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<title>Latest Articles by Jj Jamson</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/</link>
<description>Articles at ArticleTrader</description>
<language>en-us</language>
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<title>Artificial Christmas Tree & The Creative Living Room</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/interior-design/artificial-christmas-tree-and-the-creative-living-room.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/interior-design/artificial-christmas-tree-and-the-creative-living-room.html</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 06 Sep 2009 13:26:27 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Traditional Christmas trees are used by many American households to celebrate Christmas. It's fun to decorate them. Giving them a look to fit the living room. Perhaps even adding an ornament that has not been used. Some families actually turn Christmas tree decoration into a yearly family event. It's great for getting together and keeping the family close.<br /><br />Well, there are shortcomings to always using traditional trees. For one, not everybody has a truck car to haul these trees. Furthermore money could be tight that holiday season, so having to buy a Christmas tree does not make financial sense.<br /><br />Still, there are times when a traditional tree is just wrong for the season. Lo and behold comes a product of western design, the artificial Christmas tree. These man-made wonders can truly save the day. They are creative and flexible at the same time. Think of it as the "ace in the hole". If you have an artificial Christmas tree in storage, you can never have a stressful time hunting for a tree at the last minute if you choose not to. As many of us have experienced in the past, last minute Christmas crowd can be crazy. Also, if you own an artificial christmas tree, you won't have to go without a tree during any Christmas season simply because money is tight. Just pull the tree out of storage and you're good to go.<br /><br />STYLING WITH AN ARTIFICIAL CHRISTMAS TREE<br /><br />What's great about artificial Christmas trees is the creativity behind various designs. Artificial Christmas trees can give you traditional or non-traditional look. It can be prelit or unlit. And also, it can come in a color you haven't even thought of for a tree. Let's look at a few popular styles:<br /><br />PINK ARTIFICIAL CHRISTMAS TREES<br /><br />This one has been very popular. A pink artificial Christmas tree is something I've never considered, but perhaps if you have a little girl in your life, daughter or granddaughter, it will make sense. Girls love anything pink. That's a given. A pink Christmas tree will be a tough to decorate for many of us. But little girls will do it in a heartbeat. Just think, decorating a pink artificial Christmas tree can become an annual event for your little princess throughout the years as she grows up.<br /><br />RED ARTIFICIAL CHRISTMAS TREES<br /><br />Red is a Christmas color. Why isn't it a Christmas tree color? The simple answer is that trees are not red. And that's another reason for buying an artificial Christmas tree. It can be any color including red. The color red draws attention. But a red Christmas tree demands attention. Anytime a guest walks into your family room, a <a href="http://www.artificialxmastreesonline.com/redchristmastrees.htm">red artificial christmas tree</a> will greet them with cheerful tidngs.<br /><br />ARTIFICIAL FIR CHRISTMAS TREE<br /><br />Every wonder why the traditional Christmas tree is a triangle shape with green color? The root of the story comes the fir tree that cropped up from a fallen oak that Saint Boniface hacked down to convert German pagans to Christianity. The fir tree had a triangular shape symbolizing the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) with evergreen leaves that remain green throughout the year and represent eternal life.<br /><br />Not surprisingly, among the fake Christmas trees, the artificial fir Christmas tree is popular. From within the fir tree type, there are subtypes as well, such as Douglas, Noble, Sierra, Virginia, Carolina, Montana, Spruce, and Pine Cone. These trees are so lifelike that it's tough to tell them apart from traditional Christmas trees.<br /><br />SAFETY CONCERNS<br /><br />One last note on artificial Christmas trees, over the past few decades, American families are choosing artifical Christmas trees over real trees. If you're worried about the safety of their use, then you'll be glad to know that today's artificial trees are made with flame-resistant materials. This bit of information is helpful since Christmas trees are often decorated with electrical accessories such as Christmas lights. Pre-lit artificial Christmas trees are among the most popular type out there.<br /><br />--<br />The author is a freelance writer and often post on entertainment and family-friendly subjects such as locating the best <a href="http://www.artificialxmastreesonline.com">artificial Christmas trees</a> online.<br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
