Posts filed under 'World Of Entertainment'
CAROLINE NADER AUSTRALIAN PHOTOGRAPHER RECEIVES HONOURABLE MENTION IN INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS
Sydney artist Caroline Nader was awarded an Honourable Mention in the International Photography Awards (IPA) 2005 Competition.
Los Angeles, California, 2005 - Caroline’s photos in the ‘Architecture in non-professional’ category, won her an Honourable Mention for her series of images titled “In Search of a Holy Space, Spain.” The 2005 IPA Competition drew an avalanche of images from around the world - 16,648 entries and across 32 countries.
The outpouring of these thousands of photographs from cities, towns and small villages continues to prove the global power and presence of the still image. Susan Baraz, one of the competition judges, said: “as one of the IPA judges, I was overwhelmed by the incredible talent displayed by all who entered.”
About Caroline Nader
Caroline was born in Lebanon, and spent her early childhood in Nigeria and England, before settling in Australia at the age of eight. It seems that travelling was always in her blood.
Although titled “In Search of a Holy Space”, it was Caroline’s love of football that originally took her to Europe. “I guess that’s the joy of travelling, you find something special that you never originally sought,” she said.
The legendary Santiago de Compostela provided the perfect photographic setting. “Places of worship have a certain magic, a raw energy. People’s fears, hopes and dreams are captured within a holy space.”
Are there any more Spanish adventures in the future? “Seville is a dream, the blending of Spanish, Arabic and Northern African cultures.”
Currently Caroline is the Creative Director at Etcom, a specialised multicultural communications agency. Etcom is part of the Worldwide WPP Group as well as the STW Group in Australia.
About Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Since the 12th century, thousands of pilgrims have completed the “Camino de Santiago”. The final destination is the cathedral containing the scared relics of the apostle St. James. Santiago is the second largest Catholic Pilgrimage centre after Rome.
About IPA
IPA is comprised of 18,000 members and affiliates from around the world. IPA’s mission is to salute the achievements of the world’s finest photographers, to discover new and emerging talent, and to promote the appreciation of photography. Since 2003 IPA has acknowledged photographers’ achievements from around the world in various categories. The 2005 gala Lucie Awards ceremony will be held in October, New York.
Visit www.photoawards.com
For more information, please contact:
Guadalupe Millan PR Manager, Etcom, Australia etcom@etcom.com.au +61 2 9568 8398
Caroline Nader caro_nader@yahoo.com mobile: +61 (0) 422 458 969
IPA Contact: Clio Van Ert press@photoawards.com 310-659-0122 (USA)
May 6th, 2009
Artist: Jon Fritz
Title: When it’s Over
Genre: Folk-Roots-Rock
Label: Independent
Website: http://www.jonfritz.com
The music of Jon Fritz is not easy to drop into a little slot of categorization. I call it folk-roots-rock to try to keep it as simple as possible, when in reality it so much more than that. This music touches your soul. The beauty of it flows through Jon’s acoustic guitar and dreamy vocals. You feel like you have found a long lost friend when you give this CD spin, it gives you the warm and fuzzies. Those of you that like the peaceful easy feelin’ (like the Eagles) sound will put your arms around this music and embrace it.
Fritz’s lyrics are as prolific as the music he makes, and that is the reason it hits you right in the old ticker. The first five tracks have you cruising right along on a mellow ride down the highway of emotions. Tracks like “Surrender” and “Still Dreamin’” put your feelings on automatic pilot then “Bitch” kicks in, and you hear all of this anger and darkness come lashing out, it has to be one of the most shocking transitions I have ever heard on an album, then it reverts back to what you found comfort in. I have a feeling the man must have been through a tough relationship recently or a divorce and needed to exorcise some demons, that is cool with me, it just really caught me off guard. If the purpose is to keep you on your toes and paying attention, it works Jon.
Fritz is obviously a very talented performer with an innate sense of song construction in his blood. His is a natural wordsmith, quite brilliant. The music is the icing on the cake. This is the type of CD that will continue to grow on you with every listen, if it does not I suggest you check the obituaries to see if you are listed.
© Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-http://www.muzikreviews.com
February 22, 2005
Rating-8/10
Credits:
Jon Fritz-vocals/guitars
Wayne Mitzen-bass
Marc Stauffer-drums/vocals
01. Surrender (4:41)
02. Still Dreamin’ (5:04)
03. May Be (3:54)
04. Somewhere In Her Eyes (4:32)
05. Sweetness (4:39)
06. Bitch (4:31)
07. Memory (4:58)
08. I Know Why (5:27)
09. Cold Hard Rain (4:33)
10. Over… (3:07)
11. (bonus) One More Day (4:35)
12. (hidden) Live Excerpt (4:16)
13. Bitch-radio edit (4:33)
May 2nd, 2009
Publishing an ezine is the ideal way to reach your target market. How far your reach extends depends on the type of experience you create for your readers.
