Saturday 16 January 2010

You Can Be Proud Of Celtic Irish Tattoos

By Jennifer Jackson

Important Celtic Irish Tattoos Concepts

Two millennia ago and up until now, the Celtic culture flourished strongly on Earth. The ancestry of the civilization can be mapped out from some areas in Asia, India's sub-continent, Persia and Europe.

Celtic Irish Tattoos Found Here

Celtic Irish Tattoos

Tattoos having Celtic Irish symbols

At some point in the Middle Ages, Europe had seen the first occurrence of Celtic Irish cross. The earliest Celtic Irish tattoo was seen in Europe at some time during the Middle Ages. These days, the emblem is a symbol for deep faith and is actually found in Irish graveyards. The contemporary tattoo with a Celtic Irish design symbol is profoundly displayed in other variety of Celtic art which is known as "intricate knot work". This intricate knot work is a familiar design for all types of Celtic Irish art, as attested by the large number of elucidated documents they have seen.

In truth, most of Celtic Irish tattoos got their artwork from pictures in the ancient texts.
Lion Tattoo design click link.


The Celtic Irish Tree of Life symbol for tattoo

The tree of life by the Celtic Irish people was incorporated in a tattoo which they had originally utilized following the dawn of Christian faith. It has been recognized that the artworks were on the carved stones in Scotland and Northumberland in addition to those in the Book of Kells. The Celtic people have treated the tree of life with significance which is manifested by the numerous artworks of the Celtic Irish tattoos. Yet again, the Celtic designs of the primitive Celtic people resulted to the current interpretations of the tree of life tattoo.


A lot of Celtic Irish tattoo designs are out there, and none of them are the same and most have deeper symbolic meanings. Celtic Irish tattoos having beard pullers design is another prominent design used by many. Further frequently used representations include: the claddagh, the shamrock, the peacock, the triquetra and most specially, the dragon.Scorpion Tattoo Designs

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Barcelona City Breaks: The Best Spots To Visit

By Amanda Snell

Barcelona city breaks offer a range of things to do and see in a lively city. If you need to take some time out of a busy life and job, it's a good place to enjoy a new culture and take in all its sights.

Barcelona has its own unique culture that is a mix of its Catalonian heritage and its ultra modern architecture. It is multicultural and cosmopolitan but still retains its historical roots and culture. To see this you just have to take a short visit to the old city centre.

There is so much intriguing architecture that must be seen. Most of the works are done or influenced by their renowned architect, Antoni Gaudi. The Sagrada Familia is the best example and the most visited tourist spot in Barcelona. The cathedral is still in the making after over a hundred years of being under construction. You can have a look inside at the museum and the chapel or even go up in one of its towers to get bird's eye view of the place.

If you really like Gaudi's style, there are so many more examples of his work. A prominent sight is Park Guell, which was originally designed to be a self-contained settlement. Here, there is an opportunity to see the landscape from high up from the park. There are also many buildings that he designed such as Casa Mila and Casa Batllo, both a must see.

Very good choices of museums are also available in Barcelona. The Picasso Museum has an extensive collection of the artist's works chronicling from early years to his more renowned later Cubist pieces. The museum is located in the old city, in the Gothic Quarter, so it'll give you a chance to wander around its narrow streets. The MNAC (the National Museum of Catalonia) is worth visiting to see works by regional artists over the years.

The city centre is where you'll find Barcelona's most famous street, La Rambla. The street always full of street artists and performers just a fantastic place to take a walk. There are lots of very good tapas bars to choose from and try the local food. If you are looking to get a little sun and unwind after all the hustle and bustle, the beach is only a short distance from the centre.

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Wood Picture Frame: Selecting The Right One

By Benedict Perez

Birthdays, weddings, christening and vacations are grand occasions that happen once in a lifetime. This is why you capture unforgettable moments of you and your loved ones in photographs. Obviously, it takes a little more time to have it developed into the desired size you want it printed. But there maybe instances where you have to expose these photos to people you know because you are proud of it. To some extent, they can tell the kind of personality and preferences you may have.

Picture frames are made up of many, different materials. Aluminum, plastic or polystyrene, sea shells and wood are usually the materials used in your picture frame. All these provide you with different options to choose from. But there are those people who go for the usual preference such as a wood picture frame as this never run out of style.

If you like wood picture frame, you will need to determine the right design and dimension that fits the concept of your photo or artwork. You will surely find many selections for this. There is the standard and there is the customized. Your selection matters as it compliments with the photos that yields a magnificent appearance.

One important aspect when you choose a wood picture frame is how it will blend with the concept of your picture or artwork. Color is vital as well as those that surround your furnishings. It is your main intention to make it appear a stand-out so that everyone will gaze at it with admiration and not an awkward piece you just selected.

You may also want to give this kind of picture frame to people you love or know. This is also an ideal gift to give as it comes with many purposes. But adding some personal touch will make it more worthwhile to the recipient. As you may notice, this is the usual gift one gives to many besides the scented candles. There are many stores offering personalized picture frames of this sort to make it more unique and distinct.

There is a way to make it appear personalized or customized and that is by selecting a photo that binds you and the recipient. You may prefer a cherished picture of you and your partner. Or perhaps pictures of you taking care of your growing children. This makes the picture the gift and the wood picture frame, the icing of the cake or its background. Then you can hand-in this gift in a nice wrapper.

As you very well know, wood picture frame has many purposes. They can be used for paintings or fine art photographs. You can find quality wood picture frames that are already assembled. There are also those premium frames that are hand-painted and built with glue and v-nails to have a secure fit on the corners.

There are some of these that you will find in museums and galleries. Yet you also need to consider the weight of the frame if you intend to have this hanged for decoration. Once you have selected the appropriate wood picture frame that suits your preference, you can have satisfaction guaranteed as you gaze into your own selection.

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Record Companies Are Now Suing Mobile Carriers For Royalties

By Mallory McGuinness-Hickey

It appears as though the music industry has found a new strategy to cash in on royalties. As music lovers are well aware, at first these companies tried to sue individual users for illegally downloading music. But it is painfully clear that this approach to recover from major financial loss has destroyed their image in the public eye.

Rather than lowering the cost of albums in order to compete with free music circulating through the internet, record companies have turned to collection agencies who are now suing cellphone companies over royalties from ring tones. They contested that ring tones counted as public performances and therefore cell phone companies should be obligated to pay performance fees. The courts quickly shot this down.

After this unsuccessful attempt to collect money, Broadcast Music Inc is now suing T-Mobile over ring back tones, contesting that the cell phone company is selling them without agreeing to licensing agreements. Instead of ring tones, which play out loud when someone calls a cellphone, ring back tones play expressly to the person calling. That is to say, instead of hearing a cellphone dialing tone, the caller will hear a song chosen by the cell owner.

Music lovers are quick to point out the contradictory nature of this lawsuit. If ringtones that can be heard by anyone around a cellphone that is being called, do not equate to a public performance, it seems absurd to sue the mobile carriers over a ringback tone that can be heard only by the caller. Record companies seem to be grasping at straws as they suffer from huge financial losses.

It does not seem that lowering the cost of CDs and DVDs is an idea that has occurred to the major companies. There are still a number of music fans out there that prefer to collect and own the media, however with prices constantly spiking, downloading music for free seems very tempting. CDs generally go on sale for about seventeen dollars.

A few bands have bypassed the issue of free music downloads through creative tactics. Radiohead, an alternative rock band, built a website where fans can obtain the mp3s for free, or for a donation. Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor made a similar site. The music industry's unsuccessful lawsuits and declining public image leads one to believe that thinking outside of the box and lower pricing may be more effective than bullying money out of mobile carriers and individual users.

