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Archive for the ‘Entertainment’ Category

Movies Where Michelle Rodriguez Acts Tough

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Besides having the best and brightest teeth in Hollywood, actress Michelle Rodriguez seems to have cornered the market on playing the tough Latina roles. This list includes some of her most badass roles yet, and keep in mind that you can save money when seeing them by utilizing cost-cutting items such as AMC coupons.

Girlfight (2000) – Rodriguez first got noticed in this role as a feisty high school student who turns to boxing to alleviate the stress in her life. The standout scene is when she uses her skills to take on her drunken father in the kitchen.

Resident Evil (2002) – Zombies are running amok in a secret underground facility, and Michelle Rodriguez is one of the elite commandoes sent to put an end to it. To do so, she has to team up with the equally hot Milla Jovovich.

S.W.A.T. (2003) – Rodriguez plays a single mother who joins the likes of Colin Farrell, LL Cool J, and Samuel L. Jackson in protecting Los Angeles from violent crime.

Machete (2010) – Robert Rodriguez (no relation) directs this film about a double-crossed former Mexican agent (Danny Trejo) who goes looking for revenge. Michelle Rodriguez co-stars as a gun-toting taco vendor who leads an underground movement to smuggle immigrants.

Battle: Los Angeles (2011) – When aliens decide to invade our world, they’re going to have to take on the Marines…and Michelle Rodriguez. Those aliens don’t stand a chance.

As you’re reading this, Michelle Rodriguez is probably out filming another movie where she gets to scowl and punch somebody in the face. That’s music to my ears, as well as every other fan of the native Texan. The next time you go to see a Michelle Rodriguez movie at the theatre, be sure to take along some Cinemark coupons and save a few dollars.

Written by randy

March 24th, 2011 at 6:54 pm

Recommended Games to Try

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One of the best expenditures you can make in your entertainment budget is a high quality board game or card game. For the cost of a single trip to the movies, you can purchase a game that can provide dozens or even hundreds of hours of enjoyment. In this post, I’m going to suggest five board games that will please even the most finicky of game players.

1. Twilight Struggle – This one is a war game/power struggle game set during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The game takes about three hours to play, and it only supports two players. So if you’re looking for a game that the whole family can enjoy, look at one of the other suggestions. This one’s not good for younger kids either, but teenagers will love it.

2. Puerto Rico – This is my favorite game on the list. When I first heard about it, I thought it would be lame. You play a plantation owner in historical Puerto Rico, and you grow crops like coffee and sugar. But it’s incredibly engaging and fun. You can play this one with as many as five players, but it’s complex enough that it’s probably better for teens and adults than for young children.

3. Agricola – I haven’t tried this one yet, but the box and name remind me a little bit of Puerto Rico, so I’m considering investing in this game next. You play a farmer who has a shack and a wife and not much else. The actions that you can take on your turn are similar to the actions you would take if you owned a farm: building fences and things like that. You can play with up to five players, and like the other games on the list, it’s not for little kids.

4. Through the Ages: The Story of Civilization – This one is a civilization building game, and it’s pretty involved. It takes four hours to finish a game, and it’s best for teens and adults.

5. Power Grid – This one’s a strategy game for up to six players, each of whom is trying to run power plants and supply cities with power using a variety of means to generate electricity. Again, not a good one for little kids, but a fun and exciting game for older kids.

For more suggestions, see this list of popular card games and this list of popular board games.

Written by randy

March 1st, 2011 at 8:51 am

How to Become a Movie Critic

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Do you want to make a living as a movie critic? It’s not the easiest profession in the world to break into, but it can be a satisfying and lucrative career if you’re good at it. Roger Ebert seems to be making a reasonably good living anyway. (I’m not sure about Leonard Maltin or Gene Shalit, though.) But most people don’t get into the film critic business to get rich. They’re interested in movies, and they want to watch lots of movies and then write about them. Here are some tips for you if you want to pursue a career in writing about movies.

1. Get a journalism degree. Writing about movies for a newspaper or magazine is a journalism occupation, so having a degree in journalism can help open doors for you. This isn’t a strict requirement, and a film degree will work just as well as a journalism degree a lot of the time. Some people don’t need any kind of degree at all in order to make a living as a movie critic, but that’s trickier than you might think.

