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Phantom Of The Opera

I was never a big fan of musical theater growing up. I was pretty cynical, and seeing all of those people singing in harmony about love and adventure completely turned me off. My parents were into some pretty corny musicals, and none of them seemed to satisfy my dark mood. I had pretty much given up on liking anything in the genre until I started dating a girl who loved musicals. When she heard about my feelings on the subject, she decided that she would change my mind. She took me to the Phantom of the Opera musical.

I had heard a little bit about the Phantom of the Opera, but only a few details. You see, most of the people I knew who liked musicals were in to a much brighter, more poppy sort of production. Don’t get me wrong ? Phantom of the Opera Music is very catchy, but it is also sort of dark and brooding. It relies heavily on organ and on minor keys. As such, I had simply never been exposed to something like it before. I was certainly in for a treat.

I would have to say that the Phantom of the Opera musical was one of the best things I have ever seen. It single-handedly redeemed a whole genre for me. After that, I decided I would give musicals and opera another chance. I never realized that there were such a possibility for interesting and dark themes in it. It still explored love, but it was a sort of twisted, obsessional love. There was still a very archetypal conflict between good and evil, but you were able to be on the side of evil. In short, it was everything that I usually look for in fiction or cult movies rolled up into a brilliant stage performance.

I also loved the special effects. Having grown up on movies, I had expected to be disappointed by live musical theater, but this certainly wasn’t the case. Seeing someone doing a show up on stage like that really moved me profoundly. The bright flashes of light, the loud sounds, the precariously swinging chandelier ? all of it created a sense of suspense that I never get when I go to see a movie. I realized that if anything, stage drama is more intense than even the best Hollywood blockbusters. It definitely left me wanting more, something that all good art does.

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Fashion Makeovers

When you were watching Beauty and the Geek, you know that it was really about seeing how much better the geeks looked after they cleaned up a bit. After that it was about inner beauty and beauties using their brains. The public is obsessed with fashion makeovers?the ?beautiful all along? is a common, almost clich? theme in a lot of TV shows and movies, showing us that in the end, it?s hard to say that outer beauty doesn?t matter. Showing that someone supposedly unattractive could actually be sort of attractive once they wore the right clothes, cut their hair and plastered on some makeup is a different message from expressing that what?s on the inside counts more than what meets the eye. Not to say that this is necessarily vapid and shallow. Well, it sort of is and we?re definitely guilty of overemphasizing and objectifying beauty, but inherently, there?s nothing wrong with pleasing the eyes.

So, we admit that we like fashion makeovers. We?re fascinated with before and afters?we like to goggle over how they went from this to that in an ugly duckling to swan kind of way. But why do we goggle so much? It could be the shock factor, or maybe it gives the rest of us hope. Admittedly, it can be pretty inspirational to see someone with low esteem transform into someone confident about themselves with some help from a team of beauticians.

But the flip side of fashion makeovers is that in a way, they?re saying that you?re not okay the way you are. Take ?What Not To Wear,? which basically ambushes people and informs them that the way they dress is so bad that it?s offending their friends and the rest of society, all on live television. By the end of the program you can see that it really was for the better and that the person is really happy with the transformation, but at the same time you?re probably glad it?s them and not you on the show. And you wonder if there were any victims who refused to be on the show and then lashed out at their ?friends.?

It?s possible to say that giving someone a makeover is about bringing inside beauty to the outside rather than changing who they are. To be fair, along with the snarkiness Stacy and Clinton often praise certain physical attributes in their victims and try to emphasize them, showing that the issue here is not the person per se, but how they?re dressing. So you can feel a little better knowing that the problem isn?t you, but your awful fashion sense. But even if radical fashion makeovers are well meaning, we?d often rather see them makeover someone else.

Uncategorized Beauty, Fashion, Home, Movies, Television

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Domestic Terrorism

With the September 11 attacks, many people acted like we were facing domestic terrorism for the first time, but in fact this is not the case. Even in the United States, there have been many recent terrorist attacks in the past decade or so. There was the Oklahoma City bombing, the World Trade Center bombing, the Unabomber, and many other, less well-known examples. Although the September 11 attacks brought domestic terrorism to a new level, it didn’t introduce anything new.