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<title>Disney Netpal By Asus: Creative Fun With Safety</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/computers/hardware/disney-netpal-by-asus-creative-fun-with-safety.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/computers/hardware/disney-netpal-by-asus-creative-fun-with-safety.html</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:31:16 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Disney Netpal is going to be an exciting holiday gift for children ages 6-12 this year. It's made by Asus, one of the biggest makers of laptops. And it's not a toy computer. It's a full working netbook with 8.9" screen. The tech specs for the Disney Netpal is the same as most conventional netbooks. Specifically, it has 1.6 GHz Atom Intel Processor, 160 GB hard disk, 1 GB RAM, wireless access, and Win XP.<br /><br />Children will truly enjoy the Disney Netpal by Asus. It comes in two colors, Princess Pink and Magic Blue. It's desktop can be set up with choices of up to 10 design themes of Disney characters. The themes, which are exclusively available for the Disney Netpal, include Cars, Disney Fairies, Vintage Mickey Mouse, Toy Story, Jonas Brothers, and many others.<br /><br />There are applications that come with the Disney Netpal that will entertain a child for a long time. The Disney Mix is a music application that lets children make their own playlist. The older kids will really enjoy the Disney Mix especially if they're avid followers of Hannah Montana and the Jonas Brothers.<br /><br />The Disney Pix is another program that comes with the Disney Netpal. It teaches kids how to edit pictures while having fun. For example, kids will be able to paste in their faces on other characters and create their own dancing scene. They can make other type of scenes as their creative minds allow. Additionally, they can share their creative works as videos or as postcards. If a child is creative and imaginative enough, he or she can have a portfolio at a very early age.<br /><br />Since the Disney Netpal is designed for use by kids, Asus and Disney made sure that a few considerations are covered. After all, kids are kids and delicate electronic devices are not always safe with them as main users. For example, kids spill a lot. And we know that spills and splashes, not necessarily from children, have destroyed laptops and computers before. Hence, the Disney Netpal has a spill-proof keyboard as standard.<br /><br />Children also drop things often. Some of them throw things when they're excited. Well, I'm not sure how strong the Disney Netpal is, but it comes with reinforcement to avoid (maybe mitigate is the right word) impact loss. In fact, it has a ShockShield Data Protection system that should protect from data loss caused by the Disney Netpal getting bumped too hard or getting dropped.<br /><br />As mentioned earlier, the Disney Netpal is a full blown netbook. Meaning that children can use it to go online and do things over the web. And with that, there are spreading issues over safety in Internet activities. The Disney Netpal has mechanism letting parents configure what content their children can see or which software their children can use. The parents are also able to control when and how long the Disney Netpal can be used by their kids. And finally, parents are able to create a list that their children can send and receive emails.<br /><br />The Disney Netpal is looking quite like the right gift for the right child. It's not a toy, but a fun early learning device with safety features that could help in stirring a young creative mind.<br /><br />--<br />To learn more about the <a href="http://www.netbookscarnival.com/disneynetpallaptopasus.htm">Disney Netpal by Asus</a>, visit Netbooks Carnival.  The author is a freelance writer who writes on various topics, including how to find the right <a href="http://hubpages.com/hub/Finding-the-right-massage-therapy-college">massage therapy college</a>.<br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
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<title>Acer 11.6 Netbook: Big Screen, Lightweight, And Priced Right</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/computers/hardware/acer-11.6-netbook-big-screen-lightweight-and-priced-right.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/computers/hardware/acer-11.6-netbook-big-screen-lightweight-and-priced-right.html</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 22 Aug 2009 21:09:06 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ In today's tough economic environment, finding the "best bang for your bucks" is more important than ever. This economic credo is particularly important for things that we need to make our lives easier or let us be more productive. Take for example, the laptops that we use. Being online is vital for students who do research and travelling business professionals who must communicate with their associates through email. They use laptops. But laptops can be very expensive (as in thousands of dollars), cumbersome (as in over a foot-and-a-half wide), and heavy (as in 3-5 lbs).