By giving your subscribers a value-laden, benefit-rich experience you can create an ezine with a loyal and eager following of dedicated readers.
Here are three powerful things you can do to create the type of experience your readers demand:
1. Let Your Readers Get To Know The Real You
My favorite ezines have a personality. The personality of the writer behind the words is what captivates my attention.
Every writer has a unique style, and when it is allowed to flow freely it can be quite contagious. Let the real you come through in your words. Let your style flow from your heart. Just be yourself and talk directly to your subscriber.
An effective technique is to visualize yourself writing to just one person. This person should fit the profile of your target group. If you’ve properly identified the wants and desires of your audience, you’ll find your writing style becomes more natural and flowing.
By using this model you discover the power behind the word “you”. You can never use the word “you” too much. You know what I mean?
This approach works even if you are the editor of a corporate or institutional publication. Your own voice is more effective, and affective, than an anonymous, ghost-like corporate voice. You’ll discover that the personal approach helps to bridge the gap between a reader and an otherwise impersonal entity.
2. Provide Solutions That Help People Reach Their Goals
Your readers subscribed to your ezine because you made a promise to deliver something of value. You must consistently deliver goal-oriented value to keep loyal readers.
You do this by giving people the tools and information they can use to make their own informed decisions. By creating an environment which seeks to inform, rather than sell, you establish a lasting rapport and an atmosphere of trust.
To put this into practice, deliver the value aspect of your ezine in the form of word pictures. Tell a story drawing on your personal experience and show how you were awakened to a solution. Paint a picture with words to describe the benefits or pitfalls you found by following a particular path.
Publishers who do this are regarded as trustworthy experts. Consequently, they create a following of subscribers who buy products and services based solely on a recommendation.
It is noteworthy, and should come as no surprise, that affiliate commissions are highest among those who use the products they recommend. They are in a position to comment first-hand on the benefits and solutions available in owning the product.
3. Let Your Readers Interact With Your Ezine.
You engage people more fully by allowing them to participate and interact with your ezine. Plus, this interaction lets you take the pulse of readers and find out what’s important to them. You can then tailor your content and marketing efforts accordingly.
Here are some ideas to get your readers involved:
> Take a poll. Invite your readers to respond to a short survey question. Provide a set of two or three responses from which they can choose by clicking on the appropriate link.
> Reserve a section of your ezine for reader feedback and invite people to email you with their comments. Personally respond to all email and reprint those which you feel are most beneficial for your readers.
> Have a section of your ezine devoted to reader’s questions. Respond in your ezine with thoughtful and insightful answers. This establishes you as an expert in your field, thereby enhancing the worth of your ezine as a source of credible information.
Put the above three principles to work for you and see if you notice a difference. Just keep in mind your reader’s desire for goal-based solutions, and let your must-read ezine be a source of must-have value and must-get benefits. You can’t lose!
Brett Krkosska provides ‘how-to’ advice on family and home-based work issues. Stop by his site for startup guidance, home business ideas and inspiration at: http://homebiztools.com For a Fresh and Original perspective on today’s home business issues get Brett’s ezine at: mailto:enews@homebiztools.com
April 30th, 2009
Well, you love music so much that you have decided you want to learn how to start a record label of your own. This can be a very exciting step and a fun one. The good news is, anyone can start their own record label if they know the right steps. It won’t be an easy road by any means, but it is possible if you really desire to do it.
Adventuring out and creating your record label is a gutsy thing to do. You can succeed if you follow a few KEY steps and stick with them. Your record label will fail if you don’t.
So as the Ramones would say, “Hey Ho, Let’s Go!”
Key #1: BE PASSIONATE
You need to love music and be so passionate about it that you are willing to put in the hours of hard work and effort it takes START A RECORD LABEL. If your passionate, you will have that important drive that would make any new start up record label succeed.
Key #2: FIND GOOD TALENT
It is essential when you start a record label to have quality artists on your label roster. This is just common sense. Without good talent, no
one will be interested in THEIR music on YOUR record label.
Be sure to check into The Ultimate Record Label Handbook on details on HOW to find good talent and all the details on how to start a record label…the easy way.
Key #3: LEARN HOW TO MARKET YOUR RECORD LABEL
You can have some of the best artists on your label but the truth is, if you don’t market them and your record label, no one will even know. And even worse, no marketing (or poor marketing) will lead to slow sales, which will lead to your own empty pockets. There are very effective ways to market your record label and bands. This is also covered in The Ultimate Record Label Handbook mentioned above.
