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The Lowdown on Doctor Who Season 7

2012-01-25T00:07:00.000Z

Fans of the beloved show will be waiting extra-long this year before The Doctor returns to work more of his magic. The new season is scheduled for fall of 2012 and will be split in two parts, the second to air early in 2013. Producer Steven Moffat says that this delay is due to the fact that he does not wish to risk rushing the production and messing up this important 50th anniversary season. The season will include the 2012 Christmas special, though whether this is part of the reported 14-episode run or an addition to that is unknown. The airing of the Christmas special in the middle of a standard season will certainly present some interesting opportunities for the writers to make dynamic moves in the story arc.

A few things have been confirmed about what to expect with season 7. For one thing, Amy and Rory will definitely be leaving the show in what Moffat has described as a “heartbreaking” way. He has also stated that the new companion for the Doctor will be making their arrival, though who it happens to be is still up for debate. It is also known that River Song will be returning, though why or for how long remains to be seen.

While the list of definites is small, the number of rumors surrounding season 7 are seemingly endless. The return of various characters have been discussed or hinted at, including the Master, Captain Jack, Sophia Myles (of The Girl in the Fireplace) and James Cordon.

Nothing remains certain, but John Barrowman has said that he would return to the show in a heartbeat. Moffat also seems eager to bring him back. As for Cordon, he has expressed his desire to work on the show again, though nothing else has been confirmed as to whether he will be back. Myles has reportedly been in talks about her own return, and it looks like she will be involved in some regard.

Speculation as to who the new companion will be revolves around both Cordon and Myles, though Moffat has stated on several occasions that no new companion has of yet been signed. He has confirmed that some old classic Doctor Who villains will be showing up, though updated for the modern show. One creature said to be on that list is the Yeti.

Moffat has also said that it is unlikely there will be any two-part episodes during the new season, an unusual departure from the past. This could suggest one long story arc, or the use of the Christmas special as a major turning point.

Although Matt Smith keeps claiming he is going to storm American cinema and make his name there, he has not mentioned any desire to leave the show in the near future. More than a year remains before he will need to commit to an eighth season and a lot can change between now and then. Smith has, however oddly, expressed the desire for a wardrobe change, specifically mentioning leather, not what one might expect of The Doctor.

The filming of season 7 is set to begin in February of 2012 and will take an estimated 9 months to finish. This means that Moffat and the crew will still be filming even as the new season starts its run.

As stated before, season 7 marks the 50th anniversary of the Doctor and his journeys. Moffat has expressed “very ambitious plans” for this anniversary run which he describes as “Epic, huge, massive, indulgent…” Moffat has been shining brightly since taking over the helm from Russell T. Davies, and if his confidence is anything to measure by, season 7 could be one of the best Doctor Who runs ever.

Citations:

About today's Guest Writer:
Matt Warren owns the science fiction store Sci-Fi Stuff and is a life-long fan of Doctor Who. Among the top sellers at the store are items related to the series such as Doctor Who Shirts and toys.

From Books to The Big Screen: Novels as Movies

2012-01-24T17:45:00.000Z

Image via Wikipedia

Many people don’t like reading. Some think it is boring or too time-consuming. One of my favorite parts of reading is when they make a book I love into a movie. For all of you who haven’t heard the news, they are remaking the movie, The Great Gatsby. This book and the original movie are both classics. The new movie is starring Leonardo Dicaprio and Tobey Macguire. Books are not just boring literature. They are actually great stories that make good movies too.

Of Mice and Men
You may all remember this fine story. I remember reading it sophomore year of high school and wondering what in the world the meaning could be. It is about two men who are traveling together and start working on a farm. One of the main characters, Lenny, is slow and often makes minor mistakes that cause problems. This is a classic book and the movie is also well worth your time.

To Kill a Mockingbird
This is another old classic. To Kill a Mockingbird is an incredible novel by Harper Lee, also usually read in high school. The story follows two young siblings and their few encounters with a hermit neighbor. It also follows their father’s involvement in a trial of an innocent Black man. The story is meaningful and compelling. The movie is black and white but Gregory Peck did an amazing job portraying the father of the two youngsters.

The Help
A more recent book that was made into a move is called The Help. It was on the New York Times Bestseller list for over 100 weeks. It takes place back when many Black women were maids for White women in the South. Many of the women did not treat their help fairly back then. In this story a White woman, with the help of several Black help, write a book depicting some of the stories they have. It is a truly inspiring story that was also an amazing film.

Moneyball
This is another movie that is very recent and is still in theaters in many places. This movie was taken from the book called Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game. It is based on a true story. A man tries to make a winning baseball team purely through the stats on a computer. It is a risky move but he has faith that a new young coworker will help him succeed. It is inspiring and very influential.

We Bought a Zoo
This is the most recent movie on this list. This movie was taken from a memoir that a man named Benjamin Mee wrote. In this memoir, his wife dies of a brain tumor and Benjamin Mee decides to move his whole family to a bigger place. The movie focuses on the relationships between the father and his children. He does everything he can to keep the family together during this tragedy.

If books make great movies, don’t you think they also make great books as well? If you are interested in seeing a movie that is already a book, try reading it first. It will open your eyes to new insights when you do finally see the movie.

Image via irishartemis.deviantart.com

About today's Guest Writer:

Meagan Hollman is a writer for MyCollegesandCareers.com. My Colleges and Careers can be a very useful site for those considering online colleges.

12 Beautiful Places You've Never Heard Of

2012-01-21T15:17:00.001Z

What with all the travel deal search engines and the number of travel blogs that abound, one might think all the unknown exotic places are commonplace already. Not these 12 – we’ve put together THE list of the most beautiful locales you’ve not heard of that have not been explored to death.

Namje, Nepal

Location: Nepalese village at the foot of the Himalayas, no transport after Biratnagar except walking
Sights: The world’s fifth-tallest peak, Mount Makalu and the ancient spiritual traditions of Namje
Lodging And Food: Nearby Hotel Himalaya and local hospitality.
Activities: A visit to the ancient burial ground at Thumki Hill, trekking the footpaths between villages, viewing fabulous views, sunrises and sunsets.
Noted For: Remoteness, extreme beauty, cultural and technological isolation.

Tusheti, Georgia

Location: High in the hills of the Caucasus Mountains in Georgia, Russia.
Sights: Picturesque villages precariously placed on steep slopes, old defensive towers, stone shrines, mountaintop castles, stone-hewn hamlets and churches and houses decorated with lacy wood balconies.
Lodging and Food: Old castles now serve as hotels for lodging and food.
Activities: Exploring rolling grasslands, glacial lakes, white-water gorges and ridged peaks on foot or horseback, drinking local drinks such as chacha out of a ram's horn.
Noted For: Beauty, quaintness, historical intrigue and the old culture.

Iles De La Madeline, Senegal

Location: Two spiky outcroppings 2.5 miles off the Darkar coast in Senegal.
Sights: High cliffs, hidden lagoons and much to explore and watch.
Lodging and Food: No place for food and lodging, except at La Cabane du Pêcheur on the mainland.
Activities: Cliff climbing, swimming, boating, snorkeling, scuba diving, watching birds such as cormorants and red-billed tropic birds that nest in dwarf baobab trees.
Noted For: Rare birds, unique geography, remoteness and natural beauty.

Ohrid, Macedonia

Location: Located near Lake Ohrid, west of Resen and Bitola, near Albania.
Sights: Sveti Naum, a 10th-century monastery complex; 365 church chapels, great stretches of blue green water, a beautiful frescoed church
Lodging and Food: There are several hotels in Ohrid where travelers can stay.
Activities: Swimming, water activities on Lake Ohrid, exploring ancient churches and chapels
Noted For: Listed as a Cultural and Natural World Heritage site by UNESCO.

Sigulda, Latvia

Location: Located in the Vidzeme Region, close to Riga, capital city
Sights: Picturesque scenery, clear air, ski slopes, lovely castles and much more.
Activities: Skiing in the premier cross-country and downhill ski resort, bobsledding, balloon riding, cave exploring, bungee jumping and so on.
Lodging and Food: Popular tourist spot; lodging and food are available
Noted For: Beautiful ski slopes, year-around beauty. Sigulda is considered the Switzerland of Vidzeme.