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How To Make A Success In Photography

By Jason Kelly

One of the toughest segments in the business industry is in the photography business. There are a lot of ways to be able to start that kind of business. But one thing is the same, no matter what avenue you take it will be tough with a lot of competition. So in this article we are going to learn a couple of things to be able to succeed in the photography business.

Of course, the first thing that you have to accomplish is to learn how to be a good photographer. People think that this is a very simplistic advice, but obviously it is not. Like anything, if you want to succeed and be the best you are going to have to work for it. You will need to practice your craft and work to get better. This has helped me do well as a photographer.

The next thing you should be good and capable at is with customer service. As essential being a topnotch photographer and knowing how to properly take quality pictures, it is equally important to be good with customers as well. You have to realize that being in photography is also like being in a people business. You have to always work to please and do what your client wants. This has worked extremely well in my wedding photographer service. Because no client is more critical than a wedding couple on their wedding day.

Last but not least, you have to be able to determine when great shots are coming out. This is more of an intuitive skill, but being able to determine when exactly it comes up will provide you with great shots. How you develop this skill depends on your knowledge on the client and the goings on during your photo shoot.

Also knowing when big moments are going to happen. This is very important in my event photography service. By being intuitive and able to know the exact moment has assisted me in capturing great shots.

So you have learned how to be a success in photography. Consider this advice to heart and without a doubt you will be a successful photographer.

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Friday 15 January 2010

Falcons Win Big On Road, Top 49ers

By Ross Everett

It's obvious that the San Francisco 49ers are heading in the right direction under Mike Singletary, but you couldn't tell by watching their game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. The Falcons scored six touchdowns against the Niners, with running back Michael Turner accounting for three of the scores as Atlanta routed San Francisco by a lopsided 45-10 final score. It was the Niners' worst defeat since a 41-0 loss back in 2006 under former coach Mike Nolan. San Francisco fell to 3-2 with the defeat while the Falcons improved to 3-1.

The NFL betting lines had the game listed as a 'PICK', giving the Falcons the ATS win with their easy straight up victory. It was the 49ers first loss against the spread this season, while Atlanta upped their record to 3-1 to the money.

After the game, the fiery Singletary apologized for a verbal altercation with former 49er and current Falcons' lineman Harvey Dahl:

"I'll put it this way: I wish I had more coaching etiquette. I don't. I love my players and when someone responds about my players in a particular way, I may do some things I shouldn't do. I have to get better at those things as time goes on. Even though the player was talking to me, I should not have said what I said. It wasn't anything bad, it was just something that shouldn't have happened."

Roddy White set a Falcons' record with 210 receiving yards, and was assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on his second touchdown of the day. With his team in full control, Atlanta coach Mike Smith had to be amused:

"He didn't hit the landing because if he hits the landing it's not a 15-yard penalty. I told him if he's going to do it, it needs to be Olga Korbut. And he looked at me like he doesn't know who Olga Korbut is. Then I told him, 'Well, maybe Mary Lou Retton.' And then I figure that's '86, he doesn't know who Mary Lou Retton is. It went right over his head and my head."

Smith admitted that he hadn't been in top form so far this season:

"I felt like I haven't been playing well up to this point in the season. Me and coach Smith had a talk. He was like, 'You gotta get back to being yourself again. You gotta go out there and be the old Roddy. No pressure. Just go out there and play.'"

The Falcons will return home on Sunday to host the Chicago Bears, with Atlanta a -3 home favorite and the total set at 45'. They'll play their next two on the road, traveling to Texas for a game against the Dallas Cowboys the following week and to New Orleans to face the Saints on Monday, November 2. The 49ers will have a bye this week before traveling to Houston to play the Texans on October 25.

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The Basics Of The NFL Point Spread

By Ross Everett

In order to successfully bet on NFL football its important to start with the fundamentals. Were talking about the fundamentals of understanding the wagering side of the equation. Theres a lot of misunderstanding about what NFL pointspreads mean and how they are set. A firm understanding of the bookmaking concept of setting NFL lines is a prerequisite for any sports betting success.

The general public has a tendency to oversimplify the meaning of an NFL pointspread. The conventional wisdom is that it is simply a prediction of which team will win and by how much. In theory, a sportsbooks primary goal is to equally divide the action they take on an individual game. If they do their job right, the outcome of the game is irrelevant to the bookmaker. Youll frequently hear clueless sportscasters make inane comments following a big upset like Boy, the sportsbooks in Las Vegas must have lost their shirts on that one. Thats something that simply cannot be determined from the outcome of the game alone.

A bookmakers primary goal in setting NFL betting lines is to equally divide action. To do this they have to make each side of a wagering proposition attractive to a prospective player. For that reason, its more accurate to say that NFL lines are more of a reflection of the betting publics perception of which team will win a game and by how much than anything else. A bookmaker may shade the NFL lines involving teams that are popular with the general public such as the Dallas Cowboys or New England Patriots to make their opponent a more enticing betting option. So if the numbers in a hypothetical game between Dallas and Cincinnati indicate that the Cowboys should be a -6 favorite a book may open the game at -7 or -7. For that reason going against public teams is almost always a strong wagering strategy.

In early season wagering there are a few additional factors at play. A bookmaker may consider a teams NFL preseason record for the simple reason that the NFL betting public gives it undue attention. Sharp players know that there is little correlation between a teams preseason success (or lack thereof) and their regular season performance. Another consideration is a teams performance in the previous season or, in some cases, their historical performance. A team with a winning tradition like New England or Carolina may be priced higher than the true odds indicate as a result.

Furthermore, its important to understand why NFL lines are moved after the opening numbers are posted. While it may occasionally be due to external factors such as injury or weather, more often than not its a direct result of the money a book is drawing on one side of the proposition or another. The idea is that by moving the line it makes wagers on the side a book wishes to attract money on more attractive.

NFL football betting is a very complex discipline, and many neophytes make the mistake of focusing exclusively on the nuances of the game itself. To successfully bet on NFL football, however, it is important to spend as much time understanding the intricacies of the sports gambling marketplace"and in this regard nothing is more fundamentally important than understanding how NFL pointspreads are made and why they are moved.

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Houston Slips Past San Francisco

By Ross Everett

The Houston Texans have won consecutive games for the first time this season by virtue of a hard fought 24-21 victory over the visiting San Francisco 49ers. The Texans led 21-0 at halftime but fought themselves in a ball game after the Niners scored the first 14 points of the second half. The rally fell short, however, and Houston improved to 4-3 on the NFL season. The 49ers evened their record at 3-3.

Players that bet on NFL football found the game completely irrelevant, however, as it landed right on the pointspread for a disappointing push. After covering their first four of the season against the NFL pointspread, the Niners have a loss and a push in their last two games to leave their record at 4-1-1 versus the number. Houston is now 3-3-1 ATS on the season. The 45 points scored managed to go OVER the total of 44' by a half point. The 49ers evened their NFL totals record at 3-3, while the Texans have gone UNDER in four of seven.

Despite losing a big lead, Houston coach Gary Kubiak was pleased with the outcome:

"We get down, they get up and they all of a sudden grabbed the momentum of the game. But we made some big plays late and defensively Eugene made a big play so it was a big, big win."

Niners' coach Mike Singletary benched quarterback Shaun Hill after a terrible first half and replaced him with Alex Smith. Smith responded by throwing three touchdown passes and getting San Francisco back in the game. After the contest, Singletary explained his move:

"I just thought it was time to make the switch. It was as simple as that. No long, drawn-out thought process. But let's make the change."

Smith explained that he caught the Texans' defense playing passive football in the second half:

"Starting the second half, down three scores, you're seeing some stagnant looks from the defense, they're not throwing as much at you."

Top draft choice Michael Crabtree finally made his San Francisco debut after a lengthy holdout and described what the experience was like:

"I was kind of calm. I practiced on getting calm and coming into the game, knowing what I was supposed to do and executing my plays. I think I did a good job, but I've got some more work to do."

