TV Review: The Secret Circle (The CW)

Can L.J. Smith build on the success of The Vampire Diaries and bring another winner to the CW? Yes, it is the only possible answer as the writing, casting and production team seemed determined not to have a sophomore slump.

Cassie Blake (Britt Robertson ) is a young girl whose life changes drastically when her mother dies in a house fire. She has to move to a new town where her grandmother, Jane Blake (Ashley Crow ) lives and where her mother's past was left behind many years ago. Her grandmother clearly wants her daughter's past not only kept a secret but does not want to lose her granddaughter to the same influences.

Cassie knows things are different but just wants to graduate high school, taking life one step at a time. Her new classmates have another plan for her and want to bring her into their fold where they believe she is meant to be.

Her first encounter is with a young boy, Nick Armstrong (Louis Hunter ), next door who she sees peering at her from his room. She then closes the curtains and turns her back while getting ready for bed. When she looks back the curtains are again open but the boy is no longer at his window. As she falls asleep she begins looking at the ceiling covered in stars and the darker the room gets the more each star glows. A pattern begins to appear and change not allowing Cassie to get a handle on what the stars mean or what they are trying to say.

Later, Diane Mead (Shelley Hennig ) walks up to Cassie while she struggles to get her locker open and begins a dialog. They engage each other sweetly, giving way to Cassie's first friendship at her new school. Diane's father, Charles Meade (Gale Harold ), was seen in the first scenes throwing lit matches at Cassie's house where her mom was making dinner.

Faye Chamberlain (Phoebe Tonkin ) never thinks of the repercussions of her actions or has any plan if they go wrong. She wants what she wants when she wants it and lets no one stand in her way. She is the Faith-like character from Buffy The Vampire Slayer, but has little connection to the other characters, even her boyfriend, Adam Conant (Thomas Dekker ). Cassie's aura quickly connects to Adam when Faye uses her powers to ignite a fire and force the doors locked on her car, trapping her inside. What Faye really wants is to push Cassie along, bringing light to her powers. Adam comes to her rescue trying to get her out of the car which is now fully engulfed in flames.

Melissa Glaser (Jessica Parker Kennedy ) is looking for her sense of self and finds it hiding behind Faye. She does not have the back bone to do the things Faye does, so she becomes her sidekick, living vicariously through her. She is a follower looking to be accepted and whether she likes Faye or not, she knows it is her only way to get noticed.

Dawn Chamberlain (Natasha Henstridge ) is Faye's mother and the high school principal. Together with Charles Meade, she knows all too well what can happen when the circle of their next generation bond. She is sweet and innocent on the outside but as daughter Faye tells Cassie, "don't let her fool you." Jane comes to Dawn's office at school, making sure that if there is any chance that the group of kids find out what powers they can have together, the elders can divert them in another direction. Dawn says if there were any rumors or gossip going around the school, she would have heard it and assures Jane the kids have no idea.

Dawn and Charles have their own agenda and it does not include keeping the children apart, but bringing them together to realize their full potential.

When the commercials started to prompt the show's premier, there was little to encourage a good show. As a matter of fact, another supernatural/vampire style show was anything the airwaves needed. After the first 15 minutes, the viewers know they are hooked. The story keeps moving, the dialogue is full, and the twists are so subtle that you do not realize you have encountered necessary information until the next commercial break.

This is not a book series by L.J. Smith that I follow, and I am glad, as I have a chance to be surprised in the story. It will be impossible not to grab the first book and see what Smith originally did with the characters and if there are many differences, but I think waiting until the end of season one would be best.

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Venue Customization With Banquet Halls

At this time of year, it is expected for many families, couples, retirees, and parents to begin planning some type of party. Whether you and yours are looking forward to a graduation, a wedding, or a family reunion, the selection of the venue is the first step. Frankly, after you know where you're going, the other details can fall into place - at least you hope. So you look into your local options in banquet halls for the size of space and conveniences of the facilities. They can definitely accommodate your crowd, but what else can they offer?

Also known as function rooms, banquet halls can be found in clubs, pubs, hotels, restaurants, or in facilities designated for a ceremony and/or custom event. They can also be found in condos and apartment buildings with separate parking and amenities in order to reduce party noise near other residents who may not be as zealous as you and your guests that particular evening. So as you look into a variety of spaces for your approaching event, it is important to keep in mind the environment of some of these venues and whether they are appropriate for you.

I know that you considered just having the party at your home, but this time it is more than just a pizza, barbecue, board games and dip kind of a get together. Besides, do you think your living room or backyard is big enough for the crowd you're expecting or the type of event you'd hoped to have this year? The answer to that question gets your wheels turning comparing your usual party space to the possibilities with banquet halls.

When it comes to your events you might be interested in a banquet hall's options for your engagement party, wedding ceremony, wedding reception, baby shower, adoption party, or retirement party. On the other hand, when it comes to your child, you will definitely be interested in celebrating your child's quinceanera, sweet sixteen, bat mitzvah, bar mitzvah, graduation, or welcome home. So for any ceremony or party event, it is exciting for the honored guest to find out that the venue can accommodate customization for the type of event you'd like to host on your special day. There can be themes, designated activity areas indoors, and entertainers, if you'd like. They come equipped with thousands of square feet for you and your guests to dance, eat, and socialize. For the more entertainment driven event of a reception or birthday part, these rooms come equipped with lighting and sound systems as well.

So whether you are having a midsize or a large blowout bash this year, banquet halls offer the snack bar, wet bar, dance floor or stage for the event you've envisioned for yourself or your loved ones. There are endless possibilities as long as there is clear communication of the equipment and set up that you require from the function room's management and your party planner. So as long as everything is set up the way you planned it, the day of the party, all you have to do is show up and have a great time. The planner should be able to take care of set up before hand, prevention of hiccups during the event, and clean up afterwards - all during your allotted room rental. There is nothing like a well planned party and the use of banquet halls can offer that added security.

For some of the most romantic and luxurious banquet halls NJ residents turn to the experts at: http://www.bridgewatermanor.com/.

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What Are The Most Popular Makes Of Steinway Pianos?

For more than a half a century, the world's most accomplished pianists have chosen Steinway & Sons pianos. Today, more than 98% of the world's active concert pianists choose to perform on Steinway pianos. What distinguishes Steinway pianos from all other pianos is the company's dedication to a single ideal - make the finest pianos in the world. They do not compromise quality and adhere to the traditional values of craftsmanship. Steinway grand piano takes nearly a year to create. Even the carefully selected woods that make up the rims, top, soundboards, and actions cure for months in their yard, kilns, and conditioning rooms before they stabilize at a rigidly specified moisture content. Below is a list of the most popular makes of Steinway pianos:

Steinway & Sons Upright Pianos: Steinway & Sons uprights are handcrafted; unlike mass-produced manufacturer uprights. They utilize meticulous techniques, conditioning processes, and craftsmen. The result is the world's finest upright piano that stands up to the Steinway & Sons name. The popular 'Sheraton' is inspired by the designs of famous 18th century craftsmen; the classic simplicity of this piano will enhance a room decorated in any furniture style.

Steinway Grand Pianos: Quality Steinway Grand Pianos include the Concert Grand, Music Room Grand, Parlor Grand, Living Room Grand, Medium Grand, Baby Grand, Louis XV, and Chippendale. The Louis XV showcases the elegance of 18th century France and is reproduced in delicate hand carving. Every subtle nuance is drawn out by balancing and adjusting the keys and shaping, hardening or softening each hammer. In the end, the new piano is transformed from more than 12,000 individual parts into an instrument The Chippendale style has all the grace and distinction of design made famous by the master cabinetmaker of 18th century England.

Steinway Limited Edition Pianos: The limited edition 'John Lennon' commemorates the 70th birthday of a true creative genius of this legendary musician. The 'William E. Steinway' is a timeless instrument that combines extraordinary beauty with incomparable sound. The 'Henry Z. Steinway' is a magnificent Limited Edition piano that was created to commemorate the 91st birthday of Henry Z. Steinway and the enduring contribution of four generations of the Steinway family to the world of music. In 2005, on the occasion of the 125th Anniversary of the 1880 foundation of a Steinway & Sons factory in Hamburg, Count Albrecht von Goertz, the creator of the world's most beautiful sports car, the BMW 507, designed this anniversary grand piano which is notable for its simplicity. The 'S.L.E.D.' by renowned international fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld was designed to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Steinway & Sons as a commemorative piano reflecting his bold yet impeccable style.

Steinway & Sons Pianos have the advantage of more than 125 patented features and processes, including their patented Diaphragmatic® soundboard, Accelerated Action® and Hexagrip® pinblock. Steinway & Sons adheres to the traditional values of craftsmanship and has also consistently led through innovation making them one of the top piano manufacturers in the world.

Looking for a piano store Toronto or to find Steinway pianos Toronto? Then visit

Steinway Piano Gallery, located at 2651 John Street - Unit #8 in Markham, Ontario just outside of Toronto. The number is 905-940-5397 and postal code is L3R 2W5.

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Interactive Talent Networks Can Help You Achieve Your Dreams

The Internet has revolutionized the way people communicate and interact. Businesses are using social media tools and social media platforms to extend their reach. Now, interactive talent networks are also using the power of online social media to connect people in the talent industry. With their unique marketing tools and talent management system, these networks provide both talent and talent seekers the visibility they are looking for. So if you are a person with extraordinary talent or an agent seeking talented people, signing up with a dynamic interactive talent network can help you achieve your dreams.

