Learning The History Of Community Theatre

national theatre

Community theatre is a theatre that is run by a local district, and by the efforts of volunteers. They offer many different kinds of productions, such as musical theatre, dance theatre and children's theatre. Usually, performers are amateurs who receive no pay, but other times professionals get involved, and they are paid. Community theatres are a great way to get involved with local thespians.

Now, most theatres around the world are community theatres. The definition of community theatre is a theatre that puts on shows that will entertain or benefit the community. In the 1880s, "little theatre" was started in Europe so that poorer people could see theatrical productions without having to travel far or pay a lot. In 1910, this idea traveled to the United States, yet these little theatres were more of an anti-Broadway movement. Most theatre productions of that time were part of "The Syndicate," which was a company that basically owned all the theatres under it and shunned anyone who wasn't a part of it. This way the owners of the Syndicate could make more money. It was nearly impossible to have a functioning theatre company outside of the Syndicate. However, during this time people began to fight against the commercialization of theatre arts, so the Syndicate did not last long.

In the early years, community theatres were even funded by the government, but when shows became too political, government funding was stopped. Community theatres of today are a little different than the old "little theatres," as most simply want to infuse a little culture into the lives of the local citizens. In many cases, these theatres are run by colleges and their theatre departments. These productions are often free of charge, or charge very little money to pay for costumes and other incidental expenses. Many also encourage the participation of children and other young people to let them develop theatrical skills, as well as to keep them busy so that they do not choose to get into trouble. Theatre is seen as a wholesome activity for young people to be involved with, and the fact that a production takes a lot of hard work and dedication is good as well.

The history and background of community theatre has had a lot of social conflict and that is probably why they are still around today. Stage productions are also a great way to bring a community together while working together on a creative goal. As well, for many, the thought of one day auditioning for a part in a national theatre show is a great inventive to get involved at the local level.

The Fonejacker

The show follows a fictional man simply called the Fonejacker, played by actor Kayvan Novak, who is a masked prank caller who calls unsuspecting members of the public as various characters. In a style similar to the classic Monty Python, the show is accompanied with snippets featuring people with animated cut-out mouths. Undercover filming is used throughout the show, depicting the Fonejacker making a call from the street to a company nearby. Sunglasses and a red and white balaclava (black in the Pilot); such is the fonejacker’s uniform.

While Kayvan Novak’s figure is kept anonymous by the Fonejacker costume, he can be clearly seen during Mr. Doovdé’s calls, advertising DVD players and dfs. as a model.

“To seize control of a telephone conversation by farce esp - to divert it from reason and logic” – such is the definition of “fonejack” as presented in the beginning of each episode, after which the Fonejacker plays Mr Doovdé while using an American payphone to call the Directory Enquires. Mike switched roles with Mr Doovdé, in headlining the fifth episode.

The last episode of series 1 revealed that two callers had previously been fonejacked by Terry, implying that the second series of the fonejacker does not tell the victim the call was a joke. Those two victims hadn’t appeared in previous episodes, so not all Fonejacks are broadcast.

Channel 4 runs a show called Comedy Lab centered on the new comic talent; this is where Fonejacker’s pilot first aired, in 2006. After much popularity, it was given a six-part series in October 2006 for it to broadcast on E4 in April in the following year. There was a five-minute short version of the pilot titled Fonejacker’s Christmas Message; it was broadcast on December 29, 2006, as a Christmas special. Fonejacker: Coming April 2007 - Don't Pick Up The Phone; this message came as a warning, in the end of the show.

In March, Channel 4 and E4 started airing a teaser trailer for the upcoming series; the advert was comprised of clips from the show’s pilot. However, due to undisclosed reasons, the show was put on hold, and wasn't aired in April. After this, chat spread that the show would start on June 7 2007, which was also fake. Fans started feeling hopeless, however in June new trailers got aired. The new clips showed a television within the Fonejacker’s own flat which broadcasted a news report, even as he proceeded to make his calls: "New sightings of the Fonejacker". The latest clip invariably ended with the motto Don't Pick Up The Phone, along with the same E4 website. This was followed a couple of days after by a newer alternative advert.

It was only a few hours before the first show, and the Fonejacker struck: he called as Terry Tibbs into Big Brother’s Little Brother to chat with a girl called Carrie about a Rolls Royce. Apparently, no mention had been made concerning Fonejacker, since presenter Dermot O’Leary seemed quite confused. Throughout the entire night, part of the show’s advertisement included a “Fonejacker Tonight 10-30” sign that was displayed under E4’s on-screen logo.

The fan site has many soundboards, im quite particular to the fonejacker soundboards that features terry tibbs, this one always makes me giggle.

Fonejacker’s first broadcast as an independent show took place on the 5th of July 2007 at 10-30 pm, making no reservations against strong profanity.The second series started on 9 September 2008. It’s still unknown if there will be a third series.

Is An Indiana Jones Adult Costume Perfect For You?

