Jeena John

Wednesday 30 May 2012

Tuesday 13 March 2012

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Dining is one of the most important things people do in their day, though they may not realize it. Why, because aside from quelling hunger pangs, dining is also meant to spend some quality time with the whole family. This is why close attention should be paid to make dining room as comfortable as possible. Yes it does cost some serious money but with some adjustments, even forlorn rooms can be made as satisfying as mom's home cooking without denting the pocket by much. Just how to do it? Let’s start with dining room tables, which is the focus of this article. Choosing the right dining room table goes beyond simple aesthetics. Its location determines its style and materials, for example in kitchens, a hard-wearing solid wood top is crucial; large, formal dining rooms require a table with a strong presence; if your taste veers towards modern then contemporary and modern dining tables would work best. These decisions will affect the look of the home and sense of space. So before actually going for shopping ponder over following points. Before Shopping for a Dining Room Table To fine tune your planning, here’s a list of things to consider prior to your purchase: 1. Budget – How much have you allocated? 2. Family – What is the size of your family? 3. Space – What is the size of your dining room? Cramped space makes getting in and out of chairs awkward. 4. Lifestyle – Do you entertain often? Formally or informally? 5. Usage – What other usage do you have for the table e.g. study, arts and craft? 6. Special requirements – Do you need mobility or you would want to extend it to seat 12? In addition to the above, take along the floor plan and measurements when you go shopping. Tips on Picking the Right Dining Room Table Following points would help you in selecting the right dining table: Dining Table Shape - When considering a dining room table, its shape is the most important consideration since it affects the space in your dining room. Find out the pros and cons of common shapes. For example, a circular, glass dining table may be very trendy looking and would give your dining area a modern appeal. But you would need to have a large, square-shaped area to give it enough room. Dining Table Size – Take note of the size of the dining area and the size of the table to check whether the table would have enough breathing space around it. Dining Table Material - Since the dining room table anchors the look of the space, its material affects the moods and style you’d like to bring to the room. Decide on what suits you best in terms of materials. Again, the uses you will put your dining table to will help you decide the most suitable material. Dining Table Style – Make a statement and select the right style to add character and flair to your dining room. Remember that a good dining experience needs a relaxed atmosphere so don’t get hung up on designer looks. No table should be so precious that guests are afraid of leaving smudges. Destined to be oft-used, this piece of dining room furniture must be adaptable to the household’s needs.

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Dining is one of the most important things people do in their day, though they may not realize it. Why, because aside from quelling hunger pangs, dining is also meant to spend some quality time with the whole family.

This is why close attention should be paid to make dining room as comfortable as possible. Yes it does cost some serious money but with some adjustments, even forlorn rooms can be made as satisfying as mom's home cooking without denting the pocket by much.

Just how to do it? Let’s start with dining room tables, which is the focus of this article.

Choosing the right dining room table goes beyond simple aesthetics. Its location determines its style and materials, for example in kitchens, a hard-wearing solid wood top is crucial; large, formal dining rooms require a table with a strong presence; if your taste veers towards modern then contemporary and modern dining tables would work best.

These decisions will affect the look of the home and sense of space. So before actually going for shopping ponder over following points.

Before Shopping for a Dining Room Table

To fine tune your planning, here’s a list of things to consider prior to your purchase:

1. Budget – How much have you allocated?
2. Family – What is the size of your family?
3. Space – What is the size of your dining room? Cramped space makes getting in and out of chairs awkward.
4. Lifestyle – Do you entertain often? Formally or informally?
5. Usage – What other usage do you have for the table e.g. study, arts and craft?
6. Special requirements – Do you need mobility or you would want to extend it to seat 12?

In addition to the above, take along the floor plan and measurements when you go shopping.

Tips on Picking the Right Dining Room Table

Following points would help you in selecting the right dining table:

Dining Table Shape - When considering a dining room table, its shape is the most important consideration since it affects the space in your dining room. Find out the pros and cons of common shapes. For example, a circular, glass dining table may be very trendy looking and would give your dining area a modern appeal. But you would need to have a large, square-shaped area to give it enough room.

Dining Table Size – Take note of the size of the dining area and the size of the table to check whether the table would have enough breathing space around it.

Dining Table Material - Since the dining room table anchors the look of the space, its material affects the moods and style you’d like to bring to the room. Decide on what suits you best in terms of materials. Again, the uses you will put your dining table to will help you decide the most suitable material.

Dining Table Style – Make a statement and select the right style to add character and flair to your dining room.

Remember that a good dining experience needs a relaxed atmosphere so don’t get hung up on designer looks. No table should be so precious that guests are afraid of leaving smudges. Destined to be oft-used, this piece of dining room furniture must be adaptable to the household’s needs.

Monday 12 March 2012

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You can experience the crisp and emotional songs of musicals, the beauty of design elements and the excitement of a character coming to life before your eyes. New York City's Theatre District is known for its world-class performances. Broadway is New York's top entertainment draw. This year, the Great White Way continues to showcase the popular favorites from 2005, while several new plays are also slated to open.