Showcase Your Talent and Get Noticed

If you want the world to notice your talent, find an online talent platform that offers you all the facilities to do so. You can upload videos and demo recordings using the innovative tools that the platform offers. This website for the talent industry offers you the opportunity to do many things online, including auditioning and entering contests. It would have social media tools incorporated into its digital strategy. Established social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter would be linked or embedded on the website. You can share your electronic portfolio as well as your auditions and contest entries with family, friends and others. This would help you get more votes and increase your ratings.

The advantage of using such social networks to showcase your talent is that if your audience likes it, they may pass it on to their own acquaintances. Thus, your talent spreads virally and gets exposure far beyond your immediate network. You would get extensive feedback which can help you improve if necessary. As your ratings soar, so would your chances of getting noticed and hired by talent seekers.

Find a Star and Become a Talent Industry Leader

Talent agencies of talent agents are always looking for fresh new talent. And there's no better way of finding such talent than by becoming a member of an interactive talent network. Agents gain the advantage of a dynamic audition management system that can be managed from the comfort of a home or office. This helps avoid the burden of travel and other expenses normally associated with conducting conventional talent auditions.

As an agent, you can conduct all types of auditions, including live vocal talent auditions from your computer using video conferencing technology. You can post scenes or scripts online for talent to interact with. You would have digital tools to manage, review and rate auditions. You can share these auditions with your clients such as casting directors, record companies, modeling agencies, event management organizations using the social networking platforms that are enabled on the website.

Sign Up with the Right Platform

Whether you are talent or talent seeker, there is no doubt that interactive talent networks can help you achieve your dreams. Browse the web to find a network that is user-friendly and offers all the dynamic tools you need to take you closer to your goals without delay.

Talent Shopping Network is an online platform that connects talent and agencies with the industry needs. It is an ideal venue where artists can meet with talent agents, interact, showcase their skills, and fulfill their dreams. learn more http://beta.thetalentshoppingnetwork.com/

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Dreams: From Literature to Movies

Dreams have been a subject of fascination in literature and art since the very earliest writings of man. What's more is they are not only the subject of fiction, philosophy, mythology and theology, but also of history. In the Herodotus Histories, it is recounted that in ancient Greece the Delphic oracle was said to have prophetic visions and dreams. After the Spartans were defeated at the battle of Thermopoly in approximately 480 B.C. the Athenians heard of the Persian's coming and consulted the oracle at Delphi. She told the Athenians:

"Why do you sit and wait for death and doom? Flee to the furthest part of the world where the wooden wall of Zeus will defend you and your children." Herodotus Histories Book 7 Lines 140-143

The Greeks took the meaning of the 'wooden walls' to mean their ships, and so they set sail: Athens was sacked, but its people saved. This is an example of a historical account of a dream that warned the people of Athens of imminent destruction and proved to be their salvation. Interestingly, the name assigned to the traitor who showed the Persians the hidden pass in Thermopoly, and allowed them to surround the Greek is 'Euphailtes' which means 'Nightmare'. Whether this was the actual name of the individual is debatable, but it seems more like that Herodotus chooses to name this figure in order to convey as special association. Nightmares are frightening, they are inescapable, they are inevitable. Euphailtes was the downfall of the 300.

In Ancient Greece dreams that proved prophetic or visionary were an accepted reality, they occur in historical documentation and are accepted as motivators and premonitions. Now, they are viewed less mystically, but still with the same degree of interest. Modern films, such as 'The Matrix', use the idea that the world is an artificial construction, much like a dream. In 'The Matrix' the leader of those that are 'free' from the dream is called 'Morpheus', who in Greek mythology was the god of dreams and sleep. Similarly films such as 'Inception' take a deep exploration of the subconscious and dreaming mind. Again in 'Inception' dreams can be artificially created by 'architects' who build dream-worlds for the 'dreamers'. Ariadne1 asks her mentor Cob:

'How could I ever acquire enough detail to make them think that it's reality?'

To which Cob replies:

'Well dreams, they feel real while we're in them right? It's only when we wake up that we realise there was actually something strange...'

Here the idea of the illusionary verisimilitude of dreams is hinted at, and this is a technique that has been used in countless plays, novels and poems throughout history. In the second version of Shakespeare's 'The Taming of the Shrew' the play begins with a different opening in which a lord and his servants stumble on the unconscious Christopher Sly. The lord immediately recognises that Sly is a drunken loser, and proposes a trick: that Sly wake up in the palace, clad in royal garments, and that everyone call him by the name of 'Petruchio' and allow him to believe he is dreaming, and that in the dream he is a nobleman. The lord remarks:

'Would not the beggar then forget himself?'

And this proves true. Sly, when he believes he is dreaming (even though he isn't) is able to achieve things he failed at in life. He becomes the man able to 'tame' the shrew and win Kate, which no other man is able to do. His own belief sets him free. Though he isn't in a dream world, he behaves as if he is in one, and this leads him to success. When he wakes up at the end of the play and is once more Christopher Sly, he is no longer sure of what his reality is.

Shakespeare (and other writers of the same period including Calderon) uses the dream in the play in order to allow characters to question their reality, and hence, for the audience to question theirs. In Calderon's play 'Life's A Dream' several of the characters on stage refer to the play as a 'dream'. The clown Clarion, upon his death bed, remarks:

'Strange, it feels like I'm waking up,'

This is potentially an allusion to the temporality of existence. In the 17th Century the afterlife was seen as permanence: it was eternal. Physical existence on the other hand was fleeting, and hence, more like a dream. At one point Clarion, and the Prince of Poland, Sigismund, are imprisoned together. The rebels come to free Sigismund, but mistake Clarion for him. They immediately ask what his demands are, to which the Clown ludicrously replies:

'Steaks shall grow on trees
And a cathedral shall be carved
From Gorgonzola cheese'

The rebels accept this without question. However, the real Sigismund then arrives and Clarion immediately defers without resistance. The clown is the 'lowest' character in the play in terms of social hierarchy, but a moment he ascends to the level of a prince. The fact he immediately gives up the position without any attempt to deceive the rebels once the real Sigismund arrives could be a testimony to character, or alternatively could be a reflection of the temporality of dreams.

In Milton's 'Paradise Lost', dreams are used somewhat differently however. Previously we have seen them used to forewarn, to empower (in the case of Sly), and to question. But in Book 4 of 'Paradise Lost' Satan uses the dream as a means to corrupt Eve:

"...him there they found
Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve,
Assaying by his devilish art to reach
The organs of her fancy, and with them forge
Illusions as he list, phantasms and dreams;"
Book 4 lines 799-803

There is also a distinctly sexual overtone: he is attempting to reach the 'organs' of her 'fancy' i.e.' of her fantasies. The dream is destructive, as later it inspires Eve to consider the temptation of the Tree of Knowledge. The dream leads her astray, its 'phantasms' and 'illusions' are the creation of the Devil designed to appeal to her inner subconscious desires and urges.

There are many more examples of dreams and how they are used in literature, films and art which I have not even begun to cover. They are used as Framed Narratives, as disclaimers of veracity, and to suggest either divine inspiration, or devilish persuasion. Dreams will never lose their potency or their ability to inspire. Even today musicians, writers and artists use dreams, trance-states and drug-induced visions for the starting points of their work, and huge swathes of psychological research is devoted to the study of what we dream, and more importantly perhaps, why.

Feel free to post your own dream experiences or thoughts in comments on this article, and thanks very much for your time in reading it.

1 Another reference to Greek mythology: Ariadne helps Theseus navigate out of the Minotaur's labyrinth

Joseph Sale is a Creative Writing Student at the University of Birmingham and the author of two books: 'Dark Age Heroes', and 'Z.A.'

To find out more about him visit his website at: http://www.taliesinbooks.com/ where you'll also find reviews of his work.

You can also follow his Twitter feed at: josephwordsmith

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Ways We Can Use Social Artistry

Social Artistry is evolution. Social Artistry is futuristic. Social is anthropology, history, and art. It combines and melds the past, present, and future into an artistic and scientific paradigm that allows one to find meaning in today's constantly changing world.

Ideas, communities, cultures, and worlds decline because of poor leadership. Even if a person is a naturally great leader, if they are an intelligent, creative, and dynamic person, they will fall short if they depend on old cultural norms, on old art, old science, old history, and old ways of living. Social Artistry can change that. An artist leader will constantly be on the lookout for new ideas that they can synthesize into a leadership dynamic. Removed from tradition that is not self-created, they will be able to meet challenges with a fresh and growing mind. This process of mind-growing is the "Lure of Becoming," a phrase coined by Jean Houston, the developer of Social Artistry.

The surest example of mind-changing leadership is found within itself. The definitions of this discipline are constantly changing to accept new ideas. It is a democratic process. Ideas spread through this movement, and they grow and change with every individual.

Going back to the "Lure of Becoming", that phrase is the duty of the Social Artist, and where art itself can enter the picture. An artist "lures" their audience in. A Social Artist, in a way, lures their audience out, into "becoming." Thus, the "Lure of Becoming." A painting, play, sculpture, or musical performance can draw inspiration from any or all cultures, synthesize the influences into a cohesive work, and in turn inspire the audience to do the same, in their own lives, with their own expertise. Social Artistry draws diverse people in, as well as diverse influences.