San Francisco will travel east to face the Indianapolis Colts next Sunday, with the 49ers installed as a +11 road underdog and the total set at 45. They'll return home for their next two games, hosting the Tennessee Titans the following Sunday and facing the Chicago Bears off a short week the next Thursday, November 12. Houston will play their next two on the road, beginning with a game at Buffalo on Sunday. They'll play at Indianapolis the following week before a bye week.

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Ducks Rip Canucks, Backup Goalie Raycroft

By Ross Everett

After losing the services of starting goalie Roberto Luongo for the indefinite future with a broken rib, the Canucks may have breathed a sigh of relief too soon after backup goalie Andrew Raycroft's performance in his first game in relief. After an excellent effort in an overtime victory over Los Angeles, Raycroft was torched for four goals in two periods before being pulled from the game. Corey Schneider, recently recalled from Manitoba of the AHL, played the third period in net giving up three more goals as Anaheim cruised to a 7-2 victory. The Canucks scored twice in the first five minutes of the game to lead 2-0 before giving up seven unanswered goals.

Anaheim has struggled to a 4-6-1 record this season, but rewarded their backers who chose to lay the -164 price as home favorites with the Ducks. The Canucks evened their record on the season at 7-7 with the loss. The 9 combined goals put on the board sailed OVER the posted total of 6.

The Ducks snapped a four game losing streak with the offensive outburst. After spotting Vancouver a 2-0 lead early in the game, Corey Perry and Bobby Ryan each tallied two goals and an assist in the lopsided victory. Mike Brown had the eventual game winning goal in the second period with his first career shorthanded marker, and even enforcer George Parros got in on the act with his first goal of the year. Jonas Hiller was sharp in goal for Anaheim, stopping 36 of 38 shots in the victory.

Vancouver's problem this season has been not getting enough shots on goal and giving up too many. In the shootout victory over Los Angeles on Thursday, they were outshot 29-12 in regulation. They'd been kept in a number of games they should have lost due to the goaltending virtuosity of Luongo, and this game didn't bode well for his absence. This was only the second time in eight games Vancouver has allowed more than two goals, a testimony to the ungodly skill of Luongo more than their defensive tenacity.

Raycroft is expected to be back between the pipes for Vancouver's next game, a Sunday home date against the Colorado Avalanche. The Canucks will host the New York Rangers on Tuesday night before a road game against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday. Anaheim will play at Phoenix on Saturday night before returning to the Honda Center for the next two games. They'll host the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday before welcoming the Nashville Predators to southern California later in the week.

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Learn and Teach Your Child To Read Faster!

By Dr. Jay Polmar

Have you ever declined joining a book club because you can't remember a word you read or because you can't keep up? If your reading speed is more tortoise than hare, perhaps it's time to look into a new way of reading.

But wait you say. It took years to learn how to read before. I just dont have that kind of time.

Never fear! With our Speed Read Complete Family edition, you will be able to double your reading speed in only an hour in the privacy of your own home, dorm room, or office! Speedread America's time-tested method of teaching your brain to speed read has been taught in live seminars for decades all around the world and the ebooks have been translated into five languages.

Are you worried about studying speed reading online? Dr. Jay Polmar taught speed reading from 1979 to 1993 and then set up those same courses for you to learn online. Over 100,000 people have studied and you can too! Dont waste hundreds of dollars to read just a few words a minute faster with other methods? With our time-tested and guaranteed Speed Read Complete Family Edition "including four ebooks as well as 12 supplementary MP3 audio files which fit easily in any iPod or other MP3 player" we guarantee you will be reading noticeably faster and comprehending more in just the first hour or every penny of your money back.

Start your Speed Read Complete program (if you are a child, or if you have a child), with If You Can Read This, You Can Read Faster (specifically designed for school-aged children). Or, you can start with our higher-level, Speed Reading in Only One Hour and move to our Be Dynamic through Speed Reading. In our full course you will learn not just only how to speed read, but also how to learn to control your sub-vocalization, vary your reading speed at will, batch process, and the all-important techniques of power thinking.

Not only will you double your reading speed in just the first hour, using our time-tested Speed Read Complete course, you'll be able to increase your memory, recall, concentration, note taking, and so much more. In less than just three weeks, you could even see a promotion at work or a dramatic rise in your child's GPA due to this new-found love of learning.

The Speed Read Complete was written based on a 3-day reading course by Dr. Jay Polmar, an accomplished author and university and community college professor who has over 40 titles to his name. Dr. Polmar (www.speedreadcomplete.com0 has helped over 100,000 all around the world read faster and get ahead in both school and life.

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Thursday 14 January 2010

Take Your Company Public: A Must Read About Disclosure Obligations

By James Scott

Are you taking your company public? Here is what you need to know. Disclosure Obligations: "If my company becomes "public," what are its disclosure obligations?"

The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires a company to file certain periodic reports once its registration statement has been declared effective. This obligation continues indefinitely unless:

At the beginning of any subsequent fiscal year, the class of securities offered is held of record by less than 300 persons; or

At the beginning of any subsequent fiscal year (except the two fiscal years immediately succeeding the year the registration statement became effective), all securities offered are held of record by less than 500 persons and the issuer has had less than $5 million in total assets for each of its last three fiscal years.

In these cases, the reporting obligation may be suspended. Otherwise, a company must continuously disclose certain information about:

Its operations; Its officers, directors, and certain shareholders (including salary, various fringe benefits, and inside transactions between the company and management); The financial condition of the business (including audited financial statements by an independent certified public accountant); The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (or PCAOB) (sometimes called "Peekaboo") is a private-sector, non-profit corporation created by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, a 2002 United States federal law, to oversee the auditors of public companies. Its competitive position, material terms of certain contracts or lease agreements; acquisitions and mergers, creation of certain financial obligations, and material impairment of assets; unregistered sales of equity securities; changes in its accountant; and changes in its board of directors and management;

In addition, a company must promptly disclose to the public any information that would be considered important to its present or prospective stockholders.

All companies with total assets exceeding $5 million and a class of equity securities held by 500 or more persons are required by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to file the same supplementary, periodic, and current reports as noted above. Companies with these characteristics must also comply with the Commission's proxy rules if proxies are solicited from holders of its securities. In such a case, the company must furnish all shareholders proxy statements disclosing all material facts concerning matters on which they are being asked to vote. If the proxy solicitation by management relates to an annual meeting at which directors are to be elected, the Commission's proxy rules also require the company to furnish each shareholder an annual report disclosing certain information about the company, including audited financial statements for its latest fiscal year.

Exemptions

The Securities Act of 1933 provides several exemptions from the registration requirements; the most common are discussed below. Nonetheless, purchases or sales of securities (even in exempt transactions) are subject to the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws. This means that issuers are responsible for false or misleading statements (whether oral or written) which may be redressed through private or government legal action, including criminal sanctions. Also, if all conditions of the exemptions discussed below are not met, purchasers may seek to have their purchase price refunded. In addition, the fact that an offending may be exempt from certain provisions of the federal securities laws does not necessarily mean that it is exempt from the notice and filing obligations of various state laws.

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Event Photography - Tips Tips And More Tips

By Vanessa Wong

Event photography, these days is an appealing profession. People who cover events like weddings, seminars, sports events, award ceremonies etc. are called event photographers.

People generally believe that all that is required to become an event photographer is to bring the equipment and keep clicking photographs during the event. However, this is not correct at all. An event photographer needs to have some important skills to succeed at his job, which he/she can sharpen through a variety of courses available for this purpose.

From the outside you may believe that as the photographer runs around just snapping that there is no method in their photography. At an event there is an aim in place that must be met. Obtaining a large spread of great high quality photos needs skill and a great eye. Being quick off the mark is a must to capture all those unexpected shots.

