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James Bond: The Highest Grossing Film Series

September 29th, 2010

It’s been almost 5 decades that have passed since the very first James Bond film was first released. And it is quite acceptable that everyone from different generations were able to watch at least one film of the series. The James Bond franchise is one of the longest continually running film series in history and is the highest grossing film series when adjusted for inflation grossing a total of over $11 billion dollars for all 22 films. Without adjustment, the James Bond series places second to the Harry Potter series.

James Bond was a character created by an English author Ian Fleming. It’s based on the fictional MI6 character and was code named 007 or “double ‘o’ seven.” Numerous different film outfits had reservations of doing a film adaptation of Fleming’s novel, finding it ‘too British’ or ‘too blatantly sexual.’ Producer Albert Broccoli and his partner Harry Saltzman bought the rights to all the James Bond novels (except Casino Royale) in 1961 and set up EON Productions. They were able to convince United Artists in to budgeting either Thunderball or Dr. No with $1 million and the rest was history.

The very first actor who landed the lead role of James Bond was not English but a Scots actor by the name of Sean Connery. Ian Fleming who did the casting didn’t approve of Sean Connery at the time commenting that he’s ‘an overgrown stunt-man.’ The Scots’ charisma and sexual appeal overwhelmed the ladies which was perfect for the James Bond character. Sean Connery was the very first and maybe the only one who can throw the line ‘Bond James Bond’ with such confidence and punch. He starred in 6 James Bond film from EON including Thunderball (1965) which was the highest grossing of all with $955 million (inflation adjusted) and one non-EON entitled Never Say Never Again in 1983. Chronologically, he starred in 5 subsequent films of the series and reprised the role in the 7th. The 6th film was starred by George Lazenby. Roger Moore played as 007 in 7 of the films just like Sean Connery if the non-EON release was to be considered. After Moore, the Welsh actor Timothy Dalton was casted next in two of the films. Pierce Brosnan did four while Daniel Craig has signed a five-film contract with EON Productions. The latest Craig-film was released in 2008 called Quantum of Solace grossed more than half a billion dollars and is a one of the movies you must watch in that year.

Other fictional characters that have been present in almost every James Bond film have their own codenames as well. The character M is the one 007 answers to. He/she also brief James Bond about the mission. M, notably, is an initial of a fictional characters name: Admiral Sir Miles Messervy – 11 films, Admiral Marion Hargreaves – 4 films and Barbara Mawdsley – 6 films. Q, or quartermaster is another fictional character that Bond is always interacting with. Q is famous as the one who invents or briefs different odd gadgets to be used by the spy. Q first introduced the Aston Martin as Bond’s vehicle of choice equipped with different modifications. Since then, the people of Aston Martin makes sure that with every James Bond film there is a new Aston Martin in tow.

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Dinosaur Train For Good Television

September 6th, 2010

The decision on whether a television show is good for children to spend time watching is up to each set of parents, but a show that encourages developing thinking skills and testing out hypotheses is an excellent choice to try. Dinosaur Train on PBS is such a show and is a show about dinosaurs and how they ride a train to explore the different parts of the world where all kinds of dinosaurs roam. Buddy, a pre-school aged T-Rex is the focal point of the show and his natural curiosity about his surroundings and the desire to learn more about the creatures which inhabit them is the basis for the trips on the dinosaur train.

Buddy was adopted into a family of Pteranodons and his desire to learn about the differences in all dinosaurs for m the basis for his adventures and the questions he asks. Kids get to see Buddy and Tiny, Shiny, and Don ride the dinosaur train to find the answers to questions and learn more about their world.

Incorporating trains and dinosaurs is a great way to hold a child’s attention as both of them are fascinating for younger children and other television shows have led the way by capitalizing on this interest. This show is especially good because it teaches the child to ask questions and then to form a hypothesis about the information. The final piece is testing that hypothesis to see if what they thought was correct or if it needs more revision and testing. This experience in learning is a skill kids can take with them and use to succeed in school or even just to learn on their own.
Trips to the library to find out more about dinosaurs and their habitat will be in the offing as well as a several trips to any museums that have dinosaur exhibits. Once that spark for learning is turned on it’s hard to extinguish and self-learners will go far.

Try Dinosaur Train out and see if it fits your standards for a good television show.

