Gambling in the movies

The September, 2006, release of Hollywood’s latest poker themed movie, “Lucky You” starring Eric Bana and Drew Barrymore continues a decades-long love affair between gambling and the movies. Gambling has long fascinated the movie-going public, and many fans of this genre enjoy the thrill of watching big stakes gambling without any risk to their own bankrolls. As an example, the following is a brief description of a few films based on this theme: 1922: Dr. Mabuse – Der Spieler ( “The Gambler” ) One of the earliest films to incorporate high stakes gambling in the storyline, the film centers around arch-criminal Dr. Mabuse, a counterfeiter, hypnotist, master of disguise and card shark. At the gaming tables, Dr. Mabuse reaps a fortune in card play by using his intense hypnotic powers to manipulate wealthy players into seeing cards that don’t exist, and to make choices guaranteed to ruin their game. Under the guidance of acclaimed German film director Fritz Lang, this movie has gained recognition as one of the most important and influential films of the silent movie era. 1961: The Hustler Paul Newman, George C. Scott, Piper Laurie, Jackie Gleason: An unforgettable performance by Paul Newman as “fast” Eddy Felson, a drifter and pool hall hustler, who is manipulated by sleazy manager Scott into a high stakes match with the legendary pool shark Minnesota Fats, ( Gleason ). Although this gambling-themed movie is about pool, poker players will recognize the similarities in strategy; the importance of body language (known in poker jargon as a “tell”), holding back the sweat, the look of confidence, etc. 1965: THE CINCINNATI KID Steve McQueen, Edward G. Robinson, Karl Malden, Joan Blondell, Tuesday Weld: Steve McQueen gives a great performance as an itinerant card shark traveling from one big game to another. The climactic poker game between McQueen and Robinson is the film’s highlight. 1966: A BIG HAND FOR THE LITTLE LADY Henry Fonda, Joanne Woodward, Jason Robards Jr., Burgess Meredith: Fonda and wife Woodward arrive in Laredo during an annual high-stakes poker game. Hoping for a windfall, Fonda decides to risk the couple’s savings and joins the game. Henry is on a big losing streak and in danger of busting out when “the little lady” comes to his rescue at the table. 1973: THE STING Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Robert Shaw: Newman and Redford are two small time con men operating in and around Chicago in the mid-1930s. A big stakes card game takes place as the duo try to put “the sting” on mobster Shaw. 1974: CALIFORNIA SPLIT George Segal, Elliot Gould: Gould and Segal are two compulsive gamblers with strange lifestyles. This is an entertaining, compelling and powerful film that captures poker parlor habituйs down on their luck and hoping for a reprieve, The title of the film is western-slang jargon for cutthroat poker.

So many scrapbooking album themes to choose from

Most beginners start their first scrapbook as a chronological album. They have sorted their photos according to date, and start scrapbooking each event in order. However, there are so many other scrapbooking album themes you could use. Don't limit yourself to just a chronological album. A themed album centered on one topic can inspire you and create a wonderful keepsake for years to come. Scrapbook album themes are nearly limitless when you consider all the topics available to choose from. You could create an album on something as universal as a wedding album, or you could get even more specific to your life and create one centered on a family member, such as, your mother or grandmother. Let's look at a few of the more common scrapbooking album themes. Chronological Album This is by far the most common theme for scrapbooks. Each page focuses on the photos from a specific date or event, and the album usually progresses from earliest dates to later dates. The tendency to start with older photos when scrapbooking comes from seeing all those old photos and realizing how overdue they are to be placed in an album. However, choosing to scrapbook with your most recent photos first and work your way back in time has a distinct advantage. These memories are the freshest in your mind. The older photos get the more likely you have already forgotten details about the event. In addition, working from your most recent photos gives the feeling of being up-to-date. You can work your way back through the old photos when you have time, but the most current photos continue to be placed in your album without creating an additional backlog. Baby Album It's surprising how many scrapbookers first start scrapbooking as a hobby when they have their first baby. Following a baby's development with photos is a natural thing to do. The photos start stacking up, and you realize that putting them in a photo-safe album is the best way to preserve those memories. A baby album can also be a chronological album. You might start from pregnancy and birth and then baby's progress from month to month. However, you could also make a baby album of all baby's firsts. Baby's first smile, baby's first word and baby's first step are just a few ideas. Wedding Album Photographs are an important part of any wedding. You have the professional photographs, as well as those taken by guests. A wedding is such a significant event in our lives. Even though it lasts for only a day, we want to preserve those memories for a lifetime. A scrapbooking album theme for a wedding is often more elegantly embellished than other albums. You might consider making a more casual and personal wedding scrapbook, include your own thoughts and feelings about the day. Scrapbook a page about your favorite moment during the wedding, and don't forget to include those things that were unplanned as well. Holiday Album Holidays are great photo opportunities. We gather together with family and friends to celebrate and taking pictures is always a part of the festivities. The more common holiday albums are Christmas and Halloween. However, maybe you have a family reunion every Fourth of July and want to create a photo album specifically for those photos. School Days Album An album that follows your child through his school years is really just a more focused chronological album. However, it is unique in that it often holds more memorabilia than most albums. They include art projects, essays, report cards and other mementos from each school year. You can have a school days album for each of your children. Heritage Album All scrapbooks are really heritage albums. When the scrapbook is made of archival-safe materials, it preserves your memories for future generations. However, heritage albums usually refer to scrapbooks made from very old photos. You might have photos of your great grandmother or your grandmother's baby pictures. Having these photos all in one album can be a wonderful conversation piece when family visits. Remember to ask your family to contribute to the journaling in a heritage album so as many memories as possible are documented. These are just a few ideas for scrapbooking album themes. Begin to think about your photos and reoccurring themes in your scrapbooking pages. Has your teenager son played hockey since he was seven? You might create a hockey album specifically for his team photos and his progress in the sport. Did you take a trip to Europe this year? The number of photos taken on a vacation can easily fill an album. Working on a scrapbook album theme allows you to choose which album and photos you want to work on today. You aren't limiting yourself to working in a chronological order. You might want to scrap your daughter's first smile in a baby album or maybe you want to scrap her first day of kindergarten in school days album. There are no rules to follow. Themed scrapbooks can be completed at one time, like your vacation to Hawaii album, or they can be an ongoing album like a Christmas album. Think about what kind of album theme fits into your life, and start scrapbooking outside the chronological limits.