Having an artistic trait is a prerequisite for an event photographer and he ought to be able to adapt to the theme of the event. For instance, a wedding needs to be shot in a completely different way than a sports event. Therefore, the photographer should have a flair for capturing the mood of an event in his images.

Remember at an event you are there to take the photographs and not actually be part of the picture. By that what is meant is that you should be able to do your work without upsetting the course of the event. No one really should know you are there. When people do not think you are there, not only do you gain the best candid real shots you also do not disturb the event.

Since you are handling live events, you also need to possess management skills. A clumsy and careless approach doesn't quite work in event photography. The photographer must be alert with his equipment and camera well in advance to the start of the event. A habit of lazing around or doing things at the last moment will not help you a lot in this job.

An event photographer should be technically sound and fit for the job. He must know his equipment thoroughly and must have a fair idea about how to control the settings to get a top class result. The use of light and different angles is critical in any form of photography and a photographer ought to know how to use them in various situations.

Offering a photography service also means that you are in business. You are no longer an recreational photographer snapping a few photos for friends you are a professional. Because you are in business you will need to enhance your non-photography skills such as your people and communicating skills. Take the time to do communication and people management training courses because they will pay dividends for you especially if this is a weak spot for you. If your communication skills are low your business growth will be slow. Being able to be effective with people is a No.1 skill in this industry and field of photography. Books like 'How to Win Friends and Influence People' are also a must to read. Grow your individual communication skills today and observe your business grow tomorrow.

In short, event photography requires a full time expert who is ready to discover all the varied facets of this discipline. To ensure that you do well in this profession, the qualities of being always alert and flexible in your approach are critical.

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The Unbreakable Laws Of Corporate Power

By James Scott

Corporate strategies' consulting is, in its truest essence, a dirty business. Few understand this tiny, yet elite genre of consulting and even fewer are masters of its concepts. The same principles applied by this select faction of specialist should be applied by CEO's and company executives in all industries.

First and foremost, executives must understand the idea of power. There are certain unbreakable laws necessary for the ascension of professionals to positions of influence and power within an organization or industry. Here are a few of the concepts applied by serious corporate strategies consultants that are mandatory prerequisites for the rise and maintenance of power in the corporate world.

The individual seeking to take a position of power must possess the ability to customize and facilitate a turn-key solution to transform the fate of a crumbling company. They must have the ability to construct an infrastructure that perpetuates growth and stimulates longevity and stability. Power, in a corporate sense, is purely economic without excuses of any kind that is driven by greed, self assured stamina and the inability to accept anything but a number one position in their specific industry genre.

The ability of an individual to prompt a capable executive group to 'die hard' action and a no holds barred mentality is what will save a company from being a statistic. The unrelenting passion to win and the tactical action of this executive to strap the burdens of a company and its employees to his back and take responsibility for all that is to come, good and bad, to absorb the stress, anguish and deprivation of sleep due to mission focus are characteristics of a leader that will step into any company in any situation and deliver them from failure to profitability and growth.

This individual will assimilate into a battle while forcing the war to transfer its current to his terms. He can break through industrial and bureaucratic chaos and capture the essence of the obstacle and create multiple synergetic strategies to inject the corporate growth engine with rocket fuel. An executive primed for corporate power wears a velvet glove over an iron fist and is quiet and calm yet calculating in demeanor. He can step into negotiations composed and cool while simultaneously eying up the jugular of everyone in the room, scanning those present for weakness and chinks in their armor, preparing for psychological attack at the perfect time to press the mission of his agenda that much further adding security to his company.

This individual will not fall for the false lore of friendship from potential competition but will reciprocate like a gentleman to those initiating camaraderie while keeping them at arm's length and will always release enough rope to allow those around him to hang themselves if it means strengthening his company and position in his industry. The executive who has achieved the art of power will be able to prick the underlying wound of his target to find weakness then step back and watch them self-destruct as it is easier to do this then verbally pointing out the individual on the executive team who is the weakest link.

Most professionals who have mastered the above find themselves in consulting positions and are hated by their client's employees but loved by the shareholders. If you own a business or are in a senior position at a corporation, try applying some of these characteristics to your daily repertoire and watch the response of those around you. You'll find that you will naturally fall into a position of power because of the strength that these characteristics hold in the psyche of those around you. You'll become the problem solver and the 'go to' guy who has a reputation for being able to structure any situation so that your company lands on top. Get ready for rapid promotion, real leaders are hard to find and will usually take a bidding war to keep.

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Corporate Fund Raisingl: PIPE, DPO, PPM, OTCBB, Pink Sheets or Reverse Mergers

By James Scott

There are many ways to use capital without using bank loans, lines of credit and other shady methods like shelf corps and bogus platform scams. If you are truly trying to raise capital for your company here are some simple breakdowns of your options with a quick definition for each one:

 PIPE: Private Investment In Public Equity this is used primarily by mutual funds and private investment firms where they buy discount stock in order to raise capital, there are two types of PIPEs traditional where common and preferred stock is issued at a set cap to raise money for the issuer and a structured pipe issues convertible debt.

 DPO: Direct Public Offering is when you sell equity shares directly to customers, suppliers and employees.

 PPM: Private Placement Memorandum is also known as an offering memorandum takes advantage of Regulation D rule exemptions 504, 505 and 506. This process came into existence with the'33 securities act and popularized in the late'80s, companies can raise money from the public via private placement; there is virtually zero interaction with the SEC after you file form d as long as you stay legal. (most popular form of fund raising).

 IPO: Initial Public Offering: extremely expensive, need SOX 404 audits, must have board of directors, quarterly financial reports to shareholders, report heavily to the SEC and 1 out of every 1000 companies that want an IPO actually qualify. I love participating in these but most companies just can't qualify for one reason or the other.

 OTCBB: Over the Counter Bulletin Board is an electronic quote system that is the next best thing if you can't go public via ipo, there is minimal red tape to startups and small businesses and is legitimized by the stringent ongoing reports to the SEC which keeps investor confidence high (these are extremely solid and I suggest this structure to companies when I am hired by their company or legal team as a consultant as a fast, easy way to raise big capital from the public otc)

 Pink Sheet: you can look at pink sheets as the Burger King, while the OTCBB is McDonalds, they are competing otc mechanisms. Pinks sheets are commonly referred to as penny stock and notorious for 'pump em' and dump em' controversies and a lot of crooked people are involved with this platform. This is not a long term process that will allow one's company to grow, pink sheets companies are typically short lived but it is cheap to set up but not a professional structure that could be upgraded in time to an IPO.

 Reverse Merger: a group funds the filing and creation of a public shell, they then sell that shell to a company that wants to go public, the established company merges it's entity into the public shell. The sellers retain around 30% equity after they charge an upfront fee of 300k to 1m. 99% of reverse mergers are successful with the merger, but unsuccessful to bring them to trade and the entity basically just fizzles out.

Taking your company public is actually quite simple and inexpensive when you have the right consultant putting the structure together for you. There are countless ways to raise capital quickly and easily. It's important that you understand your options before you waste time entering into the red tape infested banking system for a loan.

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Wicked A New Musical

By Richie Stephenson

If you are looking for a nice musical to take your kids and whole family to, Wicked could just be the one that all of you could enjoy most. Wicked is a Broadway musical also being performed at the West End. In New York, it has gathered enough positive criticisms to get a Tony Award and prove its worth.

This musical is based on a novel written by Gregory Maguire entitled "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West". This best-selling literature is actually written in parallel to the classical story entitled "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum.

In the story, there are two witches, Elphaba, who will eventually become the wicked witch and Glinda, the supposedly good witch. These two witches became friends, although they have contrasting personalities and view points. Their friendship did suffer bumps and trials along the way of course. They do share one thing in common though - they both love the same guy.