Continuing on from 2005 into 2006

At the Majestic Theatre, Phantom of the Opera continues to break attendance and ticket sales records. The show arrived on Broadway on January 26, 1988. On January 9th, 2006, the musical became the longest running play in the history of Broadway with its 7, 486th performance. Phantom won several Tony awards, including best musical, best performance by a lead actor (Michael Crawford as the Phantom) and best performance by a featured actress in a musical (Judy Kaye as the opera diva Carlotta Giudicelli). Additional Tony’s were awarded for lighting, scenic and costume design.

At the St. James Theatre, The Producers opened in 2005 and continues to enjoy sold out performances. The Producers has won more Tony awards than any other show on Broadway. This Mel Brooks musical is about a Broadway producer and an accountant who convince various elderly women to invest in a Broadway show. They over capitalize the show, taking in more money than they can ever payback even if it was to become a hit. They produce a musical that they are sure will never make it past opening night and make plans to take off with the money. Their "best laid plans" go awry. The Producers will run through 2006 and will continue to delight ticket buyers.

The Color Purple opened at the Broadway Theatre on December 1, 2005, and has been sold out every night since. This production has been said to stir the soul. The Color Purple grosses about 2 million dollars a week in current and advanced sales. It is considered to be one of the top 5 revenue producing musicals on the boards. Some predict that in 2006, The Color Purple may top all current musicals in ticket sales.

Other plays that broke records are Beauty and the Beast, Doubt, Jersey Boys and The Lion King. Beauty and the Beast , at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, set a record in sales of $1,229,825 and is the 6th longest running show of all time. Doubt broke records for the Walter Kerr Theatre. This play has won both Tony and Pulitzer Prizes. Jersey Boys at the August Wilson Theatre continues to be considered Broadway’s freshest and newest musical. The Lion King, another Tony winner, will be moving to the Minskoff Theatre in June 2006. This play’s record sales breaking momentum is sure to continue.

Coming in 2006

Mary Poppins, the extremely popular 1964 Walt Disney film, has made its way to Broadway. Performances will begin in October or November of 2006 at the New Amsterdam Theatre. Mary Poppins has had a tremendous run in London and will no doubt become very popular in New York.

The Wedding Singer will open on April 27, 2006 at the Al Hirshfeld Theatre. This musical is based on a very popular movie, which focuses on a man named Robbie Hart who sings in a band that performs at weddings. His desire to find the girl of his dreams comes at one of his wedding gigs when he meets an enchanting young woman. They become friends but she is engaged to another man. If the Broadway play is as close in popularity as the movie, tickets will be difficult to obtain.

Tarzan, another popular movie, is set to open on Broadway during the month of March. It is the story of a boy raised in the wild by animals; it was first a novel written by Englishman Edgar Rice Burroughs. The popularity of Tarzan in literary or film form.

On March 12, 2006, Ring of Fire, a musical tribute to country legend Johnny Cash, opens at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. This year Walk the Line, a movie about Cash, won several Golden Globes. If it can hold the boards, this play has the potential to bring innumerable country music fans into the Barrymore.

Broadway’s success in 2005 has rolled over into 2006. As many as 30 new shows are slated to come to Broadway in 2006. Some will be huge hits and many more will close in less than a week. Is the next Phantom of the Opera waiting in the wings? Only time will tell.

Sunday 11 March 2012

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Fear is part of the fundamental core of human existence, as connected to the basic functions of survival and the psyche as the survival instinct or the need to mate. Fear and anxiety, therefore, are among the staples of any genre that deems itself fit to entertain the masses, an art form to be mastered in the hands of a true artiste. Fear, dread, and anxiety are all integral components of any successful horror story, for example, but not everyone who writes horror manages to get the mix of the important elements --- pacing, plot, and characterization --- all of which must be just right to create a classic that will frighten generations long after the first copy was printed. There are a few that manage to accomplish the difficult feat of being eternal in their horror and long-lasting in their ability to turn anxiety into outright terror.

Edgar Allan Poe, author of “Annabel Lee” and “The Fall of the House of Usher”, is easily recognized as one of the foremost masters of horror and the macabre. His works have inspired terror and anxiety in many individuals, primarily through the use of heavy psychological tones, as opposed to the gore and blood themes used and abused by writers of his time. Poe's collected works easily counts as some of the most frightening material ever written, especially now, in an age where horror movies are relegated to two hours of bloodshed and senseless violence, lacking any true horror and relying solely on shock value to appear “scary.” Poe also stands out as being among the few who can make even the most mundane things seem utterly terrifying, a feat emulated by Stephen King and several Japanese horror authors, but never truly duplicated.

In a completely different vein of horror from his predecessors, and arguably creating a sub-genre of horror through his works, H. P. Lovecraft also stands out. His works, while lacking in humanity, are difficult to see as anything but terrifying, particularly because of the apparent lack of humanity in them. In contrast to writers of previous generations, Lovecraft focused more on the truly monstrous, ignoring the human element that most horror writers tended to insert into their works since the days of the Gothic era. His stories were littered with monsters that knew neither morality nor mercy, seeing humanity as insignificant insects and, in Lovecraft's malignant world of ancient races and Elder Gods, humanity was insignificant. He also brought back something from the Gothic horror era, showing his readers that knowledge, even just a little knowledge, can lead to the most terrifying of discoveries. This is perhaps best exemplified by the so-called “Cthulhu Mythos,” a collection of stories that centered around Lovecraft's anti-mythological beings.