This year, consider an Indiana Jones Halloween costume.  The swashbuckling professor is a great choice for anyone who's ever secretly wanted to be an adventurer.  The world shown in the movies might not be the way archeology really works, but it's certainly a lot of fun!

The first movie to star Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones was Raiders of the Lost Ark in 1981.  This was followed up by Temple of Doom in 1984 and then the Last Crusade.  Recently, Indy returned to the big screen with Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, reviving him as a popular character choice for Halloween costumes.

It can be tricky to dress as Jones, since the relative simplicity of the costume pieces means it's important to get them right.  Much of the time, Indy wears a trademark hat and leather flight jacket, and carries the all-important bullwhip.  Most of his clothes are khaki colored, and he carries a leather bag, originally for gas masks, where artifacts are stored.  In some of the movies, he also carries a WWI pistol.

If you're assembling your costume from scratch, you'll have to pay careful attention to what you choose.  The wrong style of hat, jacket, or shirt could make your efforts look strange.  Many people will choose to buy their Indiana Jones Adult Costume instead of making one, since licensed costumes make dressing up and looking great a lot easier.

There are costumes out there for both kids and adults, in the whole range of quality and price.  Lower end costumes for Indiana Jones cost around thirty dollars, and will include a printer shirt in polyester, as well as all the accessories you'll need.  You can also get a better fit and higher accuracy, but prices go up as quality does.

It's a good idea to buy well made costumes that will last a long time and stay comfortable.  Quality costumes will last the night and be used for several years.  You might pay more for a good costume, but it'll look better, feel better, and wear longer than a very cheap one.

If you're hoping for a discount on your costume, consider shopping online.  You'll find a better selection and better prices, too.  No ordinary store can hope to match the array of costumes available on the Internet!  Shop around to find the perfect costume for you, and get a great deal, too.  Just remember to factor in shopping costs, and order your costume early enough to be sure you'll get it in time for Halloween.

An Indiana Jones Child Costume is the perfect choice if you're feeling adventurous this year.  Don't wait until Halloween is almost here - your costume could be sold out!  Take the time to look online - a little bit of shopping could make it easy to find the perfect costume.

Audio Books for the Blind: An Evaluation

If you want to talk about technology creating a feel good humanitarian story, then look no further than audio books for the blind.

We live in a world where information travels through the form of computer screens, newspapers and textbooks. Blind people have long struggled with many of the things that most people take for granted, including the ability to simply open a book, magazine, or newspaper and read the contents.

In today's society, we obtain a great deal of information and entertainment using computers and the internet. Because they are very image-based, blind and visually impaired people struggle much more to access comparable information. Nor is Braille that much more convenient. While it does allow people to enjoy written language, it can be expensive and out of reach for many blind people.

When audio books for blind people were developed, it opened many doors for the blind, allowing them to easily download audio books, hear a story, and stay updated on current events.

For the first time, visually impaired people could go online and download audiobooks of their choice. The mass production of audio books for the blind, the opportunity came to learn in a way that had never been available before. In addition, the audio books were inexpensive or even free, making them accessible to most blind people.

It is clear that audio books for the blind have really helped many people obtain an education that they would not have had ten or in some cases even five years ago, and it is yet another example of how the technological world we live in has created huge advantages for people everywhere.

The scope of unabridged audiobooks for the blind is unlimited, giving visually impaired people the ability to enjoy subjects like art, music, drama, history, economics, geography, literature, and more. This would have been unimaginable - or at least a dream - even a few years ago.

Great advances that have been made in blind education through audio books in the core areas of reading, writing, mathematics and science, and as a result, blind people are able to easily access educational audio books.

There is more to audio books than education. They can be accessed solely for the pleasure of hearing a story. Thousands of titles are available in audio formats, including popular and contemporary authors, classics, fiction, non-fiction, and much more.

With all the technological advancements being made, it is easy to forget the people that are an integral part of the equation. Audio books for the blind are an example of technology at its best and most helpful.  

Wii Game Downloads

A vast amount of people wish to know if they can download free Wii games as the new Wii console has become increasingly popular over recent time. A wide variety of sites can be found when you search online which are offering Wii game downloads and the possibilities of obtaining the games. Whether these particular sites are in fact reliable as well as being virus free and providing games that are of quality is difficult to verify.

Good Wii sites will offer older games as well as new releases.

You have the ability to download your old favorites, as well as demanded new games as classic Nintendo games are supported by the Wii. Do a search for a site offering a good variety of different games if downloading free Wii games is something that you wish to do. Never give your personal information or money to a site that you do not trust, or one that does not feel quite right. Remain with sites that have been well designed and will not sell your personal information or overload your computer with malware.

Generally, the websites that offer Wii game downloads can be split into two different kinds. With some, you are charged for every download that you make, whereas others will allow you access to an unlimited number of downloads for a one-time flat rate. The number of games you require is likely to determine which kind of website you select. If you wish to download extensive Wii games, then the offer of unlimited downloads would be the best choice for you. For one special Wii game that you cannot locate anywhere else, it will be cheaper to pay for that download only and may be the better choice.