The setting of the story happened before Dorothy arrived in Oz with the help of her ruby slippers. With that said, the audience could expect notable references, dialogues, and scenes in the equally popular "The Wizard of Oz" movie of 1939.

You need not see the story of Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz to appreciate this show and its plot. But those who simply love the classical tale are very much invited to see who the wicked witch of Oz really is. While you may think that she's the person that made things miserable for the people at Emerald City, you might think differently about her after watching this entertaining Broadway show.

Before finding its way to New York, Wicked was first shown at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco. It debuted in May 2003 before being presented in Broadway five months after. The force behind this musical is none other than Universal Pictures and is under the direction of Joe Mantello. Musical staging credits go to Wayne Cilento.

In the US, Wicked is being shown not only in New York but in Los Angeles, St. Louis, and Chicago as well. It also has had a big opening in London, more particularly at the West End. A tour is also being held regularly, with the show already taken to Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, and Ohio, among others.

The main characters of the story, aside from the two witches are The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Madame Morrible, Fiyero, Nessarose, Boq, and Doctor Dillamond. Each one of these characters features a distinct singing voice in the play that makes the musical more entertaining and lively. The most popular numbers of the musical are "No One Mourns the Wicked", "Dear Old Shiz", "As Long as You're Mine", and "For Good", among others.

Kids and adults would surely love this show simply because it is a very good one. The tale is rich and eventful, with the musical rendition quite memorable. Take your whole family to enjoy the performance. It is truly going to be a night of entertainment for all of you.

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Wednesday 13 January 2010

Coordinate New Baby Gift With A Motif For The Occasion

By Danny Ricks

A new baby gift can be worth more than anything in this world if it is personalized or customized. Anything that is given in this manner is always precious and unique. Something from you is also shared with a present like that and that will always remain for lifetime. Make your souvenir as one that must be cherished and treasured especially by a child as years go by and the intended recipient has grown into an adult.

A photo holder contains one of the most precious moments of your cute little one. It has no equivalent price for it is worth even more than any millions in the world. Firsts of babies are always priceless and happen just once in a lifetime. These should be given preparation and a camera is handy to capture that very rare moment.

As a parent you can keep in album those priceless photos so the child will be able to see them when the right time comes. These images are truly valuable possessions which must be treasured until this tiny human being has grown to recognize the face on the album. This will be something to keep and treasure as long as the child lives.

In due time, the little child will be able to recognize the face on the frame and for sure this thing will be treasured by this cute human being when he or she grows up. Children are fascinated seeing their names on that they have for that is one way of telling people who the owner if. These children are trying to be young adults so they would love to exercise some kind of ownership on certain things.

You can also customize your new baby gift by applying a certain motif to mark the occasion for gift-giving. It will provide more emphatic reasons which can make your worthy souvenir a cherished one. Customizing or personalizing your gifts is often for sentimental reasons and is always timeless and worth keeping.

Have your new baby gift personalized or customized for that would really be something unique and very special. Make sure you engrave or have the child's name printed including the date of the occasion for this will serve as a special moment of the giver is. Children are always delighted when they get presents with their names on them.

The child will have to grown up in due time and will learn to appreciate what you have done for him or her. In displaying all those captured moments makes the child feel how much you have showered such love and care all through the years for him or her. And with the baby's name on the image holder, it will also add joy to the little one when the time comes seeing that the frame has a name that tells who owns it.

You may to browse on the online catalogs from some websites for themes and styles that you find suitable as gifts. There is a wide array of selections you can find when you visit some sites. Just search for certain websites that are specializing in items that can be for a new baby gift.

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Go Public With Almost Any Company and Raise Capital Fast

By James Scott

OK, you're ready to take your company to the next level and your CFO and legal counsel have advised you to go public to raise capital as well as to retain some of those prize employees with stock options and to bait that new sales executive with a signing bonus made up of stock options. You've looked into everything from pink sheets to reverse mergers to OTCBB to IPO and you have come to the conclusion you're going to need to take on investors so that you can afford to follow through with your plan. If you're lacking the funds to dive right in and start creating your public structure, here is a way that just about any business can afford to go public.

First, get a real business plan. Your business plan needs to sizzle and reel in the investor and clearly paint a picture of your vision to the investor and their advisors. Next, you'll want to raise an initial round of cash quickly so that you can afford to take your company public without hindering your current company structure with additional ancillary costs. You're going to need something fast and affective; you should consider having a professionally authored private placement memorandum put together for your company.

If you are trying to go public via OTCBB a Regulation D Rule 504 exemption will suffice, if you are trying to achieve an IPO you'll need to go with a Regulation D Rule 505 exemption (pink sheets and reverse mergers into shell corps are not very successful in immediate and long term success so I would suggest you stay away from these structures). Build into the PPM verbiage that you are raising an initial round of capital that will be used to take your company public. When savvy investors see that they are investing in a real, viable pre-IPO or pre-OTCBB formation you will see investors climbing out of the woodwork to give you cash if your business concept is sound.

Next you hire the consultants (usually the same firm that wrote your PPM) to start the process of taking you public. On the PPM your Mini/Maxi should allow you to use capital almost immediately to get the ball rolling on your public company. You can count on a solid OTCBB going for between $75k and $250k and an IPO going for $1M+ so have your PPM written accordingly. If you follow the path set forth above you will notice something extraordinary.

The only out of pocket expense you had was for your Private Placement Memorandum (and your business plan if you didn't have one) and 100% of the capital needed to go public was supplied by greedy investors who are excited to invest because of the quick payoff of their investment when you go public. This process means you can literally take your company public for less than $5,000 (the typical cost of a strategic Private Placement Memorandum. This is a simple, strategic and inexpensive way to get the capital you need for your company quickly, without using your limited financial resources in the process.

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8 Unusually Impressive Films For Your Amusement Satisfaction

By Pansy Herman

Outstanding information about some of the best motion pictures that you may have never heard of is right here. Enjoy this list of films that are "oldies but goodies". Take into account that you can download any of them you select directly to your own computer in the convenience of your own house.

Chart-buster motion picture from the year 1993 Bopha. Restless, engaging tirade with Glover and Woodard who played Nelson and Winnie Mandela in the Television film MANDELA featuring as a wedded couple residing in a calm South African community. He's a patrol officer who contains the status quo; their world is certain to fall down while their child Ezia takes part in a uprising differing to the control and course of the community off-white-run school. Cast includes Morgan Freeman, Danny Glover, Malcolm McDowell, Alfie Woodard, Marius Weyers, Maynard Eziashi, Malick Bowens, and Grace Mahlaba.

Cool film from the year 1986 "Good to Go". Undistinguished fare in reference to reporter Garfunkel, who's framed on a rape-slaughter charge. Highlighted are the behaviors of such go-go groups as Redds & the Boys, Trouble Funk, Get rid of Brown & the Mind Scavengers, amid others. Cast includes Art Garfunkel, Robert Doqui, Harris Yulin, Reginald Daughtry, Richard Brooks, Hattie Winston, and Anjelica Huston.

Across llOth Street, Barry Shear handled the directing for this movie. Three black men, masquerading as cops have robbed the mob bank out of over $250,000. Now the cops and the mafia are in a competition to ensnare the thieves, and retrieve the money. The actors include Anthony Quinn, Yaphet Kotto, Anthony Franciosa, Richard Ward, and Paul Benjannin.

Unforgettable film "The Bourne Ultimatum", In the third movie of the series, Jason Bourne is still being hunted by those who had educated him into the extreme assassin that he is. Having lost his memory when almost being killed, Bourne is retracing his past to try to comprehend who he was, and why everyone wants him dead. All his skills are put to the test, as the C.I.A. is unyielding in its effort to have him eliminated. Starring Matt Damon and Julia Stiles.

