How I Invented the Internet

Okay, I didn't. But neither did Al Gore, who for some odd reason seems to be getting all the credit for it. So, why shouldn't I? He has also invented the global warming, although in this case he is trying to give the credit to all of us. Yeah, how generous of him, but I am not taking it. Keep it, sir. You deserve it. And if you want to blame it on your fellow men, don't also forget your fellow cows. Yeah, they are apparently also behind this thing. (See my site for more appalling details...) I have suspected it for a long time. I mean, how else can you explain their coolness? Now I am finally getting it. I must say they have been really good at it. Never trust a cow!

Man, will I ever stop sidetracking?! Cows and the Internet... I have heard about dogs on the Internet, like in "on the Internet nobody knows that you are a dog," but cows?! I am serious: I am getting help tomorrow...

Okay, so now that you caught me lying about it, I need to do some explaining. But please don't apply for a detective job at your local police station yet, because I basically told you that. Which does not necessarily make you a brilliant detective, but rather it makes me a really lousy liar...

Okay... Let me now sidetrack from sidetracking which will probably put me on the right track again. Or finally. That of explaining my egregious lie. What do I have to excuse for it? I do have a bit, I must say.

Namely, while I have already admitted that I had not invented it, I did discover it much sooner than most people out there. And since "to discover" is so often confused with "to invent..." Well, who am I kidding? Obviously, I did not confuse anything. Yes, your honor, I am a stinking liar, but let me continue nevertheless.

In particular, I discovered the WWW sooner than 99.99999...% of other mortals, including the proud cow owners that, obviously, deserve to be mentioned separately.

While these days the World Wide Web is almost synonymous with the Internet, it was not always like that. The WWW was connected to the Internet in the summer of 1991. At that time, the latter had already been around for two decades or so. I was first exposed to the Internet in the spring of 1991. It was through email which even these days is still the most popular form of the Internet.

I was then a physics grad student at the Jagiellonian University in Cracow, Poland. In those days email was such a novelty that you could brag about using it. You would say, "Hey, I got an email yesterday," and the fellow you mentioned this to would go green with envy and a few hours later would jump out of a window in his windowless apartment creating a brand new window in the process of jumping out of it. That's why there are no windowless apartments in Poland anymore. I put an end to them. Single handedly. Some people would go postal after I mentioned using email to them. The most dedicated (or crazy) of them would travel long hours by train to the nearest post office where no one had gone postal before. There would be riots in the streets on the days I mentioned receiving email to more than three people.

Yes, the beginnings of the Internet in Poland were definitely more turbulent than most historians acknowledge these days. But then again, my account of it is much less politically correct.

I discovered the WWW as early as 1992. I believe it was in February or March and I learned about it from the most recent issue of Physics World, a British physics monthly, that I could get my hands on. After reading about it, I opened a telnet connection to it and there it was! Already incredibly rich and very potent, but, obviously, not nearly as rich and impressive as it is today.

At that time the Web was a very local affair. For two reasons. As limited mostly to physicists, the overwhelming majority of whom still had no clue that it even existed and local to Europe, having been invented in CERN, a European center for high energy physics in Geneva.

I immediately recognized how great this thing was to become and wanted to learn as much as possible about it. I contacted someone on the team that worked on the WWW development. I still remember his first name: Jean Pierre. I remember it well because in my first few emails to him I would address him simply as "Jean." It took me a few days to realize that his was one of those double French names like Jean Paul or Jean Marie. Heck, they may even have names like Jean Jean, Paul Paul, Pierre Pierre, Marie Marie, or perhaps even Pierre Pierre Pierre Pierre, but since I have really not checked this, please don't quote me on it. I am really good at sidetracking not double checking.

When I finally figured out that his first name was probably Jean Pierre, I asked him if it was so. "Yes," came a reply. A very relieved reply because, as Jean Pierre told me, he had thought that his email had been getting through to me incorrectly.

Apparently, those days people were still being concerned that email could drop every other word in the message. Like in "Are you really sure that this will get through all and not just half of it? And what if it drops every other word? Should I send two copies of it? Do you think that two copies is better? Or maybe three? Okay, I am sending five. Man, I won't be able to fall asleep tonight, for sure!"

It turned out that Jean Pierre and I had a mutual acquaintance who was working in my physics department in Cracow. Yes, in some circles the world was small even before the WWW. But what was truly remarkable is that those days you could correspond with someone on the WWW development team and this fellow would even like to know what you thought about the Web and how you would like to see it developed.

Imagine these days getting an email from a guy like that asking you what you think about the Web. I bet that your first reaction would be: "Help! This guy is nuts! He wants to know what I think about the Web? How crazy is that?!"

The same year I discovered the WWW, only a few months later, I came to America to complete my doctoral studies. At that time, the Internet in the US was still predominantly concentrated around Academia, being organized into gophers. You could connect to them via telnet or FTP. The Web was practically unknown, even at universities, with the first web text browser, Lynx, yet to appear. When it finally did, the Web popularity greatly increased. It was also then that I rediscovered the Web in the New World.

The first popular, although mostly in Academia, graphical browser, Mosaic, was not good enough to compete with Lynx. Even on fast university lines, it was slow like molasses. It was only Netscape, the first commercial graphical browser, developed largely by the same team which had developed Mosaic, that launched the Web explosion. It was 1995 and it was now obvious that the Web was unstoppable. And yet, curiously enough, I was still getting emails from people outside Academia asking me what the big deal about the WWW was. Or why was everyone talking about it?

It was also in 1995, and in the same month in which the Yahoo! boys appeared on the Web scene, that I created my first site, called Waldemar's List. The name was not my idea. It came from abroad, from a Canadian fellow, Allen. It was together with him that I started working on this site, although the site idea was mine. It was the directory of sites dedicated to futures and futures trading.

The beach was completely empty then. A site that everyone now knows as Yahoo! could have been launched by virtually anyone. My site, a highly specialized directory dedicated to trading rather esoteric financial instruments, was then considered a major financial directory and oftentimes listed among top ten investing directories along with Yahoo! that was a directory for everything.

My collaboration with Allen was going on smoothly and I was pleased with it. Allen was responsible mostly for the graphical aspect of the site while I was taking care of collecting links and organizing them. At some point, however, Allen got frustrated by some changes I had made to his graphics and refused to participate in any further work. What's even worse, he hijacked the site files and made it unavailable to the public.

I don't know what made him so mad. Why making changes was so unacceptable to him? And those were small changes, nothing major at all. After all, if one is to believe some French saying, only cows do not change their mind. Hmm... Cows and the French connection. What did I tell you about cows before? Didn't I tell you that they should not be trusted? See... Was I ever wrong?

His reaction was totally out of proportion and even though he finally came back to his senses, I decided to continue working on Waldemar's List entirely on my own. I did not use his graphics, but designed my own. That's how what was probably the first American-Canadian web collaboration that lasted over a year ended up on the rocks. I was saddened by it hoping to continue our work for much longer, but nothing lasts forever.

And neither did my site. I continued working on it for a few more years, but was getting more and more bored with it and finally took it down in the summer of 2002. After over 7 years of web presence, my first site became history. I now think that it was a premature decision, but I came to this realization only a few years later.

In 1995 you could still know well all the interesting or useful sites you had ever bookmarked. A year later that was becoming more and more wishful thinking. In the computer lab I used to hang out in those days, I would hear people say that they could not keep up with the Web growth anymore. At that time, I still could, but a year or so later I too gave up. These days, I don't even try to. I am happy if I am able to manage my bookmarks in a reasonably efficient manner.

The growth of the Web in the 90-ties was phenomenal or rather phenomenally explosive. And it continues to grow. There are now over 100 million sites out there.

The Web of the 21st century is being increasingly shaped by the paradigm of Web 2.0. However, there is hardly anything in Web 2.0 that would not have been known to the users of Web 1.0. The core technologies of Web 2.0 were largely developed and already used in the era of Web 1.0, the only major differences being in the intensity of their application and in their "mashing" which is a newfangled word meaning the same as "convergence" and which can truly be attributed to Web 2.0. All that was, however, largely possible in the 90-ties, except that the bandwidth was still too limited for these technologies to converge and become as ubiquitous as they are becoming now, in the era of Web 2.0.

And that is how, dear children, I have invented this Internet thing.

"Liar!"

While I really do not insist that you believe that I invented the Internet, I do insist that you visit the Eclectic section of my site (http://www.eminimethods.com/Eclectic.html) for more stories like that...

Waldemar Puszkarz, Ph.D., is a web veteran with 15 years of web surfing under his belt. By training, he is a theoretical physicist, but his interests are much broader than science and include trading financial markets, sports betting, poker, and researching online business opportunities. He is also an avid book reader and sports afficionado. Currently he is making his living mostly as a day trader. He has been in the trading trenches for almost a decade during which he has traded a variety of financial instruments. He is the owner and webmaster of Eminimethods.com (http://www.eminimethods.com) which provides free common sense trading education and simple trading systems for e-mini and stock markets as well as reviews of honest online business opportunities in Meet HOBO (http://www.eminimethods.com/HOBO.html) section of his site.

