Art Theft: Most Famous Cases in History

Art theft is an ancient and complicated crime. When you look at the some of the most famous cases of art thefts in history, you see thoroughly planned operations that involve art dealers, art fakers, mobsters, ransoms, and millions of dollars. Here you can read about some of the most famous cases of art theft in the history.

The First Theft:

The first documented case of art theft was in 1473, when two panels of altarpiece of the Last Judgment by the Dutch painter Hans Memling were stolen. While the triptych was being transported by ship from the Netherlands to Florence, the ship was attacked by pirates who took it to the Gdansk cathedral in Poland. Nowadays, the piece is shown at the National Museum in Gdansk where it was recently moved from the Basilica of the Assumption.

The Most Famous Theft:

The most famous story of art theft involves one of the most famous paintings in the world and one of the most famous artists in history as a suspect. In the night of August 21, 1911, the Mona Lisa was stolen out of the Louver. Soon after, Pablo Picasso was arrested and questioned by the police, but was released quickly.

It took about two years until the mystery was solved by the Parisian police. It turned out that the 30ﾗ21 inch painting was taken by one of the museum employees by the name of Vincenzo Peruggia, who simply carried it hidden under his coat. Nevertheless, Peruggia did not work alone. The crime was carefully conducted by a notorious con man, Eduardo de Valfierno, who was sent by an art faker who intended to make copies and sell them as if they were the original painting.

While Yves Chaudron, the art faker, was busy creating copies for the famous masterpiece, Mona Lisa was still hidden at Peruggias apartment. After two years in which Peruggia did not hear from Chaudron, he tried to make the best out of his stolen good. Eventually, Peruggia was caught by the police while trying to sell the painting to an art dealer from Florence, Italy. The Mona Lisa was returned to the Louver in 1913.

The Biggest Theft in the USA:

The biggest art theft in United States took place at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. On the night of March 18, 1990, a group of thieves wearing police uniforms broke into the museum and took thirteen paintings whose collective value was estimated at around 300 million dollars. The thieves took two paintings and one print by Rembrandt, and works of Vermeer, Manet, Degas, Govaert Flinck, as well as a French and a Chinese artifact.

As of yet, none of the paintings have been found and the case is still unsolved. According to recent rumors, the FBI are investigating the possibility that the Boston Mob along with French art dealers are connected to the crime.

The Scream:

The painting by Edvard Munchs, The Scream, is probably the most sought after painting by art thieves in history. It has been stolen twice and was only recently recovered. In 1994, during the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, The Scream was stolen from an Oslo gallery by two thieves who broke through an open window, set off the alarm and left a note saying: thanks for the poor security.

Three months later, the holders of the painting approached the Norwegian Government with an offer: 1 million dollars ransom for Edvard Munchs The Scream. The Government turned down the offer, but the Norwegian police collaborated with the British Police and the Getty Museum to organize a sting operation that brought back the painting to where it belongs.

Ten years later, The Scream was stolen again from the Munch Museum. This time, the robbers used a gun and took another of Munchs painting with them. While Museum officials waiting for the thieves to request ransom money, rumors claimed that both paintings were burned to conceal evidence. Eventually, the Norwegian police discovered the two paintings on August 31, 2006 but the facts on how they were recovered are not known yet.

ARTURO EL REY - Book Review

This large (378 pages), fantasy-adventure novel should give best selling authors like Stephen King heavy competition. Fantastically interwoven with elements of King Arthur痴 realm, including a little Arthurian romance, Arturo el Rey will keep the reader captivated.

The main character, Art Reyes, escapes gang life and joins the Marines ・but when terrorists release the devastating plague, there was no government left to for him to serve. Survival of mankind is tentative at best, due to the drugged-up gangs of angry, distraught people attacking defenseless plague survivors. Brutality and recklessness have reduced the number of women, preserved food is dwindling, fuel is sparse while life-saving and pain-killing drugs are being consumed by stressed out survivors at an alarming rate.

One safe haven is created by a ruthless man who rules with an iron fist. In the meantime, Art struggles to find meaning in the haunting dreams that leave him with a feeling he has a purpose to fulfill. As he strives to find some balance between surviving the elements and violence and retaining freedom, Art accidentally discovers himself. Thrown into the position of leader and possibly the savior of civilization, Art battles rivalries and evil men.

I can quite safely say this is one of the better books that I have ever read. Joan Hall kept me captivated from page one and on. I felt torn when I had to set the book down and deal with life! An excellent read that I heartily recommend to anyone who enjoys the adventure and fantasy genre.

ISBN#: 1554102587
Author: Joan Upton Hall
Publisher: Zumaya Otherworlds

~ Lillian Brummet - Book Reviewer - Co-author of the book Trash Talk, a guide for anyone concerned about his or her impact on the environment ・Author of Towards Understanding, a collection of poetry. (http://www.sunshinecable.com/~drumit)

Bad Credit Card- Offered By Many Companies

Check-books and paying with cash is becoming less frequent as more people are using plastic to pay for purchases. Checkbooks are being replaced by debit cards and the use of credit cards is rising. Online shopping has helped fuel the need for a credit card. Unfortunately people with bad credit are normally not approved for a credit card. It is not hopeless, there are avenues for those with bad credit histories to enter or return to the world of plastic.

Bad credit - credit cards are offered by many companies. This became a necessity since individuals with low incomes or credit problems would be declined for a low interest, no fee credit card. Many of these companies use what is called Risk Based Pricing. What this does is they have several types of offerings with different interest rates. The rate they offer is based on your credit score. So if you apply for one card you may get declined but offered a card with a higher rate. This is an excellent way for someone with a bit of a negative credit history to be approved for a bad credit, credit card.

So what about those individuals with no credit or extremely negative credit? They may need to look at another type of bad credit, credit card. There are several companies that target these types of people. They offer what is called a starter card. This type of card has a very high interest rate and very low credit limit. There are also a substantial amount of fees normally connected with these cards.

These cards pale in comparison to the more normal type of credit card offers but the acceptance rate is high. By using, one of these bad credit, credit cards and keeping with the terms of the agreement, making payments on time in a period of time your credit rating will be more positive. This will allow you the opportunity to apply with a better chance of acceptance for a lower rate and more favorable term credit card.

There are some individuals with such critical credit problems, a recent bankruptcy for instance, that a starter card would not be an option. If this is the case the only solution that would be left is a prepaid credit card which is sometimes called a secured card. The fact they look like a credit card it the only similarity. They need to have funds deposited to use them. You are virtually guaranteed to be accepted for this type of bad credit, credit card.

They work the same as any Mastercard or Visa but you can only spend the amount of money you have deposited. This leaves very little risk to the card issuer since you can not incur any debt with them. Because the issuer of the card will not be making any money on monthly interest rates for the balance they make their money in other ways. The can charge a fee for applying, a annual fee, an administration fee even a small percentage for every time you purchase something with the card. You will want to research several companies before applying for this type of bad credit, credit card since these fees can vary greatly.

Basically what all this means if even with a bad credit rating, nearly everyone can find a bad credit, credit card. It may take some research but it can be accomplished.

Art Schools

ART SCHOOLS

An Art school has a primary focus on the visual arts, such as graphic design, illustration, painting, photography, and sculpture. They are specific to the type of education that you wish to obtain. Art schools differ from larger institutions by degrees including such classes as science and math. When the school is considered an accredited college, you can still obtain a bachelor of Fine Arts degree. There are certain criteria that you need to meet in order to be accepted into an art school. What the admissions committees look for in an applicant is:

Grades: the committee wants to make sure that the future student will be successful and thrive under academic pressure.

Students who have strong academic backgrounds are preferred. Do not worry if you are not the strongest academic applicant.

The Admissions counselors also take personal background and extracurricular activities into consideration.

Improve your chances of being accepted at the art school of your choice, by improving your GPA, participating in after school activities, (if you are still in school), involvement in the community or neighborhood, and/or participation in civic or religious groups. These will all give you an advantage when applying to the art school you wish to attend, as they will enhance your application making it more likely to be accepted.

It is always a challenge to be accepted into art school, but it is never impossible. No matter what you reason is for applying to art school, whether it is to better your qualifications and improve your chances of getting a promotion or if you are just out of high school wanting to attend school.

There will always be ways to improve your chances of getting into art school. Therefore, take a look around talk to people that may be going to the school of your choice. Never be afraid to ask questions. You will find that people are willing to give you the information you need in order to optimize your application. Do not be afraid to take all the advantages and advise you can get.

Art Myths Debunked

Assumption: Art becomes more valuable once an artist dies.

Actuality: Prices escalate only when demand is greater than supply. Prices can increase if there was a shortage of the artist's work prior to his or her death and if the demand continues to be significantly greater than supply. Art News (November 2003) presented an article on the ten most wanted artworks. These would sell individually for more than $5 Million IF the present owners would let me them go. However, as the collectors know they could not acquire a replacement painting/sculpture/drawing, they won't be selling these artworks.

Assumption: An artist's proof is more valuable than a print from the regular edition.

Actuality: Artist's proofs are routinely consistent with the regular edition in appearance and value. On rare occasions, a color trial proof be judged to be more valuable than the regular edition or an artist's proof. this happens when the reigning experts determine the color trial proof represents a more handsome product than the regular edition or artist's proof.

Assumption: It's just a print.