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A Few Good Vampire Books

September 3rd, 2010

You might have seen the Twilight movie once, or you might have gotten it from a friend. Whatever the reason is, you are now hooked on vampire books. There are so many vampire books out there, but they all do not guarantee a good read. If you have read several but ended up disappointed, here are some books that are guaranteed to fix your thirst for vampire stories.

THE TWILIGHT SAGA by Stephanie Meyer

Of course, if you haven’t read or heard of the love story between Edward Cullen and Isabella Swan, then you must be living under a rock. This story has four parts, which are Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn. I have read all four, and I should say that New Moon is my favorite, and Eclipse is the least that I like. Although Breaking Dawn is a fairly good read, it will never surpass the excitement that Twilight has.

INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE by Anne Rice

This has actually been made into a movie starring Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise and Kirsten Dunst (back when she was really, really young). It tells of a vampire’s journey in life; love, hunger and loneliness. The character that we love most is Claudia, who is forever trapped in the young body of a child. Its famous tagline says “drink from me and live forever”.

THE HISTORIAN by Elizabeth Kostova

The story of Dracula has been told again and again, and you would think that some authors will get tired of it. You might also think that there is no new way to tell it, but seems like Elizabeth Kostova has found a new and exciting way to do so. The Historian tells about the search for Dracula and the things that Stoke must have got right. If you are looking for something that would make you jump out of your seat at night, then this is something you seriously need to consider.

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Avatar The Last Airbender Episodes, fun and educational

August 13th, 2010

I would suggest avatar the last airbender episodes to any parent that would like their children to watch something educational. It has been shown that will children watch educational shows they experience less difficulty in school. They are better able to learn the material and this will allow them to get better grades all through their schooling. Before I discovered this series my children were struggling in school to get their work done. They were getting score that were very low and they were considered for special educational because they were falling behind. This all changes when I allowed them to watch this show as a reward for finishing their homework on time. They started to do better in school and their test scores increased in just a few months.

All of this progress with a result of watching avatar the last airbender episodes with the children. They enjoyed watching Aang is his battle against evil; the story is really pretty simple for anyone that has never seen the show. The main character and his friends are given powers and they need to use these powers to keep the world from being destroyed. What this means is that he needs to keep the peace by doing battle and using his powers to avoid destruction. I found the themes in the show to be interesting and simple to follow. This means that if you are new to avatar the last airbender episodes, you can still enjoy them and you will be able to catch onto the storyline fast. Progression is also important and each season adds some new elements to the show that keep the story fresh.

The children were excited to watch and I even started watching with them. I purchased a few episodes online and they were happy. If you were ever looking for a cartoon that teaches children to do good in life and work hard, the avatar the last airbender episodes are the answer. Because of this show my children decided to take after the main character and put more effort into their work. I was able to use this cartoon to get the keys to work harder at school. Without this show my family would have been missing out on a beautiful animated series that had so of the best motion animation that I had ever seen during the battle scenes. I recommend that you try this series with the entire family.

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Choosing The Ideal Flat screen TV Size For Your House

August 11th, 2010

The specific position of the tv set in your household is a significant concern in the purchasing of a Hd tv , no matter which type you actually buy. Before ordering you should estimate the dimensions of the area in which you want to put the tv screen. The appliance should be located near to a electrical power outlet for convenience and to make certain an extension lead is not required.

The ratio of the units of measurement of the horizontal and vertical proportion of a TV screen are called the aspect ratio. For classic CRT television sets, the proportion is 4:3 whereas with Hdtv the proportion is 16:9. This gives a Flat screen tv a form much like a movie theatre screen.

Furnishings such as entertainment centers can confine the measurements if you are setting up for a substantial size widescreen tv. When buying for a TV that will go into an entertainment center, don’t forget to allow all the proportions. There should really also be space for appropriate air flow and sufficient area to add any sound system.

High Definition TV has the benefit of being able to be mounted to a wall. Wall mounted Televisions have the convenience of using up a lesser amount of space than a television screen positioned on a cabinet.

Keeping the viewing distance proportioned to the television screen dimensions gives the best viewing. Getting too close or too distant will have an impact on your view of the tv screen. The advised seating length from a TV screen needs to be close to to about three to six times the screen’s dimensions.