<br /><br />Here come the netbooks. These are laptops but have been reduced to its essence for net surfing, messaging, and light work such as paper composition or reports. They are small and compact. 9 to 10 inch screens are the trend. Also, professionals and students will love the netbook's average weight of less than 3 lbs. They're much easier and lighter to carry. Easily as important is the netbook's price. You can have one for less than $500.<br /><br /><b>Acer 11.6 Netbook</b><br /><br />The Acer Aspire AO751H netbook is special in particular because it is among the first with screens larger than 10 inches. Its 11.6" screen makes it so much easier for web surfers to see what they're doing. Students will have an easier time working on their paper or researching online. Working professionals will have a much easier time creating the report or typing up the memo that they need. The 11.6" screen has a 16:9 aspect ratio with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. That's the same aspect ratio for the majority of high def TV that are in people's living room. Furthermore, the screen uses a LED-backlit display technology that is energy efficient and helps out in a prolonged battery life. The 6-cell battery can operate up to 7 hours in a single charge.<br /><br />And Acer is doing this for less than $400. The Acer 11.6 Netbook is available for a retail price of $389.00.<br /><br />For that price, the Acer Aspire 11.6" AO751H Netbook is also not cutting corners on performance. The Acer 11.6" Laptop is equipped with the components seen in many netbooks that's being sold currently. It comes with a 1.33 GHz Intel Atom processor, 1GB of SDRAM, 160 GB of hard drive space, and Win XP.<br /><br />What's considered to be the Acer 11.6 Netbook's defining feature is the Multi-Gesture Touchpad. It's big improvement over existing touch pads that are limited in functionality. The Multi-Gesture Touchpad let's you navigate around files and websites with motions more natural to you. So you could be swirling, flicking, or pinching at the screen and the new touchpad will accommodate you.<br /><br />These really makes the Acer 11.6 netbook the "best bang for your bucks".<br /><br />--<br />To see pricing and details, go to <a href="http://www.netbookscarnival.com/acer116netbooks.htm">Acer Aspire 11.6 netbook</a> on Netbooks Carnival.  The author is a freelancer who writes on various topics including <a href="http://www.coolcarsinmovies.com">cars and movies</a>.<br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
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<title>Samsung Netbook N310: Workin With Style</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/computers/hardware/samsung-netbook-n310-workin-with-style.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/computers/hardware/samsung-netbook-n310-workin-with-style.html</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:36:48 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Style mavens will fall for the new Samsung Netbook N310. It's more stylish than the rest in its "netbook" class. It's just as powerful. The Samsung GO Netbook has the same tech info as any other netbook. It uses an Atom-based 1.6 GHz Intel processor. Hard drive and memory is typical for Windows XP at 160 GB and 1 GB RAM, respectively. It also has fast ethernet and WI-FI connections, much like any other netbook of today. And the screen size is larger than many at 10,1 inches with a LED-backlit LCD display. Which is good, but still typical when it comes to netbooks. So on the technical side, the Samsung Netbook N310 does not offer you anything more than other netbooks available, such as the Toshiba Netbook NB205<br /><br />What makes it better than the rest is the chic pebble design that is, for now, different in netbooks. It also has a really long battery life that lets you operate longer without charging.<br /><br /><b>The Samsung GO N310 netbook's pebble design is Stylish</b><br /><br />Samsung pulled one out from the cell phone industry. The last gadget that bragged the soft rounded design was the Motorola PEBL. It did ok in the mobile phone market until the smart phones came along.<br /><br />Well, the style is back again, this time, in the netbook industry and designed by award-winning Japanese artist Naoto Fukasawa. The Samsung N310 Netbook's surface is rubberized for easier gripping. It can probably do without the big "SAMSUNG" name on the cover which could be a turn-off to some. It comes in turquoise blue, midnight blue, sunset orange, and jet black.<br /><br /><b>Samsung GO N310 netbook has a long battery life</b><br /><br />One more thing that college students and professionals will appreciate is the energy efficient 6-cell battery that can operate up to 9 hours from a single charge. Currently, most netbooks average 3 hours of battery life.