Social Artistry can be used for both social and individual purposes. Ideally, a Social Artist will to become a better human, in addition to working with other humans to build a better world. A Social Artist will discover the meaning behind themselves, they will grow and and lead others to do the same.

This world is constantly changing due to diverse influences in nature. The wind blows strange plants to new environments, and they evolve to fit, while maintaining some of their past nature. Why should humans not do the same? Why should humans not evolve, but more than that, why should we not direct our evolution?

Britney Fuller is a writer who enjoys writing on a number of different verticals. For more on social artistry, Just Creative Design offers readers information on using social artistry for inspiration.

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Art Therapy Schools: A Solution to Wellness

Do you believe in the power of art as a healing agent? Perhaps you might be surprised to hear that there is actually a brand of aperture called art therapy because more often than not, just like everybody else, you think self expression is just a form of self expression and nothing more than that. In the past couple of years, art therapy schools have changed the meaning of how people define artistry and how it influences people's lives. When you ask these people, they will tell you that art therapy schools makes use of craftsmanship and all its therapeutic effects on people who have undergone illness, trauma or life-challenges that they thought they could not go through.

Did you know that creating abstraction helps people discover more about themselves and their capacity to do things? Well, this is the governing principle of people who are running art therapy schools. They help other people realize that they can heal through art production. The making art and the process of how one does such is known as an effective tool in helping a person overcome sadness of the terrible trauma that they have experienced. People go about a lot of dysfunctional events in their lives that do not really help in enabling them to cope up with the demands of the modern world. By simple enrolling in art therapy schools, a person will be able to become more aware of themselves and that is one of the aspects of a person that should be developed because if not, sadly, one is detached from the reality.

Art schools rankings have included art therapy schools especially because people have now recognized the great role that these schools are playing in maintain a peaceful and healthy community of people. Through the art that they produce, they are able to cope up with the struggles and challenges that life has to offer them. The process of learning is better enjoyed when they are doing it through art production because not only are they producing works of art but they are enjoying the whole process of it as well. No other type of learning and therapy can provide such convenience and help. Creating art is indeed pleasurable and helpful all at the same time.

Art therapy schools have been recently included in the art school rankings because the American Art Therapy Association have purposely led themselves out there to promote how art explicitly helps people discover the inner artists in them and at the same time encourage them to bring themselves out there to face the challenges of the real life. In addition to the helpful benefits that art education provides, the association of art schools has also implemented the standards of art therapy as an educational system to ensure that all those who practice teaching art as a form of therapy are guided.

Art schools have been institutionalized purposely to provide comfort to people who find themselves in the middle of a personal crisis. Sometimes, it is in the act of having faith in art that people are able to see themselves through the traumatic event. Art schools have continuously provided people with the help that they need and that makes all the difference.

Are you looking for more information about art therapy schools for your reference? Visit my website to learn more about art school rankings that can help you with your art school educational needs.

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Every Special Occasion Requires A Visit To The Local Florist

What would a wedding or Valentine's Day be without a fantastic array of flowers bringing life to the occasion? It would be a sad state of affairs, is what it would be. If you or somebody in your family is planning on having a special day sometime in the future, then a visit to your local florist is an absolute must stop.

The flower shop that is just around the corner from where you live will be able to let you know what types of flowers are presently in season, and which types of arrangements are most appropriate for the next celebration that you're planning.

The people that own and work in floral boutiques do so because they have a passion for making other people's lives so much more enjoyable. They love what they are doing almost as much as they love being around flowers all day. Many of them have a ton of experience designing and putting together some of the most outrageous floral arrangements that have ever been seen.

If this will be your first time putting on a big event and you are working with a budget like most of us are now a days, the local florist could be of considerable assistance in this area. All you need to do is to let them know how many people you are expecting, the number of flower arrangements that you require, and how much you want to spend on everything.

They will first tell you if it is possible, and if it is, they will come up with the perfect solution for your next big shindig. They are able to do this because they know which flowers are more plentiful at certain times of the year, and therefore far less expensive than they would be otherwise.

If you have your mindset on certain types of flowers and definite types of arrangements, the local flower shop can certainly meet or exceed your expectations in this area also. However, not being flexible with your flower selection can certainly be very costly if happens to be the wrong season.

Just like most other industries that are trying to go "Green" and get their products from a local supplier, you will find that the vast majority of the floral shops are also trying to do the same thing. It only makes common sense if you think about it, since not only does this approach help out the environment, their clients are also receiving the freshest and longest lasting flowers possible.

Since fresh flowers are considered a luxury item, most cities today will have businesses that grow many of the most popular varieties in greenhouses. This of course means that at almost any time of the year you desire your special flower, it should be available.

Stopping at the local flower shop is no longer an option when you start planning your next party, but a necessity if you want it to be a smashing success. Just like having great food and music is a requirement for an out of this world festivity, a magnificent floral arrangement is now also a must have.

Want to learn more about florist in Huntington beach, then I suggest you check out their flower shop in Huntington beach immediately. By the way, they have a website online that you can access at HBFlowers.com.

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How to Gain Popularity on YouTube

In this modern era, the Internet is an ideal media to gain popularity. People can easily upload their videos on YouTube and get attention from people worldwide. So far, there are many popular singers started their popularity from YouTube and Justin Bieber is one of the examples. He gained more popularity after uploading his performance videos some years ago. These videos were found by Scooter Braun, a talent manager who finally contracted Bieber.

The stories about Bieber or other singers who gain popularity on YouTube encourage people to upload their videos on this site too. Thousands of people upload their videos on the website and expect that they will be more popular through the videos. If you are really serious to gain popularity from this site, then you need to design your videos as good as possible. Try to find unique content to present and pay attention to technical aspects like sounds or lighting. Here I have some tips to be popular from YouTube:

1. Conduct research about videos that gain the most attention from viewers. Usually, humor videos get high rating from YouTube viewers. This research will help you find a topic that has higher chance to get attention from viewers.

2. Know your talent. Try to get to know more about yourself and the most potential talent that you have. If you have talent in presenting comedy, just make videos about humor. If your talent is playing musical instrument, record your performance when playing the instrument. You can present your performance in a unique way to get viewers' attention.

3. Create videos with good lighting and sound. Pay attention to these technical aspects is important as viewers will scrutinize it.

4. Create video series and have an ongoing dialog with the viewers about these videos. It is suggested that the videos should be humorous and controversial to gain support from viewers. This technique is a good way to build relationship with your viewers. Mocking of popular culture is usually a topic that viewers love the most.

5. Show your videos to people around you. If they say that your videos are not entertaining enough, create other unique videos to upload. To gain more viewers each day, ask your YouTube friends to subscribe to your video blogs.

6. Change your angle to give some variety on your videos. Your viewers may be bored to view a five-minute video in the same angle.

Learning some important tricks is important before going to the video battle. When you upload your video on YouTube, you compete with people from around the world to get attention from viewers. Therefore try to show your talent in the best way and create your videos as unique as possible.

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Want Some Action? Then Check Out These 3 Top Fitness Films About Fighting

When you want to get motivated for the gym there is nothing better than a good fitness film about fighting. These films usually have an inspirational training montage, lots of displays of athleticism and some kick ass fight scenes. In this article I will be sharing with you 3 of the top fitness films about fighting.

1) BLOODSPORT:

Bloodsport is the film that launched Jean Claude Van Damme's film career. For this reason some people will hate it whilst others will love it. I'm in the latter camp. Whilst Van Damme's acting skills are not the best, his fighting skills are top class and he shows them off brilliantly in Bloodsport. The whole film is about an underground fighting tournament in Hong Kong which is basically an excuse for Van Damme to kick ass for the majority of the film. Bloodsport is a brilliant fitness film about fighting and a perfect showcase for Van Damme to demonstrate his martial arts skills without too much acting getting in the way.

2) ENTER THE DRAGON:

Enter the Dragon was Bruce Lee's first Hollywood film. Sadly, it was also his final film and he died at the tender age of 32 just before Enter The Dragon was released. Despite his untimely death, Bruce Lee left a lasting legacy and recorded some of the best fight scenes that have ever been committed to film. Like Bloodsport, Enter The Dragon focusses on a secret fighting contest - a storyline that allows Bruce Lee to showcase his brilliant fighting skills. We get to see Bruce Lee fighting in the tournament, fighting wave after wave of guards and then finally fighting the main villain Han in the iconic final hall of mirrors scene.

3) NEVER BACK DOWN:

Never Back Down also focusses on a fighting contest. This time it's taking place at high school and the tournament is called 'The Beatdown'. It follows Jake Tyler as he moves schools, makes enemies with the fighting champion of his new school - Ryan McCarthy and then plans to face him in 'The Beatdown'. This fitness film has a number of good fight scenes throughout and culminates with an impressive final brawl in a car park.

SUMMARY:

It's difficult to put a finger on why this type of movie holds such appeal but you just cannot top a good fighting film. So if you are looking for a couple of hours of bone crunching entertainment, grab 1 of these fitness films about fighting and enjoy.

Tom Parker owns  Free Fitness Tips which contains a wide range of fitness themed articles. You can learn more about Tom's top 10 favourite fitness films by visiting his website.

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Revising Your Novel Before Sending It To Binding Services

Before you take your hundred thousand word masterpiece to book binding services, fight the temptation to immediately box it up and send it off - you still have work to do. It's time for one final edit. Here's how to do it.