Actuality: Some artist's do or do not choose to paint. Their art "translates" more successfully using an original print medium such as lithography, etching, serigraphy, or woodcuts. Some original prints have sold for more than $100,000 when done by prominent artists. The only time an art professional might utter "It's just a print" is when they are referencing a reproductive print. This is usually a photographic rendition of an existing artwork, in other words, a photomechanical copy.

Why can't you value my art from photographs?

・Liability
・As long as I am a professional art appraiser, I am held to a different standard than someone functioning strictly as a dealer.
・PLUS I like to be right!!!

Photographs do NOT reveal all condition issues and the public is not trained to properly describe them. How many of you can recognize light staining, mat burning, foxing, etc? These and other condition flaws significantly impact value.

・A reproduction attached to canvas virtually looks the same as an original oil painting in a photograph. Unless I know which museum is currently hosting the actual painting, I cannot be perfectly sure you are showing me a photographically generated reproduction or an actual painting when viewing a photograph. Now there are gicle・prints printed on canvas and enhanced with paint, a hands-on inspection is a must.

Ballroom Dancing Enjoys Resurgence With Kids

Step one: Put on your dancing shoes. Step two: Grab a partner. Step three: Tango!

Ballroom dancing, from the fox trot to the charleston, has long been a popular part of American culture. Adults love it, but lately, younger generations have been tapping into the music and rhythm of the waltz and the cha-cha - dances that once excited their parents and grandparents.

This is due in part to ballroom dancing's resurgence in television and film.

In the recent documentary "Mad Hot Ballroom," now available on DVD from Paramount Home Entertainment, pupils from three New York City schools discover the world of ballroom dancing through 10 weeks of required classes taught by the American Ballroom Theater.

The film showcases the children's candid, innocent and hilarious perspectives as they are transformed from typical urban kids to "ladies and gentlemen."

With each scene, the audience watches as they strive to meet their ultimate goal - the final city competition known as the Rainbow Team Matches.

Kids are not the only ones with a renewed interest in the dance form. Parents, too, are recognizing the potential of ballroom dancing in keeping their children occupied, out of trouble and in shape.

Studies on the benefits of ballroom dancing conducted by California State University at Long Beach show that even beginning students can get their heart rates up to near-maximum training rates with a five-minute warm-up and a 20-minute cha-cha, polka or swing. Moderate ballroom dancing burns between 250 and 300 calories per hour. Vigorous dancing can burn as many as 400 calories per hour.

Along with its benefits to the body, ballroom dancing develops coordination and teaches children important lessons in social interaction and good manners.

Backgammon Rules: Learn How to Play Backgammon

The board game backgammon is one of the most ancient games known to man. It is believed that early variations of the game were played in Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia and Ancient Rome. Since then, the game has evolved, changed several names and spread to different parts of the world. It is currently a popular pastime all over the US, East Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

In order to play backgammon all you need is a partner, two dice and a special backgammon board with checkers. The backgammon board is divided into two sides with each one is the mirror reflection of the other. Each side contains 12 triangles called points numbered from 1 to 24.

Points 1 to 6: Home Board or Inner Board

Points 7 to 12: Outer Board

7 point: Bar Point

13 point: Mid Point

At the starting position of the game, each player has 2 checkers on the 24 point, 3 checkers on the 8 point and 5 on the 13 and 6 point. Each player moves from his home board through the outer board towards the opponent home board.

The object of backgammon, then, is to move your checkers towards your opponent home board and remove them off the board before your opponent moves his checkers towards your home board. The speed of the progress of each move is determined by the outcome of the dice roll.

The backgammon play begins with both players tossing one die. The player whose outcome is the highest, makes the first move using both his and his opponents number. If the outcome of the dice toss is even, the players toss the dice again until an uneven outcome appears. From now on, each player tosses both dice on his turn.

After each toss of dice, you should move your checkers forward the number of steps appears on both dice. You can move either one checker the number of steps summed up by both die or move two checkers. To make it clearer: if the outcome of the dice roll is 5 and 4, you can either move one checker 9 steps forward or move one checker 5 steps forward and then move the other piece 4 steps forward

If the dice rolls a double, which means an even number on both dice, you can move double the number appears on the dice. For example, if you roll double 2, you can move 2 points four times. In that case, you can either move one checker 8 steps forward; move two checkers a total of 4 steps; move two checkers a total of 2 steps each plus a total of 4 steps; move one checker a total of 6 steps plus 2 steps; or move four checkers 2 steps.

You can move a checker to a point where there is another one of your checkers or no more than one checker of your opponent, called blot. When you hit a blot, it is moved to the middle of the board to the part divided between the home board and the outer boards, called the bar.

The checkers placed on the bar are kept out of play until the bar can be entered by a dice roll in the opponent痴 home boards. For example, if you roll 2, you can enter a checker to the 23 point and enter the opponents home board and re enter the bar checkers into the game. You cannot move the other checkers unless your entire bar checkers are at your opponents home board.

By the time your checkers are in your home board, you must remove the checkers from the board, to bear off, using a roll of dice. For example, if you roll 1, you can bear off one checker from the 1 point; if you roll 2, you can move a checker form the 2 point, and so on.

If your opponent has not borne off any checkers while you have borne off 15 checkers, you win the gammon. If your opponent has not borne off any checkers and still some of his checkers are placed on the bar, while you have borne off 15 checkers, then you win the backgammon.

Audio Book Myths Or The 鄭udio Book Phobic・People

Audio books are becoming more and more popular. Yet, there are a lot of individual people that are afraid of trying audio books ・they are the 殿udio book phobic・people.

I have interviewed some of them recently and collected the so called reasons that separate them from the audio book world. I have proven to each one of them that those reasons are only myths and even succeeded in persuading some of them to try those threatening audio books. Here are the main myths I have encountered:

1. I believe audio books are expensive ・wrong. In fact, there are free downloadable audio books online. Audio books on mp3 files are usually cheaper than the same title in its book version. Audio book on Cd and books on tape could cost more but are still not expensive.

2. I think that audio books will never be a good substitute for the 途eal・books ・Right. Audio books・publishers do not see audio books as potential books substitutes. They are only an extension for the book concept. You can learn foreign languages or learn history by listening to audio books ・You will enjoy it more this way than reading a book about it. Audio books are intended for the times of the day when you can not read books.

3. I have no time to listen to audio books ・Wrong. Most of the people listen to audio books driving, cleaning the house, jogging etc. You can not read books in these times. Did you know that the average annual delay due to traffic congestion has more than tripled since 1982 and that More than 19 million commuters travel more than 45 minutes each way to their jobs. In fact, More than 97 million workers drive alone to work each day;

To sum up, to all of you 殿udio book phobic・people who claim they can not afford audio books. Listen to me; you can not afford not listening to audio books.

Article directories add value

Article Directories follow the metaphysical law of Reciprocation. What this means in Layman's Terms is: you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. Both parties get something out of the arrangement, and all is good. If you contrast this particular method of marketing to the more odious method of "scraping content", and you'll quickly see why article directories are considered to be the wave of the future when it comes to interactive and co-operative marketing. Article directories allow for participation by:

1)webmasters who want to use the articles

2)The Webmaster who wrote the article and who receives promotional credit for publishing it

3)The end user who gets high quality content that may not have been available otherwise.

If you haven't already begun article creation, you better get started soon. Right now, the article directory industry is exploding. What better way to promote your website than to write expert articles that make you and your subject matter stand out from the crowd? If you're an excellent writer, you can greatly expand the audience of your website by expanding your reach on the internet. Once you're published on a multitude of websites, you can expect a great deal of direct traffic as well as search engine juice from your many installed articles. If you think about 10 articles that are on over 100 sites, you can quickly see that's 1,000 pages that now link to you with information about you and your website. Done consistently, for months on end, there is no better way of increasing your exposure than authoring and submitting articles on your favorite subjects. If you're not already an expert on a subject, then what better time to start than now?

You are best off writing individual articles for the web directories that do not appear on your own website. Otherwise, you may run into the very real risk of the article directory outranking you for your very own content! Generally article directories are very popular website with a great deal of traffic and link popularity, so they often will rank for your article. If you use original content, you can expect additional traffic, that doesn't interfere with your websites traffic at all. Submitting content to article directories is not a miracle cure for all of your ranking blues, but it's a great start for a deserving website on the road to recognition. Only by getting the word out, can you expect others to be able to find the wonderful resource that is your website.

The Article Directory at Webs-Best-Directory.com is a human-edited, categorized search engine friendly web directory. Add your website today. www.yeswebsites.com

View their website at: www.yeswebsites.com

As you can see from HomeLand Art

As you can see from HomeLand Art痴 gallery there are three paintings of Howth. Two of these paintings depict the harbour and the third painting is of the Bailey Lighthouse, looking over Dublin Bay.

Howth is a wonderful place to visit and is a nice little escape for anyone spending time in Dublin City. Situated just 9 miles from the city centre, it takes about 25 minutes to get to by Dart (Dublin痴 electric rail system). You can also get a bus to Howth Summit where the views across Dublin bay are breathtaking. On a clear day you can see as far south as Wexford and looking east you can make out the mountains of Wales. From here you can see the Bailey Lighthouse and it痴 view across Dublin Bay to the Dublin and Wicklow Mountains. Our painting of the Bailey Lighthouse was painted not far from the summit where the cliff walk begins.

I would highly recommend, for anyone visiting Howth for the first time, to make their way to the summit on the 31C bus. From Howth Summit you can take the cliff walk and make your way down to Howth Harbour. The last time I took this route it took me around 45mins to an hour. It痴 an ideal way to lead up to lunchtime because by the time you get down to the villiage you will have built up a hearty appetite and probably a fierce thirst!