<br /><br />Students won't have to worry about running out of battery in the middle of a class or while typing papers at the beach. Business professionals on the "go" can remain productive. If you think about it, a typical non-stop flight from the US West Coast to the East Coast is 5 hours with possible airport wait. The Samsung Netbook N310 with a full 9-hour charge keeps you productive while traveling so that you can do something else when you get to your destination, i.e. cocktail hour at the bar instead of catching up on work in your hotel room.<br /><br /><b>Samsung N310 Netbook is pricier than most, but still less than $500</b><br /><br />If style is important to you, then the Samsung GO Netbook is a must. If you really want to stand out, then I recommend the turquoise color. That color is still rare in netbooks. The Samsung N310 Netbook will be pricier than most of its competitors, but it will still be under $500. Much, much less than conventional laptops that can run between $1000-$2000.<br /><br />--<br />To see pricing and details, go to <a href="http://www.netbookscarnival.com/samsunggon310netbook.htm">Samsung N310 netbook</a> on Netbooks Carnival.  The author is a freelancer who writes on various topics including <a href="http://www.coolcarsinmovies.com">cars and movies</a>.<br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
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<title>Punisher War Zone Movie Review: True To The Comic Books</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/entertainment/movies/punisher-war-zone-movie-review-true-to-the-comic-books.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/entertainment/movies/punisher-war-zone-movie-review-true-to-the-comic-books.html</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:45:00 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ There are already two Punisher movies prior to Punisher: War Zone. The first was the 80's film starring Dolph Lundgren and the second was the recent 2004 film starring Thomas Jane. In both movies, fans of Frank Castle (a.k.a. the Punisher) felt ripped-off because the movies were false depictions of their beloved comic book hero. They were restraining the Punisher too much and not giving the fans what they want.<br /><br />When Punisher: War Zone was first announced, fans were mixed with the news granted that the first two movies were disappointing. With a low expectation, this movie turned out surprisingly well, despite how the critics bashed it.<br /><br />Punisher: War Zone was a movie for fans. Finally, Frank Castle was let loose to inflict vengeance driven pain and punishment to villains all over his town.<br /><br />The movie began when a major mobster being set free after the death of the main witness for his trial. Watching from his TV screen, the Punisher was infruriated of the injustice. He then pursued his own brand of justice by infiltrating the compound where the mobster and his associates were celebrating his newly granted freedom. With the element of surprise, the Punisher wasted most of the mobsters. However, he unknowingly killed an FBI agent posing undercover. The agent had a wife and a little girl.<br /><br />Also, one of the mobsters survived despite being cut up by jagged shards of glass. This guy was able to recover, but with serious scar problem. Reborn as Jigsaw, he had his own enmity towards the Punisher, but also to the agent's surviving wife and daughter. Jigsaw was determined to inflict his own pain and punishment to those he hated.<br /><br />Gotta admit that Punisher: War Zone had a thin plot. But it's a comic book movie that's actually like a comic book! The over-the-top violence and perfect portrayal of comic book characters drove the movie.<br /><br />Punisher: War Zone was a non stop kill fest. Just like the comic books. It showed everything from heads exploding to getting decapitated. True to the comic books portrayal of a semi-deranged combat veteran trained in military arms, there were plenty of gun fights. It's a feast for gun freaks. Punisher: War Zone did not apologize for being too violent, because in the world of Frank Castle, there was only violence. That's how he got things done.<br /><br />Ray Stevenson in the title role was an excellent Punisher. He balanced Frank Castle the way comic book fans would see Frank Castle in real life. Not too much scowling, not too much cold expression. Fans of the comic books, at least those who can express their feelings online, agreed that Ray Stevenson was the best Punisher of the bunch.<br /><br />Also deserving praises was Dominic West as Jigsaw. His portrayal of the homicidal villain should not be overlooked. His Jigsaw was as good as Jack Nicholson's Joker from the 1989 Batman.<br /><br />Another character worth recognizing was Jigsaw's brother, Looney Bin Jim, played by Doug Hutchinson. The psychotic villain complemented Jigsaw in their quest to extract revenge on the Punisher and everything law and order in general.<br /><br />Now that Punisher: War Zone is available on DVD and Blu-Ray, anyone who's into comic book movies should buy it. It's worthy of sitting alongside your Spider-man, Batman, Iron Man, the Hulk, and Superman dvds.<br /><br />--<br />The author is a web producer and writes freelance on various topics, including "geeky" subjects such as <a href="http://www.kaboodle.com/fangeek/dc-direct-toys-and-action-figures.html<br />">DC Direct toys</a>.  He also writes on topics on education such as finding the best <a href="http://hubpages.com/hub/Finding-the-right-massage-therapy-college">massage therapy college</a> in your area.<br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
