Jane says…..

Almost everyone thinks they know how to write a screenplay. We’ve all heard someone watching TV saying “I could write a better script than that”!

The truth is that just about everyone does have a story worth telling. Unfortunately most do NOT know how to write a screenplay.

Most professional artists are very particular about their tools. The screenplay writer is no different. The key to writing is being organized. Before even writing a single word, you must have an inner road map that your characters are going to follow.

If you are writing a novel, you CAN take the time to ramble and develop your descriptive talents. A screenwriter cannot!

Just like any muscle, the writing ‘muscle’ has to be exercised on a regular basis. The simple process of sitting in front of a computer for set periods of time is critical in training the subconscious that THIS time is when you are going to call on your creativity. In order to learn how to write a screenplay you have to understand STRUCTURE. Unlike a novelist, you do not have the luxury of allowing your script to develop into 300 plus pages. It will not get read if it does not conform to an industry standard of around 110 pages.

The structure of most contemporary screenplays: 1) Establish the character and general situation, 2) force them up a tree and throw rocks at him and 3) get the hero down again.

Firstly: you get the audience to know something about the character and his situation.

Secondly: a situation must be created that goes against your characters comfort zone. He must have a nemesis trying to destroy everything he stands for. This ‘bad’ guy takes pleasure putting your hero up that tree and making it as uncomfortable as possible.

Thirdly: our hero needs to overcome all odds and ‘payoff’ the bad guy.

If it really is that simple, then why isn’t everyone a screenwriter? The answer is they do not know how to write a screenplay.

So let us say that you have a clear idea of what your three acts are going to be. Well now you begin to develop the characters. They have to play off each other and either support or destroy our main character. Any time the characters are neutral, the screenplay is dead. Just remember: conflict equals drama. No conflict, no drama.

So what does it take to become a screenwriter, besides learning how to write a screenplay? It takes discipline - to sit at your workplace, even when you are not sure what you are going to write. It takes having a thick skin, so that when the inevitable rejections come, you do not BELIEVE in their judgment as to your potential. It takes major BELIEF in yourself. But MOST of all it takes LUCK!

The film industry is littered with great scripts that never got made. - Directors fall out with producers. A great idea yesterday turns into a pariah today. The studio that WAS going to make your picture has changed hands and the new studio head wants to stamp his own directorial policy on his new position - and you were chosen by the previous head! There are a million legitimate reasons why Hollywood should not immediately fall at your feet - but YOU are going to overcome this. If you do not believe this, then do not even attempt to learn how to write a screenplay! If you DO believe in yourself, then hey - why shouldn’t you be the one that gets lucky?!

So yes, learning how to write a screenplay isn’t so difficult. The difficult part comes AFTER you have written the screenplay.

Richard Patton is the CEO of http://www.pitchmyscripts.com , the UNIQUE system for pitching screenplays directly to Hollywood. Whether you are a writer looking for the best screenplay writing software or simply trying to learn how to write a screenplay, you will find all the information you need . Having worked on movies from “Cliffhanger” to “Max Headroom” , Patton has a unique insider perspective on what works!

Blog computer, exercise, movie, skin, software, time, writing

Uganda has developed its lodges and hotels into world class. Kampala for example has 3star, 4star and five star hotels and the serena group has acquired the Nile hotel and renovated it it a 5 star deluxe facility at a cost of $18M. Lodges will be found in wildlife areas like queen Elizabeth.

Semilik Safari Lodge

The lodge has eight double rooms that allow for total comfort. Guests are also accommodated in large canvas tents with permanent thatched roofs. The tents have en-suite bathrooms with running water and private verandas with a breathtaking view. Sofas are piled with cushions, with ample lounging spaces. The lodge’s resident chef offers a creative mix referred to as the ‘Best food in Uganda’. Everything is homemade, from the fresh bread to the soups. The lodge employees are from the surrounding communities.

Semilik Safari Lodge offers guests interesting activities like chimpanzee trekking, guided walks and hiking, jungle walks fishing, bird-watching, spot lit night drives, game drives and visits to local communities. The lodge is working closely with the Indiana State University of the US in primate research projects. The cost for double rooms for foreign non-residents is US $296 and for East African Nationals US $218.

The mystery of Kabale

Bunyonyi Safari Resort (BSR), located deep in the highlands of Kabale District, southwestern Uganda, is a secret yet to be discovered. Located on the shores of Lake Bunyonyi, this unique tranquil place has spacious, self-contained and spacious cottages right at the waterfront. Guests can tour the numerous islands on the lake by motorboat. ‘Bunyonyi’ means ‘little birds’ and, indeed, at BSR guests are woken up every morning by the chirping of numerous birds. Some of the areas across the lake are famous rare bird species. Lake Bunyonyi is about 900m deep and it winds around numerous hills, creating islands. It has signs of volcanicity and mystery still surrounds its formation. It is a bilharzias-free lake and therefore safe for swimming. The area is also mosquito-free.

