourism. It is one of the famous Tiger reserves in India which is also home to some of the wildlife species in India which includes sloth bear, Chinkara, sambhar, deer, antelope and nilgai. This region is also known for its diamond industry.

How to reach

One can reach at this park via railways, roadways and airways. The nearest airport is Khajuraho airport. Satna is the nearest railway station from this park. Panna town is the nearest bus stand which is connected to Khajuraho, Satna and many other places in Madhya Pradesh.

Hotels

To reward your tour with the finest stay, the place is filled with many accommodation options which are also listed as best Madhya Pradesh hotels -



Ken River Lodge

Taj Safaris Pashangarh

Panna Tiger Resort

Kings Lodge

Kanga Earth Lodge and

Tree House Hideaway

If you are looking for the opportunity to spend time amidst the wildlife of the country, Madhya Pradesh is the best location that you can choose while planning your holidays in India.

National Parks in Madhya Pradesh Is a Perfect Delight for Every Nature Lovers. We Suggest You the Best   Hotels in India Under Your  India Tour Packages While Visiting Best Wildlife Reserves Like Panna and Bandhavgarh.


 By Abhishek Mathur


Article Source: Top 4 National Parks to Visit in Madhya Pradesh

Tourism in Nepal

The movement/travel of people from one place to another place either within country or outside for various purposes is tourism. Those people are called tourists. They usually travel for fun, adventure, pleasure, business and other purpose. In Nepal, tourism is the largest industry and also the largest source of foreign exchange. Despite of long history of tourism in Nepal it was developed since 1950 A.D. Attraction is the major cause of tourists in Nepal. People from almost all part of the world visit Nepal yearly for different purpose. Various culture and tradition, diverse wildlife vegetation, varied climate, temples, monuments and lots of trekking destination lure tourists in Nepal.

Recent trend of tourists' arriving in Nepal is satisfactory. Lots of available resources were utilized properly and beneficially to promote tourism sector. But still dynamic and friendly policy as well as joint effort from local as well as government and the participation of private sector is required and play the vital role for increasing the tourist's rate in Nepal. During period of Rana, Nepal was a forbidden land and no tourists were allowed to travel in Nepal. Later after democracy tourists showed interest and slowly tourism was promoted and steady trend in different periods in country. Tourism in Nepal is considered as an important sector playing vital role for development of country. Tourism is the industry that supports and promotes tourists with transportation, accommodations, foods, shops, entertainment and other hospitality services as well as facilities. It is one of the fastest growing economic sectors not only in Nepal but all over the world.

Nepal is popular destination and unique destination for trekking, tours and travels. Due to its unbeatable combination of natural beauties Nepal is preferred by most of tourist. Nepal is good place to spend relaxed time and holiday in between mountains, hills, lakes, ranging rivers enjoying various religions' festivals, culture and tradition. Some famous trekking routes of Nepal are Everest Base Camp trek, Annapurna Base Camp trek, Upper Mustang Trek and Langtang valley trek that helps to explore the Himalayan scenarios. National Parks and Conservation Areas are the major attraction for those who are in love with wildlife and its beauties. Lots of fun related activities like bungee jump, rafting, zip-flying, paragliding, ultra light flight are available which true meaning of fun, thrill and adventure is. Places which carry religious and cultural importance's like Lumbini, Three Durbar Squares in Kathmandu, temples, monuments, palaces, stupas, monasteries, gumbas give the feeling of peace and tranquility.

Nepal is popular for its arts and handicrafts. People take these as popular souvenirs and love it. Paintings, pottery, arts and galleries, handicrafts, clothes are basically known within the tourist. Nepal is popular for its variety of cuisines. Dal Bhat is the main dish of Nepal and is popular within the people of Nepal also momo is being favorite one. Tourists love to have good foods and cuisines during their visit in Nepal. Nepalese people are popular worldwide with their friendly nature and hospitality. They are always ready to welcome their guest with the best they have. Therefore, tourists feel the safest destination to visit in South East Asia. In addition to that Nepal is known for its low cost and cheap travel which saves lots of money. Tourist can easily get visa and travel the best part of country within short period at low cost. Accommodations play vital role in luring the tourists. Nepal is not less in offering quality service to their guests. They take good care of tourists with quality lodging, fooding and transportation. Nepal has it all from five star services to budget one. There are various trekking tours and travel company accompanying tourists during their visit in Nepal.