Budva, Montenegro

Location: Budva is a coastal town in Montenegro
Sights: Beautiful beaches such as the Mogren beach nestled amidst 500 meter high cliffs, intriguing architecture and remnants of a 3500 year old history.
Activities: Cliff climbing, exploring, water sports, beach lounging and much more.
Lodging and Food: Notable town hotels are the Sveti Stefan and Miločer
Noted For: Mediterranean architecture, sandy beaches and exciting, diverse nightlife

Utrecht, Holland

Location: Located in Holland, capital city of the Netherlands
Sights: Early Middle Age structures, old churches, museums and cultural monuments.
Lodging and Food: Utrecht is a vibrant city, like Amsterdam; lodging and world cuisines are available.
Activities: Active cultural and nightlife, theaters, musical festivals, opera and art galleries
Noted For: The UNESCO world heritage site, the 1924 Rietveld Schröder House

Bruges, Belgium

Location: Bruges is the capital city of Flemish Belgium
Sights: 122.3 meter tall Church of Our Lady, Michelangelo’s Madonna and Child sculpture, 13th-century belfry with 48 bells.
Food and Lodgings: Plenty of hotels, resorts, bars, cafes and restaurants
Activities: City exploration, music concerts, theatre, museums
Noted For: City center listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its historical value.

Grotte Di Frasassi, Italy

Location: The Frasassi Caves are located in Genga, Ancona Province, Italy.
Sights: Beautiful karst cave system full of beautiful stalactites and stalagmites
Lodging and Food: Hotels in the civil parish of San Vittore a few miles away
Activities: Guided tours to the karst caves, rock climbing and trekking.
Noted For: Centuries old natural karst formations

Tallinn, Estonia

Location: Tallinn is Estonia’s capital city, located near the Gulf of Finland
Sights: Lower Town and Toompea for historical value and the Estonian Open Air Museum
Food and Lodging: Tallinn is a tourist spot now, food and lodging are available.
Activities: City exploration, viewing architectural marvels, participating in the local culture.
Noted For: Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Wuppertal, South Africa

Location: Located deep in the Cedarberg Mountains, South Africa
Sights: Hidden water holes, fabulous scenery, cottage homes on high terraces, and miles of open wilderness.
Lodging and Food: Several town cottages are available plus the Algeria Campground on the Rondegat River.
Activities: Wildlife spotting, trekking, exploring, hill climbing and so on.
Noted For: Sheer natural beauty, laid back local lifestyle

Lord Howe Island, Australia

Location: Located at a distance of two hours by air from Brisbane and Sydney, part of New South Wales,.
Sights: Crystal clear waters, coral reef border, colorful tropical and subtropical fish, turtles and other marine life.
Lodging And Food: There are many luxury lodges and fine dining establishments here.
Activities: Group and kids’ activities, tough hikes on Mt. Gower, bushwalks, scuba diving and much more.
Noted For: UNESCO World Heritage site, listed for extreme beauty and heritage value

About today's Guest Writer:

Teena is a writer for Adrenalin - an adventure gift idea company with more than 2,000 gifts for men across Australia and New Zealand.

Four Alan Moore Comics That'll Knock Your Head Back

2012-01-20T23:11:00.000Z

Alan Moore is a comic book writer often referred to as the best in history. Although a subjective statement this may be few can deny his talents, penning some of the most critically acclaimed and influential comic titles of the last 30 years. His revered status as an author isn't limited to inside the world of graphic story telling either, with Ethan Doyle-White, editor of Pentacle magazine stating that Moore is one of the 'most important British writers of the last 50 years'.

Although Moore's work is extensive we'll begin with four of his more famous titles that will give you a feeling for scope and flair of his work.

Image: Fimb

V for Vendetta (1982-1985)

Such is the influence and significance of his work that some 30 years after V for Vendetta was produced the mask that the lead character V wears throughout is now produced and worn globally. Helped by the film version of the tale protestors have taken V's Guy Fawkes inspired visage as a symbol of civil unrest and dissatisfaction with government policy. This is something Moore said 'pleased him'. The comic itself is aligned with similar, if slightly more dramatic concerns. Set in a near future London ruled by a totalitarian government, V takes the fight to them seeking to convince the masses to rise against their oppressors.

Watchmen (1986-1987)

Often cited as the greatest comic work ever created, Watchmen questions the superhero ideology while playing thematically on cultural anxieties of the time. The story is epic, painting a modern world in which superheroes have effectively been outlawed in the wake of helping to win the Vietnam War. However, a murder investigation brings them back to prominence and all set against the threat of nuclear war with the Soviet Union. Mind. Blowing.

From Hell (1991-1996)

From Hell is a whooping 572 pages of civilised terror that focuses on Jack the Ripper. The story takes accounts and factual details of the incidents surrounding the infamous murders, and speculates on who and why the notorious serial killer did what he did but within a fictional narrative. Expansive and melancholy to the last, From Hell is quite the grisly trip.

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (1999-present)

Being turned into a distinctly average film that famously ended the career of Sean Connery, he felt it was such an unpleasant experience he vowed not to work again, isn't fitting for such fine source material. Moore created The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen as a Justice League equivalent, but set in Victorian England. The result is an outstanding and complex merging of literary folklore and characters, lead by a post Dracula Mina Harker and aging Allan Quatermain, it's masterful.

Hopefully this will have given you a taste for the work of Alan Moore and, if things have gone really well, have you figuring where you can get your hands on one or all of the above titles. I suggest all good book shops... though be prepared to have that head knocked well and truly back!

About today's Guest Writer:
When Justin Andrews hasn't got his head buried in a comic he can be found researching the best in gifts and toys for the novelty gifts company, Find Me A Gift.

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The Top 5 Worst Fictional Locations To Have An Office

2012-01-11T14:31:00.000Z

Having an office space to rent office is something that a lot of businesses have to have and this doesn’t matter if it is an office based in London or something like an office in Sunderland, they are needed for a successful business. Although there are some parts of the real world where a business would not like to have an office situated, there are many more locations in the world of fiction that people would hate to have an office, here are just 5 of my favourites.

Gotham City

As much as I love all things Batman related and would love to be around to observe some of the villains at work (especially Killer Croc and The Joker) I just don’t think that setting up an office in the middle of Gotham is a good business decision to make. What with villains constantly blowing everything up and the city always being in some form of economic recession it just doesn’t seem like a very good move to me.

Did I mention that the city is either run by disturbing villains or the mob; it is never actually in a good state! On the other hand, if you could get financial backing from Bruce Wayne then perhaps you would be onto a winner. If you are company that specialises in creating state of the art technology then you would certainly get an investment, for some reason Wayne likes this kind of stuff, who knows why?

Elm Street

If the streets of Gotham weren’t enough to put you off of fictional office locations then how does a suspected child molester turned serial killer that hunts you in your dreams sound? Did I mention he has an incredibly scarred face, knife gloves and is dead? Oh and the worst part about him, the really dodgy Dennis The Menace stripy jumper!

You should be okay working in an office as long as you don’t fall asleep on the job, then you really will be in a (dream) world of pain!

Any City In The GTA Series

What’s wrong with some of the streets from the popular video game series GTA I hear you all asking. Well nothing most of the time but the problem is you never know what’s going to happen! If you are stuck indoors all day then you are fine as for some reason the main protagonist cannot get into simple office buildings. On the other hand, if you think you can escape by walking home then you are in for some trouble.

At any given moment you could be shot, run over, hit with a baseball bat and even chain sawed in half! If you think that public transport is the way forward then you are wrong as busses can be hijacked, trains derailed and don’t even get me started on the subway! Depending on what game you have your office in; you could even get killed by a Harrier Jet missile or a sweeping attack from someone on a jet-pack!

Any Disney Film

I am not going to start this section with any form of hate or dislike to Disney, in fact I wouldn’t be the person I am today without them, I love you Disney! On the other hand, I couldn’t imagine working in an office in one of the worlds that they have created. Although to begin with you will enjoy the happiness of everyone and the constant singing, you will be sick and tired of it after a couple of hours and will be begging for an old hag with a red apple to turn up, for you!

Any James Bond Villain Hideout

Although it would be insanely cool to work in the middle of a hollowed out volcano or in a space station for a villainous organisation (are Google in space yet?) there is just one problem with working for a James Bond villain… they always die and the base always ends up exploding and killing everyone (apart from Bond and his bit on the side for that movie).

Do yourself a favour and don’t ever work for a Bond villain, unless you have the skills it takes to be one of the few villains that appears in two movies and ends up falling in love and saving Bond in space… the Roger Moore days really did get a bit too farfetched didn’t they?

So there you have it, would you want to work in any of these fictional locations, if so… why?

About today's Guest Writer:

Ryan loves working in an office but would certainly not like to work in any of these fictional locations, would you?

Top Five Movies I Watched Over The Holidays

2012-01-11T13:42:00.000Z

With Christmas a distant memory and the remnants of candied yam just about shifted from the baking dish, I want to tell you about some of the all-important movies that I watched over the holidays.

The five crackers below are all a little off-center but represent the essence of fun, humor and excitement that can often be found severely lacking come the big day itself.

So, sit back with a glass of something warming and peruse the following fare that I can guarantee will have you laughing, crying and smiling wider than the Tim Burton balloons at the 2011 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Rare Exports (2010)
Scandinavian folklore is rife with dark legends and this modern-day Finnish masterpiece, based on the 2003 short film Rare Exports Inc, is a well-crafted and amusing story which will have you battening down the hatches come the holidays.