Now, these are only 3 key steps you need to cover when you start a record label. There are more, but these are essential.
So get out there and start your record label. Don’t be afraid, you can do it! Just imagine how much fun it will be owning your own record label and doing what you love! Now, how many people can actually say they LOVE their job? And hey, just remember, it only takes ONE hit song, ONE hit band, or ONE hit album and your label’s success can explode!
Stick with these 3 key steps and you will be on your way to a life in the music biz!
About the Author
Want to start your VERY own record label? Now you can!
The Ultimate Record Label Handbook will show you how!
D.Herren is an author, webdesigner, and…music lover!
April 27th, 2009
What ever happened to that game console we used to call the Sega Dreamcast? Why did it suddenly disappear after 2 years of production? Was the government involved in brainwashing our minds like in George Orwell’s 1984? All these questions will be answered as I investigate the Dreamcast’s devastating decline.
In the beginning it was good. Sega released a solid piece of hardware called the Dreamcast that was easy to develop games for and kicked the competition’s rear ends in terms of graphics and sound. It entered the market with a strong start, selling quite well upon its release. Although the Dreamcast lacked 3rd party support, Sega’s games were aplenty and the very best in quality. Sega seemed to be heading in the right direction, but two years later the company abruptly discontinued the Dreamcast.
There were 3 main causes to the downfall of the Dreamcast.
1. Piracy Issues
The Dreamcast had a serious hardware flaw which gave it the ability to play copied games and downloaded ones from the internet. Many people chose to play the pirated versions of the games rather than shell out $40-$50 at a local gaming store for the real thing. As a result, Sega was losing money on the games that its developers had spent hours designing. I call that a sad waste of talent.
2. Loss of Faith in Sega Brand
Before the Dreamcast, there was the Sega Saturn, an absolute failure. At that time, Sega was releasing new add-ons and consoles so often that nobody wanted to buy the Saturn because they feared Sega would introduce a new console and cut off game development with the current one. They were right. Sega soon released the Dreamcast and rather than gain customers, it gained a bad reputation. The media attacked Sega and denounced the Dreamcast with suspicions and doubts. The trust that Sega had once set up was now broken and people lost faith in Sega’s ability to produce game systems.
3. Overhype of the PS2
The #1 selling game console in 1999 was the Sony PSOne, so naturally people were hyped up about PS2. I definitely was. PS2 was the buzz in the gaming industry. It was said to have more superior graphics, sound, and games than any of the consoles at the time. Meanwhile, the Dreamcast was already out in stores and shared similar hardware specs as the PS2, which would not be released until one year later. People overlooked the Dreamcast because they were all so overhyped about PS2 when really the two had many
similarities.
About the Author
Edwin Lee is the chief editor/owner of the Gimme Cheats E-zine at http://www.gimmecheats.net
April 25th, 2009
It seems as though whenever we go out for the night, it costs much more than we originally intended to spend. Having a ‘night on the town’ shouldn’t cost you a whole weeks salary.
Keep in mind that the amount you spend is directly related to the place you go and what you purchase. If you are attending an opera with private balcony seats, followed by an elegant candle-lit dinner . . . . plan on spending more than forty dollars.
However, many activities can be a lot of fun and not cost much money at the same time. Sure, it’s nice to go out in style once and awhile, but realistically, how often can our pocketbooks afford it?
Use the following tips to help cut some of the costs when going out. These tips can also be helpful if you have children, and are looking for some lower priced outings.
How And Where To Save Money
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You can often find local organizations and establishments offering a variety of “weekly” specials that will save you money. By lowering prices and offering special discounts, these businesses attract customers during their “down” time, or slow days.
For instance, many Los Angeles area bars and restaurants offer free midweek buffets, $1 drink specials, and even half price appetizers. And many times, these specials last all night long! Those that don’t, have “Happy Hours” usually from 4-8pm offering food and drink specials ranging anywhere from $1-$5.
Granted these places won’t have the typical Friday night crowds, nevertheless they WILL provide you and your date more quality time together and save you money at the same time.
There is no need to feel cheap, or tight, just because you are interested in saving some of YOUR money. Is there a law commanding that you spend $200 every time you go out?
Check For Local Events
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Another idea is to check with your City Hall or local Parks and Recreation center to see what’s coming up. Often cities/counties sponsor a number of dance, theater, musical and visual arts events that are either FREE, or cost a few dollars for admission.