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<title>School For Massage Therapy: A Quick Tip</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/business/career/school-for-massage-therapy-a-quick-tip.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/business/career/school-for-massage-therapy-a-quick-tip.html</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2009 13:09:29 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Deep down inside for many of us, there is a desire to help others. But when it comes to choosing a career, this desire is sometimes not taken into consideration. Most of the time, a career choice is made because of how much it can make or it's job security. Rarely is it a factor to get into a certain career because of the desire to meet and help others.<br /><br />But one career is universal when it comes to the satisfaction of meeting and helping people, the massage therapist. Aside for the passion in helping and serving people, many massage therapists are glad in their career choice because of the flexibility. They can be self-employed or work for spas, rehab centers, and hospitals. Once they're independent, they can setup their own shop or do house calls. Some even provide corporate benefits and provide services where people work. It all depends on the rules setup by local regulations that govern the practice.<br /><br />How to become a massage therapist?<br /><br />The practice of massage therapy is regulated by local governments, ie. cities, counties, municipalities. In most states, a formal training and a national certification are necessary.<br /><br />The formal massage therapy training is usually 500 hours of instructions from a school approved by the NCBTMB (National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork). This same group also provides the two standardized national certification exams, the NCETM (National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage) and the NCETMB (National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork). The necessary certification to take depends on the local regulators.<br /><br />The best thing to do is call the local authority where you intend to practice and ask what you'll need.<br /><br />What to look for in a massage therapy college?<br /><br />To be a licensed massage therapist, you'll need a formal instructions. That's just another way of saying "go to school". When looking for a massage therapy college, might as well take into consideration what the national exam covers, since you'll be taking it later on.<br /><br />The NCETM and the NCETMB standardized national massage therapy exams cover the following areas:<br /><br />- General knowledge of body systems<br />- Detailed knowledge of anatomy, physiology and kinesiology<br />- Pathology<br />- Therapeutic assessment<br />- Therapeutic application<br />- Professional standards, ethics, business and legal practices<br /><br />Furthermore, the NCBTMB requires a minimum of 500 hours with the following breakdown:<br /><br />- 125 hours of body systems (anatomy, physiology and kinesiology)<br />- 200 hours of massage and bodywork assessment, theory and application<br />- 40 hours of pathology<br />- 10 hours of business and ethics (minimum of 6 hours in ethics)<br />- 125 hours of additional instruction in an area or related field that theoretically completes the massage program of study<br /><br />Obviously the two criterias are the same because they're outlined by the same group. So in selecting the school for massage therapy to attend, you must first understand the local requirements of the area you intend to practice. Most likely, it's the above.<br /><br />Hence, the school you select should prepare you for the massage therapy exam and meet the minimum requirements of the NCBTMB.<br /><br />--<br />The author is a web producer and writes freelance on various subjects such as finding the best <a href="http://hubpages.com/hub/Finding-the-right-massage-therapy-college">massage therapy college</a> near you.  He's equally interested in writing on "geeky" subjects like <a href="http://www.kaboodle.com/fangeek/ikki-tousen-figures-and-statues.html">Ikki Tousen Figures</a>.<br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