Reading on a page is different from reading on a computer, in the same way it's different from reading out loud. As you may have figured out, reading out loud is a good way to test the fluidity of your writing, but reading it in manuscript form is a good way to test the readability of it, to see how it will feel when it comes back from the book binding services. Print out your manuscript double-spaced, with wide margins. Start reading. Have a pen nearby to mark errors as well as a notebook in which to write missed ideas, loose threads and scenes you may want to include later on.

Then set a goal for yourself to finish revising. Two weeks to a month is a good amount of time to spend working on it. Then think about these questions: does the beginning of the story seize the reader? Is the conflict immediately evident? If not your reader may not want to slog it out and even if the second half is when all the fun happens, she won't ever reach it because she'll have put it down.

Does each character belong? Does he come back or make a timely exit? If he changes, did you account for the change? Does each character exist? Is the dialogue real or does it seem like its lifted from a TV show? By the end of the book should be resolution. All of the subplots, main plots and characters should experience some kind of closure.

In terms of formatting, each chapter should have a consistent heading. Look at grammar, spelling and word choice - as Mark Twain said, the difference between the right word and the wrong one is the difference between lightning bug and lightning bolt. Then look at whether all of the scenes are important to the book. They should develop the characters, move the plot, and add to the world you've created; if they don't, these scenes should meet the chopping block.

When you're done editing, only then can you go back and rewrite. If you jump around or stop to rewrite while reading you may realize later that you fixed the problem you originally encountered. Finally, when that's done, print it out again and give it one last edit. After those problems are fixed, then you can mail it to book binding services.

The Print House provides online printing services with a quick turnaround time. Whether you're thinking about binding books, direct mailings, or commercial color printing, TPHNY.com can help!

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Background of Drinking Games

Drinking games are any kind of competitions involving a group of people drinking some form of liquid according to a series of set rules. Though most of these games are played using alcoholic drinks, other beverages like juices, coffee or soda can be used. These games are mostly used for fun and getting everybody involved in some form of activity or interaction.

These games can be divided into various broad categories. The easiest of these games are often based on chance such as rolling a dice or pulling cards from a deck. You are required to drink a certain amount of liquid or beverage based on the result of what happens inthe game. The fun about these games is that they allow a lot of creativity depending on the type of game you are playing.

Another popular category of drinking games involves social or verbal skills. These games are very common in parties or gatherings where for example you are required to remember names of people and give certain instructions. Failure to remember a name comes with a specific drinking penalty. The most popular games are those that require a certain skill level. One of the most popular and common of these types of games is the drinking pong games.

All over the world, people come up with their own drinking games but some of them have gained some form of global appeal. Beer pong is perhaps one of the classic games used all over the world. This is one game that is loved by both young and old from college students having some fun at a party to older people at football games. For those who love beer at the local bar, you are almost guaranteed to come across this game.

The game is really simple and involves two teams where a long ping pong table is set and glasses with any liquid in them placed in a triangular pattern at each end of the table. The trick is to try and throw or bounce a ping ball into an opponent's cup. If successful, the other team is required to drink the liquid in the cup where the ball landed.

Another popular game is the kings or simply the card game. This game is especially common among the younger generation and involves some very interesting rules like touching the floor, singing songs and just about anything fun. Failure to successfully do so comes with drinking penalties. Other drinking games played include quarters, flip cups, Go-fish and a variety of creative games that you can come up with.

The most important thing is learning how to coordinate well with the other players. This ensures that you have fun in the best way possible. It's good to familiarize yourself with the game first before playing to avoid confusion. If you are not sure about a certain game yet you want to entertain some visiting friends, you can search online for guidelines and some amazing ideas on different types of games. In the case of alcohol games, ensure that you have limits to avoid situations of forced drinking. Drinking games have really redefined party life in a new and exciting manner.

To learn about every all of the different games out there, click here for worldwide drinking games.

Click here for drinking games for two.

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Wacky Words of Wisdom, Or - Animalistic Trivia

Here are just a few of the possible and/or probable derivations of some of our favourite expressions, each with an animal focus. Being a quite quirky subject, it seems apt to begin at the end... of Life, that is... with 'Kick the Bucket'.

It seems quite bizarre to attach this expression to death - until we learn that the word 'bucket' is from the Old French for the slaughter beam (usually in a shed), used to hang up a live animal (usually a pig), for slaughter. In its death throes, the unlucky creature would jerk and kick at the beam (or bucket), obviously leading to the expression, to 'Kick the Bucket'. Another potential origin comes from the fact that many a suicide has been achieved by hanging - after standing on a bucket that was subsequently kicked out, thus granting the poor soul his wish to end it all, or 'Kick the Bucket'.

An after-death experience of the animal kind is encountered when we give someone 'The Cold Shoulder'. We clearly know... and show, our disdain or unwelcoming feelings, as described by this expression, but what does it really mean? It's not hard to understand that it is indeed a hospitality issue, BUT - when a normally generous and gregarious host served his guest cold mutton in lieu of the luscious hot roast he was anticipating, said guest was actually being given the strongest message possible that he was either -

a) an uninvited and unexpected dinner guest, or

b) had seriously overstayed his welcome.

In middle-class 19th century, this was the most gentlemanly way of bidding farewell to this ill- mannered person - permanently!

Staying with this end of Life, we take a penetrating look at the real status of all things - 'From the Horse's Mouth'. And we unquestioningly accept that this expression indicates it's the Gospel truth - no doubt because of its origins, exactly suggested by its title.

When a horse was Man's main means of transport, the horse's age and health were crucial to establish and be able to verify... at the moment of purchase. You see, a horse's teeth are an encyclopædia of answers to these questions, to the discerning buyer - and it was accepted, indeed expected, that he would definitely get the facts 'From the Horse's Mouth'.

The only exception to this particular rule was if the horse was in fact, a gift - at which time it would be exceptionally bad manners and quite insensitive to 'Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth'.

Few of us would suspect that the expression 'A Nine Days' Wonder' could have anything to do with the beginning of Life - especially animal - and specifically dogs! It was widely accepted as having started with a proverb that -

'A wonder last nine days - and then the puppies eyes are open' -

and this was bolstered by the actuality that new-born puppies have unfocused vision for the first nine days of their lives - and must surely wonder at this new and wonderful world they now inhabit, but can't see.

Translate this to the human experience of being initially bedazzled and bewitched by something wondrous and new - only to see through the 'Wow' factor, as reality takes its place, and teaches us it was but 'A Nine Days' Wonder'.

Certainly we know that when we 'Let the Cat Out of the Bag', we give away a secret, or let slip an important fact - but why would we have a cat in our bag to start with? Well-ll-ll... many years ago, at country markets, live piglets could be on offer, discounted if bought 'pre-packaged' in a well-tied hessian sack, commonly called a 'poke' - hence buying 'A Pig in a Poke' (or not knowing exactly what was inside the sack).

The capable and responsible housewife didn't usually worry about this, instead embracing this choice due to freshness issues, being able to feel the 'actual' weight... AND... the relative ease of carrying it home with her other shopping.

Sadly, unscrupulous traders have existed almost since time began - and on occasions, a stray cat would magically find itself tied securely inside the bag, only to be passed off as a piglet! Some canny purchasers had learned this lesson the hard way previously, and chose to untie the sack for a peek, only to - 'Let the Cat Out of the Bag'.

Clearly, it is of utmost importance to 'start from scratch', 'get to the nitty-gritty' of the matter, even when it's 'touch and go', by 'throwing them off the scent', in order to 'blaze a trail' 'between the devil and the deep blue sea', and simply 'win hands down'.

Confused by these last expressions? Stay tuned for more delightful definitions of these and other delusional idioms - coming your way soon! Uh-oh... didn't I tell you, I play with words, too!

© 2012 Christine Larsen All Rights Reserved Worldwide

If you enjoyed this, and wish to learn more actual meanings of some of our most commonly used idioms, watch out for my other article/s with the title 'Wacky Words of Wisdom...'

As soon as they are written and published, I'll provide links here.

Enjoy!

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Tips On Booking The Best Entertainment Talent Agency

When you host an event, particularly a business event, you want to make sure that you not only have the tasks associated with the business or core purpose of the event arranged to ensure success, but you also want to make sure that you have the best and most appropriate entertainment that your guests will enjoy. If you are having a difficult time trying to decide the best type of entertainment and where to secure the entertainment, you will greatly benefit from booking your entertainment using the services of an entertainment talent agency.

Booking the best entertainment agency means you will have the ability to select the entertainment for your event from a variety of different types of entertainment. When you book the best entertainment talent agency, you will be able to choose from such entertainers as: comedians, bands, musical tribute entertainers, celebrity impersonators, DJs, and more. The best entertainment agency will offer a variety of entertainers of different types and will assist you with choosing the best entertainment that blends well with your specific event.

Booking an entertainment agency is easy when you search the internet. When you look for an agency on the internet, you will be able to browse various entertainment agencies and review the services and types of entertainers they offer. You will get an idea of the costs and you will have their contact information so you can call or email them about the details of your event. They will then respond and provide you with more details about their agency and services and how they can help you.

The best entertainment agency will be easy to work with and understand your specific needs. They will listen to your wishes regarding your event and provide you with suggestions about the type of entertainment your specific guests will enjoy. The agency will also be more than willing to answer all of your questions and provide you with a price estimate. You can ask for references as well as find out how long they have been in the entertainment talent agency business. Also, when discussing your event, it is important to tell them your location so they can find the right entertainment for that particular event such as a big convention room, auditorium, or a smaller office type space. The best talent agency will provide the right entertainment to fit the theme of the event such as providing a comedian that delivers a clean non profanity comedic presentation. Understanding your guests is essential to getting the right entertainment for your event.