Local colleges also offer quite a number of events that cost very little to attend. Sporting events, musicals, drama and performing arts, are just a few that you will find. Contact your local colleges and see if you can be placed on a mailing list to be notified of upcoming events.
Don’t forget to check the papers and the ever popular website Ebay.com!
Many times you will find ticket deals on all types of events just from browsing the classifieds/Internet. You can often find ads placed by season ticket holders, selling because they are unable to attend. This is a great opportunity to score on a deal. You may also find lower priced tickets on games that are during the week or on games that are a bit “unpopular”.
Save When Dining Out
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you are looking to save money when dining out, consider eating something at home before you go out, to lessen your hunger. You can then order a smaller meal or an appetizer when out. Also, avoid desserts and alcoholic beverages at restaurants since their markups are very high. This will really reduce the overall cost for dinner.
Here’s an idea for a somewhat of a romantic evening. Prepare a nice candle-lit dinner at home (pasta is very inexpensive) along with soothing music and afterwards, go out somewhere nice for dessert or a nice walk around a lake or by the beach.
It Does Not Stop Here
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
These are just a few ideas and tips that can help you save money when going out, but don’t stop here! There are literally hundreds of activities, places, and events to see and do that cost very little. All it takes is a little research, creativity, and a willingness to try something new.
How about camping at the beach, desert, or mountains? Not only is camping inexpensive, but tons of fun. The whole family will enjoy this weekend getaway. You can also try visiting parks and lakes in your neighboring cities and towns. Doesn’t a relaxing picnic and a nice walk through scenic trails and vistas sound wonderful?
Just remember, it shouldn’t matter where you go with your ’special’ someone. If you really enjoy each others company, then you will have fun literally anywhere you go. You can even make it a contest between the two of you to see who can come up with the best lowest priced date. Take turns and compare the price and results afterwards. Contests are always fun especially when the two of you get to decide on what the winner gets
—
Learn Effective Money-Saving Techniques & Eliminate Your Debt At SavingSecrets.com. Hop on over and you’ll find FREE money-saving articles, a monthly newsletter, and even a FREE Ebook download just for stopping by!
http://www.SavingSecrets.com
About the Author
It seems as though whenever we go out for the night, it costs much more than we originally intended to spend. Having a ‘night on the town’ shouldn’t cost you a whole weeks salary.
April 24th, 2009
Rocktron Short Timer Delay
Review by Les Lewellyn
copyright 2004 by Preying Lizard Music.com
As I’m preparing to put my band together to tour I am also building my arsenal of tools to play electric. My financial situation is limited and so I have to be very careful about what I purchase. I roughly need about four or five items in my chain. The first is the Crybaby, the second my distortion, third a delay and fourth a multieffects processor that I can program in about twelve “way out there” patches that suit my style. After spending a few hours reading up on delay pedals I came across the Rocktron Short Timer Digital Delay pedal. One site I visited actually had sound clips of the pedal in use and as soon as I heard the thing I knew it was exactly what I was looking for!
After shopping it online I found the average going price to be about fifty to sixty U.S. bills. Fortunately there is Ebay and I am a Ebay believer! I’ve never been ripped off by anyone there, knock on wood. Anyway….I got it in the final minutes of a auction for $35 and that included the shipping! When it arrived it looked brand new and I hooked it up immediately and I played with it for a few minutes.
There are three knobs and two switches on the unit. The first knob is the level, the second is called regeneration, and the third is the time of the delay. There is a “short” and “shorter” switch/button and then a kill switch. The unit is made of metal and sturdy as a horse. It’s built to last without a doubt. Anyway none of the knobs and switches make any extreme changes in the sound. It’s basically a cut and dry slap back sound much like David Gilmore uses. After tinkering with the unit for a few minutes checking out the extremes I immediately dialed in my sound. It was there and I’ll probably never change the settings at all.
About the author:
Les Lewellyn has been published in both online and offline printed magazines.
http://www.preyinglizardmusic.com
April 19th, 2009
Review of “The Best Picnic Ever”
by Clare Jarrett
Candlewick Press, May 2004
Hardcover, 32 pages
ISBN: 0763623709
Recommended Ages: Baby - Preschool
Review by Sherri Allen:
Take an ordinary picnic, add lots of whizzing, whooshing, tootling and lolloping, and you’ve got “The Best Picnic Ever,” an engaging children’s storybook by Clare Jarrett.
Jack and his mom go to the park for a picnic. After Jack wishes he had someone to play with, fanciful friends start appearing, ready to have fun.
Jarrett did an excellent job writing and illustrating “The Best Picnic Ever.” The story’s playful words are perfectly complemented by the lively colored-pencil drawings. I encourage you to share “The Best Picnic Ever” with your favorite picnic-loving preschooler.