Plot:
When a scientist decides to blow up the Korvatunturi Mountains and excavate to almost 500 meters there’s more than one reason for naughty children to care whether they’ve been bad or good.

As reindeers and then children start to go missing local herders decide to lay a trap for whatever beast is responsible.

One family catches the culprit, the real Santa Claus, and instead of letting him go they decide to sell him to the scientist in charge of the archaeological mountain dig.

However, as we all know, Santa doesn’t work alone and nothing will stop his elves in their quest to free their master.

Summary:
If you like your Christmas tales with a touch of bloodied reindeer then look no further than this fast-becoming cult classic.

Gremlins (1984)
This mischievous 80’s favorite centers upon: what not to buy your son for Christmas and why you shouldn’t always assume that your girlfriend has fond memories of Santa coming down the chimney.

Plot:
A cute and furry pet purchased in Chinatown should be the perfect gift from a father to a son however, when important instructions on how to look after Mogwais are ignored: all hell breaks loose.

Keep away from sunlight
Don’t feed after midnight
Don’t get wet

With a changing speed of cute to nasty in under 5 seconds Mogwais, aka Gremlins, wreak chaos and mayhem on small town America.

Summary:
Always follow instructions and don’t think that pets stay cute and fluffy forever.

The Nightmare before Christmas (1993)
The magical world of Tim Burton is brought to life in this charming stop-motion musical that introduces romance and excitement to an array of enchanting characters.

From shrunken heads to a gambling bogeyman, this is a beautiful production that can be enjoyed by all the family.

Plot:
In Halloween Town it’s Halloween every day of the year, that is until the Pumpkin King, Jack Skellington, stumbles upon a Christmas tree shaped doorway in the forest.

Jack becomes obsessed with all things festive and decides to take over Christmas for a year much to the protests of Santa who is subsequently kidnapped by a trio of devilish children.

With Christmas gifts being delivered by a red and white clad skeleton and a worm-infested bogeyman threatening to burn Mr Claus, it’s left to Sally the rag doll and Jack Skellington himself to save the day.

Summary:
A dark yet delightful tale all about the good, the bad and the ugly but it’s up to you to decide which is which.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

This festive offering from National Lampoon is an absolute belter packed full of slap-stick, one-liners and an inordinate amount of Griswold buffoonery.

Consistently voted in Christmas movie top tens, and one of the last of the great movies from the Lampoon stable, get ready to laugh your baubles off.

Plot:
Clark, Ellen, Rusty and Audrey (Juliette Lewis) are joined by a succession of weird and wonderful family members who endeavor to push them from the path of having a good-old-fashioned family Christmas.

With a house decorated to near collapse and a Christmas bonus snatched away before his very eyes, Clark tries his best to hold everything together against ever increasing odds.

Despite getting locked in the attic, a power company turning on its nuclear generator and a SWAT team being called out, everything comes right in the end – sort of.

Summary:
Like National Lampoon’s Vacation but set in Chicago. At Christmas.

Trading Places (1983)
If only they still made films like this! Social upheaval, corporate greed and a Christmas tale that’s as poignant and relevant today as it is completely and utterly hilarious.

Compared to Twain’s the ‘Prince and the Pauper’ this is an absolute Christmas cracker that proves that money can’t buy you happiness but it certainly helps.

Plot:
It’s Christmas and two wealthy brothers, Mortimer & Randolph Duke, decide to make a wager at the expense of their managing director, Lewis Winthrope III (Dan Aykroyd), and a homeless grifter, Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy).

After framing Winthrope and instating Valentine in his place, the Duke Brothers watch as their former director falls into a spiral of despair whereas Valentine positively revels in his new found role as a commodities broker.

Winthrope befriends a prostitute (Jamie Lee Curtis) and slowly his misfortune turns around until finally he manages to overthrow the Dukes and make himself and his new friends rich in the process.

Summary:
Aykroyd, Murphy and Curtis at the top of their game.

About today's Guest Writer:

Chris is a lover of all things TV from Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to Bing Crosby’s White Christmas!

Tracking Jack Bauer On An African Gap Year

2012-01-10T15:43:00.000Z

Jack’s back! At least he will be soon. Jack Bauer, the hero, or anti-hero depending on which way you look at it (but I know which way I look at it!) of hit TV series 24 will be returning to our screens in the not too distant future. This year, shooting for the long promised film version of the addictive series will finally begin. And I’ve finally worked out that if I’m going to find him in the meantime I will have to volunteer abroad. It makes perfect sense. Last time we saw Jack he was given a chance to disappear – again - so where will he go? He’ll go and hide and assume a new identity, silly.

If your grip on reality isn’t quite as tenuous as mine you might still consider the options of travelling abroad and taking part in voluntary projects. You can absorb the culture, broaden your horizons and grow as a person, and if you happen to come across a certain ex-CTU operative while doing so, all the better.

Last time he escaped, Jack emerged somewhere in Africa helping out underprivileged children so that has to be a good place to start. Although, as I recall, with Jack Bauer, there’s guaranteed to be some sort of trouble. Anyway, how about Swaziland? It’s one of the smallest countries in Africa, meaning it’ll be easier to search, but it also really needs as much voluntary help as possible.

A high percentage of children in Swaziland live in orphanages due to the high mortality rates caused by HIV and AIDS, and spending some time volunteering here will provide some much needed hope to the people of one of the world’s poorest countries. Plus, not only will it put things in perspective, but if you’re like me it might help you to regain that grip on reality.

Teaching the children maths and basic English while you’re there will greatly help improve their prospects for finding a job and working their way out of poverty, and while it’s hard work in the week, the weekends give you the chance to go horse riding, mountain biking or immersing yourself in the culture. If you’re really exhausted at the end of it all, there are longer breaks available to St Lucia or Mozambique.

Staying in Africa – and still living in hope of finding Kiefer Sutherland’s doppelganger – for the more practical out there, head to Kenya. Do something useful and join in one of the community building projects, helping the poverty stricken people of Nakuru. Building a house properly is a painstaking and steady process so depending on the length of your stay you may not get to see the final results of your efforts. Expect to work for up to six hours a day too.

But again, it’s not all hard work and no play. Regular trips on a Kenyan bus, or a matatu, will be an enlightening and fun experience and probably more reliable than your local bus company in England! You may also want to visit Lake Nakuru National Park on your weekends off and see some of the incredible wildlife on display. There’s also the Menengai Crater close by, a thankfully dormant volcano, and don’t forget, Kenya is the perfect place for a safari. Just keep a close eye on the guys running the building project - one of them may just be Jack! And please let me know if you spot him.

I know the old saying that you should never work with children and animals but you know we have to look after both. Try spending time in South Africa and caring for lions, cheetahs and tigers on a real big cat experience. This is not for the squeamish; preparation of the meat for feeding time can be quite a gory experience. It’s also a physically demanding project so be prepared for some long, exhausting but ultimately rewarding days.

So that’s my gap year sorted. All planned to coincide with Jack’s until the new movie comes out. In the meantime, I’ll do my best to track him down – and do some good in the process of course! There’s only one thing that baffles me. As it’s only a two hour film, are they going to call it 2?

About today's Guest Writer:
Leonie is a huge 24 fan with a passion for travelling and sharing her global experiences online.

Harrison Ford Carved His Career Out of Wood

2012-01-09T15:37:00.002Z

Money in the bank, weeks off to spend time idling around on boats moored at exotic locations and if that’s too much, then go back to work where assistants fawn all over you while catering to your each and every need. Now that’s the life of a star. Harrison Ford slogged like the other 99% of the planet’s inhabitants to make an income and then he became a star, quite by accident. His life turned into one where lifting a finger to do your own bidding is as uncommon as full-cream ice-cream shops on Rodeo Drive.

Harrison’s early career

Anyone who’s a Harrison Ford fan knows that his movie career was an extremely slow starter. Appearing in several movies with only bit parts to fan his career his star was floundering before it had even taken off. He initially wanted to do radio voice-overs, but failed to get the job he applied for, so he signed up with Columbia Pictures. His first few movie roles didn’t afford him any accreditation, which made him despondent, so he became a self-taught carpenter in order to support his family.

As a carpenter Harrison Ford could’ve designed and built executive suites Austin, but he continued to share his carpentry skills with fellow Hollywood tenants, and it was clearly quite positive for his career. After the success of The Godfather, Francis Ford Coppola hired Harrison Ford to expand his office and then proceeded to hire Ford as a part actor in two of his upcoming movies; Apocalypse Now and The Conversation.

Harrison’s moving on up

Continuing work as a carpenter Harrison Ford was hired as a stagehand for The Doors. His carpentry skill was still quite popular with the Hollywood set and he was commissioned to build cabinets at George Lucas’ home. Lucas offered Ford an accredited role in his movie, American Graffiti, which was a further notch on Ford’s acting resume.