By Adrian Roy


Article Source: Tourism in Nepal

May I Know the Advantages of Engineering in Electronics or Electrical?

The field of engineering in Electronics or electrical helps a lot in boosting up the career. The task of completing this course is a great challenge. It is a study of our day to day applications. It is a good professional degree meant to achieve the level of excellence. It is a course of tough theories and applications. There are many benefits of doing this course and these benefits are explained in the following manner.

Good Graduate Degree
It is a course of good professional education. It analyzes all the subjects practically. It prepares the students by developing professional skills within him or her. Along with professional education, it provides a good graduate degree. After completing it the student is designated as engineer-graduate.

Salary
It is the study of day to day applications and machineries which are a part of electrical companies and to handle these applications and machineries is not an easy task, therefore engineers of this field use to get higher amount of salaries. Along with salary, some companies offer other facilities to these engineers.

Skills
This course develops the skills of the student practically. It develops problem solving skills with respect to practical theories and applications. It prepares the students to solve all sorts of technical issues. It develops all sorts of technical skills within the students in order to make him or her liable to face each and every type of challenge.

Global
This degree is recognized in every corner of the world. These types of engineers have a place outside India. They are warmly appreciated everywhere. This degree prepares the students in accordance to the high profile standard of foreign countries.

Demand
Our new developing nation has a high demand of electrical or electronics engineers. A common person cannot create, understand and alter electrical control systems and it is the function of degree-holders of this education which is not an easy task and thus they are in high demand.

Jobs
This qualification provides the job of good designation and salary. He or she finds job everywhere. He or she uses to get full priority in the jobs. He or she enjoys his or her work position with full dignity.

Social Status
This qualification makes a good image in the society. He or she lives in the society with full prestige and honour. He or she has many contacts not even in the company in which he or she is working, but with his or her family members and relatives.

Variety
The degree-holders of this qualification work in variety of fields. These diverse fields comprise telecommunication, energy equipment and laser technology. These fields are always available for him or her in order to choose the field of one's own interest.

The top Colleges of Engineering in Electronics or electrical in Chennai are TEC-Thangavelu Engineering college, SSIT-Sri Sairam Institute of Technology and LIT-Loyala Institute of Technology etc. These colleges are affiliated to Anna University.
  Anna university has gained recognition in every corner of India.


 By Amit Saraswat


Article Source: May I Know the Advantages of Engineering in Electronics or Electrical?

Nightingales Live

A casual pre-gig chinwag with Robert Lloyd while loafing around the Nightingales' merchandising table, (FYI assorted goodies include "Bullet for Gove" t-shirts, copies of Only My Opinion, Volume I of Lloyd's collected lyrics, a bright orange tote bag and a branded glasses case!), made for an intriguing start to a rare evening in the company of the (still) most underrated band in Britain. A chatty Lloyd confirmed that the forthcoming set would mostly be made up of newer material, including a half- dozen unrecorded numbers (I confess my heart nearly sank to the bottom of the Taff at this point as I was hoping, against hope, for a grand tour of the band's back catalogue). In truth, that was never likely to happen and Lloyd was quick to elaborate on why he didn't want to end up fronting his own Nightingales tribute band, citing how he'd once turned down comedian Stewart Lee's offer of a high-profile festival slot that was conditional on the band playing their debut album Pig's on Purpose (1982) in its entirety. Lloyd was as good as his word, with "Parrafin Brain" (the combo's debut single for Cherry Red which reached no 39 in the Independent Chart in April of 1982), the sole classic dusted down for tonight's show. And, really, given that their latest album Mind over Matter (2015) reveals an inspirational Lloyd still engaged in mortal combat with his muse, who can question his mindset?