To understand terrorism, we need to understand the context it occurs within. A lot of people act as if the motives of terrorists are absolutely mysterious and terrifying, but this is far from the case. There are some truly crazy terrorists, but they are the minority. Most of them are people involved in a military struggle, using the means that are available for them. Domestic terrorism is a strategy used by people whose goals and political situation don’t allow them to fight a conventional military war. A domestic terrorist can get a lot more accomplished with a car bomb that he can by declaring war on a country. The United States military has evolved to the point where it can win almost any domestic war it wants to, but it still can’t succeed in anti terrorism prevention completely. Anyone driven enough, smart enough, lucky enough, and connected enough can stage a terrorist bombing.

The key to stopping domestic terrorist groups is to keep an eye on them before they decide to commit an act of terror. The idea of the terrorist mastermind that you see in movies is far from the truth. Domestic terrorism, like any other sort of underground conspiracy, is subject to all sorts of problems. People lose the stomach for the act, defect to authorities, run out of resources, or suffer from plain old bad luck. The authorities know this, and they also know they can keep an eye on domestic terrorists. They infiltrate organizations that they think may decide to engage in domestic terrorism in the future. They keep an eye on these groups, sometimes for years, knowing that this will let them be right where they need to be if the organization attacks.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t high-tech tools to help prevent domestic terrorism. Of course there are. There are bomb scanners, surveillance cameras, sophisticated security infrastructures, and other things like that. However, it all comes down to this: in a city with millions of people in it like New York, Los Angeles, or any other major American city, there is only so much you can do to watch people. The fact is, there are so many people doing so many things at once that, unless you know who to look for and where, you can easily miss something. Fighting domestic terrorism requires smart technology, but it requires smart policy even more.

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Gameboy Micro Games

First there was Gameboy. Then there was Gameboy Pocket. Then there was Gameboy Color. Then there was Gameboy Advance, which advanced even further with the GameBoy Advance SP and with its final incarnation, the Gameboy Micro. The Gameboy Micro is the smallest version of the Game Boy yet with a length of 4 inches, a width of 2 inches, and a thickness of 0.7 inches. It?s almost like a bar style cell phone. What?s special about the Game Boy Micro, other than its tiny size, is the new backlit screen that improves the graphics of play. The screen is much sharper and adjustable according to preference. The faceplate is also removable and customizable if you want your Game Boy Mircro unit to come in a unique color or a funky design.

However, a major drawback is that it lacks backwards compatibility. The Gameboy Advance and Game Boy Advance SP were able to play old Gameboy and Gameboy Color games, but Gameboy Micro games only consist of the standard Gameboy Advance games. The Gameboy Micro can also use GameBoy Advance Video Paks but these are for watching TV shows and movies rather than gameplay. Incompatibility also extends to Gameboy Advance accessories like chargers, cables, cameras and printers. Inevitably, buying new accessories is a part of buying a new system.

So you might have to buy some more games to play on your Gameboy Micro now that you can?t play any of your old Gameboy games. If you had mostly Game Boy Advance game in your collection anyway, this isn?t too big of a deal. But Nintendo has always been known for the preservation of old titles, so chances are that you were still holding onto them and unfortunately none of them are going to make it into your collection of Gameboy Micro games.

One way to save money is to buy multicart games, which is like having up to a little over a hundred Gameboy Micro games in one, coming with Advance games as well as NES titles. These are more popular internationally, so you can?t find them in the US but you can find a selection online. Considering that buying some Gameboy Micro games would be an average of $30 per game, $70 for 3 Game Boy Advance games and 113 NES games is a killer deal that makes up for the other extra money spent on accommodating your new system.