An entertainment talent agency can really help you get the right entertainment for your event. They can advise on the best entertainment that integrates well with the event, will help to rejuvenate attendees, and make the entire event much more enjoyable and memorable for the guests. When you hire an entertainment talent agency for your event, it will help ensure that the entertainment that you book makes the event a success. If you require entertainment services for your next event, consider booking an entertainment talent agency.

Trying to find corporate entertainment Toronto? Browse from an impressive roster of keynote speakers, motivational speakers, comedians and more at Corporateentertainers.ca !

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Jewish Art Helps Build Cultural Inclusion

The depth and history of Jewish artwork can easily compete with any other culture's. There is a presence of Jewish art seemingly on every continent on the planet. This is of course because Judaism has such a wide reach and the spiritual stirring of Judaism is custom-built to be shared through artistic expression. In practically every discipline and subsection of art there is a Jewish imprint. A tour through the history of any and all art forms from impressionism to rap music, from sculpture to stand-up you will find at least a handful of vitally significant Jewish artists. The spreading of this culture has had a great effect on all art and on the general acceptance of Jewish culture throughout the planet.

Art is a great communicator for everybody. The Jewish people are hardly the first religious, racial or cultural group to utilize their sensitivity to art to further their cause. African-Americans did the same thing in the 50's and 60's. For the Jewish people Jewish art was a way to make their culture which for many seemed quite different seem not so far removed. The work of pioneering comedians on the Vaudeville circuit did a lot of the heavy lifting in sewing Judaism into the stitch-work that built the United States of America.

These days contemporary Jewish art is all over the place. A wide array of younger "pop" artists utilize both traditional elements of Judaism within their modern artistic modes. It is a great way to include a lot of different people, educating them about the specifics of Jewish culture and perhaps correcting for some untrue stereotypes in the process. It is a fantastic way to make everyone feel more at ease and understanding of the Jewish people and assures that the work has a greater impact than simply looking cool.

Contemporary Jewish art is always happening. It almost seems like an absurdly obvious thing to say. Anyone who has been to a gallery of note, turned on their television or listened to the radio has heard, seen and experienced a wide variety of Jewish art for themselves every time they have done these things. It is the magnificent nature of America that through these measures and this sort of work a people can become a significant part of the conversation. With the help of art Jewish people have been able to enter the worlds of business and politics. As in many cultural shifts art is used to grease the wheels and make everyone more comfortable with different cultures. Then things become a lot fairer for everyone.

The work of Jewish artists who make must-have pieces of contemporary Jewish art are currently available at very affordable prices. The theme of contemporary modern Jewish art mixed with old world traditions is quickly growing in popularity.

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What Is It About Birthdays That Make Them So Special

Birthdays come every year. Yet, we celebrate them with equal enthusiasm each year and sometimes even more than the previous year. We have far off friends and relatives who come over to celebrate and make our day special for us. We are given a royal treatment and lots of gifts. It is one day we can call our own and the day when we can have all our nonsense forgiven. Haven't you ever wondered what is it about birthdays that make them so special?

Life by itself is a beautiful thing. Naturally, the day you were given this gift of life is special. A birthday is just not the day you came into this world. It is the happiness that you brought around you when you came. It is the day when you made your parents the happiest people in the world. It is a day when they celebrate that proud moment of their life, when they first held you in their arms. As each year passes and you grow up, all the experiences you face in your life, year after year, makes you the person you are. The good experiences and well as the bad ones bring about the best in you and makes you stronger. It both molds, as well as shapes your personality into something better each birthday.

Every birthday you don't just turn a year older, but a year wiser as well. On your birthday, you celebrate the fact that God has given you another year to experience more in life. Not everyone is lucky enough to live for long. Hence, a birthday should also be a day when you thank God for the gift of life and for the strength to face more in life. Along with celebrating your presence in this world, your birthday also marks the day when you met all the lovely people in your life, like your parents. At the end of the day, whether you consider them special or not, you can't deny that birthdays give you and the people in your life a reason to smile and come together.

If you can relate to the above article, then consider yourself really fortunate. There are thousands of people in this world who don't have anyone to make their birthday special for them. To them, it is just like any other passing day. Then there are others who don't even know the day they were born. So, consider yourself lucky. If you are blessed with a family and caring friends who take the trouble to make your birthday a memorable one, never ever let them go.

The author writes birthday messages and birthday wishes which users can share on email, text or Facebook.

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5 Most Powerful Tips to Learn and Play Piano Like a Pro

Are there any ways to improve and learn piano fast? Are you looking for any method that will help you master piano fast? Of course! Learning to play piano is not so hard as you may think, at least with the basics, you can learn very quickly even with a simple tutorial. For the rest, with time, dedication and hard practice, you will learn from experience.

Some people will tell you that nothing beats a teacher. it's probably true but I think it is quite possible to learn to play a musical instrument alone. Would you love the ability to sit down at your piano and just play the songs you hear and enjoy. Are there songs you want to play with your church? Perhaps you want to write and perform your own music, Whatever your reasons are for learning Piano, these 5 tips will work for you, and its FUN!

If you are in a hurry and want to master the art of playing piano, this article is exactly written for you! Here are some tips that will help you as beginner to start learning to play piano by yourself:

1. Start with one hand. When you start playing a new song, as a beginner, it is good to start playing with one hand. When you realize that you become quite good with one hand, you'll smoothly add the second hand. This way playing piano will become much easier for you.

2. Learn to play the piece of music before using the pedals. It is based on the same principle as on the tip 1 as use of one hand at the beginning.

3. Play while you listen to music with your emotions, like when you listen to music. In English we say: "Feel the vibe."

4. Structure your practice in a balanced way. As in everything else, being well balanced is important. In practicing the piano, this means not spending too much time to warm up, practice for fun, for example. Make sure that your practice is well structured and well balanced.

5. Change and modify your daily practice.To improve significantly the way you play piano, you must change your daily routine about every month. Your brain and your fingers will have to be forced to adapt and make new connections in your brain, this way playing piano will make it easier for you. I hope these tips will help to master the art of playing piano and to achieve your goal and play piano like a pro!

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Sculpture Tools And Supplies

Sculpting stands
Sculpting stands are stands about the size of a stool with a small tabletop that can raise up and down and rotate. These are helpful because they provide a small portable and adjustable surface area for you to work on.

Even better, is a sculpting stand with your armature base mounted to it.

This is extremely helpful when you are sculpting something that you do not want hold the entire time. Sometimes it can make the process of sculpting quicker and easier because you won't have to constantly re-sculpt and smooth out the places where you had to hold your sculpt while working on it. Holding your sculpture, depending on the clay type, often "melts" the clay in those areas, if in the same spot for a while, because of the warmth for your skin. The clay in that spot may become smushy and lose its detail in that area. I usually start out holding my sculpt in a place I haven't yet started working on, so I am not as worried about messing it up. But when I get closer to the end, and want to make precise refinements, I often wish I had a sculpting on a stand.

Wire for Armatures
Using an armature can really strengthen up your sculpts. An armature is often made of wire twisted and formed into the shape of your future sculpt, but much smaller, to become the "bones" of your sculpture. Simply add your clay around the armature to thicken, then add the rest of the clay in finer details. The guage to use, depends on how thick your sculpt is going to be. You will want the wire to be thin enough to not show through your finished sculpt, but strong enough to keep its shape.

Modeling tools
Modeling tools can help with fine details and impressions that you want to make in your clay before it is cured. There are plastic, wooden, and metal tools in different shapes. For instance, a tool with a rounded ball at the end would aid you in making an eye socket in your clay, for the sculptures that require eyes. Or a smaller tool with a point on the end can help make dents, holes(e.g. for beads in jewelry making), and other fine impressions such as wrinkles, that might be hard to form with your fingernails. Or you could file your nail into a needle point and call it your sculpting nail, if that is your style. Also, a lot of these tools can be found around the house. I started sculpting with a nail file, and a toothpick. Here are some examples of the tools for sculpting that you can by in stores or online.

Molds
Sometimes you may want to by a mold for a shape that you want to recreate, like a small flower design. I personally don't like to use molds because I make dolls mostly, and I like them all to be one of a kind, the only one out there just like it. But I can see the need to use them in some situations. It would be quicker. And molds are so much fun for kids too!

A Drill
This can be handy if you want to drill small holes in your sculpt after curing it.

Sandpaper
Using a fine grit sandpaper on your sculpt after it is cured and completely cooled off, can give it an even smoother and flawless appearance. Simply rub your sculpt in the rough areas gently and wipe off the excess clay shavings.

Pottery Wheel
You may need one of these if you want to make pottery.

Rolling Pin or Pasta Machine
These are both great when conditioning clay and blending colors together. Pasta machines are a bit easier and don't require as much manual work.

Smoothing oil
If your clay is too hard, smoothing oil is nice and helps condition and soften up your clay, making it easier to work with.

Glazes and Paints
If desired, you can paint and/or glaze your sculpture after it is cured and cooled. Glazes give your sculpt a nice glossy finish. Just be sure to choose paints and glazes that are compatible with your clay type and brand.