About the Author
About the Reviewer:
Sherri Allen is the editor of an award-winning website devoted to topics such as family, food, garden, house&home and money. For free articles, information, tips, recipes, reviews and coloring pages, visit http://www.SherriAllen.com/
April 18th, 2009
Publishing Guidelines:
You may freely reprint this article in a print or online magazine, e-zine, or newsletter provided you leave the byline intact, don’t change the content (except for grammar/punctuation), and make The Dabbling Mum web address clickable. Feel free to insert your affiliate ID where applicable (i.e. product reviews/amazon).
You can even start a column in your publication using my free articles and reviews. Please consider sending a courtesy copy for my records. Send an email to dabblingmum@yahoo.com
Dewey Does
ABC-123 Publishing
2236 Victory Blvd., 2nd Floor
Staten Island, NY 10314
http://deweydoes.com
Thomas@deweydoes.com
First Day, Dewey Does 4th Grade
ISBN: 0-971147-9-3
In The Grove
ISBN: 0-9711474-7-7
The Comeback
ISBN: 0-9711474-6-9
While Dewey Does books are quick reads, they pack a BIG punch. Dewey shares his life, at a level all young children can relate to.
As we travel with Dewey, through his daily escapades, we’re transformed into an ideal world where friendships aren’t just born, but their nurtured. Each new day brings about a set of circumstances that teach young children about life: building friendships, trusting one another, growing from mistakes, learning to say “I’m sorry,” and the importance of communicating with adults.
As a mother, it was refreshing to find myself engrossed in each of these books, finding myself engulfed in the storyline and forgetful of the time. Whether you’re young at heart, or have a young child at home, Dewey Does books are a must readstart a new bedtime tradition with the Dewey Does series.
About the Author
Alyice Edrich is a freelance writer specializing in short product reviews for BUSY parents. Visit her online magazine, The Dabbling Mum (http://thedabblingmum.com), for no-hype home business ideas, writing tips, parenting advice and a way you can earn $50 in two hours!
April 18th, 2009
Those of you who enjoy riding all terrain vehicles as a sport know the wide spread competition among ATV racers. Some ATVers race their quads recreationally amongst their friends and others are much more serious racers. The serious ATV riders compete in races around the United States, some even around the world. These racers are most likely amateur or professional grade, meaning ATV racing is their life.
Along with dirt bikes, ATV quads are a type of motocross racing in most cases. Other ATV riders race in cross country competitions, such as the tournament in Las Vegas where riders race miles across the Mojave Desert. In the ATVing and off road racing world, there are many already well established annual competitions in places such as Arizona and California, just to name a few.
Each race, whether it is a traditional tournament or a newly established competition, will include a different ranking of racers. Some competitions are designated as professional races, where ATV riders are awarded the largest prizes of any competition for winning. Professional and high ranked competitions are, of course, the most popular, have the largest audience and contain the most rigorous racing trails.
From professional ATV racing, other types of tournaments taper down to amateur and recreational riders. All types of ATV racing competitions draw a large and diverse crowd of supporters and spectators. Racing ATVs is a very competitive sport among the participants, and even down to the smallest local races, riders are serious about their sport.
No matter how diverse the varying types of ATV races may be, the diversity within any given ATV competition is greater. Within each ATV tournament many different types of riders are involved. Whether it is a single race or a series of races, riders are classified into racing groups, which are the riders they will be competing against essentially.
The racing classifications are determined by different standards, depending on the rank of competition you are involved in. The type of ATV you drive, its capabilities and motor classification are the main determining factors in grouping ATV racers. In 2004 the standards and rules changed for which class you and your ATV fall in, and they will continue to change as administrators figure out what rules run the best races.
As a result of the multiple classifications of ATV riders, there may be several first place winners in a single race if several classifications are racing the same track at the same time. The classes of riders are only the beginning of diversity within a race. The multiple types, styles and designs of ATVs are reason for the different classes, which creates even more variety in the sport.
While the competition level among ATV racers is high, there are still those who are learning or they just enjoy racing recreationally. For these types of ATVers, you can find local trails or racing tracks. They will often coordinate ATV races with whatever riders are available and some tracks will plan a weekend tournament for all local riders.
About the Author
Mitch Johnson is a successful freelance author that writes regularly for http://www.atv-parts-n-accessories.com/ , a site that focuses exclusively on atv reviews, as well as tips on choosing parts and accessories. His articles have also been featured on recreational automotive sites such as http://www.go-cart-plans-n-kits.com/ and http://www.best-scooters-n-mopeds.com/
April 14th, 2009
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