Wanna buy cheap lcd television

LCD TVs are known to be on the expensive side and their reputation has suffered severely because they are seen as the TVs that require to sit right in front of them to have a proper view of the picture. But that was quite some time ago. The time might not appear to be that long considering the fact that the technological improvements take place on daily basis, and these improvements are incorporated in the products on monthly basis. In view of that it has been quite a while since LCD TVs have been improved to eradicate much of what it was criticized for. The use of the TFT or Thin File Transistor technology ensures that the problems associated with angular resolution are resolved to a large extent. The same goes for what is called 'ghosting' troubles associated with cheaper LCD TVs of the bygone times. The cost factor, however, has stayed, and there is no denying the fact that the LCD TVs do cost a tad more. However, the technological advances and proliferation has made it possible for the companies to offer the LCDs for much less than they used to. To LCD televisions, the only viable competition comes from Plasma TVs, which, though great at producing quality pictures, wear away with time and are high on energy consumption. Besides, the newer versions of the LCD televisions give sharper picture, take less space and need far less electricity than the ones belonging to the last generation. LCD came as a competition to regular tube TV and have evolved enough to stand in competition against Plasma TVs. They are much thinner and far lighter than tube TV and Plasma TV both. Of course, in terms of thinness and weight, the difference between a Plasma and an LCD is not as great as that between an LCD and a tube TV. But LCD does score over Plasma on that count. Price factor is an important aspect and must be carefully considered. So, to find an affordable LCD TV, look around in those nearby stores that are known to offer variety and good service. In all likelihood you'll get all the information needed to make an intelligent choice. Product rating by the experts and consumer reviews are also dependable sources. Collect all the information available, compare prices and features, consider reviews and rating and it will be quite easy to decide which one of the LCD TVs suits your needs and comes within the amount you allocated for it.

Tips to help you choose a keyboard that will provide the best musical experience

Keyboards come in a variety of sizes with various bells and whistles depending on your needs. Of course, this also means they come in a wide price range, so it's important to weigh up what you need with what you can afford, as well as ensuring you get the best value for money. Whether it's your first ever keyboard, or you're simply adding to your existing collection, it's imperative that you ask a few key questions before you buy any model. Firstly, you should ensure your keyboard is a full-sized model. Keyboards range from around half-sized for kids right up to full sized keys covering a number of octaves. It is important that you make sure your keyboard is full size if you are serious about learning. The smaller sized keyboards will keep you going if you're learning how to play, but soon enough you will require the full range of keys as you tackle more complex or involved pieces. Unless you want to have to upgrade after six months, don't opt for a smaller keyboard. The next thing to think about is whether or not your keyboard includes a stand. If it does include a stand, great. If not, you're going to have to buy one, so factor this into your costing. Additionally, consider whether the keyboard is touch-sensitive. A touch sensitive keyboard allows you to add your own dynamics, i. e. 'louds and softs' as you play, to give more texture to your piece. Traditionally keyboards are not touch sensitive, which means that regardless of how hard you press a key, it always produces the same note. Touch sensitivity may come at a price, but if your are looking for anywhere near performance quality, you should make sure your keyboard has it. Finally, you should think about adding a protective case. This will ensure you can keep the keyboard protected from the elements and external damage during transit, or when you're not using it. Additionally, this would benefit storage, making it easier to tuck the keyboard under the bed. When it comes to buying a keyboard, there is no element more important than sitting down and trying it for yourself. Ask the salesman if it's ok to have a go, and try out all the various functions. See if you like the set up, and see how easy it is to navigate the different effects. This will be the most influential step in making your decision, and should allow you, in combination with the above considerations, to figure out which keyboard is best for you.