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<title>Review Of Fast & Furious: Everything Is Faster</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/entertainment/movies/review-of-fast-and-furious-everything-is-faster.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/entertainment/movies/review-of-fast-and-furious-everything-is-faster.html</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2009 12:18:03 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Billed as "New Model. Original Parts," Fast & Furious is the 4rth installment of The Fast and The Furious series. It also brings back the casts from the original movie reuniting them for the first time since 2001 when the first movie was released. It is glaringly obvious that without Vin Diesel as Dominic Toretto and Paul Walker as Brian O'Conner then the sequels are just not as watchable as the original.<br /><br />Fast & Furious takes place somewhere between the 2nd (2 Fast 2 Furious) and the 3rd (Tokyo Drift) movies. In this movie, Dom and Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) are together in the Dominican Republic running heists on transport trucks. But heat from the police is getting too hot and Dom has to break up his new gang. Han from Tokyo Drift is part of this gang and will be heading to Japan as he and Dom part ways. Meanwhile, Dom also leaves Letty so that she may start a new life without him and the baggage that he brings.<br /><br />Time passes by and Dom, living somewhere in South America, receives a telephone call from his sister, Mia (Jordana Brewster), letting him know that Letty was murdered. Dom then heads back to the US, still as a wanted criminial, to figure out what happened. Because of his love for Letty, Dom vows revenge. His quest to discover the perpetrator leads him to, what else, a street race where the racers vie for a job as a driver for a known big-time drug dealer.<br /><br />At the same time, his former racing mate and a recently reinstated FBI agent, Brian O'Conner, is investigating the same drug dealer with plans of his own to bring him to justice. O'Conner also enters the race.<br /><br />The thin storyline is just an excuse to put these guys behind fast cars and begin entertaining the audience with racing action at breakneck speed. Director Justin Lin is excellent with car chases in urban streets (the best parts of Tokyo Drift). The one drawback in this movie is that there aren't enough car race scenes, but the story doesn't call for it. Nevertheless, action movies like these are enjoyed by audiences. It has plenty of action sequences that keep you on the edge of your seat and blow you away, making the impossible look possible.<br /><br />The storyline is no doubt flimsy but it is enough to keep going. You don't buy tickets to a movie like Fast & Furious and expect dramatic story telling. You want action!<br /><br />Now, the trailers lead us to believe that the whole gang is together again. But really, only Dom and O'Conner have the significant roles. And that's good enough to bring the audience in to the tune of $72.5 million in the opening weekend. The movie is built around fast cars, but no doubt that Vin Diesel as Dom is the main attraction. This is evident when everyone got excited as he made a cameo in Tokyo Drift.<br /><br />All in all, Fast & Furious is recommended. It's a highly entertaining movie. It is best to just head out, don't think about it, sit down, and enjoy a movie that will blow your mind.<br /><br />--<br />The author is a web producer and writes freelance on various "geeky" topics including movies and <a href="http://www.kaboodle.com/fangeek/ikki-tousen-figures-and-statues.html">Ikki Tousen Figures</a>.  He also writes on career and educational subjects such as finding the best <a href="http://hubpages.com/hub/Finding-the-right-massage-therapy-college">massage therapy college</a>.<br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
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<title>Reviewing Friday The 13th Movie: More Body Count</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/entertainment/movies/reviewing-friday-the-13th-movie-more-body-count.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/entertainment/movies/reviewing-friday-the-13th-movie-more-body-count.html</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2009 11:22:19 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Yet another remake of an 80's classic movie has been released. This one is a reboot of Friday the 13th, the famous Jason series that managed 12 films since the original release in 1980. This one, however, is worth watching because some of the killings are inventive and brutal. And with Jason updated, he's faster and meaner. We get to see him run and move around, unlike the 80's depiction where he trailed and tromped and still managed to catch up to his victims. He's also good with the bow and a throwing axe, making him the perfect hunter.<br /><br />Somehow, I believe that the film makers, Michael Bay and his crew, who likely saw the 80's series are not able to bridge in their mind the discrepancy in movements between hunter and prey, so they changed the formula a bit and created a faster, nastier Jason.<br /><br />The storyline stays true with the 80's. But the entire first movie, is done away with in the first segment. Jason's mom is killed and young Jason later discovers her body in the woods. By adding this segment, the rest of the movie is able to focus on Jason as the killer and not his mother. Hence, in that sense, this film is a combination of Friday the 13th 1 & 2.