A forty two inch television is a decent choice for most conventional size lounge rooms. To get hold of the best discounts you really should do some market place research. With the availability of numerous e-commerce shops you can evaluate price ranges on the web and may discover some excellent offers. Some stores will provide excellent savings on finance, including additional options like an longer manufacturer’s warranty and other equipment at no further charge.

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Posted in Arts & Entertainment, Home & Garden, TV

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Choosing Your LCD TV Stand

August 10th, 2010

You can get plasma and LCD TV stands for any room in your house. They offer support, storage and style to your home. There are many attractive pieces that will enhance your home and give you flat screen a great support system in the process. A good TV stand will have places for your dvd’s, books and other electronics. An LCD TV stand can offer you some eye catching decor in a room that is the focus of most homes.

Choosing the right stand can be a chore. You need to see how big your room is first before you decide what you want. You can choose styles such as mission, traditional and contemporary black glass. The choices are really unlimited especially if your budget is large. You need to know how much extra space you will need. Apartments or small houses will require something a little smaller. Additional electronics will need to be with your TV so it is wise to pick something that has good storage as well.

Another thing you will need to know is how much your TV weighs. Most stands can hold up tp 300 pounds. Plasma TV’s don’t weigh to much but it is good to check just to be safe. If your tv is going to be in a busy area, you might need a plasma lift stand. These stands will lift the tv up and out of the stand and then put it back. They will protect your TV from small children and conceal the TV when not in use.

There are many places to buy a plasma and LCD TV stands. If you are looking for something cheaper than your local furniture store then you can go to Walmart, Target or any other store that sells TV’s. I will however remind you that you get what you pay for and TV furniture is no different. You can also look at online shopping websites to see what they have to offer. There are many stores online where you can get any kind of wood, metal or glass stand you like. there is cherry, walnut, oak and pine. Plus you won’t even have to leave your house. Everything will be delivered right to your front door.

This is a great way to spruce up your home and save space as well. These stands will compliment your home perfectly. Just remember to check for size first so you will have a great fit.

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Here Comes 3D TV

August 10th, 2010

It is now time for 3D to finally come into it’s own with the new selection of 3D TVs. Now watching 3D movies and shows in the comfort of your own home is becoming a reality.

In order to watch 3D at home some equipment is required. First and foremost is a HD3DLEDTV or a 3D compatible TV. Most, but not all will require 3D glasses. Then you will need that true 3D movie.

In order to view images in 3D we will need to wear shutter glasses that open and close in sync with flashing images on the screen. This in combination with two pictures projected onto the same screen will trick our eye into viewing the images in 3D.

Polarized glasses don’t require power because they don’t open and close like the active shutter glasses. What they do is help the eye see two different images as one which creates a 3D effect. Movie theaters use polarized glasses and have two projectors which project two different images on the screen.

In order to watch a 3D movie at home you will need a 3D movie. You can rent or buy a 3D blu-ray or stream 3D from the Internet. There are many new exciting media and 3D streaming options becoming available.

What is the most important aspect of getting 3D media from your cable or satellite provider? It may be the lowly cable. No matter what source you are getting your 3D media from it needs to be connected with the latest HDMI 1.4 cable. If not the 3D signal will not transfer properly. Direct TV and Com cast both offer options in 3D media. As more people get compatible set ups the options will only increase.

Do you like sports? Even if you don’t the ESPN sports in 3D will be something to behold. Do you enjoy looking at glaciers, penguins, and sharks, then Discovery 3D will have something for you. 3D games? Sony PS3 is on it.

Vuzix has created 3D glasses that you can wear and view 3D on the go. Just hook them to a 3D source such as your smart phone.

Is there a way to have a 3D LED HDTV that doesn’t require glasses? Yes there is a liquid crystal technology that directs the eye to different images creating a 3D effect without glasses. In order for this to work you have to be directly in front of the TV. As technology is perfected I’m sure we will hear more about this technology.

3D is here to stay and good thing too. Imagine having all of the kids gathered around watching there favorite movie in 3D. Talk about a Disney babysitter. A great activity for slumber parties and family get togethers. Have some interactive oohs and aah s at your next movie night.

