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Citation Details Title: Municipal Challenge goes to the movies. (Arts News).(Municipal Ch
Add A Hot Tub And Spa To The Backyard For Ultimate Relaxation
Water is a soothing element. Staring at the ocean waves or watching a lake ripple from the breeze can invoke a sense of calmness in a person. Now imagine bringing that quality right into your own backyard. It would transform an ordinary backyard into an oasis of relaxation and provide the perfect escape from a hectic day at the office. A hot tub and spa can also be a great source of entertainment for family gatherings and parties with friends.
Hot tubs offer tremendous amounts of customized features without breaking the bank. In a basic format, every hot tub will contain places for people to sit and a jet propulsion system that moves water in a motion that mirrors that of a hands-on massage. Everything from the number and style of seating to swimming workout capabilities are available with a Cheap hot tub.
The great element of customization lies in seating arrangements. Potential owners can select from an intimate setting for two all the way up to a comfortable 8 person seating arrangement. There can be individual seating in a side-by-side format, lounge chair seating or a combination of each. Seating is accommodated in circular, square or octagon layouts providing enough room for one to eight people that can comfortably enjoy the relaxation and soothing elements of a hot tub.
Double duty hot tubs offering a swimming workout section and a relaxation section eliminates the need to go to the local pool or gym for exercise. Athletic enthusiasts or anyone looking to get in a simple fitness routine can benefit from the swimming spas available on the market. On one side there is a single person swimming area that averages 19 feet in length. On the other side is a traditional hot tub that provides a great cool down spot for that hard swimming workout.
Backyard parties can be taken to a whole new level with entertainment features available such as built in speakers and televisions. There is even the option of providing customized lighting in soothing colors that can change with the music if desired. Stereos bring music to the calming environment of the water with speakers housed in the hot tub cabinetry. Customizable options include adding a stereo, a television or a television with a DVD player. For additional entertainment factors add all three to create a hot tub theatre system.
Stop killing yourself with work, bad habits and Indoor Living – Take A Vacation From The Rat Race & Starting Treating Yourself and Family To Healthy Living With Outdoor Sports and Games…
Why Writers Should Publish Their Work With Open Books
Why should a writer make the conscious decision to publish his work with a publisher that intends to give that work away to the public free of charge?
For that matter, why should any publisher make the conscious decision to give away its product? Or its investment, even if that investment is primarily in time and/or labor?
To answer both questions, allow me to cite the current strike by the television and screenwriters’ union now underway in the United States. The reason that the writers and their support teams are striking is that they want to be paid for their work (they are asking for only a few cents per dollar made by studios and producers) as it becomes available on the Internet. They understand that within a very short time all content now available only on television will be predominantly available online, and they further realize that if they are not entitled to royalties from that medium, then they will be working for free.
The fact is that some television and screenwriters already have such clauses in their contracts, but it is also true that most have never collected a single penny of that money from the studios, so they too are supporting the striking writers.
Now, let’s suppose, for a moment, that the studios give in to the demands of the writers and agree to pay them a percentage of revenues derived from airing shows online. Will this solve the problem at hand? I maintain that it will not. Because what is to prevent someone from simply copying the material aired online and distributing it (either for a profit or free of charge) to anyone who wants to view it? The traditional answer to such a question is the enforcement of copyright law; but anyone who has even a modicum of experience on the broadband-delivered Internet understands that such laws are, by the nature of the medium itself, not enforceable. Even if a few of the pirates could be caught and brought to justice, and an example made of them, the vast majority of those engaging in distributing content illegally would escape detection. The reality is that it is simply impossible to police the entire worldwide web for piracy. And as more and more content is distributed freely to consumers, the financial value of that content must decline, until the monetary value is, in the end, zero.
So why not give away the content from day one? Why not scrap the old system of royalty payments for writers (and other artists) in favor of a system more appropriate to the evolving medium?
That is exactly the position of Open Books. It is also the position of The Real News. In fact, many forward-thinking organizations already understand that the way writers and artists are traditionally paid must change. The prolific and pedestrian nature of online productions (it is not overstating the issue to assert that many consumers have already abandoned their televisions, or the local book barn, or the cinema multiplex in favor of the Internet as their primary source of receiving media (and we are admittedly still in the very beginning stages of user-supplied content, which even such traditional networks as CNN already solicit and embrace), demand a radical re-thinking of business models that are now essentially outdated. Whether such content is news, or the latest political book, or a literary novel, or even the latest sit-com or satire, traditional sources of production will no longer maintain the exclusivity they have long enjoyed, and that’s good news for everybody except those traditional producers. Quantity will surely increase; quality will command a premium from consumers. Variety will thrive, even as price declines.