2. Watch a lot of movies. Don’t just watch current movies either. Film critics who have worthwhile opinions are able to put movies into the context of what’s come before. You can write a better review of the upcoming Arthur remake if you’ve seen the original Dudley Moore vehicle.

3. Read about movies. Another way to learn about films and movies is by reading a lot. Don’t just read online. Buy some books too. Don’t just read movie reviews. Read movie critic interviews, too–if you can find them.

4. Launch a website. Some people who are really good at search engine stuff can make a living running a website about movies, but that’s not as easy as some of your get rich quick gurus would like you to think it is. You don’t have to launch a site that focuses exclusively on movie reviews either. People love to read movie questions and answers, too. Movie news and movie gossip are also both popular topics to write about.

If you want to become a movie critic, you have a lot of work ahead of you.

Written by randy

February 28th, 2011 at 1:15 pm

Posted in Employment,Entertainment

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Bollywood Movies

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Bollywood Movies

If you’ve never watched Bollywood movies, you should give one or two of them a try.

“Bollywood” is the term used to describe the Hindi film industry based out of the Indian economic and financial hub city, Mumbai, though you might know it better as Bombay. The term is used wrongly by westerners to refer to the entire Indian movie industry, though India is a country with so many different sub-cultures and languages, that it truly only refers Hindi-speaking productions.

Bollywood Film Characteristics

These films tend to be musicals filled with catchy musical numbers, as well as song-and-dance routines. For American lovers of musical cinema, it’s worth it to see if your love of the genre translates to another language and transcends cultural boundaries.

Other conventions in Bollywood cinema includes comedy aspects, love triangles and romance, lots of melodrama, and thrilling sequences. Hindis call them “masala”, or mixture of spices, because these productions tend to mix action, romance, and comedy in one storyline. Indians expect to get their money’s worth when they go to the public theater, and that’s what Bollywood stories give them.

North American movie buffs who don’t mind mixed genres or 3-hour extravaganzas should take a look at a few Bollywood DVDs or blu rays. One other note: you’ll find these Bollywood producers tend to borrow heavily from popular American movies and successful foreign films. For instance, imagine the Hindi knock-off of Reservoir Dogs, but with musical numbers and dancing.

Written by randy

December 23rd, 2010 at 8:07 am

New Movies on DVD

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There are new motion pictures on DVD popping up all the time, but sometimes it can be difficult to keep up with all the alternatives on hand. This post is intended to help, as it lists some of the most enjoyable motion pictures that are newly accessible on DVD. I hope this article helps next time you are at BlockBuster searching for something to rent.

Shrek Forever After – This one has got Shrek versus Rumpelstiltskin. Donkey, Princess Fiona, Puss in Boots, Queen Lillian, and King Harold all are back for this last Shrek film.

Letters to God – An 8 year old boy with cancer writes letters to God. His sincere correspondence is read by an alcoholic postal worker, and the gentle contents within slowly inspire him to clean up his life. Containing a strong Christian message, this film is perfect for religious families.

Soul Kitchen – A German comedy film about the happenings around and in a broken-down eatery in a proletarian vicinity of Hamburg. Filled with unconventional and sympathetic characters, the movie should tickle your funny bone regardless of your nationality. One of the more intriguing of the new movies on DVD.

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole – A computer-animated movie based on the books by Kathryn Lasky, Legend of the Guardians follows the adventures of a barn owl named Soren (voiced by Jim Sturgess) as he endeavours to rescue the owl realm with assistance from a famous order of winged protectors. Zack Snyder directs.

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse – The 3rd episode of The Twilight Saga series sees vampire Victoria (Bryce Dallas Howard) attempting vengeance against gloomy teenage heroine Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) by producing an army of zombies. Even though werewolves and vampires are traditionally foes, they must set aside their differences to combat the larger threat. A great movie for teenage girls.

I hope you have enjoyed this list of brand-new motion pictures on DVD. These suggestions represent my picks for the best movies currently accessible for home video fans. Enjoy.

For more suggestions, see New Movies on DVD.