Baby Crib Safety Checklist

Congratulations! Your new baby is on its way!
Getting a good night's sleep will be your priority once your newborn arrives, and having a good crib that is both secure and comfortable for your newborn will go a long way towards making that a reality. You will want to sleep in your bed knowing that your baby is safe and sound in a quality crib. When you first have your baby, you may want to put them in a bassinet next to your bed which will make it easier to breastfeed; however, over time the crib will be the next logical step by the time your baby is ready to start rolling over.

The crib is where your newborn will spend most of its time, so having a safe and secure setup is key. By now, you may be asking yourself, what makes a crib safe?

Bed Slats Should Be Safety Spaced
There is no set and solid set of rules that make one crib better than another; however, there are simple guidelines that will allow you to rest easy knowing your baby is secure. First, you should look at the bars or slats of the crib railing. These should be no further apart than 2-3/8" which will insure that your baby's head doesn't slip through and get stuck. While you may think that the old crib in the attic is a wonderful antique, it probably doesn't meet this very important safety standard. With used and older antique cribs, the slats were placed too far apart for safety.

Cut Out Designs Along The Rail
Avoid the cribs with cutouts and designs along the rail because they are dangerous to an infant. They can get their arm, neck or other body part stuck in them possibly causing serious injury.

Solid, Sturdy Construction
The crib should be well-made, sturdy and not prone to wobbling. Your infant will be sleeping in the crib for quite a while and as he or she grows, you will want to make sure that nothing happens with a bouncing, happy 2 or 3-year-old.

Avoid Dangerous Construction Materials
Inferior woods which can weaken and warp over time should be avoided. Good construction materials includes hardwoods that are painted or stained including woods like ash, beech, oak or maple. Metal cribs are also very sturdy and safe as long as the materials used to finish them are non-toxic and lead-free.

Dropsides Should Be At Least 9" Above Mattress Support
When lowered, the dropsides should be no less than 9" above the support for the mattress when it's lowered. With the side raised, the top should be 26" above and no less than the support at its lowest position.

Adjustable Height Mattress
In order to give your back a break, you might want to choose a crib with a mattress that's adjustable. You want it so that your baby can sit up but can't climb out of the crib. Being able to change the mattress height by raising and lowering the support makes for an easy adjustment.

Be sure and check the crib for any sharp objects, edges points or anything else that might harm your baby as well.

Make sure that the mattress fits snugly into the crib with no large gaps where a baby could fall or get a limb lodged. The measurement is that if you can fit two of your fingers between the crib and the mattress then it is too large. Over time, you will want to re-measure and keep your eye on the edges to make sure that gaps don't develop. You'll also want to recheck the safety clips to make sure that they stay locked with the hangers into the notches.

Non-Flammable, Hypoallergenic Padding
Be sure that you have hypoallergenic, non-flammable bumper padding that goes around the edges of crib cushioning all four sides. Secure each bumper so that when your child gets more active, they won't be able to remove the bumper pads. It is suggested that you secure the bumpers in at least six places, and when you baby becomes very active, you'll want to remove them.

Follow Assembly Instructions Carefully
For all the do-it-yourself crib builders, following the instructions carefully is a must. You will also want to check and tighten all of the nuts, screws and bolts as well as check teething rails for nicks and cracks. Make a periodic inspection of the support hooks as well.

Avoid placing the crib next to the window, close to curtains or drapery cords. As well, avoid placing the crib near furniture where the baby could inadvertently crawl or climb out.

Remove all crib Toys while the baby sleeps. This includes mobiles that the baby can grab.

According to the Federal guidelines which went into effect in 1973, was reworked in 1991 making mandatory safety standards (16CFR part 1508) and enforced by The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) as well as The Juvenile Products Manufacturers' Association (JPMA), the voluntary standards (ASTM F966 and F1169), established by the American Society for Testing and Materials which certifies cribs to meet the highest in safety standards.

If you need more information on crib and other nursery equipment safety, please call the Consumer Products Safety Commission at 1-800-638-2772.

Lisa is a freelance writer with a specialty in Internet content and SEO articles. She has written thousands of articles, hundreds of ebooks and thousands of website pages and related content. She has also authored her own books and works as a consultant to other writers, Internet marketers and Internet businesses. Professional wordsmith for hire: gamer, wife, mother, entrepreneur, published poet, co-owner of game guides company, public speaker and Internet business consultant. You can learn more or follow Lisa's blog from her website: http://www.freelancewriter4hire.com

Some Facts To Know About Firetrap Jeans Of UK

The Firetrap brand of clothing was set up in 1993 in England. As one of the leading lifestyle brands, it takes pride in producing stylish and quality dresses and other accessories for today's youth. Of the wide range of clothing collection, firetrap jeans stand out for its unique designs and trendy looks.

Although Firetrap jackets and jumpers are quite popular among men and women, firetrap jeans seems to be the most popular choice as far as labeled designer clothing is concerned. Firetrap loves to use their London base in creating comfortable trendy dresses and footwear for every man and woman. They are known to blend the modern rough and tough London street style with the Rock 'n' Roll fashion of the 1950s and 60s.

The firetrap label of jeans can be worn at any season, during summer or winter. Firetrap is even said to coin the term 'Londonism' to define their unique fashion statement.

Firetrap jeans and designer wear speaks high of the British culture and the latest fashion trends in vogue in the London city. The jeans are made of durable material, and men especially the youth section likes to wear the jeans to create a unique fashion.

Firetrap designer label jeans come in a wide splashing color range such as:

(a) Firetrap Delta Zappa Crusher Jeans

(b) Firetrap Editor Jeans Pure Indy

(c) Firetrap Editor Loose Delta Jeans

(d) Rom-Gen Pureindy

(e) Firetrap Jeans Panther Delta Pureindy

(f) Dark Wash Jeans

Among the collection of jeans by Firetrap, there come the Zephyr jeans. These jeans have a 100% cotton base with aluminium-steel coated denim, giving them the much stylish look and feel that you might be looking for. Firetrap jeans can also be worn with a firetrap belt to add glamour to your get-up.

Firetrap's cutting edge style jeans can be worn with a tan top or simple hoodie top. Both men's and women's jeanswear can be used as a casual wear during a get together or party.

The widespread collection of firetrap jeans can be tried out for their fittings, color and texture. The popular firetrap Rom Gen jeans come in a straight leg style and can be worn with either boots, shoes or trainers, during the day or night.

Rom Gen jeans come in a wide range of colors and waist sizes and in short, regular and long leg lengths for you to buy the right type of jeans and carry yourself in style. These set of jeans also contains two slit pockets, and include knee up to the waist band has faded areas to pose a rugged look.

Firetrap has about 1,500 stores all over the globe selling their signature label of firetrap jeans, T-shirts, polo shirts, hoodies, jackets, footwear and belts. The Firetrap Spring Summer 2010 collection displayed its latest brand of urban jeanswear that has depicted high sense of fashion and style of the urban London youth. So you can now simply visit the website duffermenswear.co.uk and get the best deal.

The Driver Series

Growing up in the 1990's meant that video games were pretty much a part of every child's life, whether they could be played on the computer or on video game systems. One of the most popular games of the very late 1990's was Driver. The first installment of this series of games was released in June of 1999, at the very end of the decade, and has since seen four other installments released with one more on its way for a total of five games on the market so far. The series of games was released on PlayStation, Game Boy Color, Windows, Macintosh and the PlayStation Network.

The first game in the series is titled Driver: You are the Wheelman. The main character, Officer Tanner, is an NYPD detective who has gone undercover to catch criminals in four different cities; Miami, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York City. The game was designed to look like the 60s and 70s car chase movies that were released in the United States and the basic plot or theme of the game seemed to be based on the movie The Driver, which was released in 1978 and directed by Walter Hill. The gamer could play various game modes, including undercover mode, pursuit, escape, checkpoint and carnage.

The second game in the Driver series is titled Driver 2: The Wheelman is Back. The second game of this series gave the main character, Officer Tanner, new abilities that make the game play a lot more versatile to the gamer. The gamer is now able to remove Tanner from his vehicle and walk him around the city to commandeer other vehicles and drive them. Tanner and his partner, Tobias Jones, are tracking Pink Lenny, who is a member of a Chicago gang. The cities in Driver 2 include Chicago, Havana, Las Vegas and Rio de Janeiro.

The third game in the Driver series is known as Driver 3 or Driv3r. The game's location originates in Miami but then moves to Nice, France and Istanbul, Turkey. The plot of this game in the series is for Tanner and Jones to infiltrate a crime ring that specializes in stealing vehicles. The fourth game in the series, Driver: Parallel Lines, was released in North America in March of 2006. This game takes place only in one city, instead of three or four throughout the game, in New York City. The catch with being in only one city during the game is that in the middle of the game the scene shifts from New York in the present day to New York in 1978.