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How to put the next fantasy book on your reading list

August 3rd, 2010

With the enormous new entries of fantasy books on the market, there is inevitably a ton of garbage being introduced.  So how does one pick the best fantasy books from the inundation of new fiction flooding the market both in the traditional paper and bind area and in the relatively new ebook market?

Time is a valuable commodity to all of us and if you’re a fan of the best fantasy novels out there but have found yourself roped into one bad saga after another, you’re going to want to do your homework.  There’s easy ways and tough ways to manage this process.

The first path you want to travel down is to follow the authors you love.  Typically if an author has spoken to you in a previous book, he or she is going to continue to do so in their next installments.  This is more true following series of books like trilogies or the long ten book mega sagas, but keep an eye on the ones that start new series if you enjoyed their past series.

The second path may seem obvious but here it is anyway.  Read the reviews on either review sites or sites like Amazon.  If the average starred rating of a book is below three (of five – a la Amazon), I wouldn’t even consider it.  There is too much good stuff out there.  If it’s sitting in the three to four range, dig a little deeper.  Check out some of the five starred reviews, see if the reviewer reads the same type of stuff you do.

Finally, there are people that have absolutely loathed some of my favorite novels.  This falls under the golden rule of ‘you can’t please all the people all the time’.  And why would you want to?  You will typically find the best fantasy novels are those that have a fair amount of five start ratings balanced by a fair amount of one star ratings.  This means there’s some true controversy to be found within those pages.  Happy reading!

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Posted in Arts & Entertainment, Literature

All About Direct TV HD

July 31st, 2010

It has been interesting over the past five years to watch the pricing on LCD and plasma screen TV sets. When these first came to market around 2004, they were priced anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000 for a 42 inch model. Prices slowly dropped down year after year, until they finally broke the $1,000 barrier in late 2008. From there it has really been a free fall on some models, as today you can find a 1080p HDTV for as little as $500 at a discount store like Wal Mart. But what about the HD content to really make that new flat screen look great? While most people still have cable in one form or another, other have made the jump over to satellite. Lets take a look at what Direct TV can offer you as far as high definition content.

Direct TV put a new satellite into service a few months ago, and this means they can offer more HD channel content, and they have also begun to broadcast 3D channels. Many of the advertisements from Direct TV claim they have the ability to offer 200 HD channels. While this may be true, what really matters it the actual high definition channel content. The reality is that you will actually get around 90 HD channels with Direct TV if you subscriber to the top package, which includes all of the movie channels.

In reality, Direct TV says they have 160 high definition channels, but many of these are pay per view. If you pay to watch a pay per view movie in HD, I don’t really think that qualifies as a channel. In addition, many of the regional sports networks are counted in that 160 number, but unless you get the sports pack you won’t get but one or two of these normally.  So while the 160 number sounds great, its more for marketing satellite television services than anything else.

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Stick People Decals for Every Season

July 30th, 2010

Do you remember your first attempt to draw yourself or your entire family? For most of us all we able to draw were just stick people? Stick people drawings are a classic. With just simple adorable sticks, it can represent you, your friends or your entire family. And now, you can place them on your car through stick people car decals.

Putting on car decals is the easiest way to customize your vehicle. They can be place on your windows, bumpers or anywhere on your car. Most car decals are made from vinyl which is known to last a long time. They have an adhesive side where you can stick it to any surface on your car. Since car decals take a long time before it wears of, you must choose a design that also has a lasting impact and will not go off season.

There are a lot of designs for custom car decals that range from cartoon or animated characters, religious to naughty images and even some business ads and abstract patterns. If you want cute and cool images, you can try putting up stick people decals. This could be a comic representation for your entire family. Your family uses the vehicle almost everyday and it might just add more fun seeing stick representations of yourself while travelling. Stick people design will never go out of season and will be appreciated by all ages. Even the little kids that pass by will stop to just look at your decals. Older men and women will also start wanting their own stick people decals on their cars after having seen yours.

You don’t have to look no further if you want one of these custom decals. The Internet is one large market that offers about every possible product you can purchase. And of course, it includes custom car decals specifically the stick people design. There are a lot of selections for you to choose from that you’ll sure to find the perfect representation matched to your own family.

Make your long trips on your car more enjoyable with stick people car stickers. You can have fun laughing at each others stick representations and you will never experience that long dragging ride on your own cars.

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