<br /><br />And as a Friday the 13th movie, the major elements of horror are there. Teenagers camping in the woods. Check. Hot teenage girls showing their breasts. Teenagers getting high on weekds. Check. Sacrificial authority figure getting killed. Check. Jason hacking away with a machete. Check. Jason and his hockey mask. Check. Jason as an invincible killer. Check. Creepy and dark surroundings. Check.<br /><br />For good or bad, other elements are also added as this movie feature at least two actors with star power, namely Jared Padalecki and Amanda Righetti, as the brother-sister duo who seemingly survived Jason's nightmare. In the original movies, the actors are new and unheard-of. Even Kevin Bacon dies early in the first Friday the 13th movie.<br /><br />Also, I like the play on with pot. We know that wild teenagers and pot are a mixture ripe for hilarity in the movies. But Jason and pot? In some of the scenes, you can't help but think and smirk...what if Jason is a pothead who is only defending his grove.<br /><br />There are two things that are missing. First, the play on Friday the 13th as a date is not mentioned. I don't remember Jason's mother saying anything to indicate that day Friday the 13th is important at all.<br /><br />More importantly, the eerie sound of "kill kill kill" is missing. More than anything this theme song defined the movie series. Instead, we get loud thunderous bangs that are startling, but not scary. Perhaps that's how Michael Bay like his movies.<br /><br />All in all, the new Friday the 13th is worth a watch at least once. But if you and your friends are in the mood for watching Friday the 13th on a boring night, and haven't seen any of the series for awhile, you should watch the first two of the original movies instead. You'll see why they're a classic.<br /><br />--<br />The author is a web producer and writes freelance on various topics including "geeky" stuff like <a href="http://www.kaboodle.com/fangeek/horror-movie-costumes-and-masks-standard-and-plus-size.html">Friday the 13th costumes</a>.  But also on how to plan careers, especially on finding the best <a href="http://hubpages.com/hub/Finding-the-right-massage-therapy-college">massage therapy college</a>.<br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
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<title>Revisiting Vampires By John Carpenter: It's Time For A Reboot</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/entertainment/movies/revisiting-vampires-by-john-carpenter-its-time-for-a-reboot.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/entertainment/movies/revisiting-vampires-by-john-carpenter-its-time-for-a-reboot.html</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:44:21 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ First of all, John Steakley's Vampire was a great book to read. It's about vampires but from the perspective of modern-day vampire hunters sponsored by the Vatican. The leader of the group was Jack Crow, a former NFL football player. But the most fascinating character in the book was Felix, Jack's calm and reserved teammate who happens to be an ace gunslinger using silver bullets to kill vampires.<br /><br />What made the story great was that Jack and his team used what you'd normally think of if YOU had to hunt vampires. First, they hunted while the sun was out. Then they formed a military-style tactical unit when entering dark areas. And brilliant of all, they used harpoons, cable, and wenches to extract vampires from the dark out to the sunlight. At times, they even employed dynamites and explosives. They did not use archaic means that contradicted the common sense of modern times.<br /><br />I'm not sure if John Steakley's Vampires was responsible for modern-day treatment of vampire hunting, but we're certainly seeing updated technology being employed in stories that came after the book, e.g. the Initiative from Buffy TV series.<br /><br />In 1998, John Carpenter released a movie version of Vampires. It was suppose to be a film adaptation of the book and John Steakley was even credited as a writer. However, due to extreme budget cuts, the movie's ties to the book was in name only. The storyline was so badly butchered that they Felix was not even in the film. But remnants of the core theme that made Vampires the book memorable remained. Still, fans of the book regarded the movie as only a wisp of the book. They were right and I was initially of the same opinion. Or so I thought when I first saw the movie in 1998.<br /><br />I had the opportunity to watch Vampires by John Carpenter again recently. And I appreciated it more. The movie was still a travesty compared to the book. But James Wood as Jack Crow made the movie watchable. In fact, he was fun to watch. His portrayal as the fiery vampire hunter always stood out in my mind all those years. Still, it was not the impression I had of Jack Crow after reading the book. But James Woods was great. He was fiery, but oozes cool. He delivered campy one-liners while displaying anger.