The next installment in the Driver series has yet to be released but is supposedly in the works as we write this article. The new game in the series, rumored to be titled Driver: The Recruit, will be released on PlayStation 3. A film based on the video game series Driver was supposed to enter into production in 2007 in Toronto, Canada but problems arose and production had to be put on hold for the time being.

TJ Michaels is a console technician who writes for http://www.psr1.com, the experts for Wii repair.

Check Out Troy Aikman 1992 Starting Lineup

Troy Aikman 1992 Starting Lineup Review

Troy Aikman 1992 Starting Lineup Feature

• Includes 11''x14'' special series poster
• 1992 Starting Lineup card

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Update Post: Dec 13, 2010 17:00:51

Dansko Shoes Information and Reviews

Dansko shoes sell men's, women's, and children's shoes. Included in this are women's and men's sandals. Dansko was opened in 1990. Since then this company has large and very popular. This company also participates in many charities around the world including Ronald McDonald house and World Vision Shoe Donation. They believe that they want to make the world a better place than when they entered it. This brand of shoes is well known and has positive reviews.

They have a wide variety of sandals for men and women. The women's range from clogs to regular sandals, full coverage to straps, and a large variety of colors. They are very comfortable and look stylish. The reviews for the women's sandals are good. They received between four and five stars out of five stars on almost all of their sandals. The few bad reviews were given because they just were not exactly what the buyer wanted. Prices for these sandals vary widely. Depending on what style you want and what color will make prices vary. They range from fifty dollars to close to three hundred dollars. Overall, these are good, durable shoes. Prices are very fair for the quality of these shoes.

The men's sandals come in clogs with a variety of colors and styles. They are comfortable and are stylish for any occasion. The reviews for the men's shoes are excellent. They received between three and five stars out of five stars on almost all of their sandals. The few bad reviews were given because they were not as comfortable as the buyer thought that they would be. The price of the sandals vary. Depending on what style is wanted and the color will make the price vary. They range from sixty dollars to close to two hundred dollars. These are very nice, durable shoes. The price is fair for the quality of the shoes.

These shoes can be found online or in the local retailer. They are very popular and stylish shoes. You are sure to find the style and color that you want. Whether you want sandals, clogs, shoes, or boots, Dansko shoes will be sure to have exactly what you want.

Many buyers also enjoy using Dansko shoes because they do participate in many charities. They have a solid vision and are here to make the world a better place then when they entered it.

The author has spent a lot of time learning about dansko shoes women and other related topics. Read more about birkenstock shoes at Vincent O'Neil's website.

Check Out Hot Wheels 1992-220 RED/SILVER Treadator All Blue Card 1:64 Scale

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Check Out Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins

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• battery backup saves 3 files
• or one player only
• compatible with all Game Boy systems

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Update Post: Dec 05, 2010 20:20:23

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Total Bases

This statistic fascinates me. For me it shows the difference
between a slugger and a home run hitter. There have been players that have hit home runs that I do not consider good hitters. But when they are slugging, they get all four kinds of hits, amassing total bases. Usually the players are hitting home runs and have a high batting average are the players that are the better hitters.
Total bases are a category I use to assess the better hitters.

Here are some stats that are worth mentioning.

Most seasons with at least 400 total bases.

Lou Gehrig - He had Five seasons.

Chuck Klein - He had Three seasons.

Jimmy Foxx, Rogers Hornsby, Babe Ruth,

Sammy Sosa and Todd Helton - All five players
with two seasons each.

Most Seasons with at least 350 total bases.

Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth - Each had Nine seasons.

Willie Mays - He had Seven seasons. Jimmy Foxx - He had Six seasons.

Stan Musial, Hank Greenburg, Alex Rodriguez
Hank Aaron, Rogers Hornsby, Vladimir Guerrero

Each of these six players had Five seasons.
Al Simmons, Sammy Sosa, Chuck Klein -
These three players had four seasons.

Albert Pujols - In his first four seasons - All over 300 total bases.
Three of those seasons he had over 350 total bases.

There are only three players that have accumulated
over 6000 total bases in their careers.
All three players played at least 22 seasons.
Hank Aaron - 6856, Stan Musial - 6134, Willie Mays - 6066

There were four players out of the top 35 players in lifetime
total bases that did not hit at least 200 life time home
runs. Here they are with their life time home run totals.

Tris Speaker - 117 home runs. Ty Cobb - 117 home runs.

Pete Rose - 160 home runs.

Honus Wagner - 101 home runs.

In Ted Williams first eight years in the majors
he had at least 300 total bases.

Lou Gehrig, Chuck Klein and Jimmy Foxx
are the only players to have over 400 total bases
in consecutive years.

Babe Ruth had eight seasons when he
had 374 or more total bases.

Of the top 55 seasons for total bases. This would be the highest number of total bases per seasons.

19 of those seasons occurred from 1990 to 2004

One season in the 1950's was in the top 55

One season in the 1970's and one in the 1980's as well

None occurred in the 1960's

Recapping - 33 of the top seasons for total bases
happened from 1900 to 1949.

Aron Wallad has been a baseball lover for over 45 years. His passions have included; playing, watching, reading, evaluating, and coaching the game he adores. Do you love inspiring quotes, unusual statistics and most of all, heartwarming baseball stories? If you love baseball you will love his baseball ezine.

Go here right now to join his ezine http://www.baseballsprideandjoy.com/index.php?tag=ezart

Contact Aron at aron@baseballsprideandjoy.com

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• Approximatly 13 inches long

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Check Out Mark Rypien 1992 Starting Lineup

Mark Rypien 1992 Starting Lineup Review

Mark Rypien 1992 Starting Lineup Feature

• Includes 11''x14'' special series poster
• 1992 Starting Lineup card

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Update Post: Nov 23, 2010 21:40:14

The Importance of Discovery Play

Discovery or heuristic play is a vital ingredient in the overall development of the young child. A while ago, I mentioned Jean Piaget as an influential name in observing and acknowledging the importance of childhood and the prime concern to allow children opportunities to grow, develop skills and build up a bank of knowledge and experiences that will support them through to adulthood. His theory of the stages of play is linked very closely to the development of cognition or mental awareness and the ability to think independently.

Piaget theorised that young children up to two years of age are programmed to explore their environment and the articles in it. During this period in their life, the child acquires the ability to move from one space to another. They do this by developing a crawl or shuffle, then eventually stand, step and walk. This means the child can explore their world and take further steps towards independence.

Elinor Goldschmied (People Under Three Routledge 1993) understood the value of every day objects to assist children in their learning and understanding. She developed the idea of a treasure basket - a box filled with objects and items that can be found in the home or in the outer environment. There should be no plastic items.

Consider what a young child can achieve in the first two years of their lives :-

- the ability to become mobile;

- the understanding of and reproduction of their native language;

- their developing independence towards making decisions about which foods they like or dislike;

- their skill in discriminating between people they trust and who are familiar compared to those who are strangers and therefore untrustworthy.

We cannot be surprised that in all this time, through their five senses, they are also beginning to understand the matter of what their world is about.

If we provide a safe, secure opportunity to discover the properties of familiar objects, then their use or application also becomes more easily understood. More children than ever are now spending time away from home and family, being cared for by professionals who sometimes take their work too seriously and actually forget about the important aspects of child care, that of real discovery and adventure for the child.

We are trained and warned about the importance of hygienic surroundings and clean play materials. We have been brainwashed to provide safety for children by excluding all potentially perceived dangers. It is time that we took stock of this and actually offered children what they need and deserve.

In the home, most children will eventually find their way to the cupboards, especially in the kitchen, where they can pull out and play with a variety of saucepans, lids, wooden spoons, rolling pins, whisks and so on. This is, in part, what a treasure basket will also provide. Plastic may be much easier to keep clean, but what does it actually offer to a child driven to explore? It is usually taste-free, apart from the plastic flavour. It is smooth, until it is chewed beyond recognition. It takes on the temperature of the immediate environment, it is usually coloured in bright poster paints which bear no relevance to natural materials.

Household objects, including glass lemon squeezers, pans, and spoons, all have their own temperature and taste. The addition of fresh citrus fruit offers a smorgasbord of flavour, colour, texture and sound. Fir cones, sea shells, large pebbles all add to the rich tapestry of experiences that the young child will relish and explore for much longer than the time they take to play with a plastic, synthetic play object.

The adult adds the safety; they stay close to the child, not interfering or speaking, but smiling in a reassuring way, checking that the materials are free from breaks or tears that could cause injury. It is fascinating to see how each child approaches this treasure trove. Freed from adult-led direction, they make choices, develop their methods of exploration and even communicate with their peers. The articles can be washed or replaced at very little cost, leaving the child and adult lots of scope for new adventures.