My treasured motion picture, Happy Gilmore. Hockey player Happy Gilmore finds his slap shot power translates into 400 yard plus drives in golf. Needing money to help his grandma save her house, he is going to attempt pro golf. His putting is as poor as his driving is good, so he has a lot to learn. Overcoming all odds, Happy wins the tour championship and now can save grandma's home.

The Leading Man, British backstage show romantic movie in regards to an American film megastar who seduces a playwright's lonely spouse and his leading-woman mistress. When it might not make up its mind whether it's a comedy tirade or a light thriller, it is still extremely humorous stuff. Bon Jovi is excellent as the impetuous, dishonorable Yankee, and Galiena and Newton are fetching as the females snared in his web. Cast includes Jon Bon Jovi, Anna Galiena, Lambert Wilson, Thandie Newton, Barry Humphries, and David Warner.

Our top movie, Unlawful Entry, Michael and Karen Carr have had a terrifying experience. Someone broke into their residence, and attempted to steal from them. When Police officer Pete Davis shows up to help, he seems like a godsend. In the days to come they find officer Davis might be their worst nightmare.

Colleague X, Structure with American Gable heating up arctic Russian Lamarr a streetcar conductor. Insincere romance story by no means persuades; Bressart has remarkable closing line, Cast includes Clark, Gable, Hedy Lamarr, Felix Bressart, Oscar Homolka, Eve Arden, and Sig Ruman.

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Entertaining The Whole Family While Visiting The Gold Coast

By Cordelia Kennedy

The Gold Coast has been on of Australia's leading tourist areas, with everything from wine vineyards to jet boats. Here are just some of the activities that people have been enjoying over the years. To start with there is feasting On Seafood. Since fresh seafood is a standard on most menus throughout Gold Coast, your choices for a seafood feast are practically endless. You can also purchase your own fresh seafood from Charis Seafood, Peters Fish Market or Ferry Road Market. Another option would be to hire a boat or take a chartered fishing expedition or crab cruise, and catch your own seafood feast.

The Gold Coast is famous for its many attractions and there are, in fact, so many that they have to be divided into different categories like extreme sporting activities, theme parks, historical attractions and museums just to keep them straight. Among the well known historical attractions is the Tamborine Mountain Pioneer Homestead, which is situated in the Tamborine District of Queensland's McPerson Mountain Range and which gives visitors an idea of what it was like to survive in the district's pioneer settlements of 170 years ago. Extreme sporting activities in the Gold Coast area include the Sling Shot Bungy, which is the only bungy jump on the Gold Coast, and which first hauls tourists 14 stories in the air and then lets them fly free.

Support a Local Team: For a day that the entire family will enjoy, you can watch an Australian rules football game, a rugby game, a basketball game, and even a local iron man contest. You are guaranteed to have a good time.

And if the thrill of bungy jumping and helicopter travel is to much for you then why not spend a lazy day whale watching on the whale, island and sunset evening cruises as offered by Whales in Paradise. As far as theme parks go, no visit to the Gold Coast would be complete without a visit to the Australian Outback Spectacular. This park offers an unsurpassed take on Outback life featuring live action shows, authentic Outback food and live music and is currently featuring a show that pays tribute to the Australian Light Horse Cavalry. Finally, end the evening off with a visit to the 'spook-tacular' Dracula's Cabaret and Restaurant to be entertained by the lively Vampirates or to take a tour through Dracula's Haunted House.

Go Hot Air Ballooning: Ballooning may not come cheap (prices start at $175 per person) but it pays off. Floating soundlessly in the sky is one of those rare experiences that everyone should try at least once. And on the Gold Coast the views are spectacular, with Brisbane, the brilliant sight of the Coasts endless high rises and peaks of Tamborine Mountain and Mt Warning all visible on clear days. Thirty minutes feels like only a moment up there and you'll be wishing for more.

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The Morals Of Michael Jackson's Last Moon Walk

By Siegfred Anzano

One of the most popular dance steps of all time, the moon walk, was authored by Michael Jackson. It is the dance step for which Michael Jackson has been widely known for. According to Wikipedia, the moon walk is "a dance technique that presents the illusion of the dancer being pulled backwards while attempting to walk forward."

After much thought about the definition, I realized that the King of Pop's death and his popular moon walk have lessons in life, which we can definitely learn and apply in our life. This post has no intentions of putting down Michael Jackson, but rather it will only emphasize on analyzing the lessons that can be taken out of his life and his final moon walk.

Being one of the most successful entertainers of his generation, Michael Jackson was able to sell over 750 million records, win 13 Grammy Awards and hit the no. 1 spot with his singles 13 times. Articles around the world agree that his lifetime earnings were more than $500 million and that his music itself is a billion dollars worth.

In spite of all the fortune and fame he gained, struggles of depression and debt wreck havoc in the last part of his life. To some people, his two year seclusion of himself from his family and friends and his struggles with money worsened his fragile health. Ironically, he was a person loved and adored by his millions of fans, yet he passed away broken hearted, miserable and lonely.

I refer to the King of Pop's final years on this world as his last moon walk. Like his moon walk, Michael Jackson's life failed to move forward because he was being drawn backward by the circumstances of his life. But unlike the moon walk, all the drawbacks in his life were not mere illusions. Below are three lessons in life which I have taken from the King of Pop's final moon walk.

1.) Try living within your pay grade - In spite of the millions of dollars Michael Jackson earns every year, his extravagant lifestyle forces him to spend more than $ 20 to 30 million above what he earns. His display of extravagance has caused him to be in so much debt that certain well known persons, including a Bahrain Sheik, blamed him for his inability to pay what he owed. This incapability resulted to his losing of his valued Neverland Ranch. While his assets still have greater value over his debts, he still died owing $ 400 million. Even if Michael Jackson had the right of living extravagantly, he should have been wise enough to live within his pay grade and made an effort of taking care of his finances. His inability to live within his pay grade brought about so much financial problems that he got more depressed.

2.) Life is tough, so learn to handle problems - The King of Pop may have accomplished so much success in his musical career, however, he could not handle a problem well. When problems came, he became so depressed that he turned to weird plastic surgeries, isolation and drug misuse. An example of this was when he was accused of child molestation. The King of Pop was never the same after the that ordeal. According to J Randy Taraborrelli in an article he wrote for the daily mail, "He (King of Pop) surrounded himself with children, animals and a false reality - so much so that he never learned how to cope in the real world. He never wanted to grow up, and his managers encouraged these eccentricities when they should have encouraged therapy."

3.) Fame and fortune does not equate joy and happiness - Yes, the King of Pop no doubt has achieved so much in his lifetime. So much that he broke records that he himself achieved, opened up racial barriers and reinvented the world of music. However, though he had these great successes and the love of millions, the final years of his life was marked with loneliness, unhappiness sadness, depression and the feeling of being unloved. He kept to himself, away from friends and family.

Michael Jackson's last moon walk bears so many morals in life. I could have said more but it is your turn to do your own analysis. I pray that in the event we will have to do our last moon walk here on earth, it would be much better than Michael Jackson's.

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Tuesday 12 January 2010

How You Can Play the UK Lottery

By Tom Martens

The UK Lottery is the main lottery game in the United Kingdom. It is a biweekly game with drawings on Wednesday and Saturday. It is a 6 from 29 lottery, which means the winner needs to match all six numbers in order to win the jackpot. Smaller prizes are given to those who match less than six numbers, including a small prize for those who match three numbers.

You cannot play the UK Lottery without a ticket. You may obtain your ticket from a national lottery retailer in person. You mark your selections on a play slip, and give the play slip to the retailer. The retailer issues a ticket with your selected lottery numbers on it.