Written by randy

December 21st, 2010 at 10:23 am

The Best Scrabble Strategy

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Scrabble Strategy Tips

If you are searching for Scrabble tactics, pointers, and secrets, then you likely desire to win more often at Scrabble. We offer a few winning Scrabble hints here, and we are mostly certain that they’ll help you win at Scrabble more often. Even implementing just one or 2 of the strategies on this page will help you win more often.

Memorize Two Tile Words

If you will take the time to learn the 124 two letter words that are acceptable moves in Scrabble, then you will have a large edge over any other opponent who doesn’t know these words. 2 letter words don’t appear important, because they are not ordinarily worth a lot of points, but you can use them to play when the game board seems blocked. You can also earn startling numbers of points by making parallel plays. An online Scrabble dictionary can be a useful too.

Know When to Make a Lower Score on a Move

Frequently the best scoring word you can play is the appropriate move, but not always. One thing to consider when deciding what play to make is which letters will be left in your rack afterwards. If a word would wipe out all of the vowel tiles and only leave you with consonants, then that’s not a optimal move, because it will hamstring your next move. A mnemonic trick to help you remember letters which would be worthwhile to keep in your rack at all times is the word RETAINS. It features all the most crucial pieces, and you should attempt to keep at least some of those letters in your rack at all times.

Triple Word Scores

When you make a play that leaves your adversary the chance to utilize a triple word score space, you’re giving up a lot. Don’t forget this while you are playing, but do not disregard potentially great plays just because they open up a triple word score for your opponent.

Realize What Hooks Are

A hook is any letter of the alphabet that can be located at the beginning or end of a word in order to make a longer word. For instance, you could add the tile S to the word PLATE to make PLATES. Or you can add a S to the end of RELATE to make the word RELATES.

Skipping Your Move

Some Scrabble players waste turns by skipping their turn so they can draw a new rack of letters. This is ordinarily a good way to waste your turn without getting much of an advantage. But sometimes skipping your turn and getting a new rack is a good move. You ought to be scoring more than 10 points per play if you have a respectable rack of letters. If you’re not scoring much, then it might be time to trade out your tiles for some new pieces.

Written by randy

December 6th, 2010 at 5:11 pm

How to Build a Catapult

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A catapult is any apparatus used to fling an item over great spaces without the help of explosive devices. Catapult was most typically used in wars to hurl rocks, and flaming objects at a besieged city. Even now a catapult is still a very effective apparatus in warfare but it has been upgraded from the old siege engines used in medieval times.

If you are interested in catapults and how they function, you can make it a small assignment to create one yourself or with a few friends. Here are a few guidelines on how you may make a basic catapult with popsicle sticks. The guidelines here are for a small table-top catapult but a big catapult operates on the same principles and should run the same way if you build it with these guidelines.

How To Build A Catapult

Required Tools

Masking tape

Scissors

X-acto knife (optional)

Paper about 6 inches square

Required Materials

32 Popsicle sticks

Pencil

Rubber band

Instructions

First it ought to be mentioned that if you cannot be troubled to build your catapult from scratch and fuss around to get it just right. You may go ahead and order a catapult plan or a catapult kit which will include step-by-step instructions, pre-drilled holes, pre-cut wood, and all the nuts, bolts and other pieces you will require for construction.

Lay out a section of the masking tape with the sticky side turned up and put 2 Popsicle sticks end to end on the tape and push them firmly onto the tape. Take a third stick and place it on top of the two sticks so that the middle of the third stick is exactly over the ends of the other two sticks below. Wrap the tape securely around all three sticks at least twice.

Build 2 more of these arrangements and place all 3 of them end to end and tape them together, wrapping the tape a minimum of 3 times around each joint. Fold up the sticks into a triangle and make sure all the ends are taped together securely to make a triangle. Repeat the process outlined above and create 2 other triangles for a total of 3.

Hold 2 of the triangles together side by side and tape one part of them together. Next lay the single triangle flat on the table and split the untapped ends of the other two triangles and position them directly on the outer edge of the one on the table. The one on the table should slip exactly between the split ends of the two other triangles. Then tape it all together.

Lay 3 sticks end to end with 2 sticks on top as was done in the first step and tape them all together to create the arm of the catapult. Next it is time to create the cup of the catapult. You can use a plastic cork if you have one weightless enough or you can create a cup out of paper, and tape it just about an inch from one end of your catapult arm.