Every nursery should offer this invaluable resource for learning. Every parent should become familiar and confident with the use of non-synthetic play materials. The young child's life will be much richer as a consequence.

Valerie Jackson is an independent consultant and adviser for nurseries and parents. She is a published author, writer and editor for The Children Webmag

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A History of Jennifer Love Hewitt

We may all be familiar with the popular Ghost Whisperer star Jennifer Love Hewitt who is undoubtedly perceived as a highly recognized actress throughout the world. She was born in 1979 of February 21st, and made her 1st television appearance in the year 1984 on "Kids Incorporated which also had an appearance from Scott Wolf.

In addition, Jennifer did many commercials; also doing a L.A. Gear spokes girl stint when she was only ten years old. After dedicating the majority of the 80's in working on television, Jennifer received her first role in 1993 was "Sister Act 2". In 1994, she got her huge break as Sarah Reeves on the film "Party of Five" (1994) wherein she gained her recognition. However, Hewitt was to receive more fame and spotlight in films such as "Trojan War" (1997) and the intense thriller "I know what you did last summer" (1997) which benefited from the growing trend in teen horror flicks which was catalyzed by Wes Craven's Scream (1996) and proved to be increasingly popular among the vast audiences. Soon after the film was followed predictably by a sequel titled the 1998 film "I still know what you did last summer".

Furthermore, Hewitt also starred in the 1998 "Can't Hardly Wait", while still maintaining her role in Party of Five and continuing to involve herself in commercials, such as the Neutrogena spokes girl, in addition to headlining her very own Fox series entitled "Time of your life".

As demonstratively known as "Love" by her friends and family, Jennifer Love Hewitt has had a moderate success being a pop singer, in addition to acting on big screen. Relatively, Hewitt made her musical appearance in 1995 with the "Lets Go Bang" release, and also singing 2 tracks for the "House Arrest" soundtrack in 1996, in addition to portraying a lead role in the film. The 1998 "Can't Hardly Wait" teen movie featured Hewitt as the girl du lour, and consequently it made so much of a splash in the genre that it was paranoid in the 2002 "Not Another Teen Movie" film.

She is presently considered one of the most significant actresses of all times, and her contribution to filmography, music, and television broadcasting has always been appreciated by her fans. By 2000, Jennifer received critical acclaims for her role as "Audrey Hepburn" in "The Audrey Hepburn Story" (which is made for TV dramatization of Hepburn's life). The following year, Jennifer starred opposite Alien queen Siquouney Weaver in the film "Heartbreakers" featuring 2 actresses as mother and daughter con artists. Jennifer Love Hewitt, in the year 2002 received the opportunity to star opposite the popular Jackie Chan in "The Tuxedo". She additionally sung to a series of animated roles such as "The Hunchback of Notre Dame 2 (2001), and "The Adventures of Tom Thumb and Thumbelina (2002). Jennifer returned to filmography in the year 2004 where she plays the major role in "Ghost Whisperer" which earned her the 2006 Saturn nomination for best actress.

A talented lady Jennifer Love Hewitt Is the Ghost Whisperer!
My other hobbies include motorcycles and everyone needs help finding the Best insurance

The Wiggles - Entertaining and Educating Kids

The Wiggles are a musical group formed in 1991 who their music at children. The members of the group are Anthony Field, Murray Cook, Jeff Fatt and Sam Moran who took over for Greg Page. Two of the original Wiggles, Jeff Fatt and Anthony Field were members of the band "The Cockroaches" during the 1980's.

The Wiggles are performers in their own right; however they have also developed other supporting characters to entertain:

- Dorothy is green yellow spotted dinosaur that loves to eat roses and do ballet.

- Captain Feathersword is a very friendly pirate with a hat and eye patch.

- Wags the Dog is a brown furry dog that loves to sing and dance.

- Henry the Octopus sings and has an underwater band.

The Wiggles also use other supporting characters such as trucks, buses and the big red car as well as a cast of dancers.

The Wiggles have adopted colored skivvies to help children identify each character, Sam wears yellow, Anthony wears blue, Murray wears red and Jeff wears purple. Each of the Wiggles character has character traits; Murray plays a guitar player, Greg performed magic routines, Anthony likes to eat and Jeff falls asleep.

The Wiggles have won gold, platinum, double platinum and multi-platinum industry awards. Sales of DVD's approach 20 million and CD's four million. They perform regularly on the Wiggles television series and their concert appearances.

The Wiggles and their supporting characters Dorothy the Dinosaur, Captain Feathersword, Henry the Octopus and Wags the Dog have entertained and educated young children around the world and continue to do so.

Characters 'n' Toons is an online toy store and a leading authority on children's character toys and entertainment. Characters 'n' Toons has a large selection of character toys, action figures, bedding, games, gifts, merchandise and collectibles that include Wiggles toys and Wiggles bedding featuring Anthony, Sam, Jeff, Murray, Dorothy the Dinosaur, Wags the Dog, Captain Feathersword and Henry the Octopus and many more character toys for children.

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The Present Situation For Writing And Publishing Creative Writing For Children In Africa

Africa has been marked by a dearth of books, especially picture story books for younger children reflecting an African environment both in textual context and illustration. Problems militating against a rapid growth in writing and publishing for children in Africa include the following:

(1) The bulk of reading matters available to the African child are textbooks rather than books for pleasure and enjoyment.

(2) Most children's books are still imported. Such imported works are mostly insensitive to local culture, and unreflective of the social realities of the African child and his aspirations.

(3) Not enough African published children's books are available.

(4) If they are available the illustrations in them are either

(a) of poor quality

(b) not in full colour

(c) Do not have beautiful dust jackets.

(5) And if they are in full colour, and of good quality, they are either much too expensive or for an elitist few and well beyond the reach of most African children, especially those in the rural areas.

(6) Most serious African authors do not bother to write for children since it is not accorded the same status as writing for adults.

Africa has very little concern for written literature. Even Nigeria which is rich in award-winning authors is marked by neglect of her authors. Writers are seldom as honoured.as footballers are. Hardly any foundations exist to boost the creativity of African writers. Prizes for literature are also in short supply. Book Development Councils seem to be either non-existent or collapsing except in Ghana. In Sierra Leone and the Gambia its absence is still being bemoaned. Whereas in Nigeria where one was once set up to develop indigenous book publishing, it hardly made any impact until it was swallowed up by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council. In Africa generally adults seldom read children's books - not even parents. Compared to the over 2,000 titles published every year for children in Britain, the output in Nigeria is hardly up to 60.

In spite of the over 100 publishers in Nigeria the situation remains bleak for children's literature. This is due mainly to their textbook orientation which makes them lazily rely on a captive school market. It has been proven that if only African children had access to more books they would read outside the classroom. An illustration of this fact could be seen from the 1985 Ife Book Fair where the Children's Literature Association of Nigeria (CLAN) held a special exhibition of books

Visitors to that stand were fascinated by the colourful poster illustrations of folktales decorating the wall, the top and back of shelves. Some even wanted to buy the poster-sized illustrations made by a very gifted woman artist from the Nigerian television authority. The festive air given to the stand by the balloons decorating it along with the colourful posters attracted many children. There was the astonishing sight of three children of varying ages reading one picture book at the same time, visibly very fascinated by this picture book entitled No Bread for Eze by Ifeoma Okoye and published by Fourth Dimension in Enugu. It was one of those picture books where both story and illustrations were ideally integrated. It was about a young boy Eze who loved bread and could not eat enough of it. He wanted bread all the time. So his exasperated parents made him eat nothing but bread. Eze was at first very happy. Nobody was pressurizing him to eat nourishing food. But he soon grew tired of eating bread all the time and pleaded with his parents to give him other types of food. But they would not relent. So Eze became tired of bread and stopped eating. He grew hungry and weak and could not even play football with his friends. In the end his parents relented and Eze began to enjoy a balanced diet, having learnt that boys shall not live by bread alone. This emphasizes the importance of illustrations in children's books, for those children were fascinated not only by the story of Eze but also by the imaginative and sometimes humorously drawn pictures. If children are to acquire the reading habit, they must be given attractive books which also mean well-illustrated books. Even a two-year old baby can enjoy looking at a picture book. Picture books could indeed be expensive to some extent if one insists on printing in four colours which is ideal as could be seen in the lavishly illustrated folktale The Drum specially written for children by Chinua Achebe. But even line and wash drawings could be so well drawn that they too could be captivating.

Half-tone illustrations as in Adagbonyin's The Singing Ashes (1981) can also be effective due to the masterly shading of the artist. Even one-colour children's books could infectiously hold young readers as does Just in Case (1983) By Sandra Slater, illustrated by A.L. Satti.