Now, back to the initial question posed by this article: Why should writers publish their work with a publisher that intends to give it away free to the public?
The answer is, if not obvious, certainly inescapable: a system such as the one employed by Open Books (or by The Real News, or even by the Public Broadcasting System in the U.S.) – which is to develop and maintain a network of voluntary contributors, or patrons – is not only inevitable, but desirable, because it encourages the reconstitution of quality content (and patrons will presumably demand quality – or at least value – in return for their contribution), and because the producer is no longer responsible or beholding to shareholders. Under such a business model, the content comes first; funding for that product is voluntary and comes after production, and even after distribution and consumption.
I think one can see why the growth of the Internet – especially now that it is supplied at more than a megabyte per second – is sounding the death bell for the royalty system of payment for content providers. Even as screenwriters strike for a miniscule portion of an ever-shrinking pie, many forward-thinking producers of content are already embracing new ideas and new models of compensation. Open Books, for example, is able to pay writers 25% of revenues derived from the publication of their work – three and a half times what they might earn from conventional royalties (not to mention distributing an additional 25% back into the arts community, as well as funding literacy programs). In addition, Open Books’ online publications are distributed immediately and instantly to a world wide audience at virtually no cost (in comparison with paper book publishers that must pay ever-increasing costs for materials and labor and transportation and damaged products and returns and recycling), and the potential readership is many times greater than it is with even the largest conventional book publishers. Not to mention that the possibility for publicity is also many times greater, and many times cheaper to initiate. The only catch is this: Will the consumer voluntarily support the publisher, the product, and the artist, or will he simply consume the product without paying anything? After all, there is nothing to stop him from doing so, just as there is nothing to stop pirates from appropriating content once it is available online.
We at Open Books believe that consumers are indeed willing to pay for what others make available, providing it supplies him with the type of content (and the quality) he wants. In fact, this system has been working for PBS (Public Broadcasting System) and for NPR (National Public Radio) in the US for years. The Real News (a new, viewer supported online news channel in Canada) is in the process of launching its effort to coincide with the 2008 presidential campaign in the USA. Here at Open Books – new to this model as we are – we have already received unsolicited donations from those who appreciate the books we have thus far published online and offered for free. And in fact, everyday we find new viewers visiting our web site that have arrived there by using keyword searches containing the words ‘free’ and ‘books’ and ‘online’. Even as we navigate such uncharted waters, we already understand that finding our audience is more a matter of ‘connecting the dots’ than anything else. We believe that the desire for quality content has never been greater, even if it remains for the time being underground.
We also believe that the medium itself has determined an inevitable new reality – in content, in presentation, in promotion, and most of all in payment to producers. We at Open Books invite all writers – previously published or not, unknown or famous – to consider publishing online and offering their work to the public free of charge. We believe that payment will not only be forthcoming, but that the level of quality will experience an unprecedented reconstitution. And that is indeed the best of all worlds!
* Check out our new CineBox model at www.openaircinema.us * Open Air Cinema’s CineBox is the most advanced outdoor cinema system available today. It offers a huge inflatable movie screen and an all-in-one audio/visual console with the best in pro-audio sound and outdoor video projection. Most importantly, everything, including the projector and wireless microphone, are pre-connected and ready to go. Just remove the lid, power on, and hit play. CineBox now includes a training DVD which you can watch in the CineBox DVD player before setup! Any of your employees can manage CineBox. openaircinema.us Video Rating: 4 / 5
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How To Plan A Summer Party: Inflatable Rentals, Water Slides & Outdoor Movies
The end of the school season is approaching and that means fun summer parties! Planning a party can sometimes be so overwhelming that families avoid throwing them. That doesn’t have to be the case this summer – often it is the simplest parties that are the most successful!
While a summer party is fun, they can also be a great way to reconnect with neighbors and school friends, break up a summer full of sports, vacations and camp, and spend quality time celebrating with your family.
By following some simple suggestions, such as including inflatable rentals, water slides, and outdoor movies in your plan, your party is sure to be an easy success. Plan your party around a specific big-ticket item, such as an inflatable obstacle course, to get the party-goers excited.
Invitations
Get things started by sending out invitations early. Have children create their own construction paper invitations or get creative and hand deliver balloons with invitations inside, cupcakes with save-the-date information on the icing, or hand-made adventure park admission tickets that children can present to access one of the inflatable rentals at your party.
The most important thing is to let people know the date of the party, the time and any special instructions required – like wearing a bathing suit!