For the uninitiated (a.k.a the young), Robert Lloyd is the real deal. As a member of The Prefects, the first punk band in Birmingham, the 17 year old frontman somehow found himself supporting The Clash on their legendary White Riot Tour (payment, four cans of beer!) and then playing alongside seminal punk bands Buzzcocks, The Damned and The Slits throughout 1977/78, delivering a raw-boned set which included their seven second long opus "VD". The Prefects famously split before releasing a record, although Rough Trade did wangle a posthumous Indie hit with the band's Peel Session track "Going through the Motions" in 1980. Lloyd, Joe Motivator (guitar) and Paul Apperley (drums) went on to form The Nightingales, and the rest, as they, say is History.

Except, of course, that Robert Lloyd is a central character in an alternative, off the record history of popular music! Even when you allow for the group's seven Peel Sessions and their unanticipated longevity, the spotlight has barely creased the brummie singer's brow, let alone lingered there for the full fifteen minutes! Lloyd, despite making a series of wonderfully abrasive post-punk albums and writing a plethora of incendiary pop tunes over a 40 years period, remains completely invisible to the population at large. This is despite the fact that you could make an excellent case for Robert Lloyd being the best British lyricist of his generation. If you were to imagine a spectrum of pop wordsmiths stretching from Lennon and McCartney to Alex Turner and Ben Drew, incorporating the likes of Ray Davies, Kate Bush, Elvis Costello, Ian Dury, Billy Bragg, Mark E. Smith, Morrissey, and P.J Harvey, then you'd have all the bases covered. Yet none, in my opinion, are the equal of Lloyd.

Discussing the merits of Lloyd as a lyricist in the context of a 'Gales live performance, where language is often pummeled into Glam gibberish by a thumping rain of Mickey Spillane riffs, may be a case of launching yourself head first down the rabbit hole, but it's a journey worth pursuing. Lloyd, though capable of writing neat one-liners like this gem from "Bachelor Land"

'Even Martial Arts Masters must have some washing to do',

or my all-time favourite pop punch-line, from the queasy noir of "Insurance",

'Most words are there in the dictionary, it's just getting it off the shelf',

is, more often, than not, as surreal and impenetrable a lyricist as you'll find anywhere in the art form, as the lyric to "The Bending End" (which, along with "Bachelor Land" and "Insurance", can be found on the group's best album Hysterics) makes (un)clear.

'Reminds me of the TV weatherman, a household face with a forgettable name / he had access to film and camera, he said he had a perverse nature / It said so in the stars the day he read 'em / This could be why he had no inclination to use the medium he had access to, maybe it's his lack of imagination / Who's to say, who cares anyway? / Whatever the reason he never worries about the choice, he don't even consider it / Tomorrow could be colder or warmer, what's the point in complicating things further?'

The song's rollicking chorus,

'Come the day all people agree to get Paul Daniels on the job / Belief in the magician is a futility / Remarkable powers are out of place in democracy',

is a corker but, somehow, you can't imagine it was played at the family entertainer's funeral.

When the band re-formed in 2004, after a 15 year hiatus, which Lloyd spent mainly working as a Postman, the "comeback" album "Out of True" (2006) saw the band pick up exactly where they left off, with a bellicose Lloyd demonstrating that he still had the stomach for the fight on tracks like "Born Again in Birmingham", "Let's Talk about Living" (Single of the Week on BBC 6) and the gigantic slab of glam rock that is "Taking Away the Stigma of Free School Dinners", each being as good as anything they'd ever committed to vinyl in their heyday. "Out of True" also proved that Lloyd hadn't lost his eye for toe-curling character assassination either, as the devastating ballad "Black Country" highlights,

'He'd borrow cash and grass his pals / and scratch his rash and ever shall be a user / The empathetic liars down the boozer, they love a loser / But overpriced is such a friendship and they thank Christ he drank himself to death / He was a boil on the arse of the Black Country'.