Alternatively, you may play the UK Lottery by buying virtual tickets online. In this Internet option, you enter your numbers online and then get a virtual or electronic ticket by email. You may print it out, or access your numbers by a link included in the email. Online purchase is safe and convenient, and there is no extra charge for the service.

It is essential that you use only authorized lottery web sites when you buy virtual tickets. You should keep your user name and passwords safe, and you minimize the risk of being hacked by logging out after you purchase your tickets. This helps ensure that your bank numbers are not compromised by online criminal activity.

Whether you buy your tickets online or at a retailer, it is not essential that you choose your own numbers. Either online or in person, you can use "Lucky Dip" and the UK Lottery computer will select all six numbers for you randomly.

Finally, the player needs to make sure their lottery ticket, regardless of where the ticket is purchased, has: The numbers you picked (or Lucky Dip selections), the days you want to play, the correct number of weeks to play, the correct draw dates, a visible bar-coded serial number on the lottery ticket, and an unmarked void box on the lottery ticket

In order to claim a winning prize, write your name and address on the lottery ticket. You cannot claim a prize without the ticket. Then take the ticket to any national lottery retailer. If no one wins, the prize is rolled into the next drawing.

If there is no lottery winner after four consecutive draws, then the final jackpot is shared between players who matched five of the six lottery numbers, plus the bonus number. This is called a Triple Rollover. Playing the UK Lottery is both easy and fun. That's why it remains one of the most popular lottery drawings today.

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NFL Preseason Handicapping Basics

By Ross Everett

Among the sports betting public there's a lot of conflicting opinions about betting NFL preseason games. That's not really surprising, since there doesn't seem to be much middle ground on the subject. Overly cautious handicappers would argue that preseason football is a poor wagering opportunity. Some of the more obnoxious tout services would have you believe that short of a fixed game there is no greater "lock" that preseason football. Like most things that produce such polarized opinions, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle of the two extremes. Preseason NFL football is a unique proposition for the sports gambler, but when approached with caution, discipline and knowledge it can yield some profit.

The opponent of preseason wagering would suggest that its a bad wagering opportunity by its very nature alone--simply stated, the games don't count meaning that the motivation and focus of individual teams is always in question. It's hard enough to identify teams that are in a desirable 'spot' during the regular season, the often conflicting agendas of personnel evaluation, playbook testing, and injury prevention found in the preseason makes it impossible. All told, this uncertainty makes it very undesirable to get financially involved with preseason NFL games.

The proponent of preseason wagering would argue that this is the very reason that good opportunities frequently arise during preseason. First, additional value is frequently found with the underdog in preseason games by their very nature. To explain, in a hypothetical matchup between a Superbowl champion and an also-ran the "better" team by regular season standards would invariably be favored. However, by virtue of their success the "better" teams have not only more 'marquee names' to protect, but also valued guys in the trenches who could cause big problems if injured. Frequently, they'll have more depth and thus fewer personnel evaluation decisions to deal with. They'll have no need to "create a winning attitude", nor will they usually have wholesale changes in team composition, offensive or defensive strategy, or coaching philosophies to deal with. In short, the "better" teams often go into preseason situations with little to accomplish other than to get the games over with and stay healthy.

On the other hand, consider the 'lesser' team in a preseason matchup. They often have a number of key starting positions they need to fill, along with backup positions up for grabs. They may have new coaching staffs that players want to impress, new offensive or defensive schemes to implement. Most significantly, 'lesser' teams often view the preseason as an opportunity to build team chemistry or create a winning attitude. A team trying to rebuild can benefit from winning *any* games, regardless of whether or not they count in the standings. For a league doormat, a win over an elite level opponent can serve as a rare highlight of a losing season.

While some teams could care less about the result of preseason games, few want to enter the regular season having lost them all. In light of this fact, a successful preseason situation that has stood the test of time is to bet on teams that lost their first two exhibition games outright. This situation has produced a winning percentage right around 60%.

The philosophy of a NFL head coach is arguably the single most important factor contributing to preseason success. Some coaches always want to win, even if the games don't count in the standings. Other coaches place a much greater importance on evaluating personnel and giving backups playing time they won't have the opportunity to get during the regular season. The coaches that have a strong desire to win in the preseason often result in their team's pointspreads being inflated somewhat, but a motivated team is always worth consideration for a wager.

One of the best tools that a handicapper has at his disposal during the preseason is the Internet. Actually, it's a great tool year round but during the preseason it is invaluable. The best source of information on coaching philosophies, game plans, injuries, lineup changes, etc, are the local sports pages of NFL teams. Basically, the situation during preseason is that there is a lot of interest in the team and a lot of anxious beat writers looking to write stories. The problem is that there is little in the way of real news, and for that reason you'll find the sort of minutiae on teams and players from which you can often extract relevant handicapping information. Even if there aren't any nuggets of handicapping gold, you can at least get a feel for the coach's goals for the game and the amount of playing time that key players will see. Sometimes coaches will come right out and say who will play at what juncture of the game, and will occasionally go on record that personnel decisions like evaluating all of the guys they're considering for the backup defensive secondary jobs are more important than winning. Clearly, operating with this knowledge is a distinct advantage and operating without it can be fatal. There's nothing more frustrating than betting on a team only to have them look like they could care less whether or not they win the game. During the preseason, however, it can frequently be prevented with some simple research and analysis.

The bottom line is that while the NFL preseason does offer some solid moneymaking opportunities, its not a 'free cash grab'. It's best viewed as an opportunity to grind out a small profit, but as always its essential to maintain the same degree of discipline in handicapping and money management as at any other time during the pro football season.

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Raiders Upset Visiting Eagles

By Ross Everett

The Oakland Raiders scored the only touchdown of the game in the first quarter and then prevailed in the kicking duel that followed en route to a--9 upset of the visiting Philadelphia Eagles. Much maligned quarterback Jamarcus Russell played his best game of the season despite two interceptions, throwing for 224 yards and a touchdown.

NFL betting enthusiasts who backed the Raiders as a whopping +14 home underdog were never in any trouble as Oakland took the lead late in the first quarter and never relinquished it. Oakland evened their mark against the NFL pointspread at 3-3, while the Eagles dropped to 3-2 against the number. The 22 points scored went well UNDER the posted total of 40'. It was the Raiders' fourth UNDER in six outings, while it was the Eagles' first UNDER of the season against four OVER verdicts.

After the contest, Raiders' coach Tom Cable said for the first time all season his team focused their intensity in the right direction:

"We went out and threw a fight on somebody and said, 'Enough. Let's play. That's all you can say. There's no magic words or anything like that."

Last week's 44-7 loss to the New York Giants may have served a wakeup call to the Raiders. In particular, they were offended by comments made by Giants' linebacker Antonio Pierce that the game 'felt like playing a scrimmage'. Raiders' wide receiver Louis Murphy didn't dispute the comments but instead took them to heart:

"That gave me extra fuel. You have to look yourself in the mirror and man up. His comments were true. We played flat. We didn't play with any emotion. This game was totally different. We took those comments to heart."

The Raiders' defense received the bulk of the credit for the victory as they pressured Donovan McNabb all day, sacking him six times. The Eagles became the first team in three years to not score an offensive touchdown against the Raiders. Richard Seymour and Trevor Scott each had a pair of sacks, and Scott had the following observation:

"I'm sure they watched the Giants game and thought we were sorry. But all week coach Cable talked about persevering and forget the past and move forward so we can get to where we want to go."

After the game, McNabb had little to say:

"I'm embarrassed by the way we came out here and played. We're a much better football team."

The Raiders will try to put together an actual winning streak as they host the New York Jets next Sunday. Oakland is a +7 home underdog with the total set at 35. They'll play their hated rivals the San Diego Chargers on the road the following Sunday before a bye week. Philadelphia will play the Redskins at Washington next Monday night. The Eagles are a -6' road favorite with the total set at 38'. They'll return home for games the following two Sundays against the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys.