A Kiln, Convection Oven or your Home Oven
Earthenware, Stoneware and Kaolin are natural clays from the ground that require high temperatures to fire them. Therefor, you'll need to use a kiln to fire them. Kiln's can be expensive so you may want to borrow one or rent one. Polymer clays are cured at lower temperatures, so your oven can handle the job.
Sometimes having a separate home oven is nice, if you can afford it, have the room for it, and are getting more serious with your sculpting. Convection ovens can be handy for small sculpts such as jewelry, but you will need to monitor the temps to make sure they don't spike or get too high. The temperature needs to be steady during the entire curing process or you could end up burning your piece.

I hope this introduction to sculpting tools has helped you feel confident in starting your project. Learn more about sculpting with clay. I include more help with sculpting at my website http://www.thetrollsnest.com/.

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The Cabinet of Dr Caligari

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is one of the most important films in cinema history by the German filmmaker Robert Wiene (1873 - 1938). In the film, the hypnotist Dr. Caligari arrives in town as a tarot reader and his assistant, the somnambulist Cesare, guesses people's futures. Soon after setting foot in town, a series of crimes start in the city and everyone starts suspecting the assistant because of his carelessness and unprofessionalism. But, the brave young Francis, while trying to save his girlfriend, discovers that the mastermind of the crimes is the doctor himself, whose powers of manipulation lead Cesare to kill people without being aware of what he does.

The Making of "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari"

The poet and playwright Mayer Janowitz began working on his screenplay in the winter of 1918-19, during the last weeks of the German revolution. According to Janowitz recount years later, the specific contributions to the conception of the work were fourfold: first, the mystique inspired by the city of Prague, where Janowitz was born, second, the murder of a girl witnessed by Janowitz in Hamburg, third, distrust on the authoritarian military power and the fourth, a sleep walking to show that the author had attended in Berlin some time back.

Film critic Einstein had assumed that no copy of the script had survived after the German war, but in the early 1950s, the actor Werner Krauss (who plays Caligari) told Einstein that he still had a copy. As Krauss flatly refused to let such a relic out of his hands, it was not until 1978, long after his death, the Stiftung Deutsche Kinamathek (the German Cinematheque) was able to buy the script from his widow.

From the original script, it was possible to demystify a lot of legends about the making of the film, particularly with regards to the participation of the director and its set designers, Hermann Warm, Walter Reimann and Walter Röhrig. The original movie had a "foggy" look and this was the idea of the director and the set designers; this was nowhere mentioned in the original script.

Conflict with the Real Script

Moreover, Mayer Janowitz had set the plot in the modern world, with telephones, telegrams, and electric light. Wiene and his assistants had anticipated problems in matching old technology with modern ones and did not hesitate to delete a couple of sequences without compromising the story line. The film runs over the precise details of the time: the city is a medieval fantasy, the costumes are romantic looking and not even close to something what modern people wear, and the performances range from stylized to naturalistic. What is not known for sure is if the director just did not bother about time or wanted to deliberately create an aura of timelessness - characteristic of Expressionist Theater that later on were imitated by several German films after Caligari.

The original script didn't even have the character of Francis. This character was introduced by the director to render "completeness" to the story. Francis has been shown as a mental patient admitted to a sanitarium run by Dr. Caligari and ends up becoming the protagonist after unmasking the truth about the doctor.

The Author is a movie critic and she is a guest writer for several Movie Websites. Read her movie reviews and the latest movie news at her website.

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Get Inspired With These 3 Motivational Fitness Films

Motivational films are powerful things. They can completely change your mood or your outlook, get you pumped and make you ready to face the day. In this article I take a deeper look at motivational films and share with you 3 of my top motivational fitness films.

1) PREFONTAINE:

Prefontaine is a biopic of the American long distance runner Steve Prefontaine who had his life tragically cut short by a car accident when he was just 24 years old. Despite the sad ending to the film, Prefontaine is still very inspirational. This is a guy who loved to run and lived to win. Even though he only lived to 24 years old, Steve Prefontaine managed to achieve great things and at 1 point was the holder of the American record for 7 different distance track events ranging from the 2,000 meters to the 10,000 meters. This fitness film leaves you inspired and thinking that if Steve Prefontaine managed to achieve so much in his short life, just how much can you achieve in your own life?

2) ROCKY:

Rocky is 1 of the most popular fitness films ever released and there are plenty of reasons why. This is the film that turned Sylvester Stallone into a star. The story follows the struggling boxer and debt collector Rocky Balboa as he gets the ultimate opportunity - an exhibition bout with Apollo Creed - the current boxing world heavyweight champion. There are many inspirational moments in Rocky and when the final fight rolls around you find yourself literally cheering Rocky along.

3) THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS:

Although The Pursuit Of Happyness is not really a fitness film, it does focus on increasing your mental fitness. Whilst Prefontaine and Rocky are good films for getting you pumped, this film is 1 to watch if you are feeling a little down on yourself. It's a true story about Chris Gardner - a guy who makes a bad financial decision which ultimately leads to him losing his wife and his home. However, through sheer mental strength and determination he gets through it and becomes very successful. If you are having a bad day or even a bad week, you will feel a lot better after watching this film. It makes you think that there are many people out there in much worse situations than you and also demonstrates the value of making the best out of a bad situation.

SUMMARY:

Whether you need cheering up after a bad week or you simply want to motivate yourself for the gym, these 3 inspirational fitness films can help. So sit down, relax and prepare to get motivated.

Tom Parker owns Free Fitness Tips  which contains a wide range of fitness themed articles. You can learn more about Tom's top 10 favourite fitness films by visiting his website.

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How to Provide Your Digital Artwork in the Correct Format

So you have been asked to provide artwork and don't know where to begin? Many graphics orientated industries such as printing, awards, and signage require digital artwork in specific file formats. This is essential in order to obtain high quality imagery on your end product. Here is a quick guide on what you need to know in order to correctly fulfill that next artwork request.

Before we talk about vendor requirements for your artwork, let's discuss what they probably don't want. Most often, providing your artwork in the form of a physical business card, letterhead, photocopy, website art, or a photograph is not ideal, and generally will not work. These examples are not considered "original artwork" which typically is required. Remember, someone created your art, and it's up to you to find out where it originated, and if it is available digitally. If you can find the originator or original art, you will save yourself a lot of work, and will likely be able to provide your art to your vendor per their requirements.

Regardless of file format, most vendors will require vector art. Open your artwork on your computer and zoom in very, very closely. If your art is composed of small dots it is likely a bitmap image, and is NOT a vector image. A vector image is made up of lines, and if you zoom in very close on your image you will see that the graphic is still very crisp and clean with no blurry dots. Another way to check is by taking your art and increasing the size about 10-20 times. If the "blown up" image is still as crisp, clean and detailed as when it was small, you likely have a vector image. If it becomes blurry the bigger it gets, your image is likely a bitmap. Another way to check, if your file has any of the following extensions, it is likely a bitmap: .bmp, .jpg, .gif

So your image is a bitmap and you don't know what to do? Bitmap images may be acceptable if they are high resolution bitmaps in the 300-600 dpi range. Keep in mind that some more complicated art may need to be a bitmap image in order to achieve the visual effects desired, but will still need to be high resolution. In addition, some vendors may have conversion software, where they can convert the bitmap art into vector art. This conversion software can often take art from a scanned business card or from the internet. There are also many businesses on the internet where you can provide your digital bitmap file in various formats, and they will convert your art to vector art. Go to Google and search for "vector art conversion" and you will find many available options for this service. Lastly, perhaps you don't need to convert to vector... check with your vendor to see if your bitmap image is workable.

Your vector or high resolution bitmap image will need to be in a specified file format. Usually, most vendors will ask for your art to have one of the following file format extensions:.ai (Adobe Illustrator),.cdr (Corel Draw), .pdf (portable document format), or .eps (encapsulated postscript). Whatever program you are able to open your artwork up in, you should be able to "save as" or "export" as one of these file formats. Be sure to convert any text to curves. Please understand, that taking a low resolution bitmap file and saving it as a higher resolution .eps or .ai file does not improve the resolution of the art, nor does it turn it into a vector file.

If your still at a loss and cannot provide artwork per the vendors specifications, you may have to have it re-created. Re-creating art can be expensive as you most likely will have to have the a graphic artist do this for you. Plan on spending $50-$100 per hour for this service, and once provided, have them save several copies in various formats for future use. In the end, you want to supply artwork in an economical and efficient manner, and hopefully some of the suggestions offered in this article can help you with this goal.

Correct artwork is critical for ideal printing results such as on these custom imprinted award medals found at http://www.justawardmedals.com/Custom_Medals_s/171.htm

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Thriller Novels: Where Does the Kick Come From?

Scarcely any novel enthusiast has not read any thriller novels at all. The genre is immensely popular with readers of all ages. The best thrillers have provided gripping suspense, exhilaration, and enjoyment to readers since the first beginnings of the genre. Their scope is vast, with many sub-genres.

So, what are they?

Obviously, the novel must must engender thrills in its readers. Straightforward enough, but where are the origins of this ability? The predecessors of thriller novels originated with the writers of early civilizations such as the Greeks or Persians. For example, the Odyssey in Greek and the Mahabharata in Sanskrit were, it can be argued constructed using similar narrative mechanisms to the modern day thriller novels. Originating in the Tenth Century and later translated by Sir Richard Burton, the Arabian Nights narrates the first ever detective thriller as a tale entitled "The Three Apples".