Among the most enduring horror classics in the world is that of Shelley's “Frankenstein,” which combines the elements of horror with the intrinsic questions that plagued morality and philosophy at the time. In some ways, the story is one that puts a new spin on the old ghost story, in that the “ghost” is inevitably caused by the actions of mortal men who meddled in things they were not meant to. The story, aside from being a genuine tale of terror, also took on the role of a lesson in morality and the limits to just how far medical science could go. Prolonging life is one thing, but bringing back the dead is another thing entirely, which is one of the subtle messages of the novel. The underlying question of whether or not Frankenstein's creature is the monster, or if it is Frankenstein himself, also contributes to making the story a memorable, chilling tale.

However, very few stories can truly stand up against the pure terror and the subtle anxiety and dread caused by Bram Stoker's infamous novel, “Dracula.” The novel is a hallmark of the Gothic horror era, presenting a villain of potentially epic scope in the guise of a remarkable gentleman and nobleman. It deviated from other vampire stories of the time in that the vampire, Dracula, was not monstrous in appearance. He looked every inch a master and nobleman, establishing the “lord of the night” archetype that would be a stock image of vampire characters in literature for centuries to come. It also had all the elements necessary to both frighten readers and keep them coming back for more, marking it as the most enduring horror novel in history.

Saturday 10 March 2012

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Retired police captain, Marshall Frank, has written another excellent read in his latest work, Call Me Mommy. Marshall is definitely a prolific writer – he has authored five books and hundreds of short stories and essays to date.

I would classify Call Me Mommy as a tragic suspense saga. Marshall succeeds in making the book more realistic by using elements of some factual events within the story line.

The main character, Laura is fooled into having sex with a callous and selfish boy while she was still in high school. Lloyd was ill prepared for fatherhood and was forced into marriage with a girl he did not love. His greed and animosity is apparent from the beginning. Lloyd ruthlessly ripped Laura out of his home and his life when he arranged through corrupt contacts to have her committed to a mental health clinic. When released from this prison sentence, she discovered she lost all rights to see her son.

This well-written novel is an emotional story of a mother with a deep level of compassion, commitment and loyal endurance. Her self-sacrificing efforts might not save her son, but she may be able to save her grandson and have a little taste of revenge as well. Through it all, Laura remains a strong individual who learns to make room for true love and sexual passion.

Call Me Mommy is tastefully written; full of action and suspense with elements of underground crime, professional corruption and vengeance."

ISBN#: 0974727865
Author: Marshall Frank
Publisher: Harlan Publishing

~ Lillian Brummet - Book Reviewer - Co-author of the book Trash Talk, a guide for anyone concerned about his or her impact on the environment – Author of Towards Understanding, a book of poetry.

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Are you thinking of hiring a magician? Have you hired one before? Do you know what type you want? There are various types of magic and magicians. Most magicians now specialise in a few areas of magic although some perform only one type. Here is a general guide of what types of magician are available for a predominately adult audience although a good magician will take you back to being a child. Close-up magic/ strolling / mix and mingle/ table magic can often be seen at cocktail parties, corporate events, banquets, weddings and generally any party event where the magician mingles and inter acts with the guests performing tricks. This form of magic is ideal for a reception and then when guests are seated at their tables and enjoying the meal. Cabaret magic is a great way for a large or small audience to see some bigger or more involved magic tricks. Cabaret magic is suitable for most events but is most popular as after dinner entertainment. Sometimes the close up magician will double up and also perform the cabaret. A lot of magicians include comedy in their cabaret. More recently mind readers have once again become very popular. Whilst some will include comedy, generally a mind reader is a little more serious and does things like reveal the name of a child hood friend or divine a selected word from a book chosen by a spectator. If you are looking for larger, flashy magic then it is ideal to hire an illusionist. An illusionist needs a lot more room than a normal magician and work’s better from a stage. Cabaret magic acts last any where between 10 minutes to an hour and normally perform for audiences of 20 to 600 however their are two rules that should be noted. The magician should be able to be seen and heard by everyone. Bear this in mind if booking after dinner entertainment in a hotel conference room. If you have lots of non English speaking guests you may prefer to have a silent magic act either manipulation or illusion however a comedy magician always plays well for an English speaking audience. Corporations and companies are hiring magicians more and more to perform at Trade Shows and exhibitions. Magic is a great form of interactive entertainment where a message can also be presented in an interesting manner. The magician draws people to the exhibition space where the benefits and features of the product or service can be showcased. The magician can also present and provide suitable magic give aways that are branded for the company exhibiting. It is always worth checking the credentials of the magician you are hiring. What is their track record? Who have been their previous clients? How long have they been performing? Most professional magicians also carry liability insurance.