Ford was hired again by George Lucas to read lines for actors Lucas was auditioning for roles in his Star Wars movies. Portraying his character so well, Lucas hired Ford to play Han Solo, and Star Wars went on to become one of the most successful movies of all time. Harrison Ford didn’t start his career in an office for rent he initially modelled and built the cabinets and doors for them. Now, he’s one of the stars even our children’s kids won’t forget. Who could possibly forget Han Solo, or Indiana Jones? That’s showbiz.

About today's Guest Writer

Dave Tucker is a big Harrison Ford fan and enjoys writing about movies.

The Biggest Celebrity Animal Rights Advocates

2012-01-06T12:40:00.000Z

Animal rights is a worthy cause, whether it is for the humane treatment of animals or gaining exposure to the many lives of pets that can be saved. While every bit of support can help, major players help bring more awareness to the cause, especially those with high-profile media coverage like American celebrities. Check out some of the biggest celebrities who support and advocate for animal rights.

Sarah McLaughlin

Sarah McLaughlin is an amazing singer and songwriter with many chart topping. One of her most well known songs, Angel, not only climbed the charts when she initially released it, but has also become a very well known commercial for animal rights. Sara McLaughlin’s Angel is the theme for an ASPCA public service announcement that dictates visual images of the abused, sad and lonely animals that are taken in by the ASPCA and how just spare change can help make a difference for the lives of these animals. This public service announcement has helped the organization raise more than $30 million since 2006. Since her debut public service announcement Sara McLaughlin has released two more versions, one in 2008 featuring her sing Silent Night and another in 2009 featuring her song Answer.

Rachel Ray

In effort to reduce the amount of abandoned and abused animals that are placed in shelters, Rachel Ray has created a website that is dedicated to animals. She has featured information on proper nutrition and has developed her own brand of pet food! Her website raises awareness with her fans about organizations that make a difference for animals. A portion of proceeds made from her pet food goes to support these organizations which are:

North Shore Animal League America – that is the largest no-kill animal adoption and rescue organization in the world.
Bad Rap – an organization that helps educate people on American Pit Bull Terriers and their place as a beloved family pet
America’s Vet Dogs

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie isn’t just a humanitarian; she is also an avid supporter of animal rights. Together with Brad Pitt, they have donated $2 million to help support and conserve wildlife in their daughter Shiloh’s native country Namibia. The organization that benefited from this large donation was the Naankuse Lodge and Wildlife Sanctuary in Namibia. It’s also reported that Angelina Jolie has requested her films to use fake fur for her wardrobe and ensured no animals were harmed during her collaboration with Akris in designing a handbag. Humane animal treatment is always a concern for Angelina Jolie.

Pamela Anderson

Pamela Anderson is notably one of the most serious and devoted when it comes to animal rights. Pamela consistently supports PETA and has been a vegan since she was a teenager. Pamela Anderson has been a strong supporter of PETA and has participated in numerous campaigns, many of which focused on not wearing fur. In 2003 and 2006 Pamela Anderson stripped naked for the campaign, “I’d Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur.” PETA has awarded Pamela Anderson with a humanitarian award for her work. Anderson has also campaigned against Kentucky Fried Chicken for their treatment of chickens and helped spur the fruit-juice label POM in ceasing all animal testing.

About today's Guest Writer:
Dr. Susan Wright DMV is a practicing veterinarian of more than 10 years. Dr. Wright has written many articles proper pet care and animal advocacy. Susan is the staff expert on dog containment systems for DogFenceDIY.com

How to Start a Career Even During a Recession

2012-01-03T22:21:00.000Z

Cover of Paris Hilton

Everyone needs a job. To pay rent or a mortgage, buy groceries and cover all of life’s other expenses – a job is imperative. Unless you are Paris Hilton or some other Beverly Hills socialite, this is the reality most of us live in.

But jobs can frequently be low paying, time consuming and even demeaning. Boiled down, they offer little more than a paycheck. A career, on the other hand, increases self-worth through a combination of salary and personal rewards.

In other words, a career can feed your soul not just your pocket book. And that’s why rewarding careers are wrought with the type of competition that weeds out all but the best candidates. This scenario can become even more difficult to navigate in a recession when companies on a widespread level are downsizing or freezing hiring.

This doesn’t mean there’s no point in trying to secure a career. But it pays to be smart about it and play your best hand every time. To do that, you’ll need to understand how to get noticed and impress hiring agents.

Here’s how to do it:

One of the best ways to build a proper foundation on which to start a career is still to continue your education past high school. Colleges and universities are certainly fine options, but not the only game in town. Technical and specialty schools are also viable alternatives for students with limited resources.
Internships are a great way to get your foot in the door of an organization. While these short-term (and frequently volunteer-based) positions may pay in some cases, they are typically intended to provide the types of hands-on experiences that complement an associated academic experience.
Consider investing in a recruiting service to help your cause jump to the next level. Organizations like Modis IT Recruitment Services work tirelessly on the behalf of their clients to secure the introductions and interviews that are a necessity in competitive career fields.
A less , but highly effective, component of any career search should be networking. Whether conducted in person through trade groups and other niche organizations or by utilizing the broader reach of various social media platforms, networking remains an essential activity if you want to meet like-minded people who could introduce career opportunities.
Finally, get out there and go for it. No career opportunity will come knocking on your door. They have to be sought and seized. Confidence and perseverance are key traits that every career seeker should exhibit freely. Try and fail. Then learn from your mistakes. Eventually, the effort will pay off – even in a recession.

What To Do If Your Android Is Lost

2012-01-02T20:40:00.000Z

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

You’ve made a purchase of a smart phone and done your best to protect it. But despite all your efforts, something has gone wrong and it’s now lost. If you’ve ever found yourself in this scenario, you know the creeping dread that rises quickly upon the realization that the device you’ve come to depend on like an old friend is somewhere it’s not supposed to be.

Distress grows into panic as you come to grips with the fact that you’re not only facing the loss of a considerable investment and vital communication link, but the very real possibility that personal information may be gone too – or worse.

In this situation, everything from emails and text messages to contact’s phone numbers, pictures, videos and maybe even passwords for other devices and accounts could be compromised and perhaps even used for nefarious purposes.

Android owners; however, can relax. There are options that may bring your phone home; or, if that’s not possible, at least lessen the negative impact. Here’s what to do if your Android is lost:

Go to “Plan B.” This free application that can be remotely accessed by computer at the Android Marketplace (market.android.com) is literally capable of saving the day. Once the app is downloaded, it will send GPS-based location updates to the Gmail account you linked to the phone during activation. Plan B’s developers tout the application – that received nearly 1,000 “5 star” reviews on the marketplace website – as the only tracking software that can be installed after the phone is already lost.

If you’re fortunate enough to get your phone back with the use of Plan B, make sure you don’t make the same mistake twice. Next time, you might not be as lucky.

Once you’ve recovered your device, go to the Android Market and download “Android Lost.” This application – which will only work if you register the phone beforehand – allows you to remotely control your Android phone to locate it, forward calls, sound the phone’s alarm (helpful if you know it’s somewhere close), lock the phone and erase the SD card or all of the phone’s data.

Another good precaution that can help thwart unwanted eyes from accessing your Android phone’s data is to set up a pass code that must be entered before the phone is usable. It won’t help find the phone if once it’s lost, but it can buy valuable time in the event of such an emergency.

What's the Right Toolbar For You?

2012-01-02T06:13:00.000Z

With so many toolbars from trustworthy providers available these days, it's difficult to know which one is right for you. First, it's important to note that not all toolbars are crafted equal. There are standard toolbars that will block pop-ups and give you easy access to new Web content. There are also toolbars specifically designed to help the user in downloading video or other similarly specific functions. Finally, there are toolbars you'll want to avoid at all cost, such as adware toolbars that can infect your PC and lead to computer crashes or identity theft.

Standard Toolbar

Image via Flickr

Many of the biggest names in search engines offer their own toolbars to aid in web searches. Features of these toolbars typically include the ability to fill out forms with one click, one-click access to your e-mail, local traffic and weather information. You can also save searches and webpages and get quick and easy access to staple sites like eBay and Facebook. For instance, the Zugo toolbar will connect you to Facebook or Twitter with just one click.

Video Toolbar

This video toolbar is pretty self-explanatory. It allows the user to download video files with one easy click, though you have to use your own video player or download one. The downside of the video toolbar is a lack of access to some of the things mentioned above with standard toolbars. All you can really do with these is download video. You can find these toolbars available for a free download with the typical video toolbar about 6.0 MB in size. It's also possible to have overlapping toolbars, one on top of the other, to combine the features of a standard toolbar with a video toolbar.