There are no shortage of restaurants and bars. Here are my favourites, with a brief description:

The Bloody Stream. Situated just beneath Howth Dart Station. My favourite day to visit here is a sunday afternoon when they normally have a roaring fire (in the winter time usually!). My favourite is the chowder.

Findlaters. A good spot at night. The bar on the top floor has a nice patio with views over Howth Harbour and beyond to the Island of Ireland痴 Eye.

The Waterside Pub. A good pint of Guinness and very nice bar food. If you want to eat something more substantial the Wheelhouse restaurant upstairs is a good choice.

Abbey Tavern. This is a favourite for a lot of tourists passing through. There is normally a traditional music session taking place.

The Cock Tavern. A real local and a favourite for the fishermen off the boats. The Guinness and the craic is great.

For anyone looking for non-pub related activities there is plenty to do in Howth. If you like golf, Deerpark Hotel has 2 18-hole public golf courses on it痴 grounds, as well as a par 3 course. As far as public golf courses go, you can稚 get better than this on a fine day. The views are incredible.

On the driveway up to the golf courses, you can stop off at the old castle and visit the Transport Museum. It痴 small but very interesting.

A favourite for a lot of people on a sunny afternoon is to take an hour or two, get a 99 (ice cream) just wander around the harbour. There is plenty of activity to observe and the seals normally make an appearance. There are plenty of boats to admire. Our 2 paintings of the harbour and the lighthouse in the background are favourites of locals and visitors alike.

We hope you visit Howth and we hope you like our artwork.

Avnex Music Morpher Gold 3.0 ・A Closer Look

Of all the features in Avnex Music Morpher Gold 3.0, the Editor contains a truly impressive collection of powerful and versatile audio tools. Let痴 take an in-depth look at the various effects and filters built-in to this program. While most of them can be accessed on the fly in the Music Player and applied real time, these effects are only active during playback. To permanently alter your audio files you have to open them within the editor. You can work with one file or multiple files in multi-session mode.

What you can do. The selection is seemingly endless. There are 60 major filters and effects to work with. Plus support for Direct X and VST. That痴 just the surface; let痴 take a detailed look at the power contained within these modules. If you are familiar with basic audio terms, most of these modules will be familiar to you, but you may not have encountered such depth and precision available to you in one program. Here痴 the detailed list of the AVnex Music Morpher Effects Library:

Voice Morphing

o Cher Modification - 10 presets 8 controls

o Frequency Morpher - 11 presets and a graphic interface

o Robot Voice - 9 presets 2 sliders

o Root Formant Mover - 8 presets 2 sliders

o Tempo Morpher - 11 presets one slider

o Voice LPC Pitch Changer - 6 presets one slider

o Voice Morpher - 16 presets 3 sliders

o Voice Extractor - 3 presets7 sliders

o Voice Remover - 3 presets 4 sliders

o Voice Extractor - 5 sliders

o Voice Remover - 5 sliders

Equalizers

o 2 order equalizer - 17 presets 10 sliders graphic control

o 4 order equalizer - 17 presets 10 sliders graphic control

o Graphic Equalizer - 13 presets 1 slider graphic control with 2 scales

o Linear Phase Equalizer - 17 presets 10 slides graphic control

Filters

o Low Bass Filter - 16 presets 3 slides graphic control

o High " " - 6 presets 3 slides graphic control

o Band " " - 8 presets 4 slides graphic control

o Band Reject Filter - 7 presets 3 sliders graphic control

o FIR Bass Filter - 16 presets 3 sliders graphic control

Volume

o Amplitude Morpher - 8 presets graphic control 2 scales 2 curves

o Auto Loudness - 12 presets 2 sliders

o Change Channel - 9 presets 2 sliders

o Constant - 2 settings

o Dynamics Morpher - 8 presets 2 sliders graphic control

o Fade In - 4 types 1 slider

o Fade Out - 4 types 1 slider

o Invert - 3 presets 2 settings

o Limiter - 16 presets 2 sliders

o Multiband Dynamics - 8 presets compression ratio/threshold graph

o Normalize - 6 presets 2 sliders

o Volume - 15 presets 2 sliders

Echo and Reverb

o Complex Delay - 14 presets 7 sliders

o Delay - 22 presets 5 sliders

o Mega Reverb - 15 presets 5 sliders

o PingPong - 12 presets 7 sliders

o Resonance - 6 presets 6 sliders

o Reverberation - 10 presets 7 sliders 3 line controls

o Stick Channels - 17 presets 9 sliders

Surround

o Pseudo Surround 12 presets 3 sliders

o Surround - 24 presets 2 sliders

Miscellaneous

o Beat Tracking - 50 presets 2 sliders import capable

o Chorus - 15 presets 4 sliders 5 options

o Chorus Plus - 11 presets 8 sliders

o Detonation - 14 presets 7 sliders

o Distortion - 5 presets 4 sliders

o Envelope Morpher - 10 presets 2 sliders graphic control

o Flanger - 8 presets 5 sliders sine/feedback control

o Hardcore Beat - 8 presets 7 sliders

o Karaoke - 4 presets 1 slider

o Music by Voice Morpher - 4 sliders file input option

o Noise Reduction - 9 presets 2 sliders

o Rhythm to Noise - 7 presets 24 sliders each with 4 waveform settings linear and log scales

o Spectral Peak Enhancer - 6 presets 3 sliders

o Squeak - 8 presets 5 sliders

o Tremolo - 7 presets 5 sliders

o Vibrato - 3 presets 3 sliders

o Vibrato Plus - 10 presets 2 sliders time/offset graph

o Wave - 16 presets 5 sliders 6 waveforms

o Wah Wah Filter - 10 presets 6 sliders 2 scales band filters

Have you ever seen a more comprehensive list of audio tools? This module alone sets Music Morpher Gold head and shoulders above the competition. Besides the ability to play almost any audio file and to morph them on the fly, beyond the amazing variety of audio tools, you can also burn CDs, organize your audio files, rip audio CDs, create covers and liner notes for your CDs, and capture/record from any input device. Truly this is a masterpiece of audio software that will provide you with the means of fulfilling any of your audio dreams. Logon to www.audio4fun.com to download a trial version; you won稚 be sorry.

BIO:

Wayne Rice is a freelance journalist, copywriter, photographer and artist. He currently resides in the United States.

Balloon Bouquets - For That One Special Occasion

Be it birthday, Christmas, New Year or Valentine's Day - balloons add color and joy to all fun occasions. And there is no better way to send greetings to your friends and family by sending them a bunch of balloons right at their doorstep.

Balloon delivery has gained popularity over the years and, if legend is to be believed, had its humble beginnings not very many years ago. In the year 1976, Joe DelVechhio thought of the idea of delivering balloons in bunches and opened Balloon Bouquetsｮ of Washington, DC. And this is how the delivery of helium-filled balloons started.

Balloon delivery is a great way to surprise your girlfriend on the morning of her birthday or to let your boss know how much you care so that he remembers that your raise is due. Balloons have been a favorite with the kids since the time balloons were invented. Buy ordering a bunch of balloons you can add joy to their lives on birthdays and Christmas. Balloons come in different shapes, sizes and colors. Life size bear balloons are popular amongst the kids. There are also heart-shaped balloons of different sizes to woe your girlfriend.

Balloons with personal messages written on them are also a good idea. Many people send balloons with the same message written on each of them. Be creative with your messages so that the receiver finds extra joy reading all of them. Also include many bright colors in a bunch to add life. You can go that extra mile and order decorative balloons for different occasions. Many balloon delivery services have expertise in making flower bouquets or Christmas trees out of balloons. It is also a good idea to turn your house into a balloon zoo with animals made out of balloons.

You can also make arrangements for balloon magicians along with your bouquet of balloons. They turn balloons into animals and toys right in front of your eyes in no time. Cars, tigers, giraffes or poodles - you name it and you get it.

Often balloon deliveries can be a good alternative for sending flowers. Flowers sent during the morning will wear out by evening. But your balloons will remain as fresh and colorful even the next day. Balloon delivery is also a low-cost option compared to flowers and has a larger than life visual effect. While ordering your bouquet make sure that they reach the right place at the right time.

Audio Books - 5 Unheard of Uses

Five Reasons to Listen to Audio Books You May Never Have Thought Of

The typical hardcover or paperback book is not going anywhere. The format shows no signs of ever dying off, even after considering the many technological advances made in recent years. It would, however, be foolish to deny the obvious and not so obvious benefits of listening to audio books. Here are some ways audio books could be put to use:
1. Do you like reading poetry? Then experience it in the way it was meant to be experienced: with your ears! Back in the good old days, it was not uncommon for poets to recite their works before a swooning audience. The great Irish poet and playwright, W.B. Yeats, was said to have written poetry in such a manner that, when vocalized, it would have a certain effect on the ears of its hearers. If you like the writings of T.S. Eliot, there is actually available a recording, on compact disc, of Mr. Eliot himself reading his own poetry. It痴 obviously a fascinating investment for fans of Eliot. It痴 only one in a series called The Voice of the Poet.
2. Fight road rage while listening to audio books耀eriously. Statistics show that violent crime resulting from what is commonly known as 途oad rage・has increased tremendously over the past couple of years. If you happen to be one of those individuals with a bit of a mean-streak when behind the wheel, then don稚 take to the boulevard without Waitley痴 Optimal Stress Reduction in your passenger seat熔r simply check out a few of the innumerable audio book titles available from an audio book rental club or in your local book store in the self-help section
3. Revisit the 敵olden Age of Radio・ It is now possible to find a vast array of classic radio dramas on compact disc. Fans of The Shadow radio program have known this, and are undoubtedly pleased. Also, if you happen to like The Twilight Zone television series, then try to get your hands on a copy of The Twilight Zone Radio Dramas有ou Diamond Phillips and Adam West are among the talent contributing to these programs.
4. Struggling in child-rearing? Audio books just might be part of the solution. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is a hit with the kids (just as every other Harry Potter book has been); and an obvious choice might be an audio book from the Lord of the Rings series葉hese classic Tolkien works are available in abridged and unabridged editions.