With this ancestry, the art has grown and contemporary 'thrill fiction' can be sub-divided into several genres such as the intelligence related thriller, medical, political, legal case related thriller, historical, technological, action, exploration oriented thriller, armed forces operations thriller, and romantic thriller. At least. The list is practically never ending. Thrilling the readers, that's all it's about, and there are so many ways. Normally, all of the genres will be creating thrills by working on several aspects of the reader's mind: emotions, empathy with a character, impatience, uncertainty, fear, anticipation and even panic. The most able novelist will be toying with several of these areas of the reader's mind at any one time.

The reader's imagination, though, is definitely the most effective target area for the novelist to work on, but it is also the aspect needing the highest skill to manipulate effectively. Although each of the sub genres has its inherent dimensions, there are a few regular techniques used by novelists. For example: the disguising of significant facts from the reader until the a climactic point, the dramatic description of combat (even if only verbal). Add in foreshadowing, unexpected twists in the plot and hanging chapter ends and you have the basic devices which are deployed to work up the thrill and excitement levels.

Let's examine a couple of sub-genres in more detail:

The espionage thriller offers a typical example of the thriller genre-type. Some specialize in the operation of intelligence gathering structures within particular countries and governments - for example the British SIS or the Chinese Guoanbu. Other genre-specialist writers focus on the technology of espionage, be they satellites or miniature cameras. The main character is often an anti-hero having a problem with her organization.

In psychological thriller novels, brain games as well as infatuations, persecutions, mental entrapment and other such themes are the most common structural devices.

So, there's plenty of scope for writing and giving thrills to readers.

James Marinero writes thriller novels with a topical espionage aspect. Find out more about James's views on the thriller novels genre and his latest techno-thriller 'Gate of Tears' at his website.

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Keeping Memories Alive

Memories of our past, good or bad, many times fill a very important part of our daily lives. We draw continuously on the knowledge we have acquired over the years. But, over time, much of this knowledge and wisdom is lost due to forgetfulness or lack of review. Also, those wonderful family memories of weddings, births, family reunions, vacations and a whole host of other memories captured on audio or visual media types may not be seen or heard because you have nothing to play them on. For instance, you may have reels of 8mm regular or super film, reel to reel audio tape, 8 trk audio tape, cassette audio tape, VHS, Hi8, 78/45/33 rpm vinyl records or just simply photos that are hard to access. Well, as the Bandleader of the Stardusters Band, I am dedicated to the preservation and performance of live music of the great musical era of WWII. In the same respect, I believe our recorded memories of our families and our adventures through life are equally if not more important to preserve for future generations to come. Therefore, I have researched online the many services offered to render or transfer various media types to CD or DVD, or bands to perform the great music of the 30's, 40's and 50's. I have found the cost to be surprisingly expensive.

I believe the musical performance in a live band format and the Audio & Video Rendering and Transfer of this great music and your treasured memories can be reasonable and affordable. If one has the talent, knowledge, access to the proper equipment and time on his or her hands that would be the perfect combination to accomplish this very worthy task.

Many early mornings with coffee cup in hand I have contemplated these possibilities. It would obviously take musical abilities. That is, training as a musician or to be so inclined. Also, there is the need for the specific projectors and/or playing devices to render and transfer the different media types. Some folks are fortunate to have had fathers who used these devices over the years and kept them in good condition, and, later handed them down to sons or daughters. This is a recipe for entrepreneurism. I know a person just like this. His dad kept right up with technology and over the years had collected recording equipment from reel to reel tape recorders to 8mm movie cameras and projectors to the Hi8 digital tape before he passed away. What a great opportunity his father left to him for the preservation of history. And, that history is something we should work hard to keep, and maybe even more important, to pass on.

Since this type of work must be done in real time, it is obvious that the amount of time available is crucial in the ability to reduce the cost of the service. If time is not a major factor then you are half the way there. On the other hand, if you don't already own the appropriate equipment and devices, I'm sure they would be somewhat hard to find, hence, the lucky son. With this time and equipment, a process could be streamlined to what I believe to be a very affordable option. The equipment and software will produce excellent rendering and transfer of the media types to CD/VCD/DVD. It doesn't have to be fancy or major high tech to still deliver excellent quality and service. The possibilities are endless!

The Stardusters are a four-eighteen piece band featuring a veriety of musical styles. They use combinations of vocals, guitar, steel guitar, bass, drums, piano, trumpet, saxophone, and banjo to accomplish their easy listening and very danceable repertoire. The Stardusters are a truly enjoyable musical experience. And, if you like BIG, The Stardusters can accommodate with some modern and contemporary tunes, and all the great tunes popular during the Big Band era with combinations up to an 18 piece Big Band. The Stardusters are performing in clubs, restaurants, and private venues throughout Fresno and the Central Valley. My web site can be viewed as http://www.stardusters.net/

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The Nuts and Bolts of Producing Children's Musical Theater

It's no secret that everyone and his brother, sister, aunt and uncle feel that they have the knack for producing children's Musical Theater. With so many publishing houses out there producing mini versions of some of Broadway's biggest hits, providing a "how to" and robust director's manual and prerecorded tracks to the show's songs, everyone is jumping on the band wagon and offering summer productions for kids ages 5-15 years old. However, it is very important to realize that it takes much more than a script, a bunch of students, and hall to produce truly great children's theater!

There are definitive areas of producing a musical with kids that will make a show simply mediocre or make a show simply spectacular. These areas are as follows: Quality Casting; Strong direction; Scenic Design and Construction; Lighting Design; sound design; costume design; a quality performance venue, Publicity and Marketing.

The reason I mention quality casting is because it is here lies your most important task. In my 25 years as an Artistic Director, I've always said, "Casting can be your best friend! It can make your job as a director a pure joy or a living hell!" And it is so true. If you cast the wrong child in the lead, a great set, costumes and lighting design will not save your show. It is for this reason that time and careful planning and thought should be given to the casting of each role, especially the leads. With casting in mind, always planning ahead and casting a double or understudy is a wise and prudent thing to do should your first choice fall ill or fall out of a tree a week before your show opens. After all, we are speaking about kids here!:-) Of course, going hand in hand with strong casting is your job as the theatrical producer to hire a top-knotch director. Without a iron-clad experienced director, you ruin the risk of the show not having a strong flow or semblance.

The next crucial thing to think about is your rehearsal process. Where will rehearsals be? A Church, a school, a hall? How many days per week? Hours per day? Will the rehearsal process last 8, 10, or 12 weeks? Once this is determined a solid rehearsal schedule can be put together and distributed among the students.

Now that rehearsals are under way, it is time to think about what and how your set design will look like? There are so many ways you can go with a set design. Of course, after much trial and error over the last two decades, I find the KISS principle best. "Keep It Simple Stupid!" It's true. A wonderfully designed set with bright colors simply hanging from a theater baton will go miles and cost far less than having several stage wagons built or huge flats to fly up in the air. Remember: This is children's theater. Kids performing for kids. You can find great scenic designers almost anywhere these days. Craigslist, College Dept, High School Theater clubs, etc... I strongly advise staying away from Performing Arts magazines, as these folks are all strictly professional and will charge a pretty penny.

Your next important task is to find a great lighting designer. Focusing lights on a stage and mixing colors to create moods is not a difficult job. It is however a specialized one and if you don't hire the right person, your beautiful set will look a lot less beautiful and you won't be able to evoke the kind of response you are looking for from your audience. Like Scenic Designers, you can find good lighting designers on places like Craigslist, College dept, etc... Most Lighting designers will charge you a couple hundred dollars to light your whole show. I've always believed that lighting a show, especially a musical is critical to the overall success of the production. This is definite one area you do not want to skimp on. There is nothing worse than going to a children's production and the curtain opens to all these kids in costume with blinding white light from the ceiling light fixtures! In the words of one of my past students, "Yuck!"

Speaking of costumes for the students, this is the next big item that should be on your list. Costumes are indeed important, but think that you have to go out and spend hundreds of dollars on each costume. A simple vest, hat, glasses, jumpsuit, etc.. will do just fine. Of course, a great deal of this is determined by your show. Doing the musical, Annie? Making orphan clothing is quite simple. Doing Aladdin? This of course may require a costume designer and seamstress. Again, you can find students who are willing to help you with this or even volunteer moms, dads, grandmas, etc... Sewing is an American past time! What ever you do, do not make the mistake of producing a period piece than skimping on the costumes. Nothing says tacky more than this.

The next important item is sound. If you can't hear the kids on stage, why bother paying for a ticket. Nothing is more aggravating than attending a wonderful performance only to be confused as to what is going on because you do not understand the kids. Body mics work best. But if you cannot afford these, choir mics or shot guns definitely work in a pinch. Please, please, please make sure that the sound designer you hire knows how to set levels. Feedback during a show is never pleasant.

Finally, getting the word out about your performance is key to building the excitement among the actors, paying all of the expenses that have been piled up and of course, spreading the word about what you do, who you are and why your theater program is so important to the community!

There are countless ways today to publicize a show and get the word out to everyone and their brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles. The internet has a wealth of social media, ticket software programs, email grouping, etc.. to help spread the word about your show. Of course, it never hurts to print up posters and post cards and distribute them around your town in every coffee, house, bookstore, school or church! Who can resist a great kid's production?

So, to briefly recap. To produce truly great children's theater, remember there are several key areas to consider. Hiring a strong director; Casting the right kid in the right role; hiring the best designers your budget can afford; hiring the best lighting and sound people your budget can afford; and getting the word out to further capture the community you are trying to impress!