"Out of True" was the beginning of a prolific period for Lloyd, with four other studio albums and a couple of live albums flowing from his poison pen in the past decade, all to widespread critical acclaim and, as usual, blanket commercial disdain. Each of those latter day releases evidenced the fact that the old punslinger was still shooting from the lip, a fact borne out once again by tonight's coruscating set

Upon taking the stage, base player Andreas Schmidt lightheartedly introduces the band and that is where all communication promptly ceases, until exactly one hour later when Lloyd, in response to rapturous applause from the seventy or so punters present, clarifies his standard position on encores "Thanks for coming out, but it doesn't matter how long you clap or shout we don't do encores. There are other groups that do, but not us". Then, suddenly, he's gone. I last glimpse him, upstairs in the Moon Club slumped on the corner sofa, arms outstretched, head tilted back in exhaustion.

There was, however, still plenty to like about the Nightingales on the night. Lloyd seemed in good humour, which is not always the case (a Festival performance in 2011 sticks in the memory not only for its breathtaking set, but for Lloyd's constant berating and baiting of his audience), while at the Buffalo Bar some years ago a manic Lloyd prowled through the crowd brandishing a microphone and I suddenly found myself conscripted into an army of backing vocalists on a swashbuckling rendition of "How to Age".

Lloyd was content to simply circle the stage tonight, coming on like a punch drunk heavyweight from Rocky XVIII with one too many bouts under his well-stuffed belt, occasionally throwing a flurry of airy punches at an imaginary opponent, before busting a set of moves last practiced by King Kong atop the Empire State Building, while swatting aside a squadron of fighter planes. It's glorious stuff, calling to mind the half-crouched can-can Lloyd executed when I saw the band for the first time in the Poly of Wales thirty years ago.

Lloyd has been quick to heap praise on the star quality of the band's present line-up (while the bio entry on the Nightingales' Facebook page is contrarily unforgiving about some of their predecessors describing them as 'part-time starry-eyed wastrels, precious sorts and mercenaries') and they more than live up to their big billing tonight. "Dumb and Drummer" a modern day Nightingales tub-thumper, and one of a number of songs to showcase a howling duet with ex Violet Violet drummer Fliss Kitson is an early highlight, closely followed by jackhammer versions of "Thick and Thin" and "Bullet for Gove". Unnamed and unknown songs (a request for a set-list has, so far, gone unanswered) spurt by, segueing into a vitriolic cacophony of rockabilly, post-punk and Glam, (the band even break into "Blockbuster" mid-way through "Taffy Come Home"). A blistering "Booze, Broads and Beauty" is suddenly becalmed, leaving Lloyd to "recite" a piece of performance poetry "Learn to Say Maybe", sadly, though, omitting its best lines,

'Next he got a job on Eurosport covering dominoes, falconry, and kendo / Then went mainstream and won awards for dirty-old-man-isms and innuendo'.

The gig reaches a gale-force finish with a bone-crushing rendition of "Bit of Rough" from Mind over Matter before the band beats an honorable retreat. Lloyd will be doing some more heavy lifting in Leicester, Manchester, Bradford and Edinburgh before the month is out. Don't miss out!

It suddenly strikes me that I haven't mentioned Lloyd's brief stint masquerading as Robert Lloyd and the New Four Seasons in 1987/8, where our hero got himself a trendy haircut, signed with a major label and penned a couple of absolute classic soul stompers, the best of which, the irrepressibly catchy "Something Nice", may just be the best pop song ever written that you've never heard of. Then again, that honour may belong to its companion piece "Part of the Anchor"? You really should stop reading this now (I'm running out of stuff to say, anyway) and check out the songs yourself (making sure to watch Lloyd's Snub TV performance below for a glimpse of that distinctive dancing) and decide for yourself.