Special software may need to be downloaded in order to download free Wii games. The software could possibly connect you to other users of the site, which will enable you to download the Wii games that you require or connect you to the main server of that site. An emulator operates in exactly the same way as the Nintendo console would and is required to play downloaded games on your computer.

Locating a website that you can download free Wii games from is simple but it can be a little more difficult to select a site from which you wish to download the games. Before you select one for downloading, check all available sites with caution. Once you have selected the website of your choice, then you could be downloading your favorite Wii games within only a few minutes of registering.

OBJECTIVES OF THE VISUAL ARTS

It is very difficult to stake out clearly the boundaries which separate art from non-art. As suggested above, this requires a judgment of value, i. e. the separation of the good from the ordinary, average, or bad. We shall try to come to grips with this problem in a later lesson. In addition to the problem of quality, there is that of the objectives, the aims of art. These have often been formulated, usually without any very conclusive results. Here are some of the most common attempts at defining the objectives of art:

1. Art should be the Imitation (or Interpretation) of Nature.

2. Art is the Self-Expression of a Great Personality.

3. Art is the Creation of Beauty,

4. Art is a Language for the Conveying of Great Ideas.

And there are others. Each contains an element of truth, is partly true -- but if applied singly, narrowly, each hopelessly distorts the meaning of art. There are, in fact, many baffling mysteries about art which will probably never be resolved. What, for ex­ample, is the exact psychological nature of what we call "talent"?

Why is it a fact that the contribution of women to the visual arts has been negligible? Why is art so largely independent of high levels of civilization (great art has been produced by savages) or of material prosperity (great art has been pro­duced in times of deep misery)? We shall not resolve these questions, but we shall raise them and discuss them, and they will increase our understanding of art.

For the time being, let us frame this tentative and modest definition: Art is the form (visual and tactile) into which men may translate their experience of life -– regardless of whether this experience be drawn from the observation of nature or from the imagin­ation. Whether or not this imaginative record of experience carries a specific mes­sage, it has the power of illuminating thought and feeling and can arouse intense pleas­ure in those who receive it with sympathy.

Canvas Painting for the Beginner

A MEMORABLE EVENT IN MY CHILDHOOD

Life is full of events of all types - some of routine nature, some of special interest or importance, some pleasant, some unpleasant, some serious, some humorous. Of these, some events fade off our memory while some leave their indelible imprints on our mind. When we recall them we experience the same feeling we did when these events occurred.

I distinctly remember one such event. At that time I was about seven years old. We lived in a small town wherein we had a small house of our own with a verandah and a compound. In summer it was the usual practice to sleep on beds in the compound under the open sky, for though days were very hot, nights were cool and pleasant.

On one such summer night I was fast asleep in my bed, with a sheet over me. In the middle of the night I had a faint feeling that someone had got into my bed and was lying beside me. In those days it was usual for my younger brother to share my bed, as he was very fond of me. Sometimes he used to creep into my bed at any time in the night. So that night I thought it was my younger brother wanting to sleep by my side. Unconsciously I stretched out my sheet and covered him.

I do not know for how many hours we lay there in the same bed in the mutual warmth of our bodies. Early in the morning loud barking of dogs in the street disturbed my sleep. But when I heard a bark in my bed, I was startled. As I sat up and opened my eyes, outlet a dog from the bed and rushed to the gate to join the barking dogs. A shiver ran through my body. But it was for a moment only. The next moment I realized the ridiculous nature of the situation and burst out laughing. So it was not my younger brother, but a dog with whom I was sleeping. He must have entered the compound when the gate was open and must have remained therein until night. At tea table the whole family joined me in my loud laughter as I recounted the night's incident. Even now I chuckle to myself when I remember that incident. Those who listen to my mid-summer night's adventure roar with laughter.

FIRST TRAIN JOURNEY

Journey by train is so common and frequent that one hardly remembers any journey unless it is associated with some extraordinary experience or it leaves a deep impression in one's mind. Since a child's mind is fresh and receptive, experiences of childhood days leave a permanent impression on our mind. I vividly remember one such experience-that of my first train journey.

It was the first week of September. My father told me that we were to go to Pune to join the Ganpati festival at my maternal uncle's place. We started from Dadar station at seven by Poona Express. As this was my first train journey I was full of excitement.

I sat at the window and looked out. Things looked very strange. Masses of land, trees and buildings and telegraph poles were,coming nearer, appearing in front of my window and then receding. When another train passed by, our tram seemed to be, still for a while and then seemed to be going back. All this baffled me.The scene outside was fantastic. It had rained last night and ,water drops were dripping from the tree leaves and grass blades.

The meadows and hills seemed to be covered by a green carpet. Suddenly it was dark outside and lights of the compartment were on. My father told me that our train was passing through a tunnel dug across a mountain. This was a novel experience for me, and I enjoyed it. There were two or three more tunnels. As the train passed through the hills 1 saw waterfalls and streams. Cascades of foaming sparking water were sliding down the slopes of hills and its water running down in streams. I will never forget this wonderful spectacle.