5. Learn another language・in your sleep. When you fall asleep your brain doesn稚 just turn off. On the contrary, research has shown that the sleeping brain does receive, process and perhaps even store information. So why not use your good nights sleep effectively by listening to one of the many foreign language audio books. And while this technique may not be the only means of mastering a second or third language, it will make things a little bit easier.

If these uses don稚 seem practical to you, they might put you in the mindset to think of your own ways to utilize audio books. And although some may say that listening to audio books is no substitute for reading, the growing popularity of audio book rental services such as Jiggerbug.com may eradicate paper books completely or at least come close!

Abstract Art and I

I have always loved bright colors and movement, like dancing its healing, relaxing fulfilling and challenging as well. The bottom line is the feeling and message that I want to convey through the medium. When I paint, every attempt is to capture the feel of warmth, passion, joy and bliss in none objective or figurative composition. I enjoy experimentation of different media and subjects.

My subject varies based on my emotion and statement but my love for colors is constant. In spite of this, viewers see different forms or figures in my abstract expressions. The good thing about these expressions is the freedom of the viewers to see and appreciate the forms in their mind's eyes, like face painting in the eye of the viewer. Its also important to mention that "Uli" which is my traditional art style has played a major role in my age long career. The symbols and forms of this art style are reflected in my cubism, abstract images, abstract relief sculpture, seascape, drawing, pastels and watercolor painting.

People see different forms or images in abstract art, the depth of what you actually see when you look at the paintings is partly based on individual exposure and understanding of art forms, color, shapes, line and texture; which are the physical elements that combine to make up the artworks.

A selection of different dark hues, shapes and forms may give various impressions to different minds; light, airy images as mystical; balanced, temperate forms as peaceful. Uli organic forms and shape are symbolical such as colors and forms have meaning in and of themselves. It is a simple truth that you can't give what you don't have. I am a believer and my work time is also a meditation time, which can go either way depending on the spiritual consciousness of the creative mind.

To me, my work section is an intimate moment between I, canvas and colors. At this creative moment there is a spiritual impartation from the artist to the Art. Hence the emotional reaction to these elements even if they create no recognizable object for us to hang onto.

I enjoy the inclusion and deletion of space. The handling of space or the
illusion of space is another powerful element in the artist's mind. If you are drawn into a yard of three-dimensional space stretching beyond the framework of the painting to sculpture, you are not alone. The impression of depth, perspective, airiness, solidity, textures and other spatial relations are created and controlled to achieve a desired goal.
The overall composition or design of my painting or sculpture is created to guide the viewer's eyes to understanding and appreciation of the images.

I must admit, most of my figurative compositions is a celebration of womanhood, which I am very proud to be part of for they are the seats of wisdom and knowledge.

I pride in the feeling and reactions of my clients and viewers to my creations. I feel blessed in many ways than words can express. The challenge sometimes is getting the composition right, or balancing the elements of color, lines and shapes while maintaining a dynamic tension and massage beneath.

Energy is the life force that is present in all good art. This is not something that is easily defined. The life force of every work I do is the same, but different energy and different statements. It is this peculiar energy that makes my works speak to you, and makes them unique, original and identifiable to me. This energy is created out of experience and self-awareness, materials and tools, but the end is more than the means in the same sense that a musical composition is so much more than a collection of notes.

You are welcome into my world of abstract wall art or modern art, relax and let your eye leisurely wander over the collection of verities of art forms and styles. Let your heart and mind react to my colors, shapes, figures and textures. Come and spoil yourself a little in the illusion of vibrant spaces, the movement of lines and the mood of blissful atmosphere.
Come, come up close and explore the intricacies of brushstrokes, spatula- strokes, paint thickness, textures and compositional details. Enjoy how the parts are woven together to form the whole.

Take your time. My artwork cannot be understood and appreciated in a ten second glance. Allow my art to grow on you, becoming more interesting and more enjoyable to look at as you live with it.

Backgammon History

Backgammon has been around for many years, and many different people have been playing the game. Backgammon history is not known by many people, however it is an interesting piece of information to look into. If you are a big player of the game, backgammon history may be a story you want to hear about. Here we go.

Backgammon is the oldest game ever played. It is said to come from the Greek. It is said to be originated in what is known to us today as Kuwait and Iraq. This was between the times of 2900 and 1800 BC. So as I said, it is a very old game.

Back in this time a group of people called the Sumerians lived in this area and they were known for some cultural creations like the wheel and math system. They also were thought to be the inventors of the first written language.

They made their own version of the board used for the game and came up with their own pieces to play with. Scientists found proof of this many, many years later and figured out they were playing backgammon.

Backgammon was found to be played by nobles and the royal party. However now and maybe even then, all cultures and all classes of society play game.

The Egyptians and the Romans played the game, however, they had different names for it. One was the 鉄enet・or the Tabula. They were played with the same intentions, only different names and tables.

In the early societies, the game of backgammon was banned. In Japan, it was illegal. It is interesting to think about today, that a board game was once outlawed in a society.

In the late 60痴, the game of backgammon became very popular. Everyone seemed to take an interest in the game and they were playing in living rooms across the globe.

Now with all the technology of the world, you do not have to rely on a board game and getting out all the pieces. If you have access to the Internet, then you can play backgammon with the click of a mouse. There are many versions of the game offered online and you can play alone in the privacy of your own home or at the office while taking lunch.

With the availability of Internet backgammon, you can practice up without anyone knowing. You can have the advantage over the other players when it comes time to compete with friends or family and some day you may even be ready for a tournament. Tournament play sounds like great fun.

http://www.backgammonholygrail.com

Artists Biographies on Film: Top Movies about Visual Artists

Visual artists biographies is a popular theme in the movie world. Moviemakers have always been fascinated by visual artists biographies, especially if it includes struggle with insanity, drug addiction or social conventions. In addition, it gives them an opportunity to depict original or resurrected artworks on the big screen.

Here you can read about some of the most interesting movies about visual artists biographies.

Lust for Life directed by Vincente Minnelli in 1952

Vincent Van Gogh biography had gained several cinematic adaptations. Lust for Life with Kirk Douglas as the struggling artist is one of the most notable. The movie is based on a best selling book by Irving Stone, who also authored The Agony and the Ecstasy about Michelangelo, which also had appeared on the silver screen.

If you are a fan of Van Gogh artwork, you would enjoy watching Last for Life, which features almost 200 of Van Goghs original paintings. However, if you are familiar with Kirk Douglas previous filmographic, seeing him as a tortured Dutch painter might take a little adjustment. Another recommended film about Van Gogh is Robert Altmans Vincent and Theo from 1990.

Surviving Picasso directed by James Ivory in 1996

Like Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso image made him an iconic figure outside the artistic circles. While Van Gogh symbolizes the self destructive, manic depressive artist who achieves success only after his death, Picasso represents the misanthropic and womanizer artist. Picasso infamous relationship with women is the focus of this Merchant and Ivory film. The story is told from the eyes of Picasso mistress Francoise Gilot and features only reproductions of Picasso works. With Anthony Hopkins talent and his physical resemblance to Picasso, Surviving Picasso manages to create an unflattering portrait of an artist as a cruel, self centered genius.

Girl with Pearl Earring directed by Peter Webber in 2003

Comparing to Van Gogh and Picasso, Vermeers biography is less known and less controversial. Therefore Girl with Pearl Earring is much more restrained and delicate. The movie focuses on a short period in Vermeers life in which he was painting the portrait of his young low class maid. Although Girl with Pearl Earring does not avoid filmic conventions by over dramatizing Vermeers painting process, the movie is worth watching if only for its artistic design, which success in evoking Vermeers perception of light and color.

Basquiat directed by Julian Schnabel in 1996

The most common critique against movies that deals with visual arts is the way they depict the creation process. Therefore, there were big expectations from Basquiat, which was directed by the celebrated painter Julian Schnabel. Schnabel did well in depicting Jean Michelle Basquiat rise and fall story in less the predictable manner we have seen millions time before. However, the only reason to watch Basquiat is David Bowie plays the role of Andy Warhol.

Frida directed by Julie Taymor in 2002

Like most of the visual artists who had their life story appear on the silver screen, Frida Kahlo carried an unusual biography, which includes bus accident, problematic marriage, and an affair with Leon Trotsky. Like Van Gogh, Picasso and Jackson Pollock, who was the subject of a biopic from 2000, Frida Kahlo was an icon long before Frida was released, but the 123 minutes film did help to strength her position as a feminist idol and probably the most famous woman painter of the 20 century. Frida tries its best to integrate Frida Kahlo life story with her painting and the result is very colorful and pleasant, but still does not stay far enough from the conventions of depicting artists on film.

Artist art restoration services

Photo restoration is the practice of restoring a photograph which has been spoiled or exaggerated by age.