Other good picture books include the colourful Amina the Milkmaid (1988) by Fatima Pam illustrated by K. Ofori Pam, a Ghanaian, The First Coin (1989) by Mabel Segun illustrated by the same artist and How the Leopard Got His Claws (1982) by Chinua Achebe and John Iroaganachi. This has two illustrated versions, the one in full colour being by Adrienne Kennaway.

Although Nigeria has a few good illustrators, most of the good illustrations there have been done by expatriates. It appears that many Nigerian illustrators cannot draw children's faces and have problems with interpreting texts. In order to remedy these defects, CLAN has run two illustrators' training workshops with UNESCO funding and published a book on Illustrating For Children (1988) edited by Mabel Segun.

But this problem can only be solved permanently by integrating text and illustrations, a feat best accomplished by an author illustrator The cost of publishing in full-colour could even be reduced through co-publishing with, a number of publishers working together to increase print runs and reduce the unit cost of books. Sometimes a book is published with texts in different languages using the same colour illustrations. In Nairobi, five publishers across Africa including Nigeria's Daystar Press came together in 1983 under the auspices of the World Association for Christian Community (WACC) and co-published a number of children's books in full colour under the imprint DUCCA.

The dearth of good children's authors is also militating against the publishing of children's literature in Africa. For, writing for children, is much more difficult than writing for adults, for not many adults can either enter into the child's world and interact with him with understanding and lack of condescension whilst adapting the contents and language of her writing to the child's age, experience and background... A good writer for children must understand a child's psychology for the story not to ring false. Good children's literature arouses a child's imagination and extends his horizon giving him a knowledge of the past in relation to the present and imbuing him ideals and values necessary for national development. Work ethics. selflessness, loving relationships, acceptance of responsibility are amongst the values which can be so taught, not in a didactic, off-putting manner but with subtlety so that children can be mobilized towards national and international development. Good children's literature develops a child's creativity and inventiveness without which a people cannot hope to move into the technological age.

Good literature can also give a child personal identity in a continent which has been subjected to cultural imperialism through mass importation of foreign literature. Achebe does this through his well-written folktales such as The Flute, The Drum and the earlier How the Leopard Got His Claws co-authored with John Iroaganachi and published in 1972 by Nwamife Publishers. The latter was one of the first children's picture story books published in Nigeria and remains one of the best and most successful ones, with an East African Publishing House. Chinua Achebe is quoted as saying it.. 'Is one of the best things I have ever done.' Mabel Segun does this through character-building books such as Olu and the Broken Statue (1985).

In neighbouring Ghana many other problems including the country's balance of payments difficulties which cause constant short supplies of essential raw materials and
spare parts to repair defective printing equipments. Amongst The Ghana Publishing Corporations' substantial number of children's books published, one of the earliest and most attractive was Mesheck Asare's picture story book, Tawia Goes to Sea published in 1970. This was probably the first African-published children's book to gain world-wide recognition and it was also the first book from an African publisher to be translated into Japanese. Better still was the welcome news that a Ghanaian children's book was the winner of the 1982 Noma Award. This $3,000 prize went to Mesheck Asare, for his engaging picture story book The Brassman's Secret published by Educational Press and Manufacturers United of Kumasi in 1981.The jury in selecting it were impressed by its' exciting and unusual children's story, beautifully and imaginatively illustrated by the author, himself an artist, to bring out important aspects of his Asante culture. They also thought it remarkable that a book of such high quality was produced under such difficult conditions then prevalent in Ghana. Asare has like Achebe been rehabilitating the African child's mind through literature designed to reveal to him his cultural heritage through all these fantasies as well as the adventure book Chipo and the Bird on the Hill and his more recent Sosu's Call

Another G.P.C. item Mercy Owusu-Nimoh's The Walking Calabash published in 1977 was singled out for 'Honourable mention' in the first Noma Award for Publishing in Africa competition

Inspite of its many problems Ghana manages to maintain a lively and enterprising local book industry. Firms such as Aframs Publications, Adwinsa Publishers and the Wielerville Publishing House are among those whose list includes occasional children's books.

In East Africa, the bulk of the children's book publishing output is from Kenya. The East African Publishing House in Nairobi in particular, has an extensive list of picture-story books illustrated in full colours, as well as readers, and traditional stories and folklore. Especially appealing is their series called 'Lioncubs.' Charity Waciuma, Pamela Kola, Asenath Odaga and Cynthia Hunter are amongst the most prolific authors in the EAPH list. Another prolific children's writer is Barbara Kimenye who publishes with the East African branch of Oxford University Press, some titles one of which is Martha the Millipede recounting the story of Martha who fed up with getting sore feet decided it was about time to get herself some shoes.

The Kenyan Literature Bureau taking over from the East African Literature Bureau has produced a few children's books among which is Ray Prather's A is for Africa A Colouring Book for Africa which contains forty full-page drawings depicting the various people of Africa, accompanied by small maps showing their geographical locations.

Foremost Kenyan writer, Ngugi Wa'Thiongo has joined his Nigerian counterpart, Achebe, in writing and publishing his first children's book but unlike Achebe in his native Gikuyu language but later translating it as The Great Hero and the Flying Bus.

In Southern Africa, Zimbabwe Publishing House have already built up a most impressive collection. A government supported private commercial undertaking, it publishes books on education, politics, literature and creative writing, Zimbabwean history but with books for children featuring prominently. It sponsored a splendid magazine for children ANTS started by a panel of Zimbabwean children but which I have learnt with much regret has stopped publishing more than 15 years now.

Other publishers catering for children here are Mamba Press and the Zimbabwe Literature Bureau, the latter having a wide range of materials in Shona and Ndebele comprising novels, poetry, short story booklets, children's comics and material for literacy development.

In Malawi another firm actively developing children's books in the indigenous languages publishes the popular publications of Limbe.

In Lesotho the church-sponsored Mazenod Book Centre similarly has a substantial list of books for children in African Languages,

In Zambia and in Tanzania some children's material is coming from the National Educational Company of Zambia and the Tanzania Publishing House.
In South Africa initially the small local market did not make it feasible to publish local children's books in English. English children's books written with a South African background or by a South African were usually published in England. Jock of the Bushveld (1907) written by Sir Percy FitzPatrick, is generally regarded as the first English South African children's book. .This was published in South Africa during the second half of the twentieth century. Only during the 1970s did local publishers realize the need for indigenous children's books in English and start exploiting the market. This change was brought about single handedly by the writer Marguerite Poland with her Mantis and the Moon which was published in 1979. The rise in price of imported children's books made the publication of indigenous material more competitive. The political changes during the 1980s then brought improvement of the quality of education of African children and the decision that they could receive tuition in English. This created a large potential market for English children's books in which some publishers specialize. At the end of the 1980s English children's books were prominent in dealing with the political and socio-economic conditions in the country. The English children's book was more explicit with regard to criticism of apartheid. with authors like Lesley Beake, Dianne Case and Lawrence Bransby taking the lead.
As a result of the small local market, few original books with full colour illustrations are published. Collaboration with overseas publishers and the simultaneous publication in various indigenous languages is often the only way to make a publication viable. Also, publishers of children's books concentrate on the publishing series, beginner and second language readers.
The change in government in the country and the elevation of the African languages to official status, one should have expected would have led to the development of children's literature in the African languages, but for several reasons this has not yet occurred. The rise of African consciousness and nationalism in the battle against apartheid has rather led to the identification of English as the language for education and freedom. For many African children prefer to read in English, and many African authors prefer to write in this language. Also only a small minority amongst African children read for recreation. Some publishers nevertheless try to publish children's books of a high quality in African languages, but due to a shortage of indigenous writers most books are translations from English or Afrikaans.
This suggests the problem of language as another factor hindering the rapid development of children's literature in Africa. The language problem posed by writers being forced to write in foreign languages which they have not really mastered raises the issue of writers being trained to write in their indigenous languages. But then this creates yet another problem as some of the authors of books written in African languages cannot distinguish between concepts for adults and concepts outside the experience of children. Similarly they use an off-putting adult language.

There is also an imbalanced attention to the various ages of childhood. For far more books are being written for the middle-aged (8-12) while very young children remain largely neglected. Very few books for adolescents have been written. One is Angi Ossai's Tolulope (1979). Another is Joined by Love by Joy Ikede. The Kenyan Asenath Odaga's work Jande's Ambition is about choice of career which should be a prime concern at that age. Macmillan's Pacesetter Series also appeals to young adults but their works are said to be of varying quality, featuring crime, espionage and love tangles.

There is in addition the chronic absence of children's magazines in most parts of Africa. In Sierra Leone the attempt by The Sierra Leone Writers and Illustrators to establish one did not survive its second issue. But the invaluable role they could play in inculcating the reading habit in the child because of their wide variety of subjects, the form of presentation and the fact that children love to read what their peers have written and thus start having similar creative impulses is recognized.