Adware Toolbar

Image via Wikipedia

This is the toolbar you absolutely want to avoid. These are usually installed accidentally, and if used, the toolbar will begin to track all your Internet searches and movements. Your search habits are transmitted to a main hub of sorts where ads designed to target your habits are transmitted back to you. There are a whole slew of these adware toolbars, and most of them will claim to give protection for your computer as they do anything but protect. These toolbar installations will result in endless pop-ups and invasion of privacy, so remove them as quickly as possible if you think you've got one on your computer.

Toolbars are a great way to organize your favorite websites in one convenient place. The trick is to familiarize yourself with the basic functions and be on alert for excessive pop-ups, especially those which seem to target your exact surfing habits. Remember, you're not stuck with any particular toolbar, and they are typically very easy to uninstall.

5 Reasons Your Business Needs an Online Fax Service

2012-01-01T17:00:00.000Z

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Faxing documents is an essential component of most businesses. And, even if it isn’t, at least having the capability to send and receive faxes should be a priority. But for small and large companies alike, having a fax machine can be a cumbersome and expensive prospect – especially if the device isn’t used on a regular enough basis to justify the space and revenue consumed.

This is not to say companies have no alternative. Online fax services are a viable option for ensuring the ability to reliably send documents electronically. From space-saving attributes to security and cost effectiveness, here are the top 5 reasons every business can benefit from an online fax service:

Customization – Most fax services allow plans to be catered to the specific business’ needs. This scalable feature can be ramped up to accommodate increased need or reduced accordingly. Some services also include special voice mail and virtual assistant features.

Cost-effectiveness – Because online fax services carry no substantial start-up costs; or ongoing expenses such as electricity, paper, toner, ink and maintenance/repair – there are considerable cost savings to be accrued.

Space savings – This feature is especially important for small businesses that operate from space-challenged office environments. Why buy a bulky fax machine when every process can be accomplished from any Internet connection. Some Internet-based options even allow you to photograph documents on your phone and text or email them to the service for faxing.

No requirement for a dedicated phone line – If your business doesn’t have the deep pockets needed to host a dedicated fax line and you can’t afford to have available phone lines tied up with incoming or outgoing faxes, an online service may be for you. When you factor in the ability to filter junk faxes with an online service, the increased functionality is even more apparent.

Ease of use – Sending a fax through an online service is about as complicated as sending an email and it takes about as long to accomplish. Forget about the frustration of trying to send a fax only to have it bounce back because of some technical difficulty.

Online fax services are just another way the Internet has dramatically increased the functionality of everyday business activities. When you consider the significant benefits available from cost savings to ease of use, there really is no reason to rely on the increasingly antiquated physical fax machine.

The World’s Strangest Homes

2011-12-30T08:21:00.001Z

For some people, a home is nothing more than a place to sleep on a night. For others, it’s a place to lovingly decorate, carefully furnish, and show off to their friends. There are, however, a handful of people who will never be satisfied with oak doors and deep, lush carpets. For these well-to-do home owners, architecture matters, and form is sometimes placed above function. Check out the following five strange – but gorgeous – homes.

The Leaf House

This gorgeous house in Angra do Reis, Brazil features a roof shaped like a giant flower with six petals. The house comes complete with a swimming pool and a small, stocked pond. The house has been designed to maximise free space, avoiding the waste of building hallways. The house is close to the beach, and has been designed so that the refreshing sea breeze can easily pass through.

Everingham Rotating House

This interesting octagonal home can be rotated a full 360 degrees with the touch of a button. A full rotation can take anything from 30 minutes to a few hours. Geo-thermal heating keeps the house at a steady temperature, and, even more impressively, the cost of the project was on a par with the cost of a standard static home of the same size.

Subterra Castle

You won’t find any oak doors or bay windows in this house. Ed Pedin purchased a defunct missile silo in Kansas in 1980s, and turned it into a home. One of the biggest challenges of transforming the silo into a house was pumping out the rain water that accumulated in the silo while it had been abandoned.

Bubble Castle

Proving that Europeans have an eye for design, Antti Lovag created Bubble Castle, a bulbous compound that looks like a cross between an alien landscape and a field of mushrooms. With ceiling and wall window portals and curved walls, this interesting structure melds well with the rock outcroppings that surround it, and has already been deemed a historic monument by France’s Ministry of Culture.

The Free Spirit Sphere

The Free Spirit Sphere is a spherical hanging living space. The designers of the spheres, Tom and Rosy Chudleigh, have built several spherical living spaces for customers from all over the world. The Chudleighs themselves have two hanging spheres on their property. The spheres come with plumbing, electricity, and insulation, and are big enough that they should be quite comfortable to sleep in. They do apparently rock in the wind, though, so they might not be the best choice for people who live on top of a hill.

There are lots of unique homes out there. Some look quite cosy and comfortable, others might be a little too rustic for the average homeowner. We’re not likely to see a global move to rotating houses or rocking spheres any time soon, but there’s some great environmental lessons to be learned from these intrepid architects. If we can make the move to low impact living on a global scale, that will only be a good thing.

About today's Guest Writer:

This article was written by Amy Fowler on behalf of UK Oak Doors, suppliers of oak doors and skirting boards. Amy is interested in everything that's weird and wonderful!

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Servicing Your Spaceship

2011-12-29T07:39:00.000Z

Picture the scene. It’s 2575 and you’ve taken your ship out for a spin around Jupiter. There’s a light flashing in the cockpit, and you’re not sure what it means. Worried that you’ll need to ask for the space equivalent of a jump-start next time you need to take off, you decide it’s time for a service.

Not all of us have a Wookiee that owes us a life-debt and is happy to follow us around the galaxy repairing the hyperdrive. So, for those of us that have to make our own repairs, here’s a few tips:

Check the seals: Space is a vacuum. If you have an air leak, things will get ugly fast.
Watch your reactor: Your reactor core must be properly shielded. If it’s not, you’re exposing yourself to highly toxic radiation. If that thought doesn’t concern you, take a look in the mirror. Do you have open wounds, piercings, and unkempt hair? Do you fancy snacking on your crewmates? You could be turning into a Reaver…
Time for a space-walk: The only people allowed to have bits hanging off their ships are the Matari. If you’ve no idea where New Eden is, then you’re living in a different universe, and should maintain your ship correctly. For this, you’ll need some heavy-duty welding equipment. Get yourself to the nearest space dock, and prepare for some slow, tedious work.
Check your tanks: Not all space-craft carry Oxygen on board, some modern models recycle existing air indefinitely. Check your ship’s manual and make sure that your system is ticking over properly.
Tune your communication system: Even if your communication system seems to be working OK, it could be interfering with other ships. Spend a few minutes to make sure it is properly tuned, just as a courtesy.
Fix your landing gear: Did you get caught in the crossfire last time you landed outside that dodgy Lunar Night Club? Your landing gear might need a few tweaks. Get out the profile cutting and welding equipment, and make sure your gear can move smoothly and freely.
Update your navigation computer: Have you ever come out of hyperdrive in the middle of a planet? Of course you haven’t. If you had, you’d be dead. Make sure you never experience the horror of a bad jump by updating your navigation computer every time new maps come out.
A lick of paint: That new solar energy absorbing paint is good stuff. It protects your ship from micro-particle damage, and saves on engine power too. Next time you’re in dock for a couple of days, treat your ship to a spray job.
Top up your repair kits: Smoking conduits aren’t usually a sign of imminent engine failure, but they sure smell bad. Check your stock of repair kits, and top them up if necessary.
Stock your med bay: Or, if your ship is a single person craft, stock your first-aid kit. You might think it’s overly paranoid, but it can take a long time for a rescue craft to reach you if you’re in the far reaches of space. Some liquid skin and bacta could save your life.

About today's Guest Writer:
This post post was written by James Harper on behalf of Westermans International who supply welding equipment including profile cutting machinery. James loves technology and can't wait to own his own spaceship.

UK: A Guide to 'Sing-a-Long' Musicals

2011-12-28T07:23:00.000Z

Image via Wikipedia

This is a short guide to 'Sing-a-long' Musicals in London's West End. If you enjoy a good 'Sing-a-long' musical then these are the names to seek out! If you are traveling, the musical theatre is an amazing thing to take in, while you stay in London town. They are equally great, if you reside near or in London locally. So many are the reasons to attend the live London theatre.

These are some sound suggestions, if you are not familiar with the London West End scene. These are both for the seasoned theatre goer and the uninitiated audience member. If you enjoy a good 'Sing-a-long' musical, all of these are recommended.

The Stars of 2011

2011 was dazzling for the stage theatre in London. A short recap for those who missed last year, but still might want to catch these. During 2011, London's West End had great runs of shows like The Jersey Boys, The Lion King and Shrek the musical. Each is rerunning during the year somewhere in the London East End. The 2011 season was something of magic, but so are the productions for the coming 2012 seasons as well.