<br /><br />I was fond of the following Jack Crow lines:<br /><br />- To Valek: Hey, Valek! Why don't you prove you can kick my ass! Come on, untie me, you prick! Fucking pole-smoking fashion victim!<br />- To Father Adam: "Did you get a little wood?"<br />- To Montoya: "Vaya con Dios"<br /><br />With all the reboots that have been going on lately, John Steakley's Vampire deserves one so that fans of the vampire movie genre can finally see how modern-day vampire hunting is done. Perhaps it be should rebooted with James Woods playing a fiery priest this time.<br /><br />--<br />The author is a web producer who writes freelance on many "geeky" subjects including anything comic books and horror, such as the <a href="http://www.kaboodle.com/fangeek/scary-halloween-costumes-classic-monsters-standard-and-plus-size.html">scary halloween costumes</a>.  He also writes on other topics of interest such as the advantages of <a href="http://hubpages.com/hub/Becoming-a-Medical-Coder">becoming a medical coder</a>.<br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
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<title>Solar Powered Garden Lights: Saving Money Doesn't Have To Be Dull</title>
<link>http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/gardening/solar-powered-garden-lights-saving-money-doesnt-have-to-be-dull.html</link>
<guid>http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/gardening/solar-powered-garden-lights-saving-money-doesnt-have-to-be-dull.html</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 15 Mar 2009 14:31:54 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Because of the struggling economy, there is a new stream of consciousness for frugality. Depending on who you ask, this has various meaning, but those who are looking to keep their house appealing need to look at fixtures that could save them money. Yet, the decor have to be stylish to keep up with the character.<br /><br />If you live in a sunny part the world, like Southern California, Texas, or Florida, there is no reason not to capitalize in the availability of sunlight. Solar power, because of advancement in its technology, should be used to save money. Some cities even have grants to upgrade homes to solar energy. A solar powered generator may take a long time, but, just like anything else, it's good to begin with something simple. For example, start with yard lights.<br /><br />There are solar garden lights that you can use for yards that's pretty much right off-the-shelf in many retail or online stores. You just unwrap them, place them in your yard where there's plenty of sunshine, and they're good to go. It's a fun way to decorate your house so that it stands out during evenings.<br /><br />Also, solar powered garden lights can cut down on your bills. Whatever light you are using to illuminate your driveway in the evening is likely using electricity. It is not an option to do away with the lights because of security. Plus, you or someone else might hurt themselves when walking around your yard in the dark.<br /><br />The great thing about solar powered garden lights is that they accumulate power from the sun during daytime and use them at night. They don't burn electricity and your bill will go down overtime. Of course, the more solar powered gadgets you use the less electricity you'll have to pay.<br /><br />Another neat thing about outdoor solar garden lights is they're available in various colors and designs. Ever seen how a rainbow looks in the dark? Well, neither have I, but it doesn't have to be expensive. You can decorate your yard with outdoor solar garden lights with rainbow colors -- blue, red, green, etc. You can even get the twinkling ones for a truly dazzling display.<br /><br />Also, if you're not so much into a potpourri of colors, more traditional colors, such as white and yellow are available as well. In either case, you're not using electricity to lighten up your driveway and your garden.<br /><br />And lastly, solar powered garden lights vary in design to complement your style and personality. The more conservative ones can opt for old fashion street lamps that you see in black and white movies. The snazzier types can pick more modern designs. In all cases, the stainless steel and copper finish are popular.<br /><br />So you see...saving money by going green can be fun and creative.<br /><br />--<br />The author is researching recyclable energy for his home.  Beginning with <a href="http://www.kaboodle.com/iamelf/solar-powered-lights.html">outdoor solar garden lights</a>, he intends to make his house as "green" as possible.  He also writes on many topics of interests, such as finding the best <a href="http://hubpages.com/hub/Becoming-a-Medical-Coder">online medical coding school</a> to take advantage of the health care boom.<br><br>Source: <a href="http://www.articletrader.com/">http://www.articletrader.com</a> ]]></description>
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