Next wrap one end of the rubber band about the catapult arm just below the cup and tape it in place. Use tape to also lock the other end of the rubber band to the top of the catapult right where all the triangles converge and you’re ready to go! Go ahead and try out your catapult.

Tips and Warnings

Ensure that your catapult arm can move easily or your catapult will not work well. If the rubber band is too short and you cannot get a larger rubber band you may link together a group of small rubber bands.

Experiment with different rubber band lengths until you get the power that you are working for.

Here you can find more information on how to build a catapult.

Written by admin

May 19th, 2010 at 2:31 am

Posted in Entertainment

How to Make a Bow And Arrow

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At some period in growing up every child hears the tale about Robin Hood or William Tell and becomes fascinated with obtaining a bow and arrow. Nowadays there are toy bow and arrows accessible including arrows that have suction cups as tips and stick to glass or other smooth surfaces but don’t do any damage.

Though real bows and arrows may do severe harm and may be utilized in survival situations to obtain rations or ward away hazards. There are also persons that use a bow and arrow for close range hunting. So if you are interested in creating a bow and arrow for fun purposes or you find yourself in a position where you need some form of weapon to survive, here are some notes to assist you to make a bow and arrow for yourself.

How To Make A Bow And Arrow

Required Tools

Sharp knife

Sandpaper (optional)

Glue

Required Materials

Hardwood stick 5-6 ft tall, 1 inch in diameter

Dry stick 2-3 feet in length, ½ inch in diameter

Hemp string

Feathers/plastic/cardboard

Flint or other arrowhead material

Instructions

The hardwood stick shall be your bow; you require it to be as straight as possible and free of bumps and limbs and somewhat bendable without breaking. If one side of the stick is larger than one, cut it down with a sharp knife to be matching with the smaller end.

Utilize the knife to cut a notch in either end of the bow approximately 1-2 inches away from the extremities to affix the bow string in place. The notches must be on the exterior of the bow and be in a semi circle form.

The parched stick shall be your arrow; shave it down in a similar way that you did the bow and cut it to make it as straight as possible. You may use sandpaper to smooth the arrows if you desire to make them extra aerodynamic but this is not a need. Next slice a small slot in the rear of the arrow for the bow string to sit in when you are firing it.

Your arrowhead may be created from bone, glass, metal, flint or tiny parts of rock, whichever is more suitable for you. Use string to secure the arrow head to the shaft of the arrow, making sure the head is not so weighted that it pulls down the arrow during flight. Glue feathers, triangular pieces of plastic or cardboard to the end of the arrow with the notch in it. Use 3 pieces and spread them equally around the arrow for stability and accuracy while the arrow is in the air.

For your bow string you may use hemp string if you have access to it but in a survival circumstance where you probably don’t have access to hemp string you may use plant fiber, velvet leaf, dogbane or nettle to create your string. The string should be about ¾ the length of the bow. Tie loops in both sides of the string and put the loops into the notches that were cut in the bow. This may require a little trying but keep trying until you get it.

Shooting a bow and arrow does call for a bit of practice so now that your bow and arrow are completed start practicing until you perfect the method.

Tips and Warnings

Dry wood will make for a better bow and arrow than green wood.

When whittling, always whittle away at the side of the stick that will be facing you, if not the bow will break at the initial pull of the bow.

You can straighten the arrow stick and stiffen the shaft by holding it over hot coals however, be cautious not to singe or burn it.

Written by admin

May 12th, 2010 at 8:32 pm

Posted in Entertainment

How to Build a Go Cart Frame

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At first when go carts came into existence they were constructed out of board and were known as push carts since the only technique to get them to go was if someone pushed them. Now on the other hand go carts use powerful 2 and 4 stroke engines and go up to speeds as great as 160mph. But the carts made for the general public like at amusement parks are limited to around 15mph for safety reasons.

Go carts are regularly used to introduce new drivers to racing. Also to prepare for real racecar driving since go carts increase a driver’s reactions, precision, control and decision-making abilities.

There are many different sorts of go carts accessible, a single seater or 2 seater, and there are numerous diverse designs. If you decide a go cart is something you would want to possess you can buy one from a manufacturer or if you have an idea of what you are doing you may make one. If you choose to try constructing one here are some things you will require.