Photo restoration may be effective in removing or masking the following defects:

1.Staining (such as yellowing) of the photographic document due to age and chemical reactions

2.Dust and hair observable on the photograph

3.Spots caused by bacteria or mold

4.Scratches or tears on the print

5.Discoloration of the publish due to fading

Playing around with the brightness and contrast controls will give a better restoration of photos. A lot of old photos are too contrast(y). Others are badly faded and can help from being darkened a little, or adding a bit of distinction. Really damaged photos that have a bad wrinkle or tear across the face can be moderately tricky, but if you are a bit creative, you can typically recover the image quite a bit.

1. Protect what痴 left

2. Get it restored

3. Get two copies to avoid repetition of restoration process.

4. Share/Store the photos online

Photo Restorations can be done at FIREIA. Coming soon- Art section with online auction and Indie music and Gig(g) section.

Asista a las Clases de Cine en Tel Aviv Israel

Durante las dos semanas que se realizan las clases, productores americanos, directores y actores le enseran a directores y actores israel冾s y americanos diferentes lecciones acerca de sus experiencias propias y de lo que han aprendido de cinema y televisi hasta ahora. Vienen maestros y estudiantes de Los ﾁngeles hasta Tel Aviv.

En los pasados as Israel y su Master Class han tra冝o diferentes personas de la industria cinematogr畴ica de Hollywood que colaboraron con este evento estas son Alfred Molina, Richard L Lewis productor, director y escritor, Zvi Howard, Lynn Roth, Danny Sussman, David Weiss el escritor de Shrek 2 y Jimmy Neutron, Jon Avnet el director de la pel兤ula 88 minuts, Randal Kleiser director de la pel兤ula Blue Lagoon y Grease entre otros directores, productores y actores famosos.

Los talleres tienen diferentes 駭fasis y diferentes maestros cada a, este a se realizaran en actuaci y cinema, trabajaran directores con actores, t馗nicas de actuaci, audiciones y casting. Tambi駭 se discutir疣 temas acerca de financiamiento para pel兤ulas y venta de formatos israel冾s para hollywood. Los participantes tendr疣 la posibilidad de presentar sus proyectos cinematogr畴icos que ser疣 tomados en cuenta para futuras proyecciones en Hollywood.

La mayor僘 de clases son para personas relacionadas con el cinema como actores, directores, productores que est疣 empezando en el camino del cinema, pero algunas clases tambi駭 estar疣 abiertas para el p炻lico en la cinemateca de Tel Aviv. La informaci la van a poder encontrar en la p疊ina de Internet www.ta-la.350.com en la cual podr疣 ver mas informaci acerca de las clases, participantes, inscripci y dem疽.

Las personas que est疣 interesadas en estudiar cinema y televisi o algo que tenga que ver con esta rama pueden asistir a las clases abiertas que dictaran estas figuras de Hollywood y all・se podr疣 dar cuenta si ese es el mundo en el cual aqueren trabajar. En estas clases se pueden orientas a los estudiantes y guiarlos para que puedan entrar en el mundo del cinema y conocer un poco de las experiencias de aquellos que han estado all・por as.

Quien no quiere que Steven Spielberg o Brad Pitt cuenten sus experiencias en el mundo de la cinematograf僘 o que algunos de los profesores de las diferentes estrellas de la pantalla grande dicten una clase que les servir・para toda la vida y que adem疽 podr疣 utilizar los consejos que estas personas les da para poder seguir adelante con sus carreras.

Todos los que quieran estar all・est疣 cordialmente invitados a participar de este evento que se realizar・en Tel Aviv Israel en la cinemateca. Si este es el camino que eligieron y la carrera que quieren seguir pues mucha suerte para los participantes y para aquellos que participan en las Master Class.

Article Body:

En la ciudad de Tel Aviv Israel, en el mes de junio de 2008 se realizara la d馗ima versi de Cinema Master Class.

Por lo general llegan las estrellas de cine, directores, agentes, y personas que est疣 relacionadas en el 疥bito del cinema y televisi. Estas personas llegan a Tel Aviv para dictar clases a diferentes personas que est疣 interesadas en aprender acerca del mundo del cinema, ya sea actuaci, direcci y muchos temas de la industria cinematogr畴ica.

Durante las dos semanas que se realizan las clases, productores americanos, directores y actores le enseran a directores y actores israel冾s y americanos diferentes lecciones acerca de sus experiencias propias y de lo que han aprendido de cinema y televisi hasta ahora. Vienen maestros y estudiantes de Los ﾁngeles hasta Tel Aviv.

En los pasados as Israel y su Master Class han tra冝o diferentes personas de la industria cinematogr畴ica de Hollywood que colaboraron con este evento estas son Alfred Molina, Richard L Lewis productor, director y escritor, Zvi Howard, Lynn Roth, Danny Sussman, David Weiss el escritor de Shrek 2 y Jimmy Neutron, Jon Avnet el director de la pel兤ula 88 minuts, Randal Kleiser director de la pel兤ula Blue Lagoon y Grease entre otros directores, productores y actores famosos.

Los talleres tienen diferentes 駭fasis y diferentes maestros cada a, este a se realizaran en actuaci y cinema, trabajaran directores con actores, t馗nicas de actuaci, audiciones y casting. Tambi駭 se discutir疣 temas acerca de financiamiento para pel兤ulas y venta de formatos israel冾s para hollywood. Los participantes tendr疣 la posibilidad de presentar sus proyectos cinematogr畴icos que ser疣 tomados en cuenta para futuras proyecciones en Hollywood.

La mayor僘 de clases son para personas relacionadas con el cinema como actores, directores, productores que est疣 empezando en el camino del cinema, pero algunas clases tambi駭 estar疣 abiertas para el p炻lico en la cinemateca de Tel Aviv. La informaci la van a poder encontrar en la p疊ina de Internet www.ta-la.350.com en la cual podr疣 ver mas informaci acerca de las clases, participantes, inscripci y dem疽.

Las personas que est疣 interesadas en estudiar cinema y televisi o algo que tenga que ver con esta rama pueden asistir a las clases abiertas que dictaran estas figuras de Hollywood y all・se podr疣 dar cuenta si ese es el mundo en el cual aqueren trabajar. En estas clases se pueden orientas a los estudiantes y guiarlos para que puedan entrar en el mundo del cinema y conocer un poco de las experiencias de aquellos que han estado all・por as.

Quien no quiere que Steven Spielberg o Brad Pitt cuenten sus experiencias en el mundo de la cinematograf僘 o que algunos de los profesores de las diferentes estrellas de la pantalla grande dicten una clase que les servir・para toda la vida y que adem疽 podr疣 utilizar los consejos que estas personas les da para poder seguir adelante con sus carreras.

Todos los que quieran estar all・est疣 cordialmente invitados a participar de este evento que se realizar・en Tel Aviv Israel en la cinemateca. Si este es el camino que eligieron y la carrera que quieren seguir pues mucha suerte para los participantes y para aquellos que participan en las Master Class.

Acomplia is a Multifunctional Diet Pill

Weight loss is perhaps the most talked topic of late. Its not only considered as a problem but medical science mark it as an epidemic. It痴 a nutritional disorder that arises due to over consumption of fats then our body requires. The new diet pill Acomplia is generating great interest among the overweight patients on this pretext. Proven records are also available related to its success on obesity.

Apart for keeping a person free from excess weight, the diet pill Acomplia also helps a person in stopping his or her痴 urges for smoking. In fact it痴 a multifunctional diet pill and is very effective indeed.

According to studies, there are nerve receptors called CB1receptors that exist in the brain and fat cells. These receptors urge the body to overeat and smoke. Acomplia works by targeting the CBI receptors and blocking the body's ability to receive signals that tells it to smoke or eat more. It helps to normalize the EndoCannabinoid System thus making hunger and cigarette cravings more manageable. This blocking of signals results in weight loss. It further improves the cardiovascular or metabolic risk factors in obese people and reduces their dependence on nicotine and helps them quit smoking.

Though, studies on the side-effects of Acomplia have been done, but are clinically proved to be tolerable and mild. Dizziness nausea, stomach upset, depression and sweating are a few to mention. Though reports of overdose haven稚 been proved till date, but better to discard the practice, for it may be proved harmful sometimes.

Generally a dose of 20mg before breakfast or in an empty stomach is enough to give a desired result. But a mixture of a controlled diet, some exercise and Acomplia can really give miraculous results. According to clinical trials a person can loose his or her body weight, any amount 20-25 pound if a dose of 20mg is practised for a period of a year.

Although promising results are proved, it is should be used under a good dietician痴 observation. Often there are misconception among it痴 users that an overdose or double dose of Acomplia will show faster results. But one should know the fact it痴 a drug and trying to overdose it can prove to be fatal.

Acting And Reality

People watch TV, go to movies or theater to be entertained. The truth is, everyday life can be rather mundane and boring. Imagine watching a film of somebody going through their typical day. You'd probably fall asleep before the first 10 minutes were up. The fact of the matter is, people's lives are dull, at least most people's.

This brings us to the problem of entertainment, especially in the movie or TV business and most especially in the theater. We need our entertainment to be just that, entertaining, yet at the same time we need it to be based in reality. If you were watching a cops and robbers TV show and suddenly you saw your favorite police officer pull out a skate board and chase the criminal down brandishing a laser gun, well, your reality would pretty much be shot to heck and the credibility of the show itself would be destroyed. The shows must be based in reality and yet must still be entertaining. This is a very hard line to walk.