The sight in the valley below at Khapoli seemed to be like heaven. As it was dark, the lights were on and the entire valley was adorned by beautiful necklaces of lights. My father told me that those were the lights of the powerhouse there. We enjoyed the tasty batatawadas at Khapoli. I looked outside breathlessly as our train passed through the Khandala ghats. After Lonavala our train left the mountainous region and entered the plain. It was almost noon when we reached Pune. We hired a rickshaw and went to our uncle's house. It was indeed a memorable journey.

EXPERIENCE OF THE COLLEGE LABORATORY

It was the first week of July. Our college had just started. We had our first turn of the physics practicals. Earlier our professor had told us that we would have to spend about three hours continuously for practical work. This was quite different from the practical work in school. In school we usually devoted half an hour or sometimes an hour to perform an experiment.

As I entered the laboratory I was surprised by the size of the laboratory. It was a very big hall. There were big tables in the laboratory for performing experiments.

It being our first visit to the laboratory our professor explained to us the importance of experimental work in the study of science and the method we were usually expected to follow.

lawyer's, a merchant's and a bank-clerk's. All these people make a colourful combination of diverse people with diverse pursuits in life. The professor is no doubt a good man but a little absent-minded. For instance, last month, he borrowed a hundred rupees from my father but he believes that he had lent hundred rupees to my father. He once asked my father to return the loan as soon as possible!

The engineer occupies the flat above us. He is a hen-pecked husband. His wife throws all the rubbish out of the window. A great deal of the rubbish falls in our balcony. We have often complained to her but to no avail. We have to put up with all this with philosophic calm. The lawyer is in the regular habit of arguing and quarreling with his wife. But she is more than a match for him. The poor fellow is then forced to keep quiet. The merchant is a chain-smoker and so we jokingly call him the 'chimney'. But we rarely see him home during the day time, as he is mostly busy in his shop.

The bank clerk is fond of singing in his bath-room. He is under the illusion that he is an expert vocalist. There are three babies, six school-going children, two collegians, and a dog in the building. The principal occupation of the babies is to go on crying far into the night! The dog thinks that it is his sacred duty to chew up our shoes. Far from being useful to us, he has become an intolerable nuisance. Children often quarrel while playing. But they soon patch up their quarrels and come together. They help one another in studies. Sometimes the elders quarrel when one of the boys accidentally breaks a window-pane while playing cricket in the compound. However, we come together in the true spirit of co-operation and celebrate the festivals like Holi and Diwali happily together. We come together during the celebration of festivals and social ceremonies. We stand by one another in periods of emergencies or illness.

FIRST JOURNEY BY AIR

Journey by air is very common in Europe and America but it is not so common in India because most of the people in India cannot afford the prohibitive fare.

I had my first opportunity to fly last March. I had to attend my cousin's marriage at Nagpur. As my annual examination was near, it was decided that I should go there by plane.

My heart was full of the anticipated pleasure and thrill of a novel experience on the morning of my departure. At first I reported myself at the check-in counter for Nagpur and showed my ticket. I handed my suitcase over and kept my small handbag with me. A tag bearing my name was fastened to the bag and then the bag was placed on a conveyor belt which carried it off to the luggage terminal. I was then given a boarding ticket bearing my seat number and directed to the security check counter. Here my body and handbag were searched to ensure that I did not carry any weapon or prohibited thing. Then I went to the lounge and waited for the plane. Many passengers were sitting in the lounge. At 8.45 there was an announcement that passengers for Nagpur should board the plane. I boarded it and found my seat. I occupied my seat, and made myself comfortable. Exactly at nine an air-hostess welcomed the passengers on board and wished them a happy journey. She requested them to fasten their belts as the plane was about to take off.

The plane started. As it climbed up, things began to look smaller and smaller. Soon the plane was high up in the air and I could see nothing around except the blue sky with white clouds floating around.

After a few minutes an air-hostess came and offered chocolates. At half past nine we were served snacks and drinks.
As I was sitting comfortably in my cushioned chair I did not feel that the plane was flying.

At 10.10 there was an announcement. It said that the plane was about to land at Nagpur airport. The plane landed with a slight jerk and came to a halt after running some distance over the runway.

I got down, and walked to the airport building. I collected my suitcase as it came on the conveyor belt in the luggage room and went out of the airport building. I enjoyed my first air journey very much.

Is The Best Rated Cigar Truly The Best?

While many people feel that you have to spend money in order to get a quality cigar, this is not always the case when it comes down to your own personal taste. The best rated cigar is not always the right cigar for you. If you want to find the perfect cigar, you will have to find one that fits within your taste and lifestyle, rather than the best rated cigar.