Most parts of Africa are not book-friendly for there are few if any bookshops where the African child can buy books. Neither is his access to libraries especially so in rural areas easy. School libraries are a phenomenon of a distant past. Where public libraries are still available and functioning their children's sections are poorly housed, poorly furnished, poorly ventilated, poorly equipped, poorly staffed and poorly sited. There is therefore an obvious need for thorough overhauling of library services in Africa. And efforts should be made to make it an essential public service from the central on to local government levels so as to give every community the opportunity of accessing and growing on books. Similarly every school should have a library that is well stocked and well-equipped.

The distribution of books is another area of difficulties. For this is usually left to private enterprise although some governments purchase textbooks in bulk to distribute to schools. Wholesale bookselling is best handled by private entrepreneurs trained in the discipline. But the main problem hindering this is that the book distributors tend to restrict themselves to using distribution methods more suited to countries with a high level of literacy where the wider citizenry is already converted to books. In Africa, publishers and book distributors cannot afford to wait for buyers to come to them. They must rather take their products to the people wherever they are. In Tanzania, therefore, enterprising publishers take books to the local markets. There shoppers mingle with books and enjoy lively discussions with the publishers on all aspects of books. The huge sales at these exhibitions have proved the usefulness of such innovative activities. This kind of promotion will no doubt create in adults an awareness of the need for literature.

Efforts made to promote and sell books in the West could be extended with adaptations, if necessary, to intra-African book distribution so that print runs will be longer for the prohibitive costs of books to be brought down. Why cannot children in Nairobi, for instance, read literature published by an indigenous publisher in Nigeria? Much is lost through the compartmentalization of African children's literature. In 1976 an attempt to sell African books from all parts of the continent at the Second Pan African Trade Fair in Algiers collapsed when 4,000 such books had to be brought back because the Algerian government's imposition of a 120% tax on the books had made them too expensive. Such tariffs need to be removed with communication and transport systems improved to facilitate trans-African movement of books.

The situation however seems poised for major changes with the intervention of a series of bodies and institutions thus complementing the efforts of others such as UNESCO that had been working assiduously in the field. There is a wide network of organizations geared towards supporting the growth of publishing in Africa. One of them is APNET which network exists to help strengthen book publishing by Africans in Africa. APNET has been working closely with the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) and has been supported by Bellagio. The Bellagio Group of donors has been exploring ways of improving support for a number of cultural industries, which it is hoped will eventually include African books for African children as there is now recognition among policy makers that culture of which books are an integral part is much of a key to development.

Book Fairs in Africa have been fastly becoming established institutions with a concerted series of initiatives to redressing the otherwise parlous state of books in Africa. The Pan African Children's Book Fair (PACBF) started in Nairobi, Kenya in 1991 through the initiative of the Foundation for the Promotion of Children's Science Publications in Africa (GHISCI). The fair has been trying to stimulate a learning environment that captures and nurtures the African child's inherent qualities of imagination, curiosity and creativity. It has created a dynamic atmosphere to enhance the preciousness of books in the learning life of the child. Through a variety of activities such as art, Toys, fun with science, debates, quizzes, creative writing, story-telling, and reading aloud, Kenyan children have come to love and comfortably identify with this event with increasing numbers thronging it every year. In 1994 a children's library introduced within the fair further whet the children's appetite by enabling children who could not buy books to have the opportunity to read a couple of books at the fair. Since 1994 the Reading Tent has been a major attraction to all children visiting the fair. This has resulted in other African book fairs widely emulating this innovation. Exhibitors also have been steadily improving their marketing skills thus reaching out to the children in more proactive ways, engaging them into books with new titles introduced. The 1998 PACBK had a spectacular advance with each stand becoming a mini library. Yet another innovation - A Children's Home Library Campaign - was launched with children responding with tremendous enthusiasm, buying books and promising to start their own home libraries.

The Zimbabwe International Book Fair has been another important stimulant for the development of the book industry in Africa.The1998 fair was of especial significance because its theme and that of the accompanying Indaba was 'BOOKS AND CHILDREN'
At the sessions of the inaugural Indaba it was emphasized that up to the 1990's book production for children has been weak if not non-existent in some countries. But since 1987 spectacular growth in children's publishing, in both European and African languages have been reported. In Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria production has notably increased in the last ten to twenty years. Print runs have also increased significantly averaging 3,000 to 5,000 copies per title with possibilities of frequent reprinting.

This progress has been attributed to the following:

1. The creativity of African publishers enabling them to produce well-made children's books in terms of content, production quality and price.

2. Continuing increases in state purchases of books for schools and libraries.

3. Appreciable support being provided to publishing and book acquisitions by development agencies, international organizations and N.GO'S.

4. Noticeable increases in sales resulting from efforts publishers are making to promote their books nationally and internationally.

5. Co-operation between publishers and distributors enabling the development of export sales.
But in spite of this difficulties still remain or have been created in the following areas:

1 Wide differences between countries. The situation in South Africa, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Tanzania is very much better than in other countries in their regions. In francophone West Africa, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Mali and Togo stand out clearly.

2 Difficulties in finding good authors and illustrators still persist.
3 Readership is not sufficiently developed, given the level of illiteracy and the lack of a reading culture or habit.

4 Even where a readership exists, its purchasing power is limited. For books is not as high a basic priority as basic needs.

5 The library network is not developed, especially in the rural areas.

6 The distribution network is not developed.

7 The intense political situation in Zimbabwe has negatively affected the most favorable climate created there for the growth of books not only there but the whole of Africa and has robbed The Zimbabwe International Book Fair of its international flavour.

Arthur Edgar E. Smith was born, grew up and was schooled in Freetown, Sierra Leone.. He has taught English since 1977 at Prince of Wales School and, Milton Margai College of Education. He is now at Fourah Bay Collegewhere he has been lecturing English, Literature, as well as Creative Writing for the past seven years rising to the rank of Senior Lecturer.

Mr Smith is widely published both locally as well as internationally with his writings appearing in local newspapers as well as in West Africa Magazine, Index on Censorship,Focus on Library and Information Work amongst others .

He was one of 17 international visitors who participated in a seminar on contemporary American Literature sponsored by the U.S.State Department from June to August 2006. His growing thoughts and reflections on this trip which took him to various US sights and sounds inLouisville,, San Francisco, Cincinnatti and Washington D.C. could be read at http://www.lisnews.org

Celebrate a History of Film in Western North Carolina at the 2007 Asheville Film Festival

As autumn leaves transform the Blue Ridge Mountains into brilliant, unforgettable colors, Asheville welcomes the 2007 Asheville Film Festival from November 8th to the 11th. Movie screenings will be held over five days at a variety of local venues including Pack Place, the Diana Wortham Theatre, the Fine Arts Theatre, Asheville Community Theatre, and The Ritz Building.

The Asheville Film Festival is young but already considered a nationally recognized gathering of actors, actresses, directors, producers, writers and critics. In less than five years the festival has featured over 300 films and been attended by over 30,000 people. If you are planning a fall vacation to experience the incredible leaf season of the Blue Ridge Mountains the Asheville Film Festival is a one of a kind event you don't want to miss.

Modern Movies and the Allure of Asheville: Making Film History

In the 1990's Asheville became a hot spot for movie producers and directors. The 1992 version of the Last of the Mohicans, 1993's The Fugitive and 1996's My Fellow Americans brought Daniel Day Lewis, Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones, Jack Lemmon and James Garner all to the Asheville area. The city of Asheville has also been home to the cast of The Swan, Patch Adams, Forrest Gump and Hannibal.

Increasing attention from Hollywood motivated the city of Asheville to combine resources with local theaters, filmmakers and businesses in 2003. Together they began to make a focused effort to create a film festival worthy of such a fantastic location and powerful community support.

What To Expect at the 2007 Asheville Film Festival

This year the 2007 Asheville Film Festival judges are a mixture of local celebrities and film experts. Harry Anderson, Robby Benson, Felicia Feaster, Don Mancini, Larry Toppman, Sam Watson and Asheville's own Ken Hanke are responsible for judging 93 films, 14 of which are shot or produced in WNC. The competition includes 17 feature films, 22 documentaries, 18 shorts, 8 student films and 4 animated movies.

According to the Asheville Film Festival web site over 400 films were submitted this year including 13 foreign films from France, Canada, Belgium, Germany and Greece. The opening gala will premiere the critically acclaimed film The Savages starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney on Thursday November 8, 2007 at the Diana Wortham Theatre between 7 and 11 pm. Closing night, Sunday November 11, will feature The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, a film by acclaimed director Julian Schnabel, at 6:30 pm at the Diana Wortham Theatre.

This year's recipient of the 2007 Career Achievement Award is Tess Harper. Honored for her great success in the film industry, Harper is a shining example of acting at its best. Harper will receive her award at the Spotlight Celebration Awards held on Saturday November 10 at 7 pm at the Diana Wortham Theatre. Several of her films will be featured over the weekend including Loggerheads and Tender Mercies. An evening with Tess Harper is scheduled for Friday November 9 at the Fine Arts Theatre after the screening of Tender Mercies.