Actors have the hardest job when it comes to bringing reality to a part without putting an audience to sleep. The above example is extreme but the problems can even occur with more subtle things.

Let's take a scene where the hero cop is interrogating a suspect. For starters, he can't go throwing him around the interrogation room. There are certain rules cops have to follow and failure to do so can lead to a case being thrown out of court, or worse, a lawsuit against the department. But during the interrogation the suspect finally admits to the crime, most likely a savage murder, and even smiles about it. The hero cop is outraged and he wants to just take this slime and wipe up the floor with him. Realistically he can't do that. But he doesn't have to. A good actor can convey that emotion and desire by the look he gives the suspect. Maybe he even starts to go after him but then stops himself, the look of pure hatred for this person in his eyes. That is great acting and how you bridge the gap between dull reality and exciting drama. Mixed in with a tense score and the scene will probably have more impact than if he punched the guy out into next Sunday.

In order to pull off this kind of reality the actor must imagine how he would truly feel if confronted with such a person. Many actors think of things when playing scenes like this that truly do get them angry. Just like when an actor needs to cry he or she thinks of something that makes them very sad. This is a common practice among your more versatile actors.

The truth is, all entertainment, even science fiction, is based in some kind of reality, even if it is the reality of emotions, which we all have. The ability to display those emotions in a realistic, yet entertaining way, is what makes a great actor and a great performance, the kind that we don't soon forget.

Art Schools, The Artist痴 Choice!

Is Art School necessary to be a good artist?

Being creative or artistic is truly a gift, a talent. But as with any talent, it needs to be tempered, honed, and optimized. Without proper training, one might never achieve the potential he or she was born with. And to help you hone your talents, you will need a good Art school!

Any educational institution that offers training in the arts may be called an art school.

They may offer vocational, undergraduate, or graduate and even post-graduate courses.

These schools focus their trainings on the visual arts such as illustration, painting, advertising design, graphical arts, photography, sculpture, and other artistic expressions. In the last few years, even game design has become institutionalized. This means that the art of designing game graphics has become serious business.

If the college is accredited it will grant you a Bachelor・degree in Fine Arts or a B. A. in Fine Arts or some other certification and degree.

A successful future in the Arts industry depends on choosing the right school to hone your talents. When choosing an Art school, consider the following factors.

What Can You Benefit from an Art School?
You may be tempted to think you will be able to wing it through a career without any formal training. That is possible. However, since industries are constantly looking for professionals who can abide by industry standards, those with Art degrees get a competitive edge. Also, in Arts school you learn from other professionals what these industries expect of their artists. This helps you be more prepared for work with professional companies.

Art school will also benefit your art technique. Your innate talent will benefit from the proven concepts and techniques you can learn here.

Art school also develops in its students a love and appreciation for the different forms of art. It opens to the student new vistas of learning and expressing. Even if only for that reason, Art school would be worth every penny paid to it.

What You Won稚 Learn at Arts School
Art school, however, will not teach you passion and drive. You must have both and mix them with your innate talent and hard work. You have to develop an intimate relationship with your profession to be able to maximize your potential.

Choose a School
Different schools have different strengths, find a school that plays to your strengths and has specialization in the field of your choice. Some will have a style of teaching that maximizes your skills. Some will expose you to techniques that will make you twice a better artist than you already are. They key here is for you to know yourself. Know how you learn, what interests you, what your tendencies are. This will help you visualize how you will react when faced with the rigors of school.

Meet New Friends!
Do you know that at art school, many of your colleagues will go on to be successful artists? Everyone at your school will have varied skills and different strengths. Use your time as school wisely so that you get to meet these people and learn from them. They could learn a thing or two from you too!

School is an excellent place to build professional relationships. When you all go out into the industry, your connections and friendships will be instrumental to your success.

It would do no harm to start looking at the educational background of your admired artists. Checking out the schools they came from will give an idea of the sort of training these artists went through. From here, you may make decisions as to whether you would like to choose the same school as they did.

The Verdict? Sign Up for an Art School Today
Your choice of school is an investment that will last you a lifetime. Proper care and investigation in choosing such is truly important. When you are comfortable with your choice of design school, you can now chart your path towards a successful career.

Art school might be the most important decision you will make. Without proper training, your chances at success are greatly diminished. With Art schools you can be assured of a brighter, more artistic future!

Backgammon For Beginners

Except in certain circles, the game of backgammon doesn稚 get much attention these days unless the version being played is the online version. But that痴 not the way it was 5,000 years ago when players in Mesopotamia first created this exciting and strategic board game. Few people realize that backgammon existed even before the game of chess was created, making it one of the oldest games still played in modern times.

Little about backgammon has changed since its earliest days. The game itself has survived countless civilizations including the Persians, Greeks, Romans and Egyptians. This is evidenced from the many games that have been discovered by means of archeological excavations. The layout of the board has changed as previously it consisted of 3 rows of 10 squares. For a time it was called Senat. Since then, however, the only other significant change has been the addition of the doubling cube, thought to have been added in the early 1900痴. The doubling cube made the game more interesting and added an element of intrigue.

As with most things in life the Internet breathed new life into the game of backgammon, with virtual game rooms springing to life almost as fast as virtual poker and other virtual games of chance. Today, finding others who share a passion for the game is easy. All players need to do is log on to any of the established backgammon web sites any time of day and they値l find players around the world looking for partners. To draw attention to these sites, operators have started offering cash prizes and other alluring bonus offers and their tactics are working.

If you致e never played a game of backgammon, you really don稚 know what you池e missing. It痴 not hard to learn and once you do, you値l find that the game is somewhat addicting. With each new round, you値l learn something you didn稚 know before, and as you do, your ability to effectively strategize will increase. So next time you池e bored, find someone who knows how to play backgammon!

Audio Books On CD For First Time Users

Audio books on CD are the ultimate modern gift for you, for your friends or family members. Audio books on CD have many benefits from optimizing your time management by listening to audio books while driving or exercising to using them as an effective method of education for children or learning languages.

But what do you have to do to start? Which audio books should you start with? Do you have to buy the audio books? Read on and find out the answers to these questions and others. Just follow the next steps:

1. Ask yourself when you are going to listen to the audio books on CD ・Before going to sleep at night, while driving, while cleaning the house etc.

Depends on your answer decide which kind of audio books you would like to listen to. For example if you will listen to CD audio books while cleaning the house, you will probably want to listen to a romance or an easy listening audio book.

2. Ask yourself how often you would listen to audio books. If you will listen to audio book on CD for more than an hour a day, you should rent audio books instead of buying them.

3. Now after answering those questions you can move on to the real thing. Go to one of our recommended audio books on CD sources (You could find the link by scrolling down to the end of this document) and check if the titles you are interested in are available. The recommended audio book sources have a great selection, customer service and prices so you don稚 have to check elsewhere.

4. Take the time to read the different rate plans and programs and choose the most appropriate to you. Don稚 worry, all the recommended Audio books on CD sources have free trials so you could always cancel and get your money back.

5. Fill in your personal and payment details and choose the audio book titles.

6. You will get the CD audio book delivered to your house within a couple of days.

Did you know that CD sales revenue has increased from 35 percent in 2002 to 45 percent in 2003.
It is so easy to start listening to audio books on CD and it enhances your life productivity. Try it. You will not regret it.

Baccarat History and American Baccarat Rules

If we put aside the black ties, the velvet curtains and the overall exclusive atmosphere, baccarat is one of the simplest casino games around. In addition, baccarat is a beatable game with a low house edge, which makes it one of the best bets you can make! Here you can read about baccarat history and learn how to play the game.

Both the American and European versions of baccarat and the French Chemin de Fer are late developments of the Italian game called baccara, which means zero in Italian. The origins of baccara go back to an old Etruscan myth. According to the myth, a blonde virgin had to toss a nine sided die to decide on her destiny. If the die landed on eight or nine, she would have to fulfill her destiny and become a priest. If the die landed on six or seven, she would be forbidden to participate in any religious activity. If the die landed on any other number, the virgin had to walk into the sea.

The Italian game baccara was popular among French aristocracy during the end of the 15th century. Baccara had evolved to the European version of baccarat, which is still played in European casinos today as well as the French variation of baccarat known as Chemin de Fer, which is mainly played in casinos in France. The American version of the game was introduced to Nevada casinos in the 1950s by Francis Tommy Renzoni, who imported the game from Havana.

Baccarat still carries an aroma of aristocracy and exclusivity. In American casinos, baccarat is played in a separated area of the casino, hidden behind velvet curtains. Baccarat players are usually dressed up and the betting limits are higher comparing to other table games. In order to attract the medium budget players, a lower limit version of baccarat, called mini baccarat, was invented. Mini baccarat is played on a smaller table, inside the casino gambling area with lower betting limits than baccarat.

How to Play Baccarat

Baccarat is played with 3 dealers and up to 12 or 14 players. Baccarat is usually played with 8 standard card decks. Aces valued as one, face cards and ten cards valued as zero, and the rest of the number cards worth their face value. The suit has no meaning. The object of the game is to get as close to 9 as possible.

The play begins by all players, including the dealer, placing their bets either on the player, the banker, or on a tie. Traditionally, the dealer bets on the banker. The dealer can be the house dealer or one of the players. After everyone has placed their bets, the dealer gives two cards to each player and to the banker.

The score of each hand is calculated as the sum of the two cards minus the left digit. For example, if the sum of the two cards is 15, the score would be 5. The decision whether to deal a third card is determined by a set or rules and it is not up to the player or the dealers decision.