Food
Food and beverages don’t have to be extravagant – consider finger foods, pizza and outdoor classics such as hamburgers and hot dogs. Just remember to make it fun and easy to clean up! An outdoor party in the summer is an excellent time to break out popsicles for the kids and fresh fruit like watermelon or peaches.
Another option, an ice cream sundae bar equipped with fixings such as ice cream, candy toppings and chocolate sauce, is a sweet end to any meal. Drinks can be as simple as pitchers of lemonade or a cooler filled with water bottles or cans of soda.
Inflatable Rentals
Once the food and snacks are planned out, consider entertainment options. Inflatable rentals are a big hit with children of all ages, and adults are even able to partake in the fun! Allow children to slide down inflatable slides, navigate through inflatable obstacle courses, or test out their champion skills in an inflatable boxing ring – the options for outdoor inflatable rentals are limitless!
Nighttime
After a tiring day playing in the inflatable rentals, wind down the party with a number of outdoor movie options. Viewing screens that project movies on an inflatable surface are sure to be a crowd pleaser. Set up a viewing area outside and pick from a variety of children’s movies, along with classic movie snacks like popcorn and gummy worms, to end the night. Provide blankets and lawn chairs for everyone to relax and make sure there are flashlights or outside lamps so that everyone is safe.
The options are unlimited when it comes to planning a spring party. Ensure that a detailed checklist is set up to guarantee that inflatable rentals will be at the party, the movie is picked out, and the food is prepared for the day of the party. After that, sit back, relax, and have fun!
When a science fiction film is being produced, it’s not surprising that many of the film’s backgrounds are created using computer generated imaging or built on a studio back lot. That’s because this is a fantastic film that’s not based in reality, or at least for the most part. But, when a film is trying to deliver a believable story, studios will usually opt for actual, physical Los Angeles film locations to serve as the backdrop.
For this type of movie, the producers may require an average-looking single family dwelling in which the film’s family will be experiencing some type of inner turmoil or crisis. Or, they may need a slightly dilapidated apartment building to lend their story the realistic atmosphere of inner city plight.
While studio craftsman and technicians can pull off some incredible effects and magical moments; this type of realism can only be found at Los Angeles film locations that actually exist.
Additionally, when a studio is producing a film, television program or commercial, time is money. And most executives don’t want to wait for a backdrop to be created from scratch; they would rather pay for a Los Angeles film location that’s already available and ready for filming. Therefore, studios of all sizes are constantly on the lookout for suitable film locations in Los Angeles or the surrounding area that conveniently fit within their script’s set descriptions and timeframe allowances.
For those individuals who register their property as a Los Angeles film location, their property will be made available for viewing through online databases like the one available from FiveStarFilmLocations.com. It is through these directories that many studio location scouts find their ideal Los Angeles film locations. Once your property is chosen as a film location, the studio will pay you a daily rate for the right to use it in their production. And depending on a number of factors, that could be quite a significant amount of money.
To learn more about making money by registering your property as a Los Angeles film location, visit FiveStarFilmLocations.com today or call 323-654-3900.
The Theatre of Dreams becomes a Nightmare!!-Part 1
On March 14, 2009, this statement became to anyone that is proud to be a Man Utd fan. The ‘Red devils’, as they are commonly known, received one of their worst losses at their backyard in Old Trafford, Manchester. The reds were beaten by their long time rivals, Liverpool, who also happen to wear red at their home ground at Arnfield. This was deemed to be an explosive match and this it what it actually turned out to be…very explosive on the Man Utd side.
Starting line ups
Man Utd: Van der Sar (GK), Evra, Vidic, Ferdinand, Oshea, Ji Sung Park, Carrick, Anderson, Ronaldo, Tevez and Rooney
It all started when Tevez happened to give Ji Sung Park a lovely through ball in the 18 yard box leading Reina to try and get the ball and in the process, he tripped Park. Ronaldo, the usually spot kick person for Man Utd, put the ball in the far corner…score Man Utd 1 Liverpool 0.
You should have seen the heart that the Liverpool players had…they were playing as if nothing had happened and they knew the game was wide from over. Not so long after that a long lob by Fabio Aurielio found the Man Utd defense asleep (especially Nemaja Vidic). The ball bounce the first time near the centre half and went over Vidic. As he tried to follow up to try and clear the ball, El Nino (the man Torres himself), was right behind his heels and was able to outsmart the experienced defender and put an easy goal behind Van der Sar…score Man utd 1 Liverpool 1.
The game then…read the complete article and others here. Read the complete story
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