How To Build A Go Cart Frame

Required Tools

Chop saw

Chalk

Drill

Welding torch (optional)

Required Materials

Bolts and screws

Metal tubing

Gussets

¾ inch steel rod

2 bushings

Washers

Cotton pins

3/16 inch steel plate

½ inch steel rod

Instructions

To determine the size of your go cart, you will have to, sit on the ground and use a piece of chalk to draw the outline of your legs as they may be in the go cart. So, that you have an idea of the size the go cart has to be. If you are not the individual who will be riding the go cart, have the actual rider or someone close in size assist you with the outline. You can additionally use the width of the seat or seats to decide on the width the go cart will have to be.

Using the chop saw chop up the metal tubing to construct your frame. Use the drill to put holes in the necessary sections of the metal tubing and next use the bolts and screws to join the different sections of metal tubing. If you are useful with a welding torch you may weld the pieces together rather than using bolts and screws. Use gussets in all the corners to reinforce the frame.

When you have the general outline of your go cart frame, it is time to commence putting in the extra sections to keep the engine in position, the steering and braking kits, the wheels, the seat and the roll bar if you are installing one. Weld the steel plate to the rear end of the frame to work as an engine mount later on, mark and drill out the holes required for bolting the engine in place. Use the ¾ inch steel rod and bushings to construct your axle; push washers and cotton pins through drilled holes in the axle to keep it in place.

For the steering wheel use the ½ inch steel rod for linkage. Take as much time as necessary to get the proper steering tilt and front-wheel vertical as the steering is definitely a very essential element of the car.

Tips and Warnings

If you possess no prior knowledge of what a go cart frame ought to look like you need to study it and maybe even buy construction plans or you will not know where to start.

Your go cart ought to sit around 12 inches from the ground; the lower it is the better the center of gravity will be.

Any section of the process you are not acquainted with or comfortable about performing, take it to a professional because any slight error might be detrimental later on.

Now that you know how to build a go cart frame, get started!

Written by admin

May 11th, 2010 at 12:24 am

Posted in Entertainment

Buy Movie Tickets Online

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In this time and age when it is achievable to buy cruise tickets, plane tickets, concert tickets amusement park tickets and countless other kinds of tickets on the internet, it is no surprise that movie tickets may also be purchased without standing in line at the theater – especially if it is a movie that has just been released and everyone wants to watch it, purchasing your tickets online allows you to get your tickets early with no queues to deal with and no option that the tickets are going to run out when you get to the window.

There are quite a few sites that one may choose from if one wants to buy movie tickets online; most websites ask that persons become a member the website and put in his/her details for buying tickets and then they will gain access to local show times and information regarding different theaters, as well as movie trailers and reviews. One will not even be asked to join the queue at the theater to obtain a printout of his/her purchased ticket because several theaters will accept ticket printouts which persons can do by oneself before departing from their residence or office and heading to the theater.

The good thing regarding being allowed to purchase tickets online is that you can buy them from anywhere; therefore if a person is so much as in a different country but intends to be home and at the theater within a day or two for the introduction of a specific movie, he/she may head online and safeguard his/her tickets ahead of time.

In the event that persons are not the theater type or you simply don’t feel like leaving the house one night, you may choose to watch free movies on the net; even though there are websites which need you to pay for watching movies, there are quite a few out there which allow you to watch free movies net however, while paid sites will frequently provide movies that are still being shown in theaters or have only recently stopped being shown, it often takes the free sites a bit longer to provide the movies.

There are some sites that will only allow you to see a few minutes of a movie until you pay to become a member whereas others might just provide movies to individuals in the United States, as a result if you are in another country, you will not gain access to these movies.

Naturally watching a movie on the internet without ever having to leave your house does possess a kind of allure to it if you want a calm evening but the quality online will surely not be the same as it is in theaters as the quality of quite a few new releases online is marginal at best, but if you are simply looking to hang out and are not too finicky concerning the quality, free movies on the internet ought to work for you.

If you are one of those individuals that just needs to see a movie in a theater with all the awesome sound effects and noise from the spectators, then there is absolutely no option to going to the theater.

Written by admin

April 28th, 2010 at 10:32 pm

Posted in Entertainment