If the score of the players hand is 9 or 8, he wins

If the score of the dealers hand is 9 or 8, it is a tie

If a players score is 7 or 6, he can be dealt a third card

If a players score is 5 or less, he has to receive a third card

If a player gets a third card and the score of the dealers hand is 2, 1 or 0, he must draw a third card

If the score of the dealers hand is 3 and the players third card is any value but 8, he must draw a third card

If the score of the dealers hand is 4 and the players third card value is between 2 and 7, he must draw a third card

If the score of the dealers hand is 5 and the players third card value is between 4 and seven, he must draw a third card

If the score of the dealers hand is 6 and the players third card is 6 or 7, he must draw a third card.

If the score of the dealers hand is 7, he cannot draw a third card.

Art in London

London has always been one of the most well known cities in the world. A culturally rich city, London is visited by millions each year. Currently London has several fascinating and unique art exhibits on display, one of the most impressive being a collection of Michelangelo drawings at the British Museum. This exhibit is entitled, 鼎loser to the Master・and is on display from March 23rd until June 25th.

This spectacular exhibit displays an incredible selection of one the world痴 all-time best Renaissance artists. It draws together various pieces from several other museums, creating an entirely unique collection. It brings together pieces of Michelangelo痴 work that have never been seen together before and that have been separated since the dispersion of Michelangelo痴 studio during the mid 1500痴. The exhibit displays pieces in chronological order and emphasizes connections between various pieces as well as the importance of various drawings.

Several of the drawings included show the meticulous forethought Michelangelo had in making many of his famous pieces, including paintings, sculptures, and architectures. It is made apparent how he spent hours perfecting every element of a project on paper before he began the actual work itself. Along with the various drawings several paintings and sculptures are also on exhibit on loan from the National Gallery. Several letters written by Michelangelo himself are also on loan from the British Library, offering unique insight into Michelangelo痴 persona, showing his complex and petulant character. Among all these drawings are several pieces that stand out more than others as far as their significance. These more notable pieces include; the Study for Adam from the Sistine Chapel, studies for the figure of Day from the Medici Tombs, Flying Angels from the Last Judgement and his final and slightly disturbing Crucifixions.

The London exhibit is open daily from 10 am until 5:30 pm and runs on a timed-ticket entry. The latest time of entry is 4:40 pm, however it is open late on Thursdays and Fridays (until 8:30 pm with the latest entry at 7:40). The cost of entry is ｣10 for adults and ｣5 to ｣9 for concessions. Tickets are available directly at the box office however it is recommended that you book in advance so as to ensure admission alone and also to be able to schedule your admission time. The British Museum is located on Great Russell Street, WC1 and is most easily accessible from the tube (subway) stations at Tottenham Court Road or at Russell Square.

This exhibit in London is exceedingly captivating and will provide memories to last a lifetime. This is certainly one of the most unique exhibitions you will ever have the opportunity to see and its ability to bring together various aspects of Michelangelo痴 life is said to be unreal. If you are an aficionado of Michelangelo痴 this exhibit is a must and even for those less knowledgeable in art this exhibit is highly enjoyable. This is a must see for anyone who is remotely interested in Renaissance art. If you are going to see only one art exhibit in London all year this is definitely the one to see!

Art Prints友inding The Best Value

You池e not in college anymore, and it痴 time to take down the posters and replace them with original art. But, you don稚 have the money yet for oils or watercolors. Art prints are an affordable alternative, yet they too can be pricey. How can you tell if that art print that痴 caught your eye is more than just another pretty face?

Art prints are works of art in and of themselves, and may be handmade by artist-printmakers (artists・prints), digitally printed (gicl馥), or photomechanical reproductions (offset lithographs).

Artists・prints are handmade and are not reproductions of paintings: the print is a unique work of art. The term covers a range of printmaking techniques such as etching, woodcut, engraving, screenprint and linocut. Editions tend to be less than 200, partly because the materials used to make the prints wear out. This type of print is sometimes called an 登riginal print.・
Limited edition reproductions are multiples copies of the same image, but produced in guaranteed limited numbers. This makes the image more exclusive. The market price can rise over time, if demand outstrips supply. Edition sizes vary but are limited by market forces, not by the physical constraints of the printmaking method. Most limited editions are signed and numbered in pencil by the artist with a commitment that no other reproduction of the image will be made.

An open-edition reproduction print can be produced in any quantity and the image may also be used in other ways, such as on tableware. Open editions tend to cost less than limited editions and are much less likely to increase in value.

Gicl馥 prints are made using digital printing technology, usually inkjet. The technology enables users to produce small runs of prints. It also allows retailers to offer 叢rint on demand・services, where buyers select an image and it is printed out there and then.

Several factors influence the price of art prints:

Artist and Rarity
Certainly the name of the artist is a major contributor to value. But the art prints of even the same artist may have widely ranging prices. This added value is due to rarity. The more valuable print may be part of a limited edition run of only a few copies, while the more affordable from a larger open-edition run. But they are both original pieces of art by the same artist. It痴 a good idea to be well acquainted with the works of a particular artist and his or her peers as well. Research into an artist痴 place in the art world will help you ensure you池e getting a good value.

Editions, Signatures and Seals
Before the twentieth century artists did not routinely number nor sign their prints by hand. A signature can come from the plate but is not much of a value. What counts is an individual signature of the artist on the print, usually with a pencil (ink would eventually fade). Modern art prints are often numbered by the artist himself, i.e., "34 / 100" (number 34 out of an edition of 100).

Condition
It痴 not unusual for older art prints to have some flaws. If there aren稚 any, check again! It might be a reproduction. While minor flaws such as slight soiling are considered normal, depending on age, other defects, such as trimming into the image or heavily faded colors, can reduce the value of a print considerably.

Quality of Impression
Prints taken early from a plate or woodblock are more precise and detailed in lines than later impressions. Depending on the technique, a block/plate is worn out after a certain amount of impressions. Hardly more than 2,000 impressions could be taken from a woodblock without a rather visible deterioration of quality. Look to the numbering (i.e., 15 / 450) to determine what place in the run the print had.

Size
Larger prints tend to cost more than smaller ones. This rule of thumb is less valid for older prints than for modern ones.

Provenance
Provenance, or the item痴 ownership history, can influence value. Prints from a famous collection will usually yield a premium.

Subject
Although a matter of opinion and personal taste, the subject of a print has a great influence on value. You値l pay more for cute animals, pretty women, nice landscapes, interesting portraits. Commercially non-appealing subjects are ugly, gloomy, or war-related, no matter how classically significant the work is. After all, it痴 being bought to put on the wall. People will pay more if they like the image.

In the end, it痴 your own opinion of the value of the print that matters the most. You値l be happiest with an art print that you personally like. Although art prints can sometimes be a good investment, the best way to get the most for your money is to enjoy it every day as it graces your home. The value of that? Priceless.

Audio Books ・What痴 Hot For 2006?

2006 is already here and many ask me what we should expect of the emerging interesting market of Audio Books. Audio books have been here for over 20 years and they have become so popular in the last couple of years but yet I claim that the audio books revolution has just begun.
Find out the hot trends in the audio books market for 2006:

1. Less audio books on CD and cassettes and more downloadable audio books ・MP3 audio books and other formats of digital audio books will become cheaper and more reachable, While audio books on CD and books on tape are much less convenient and user friendly. The amount of podcast listeners who download audio books from the internet to listen on their mobile devices such as iPod will rise significantly.

2. Audio book rental services will become the most common method of listening to audio books ・Similar to the DVD market, most audio book listeners will prefer renting audio books instead of buying them. This trend will be the strongest for downloadable audio books but also true for audio books on CD and books on tape.

3. Free audio books ・More online audio book services will offer low cost and free audio books by free trials and special sales.

4. Audio books will invade Europe ・While the audio book market in the United kingdom is developed and have reached a turnover of 124$ million in 2004, The market in Germany is constantly rising and have already reached a turnover of 120$ million in 2005. The audio book market in the whole continent is expected to rise in about 20% during 2006.

Sony has also recognized the emerging market of digital audio books and has recently announced of a new audio book mobile player. The new product will let the users store and listen to digital audio books and is predicted to gain the same popularity as the 妬Pod・

Audio books will be a part of everyone痴 life. Join the audio book revolution

Bacara el Preferido del Agente 007

El Agente 007 y su audacia con el juego contin俉n deslumbrando a tras a a sus sensuales comparas en escena y derrotando a sus astutos enemigos.

El Bacara: El Juego preferido del cl疽ico James Bond: Bacar・y el Agente 007

El Bacar・es el cl疽ico juego de apuestas originado en Italia en el siglo 15 y es tambi駭 caracter﨎tico del famoso esp僘 007. En cada escena lo identifican una elegancia y excelencia, que junto con su impecable Martini en mano y las apuestas en otra James Bond ha mantenido una leyenda desde su origen desde los as 50 hasta el presente. Es as・como el esp僘 ingles domina la versi francesa del juego Bacar・llamada Chemin de Fer con gran talento y admiraci.

Bacara siempre fue popular entre la alta sociedad, especialmente en el siglo 15, cuando surgi・en Italia. Bacara significa cero en italiano y a lo largo de su expansi en diferentes pa﨎es nuevas reglas y variaciones fueron inventadas y adaptadas como en Estados Unidos o en Francia el Chemin de Fer, o el denominado Juego de James Bond.