 By Kevin McGrath


Article Source: Nightingales Live

A Quick Overview of Austin Live Music Genres

The Austin live music scene (and by Austin we mean Austin, Texas) is one that is generally held up as a beacon for other musician-heavy cities trying to build industries around people gigging and those going out to gigs. After, Austin has been noted as being "the live music capital of the world", and there's a good reason for that. The city has been an embodiment of the utopian spirit that musicians have flocked to for decades. Couple that with a population that is always listening for the next big star, and you have the makings of a combustible music scene that is ready to go off almost any night.

Still, sifting through the number of solo acts and bands that move through the corridors of Texas' capital city can be a little overwhelming even for the grizzled music "lifer" who feels they have a grasp on what types of music are in Austin.

For starters, you have to take into consideration the geographic location of Austin. Nestled along a string of major interstates that lead into the city (i.e., I-35, I-45, I-10), it's no surprise that there'd be a veritable mix of music. Probably the most popular genre of music in Austin is rock music. The image of the young, hip guitar-toting kid walking the streets looking to make some serious noise is about as rock and roll as it gets, and Austin has it in spades (you can even look up "music census reports" for the city that tell you as much).

Even with the rock edge in play, Austin also fares well with the presence of folk music and "Americana" that uses a more traditional (old-school?) sound and acoustic instruments. This isn't surprising given the ability to carry an acoustic instrument around, and by virtue of the instrument's construction, you are able to play without the aid of amplification or electricity. The genre also offers a generally more intimate experience between the musician and the audience, allowing the song's message to ring a little deeper.

However, one caveat to the folk genre is that it tends to have a number of music styles get lumped into that could be served as their own genre, such as the label of Mexican music. Texas is a state that is steeped in history with its neighbor to the south, and as with the advent of Tex-Mex cuisine, Mexican music is fervent in the area though to a much lesser degree than other genres.

There is also some relegation of music styles such as R&B, jazz, blues, and hip-hop to cellar dwellers in terms of their popularity in Austin. This could be, in part, due to demographic shifts in city population, as well as general shifts in population movement in and out of the metropolitan Austin area.

Austin, Texas and the Austin live music scene, regardless of its genre breakdown, is an institution in the world of music. Musicians flock to the area to get a taste of audiences that actually want to hear live music, and they cut their teeth working the popular gig thoroughfares hoping to make it big. If you've been thinking about visiting the "heart o' Texas", now is about a good a time as any.

For more information on the Austin music scene and its impact on live music in the area, click here today.


 By Morris Raymond


Article Source: A Quick Overview of Austin Live Music Genres

Oscar Mix-Up Proves Ageism Still Alive

Unless you're on Mars, you've no doubt heard about the mix-up at the 2017 Academy Award show. Warren Beatty, 79, and Faye Dunaway, 76, accidentally announced the wrong movie for Best Picture.

Twitter was immediately on fire, calling Beatty stupid, dim-witted, brain-dead, senile, and blind. People completely blamed him - and his age - for the screw up and cruel and degrading name-calling ensued.

Later, it was announced that the incident wasn't his fault after all. The Academy mistakenly gave him the wrong card for Best Actress. Apparently, Beatty saw La La Land's name on the card and was confused as to why Emma Stone's name was on it.

As Beatty explained on the show, probably sensing people were going to call him senile: "I want to tell you what happened. I opened the envelope and it said, 'Emma Stone, 'La La Land.' That's why I took such a long look at Faye, and at you. I wasn't trying to be funny."

Some people still blamed Beatty for passing the card to Dunaway to read, supposedly letting her take the fall. But, my reaction was different. I think he handed her the card looking for a second opinion. Dunaway thought he was joking ("You're impossible, come on," she said) and read the card.

Some of the press, and people on social media, claimed that Beatty should have asked for help when he noticed there was a problem. Maybe, but I say, give the man a break. Could you think calmly with 32 million people watching? I would venture a guess that a lot of younger people would have done the same thing.

Besides, even the Academy admitted this whole thing wasn't Beatty's - or Dunaway's - fault! And their age had nothing to do with the flub either. (By the way, even if Beatty was totally to blame, it wouldn't justify all the mean-spirited mocking and name-calling that, in my opinion, was sadly based on people's lack of respect for the elderly.)