Happy Producing!

Trevor Weaver - Managing Director (Playandprofundity.com)

www.playandprofundity.com

Trevor Weaver
Artistic Director
Play & Profundity
trevor@playandprofundity.com
http://www.playandprofundity.com/
1-805-203-6250

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The Art of Mixing and Mastering for Video Games

I think we all remember the old times when we played arcade games and all we could hear in the background were onomatopoeic sounds. And we can all agree upon the fact that video games have come a long way since then, both in terms of graphic and in terms of audio. The processes of mixing and mastering have left their mark and being an audio designer has become greatly profitable. But the work is equally demanding and it requires several technical skills in order to be able to deliver a truly professional final version of the game audio.

Basically, the mixing process can be considered the art of blending all the elements of a musical piece in a compatible way. The end product must be melodious and perfectly balanced. It may seem like a piece of cake, but it's surely not. An audio designer needs many years of experience to achieve a level of professionalism required in order to make up a flawless mix. It's called art because in the end, the engineer's job is to give the song emotion and a certain sparkle. And this emotion, together with the line of the audio must fit the action of the video game. You can imagine that country music has nothing to do with slaying vampires or something of that sort. Dynamic effects are also put to use in this phase, such as equalization, delays or compression, which may provide a certain sense of space to your game audio.

The latter phase of the mixing and mastering is also the final stage of the recording process. But it is highly important and should be treated as such. Mastering acts as a quality controller before the final release. There has been some debate over the level of loudness at which an audio should be mastered, but in order for an audio designer to make clear determinations he ought to have critical listening. Of course they have the aid of special technical equipment and software mastering tools, but the final touch is still in the hands of the sound engineer. The end result also depends on the accuracy of speaker monitors. Moreover, disciplinary equalization and intense enhancements may be necessary for the improvement of the audio translation on any system.

All things considered, excelling at the art of mixing and mastering is a must for any audio designer and video game developers should only trust their music editing needs to professional studios that have the required experience and tools to deliver a faultless end product that meets all of your expectations and the ones of the consumers. Fortunately, it shouldn't be very hard to find such a studio, as the world wide web has helped the industry of game audio through the developing of online masters and the advances of the sound technology. The online studios are now able to provide end to end audio solutions for every kind of video game you can think of. The cutting edge technology and top notch engineers will help you get a state of the art mix for your product.

For more resources about mixing and mastering or about audio designer or even about game audio, please review these links.

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How to Mix Live Vocals

In almost all cases the vocals in a band setting should sit on top of the mix. Nobody leaves a show humming the beat of the kick drum.

First, choose the right vocal microphone. Spend some time learning the differences in singers as well as the different characteristics of vocal microphones. This can go a long way to accomplishing the best sound.

Set your gain structure properly. Before you even turn up the fader, set your incoming gain. There are different schools of thought here, and it really depends on the application. If you are going for smooth or there is spoken word, don't push the gain all the way up to peak. Keep it in the green and out of the yellow. On some more driven applications it is OK to push the preamps a bit more as some "distortion" can be used for good. Peaking is always bad. Use compression or limiting to keep more dynamic vocalists from peaking.

Avoid using too much compression or effects. Unless you are going for a particular effect keep it natural sounding. Use compression, delay and reverb only to make a more natural sounding vocal, not to fix bad sound or singing.

Don't boost the EQ. It is a common beginners mistake to boost certain frequencies on the board to get more clarity or more body. This is almost never the right starting point. Start with cutting frequencies. If it sounds muddy find and cut the mud causing frequency. If it sounds harsh, find and cut the harsh frequency. Sometimes it is useful to boost the gain on a frequency and sweep the frequency dial until you find the offending frequency, then you know where to cut. Don't cut too wide or it will cut too much and have an unintended effect.

Your fader should be near or just below Unity (unity is at a different level on digital boards than on analog boards). There are different schools of thought on this as well, but unity is always a good starting point especially if you are just starting out. We will dive into the unity theory and gain structure as a whole later on. The very high level basic idea is that you don't have you head gain really low and your fader really high, or vice versa. You want to let the sound through rather than significantly boost or cut it.

Check out http://www.howtomixlive.com/ for more free live mixing tips and techniques!

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Picasso Exhibition NSW Art Gallery 2011

PICASSO EXHIBITION 2011

ARTICLE

Exhibition held at: ART GALLERY OF NSW

Visited on: 20/11/2011

As far as art exhibitions go, this one was interesting! I attended the exhibition on the 20/11/11 at 1pm at the ART GALLERY OF NSW. There was a dark waiting room before the exhibition, dedicated to display the private collection photos of Picasso, friends and family members. All black and white of course. And in that room was a large screen a few meters high by a few meters wide displaying old films of Picasso painting. That was interesting because it was filmed standing opposite Picasso on the other side of a tall and wide pain of clear glass, which he painted various designs on! He used a thick paint brush and a cream coloured oil paint where he demonstrates simple abstract strokes forming figures of animals and humans. These designs are depicted in many of his finished paintings that we are all familiar with. It gave me a close look at his free hand and his easy flowing ideas. His brush strokes were confident, and he painted with a jovial facade, every now and again stopping to smile at the camera filming him! These movies were filmed in his later years, I would say in or around his 80's. Then again people did look older than there true age those days, so he may infact have only been 35! Who knows!!

There was nothing else shown in these movies but him painting, alone.

It was time to enter the hall where his paintings were held, and off we went! The displayed paintings were catogorised from the earliest ones to the most recent ones.

Firstly what I noticed was that I wasn't yet seeing anything remotely close to what I knew as Picasso style paintings! What I was seeing was a large display of hand drawings of people, and hardly any abstract at all! More realism than anything else.

As the years progressed his style changed along with it.

I noticed something quite unusual, in around the middle of his career, although the paintings remained large and bold, it's almost as though he became tired, depressed or simply just lazy! The displays went from intricate detail and magnificent realism to child like simplicity and basic blotches of people on canvas! To me they seemed unenthusiastic, like he had lost his vitality. But of course I could be completely wrong about that, and may have just been a new style that he thought he'd tamper with! It wasn't so appealing or interesting to the eye however. Knowing very little about his personal history, I may not be aware of something that might have happened to him around that time, but I choose to remain ignorant and treat this as a simple "take" of my own.

It was in the 60's and 70's that I finally got to see the paintings that we all know and love! That became a little more exciting for me! Now keep in mind I might be out a year or two, or even a decade or so, and plainly going by what I "remember" of the exhibition, because I didn't infact document it whilst I was there.

The over all comment I have about it is that he had so MANY styles of creating, that it wasn't easy keeping up with it all! But what I personally liked about that the most, is that it reminded me of myself!! I thought, up until I had seen that exhibition, that there was something "wrong" with me, in that I can never just stick to ONE style of painting, or, had too many interests in design to focus on just one thing alone!. But I guess that comes with being creative! And since Picasso was the same, I'm not complaining!!

There were also displays of many many sculptures that he had made over the years. These I was not that interested in myself, because I was there to take note of his technique in his paintings, and it is what interested me the most. Plus the fact that sculpting has never actually been a creative interest of mine.

The sculptures were however large, above 6 foot, and mostly made of bronze, showing either men, women or animals. Others made of metal sheeting that formed abstract designs depicting musical instruments. Infact, I can say as a broad statement that his entire collection of paintings and sculptures consist of a very small hand full of subjects and those being, women (naked), animals (bulls and goats) and musical instruments (string). Not nessasarily all in the one combination, but mostly! There are a few paintings with a male child here and there and a man or two, but not many of them!

I guess like any artist he appreciated the female form, and being a male artist even more so. The animals displayed in his paintings I personally feel had a close relation to sexuality, people and women, which is the main focus of his work. My guess is, in Picasso's mind it was all related, and it made perfect sense!

I found the bull's especially interesting in his paintings, and they are a large focus in a certain era of his work, I think from memory around the 40's. He painted them over and over again. I wondered what was going through his mind?? Again, my guess would be, the bull being an extremely powerful animal, and a dominating one, and he admired it for those qualities. They may have represented some of his own! Or again I could be just talking rubbish since I also know very little about that time and place in history, for all I know bullfighting may have been a major craze!

My favourite painting from the entire exhibition was the bullfight, 'death of the torero'. It's only a small painting but what impressed me was firstly that it was so very different from anything else shown at the exhibition, in other words, I'm not sure if there are more like that hiding somewhere else in the world, but it was unique there! The very fine strokes and detail is what I loved, and the over all power of the image itself. The "true" picasso style is incorporated and of course I adore colour, and it's loaded with that too! Making is a great cocktail!

His etchings I also admired and need to mention, because again, this man had multiple talents and displayed in the one place! It was mind boggling!

There were many etchings done around the middle of his career, again going by memory, and I found them to be even more amazing than his paintings! The detail that was depicted in them and the beautiful flow of the lines is magnificent!

I have personally only ever experienced the making of an etching back when I was at school, so I'm buggered as to how it's actually made, but I think it's a print made from a drawing scratched onto to glass. Pardon my ignorance and lack of effort to research that! But I had more important things to write about!

Well thats about all I have to say about the exhibition, unless I think of more later! For now I'm tired of typing and it's time to go off and do some painting of my own!

I enjoyed it though, and the surprise element of it was the best part for me!

ARTICLE WRITTEN BY: ANGELA YANNATOS

SEE THIS ARTICLE HERE: http://www.paintingsbyangela.com.au/

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