Uncategorized Design, Home, Movies

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Graphic Design Schools

Graphic design is a very integral part of our lives whether we realize it or not. We?re bombarded with ads everywhere, we see posters, we unwrap packages, we browse websites, we read menus, we wear T shirts, we watch movies?practically whenever we see an image, a symbol, a logo, or any sort of visual presentation, we?re seeing the product of graphic design. Graphic design is intended to reach out to the public and inform, influence, demonstrate and entertain. It lets us know what a store is selling, it tells us what to buy in that store, it shows us how the things in that store work, and it gets those things to amuse us or draw us in. Sometimes the intent of graphic design is very specific and clear, and other times it works subliminally. Either way, daily life is heavily influenced by creative visual communication conceptualized and put into action by graphic designers.

But before graphic designers can send their creations forth into the world, they need the proper knowledge and experience. They begin as students at graphic design schools, where the learning is very hands on. Unlike other universities in which a large part of education consists of lectures, graphic design schools espouse working in the studio and discussing design projects. The environment is very dynamic and interactive?graphic design schools maintain a curriculum in which students actively work on projects and critique each others? work. Through the experience of direct exposure and receiving feedback from others, graphic design students learn how to communicate through their work more effectively. The experience in itself fosters communication with others and students learn to work with and learn from their colleagues.

Graphic design schools directly prepare students for the future?they will build up a portfolio during their time there, which will help them to get employed once they have graduated. There are many different directions that they can go in, since graphic design is so ubiquitous. Some may design packages for a company?s products, some might design logos, some might design websites, some might illustrate books, some might create ads, and some might do a combination of these things. Graphic designers work on a project by project basis and while they usually will have a steady job, many of them work as freelance graphic designers, meaning that they take on various projects from different clients. The possibilities are numerous and graphic designers should choose a path that suits their interests and work ethic.

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Alien Autopsy

One of the greatest memories of my childhood was watching an alien autopsy video on the Discovery Channel. I was raised on science fiction stories, shows, and movies from a very young age, so for me it was more than just a show. I was convinced that aliens were real ? at least in the way that little kids are always convinced that their favorite monsters are real. They didn’t need to bombard me with the testimony of experts or the opinions of astronomers about the possibility of extraterrestrial life. For me, the alien invasion was already at hand!

I was actually not supposed to be watching the alien autopsy show. I had pretty tolerant, open minded parents, but on some issues they were not open to compromise. They did not believe in letting their kids watch movies and programs with blood and gore, and the alien autopsy definitely fell under that category. I knew they would say no, so I didn’t even ask for permission. Instead, I went to bed early and waited until they were asleep. Then, I quietly got up and snuck into the den to watch the alien autopsy.

I think that program was the moment when I decided to get involved in making science fiction. I was not sure if I wanted to be a writer, director, special effects technician, or actor, but I knew that i had to have a part in it. I think that on some level, I suspected that alien autopsy was a fake, but I didn’t care. It was such a good illusion that I could not get over it. I wanted to make my own extra terrestrial programs one day to entertain imaginative little kids like me.

Since then, my reality testing has gotten a lot better, but I still have the same fascination with alien autopsies. I bough a high end, powerful computer so that I could play all the latest alien invasion games and watch science fiction movies on my desktop. Of course nowadays, I spend much more of my time making my own alien stories than playing games or reading sci-fi by other people. It really is a great thrill to be able to make your own stories. As much as I used to enjoy watching tv shows about secrets from another world, I think that I enjoy working on my own fantastic tales even more.

If you are fascinated by space aliens, don’t just be a fan. As entertaining as a good alien autopsy is, the feeling of completing your own fantastic tale is beyond compare. I always think about the kids out there, enjoying my ?tales of the unknown? as much as I used to enjoy those written by others.

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Sundance Film Festival

One of the most prestigious showcases of independent films takes place every year in Utah. The Sundance Film Festival is the largest of its kind in the USA and is held in January across four different venues. These are Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and the famous Sundance Resort, the ski resort owned by Robert Redford, taking its name from his character in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

The event began in a small-scale way in 1978 in Salt Lake City and was founded by Redford and two colleagues. Known in those days as the Utah / US Film Festival, it grew in recognition, respected by everyone in the movie industry. The Sundance Festival presents new American films and films from around the world, including feature length, short films and documentaries. There are both competition and non-competition entries. Various prizes are awarded including the Grand Jury Prize and the Special Jury Prize.