Finding The Best Cigar For You

The best rate cigar in many people’s opinion is a full body cigar that comes from Cuba. While not legal to purchase these in the United States, there are many other brands that are comparable and also are known as some of the best rated cigars. But this is not usually the test of whether a smoker will like them or not. The true test is whether you prefer the best rated cigar brands over the cheaper brands. It may turn out that you  can spend significantly less money by avoiding the purchase of the best rated cigars and getting the cheaper brands that you enjoy the most.

The Best Rated Are Not Always The Best

Not only will you get the brand that you love if you try out all different brands to see which one best fits for you, but if you end up liking a cheaper brand you will be able to purchase other accessories for your cigar smoking experience. This will help you to look the part without having to spend all that money on the best rated cigars. And this can give an impression of importance and high society on those who know you. While the best rated cigars might be a status symbol, if you are hanging out with people that do not know the different between brands, you will be able to keep up your appearances and impress all of them with your expertise and knowledge of the best rated cigar brands—even if that is not what you are smoking.

If you do, however, want to spend the money on the best rated cigars, you will find that you will need to buy more accessories in order to get the best flavor and condition out of them. A humidor is recommended for those will spend a lot of money on the best rated cigars, and other accessories can become necessary once you start buying the major brands.

Installing a Home Theater System

home theater system

As anyone who has ever seen a home theater system knows, the components take up a good deal of room and for this reason, many people do not purchase them. As the world continues to fight a battle against encroaching space problems, compact systems become easier to buy in a better quality. With population growth, so grows the problem of space. Though the plantation style homes were beautiful, they are also largely a thing of the past as most current residents reside in smaller homes, apartments or condos.

Limitations brought on by small living space will frequently inhibit the addition of hefty home theater systems. The good news is that they days of huge projectors and massive televisions stands have fallen by the wayside to make way for ceiling mounted projectors and rear projector televisions that fit tightly into corners when necessary. People are also able to save space by investing in wireless speakers, which can be mounted either on the wall or in the ceiling, and in a plasma or LCD television which can also be mounted on the wall.

With advances in technology, such as box kits, there is no need for a family living in a small space to go without a home theater. No matter how small our homes might be, the advances in technology allow us to enjoy advanced sound and picture quality from the privacy of their walls. Traditional movie outlets and sporting events are inferior to a home theater because only at home can you enjoy instant replay and a great view.

Whether you are one of many around the world who has put off this purchase, which will greatly improve how you view home movie viewing, there are options that are worth considering if there are limitations on space. Such systems work better in tiny spaces than very large ones, in all actuality. As the owner of a small space, you will not face the disappointment that owners of large spaces feel when they purchase a system and discover their rooms are too large for the system. The many options that are available for small space systems should be familiar to the store workers where you shop to purchase your system.

By itself, your television would take up more room than your mounted ceiling and wall components of your home theater system. Getting rid of your old television and upgrading to a flat screen that can be mounted on a wall will allow you to free up even more floor room. The market is vast, however, and the only true way to see what might work for your space is to investigate your options. It is silly to allow your home theater system to pass you by because you assume that your space is too small when a little investigation might reveal otherwise.

Anxiety Culture

Ever feel stressed at work? Don't worry, you're not alone. Between the long hours, low pay and lack of appreciation, we've all felt like that at some time or another - you might even be feeling it right now, as you read this (don't worry, I won't tell your boss you're wasting time on some dude's blog).

If you ever get to that point where you're just thinking "screw this" with one leg dangling out of the window, may I suggest you visit www.anxietyculture.com first. It's the perfect reminder that you're not alone in hating your job, and the best thing you can do for your own sanity is try to laugh it off, and start looking for alternative employment!

Compare and Review Hosting Companies

Thinking of setting up a website? If you've done your research and know your onions already, you'll know that there are three main elements you need to get a presence online; a website, a domain name, and hosting. Your website is simply a collection of files that are saved onto a host, which is accessed whenever your domain name is entered into a web browser. There are many different types of hosting available, and to the uninitiated the choice can seem daunting.

What you need is a website hosting comparison site, such as webhostingrating.com, who offer independent customer rating of the current top 10 web hosting companies. Their host rating system is based on a combination of important factors for hosting customers, including customer satisfaction, affordability, reliability, uptime and techical support. Web Hosting Rating is the biggest searchable web hosting directory featuring complete information on all web hosting providers, their web hosting plans, promotional and discount coupons, and unedited reviews by real customers. They also run a comprehensive web hosting articles section, helping you further in choosing the right type of web hosting for your website. So, if you're thinking of setting up a website and need hosting advice, try webhostingrating.com!

Turn your desktop background into a mirror - with some cosmetic improvements!

Ever wished you could use your monitor as a mirror, for those essential touch-ups during the day? I've found a background image that somehow does just that! You'll love this little gizmo, the reflection is clear as day - I look great in it! It works as a desktop and in most graphics programs. Don't ask me how, but it just seems to work! Give it a try

Download mirror wallpaper

The Online Shopping Revolution

Remember back in the day, when you had to wait 'til the weekend to pick up your shopping? What a pain that was, having to fit it all in to those short 48 hours rest we get, especially when you (like most people) have other commitments. The advent of the internet changed all that, and over the last decade a retail revolution has been going on online. While traditional high-street retailers have struggled, online shopping has boomed thanks to low prices, and 24 hour availability. Sure, you might not have your shopping in your hand right there and then, but many online retailers now offer 24 hour delivery, which is almost as good as! And when you consider the discounts available online, combined with the fact that items can be delivered to your home or work - saving you any travelling and / or parking expenses - it's clear to see why shopping online is so popular!