Recently Humana invited me to watch and participate online in a panel discussion they sponsored, Over Sixty, Under Estimated: A Healthy Look at the "Silver" Screen at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles that included baby boomer actress Francis Fisher. During the discussion, the panel made a good point.

These days, if Hollywood ridiculed an ethnic group, the LGBT community, or the disabled in movies, people would be in an uproar. So why do people quietly tolerate the way movies make fun of older people? Older characters in movies have often been stereotyped as irritable, depressed, slow-witted, lonely, sickly, whiny, rude, horny, and foul-mouthed - as if that's all they had to offer.

Several actors aged 50-plus were nominated in prestigious categories this year in strong roles - although it should be noted none of them won. I thought maybe we, as active, vibrant baby boomers who have valuable knowledge, experience, and insight that only comes with age, were finally paving the way for a change in the way people view aging.

However, this faux pas at the Oscar Show and all the ridicule obviously based on Beatty's and Dunaway's age makes me think I was wrong. While some cultures honor the elderly, in general, Hollywood seems to be reflecting society's ongoing disrespectful, negative view of aging.

I realize that during this divisive time in America, many stayed away from the Academy Award show because of its political viewpoints. But the one thing we all have in common is that we're getting older. In fact, we are living in a time when the population of people ages 65 and older is expected to triple to 1.5 billion by mid-century.

Personally, I was appalled at how quick people were to slam Beatty as an older person who was supposedly clueless because of his age. I can only hope one day people will learn to respect the elderly and appreciate everything they have to offer.

Julie Gorges is an author, freelance writer, and blogger. During the past 20 years of professional writing, she has authored three books, had hundreds of article published in national and regional magazines, and won three journalism awards while working as a newspaper reporter. You can visit her blog at http://www.babyboomerbliss.net.


 By Julie Gorges

Article Source: Oscar Mix-Up Proves Ageism Still Alive

Why Stay at a B&B Instead of a Hotel?

Planning your next vacation? No matter where your destination is, you can choose to stay at a B&B over a hotel this time. Eager to know what a B&B is? Read on to find out!

A bed and breakfast is a type of lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation facility along with a free breakfast in the morning. They are becoming popular day by day because of their economical services aside of a homely feel. Let's see why staying at a B&B instead of a hotel can be your best decision.

• Less Pay, More Facilities

B&Bs are run by families and there is no staff to pay for. So their services are way cheaper when compared to hotels. While staying at a hotel, you have to pay separately for snacks, parking lots, internet connection, etc. But you will get these plus more at any B&B for free. That's the reason why they are preferred by travelers with a tight budget.

• Exclusive Rooms

No matter where situated, hotel rooms usually have a monotonous feel and they are designed for commercial purposes only. However, you can feel at home staying at a B&B. Each B&B has a unique room to offer, since they are deigned according to the personal tastes of the owners.

You may get claustrophobic if you stay at a hotel room because most of them are small in size. And you will get huge rooms with a better view but only after spending a huge sum of money. Most tourists spend very little time in rooms because they stay busy visiting the place. So there is no point of wasting so much money only for spending the night at luxury hotels.

A B&B can be your savior in such a situation. You don't have to worry about making your pocket empty since they are cheap. Moreover, you will have a living room, dining room, guest room, kitchen, etc. to enjoy quality time with your companions.

• Better Privacy

We all are familiar with the chaos of the typical hotels. Different types of people checking in and out at all times is a common scene in any hotel. If you prefer silence and privacy, hotels are definitely not the right places for you.

However, most B&Bs are located in countryside and serene environments. They also have fewer guests to take care of. So if you want to spend a quiet weekend, you better look for the B&Bs available at your preferred location.

• Proper Guidance to Visit Any Place

Since most B&B owners are locals, they can provide you all the info you need for exploring a certain place. They can inform you the famous local tourist spots and historical interests, transportation facilities, best times to check out certain places, local cuisines, and so on. Such useful guidance can reduce the stress of making the travelling plan on your own.