Plan the Ultimate Luxury Mountain Getaway and Experience the Asheville Film Festival

Personal and family vacation planning can be a lot of work so plan ahead to make the most out of your time in the mountains this leaf season. In Asheville, NC there are a variety of vacation rentals and hotels to choose from. To insure that your visit to Asheville and the 2007 Film Festival goes smoothly, find a hotel or vacation rental that can assist you with your individual itinerary and provide you with everything you need to make the very most of your luxury mountain getaway. Some of the highest quality lodging can be found downtown in the Biltmore area, along with fine dining, shopping, nightclubs and art galleries. A travel concierge can help you rent a car, plan a hiking trip, buy film festival tickets or choose a restaurant. Let hospitality experts take care of the vacation details while you enjoy the culture, beauty and comfort of the North Carolina Mountains.

The full movie schedule for the Asheville Film Festival can be found at http://www.AshevilleFilmFest.com

James Gibson is the Managing Director of The Residences at Biltmore, a condo hotel in Asheville, North Carolina with concierge services designed to pamper and delight guests. Mr. Gibson has over twenty years experience in hospitality. He has been Hotel Manager at the Ritz Carlton San Juan Hotel, Spa and Casino, and a General Manager of the Adam's Mark Columbia in South Carolina. He has also worked in six Hyatt Hotel Corporation properties in a management capacity. Email concierge@residencesatbiltmore.com or visit http://www.residencesatbiltmore.com/hospitality for more information.

Check Out Barbie SKIPPER COURTNEY High School Fashions DANCES - Easy To Dress (1992)

Barbie SKIPPER COURTNEY High School Fashions DANCES - Easy To Dress (1992) Review

Barbie SKIPPER COURTNEY High School Fashions DANCES - Easy To Dress (1992) Feature

• Easy To Dress Skipper Courtney High School Fashions, Dances, is a 1992 Mattel production.
• Included: Jacket, Crop Top, Capris, Skirt & Shoes. See detailed info below in Product Description.
• There are 4 different styles: Games, Parties, DANCES & Mall; each sold separately. This is DANCES.
• Fashions fit most Skipper, Courtney & 9.5" fashion dolls; dolls NOT included.
• Easy To Dress ages 4+ years. Great for any collection or fun play!

Barbie SKIPPER COURTNEY High School Fashions DANCES - Easy To Dress (1992) Overview

Easy To Dress Skipper Courtney High School Fashions, Dances, is a 1992 Mattel production. Model #3649, Asst. 3655. Easy To Dress fashions for ages 4+ years; not for children under 3 years. There are 4 different High School Fashions styles; Games, Parties, DANCES & Mall - this is the DANCES fashions. Included in the package is an aqua color Jacket w/collar, an aqua Skirt w/dropped waist & from dropped waist the Skirt flares out w/aqua color double layer tulle fabric. Also there's a white w/green, blue & pink pattern Crop Top & matching Capris and a pair of blue Shoes. Fashions fit most Skipper, Courtney & 9.5" fashion dolls; dolls are NOT included. All the provided information is to the best of my ability and may not be exact; colors, styles, sizes and information may vary. Easy To Dress Skipper Courtney High School Fashions, Dances, a 1992 Mattel production, is great for any collection, as a gift or just for fun play!

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Update Post: Nov 04, 2010 09:10:27

Check Out 1992 ERTL Ertl 1:18 American Muscle #3 Dale Earnhardt Sr. - GM Goodwrench

1992 ERTL Ertl 1:18 American Muscle #3 Dale Earnhardt Sr. - GM Goodwrench Review

1992 ERTL Ertl 1:18 American Muscle #3 Dale Earnhardt Sr. - GM Goodwrench Feature

• 1992 Ertl 1:18 American Muscle #3 Dale Earnhardt Sr. - GM Goodwrench
• Opening Hood, Steerable Wheels
• Detailed 600+ HP Engine
• Fully Detailed Chassis & Suspension

1992 ERTL Ertl 1:18 American Muscle #3 Dale Earnhardt Sr. - GM Goodwrench Overview

1992 Ertl 1:18 American Muscle #3 Dale Earnhardt Sr. - GM Goodwrench

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Update Post: Nov 02, 2010 04:50:15

Spain: The Rugged Coast - Forget The Typecasting And Savour The Spectacular Vision Of The Costa Brav

In 1905 Ferran Agullo, a journalist and writer, invented the term 'Costa Brava' to describe the coastline between the Mediterranean and the Pyrenees in the province of Girona.

The Costa Brava is where it all began as far as tourism goes: from the 1950s, tourists started to flock to this coastline, the first of them arriving in ex-war planes.

To this day, tourism is still the main industry of the Costa Brava region.

Costa Brava means 'Rugged Coast'. Its 214km of coastline extends from Blanes in the south, to French-bordered Portbou in the north. It is Catalonia's most northern stretch of coastline.

The Costa Brava's distinctive rugged coastline is punctuated with charming coves, amazing beaches - both secluded and well-serviced for sunbathers and water sports lovers, striking cliff-spurs carpeted in lush pines, intriguing caves with shimmering metallic colours layered through the inner walls, and amazing underwater rock formations which are a haven for divers. Plus just off the coast you'll find thriving forests filled with wonderful plants and wildlife.

Moderate rainfall, hours and hours of sunshine and a typical Mediterranean climate are all characteristics of the Costa Brava, which combined with its fervent history, amazing monuments dotted all along the coastline, and its renowned resorts, make this coastline one of Spain's most popular.

Perhaps the Costa Brava has seen some misrepresentation as a typical package tour destination. But this is unfair, and this reputation can only really be attributed to a few of the many resorts on this coast.

The truth is that this amazingly diverse region offers an opulent cultural heritage, fortified towns, ancient villages, a stunning Mediterranean coastline and remarkable natural beauty.

In the 1900s, Picasso and Marc Chagall were drawn to this natural beauty, and when Salvador Dalí returned to his childhood home here, a trail of artisans followed.

Before the Civil War, the Costa Brava had begun to compete with the Côte d'Azur in France as a playground for the rich and famous. When the Franco-powered Ministry of Tourism began promoting it as a holiday destination in the 1950s, with little regard for the environment, the stars returned, but as placid fishing villages were consumed by high-rise hotels, they turned their backs on the region and moved on.

However, the region's charm had always survived no matter what the tourist boom was doing to destroy it and the Spanish continued to visit for its stunning natural beauty.

Today, the towns of the Costa Brava are becoming more and more reluctant to trade their traditional values for mass tourism. The region is strengthening these values to suit the more discerning traveller, which it welcomes with open arms, and has begun to turn the tide on its unfair branding as the epitome of mass tourism.

Here is some brief information about some of the most notable towns on the Costa Brava coastline, and some of those just inland from the coast.

Portbou A prime destination for those who want a break away from the more commercialised resorts. The town is the furthest north on the Costa Brava. Promenade-side restaurants and bars attract a large number of day-visitors. The border to France is close. Friday is market day.

Colera A small coastal village with a winter-population of only around 300. Even during the summer it doesn't get crowded here. The perfect location for some peace and to indulge in real traditional values.

Llanca This town is 15km from the French-Spanish border, with a fishing port and a yacht harbour. The older part of the village has a number of historical buildings surrounding the plaza major.

Port de la Selva Where the Cap de Creus forms a large bay, here you find Port de la Selva. It is a family resort, and a good base for walkers to admire the Cap de Creus. It is one of two points of access to Sant Pere de Rodes, one of the most important of all Catalan Romanesque sites. There is also a scuba diving centre here.

Cap de Creus Declared a nature reserve in 1998, this beautiful area is the only reserve in Spain which covers both sea and land; it incorporates the largest unpopulated area in the Spanish Mediterranean. The rock-strewn coast is barren and interrupted by small bays. The flora and fauna found here is quite unique and includes a variety of very rare species of sea-birds which are in danger of extinction.

Cadaques This town is approached by a small winding road, meandering through the mountains from Roses. Cadaques is extremely picturesque: cobalt waters, sandy beaches dotted with fishing boats, aged whitewashed houses, warren-like streets, and a 16th century hilltop parish. It's not a family resort - more an up-market haven for those with artistic and creative blood flowing through their veins.

Roses This town has a 16th Century fortress which although in ruins is still of great architectural interest. Also here are the remains of the Greek settlement of Rhode. Its fishing port is one of the leaders on this coast and offers a lively nightlife at its marina.

Empuriabrava Laying just south of Roses the name sounds ancient, but it was actually purpose-built for holidaymakers. It Known as the largest Marina in the world. Here there are as many canals as there are in Venice, and boat owners have their own moorings in front of their houses. Here you can indulge in just about any water sport you fancy. This town also has its own aerodrome that is equipped to deal with light aircraft, and offers skydiving lessons.