Another huge benefit to online shopping is the ease with which we can now compare prices to make sure we get the best deal. You can quickly compare between popular websites, or even use comparison services which will do it for you. One of the most popular comparison sites available is Shop.com, a new kind of shopping comparison site that offers the best deals on the web. Their shopping experts draw on their industry experience and insider connections to bring customers the best collection of the stores, brands and products at the best prices. Customers can find the best prices, then get more savings with coupons. There is also a range of free shipping offers available.

TV Shows that should never have been cancelled

Ever watch Arrested Development? One of the funniest American sitcoms in years (if not ever) was cancelled in 2006 after a respectable but still all too short run of 53 episodes. I'm a big fan of the series, and was really disappointed to hear it was cancelled. It's been given the second place in NothingCorporate.com's list of 6 TV shows that should never have been cancelled. Makes me wonder if I should check out the other five!

Ever wondered who's calling?

Ever received a missed call on your cell phone from an unknown number, and hesitated to call it back because your didn't know who it was? Cell phone users in the USA can now check before they call back using the 50 State Reverse Phone Lookup directory. Their thorough reverse phone search directory includes thousands of cell numbers and landline telephones.

3D street art

Check out this page on three dimensional art. I love this stuff, it's just so creative, and really livens up the areas it can be found in. I can barely draw in two dimensions with a pencil, so I have to appreciate the talent required to accurately paint a 3D backdrop onto such a large, flat canvas. You'd have to be careful walking around these paintings though, or you might find yourself walking flat into a wall, thinking it to be a corridor or door!

Online Personal Loans

So you need a loan? Struggling to find anyone with the cash to fund it? Don't worry, you're not the only one. In these crazy times of credit crunch (everyone's new favourite cereal), it's not uncommon to be turned down for a loan by normal channels. But if you NEED the extra capital, sometimes you just can't accept a "no" and move on. If you need a loan, and no one else can help, maybe you could apply for a loan with Personal Loans Leader.com, who specialise in providing loans online. With today's high gas prices, economic instability and many financial problems, they have the solution to help bail you out and get back on track, no matter what your situation.

Holidays to Florida

I've visited the USA a few times now, for various reasons from studying to holidaying, and I've enjoyed it each and every times. I'm particularly fond of California, after staying there when I was younger. We visited Disney Land and had a great time, but it left me wondering, if this is Disney World in Florida's smaller sibling, what must it be like over there? I'd love to find out, so one day I definitely plan on heading back over to the States on a Florida holiday to witness the spectacle of the huge theme parks in Orlando, and the amazing scenery around the rest of the Sunshine State. Maybe one day when I have kids....

"What we need is a great big melting pot...

... big enough to take the world, and all it's got."

Well, so says the song. But from the vast array of dating websites available, it seems that some people prefer to stick to a certain skin tone. Far be it from me to judge, we have have our personal preferences!

Blackscene.com is a site for African Americans to meet and arrange dates. If you're a girl looking for Black Guys to check out, or indeed a guy looking for black girls, or a guy looking for black guys, or a girl looking for black girls then this is the place for you. For a chance with guys like "I'M JUST LIVE'IN AND LOVE'IN LIFE" and "More Than A Conqueror" (see left), sign up today!

Make your business greener

In today's climate of concern over global warming, having an environmentally friendly business is becoming increasingly important. Not only does it clearly help the environment, but can also make your business more efficient and reduce its costs, and present a friendlier, more caring image for your brand. So how easy is it for your business to go green? Lifegoggles have posted 5 Simple Ways Your Business Can Go Green, explaining 5 easy steps to a greener worklife for your and your colleagues.

Car loans for everyone

The credit crunch seems to be hitting us all, good credit or bad. Prices are up, pay is down, but still, we need to get about! But in these tight times, it is becoming increasingly difficult for those of us with less than perfect credit histories to gain a loan for a vehicle. This is were credit companies like Apex Car Loans come in. They can consider applications from all comers, even if they have had problems in the past, and will find the best loan for you, to get you back on the road! You can apply online in 2 minutes, and drive away today!

Creaivity on the beach

Here's a picture I stumbled across the other day. I have to assume it's been photoshopped, but even so, it's a great idea and looks fantastic.



Top marks!