So considering all the above-mentioned factors, you should definitely stay at a B&B this time to make the tour a memorable one.


 By Imtiaz Ahasan


Article Source: Why Stay at a B&B Instead of a Hotel?

Day of the Witch, 2017

The day of the Witch has been resurrected in news feeds across the world as Witches unite in their magic of blocking the U.S. President Donald Trump from office. Using his own words, "You're fired" in rituals carried out last month on February 24th and designated to be performed again on March 26th, April 24, and June 21st of this year. The event has awakened and stirred the masses. Igniting anti-witch Christian groups in counteracting the Witches Spells, we are now in the wake of Spiritual Warfare in the United States.

This hot-debated topic has sparked those questions most of us have asked to ourselves, "is it real?", and "will it work?". Donald Trump will leave office and soon but I see it as a result of a disruptive force exposed According to quantum mechanics, the nature and behavior of this energy on the atomic and subatomic levels is very real.

Witchcraft dates back thousands of years and has survived massive hostilities toward them throughout the ages. It is highly unlikely that they will run from those who oppose their intentions of self defense now. The results of witchcraft is relevant in their ability to connect with and manipulate energy through their skills and beliefs. Cultures around the world practice a form of this energy manipulation in variations of beliefs but the basic principles is the same.

Through this spiritual warfare and racial conflicts in America, we will see waves of inspired millennial's from the fields of science and from all religious beliefs and background taking action in doing what they can to halt the destruction and contamination of our water and air. We will see them transform the oppressions in our governments and empower its people. More and more of them are being inwardly guided by the simultaneous occurrences of events in the world.

We will hear the subtle persuasion of ethic's and peace portrayed in their music and dance. As this new spiritual awareness manifests into society we will witness an increasingly amount of self appointed, inspired millennial's ready to sound alarm whenever chemical waste is dumped into our environment. We will hear from the film makers a ploy for humanity to take a stand against their those who suppress their right for medical attention. Their right for equality of their race, education, and religious beliefs is demanding political reform.

It is all beginning and happening now in this day of the Witch 2017 and will continue to progress through 2020. Eventually our professions, religions, occupations shift to an ever more efficiency in the direction of our food, air, and water supply. During these years of changing patterns we lean toward altering our financial institutions and monies to an automated system. We will see more self-contained housing, and the re-growth of our forests.


 By Barbara Garcia


Article Source: Day of the Witch, 2017

Pastoral Care Par Excellence

It's a moment where God speaks in the most surprising way. A glimpse into His heartland where care, concern and compassion, come into being all by themselves. An interaction between two girls of seven and five years, respectively.

It happens in a classroom. One girl is encountered by a teacher's assistant, upset and beyond consolation. What has happened? What could have occurred for the girl to be unable to utter a word? Finally, she says, "It's too hard; the work is too hard!"

The teacher's assistant tries to console the child. Not only is she unable to stem the flow of tears, the girl begins to heave uncontrollably. Concerned, the teacher's assistant refers the situation to the teacher.

The teacher is unfazed. After a few seconds, she simply asks the teacher's assistant to tap one of the girl's peers on the shoulder, and point the girl to her younger counterpart.

What happens next is a sweet moment for both staff in that classroom.

Without hesitation, the seven-year-old moves four desks down the line and joins her five-year-old peer, bringing her back with her to her own desk. She sits down and taps her lap. The younger student hops onto her lap, and an arm goes around her waist. Less than a minute later, and there is no longer any sign of heaving, and the tears have abated. Gentle secret words of reassurance are whispered, and emotional equilibrium is re-established. Within minutes, the younger girl is placated as if there were no upset to begin with.

The best care is the simple kindness of compassion, with few words and the decisiveness of action.

Steve Wickham holds Degrees in Science, Divinity, and Counselling. Steve writes at: http://epitemnein-epitomic.blogspot.com.au/ and http://tribework.blogspot.com.au/


 By Steve Wickham


Article Source: Pastoral Care Par Excellence

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