Robert Redford also founded the Sundance Institute, a non-profit organization, which supports people in the film industry and their projects. It also serves to manage the Sundance Film Festival. The festival received its current name in 1991 and actors, producers and directors from mainstream Hollywood and the independent sector continue to flock there. Celebrities endorse it and the world’s media descend on it each year. Several independent directors launched their careers at the festival, including Quentin Tarantino, Kevin Smith, and Steven Soderbergh. Even to be selected for screening brings a lot of status to any film.

Another organization bearing the Sundance name is the Sundance Channel, a cable network dedicated to broadcasting independent movies and documentaries. It also publicizes what’s happening at each new Sundance Film Festival. Each feature or short attracts its own publicity, boosting its success and distribution. In 2008, 200 films were shown at the festival. Audiences can buy tickets in advance or day of show tickets. The 2009 dates have been announced as January 15th – January 25th, and the 2010 festival will be from January 21st – January 31st.

Of course, it’s always nice to win prizes and the prize winners at Sundance Film Festivals can just about guarantee box office success and critical acclaim around the globe. The Grand Jury Prize for Drama in 2008 went to Frozen River, a story about smuggling illegal immigrants. The Grand Jury Prize for World Cinema Documentary for that year was awarded to Man on Wire, the film about daredevil Philippe Petit and his high wire walk between New York’s Twin Towers in 1974. Other films to receive awards in 2008 were Captain Abu Raed, Patti Smith: Dream of Life, and Choke.

Robert Redford has achieved worldwide fame and respect as an actor and director and is to be commended for putting something back into the industry that has brought him so much success. The future of Sundance looks secure and will be a lasting legacy for film lovers everywhere.

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Buying a Laptop

In the beginning of the computer era it was all about PCs, but now it?s portable computers that are all the rage. It?s fitting as our society becomes increasingly on the go and dependent on wireless communication. In some lines of work, even in occupations that don?t directly have to do with computers, owning a laptop is a given and those who don?t are ordered to procure one right away. Laptops haven?t exactly replaced the desktop just yet but owning a laptop is increasingly becoming the norm, such as at a college campus for using in lecture or at the library. Computers have a billion different uses, and the ways that people use them are diverse. We use computers to record databases, we use them look up information, to chat with people, to share pictures, to write programs, to watch movies?computers are a part of almost every kind of work and recreation, and there?s almost as many computer models out on the market as there are ways to use them.

People will need their computers for varying purposes, and the kind of computer they buy will depend on their lifestyle. Serious computer junkies usually need a desktop to satisfy their needs, while you?ll often see the average consumer buying a laptop instead. Laptops are trendier and wireless is a big part of recreational use, so after that?s decided it?s a question of which laptop to buy. There are several factors that play into buying a laptop. The obvious factor is how much it costs?actually, laptops are often cheap because new models are always coming out, but you don?t want to go buying a laptop that?s a piece of junk. Size is also important because laptops can be like textbooks, while others are so small that you keep pressing 2 buttons with one finger by accident. If you like showing off how thin and pretty your laptop is, or you like to carry it around a lot and you don?t want it to be too heavy, a smaller model would be ideal. Another issue is battery life, because unlike a desktop that?s constantly plugged in, a laptop travels more frequently and it?s not always near an electrical outlet.

Buying a laptop is an important decision, and you should explore your options carefully. Many customers find themselves buying the first laptop on the rack that the sales representative shows them, but you can?t judge computers by their cases. Laptops are foremost meant to be functional and convenient, so you should pick the model that suits your needs best.