Tactical Ops Gear

Ever fancied yourself as a Delta Force elite? Lets face it, those guys have a style all of their own, that you just can't pick up on the high street. What you need is a reliable online source for all your tactical gear needs. That's where 5.11 Tactical come in. They carry a huge range of Tactical Pants, Shirts, Footwear, Knives, Shorts, Polos, Bags, Undergear Shirts, TDU Uniforms, Jackets, Watches, Gloves & Jumpsuits, and are able to ship most orders within 24 hours. They take pride in selling the #1 brand of tactical clothing in the world, so if it's tactical gear you need, give them a shot!

Great CSS design

CSS has caused a revolution in website design over the last few years. Gone are the static, boxy tables, in favour of great looking, user friendly layouts. Many designers are producing outstanding desings, and it seems only fair that they get to show them off!
CSS Charm is a website gallery project designed to showcase all the great CSS websites from around the world. They believe that programming is an art form, and aim to be the one-stop spot for all web design and inspiration needs.

Get the best payday loan for you

We're all having to be careful with our money these days. Credit crunch, credit crunch, credit crunch is all we're hearing. But sometimes, no matter how well we budget, plans change and unforeseen circumstances arise that leave you short on cash before the end of the month. It's nothing to be ashamed of, and not the end of the world. Pay Day Advance loans are a short term solution to your problem, allowing you to borrow the money you need to see you through, to be paid back later, when money isn't so thin on the ground.

Of course, you need to be responsible with your borrowing. You should ensure that you borrow an amount you can pay back, and you should be sure you're getting the right loan for you. Complete Loan Source can help track down the best Cash Advance for you, to make sure you get the best deal. They are available across the US for all types of credit.

SEO in Manchester

I've mentioned before how interested I am in the various ways of generating traffic to your site, and that I've found one of the most effective methods to be search engine optimisation. I seem to be doing okay so far on my little blog, but if I needed professional work doing I'd look to a local SEO company, such as these SEO Manchester providers. Maybe I'll hire them once I'm running my business empire!

Transformers Animated

I've been a massive fan of everything to do with Transformers for years, so you can imagine how excited I've been by the recent revival in interest caused by last years big screen movie. A new animated series - Transformers Animated - has also been created to tie in with the franchise, I've seen a few episodes and it rocks!

News story of the day: Iron Age bodies at park-and-ride

A team of archaeologists in my home town of Leicester has uncovered several ancient bodies at the site of a new park-and-ride development.

Excavations are continuing in Enderby after what are thought to be four skeletons from the Iron Age - dating from before 43AD - were discovered.

The team from the University of Leicester said there were probably more bodies buried at the site.

Read more...

Bargain Stylish Glasses

Both my parents wear glasses, making it it all the more surprising that, as yet, neither my brother or I have had any problems with our eyesight - seems it must have skipped a generation! I have to say I'm relieved - looking at the amount new glasses can cost, and knowing how clumsy I am, I don't know if my wallet could take it!

Times change, though, so if in future I needed to start wearing glasses, I'm pretty sure I'd buy them online. Stores such as zennioptical.com can sell glasses much cheaper than the high street stores because they sell only their own manufactured frames (rather than the rip off "designer" brands) direct to the customer, with no middlemen and virtually no advertising budget. They have a huge selection of frames, with single vision lens, sunsensor (potochromic)lens, tinted suglasses lens, bifocal lens and progressive lenses, so you can be pretty sure you'll be able to find what you're looking for! Why pay more?

This post brought to you by Zenni Optical

Looking Dragon Optical Illusion

I just love this optical illusion - it freaked me out the first time I saw it, but once you know how it works it seems so simple.

Check out this video to see how it works, you'll be amazed. I've actually made this illusion for myself using this template and it really does work.

See more optical illusions here!

Medical ID Bracelets

I've always been grateful that I've never had to worry too much about my health - nature seems to have dealt me a good hand and (so far) I haven't had to worry about any ongoing conditions. If I did, however, I would make sure I regularly wore a Medical Alert Necklace. These necklaces are an excellent way of making sure that any medical conditions you might have are taken into consideration should you require emergency treatment. You can build one in three easy steps - choose your engraving, choose your metal type and pick a chain. Perfect for anyone with heamophilia, diabetes or other conditions that require special attention. You never know when it could save your life!

This post brought to you by Universal Medical ID

Amazing Photographs

Check out these awesome photoshops I just stumbled across. Some of them are so dramatic!

I really love the photoshop effects that have been used to change the tone of most of them, but it does go to show how much an image can be modified from the original source to seem much more striking. We could all do well to remember this when flicking through the perfect images of people and places we see in glossy magazines - in most cases it's an impossible ideal that does not exist anywhere other than on a graphic designer's hard drive.

Guitar Hero Skins

My fiance and I recently bought Guitar Hero for the Wii after trying it at a friends, and we have become hooked. "Playing" along to some of the best ever guitar tracks is so much fun, and it gets so much harder as you progress that you'll never get bored! In fact, if I HAD to pick one boring thing about the game, it'd be the plain old Gibson replica guitar that is supplied. You can jazz it up with the supplied stickers, but by far the best way is to add a guitar hero 2 skin. You can make a skin using your own images, to make your guitar look *exactly* the way you want it to! Awesome!