El juego consiste en el "Jugador" y la "Banca" el nombre que se la a las opciones de apuestas, estos son repartidos dos o tres cartas cada uno con el objetivo simple de llegar a 9 sin pasarse de el. Mientras tanto la banca decide seg佖 las reglas del juego cuando detener la jugada y los jugadores ya han debido apostar a cual de las dos Jugador o Banca ganara la mano. Los jugadores o el jugador apuesta y el que apuesta a la mano que gano el puntaje mas correcto, gana la mano. En la adaptaci americana, el juego funciona en contra a la banca, mientras que en Chemin de Fer, los jugadores compiten el uno con el otro. Uno representa al jugador y el otro a la Banca.

En compaa del Chemin de Fer los libros de Ian Fleming junto a las adaptaciones en escena de James Bond, han deslumbrado por d馗adas las diferentes aventuras del esp僘, con ayuda de su impecable poder del juego y su atractivo estilo. Hasta su 伃timo estreno en el 2006 James Bond sigue disfrutando de la lujuria de las mesas verdes de los casinos junto a su cigarro y el su sensual compara en acci. En el anio 1964, las novelas y cap咜ulos de James Bond, fueron escritas por Kingsley Amis, John Pearson, John Gardner, Raymond Benson, y Charlie Higson. Tambien sus actores variaron comenzando con el conocido Sean Connery, siguiendo con Geroge Lazenby, Roger Moore, Tomothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan y Daniel Craig.

Si observas, es muy interesante ver la manera en que el Agente apuesta al juego y a su vez act俉 y descubre los secretos que lo rodean con la misma rapidez, seguridad y astucia. Enlas pel兤ulas de James Bond el juego Chemin de Fer transcurre en elegantes salas llenas de mujeres elegantes y hombres adinerados que detr疽 del juego tienen otros intereses por revelar. En la realidad el enlace entre el Bacar・y El Agente 007 es de un acompante fiel de aventuras secretas y emocionantes de mas de cinco d馗adas que hicieron de el una leyenda inolvidable que resurge de generaci en generaci.

Above Ground Pools

Spending a day in the pool can be a great way to spend the day . A refreshing swim and time with family and friends is the perfect combination to a splendid holiday. Finding a pool to spend your day in the cool waters is not a problem anymore with ready to install pools.

The above the ground pools have made the luxury of having your own pool truly POSSIBLE. The demand for above the ground pools have increased manifold over the years due to the various advantages that it has over the traditional in-ground pools. Above ground pools are way above the in-ground pools which not only cost a whole lot more but also require a lot of time to built and commission before you can actually spend sometime in your lovely pool. Now ordering your own pool and enjoying it is possible within a matter of days. A pool all for yourself , without a huge price tag attached to it is now a reality. An above the ground pool provides great flexibility as it can be transported wherever you go , so now you can continue to enjoy a day in the pool even if you are away from home. You can now set up your own pool wherever you want and have a refreshing swim.

The above the ground pools have continuously evolved over the years and kept with the times in terms of designs and materials used and are in a position to provide you with hundred percent entertainment and enjoyment while you are in the pool. They use the latest in technology, materials and also have corrosion proof coatings. Not only are they practical but make a great style statement.

The pools themselves speak volumes about their quality and also the credibility of the producer . The product is backed by expertise and years of experience in the field. The company takes pride in offering top quality products and service. The above the ground pools have wonderful features that make it truly a great pool to own :

• Fitted with the best of equipments like Hayward cartridge filters and pumps that are user-friendly , simple and durable.

• Pool wall

• Pool liner and frame

• State of the art pumpset

• Acqua bug automatic cleaner

• Pool available in various sized and shapes to suit the individual tastes and budgets.

• SP7410 fun fountain

• Pool liners of various sizes and varied prints are available.

Do-it Yourself pool kits of various shapes are available that are very simple and user-friendly and can be installed without any problems. The Above ground pool dealer provides state-of –the art technology and lovely above the ground pools that are shipped to the buyer in a matter of a few days.

Add extra value to your art work - part one

There are several things that you might not have thought of, that add extra value to your artwork and can make it worth more money when you come to sell it. I'm not talking here about reworking pieces you feel haven't come up to scratch. Yes, it is sometimes possible to rescue a less than perfect watercolour by using a pen and ink technique, and you can paint right over parts of an oil or acrylic painting to in effect completely rework the area, but here I am talking about techniques that don't involve changing your artwork in any way.

Sometimes you only need to put a cardboard mount around a painting to bring it out of the doldrums, and there is no doubt that the right mount and frame can do wonders for a slightly mediocre piece of art. For a sculpture, or a piece of ceramics, the right stand and appropriate lighting can make a big difference to the way it displays, but after you've made sure that your artwork is being displayed to its best what else can you do to add to its worth?

The first and most important thing you should do is make sure that your artwork is signed legibly. It's surprising how many people forget to sign their art, but it makes a big difference to the buyer. A signed piece of work is worth more money than an unsigned one, and it doesn't matter whether you sign it on the front, at the top or bottom, within the composition, or even on the back, just as long as you sign it. If you have an illegible signature spare a thought for future generations trying to make out what it says and wondering whether they have a piece by a famous artist. The first thing almost everybody wants to know about any piece of artwork is who made it, what's the name of the artist. If it's unsigned it's almost as though you didn't rate it enough to put your name to it, and if you don't rate it no one else will either.

The second thing you need to do, in order to add value to your art, is to give it a title. Now, some people don't like titling their work because they feel that it pigeonholes it and in some way restricts the viewer to seeing it within a particular set of conceptual boundaries, so if you are one of these people then you should really consider calling it 'Untitled'. Even with the title that says 'Untitled', a piece of work is worth more money than if it doesn't have a title at all. Artwork without a title leaves the potential buyer wondering whether perhaps it had a title once that has been lost, it leaves the buyer with an unanswered question and means they are less likely to buy it and more likely to move on to another piece instead.

Along with the title, your artwork would benefit from a short explanation about it. The more a buyer knows about a piece of work the more likely they are to buy it. If you think about it by putting yourself in the buyer's shoes for a moment, if you're faced with two pieces of work which are similar and you like them both, but you know nothing about one and quite a lot about the other, which one would you buy? Of course you would be much more likely to buy a piece of artwork that had information about it, because you'd feel more involved with it, you'd understand something about its history and about the person that created it, so it has more meaning for you and you feel a connection with it right from the start.

The short explanation or description about your piece of art can say whatever you want it to, there are no rules, but it's useful to tell people either what it's about or what it means to you. One thing you don't want to do is tell people what it should mean to them, the viewer or buyer of your artwork wants to be able to decide for themselves what the piece means to them, and it doesn't matter if it's something entirely different from what it means to you.

Most people buying artwork do like to know what it was you meant as you created it, or what drove you to create the piece the way it is. This can mean telling them something about you, your thought processes as you were beginning and working through the piece, or maybe what was going on in your life at the time you were creating this piece of art. You might decide to tell them about something you'd seen or heard that affected you in a particular way and that prompted you to express something specific with this particular medium. You might be telling them that this particular piece of art is one of a collection from your 'blue period', or your 'impressionistic landscape period', or whatever.

If you don't really want to give this information away, then perhaps instead you could describe the medium you have used, the particular techniques you've employed in using this medium and even the length of time it took you to create the piece. Really any information you give about the piece is better than no information at all, and it doesn't matter whether the potential buyer understands your concept or not, it still makes it more attractive to them to know that there was an intention of one sort or another behind the original idea.

Acting - The Agent Interview

This can be quite a frightening question. Somebody is asking about you and you're confronted with such a broad and general opening line. How on Earth do you reply?

When you finally get that all important interview with an agent, you want to be as prepared as you possibly can be. You've probably brought copies of your best headshot along with your resumé. Maybe you've even brought a couple of monologues with you in case the agent wants to hear you read something by asking you to "show him what you can do." But before it even gets to that, the first part of the interview is usually very awkward. The truth is, the agent at this time has probably already seen your headshot and resumé and has probably even seen you in some production, maybe a local play. But at this time the agent wants to get to know you personally. Hw wants to know how you present yourself to people in a business setting. Since you will be working with the agent in getting you work, he wants to make sure that you handle yourself professionally in a such a setting.

So the agent asks you to tell him something about yourself. What do you say to him? Actually, you should prepare ahead of time for this question. You don't want to be taken off guard. Just as you have prepared everything else, your headshots, resumé, and monologue, you want to prepare for this question. This is the opportunity to get some experience as a writer. Here you will create the exact monologue that you want to describe yourself. You should memorize it and practice it just as you would a movie script until you have complete confidence in reciting it.

To do this, think about what you want the agent to know about you. Don't just spit back your resumé. The agent has already seen that. You can, however, mention a few highlights. If you have good training with a well known school, mention this. Your agent is going to want to know what you've been doing. Tell him about any lead roles you've done. If not a lead, pick a role you've played that you particularly enjoyed playing, even if it was a small part. Talk about what excites you about being an actor. Tell him what you love about theater or television or whatever medium you're most interested in. Tell him about any interesting hobbies that you have. Agents want to see that you're well rounded and not just one dimensional. Well rounded people usually make good actors. Tell the agent what you feel is unique about yourself. Keep your monologue to under a minute. Agents don't have a lot of time and want to get right to the point.

Finally, remember one thing. If an agent has invited you to an interview he is already interested in you so don't push it. Act natural and be yourself. You will find that by not acting you will have your best chance at getting this agent to represent you.