L'Escala A small holiday resort at the southern end of the Gulf of Roses. It is a delightful fishing village well known for its delicious sardines. The resort offers much for the water sport enthusiast, two yacht clubs and a number of marinas. This is also the point of entry to the Roman colony of Empúries, the most visited archaeological site in Catalonia.

Toroella de Montgri Here there is a 13th century castle, a tremendous gothic church and a museum dedicated to natural history. Also to note are the hermitage of Santa Catalina and the legendary 'Tower of Witches'.

L'Estartit Close to Toroella de Montgri is this fishing village which offers a port, marina and as much as 3km of beaches. From here you must visit the Medes Islands. Take a glass bottom boat and be amazed by what lies beneath the sea.

The Medes Islands A small archipelago made up of seven islets and several reefs just a mile off the Catalan coast from Emporda and the Montgri Massif. The area is one of exceptional biological and ecological worth. The varying depths of the sea water around the islands, and the contrast of the rocky and sandy areas of the seabed, combined with the rock-type which lends itself to the formation of tunnels and caves, all work together to attract a wide variety of species - as many as 1,345 have been recorded.

Ullastret The archaeological site of the ancient Iberian city makes this village of great interest.

Pals Here there are a number of notable historic buildings, including the two towers of the old walled town, and the church of Sant Pere.

Begur This really is an exclusive tourist resort and at the cove of Aiguablava there is a Parador hotel. Here there is a 15th century ruined castle set upon a hilltop offering spectacular views of the Costa Brava.

Palafrugell This area is 4km inland and has been shielded from tourist activity. On Sundays the town comes alive with the lively morning market. The aged streets and shops are huddled around the delightful 16th century church. There are three districts within Palafrugell:

Tamariu has a small beach and a small population to go with it! Llafranc is nestled into the next bay, with a stretch of beach and a marina. Calella de Palafrugell is mainly a fishing port, with ageing whitewashed houses slotted into narrow streets. It has a stunning rugged coastline interspersed with lots of petite sandy beaches, which can get quite packed on account of the enticing crystal clear waters.

Palamos A busy resort with a yacht-filled harbour and a notable 16th Century church. The town dates back to 1277, and as with many of the towns on the Costa Brava, the old town is separate to the new. Palamos is an important fishing village and often plays host to big yachting events.

Platja d'Aro and S'Agaro These are two of the most commercialised resorts on the Costa Brava. Here there is much for the tourist: hotels, campsites, shops, restaurants and bars, as well as numerous leisure facilities. But over and above this, the area is one of beauty with golden-sand beaches.

Sant Feliu de Guixols This town is at the heart of the Costa Brava, surrounded by pine and oak-filled woods. It has seen some commercialisation, but perhaps not as much as Platja D'Aro and S'Agaro. Of particular notability here is the hermitage of Sant Grau and the Gothic church with its celebrated iron gate, the Porta Ferrada. Water sports lovers are well catered for here, particularly in the nearby cove of Cala Salions.

Now we move on to the Selva Lowlands, starting at Tossa de Mar, and going southwards on to.... Lloret de Mar Lloret de Mar has a rather well known reputation for being one of the most lively resorts on the Costa Brava. It offers much to the party-lover: strings of pubs, clubs, amusement arcades and well-known fast food chains line the promenades while hotel upon hotel tower way above the palm trees.

Aside from these tourist attributes, Lloret does have some pleasant sites to behold, for example, the Santa Clotilde Gardens, open during the summer, and the ruined fortresses marking each end of the main beach, among other sites, monuments and beaches.

BlanesThe last town on the Costa Brava, with a substantial beach and harbour, and offering much for the tourist in the way of hotels, restaurants, bars and discos. Probably its most notable feature are the Mar i Murtra Botanical Gardens which are perched way above the sea, offering amazing views along the cove-studded coastline. Apart from showcasing over 4,000 species of plants from five continents, some of them threatened with extinction, the gardens also have a valuable research and study centre.

INLAND TOWNS As well as the coastal towns, this region has an abundance of notable inland areas that must be visited:

PeraladaThere are many fortified villages in this region and Peralada is one of them. It has several noteworthy buildings including the striking castle of the Rocaberti family which is set within a large park.

The castle, originally a Renaissance palace, is now home to the deluxe Casino of Peralada, the grounds of which are the site for an important summer Music Festival which brings the world's top classical music talent to the Costa Brava.

The castle and its 14th Century walls, sits beside the 1206 Convent of Nuestra Señora del Carme, which has an attractive cloister and patio and exhibits a fine collection of glass, ceramics and paintings and has a library with over 60,000 books.

Figueres This town is located in the heart of Catalonia and is well known as being the birthplace of surrealist artist Salvador Dali. The town is much visited for its Dali Museum, where the artist is buried. Figueres is also the birthplace of the Sardana dance, the traditional dance of Catalonia. Also of interest in Figueres is the castle fortress of Sant Ferran, the parish church of Sant Pere, the Museum of l'Emporda and the Toy Museum.

Besalú This town was elected as Spain's historical national property in 1966.

Its most striking feature is 12th Century roman bridge that spans the Fluvià River. There are two 10th Century churches and the Jewish baths, which date back to the Middle Ages.

Banyoles The big attraction here is the 6km lake, which reaches depths of 60m. Here you can swim, fish, canoe or hire a rowing boat. Banyoles hosted the rowing events of the 1992 Olympic Games.

Apart from the lake, there is also an archaeological museum, a 14th Century Gothic church and the neo-classical monastery of Sant Esteve de Banyoles.

Girona The Costa Brava capital is split into two by The River Onyar.

The old quarter is highlighted by the Cathedral, which, like many of Spain's cathedrals, is a fusion of many different historical periods and styles. Also worthy of a visit is the Jewish Quarter, with it's winding streets shaded by tall, stone walls and offering an abundance of shops.

The Twelfth Century Arab Baths, the old City Walls, and the museums of archaeology and history are of notable interest whilst the churches of Sant Nicolau, Sant Feliu and Sant Pere de Galligants highlight the religious background of the region.

The Costa Brava: rugged coastline; historical treasure; inset with cities, towns and villages that leave the visitor in awe of his surroundings. Forget the typecast brand and take in the intrinsic culture, scenery and traditions of this stunning part of Spain.

Sarah McInerney (Sarah Mac) is an experienced copy writer with a passion for well written, compelling work. Sarah is happy to take on any writing project: she has already written for a range of markets: travel; legal; engineering; hair care; beauty & natural remedies.

For details on how Sarah Mac can help your business grab an audience with fully researched, inspirational writing for print, web and press, visit http://www.wordsbysarahmac.co.uk

Words by Sarah Mac: Let good writing speak volumes about your business.

Check Out Barbie Cheerleading Courtney, Best Friend of Skipper Doll (1992)

Barbie Cheerleading Courtney, Best Friend of Skipper Doll (1992) Review

I was given this by a neighbor for my 7th birthday and I still treasure her. Courtney's hair began to un curl after two years of her being out of her box, and the doll's head eventually popped off once while I was brushing her hair, but I simply pushed her head back onto her cracked neck base, and kept playing. She now sits on a shelf, very well loved.

Barbie Cheerleading Courtney, Best Friend of Skipper Doll (1992) Feature

• Barbie Cheerleading Courtney, Best Friend of Skipper Doll is a 1992 Mattel production.
• Doll made in Malaysia & Pom Poms made in Hong Kong.
• Included: Courtney doll approx. 10" tall w/long dark hair & aqua color eyes.
• Wears purple & aqua Cheerleading outfit & has Brush, Pom Poms, socks, shoes & hair ribbon.
• See details below. Great for any collection, as gift or for fun play!

Barbie Cheerleading Courtney, Best Friend of Skipper Doll (1992) Overview

Barbie Cheerleading Courtney, Best Friend of Skipper Doll is a 1992 Mattel production. Doll is made in Malaysia & Pom Poms made in Hong Kong. Model #3933. Included in the box is a Courtney Doll that is approx. 10" tall; she has long dark hair & aqua color eyes. Courtney is wearing a 2 piece Cheerleading outfit that has a purple short sleeve top with shimmery silver fabric high collar & on the front of the top is a silver megaphone & aqua color C printed on it. The Skirt is aqua from the waist to the hips & then flares out with purple fabric that has glittery silver stars pattern; along the hemline is shimmery silver fabric trim. In her hair Courtney has an aqua bow and she comes with aqua socks and purple shoes, a purple hairbrush & aqua & black Pom Poms that really Shake! All provided information is to the best of my ability & may not be exact; colors, styles, sizes & info may vary. Barbie Cheerleading Courtney, Best Friend of Skipper Doll, a 1992 Mattel production, is great as a gift, for any collection or just for fun play!

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Update Post: Oct 29, 2010 23:40:15