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Bratz Funky Fashion Makeover

Everyone remembers when Bratz first came onto the toy scene, daring to intrude on Barbie?s territory. Mattel had long held a monopoly on the dress up doll market and then all of sudden, these upstart brats rose up to challenge their rule. Bratz was initially unsuccessful, understandable considering Barbie?s influence, but it fairly quickly won over legions of girls with their bug eyes, pouty lips and edgy fashion, which was an intriguing contrast to the wholesome, perhaps becoming tiresome, Barbie. Bratz has taken over a significant share of the market to itself with lines like Bratz Funky Fashion Makeover and Bratz Genie Magic, but Mattel wasn?t about to back down with a fight. There have been subsequent lawsuit battles between Mattel and MGA Entertainment over issues of infringement. Mattel won a suit in which it complained that the creator of Bratz had designed the line while still employed at Mattel, and as a result MGA Entertainment had to halt production of Bratz. However, this has so far been on hold and MGA has filed an appeal. MGA also filed a suit of its own, claiming that the ?My Scene? Barbie dolls had ripped off of the Bratz design, and the verdict for this suit is also on hold.

Therefore, in the meantime the Bratz franchise continues to sell its products and it has expanded beyond fashion dolls to even TV shows, movies, video games and music. Despite its predicament, Bratz products are alive and well, selling off quickly as well as attracting controversy. Some have expressed concern with the message that Bratz dolls conveys to the girls that play with them. For example, the Bratz Funky Fashion Makeover style heads allow girls to style hair, and administer tattoos, eye shadow, lip gloss and the works. Bratz Funky Fashion Makeover is also targeted at girls ages 6 to 12. It suggests that girls apply the same makeover to themselves, ?although Mom might not let kids leave the house afterwards.? Even the American Psychological Association has commented on the possible over sexualization of young girls, and others worry that lines like the Bratz Funky Fashion Makeover encourage girls to dress provocatively and objectify sexuality at such an early age.

Yet others find it questionable or laughable to think that Bratz dolls are responsible for a hypersexual culture. It?s all just fantasy and fun, and it?s girls themselves who actually want to put on makeup and dress up regardless of what Bratz dolls do. That might be true, but media and consumerism have a considerable effect on how girls think. Bratz dolls themselves are not the issue; they merely represent a growing concern that sooner or later needs to be addressed.

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Race Car

Hot Wheels race car toys got their start in 1968, and they haven?t ever stopped running since. They were the brainchild (braincar?) of Elliott Handler, one half of Mattel?s infamous power couple (his wife, Ruth Handler, was responsible for the creation of Barbie). As it turned out, the toy cars were a huge success, succeeding much more than anyone at Mattel had imagined, and from then on the Hot Wheels brand only grew bigger, with even more cars and race car tracks to go with them. Hot Wheels cars are die cast, which means that they?re created by melting metal and filling it into molds, and they are surprisingly well detailed and true to real life car designs. New models are released from the Hot Wheels factory garage frequently, the latest being ?Tri & Stop Me,? ?Bye Focal II,? ?49 Merg,? ?Dairy Delivery,? ?Jeep Scrambler,? ?HW40,? ?Lotus Concept? and ?67 Camaro.? As many as 50 new car models are released in a year, so the Hot Wheels race car collection expands exponentially and Hot Wheels enthusiasts will never find their collections complete. Avid collectors can keep track of their race car collections at the Hot Wheels official website, www.hotwheels.com. If you create account and sign in, you can check off which cars you have and which ones you still need to get. You can also stay posted on the latest models, take advantage of special offers, participate in auctions and trade cars with other collectors.

Our culture has long been fascinated with the race car, which explains why Hot Wheels cars are so popular. The sport of car racing has been around since even the 1800s and auto racing is one of the most watched spectator sports. Also, many people are fans of the Fast and the Furious series. Maybe the appeal of race car toys, racing arenas and racing movies is that it allows us to enjoy the thrill of racing without the danger. Depending on the circumstances, car racing can be quite dangerous so perhaps it?s better to enjoy it from a distance, whether that?s by experiencing it through fantasy, or in the bleachers or theater seats.

Collecting Hot Wheels race cars is also a much cheaper hobby than collecting real life vehicles. The cars themselves don?t cost as much and you?ll never to buy gas for them. They?re also easier to monitor and maintain because there?s no need to store them in countless garages or perform regular clean ups and oil changes. And if you accidentally crash any of them, thank goodness that you won?t have to worry about insurance.

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