What 2012 Holds

Here are some of the offerings for 2012. There is nothing like seeing a production live on the London stage and 2012 promises to be a year of powerful performances. Tried, true and successful productions of Mamma Mia, Thriller-Live, Singing In The Rain have been keeping the 2012 season alive. If you are looking for a show that is seasoned and fun for an evening, these are the shows to see. Mamma Mia has Abba's flair from Europe. Thriller-Live has Michael Jackson's legacy on stage for all. Singing in the Rain brings the American classic movie to life on stage. 2012 is riding high on the hit productions as they stand.

Still remakes of the Wizard of Oz, Ghost the Musical and Legally Blonde that seem to be drawing the crowds. Each is growing in following and are viable alternatives to the standard theatre hits this year. Interesting new editions of the Nutcracker, the Snowqueen and Cinderella are also doing well with audiences. If you are looking for something more traditional and less American, these might be your productions of choice.

This is only a short guide to 'Sing-a-long' Musicals in London's West End is not complete. There are many shows annually, all throughout the year. If you are traveling, you should check ahead for what is in production in the London theatre this season. If you are living in or close to London, then there is no excuse for missing these great shows, while they last. 2012 is sure to be a great year for 'Sing-a-long' Musicals in London's West End.

Michael Jackson (Image via RottenTomatoes.com)

If you're interested in seeing one of the best 'sing-a-long' musicals of 2012, find Wizard of Oz, Jersey Boys and Mamma Mia tickets online at LSBO.

There's Something About Monsters...

2011-12-25T18:17:00.000Z

Throughout cinema history, our screens have been stalked by a generous selection of infamous and recognisable ghoulish and ghastly creatures. Be it the original creature of the night 'Nosferatu' or the early 1941 imagining of 'The Wolf Man', these creatures have stood the test of time and have provoked enough screams over the years to establish 'horror' as a successful genre in its own right. As time progressed, the beats did too; 'Frankenstein’s monster', 'The Thing from the Black Lagoon' and 'Liza Minnelli' terrified audiences worldwide; and giving horror fans an insatiable thirst for more.

The Next Step

As with all forms or artistic experimentation and expression, horror films became much more controversial and gutsy as the yeas passes. Through the 60's and 70's, horror films ventured a little further afield to horrify and offend audiences; renowned ‘classics’ such as ‘The Exorcist’ (1973) saw gruesome scenes involving demonic possession of a child which saw her using extreme profanity, self-harming, projectile vomiting and her body becoming damaged and twisted as the film progresses. It is films such as these which have kept horror fans on the edge of their seats; even in times which audiences feel what they are seeing is ‘too much’, horror has certainly delivered when it comes to upsetting viewers and giving them what they came for – ‘unexpected terror’.

These recognisable creatures have changed in appearance throughout time, but their purpose and function have always remained the same – to terrify. The vampire that preys in the night, the wolf man that stalks the countryside and the tortured souls who haunt the living are but a few of the recognisable ghouls that we have seen re-imagined again and again over the years.

Modern Monsters

It is only in recent years however, that we have seen a trend in films applying our beloved horror monsters in a new light; applying vampires and werewolves to teen heartthrob actors and actresses in films such as the successful ‘Twilight’ series, and taming these creatures to become little more than ‘an edge’ to a particular character. We have seen alien creatures become surprisingly attractive in films such as ‘I am Number Four’, and the previously mentioned ‘Twilight’ shows the usually savage and unremorseful werewolf as more of a sizable husky. Many fans feel the writers and directors of these modern re-imaginings should be on the hunt for criminal defence solicitors after the murder of such renowned and infamous creatures.

Genuinely good horrors these days are few and far between and the proper application of the classic horror characters has not been displayed regularly for some time. With modern audiences who are interested in excessive gore and remakes of popular horror series’ (the ‘Saw’ series is a good example here) could it be that our classic horror characters are being forgotten? Or are they simply waiting for their time to come again?

About today's Guest Writer:
This article was written on behalf of Gray & Co Criminal Defence Solicitors by Daniel Travis - Brown. Follow him on Twitter @DanTravisBrown

Trade Unions in the Age of Social Media

2011-12-25T17:45:00.000Z

Just as social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are changing commerce, politics, religion, and even romance, so they are having an impact on the world of labor relations, including the formation and activities of trade unions. This could, and over the next decade or so probably will, reinvigorate the flagging labor movement, but not in traditional and familiar forms.

Unions are using social media to keep their members informed about negotiations and to solicit ideas from their members. The result is a more inclusive and bottom-up and less top-down structure to the union, just as improved communication is having a similar effect on other institutions in society. But the real change comes when workers begin to spontaneously organize using these new tools in ways that bypass the union leadership and the formal structure of organized labor altogether.

The term “social network unionism” has been coined to describe the changes that social media are bringing to the labor movement, enhancing peer-to-peer exchanges and horizontal organization at the expense of hub-to-rim one-way communication and vertical organization. Suddenly, making use of social media, workers have the ability to generate organizations of their own, on their own, bypassing the formal structure of established unions. Such informal networks of workers tend not to make distinctions between full- and part-time workers and to ignore the formal union’s structure of leadership, while bringing worker aims and grievances into view that might otherwise have been ignored. This budding transformation has not been much remarked on in the old news media, and the results are likely to take many people by surprise just as the sudden eruption of the Occupy Wall Street movement did, and for the same reason: because they do not see the underlying new-media connections that give it birth.

This development has the potential to be just as powerful as the sit-down strike activity of the 1930s. At that time, workers in steel, automotive, and other industries spontaneously developed the tactic of “sitting down” on the factory floor during a strike. With workers holding down the factory rather than picketing it on the outside, the owners were prevented from bringing in strikebreakers to replace the striking workers. The tactic was not created by the formal unions, and most unions were slow to endorse it. It was also illegal, as a judge’s ruling during the course of one such strike clarified. However, it was remarkably effective, and it was self-organized by the workers themselves in an age without modern communication tools.

Today, doing something like that has become much easier, thanks to social media. One could logically argue that all of the really significant changes to the condition of labor over the decades has come from this sort of spontaneous self-organization on the part of workers, including the creation of unions themselves. Making this easier will likely prove revolutionary, although exactly how the workplace will adapt to it remains to be seen.

About today's Guest Writer:

You can say that the social networking sites have certainly ruled the internet, this includes the trade unions which have crawled their way inside the social media market much to their advantage. Read on to learn more about this subject here.

UFOs: Lightnin' Strikin' Again!

2011-12-25T16:34:00.000Z

Merely having offered a mundane alternate explanation for a paranormal or UFO event doesn't make that explanation the correct one. Occam's razor slices differently from different perspectives. "Uncle Phaed's UFO Investigator's Handbook"

In the fall of 1965, a series of UFO sightings took place at Exeter, New Hampshire that were documented by John G. Fuller in an article in LOOK Magazine and later in a book titled Incident at Exeter.

The sightings at Exeter began with a young man named Norman Muscarello, who was hitchhiking home to Exeter on Route 150 in the wee hours of September 3, 1965. At about two in the morning, near Kensington, NH, he was startled by an object that suddenly came out of the clear sky towards him. He described it as about 90 feet in diameter, with bright, pulsating lights around what appeared to be a rim. It silently wobbled and floated towards him, and when it seemed about to hit him, he dropped to the ground on the shoulder of the road. The object then backed away, and Muscarello jumped up and ran to a nearby house and pounded on the door without results. He then ran out into the middle of the highway and flagged down a car. The middle-aged couple inside drove him to the Exeter Police Station, where he excitedly told his story to the officer on duty. The officer called in Patrolman Eugene Bertrand, who was out on patrol.

Bertrand was amazed when he heard Muscarello's story, because he had talked to a woman about an hour before who was pulled over on Route 101. She had reported that a large silent object with red flashing lights had followed her car all the way from Epping, a distance of twelve miles,until it had suddenly shot up into the sky at the place she had pulled off the road. Patrolman Bertrand had not made a report of the incident because he had not believed the woman. At 3:00 a.m., Bertrand had become convinced that there was something worth investigating, so he took Muscarello back out to the spot on Route 150 where he had seen the object.

There was an open field at the site, and a house and a horse corral. At first, they saw nothing, so they walked out into the field towards the corral. Suddenly, the horses began to stir and whinny and dogs began to bark, and from behind two pine trees rose a bright, silent round object that lit up the whole area with a brilliant red light. It moved toward them with a motion like a falling leaf. They retreated to the police car and Bertrand radioed in that he saw the object.