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Legal Movie Downloads Really Work

By Zack Jones

Unfortunately, it can be difficult to find movie downloads online but there are some resources out there which are reliable and fast and also cost less than the other traditional options.

Since the majority of us have a very fast broadband Internet connection now, we can download movies in just an hour, sometimes a little more or sometimes a bit less. However, many connections can download four a five movies if you leave the downloads on overnight. You should however, make sure beforehand that your service provider does not impose a monthly bandwidth limit on you.

Movie downloads can be a great option if you can find the good resources. However, it is very important to make sure that you avoid if you common mistakes that people who are new to downloading movies online many. This is not just limited to piracy which is rampant on the Internet.

If you're looking for legal movie download, you need to make sure that you find the right sort of resources. There are a lot of scams out there and indeed a lot of sites try to get you to pay a monthly subscription simply to get a database of illegal pirated videos on the torrent sites anyway. So not only are you breaking the law by getting pirated videos, you are paying for it as well.

The big problem is, if you search for legal movie downloads, you may end up on a site which is just a scam. Any side which charges your monthly subscription and then gives you a database of torrents to download, is breaking the law. Regardless of how you pay for it, there is no way that you can download a movie on a peer to peer file sharing program legally.

If you want download movies online, they need to be director downloads from that site. Anything else is simply pirated. Once you have clarified this, then you want to make sure that you are getting the quality that you are expecting. Even legal download can be questionable in quality and may not have the 5. 1 surround sound or other features.

However, there are again exceptions so it is worth doing your research to make sure that you see some samples from the site in question or even some trailers. You will find that downloading high definition movies however, is generally not practical, even if you can find a site which sells them available for download. This is because they take up enormous amounts of file space and not only will you need a huge hard disk, but you will also need a lightning fast Internet connection.

Nonetheless, the convenience of being able to quickly download a DVD quality movie is a wonderful thing. You can simply decide what you want to watch tonight, pay for it and download it all in the space of an hour or so depending on your Internet connection.

Hopefully in the foreseeable future the movie companies will finally get their act together and start realising that downloading movies online is something that is in very high and increasing demand and if they want to stamp out piracy, then they're going to have to provide a viable alternative to attract their customers back.

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The Benefits Of Choosing Legal Movie Downloads

By Freddy Stenson

One of the most basic human feelings is trying to profit from whatever you do, which is why there are always big discounts offered in stores to lure in potential customers. It is the same with movie downloads, you will be tempted to get it for free rather than pay and watch it.

The reason for the overwhelming popularity of illegal movie downloads lies in the fact that people always prefer getting things for free rather than paying for it. Despite the possibilities of breaking laws and violating norms, illegal movie downloads outnumber legal ones by as much as 5 to 1.

These file sharing types of sites usually contain a much lesser sound and picture quality in the files, not to mention the fact that they can also contain viruses that could harm your computer. In addition, the legal proceedings you could face from the registered owners of the movies themselves could be devastating.

The problem with such websites is that you cannot rely on the quality of content that you are downloading and it is usually from another person's computer, which might not always be a good thing.

This type allows for those that will be regular users to download and unlimited number of movies for a set monthly price. This will allow them to get the maximum number of downloads at the lowest price possible per selection. The other is where you can pay for each individual movie that you download. You'll pay a little more per movie, so this method is best suited for the occasional users.

Some of the biggest benefits you'll realize are that all these legal movie downloads, from reputable sites, will have a much higher picture and sound quality. As well, the download speed will be much faster as compared to a file sharing type download.

However, the agencies that track these offenders will not catch just about anyone due to the complication of the entire process. Often times, the will track a person who is downloading thousands of movies and reselling them in the market, trying to make an example out of them and hopefully preventing people from doing the same thing at their homes.

However, the problem has been attempted to be solved right at the source with many movie studios trying to encrypt the movie discs and restricting their playback to only limited players. Nevertheless, this is merely a road hump for the movie pirates who continue to break codes and redistribute the movie on illegally burned discs.

It is like what happened with the music industry, where people suddenly were exposed to world of sharing and free downloading between individuals.

The popularity of the illegal movie downloads will continue with time, and many people will succumb to it, rather than paying and procuring a legal version of the movie. As the movie studios continue devising new techniques to curb piracy, the pirates will also devise new methods to overcome these blocks and ensure that they continue doing what they are doing now.

A lot of the legal movie download sites now a days offer free trials. They allow you a certain number of downloads, or a time frame in which to try their services before any payment will be required.

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Monday 11 January 2010

How To Select A Family Portrait Photographer

By Jennifer Rogers

Family portrait shots are taken for numerous occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, and yearly family get-together. One of the best ways to capturing the positive emotion of such merry events would be portrait photography. However, the photographs must come out in the best quality possible, because poor quality photographs leave a bitter impression in the minds of people and the entire purpose of the portrait photography session is thus defeated. Thus, it is important to carefully choose a professional family portrait photographer & a few important factors if taken care of will contribute significantly towards making the portrait photography sessions an excellent success.

The first & foremost factor is to ensure that the photographer's style is in tune with your requirements. This means you have to first decide on how you want your family portraits to be shot. Are you looking for relaxed pictures, or carefully thought out formal sessions? Do you want your pictures to be in black and white, or in vibrant colours? These factors related to what styles you like must be taken into account, and then you can meet a family portrait photographer and have a look at some of his earlier work samples to know how competent he is in handling the styles you desire.

Then you need to think about the backdrop of the photograph, which has a major influence on the outcome, as well as on what photography apparatus the family portrait photographer requires to carry with him. Outdoor shots require cameras & additional equipment that are entirely different from those required for indoor venues, and only a seasoned photographer will know the difference.

Besides the photographer's skill and his comfort with your needs, you must also look into the type of final results his company can give you. The final touches of the photos & their processing & printing on the paper if carried out well can make a significant impact on the quality of the photographs. A good photography services firm should have a library of appealing picture frames and album styles for you, so that you can store your photos in the way you like most. Hence, you must examine these things with the firm before buying the services of a family portrait photographer.

Some additional services should also be considered before appointing the photographer, like finding out if his company provides free home delivery of photos or visits the venue before the photo session to examine it thoroughly and address any special requirements that may arise because of the choice of venue. You won't be making any unreasonable demands on the firm by expecting these services, as they must generally be included in the amount that you pay for the service.

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Ten "Must-Take" Shots In A Wedding

By Mathew Smith

A wedding ceremony is a very special day full of sentimental and precious moments. Capturing these moments will help you preserve memories in time. The secret to having fabulous wedding photos is to create a list of shots that you wanted to take on that day. Setting out the list of not only where to take the shots but also the different combination of who should be in the shots is a smart step.

Below are the top 10 "must take" shots for a wedding ceremony.

1. Bride's arrival with father (or individual responsible for giving the bride away).

2. Prior to the ceremony, the bridesmaids, father, and the bride

3. Father escorting the Bride up the aisle.

4. The couple getting ready for their vows.

5. Husband and Wife's first kiss

6. The register being signed by the Bride and Groom.

7. The Bride accompanying the Groom down the aisle.

8. A full length poses of the Bride and Groom.

9. The couple with their parental units.

10. The happy couple cutting the wedding cake.

Three helpful tips:

1. Arranging photography equipment. Make sure to have your camera checked so you can be sure it is in good working condition. Be prepared with more cameras you can use just in case they are needed.

2. The batteries. Have they been charged to full energy? Do you possess two to three spare sets? Back up batteries may come in handy; it's something you don't want to take a chance on when the first dance comes up.

3. Film rolls/memory cards. You will save hundreds by not using a pro, so get a lot, as it's very low cost. Just like the batteries, you wouldn't want to take out the camera at the first dance and discover.

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