This post brought to you by Skins By Me

Expensive booze should be drank in style

I've never really been into "design" as an activity or expression, mainly because I'm completely hopeless at it. I'm definitely a "function over form" kinda person, but ocassionally you'll see something that combines the two so brilliantly that you just have to have it.

I just spotted these fantastic Cognác glasses over at Charles & Marie. I think they're great, and a perfect example of a "I can't believe noone's thought of that before" design.

I don't even drink Cognác, but you can bet your boots I would I had a set of these.

Watch TV online

With the recent rise of the Internet and digital terrestrial TV, paid suppliers of subscription TV like Sky and Virgin must be bricking it. If, somehow, there's nothing on the 40+ digital channels you want to watch, you can always log on and watch whatever you like from the last 30 days of BBC, ITV and Channel 4. Awesome.

I gots to gets paid!

Do you run a blog yourself? Have you ever wished there was a way to profit from the time and effort you put into writing your posts? Well, with PayPerPost you can.

PayPerPost maintain a directory of interesting web sites and pages that are in need of some promotion and traffic, and the owners of these sites are prepared to offer rewards to bloggers who mention and link them. There’s never any pressure, so there’s no need to promote something unless you’re really enthusiastic about the service, product or site on offer.

I’ve been maintaining my links here for while now and plan on still only posting interesting and fun stuff for you to check out - a mixture of sponsored cool stuff from PayPerPost and links to my favourite sites as I come across them on the journey through the interwebs.

I’ve seen that it’s possible to make a decent amount of cash using this new system, and with credit card bills to pay, I’m looking forward to my first payout!

I found out about PayPerPost on Make Money Online blog. It’s just one of hundreds of ways people are becoming rich from their bedrooms using the Internet!

Entertainment bargains

Over the past few years it has become more and more common to pick up music, DVDs, games and other entertainment items over the internet, rather than wait 'til the weekend to pick it up from the store. One of the main driving factors behind this has been the savings that can be made - without the overheads of traditional entertainment stores such as Zavvi and HMV, items can be sold much cheaper.

I've been taking advantage of the savings since around 1999, and I've always turned to play.com first. Their prices are often the best, and their delivery times are usually fantastic.

Love music?

As an avid music fan I'm always on the lookout for new sources of info on the best bands. One of my favourite websites for keeping up to date on the scene recently has been Stereogum. I find it especially good for finding new American indie bands, who often don't get much press over in the UK.

Crazy roommates!

Ever had to share a house or flat with someone you just didn't get? This guy does, and keeps an awesome blog charting the daily grind of having to put up with it. Keeps me laughing whenever he updates!

Are you the Best of the Web?

Following on from my earlier post about Search Engine Optimisation, a great way to help improve your rankings is to get plenty of high quality sites to link to you.

The Best Of The Web is a human edited directory that only accepts the best. There is a service fee, but being connected to from this site is a fantastic "vote" for the quality of your site! Recommended!

SEO - improve your position in Google!

I've recently been made aware of Search Engine Optimisation and how it can seriously effect the level of traffic visiting your website.

Where do people go to find information on the internet? Google, of course! If you can't be found on Google, you might as well not exist. By applying SEO to your website you can increase the chances that Google will find and rank your website well for relevant terms. Thankfully there's tons of information out there for free on how to optimise your website, such as this very popular SEO Blog. Take a look, take some tips, make some changes and see your traffic soar!

Alien Abduction Insurance

I bet you thought you'd never need Insurance against Alien Abduction?

Think again.

Charlie Brooker: Again

Back when I started this blog in 2006, one of the first links I gave you was to Charlie Brooker's Screen Burn, a collection of one of my favourite columnist's writings on British TV. He's since started another column in the same paper under the "Comment Is Free" section. Recommended reading for anyone with a sense of humour.

"The Office" comes to life

Overheard in The Office catalogues some of the more bizarre statements that crop up out of the mundanity of regular office working. Some of these quotes are pure gold, and seem even funnier when given slightly out of context.

Anyone who's worked the old 9-5 will no doubt laugh and cringe in equal measures.

Hell is other people (and their notes)

One of my regular reads recently has been Passive Aggressive Notes. Having lived in shared accomodation these notes seem rather familiar!

It's always fun to see people air their dirty laundry in public - check out a few posts and I guarantee you'll be hooked!

It's been a while....

Wow... how time flies!

It's been almost a couple of years since I last dropped by this place to recommend any new links to you all, my apologies for that! I've been busy with the new job and just haven't been able to find the time. I've rediscovered my love of blogging recently, however, and want to get back to posting some fine links to you good people.

For today, I'm going to suggest you take a look at The Internet Now In Handy Book Form for an hilarious spoof on the Internet and some of the most famous websites, including CrackBook and Schmapple.

Stick around, you might see something else you like!

Yoda, why you bein' a playa hater?

Another old one, this, and you've probably already seen it, but worth linking to all the same, as it's flippin' awesome.

Star Wars Gangsta Rap