The object hovered about fifty yards from them at an altitude of about a hundred feet. It was so bright that it was difficult to tell if there was a shape behind the lights,and the lights seemed to dim and then brighten in an odd pattern from left to right, then from right to left. It then began to move off toward Hampton with the same fluttering motion that it had shown previously. At that time, another policeman who had heard Bertrand's radio report, David Hunt, drove up. He, too, saw the object as it moved off towards Hampton and finally went out of sight. The object was then seen in Hampton, and was reported to Pease Air Force Base.

This was just the first of the Exeter sightings. There were many more, and many, but not all, of them, seemed to occur near high-tension power lines. Fuller theorized that the UFOs were somehow drawing power from the lines, since some witnesses reported that this seemed to be the case.

About today's Guest Writer:

Samet Bilir is model train passionate. You can check his blog for toy news, pictures, videos, and reviews, such as choosing a dollhouse kit and baby dolls.

Wall Street At The Movies

2011-12-24T16:40:00.003Z

Throughout 2011, Wall Street has been a household word. With the economy still in shambles, seemingly at the hands of fast and loose stock market trading, there are many opinions about the vaunted Manhattan financial center.

For many people, Wall Street is symbolic of unchecked greed and excess at the expense of innocent people. Others see the country's economic woes as symptomatic only of people's inability to live within their means. For them, Wall Street remains symbolic of all that is good about America's capitalistic roots.

Fortunately, Hollywood has something for everyone in this recession no matter whether you are a Wall Street cheerleader or hater. These movies have chronicled evolutionary changes on Wall Street through modern years with mesmerizing clarity in many cases. We're not talking about Tim Syke's penny stocks, these movies are about the titans of Wall Street. The characters in these movies have been indelibly seared into the American consciousness; woven into popular culture like golden strands.

We know you 're recession-weary, and looking for a diversion if even for just a couple of hours. For your viewing pleasure, we've compiled some of Hollywood's greatest attempts to make sense of Wall Street culture.

Here are our top 5 movies about Wall Street:

Wall Street

Starring Michael Douglas as the unforgettable Gordan Gekko. An Oliver Stone classic, from 1987, that depicts Wall Street's denizens in all the greedy glory.

Trading Places

Starring Eddie Murphy and Dan Akroyd when they were still funny. This John Landis comedy, from 1983, helped launch both stars careers and tells a hysterical tale of the rise and fall of the Wall Street elite.

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room This 2005 documentary isn't exactly typical Hollywood fare, but it does pull the curtain back for a look at the rise and demise of a company that has come to symbolize heartless greed.

Bonfire of the Vanities
The1990 film adaptation of Tom Wolf's classic book, starring Tom Hanks, doesn't exactly set its laser focus on Wall Street, but it does take an unflinching look at upper class Manhattan's estrangement from the rest of society.

American Psycho
Christian Bale plays Wall Street trader Patrick Bateman who is sinking into complete psychosis in this 2000 tale of murder and mayhem. Prepare to have your own sanity shaken with this one.

While this list doesn't include every movie ever made about New York's money mecca and it doesn't even touch on similar themes that play out in other locales, it does represent a diverse selection of Hollywood's varied representations of Wall Street culture.

Enjoy.

US: How To Go To College For Free

2011-12-24T00:06:00.004Z

Image via Wikipedia

Right now, protesters are camped out in front of banks, financial institutions and universities to draw attention to a broken system. One of the points in their plan the fix the economy is forgiveness of student loan debt. Rather than continuing to make things easier for big banks through deregulation and tax cuts, we can stimulate the economy by giving that money to struggling college graduates who entered the workforce with massive debts at a time when good jobs are scarce. Tuition costs have steadily risen as the economy has gotten worse, and as a result the average student is now graduating college with $20,000 in student loan debt, and many have no way to pay it off.

If you don't want this to happen to you, there are still a few ways to get through college without having to take out any student loans.

1. Be Awesome: Merit-based scholarships will continue to exist for as long as universities continue to compete for top talent. And with limited resources, universities are only getting more competitive.

2. Play Football: Football turns colleges into money-making machines. With the decline in public funding, universities are turning more and more to the donations of generous alumni. And nothing makes alumni feel more generous than a winning football season. For that reason, football programs will always be well funded. These days it seems like they are even better funded than the educational programs. Get good enough at football, and universities will be paying you to get an education.

3. Join the Military: Even as education funding gets slashed left and right, defense spending is still going up and up. If you join the military, this could be good news for you. Air Force tuition assistance can potentially cover all of your education costs. The New GI Bill, or the Post-9/11 GI Bill, provides eligible members of our armed forces with all of the financial resources they need to get a top-notch education. And no one deserves it more than our armed forces. With so many veterans coming home to a depressed economy, programs like this are more important than ever.

4. Be a Good Golf Caddie: The Chick Evans Caddie Scholarship offers full tuition and housing payment for individuals with good grades, character, financial need and a "strong caddie record."

5. Be named Gatling (or Gatlin): The John Gatling Scholarship will give a full ride to North Carolina State University to anyone sharing the name of the famous Gatling gun.

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Androids: Keeping Artists Inspired

2011-12-23T18:52:00.002Z

More and more people are starting to wonder: Is there anything the Android can't do? With the limitless-and-still-expanding catalogue of Android apps, it seems like this little, sleek device is unstoppable. Android isn't greedy however; now, it's empowering artists all over the world.

All artists need inspiration, especially musicians. There's enough going on around the world to keep songwriters in business for the rest of human existence, but now, thanks to Android, artists can have an easier time finding goings-on to write about.

Image via Flickr

Do you need a social issue topic for your next song? Download the free Social Issues Poems app to educate yourself about the issues and maybe get some inspiration from the flowing words. You can find out about important issues like the Japanese-tsunami relief money being used to hunt whales and educate others on what is happening. This app presents the words of the poems in easy to read fonts with cool and calming backgrounds.

Sometimes, all it takes to get the creative juices flowing is a bit of background music. Musicians can lay down a background track or two with apps like Pocket DJ Vintage, one of the absolutely necessary Android apps for artists in the hip-hop arena. Transform your Android into an old-school turntable deck and liven up wherever you are with a great mix, overlaid with some vocals of your own. Pocket DJ lets you use DJ techniques like scratching, matching beats, and pitch alteration. All you have to do to have a full-blown dance party on your hands is to plug your Android phone into a sound system. Pocket DJ vintage can pull songs from the song library in your phone, letting you mix them as you please.

Image via Flickr

For those who want the perfect mix of music and current events, check out any of the Android apps like TuneIn Radio for Android. TuneIn Radio keeps you up-to-date on global and national happenings, and provides a wealth of music to stimulate the beginnings of your own musical creation. TuneIn is extremely popular, with over 50,000 stations to listen to and a huge fan base. It's the place to find out what's going on and what's new.

These Android apps for artists are the perfect muses of the modern day, educating and inspiring those who will in turn inspire the masses. Get out there and get your artistic imagination going today!

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The 10 Best Sci-Fi Movies Of The Decade (And Why)

2011-12-23T13:35:00.000Z

The best sci-fi movies make you leave the theater wondering if you should sneak back in for the next showing of the same movie. The last decade has had no shortage of such movies. Below are 10 movies that topped the box offices and had critics raving for weeks.

1. WALL-E (2008)

WALL-E is an animated film about a robot cleaning up a trash-filled Earth after all humans have left to live in space. There is surprisingly little talking throughout the movie. It relies a lot on body language and robot sounds, but this only serves to make the movie more compelling.

Perhaps the best part of this movie is the fact that humans were the temporary downfall of Earth. Their carelessness and laziness was disgusting and kind of offensive. Few people watch this movie and don't go, “I'm totally going to recycle.”

2. Serenity (2005)

Firefly is gone but not forgotten. Serenity is basically a two-hour long Firefly episode. If you liked the television series, you’ll like the movie. The movie gives a lot more insight into River Tam, a psychic teenager trained to be a deadly weapon. She fights good guys (oops!) and bad guys in a way that demands you pause and backtrack to watch it again. Movie-goers get the same adrenaline rush and occasional chuckle when watching movies like Kick-Ass, but with a healthy dash of sci-fi.

3. Super 8 (2011)

The Super 8 trailers leave much to be desired. The actual movie, however, is an original film that gives a lot of respective nods to classics like Jurassic Park. To summarize, townspeople and pets go missing and children help save the day. It's a bit cliché, but not in a bad way. The details of the plot itself overflow with originality, though, and make viewers appreciate the dull trailers that could have spoiled the movie.

4. Star Trek (2009)

Reviving an old favorite usually turns into a major disappointment. Not this time, though. As the most successful Star Trek movie to date, the movie has a fairly simple “save the planet” plot. It’s exciting and something both old and new fans of the franchise can enjoy.

The movie is stand-alone, but it references the original series in ways that should appease the Trekkies of previous decades. Best of all, the actors have signed up for multiple sequels. Live long and prosper, Star Trek of the 21st century.

5. Cloverfield (2008)

Cloverfield was a bit hit or miss with the critics. The film deviated from the norm by shooting documentary-style, and some people claim to have thrown up after becoming so motion sick during the movie. It’s a classic monster film, but the audience sees little of the actual monster. Most of the film is spent with various characters seeking shelter and hearing screams of terror nearby.

At first, the camera-style is annoying. Then it adds to the rush you get whenever something horrible happens. Besides the camera, the best part of this movie is how much the director left open to interpretation.

6. District 9 (2009)

District 9 is a “love it” or “hate it” movie with no middle-ground. A spaceship has mechanical problems and lands on Earth. They come in peace, but humans confine them to a camp and treat them like lesser beings.

This movie speaks volumes about xenophobia (fear of outsiders or foreigners because of their differences) and social segregation. It was inspired by real cases of xenophobia in today’s world. So not only is it an action-packed alien movie, which is usually enough to top the box office, but the movie gives us plenty to think about.

7. Source Code (2011)

Colter Stevens relives the last eight minutes of a man’s life over and over again. His mission is to find a bomb and defuse it before it can trigger an even larger explosion. This sci-fi thriller has a decent (but complicated) story and edge of your seat action. It's not Inception, but the action is gripping enough and most people won't regret spending $3 on a rental. Critics continue to praise the actors and plot.

8. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Do you remember your last bad breakup? Of course you do. Now imagine that immediately after the break up, you erased each other from memory and started over from scratch.

The main characters in the Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind undergo an experimental procedure to selectively wipe memories. Unfortunately, they’re probably bound to repeat their mistakes. It’s impossible to watch this movie without having some wishful thoughts.

Best of all, Jim Carrey plays a starring role and he’s actually good.

9. Watchmen (2009)

Watchmen is often viewed as a major disappointment to the people who read the comics before seeing the film. For many film-goers new to story, though, it was a hit. Every scene was a work of art, almost to the point that the story felt neglected because the director spent so much time making everything ridiculously beautiful.

10. The Cowboy Bebop Movie (2002)

Like the Firefly movie, this is basically a two-hour long episode of the animated show Cowboy Bebop. The great thing about it is that the story is simple enough that even people who haven’t watched the anime series can enjoy it. The movie follows the old crew doing what they do best, but this time they’ve probably taken on more responsibility than they can handle.

About today's Guest Writer:

Raychel Davis is a social media advocate at CreditDonkey. When she is not busy searching for gas credit cards, she's reading up on Warehouse 13's Upcoming Spin-off and hoping MGM and SyFy bring back SG1. Before heading to the theaters, make sure you read her team's costco american express review to see if the rewards are worth the cost.

Do American Cartoons Reflect Real Life?

2011-12-21T14:01:00.000Z

The Simpsons

The Simpson’s arrived on our screens in 1989 with a Christmas special and twenty-two years later it is still going strong. The cartoon was a breath of fresh air compared to the selection of dramas and soaps which had taken over the American television listings. The Simpsons was a huge success and after a few years several cartoons sprung up based on the ‘American family’ and their trials and tribulations through life.

Although creator Matt Groening developed the show with the typical modern family in mind there were many quirky elements to the Simpsons, separating them from the ‘average’ family. The fact they were yellow was one, Marge’s hair color was another and their pink Cadillac-esque family car was definitely out of the ordinary. Would any family really have a car like that? No, probably not. However, while these aspects were a million miles away from ‘real life,’ the message portrayed by the show was simple – family. Each episode centered on the events of the last few days and the drama which seemed to follow the family everywhere. However, each unfortunate situation they found themselves in was easily identifiable to viewers who more often than not had found themselves in that position at some point. This ability to relate to the characters was what propelled the series to success along with the contrasting ridiculousness of some aspects of their lives, such as Homers pink sedan. In fact Matt Groening once said, “I've always said it's a celebration of the American family at its wildest.”

Each of the main characters resembled a typical family member in American society and together they made a solid family unit. Marge was the despairing mother who spent her days tidying up after her husband and children. Homer was the hapless man of the house who, although rather useless in many ways went out to work to earn for his growing family and always meant well. Bart was the typical little boy, always getting into trouble and scrapes and Lisa, his older gifted and sophisticated sister, who was embarrassed by her brother and couldn’t understand why he had turned out the way he had. Altogether the characters fought, argued and disagreed, yet were always supportive of each other and felt nothing was more important than each other.

Family Guy

Family Guy, another satirical American cartoon, which first aired in 1998 also centers around American family life. The Griffins family are a typical dysfunctional unit consisting of parents Peter and Lois and children Meg, Chris and Stewie along with the dog Brian. Again, the family go through scenarios many American families will find very familiar and able to relate to. Their family car, a large red estate/truck is slightly a more sensible choice than Homer's but has also seen better days, looking rather old fashioned and tired. As with many men, Peter has the occasional midlife crisis and pops out to buy a sports car. It doesn’t take long however, before his trusty estate is back in the picture.

American Dad

American Dad is the 2005 successor to Family Guy and written by its creator Seth Macfarlane. It revolves around Republican and CIA Agent Stan, his dizzy housewife Francine and their two children. Stan is full of his own self-importance but has a wife so devoted to him she feeds his arrogance continuously, meaning he is completely unaware of his overinflated ego. His two children find him odd and rather embarrassing and his eighteen year old, left wing daughter, clashes and challenges him at every opportunity. Stan is the owner of a large, black SUV which is his pride and joy. He regularly washes and polishes it and has been known to stroke it when feeling particularly amorous towards it. The car is a typical example of the family vehicle many men acquire to meet the family requirements but are impressive enough for them to show off and preen at weekends.

Although, not as reflective of the average family as the Simpsons and Family Guy there are still elements of American Dad which represent many characters in society and the clashes they have with their nearest and dearest.

American cartoons in general are very closely modelled on real families, their homes, cars and pets. By picking out stereotypes in society and lumping them together, the writers of these shows have created over exaggerated, drama-laden families which make for great viewing. Peel away the layers however and we all know a Homer, Marge and Bart somewhere, probably with a Pink Sedan is lurking in their garage...

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About today's Guest Writer:

This is a guest post written on behalf of Netcars.

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5 Steps to Finding Your Inner Movie Buff

2011-12-20T23:44:00.000Z

Do you find yourself regularly humming various movie theme songs or repeating famous lines – sometimes even unconsciously? If so, you may be an official movie buff. If you aren’t 100 percent sure on this, however, there are some ways to come up with a better determination. Here are just a few:

Attend Film Festivals

There are those who enjoy watching movies and then there are those who REALLY enjoy watching movies. Every year, there are a variety of different film festivals nationwide – and if you have been an attendee at one of these events, then you are likely a movie buff.

Not quite sure if you’re a movie buff yet? Making an appearance at a film festival will certainly help you to determine whether or not you are on the right path to becoming one…and if you’re already scouring the Internet to find out the date and location on the next event, then the answer is probably yes!

Watch Films From Every Era

If taking your date to the most publicized film on a Saturday night is your idea of being a movie buff, then you may need to go back to the drawing board because just viewing the most recent or popular flicks won’t cut it.

However, if you find yourself being immersed in movies from a variety of eras – and truly enjoying them – then you are likely one of the movie buff crowd. One sure sign of this is whether or not you saw the original Planet of the Apes in 1969, before the new version came out.

Take the Quiz

When your doctor wants to determine the cause of your scratchy throat, he will typically run some tests. So, why not take a test to see just how much of a movie buff you are? You can – at Quizopolis.com.

This cool site offers series’ of questions on just about any topic – including one for wanna-be movie buffs. Just some of the questions include asking whether you own more than 300 movies, whether you can recite the lines to at least ten of your favorite flicks, and inquiring if you belong to any movie fan clubs.

Find Undiscovered Content at Film Buff

For those movie buffs who spend endless hours searching for information about directors, performances, and storytelling, then Film Buff is the place for you. This digital entertainment service provides all the information you need on the information you want about movies. Take it for a test run here.

Ultimate Movie Buff – The Game

If you really want to prove to the world that you are a true blue movie buff, then go no further than the all-time movie goer’s game, Ultimate Movie Buff. Similar to the classic game Trivial Pursuit, this game prompts players to answer various trivia questions that relate to movies within a given amount of time.

With this game app, you can even proudly share your score with those you love via email. And, if you are a real star, you may even land yourself in the Ultimate Movie Buff hall of fame. Check out more about the game app here.

About today's Guest Writer:
Anthony Silver writes about technology and movies. He is particularly fond of indie drama movies, but always loves taking a chance on a movie he hasn't heard of before.

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Do American Cartoons Reflect Real Life?

The Simpsons

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American Dad

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Watch Films From Every Era

Take the Quiz

Find Undiscovered Content at Film Buff

Ultimate Movie Buff – The Game

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