BSR have a pad out in the water for guests to sunbathe ands swim in private. Form there or the balcony, one can occasionally view the elusive water birds, the otters, as well as the surrounding hills. Guides will take guests round and give them the historical and cultural backgrounds of some of the islands. Visitors can also meet the pygmy tribes. In the evenings, one can enjoy a barbeque dinner with a campfire by the lakeside.

Lake Bunyonyi is one of the places in Uganda where guests can get clayfish, BSR’s specialty. The cuisine is mostly African but the chef is well versed in all continental dishes. Self-catering is also allowed at a minimal cost for small groups. Bunyonyi Safari Resort extends from the cottages to a small hilltop overlooking the lake. From this vantage point, the view of the Lake Bunyonyi, its surrounding islands against a backdrop of the volcanoes of Muhavura is splendid. The hall on this hilltop is furnished with a bar, a pool table, darts and other games. It is ideal for conferences and parties. The surrounding gardens are well manicured and beautiful.

BSR is offering special full board rates this season of US $40 per person per day. Visitors should look out for BSR’s new introductory package of US $110 per person for a two-night weekend that includes accommodation, meals and transport to and from Kampala, and lake tours. The minimum number of this tour is 12 people sharing in doubles. This tour can be combined with gorilla trekking in Bwindi or a visit to Lake Mburo National Park or Queen Elizabeth National Park at an added cost.

Hotel industry comes of age

The Uganda hospitality industry has evolved rapidly into a dynamic institution that places the interest of the client above all else. A visit to Uganda may be marked by stops in the following regions represented by a number of towns: Jinja, Mukono, Kampala, Entebbe, and towns within the refreshing tour circuit of western, north-western and north-eastern Uganda. In all these regions and towns, the hotels meet international standards and offer value for money.

Kampala, Entebbe and Mukono

Central Uganda boasts the country’s top hotels, with Kampala having hosted major international and regional conferences. Kampala has a variety of hotels that cater for different categories of tourists.

Colline Hotel

Colline Hotel is an old establishment in Mukono about 15 kilometres east of Kampala. The three-star hotel boasts a town-countryside tropical setting. It is an hour’s drive from Entebbe International Airport through Kampala along Jinja road. The hotel has more than 100 self-contained rooms, with 24-hour room service, DStv and direct telephone communication. It caters for transit tourists heading to and from Kampala.

Mukono’s unique setting in an area with bird life is reinforced by its high service standards. Colline offers guests unhindered access to all facilities such as the steam bath and health club. With a large garden, swimming pool and well-equipped health centre, Colline Hotel is another home away from home.

The hotel has two restaurants, Maxims and Kob, serving continental, international, oriental and local cuisine. It has three bars fully stocked with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The hotel has a launders residents’ linen. Cultural troupes perform there regularly, keeping the guests fully entertained.

Hotel Africana

Hotel Africana overlooks the beautiful Uganda Golf Club’s par 72 Kitante course. The hotel is 40 minute drive from Entebbe and a mere three-minute drive to the city centre. It has 115 rooms compromising five suites, 23 deluxe rooms and 87 twin-bedrooms. The rooms are elaborately furnished to meet client needs. They are individually air-conditioned, have private baths and showers, telephones, multi-channel TV, radio and fridges. For children under three years, accommodation is free of charge while those between three and 12 pay half the rate of a single room. There are also rooms with connecting doors for families, and there is a large swimming pool.

Hotel Africana has a well-designed purpose-built, air-conditioned conference and banquet rooms, complete with modern audio-visual facilities, to cater for any function. Due to its location, the hotel offers a suitable venue for workshops of 10 to 250 people and outdoor functions of up to 1,000 people. The conference rooms are equipped with a high-speed wireless Internet connection.

Holiday Express Hotel

Located in the heart of Kampala at the junction of Luwum and Dastur Streets, Holiday Express Hotel allows business tourists to access vital services such as foreign exchange, downtown shopping and transport in and out of Kampala. The facilities are designed to meet regional and international standards. All the 42 rooms are soundproofed to allow maximum comfort. This eliminates the CBD-related cacophony. The hotel has a special rate for East African nationals. All the rooms are fitted with TV with more than 10 channels and a spacious study area. Holiday Express has hosted business tourists from Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi and Congo.

Hotel Equatoria

Hotel Equatoria is part of the Imperial Group of Hotels chain - Grand Imperial, Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel, Imperial Resort Beach and Hotel Equatorial. It is located in Kampala’s central business district, about 40 kilometres from Entebbe International Airport. Its strategic location provides an ideal environment for conferences, meetings, workshops, parties, recreation and rest. Hotel Equatoria has features that supplement its quality of service. Recently the hotel added 30 more shops to meet the shopping needs of the guests. Hotel Equatoria has one of the biggest shopping malls in the country and 89 air-conditioned rooms, 24 of which are executive class, with satellite television and in-house movies. Security is guaranteed as an electronic key card system is used. The executive rooms have a sitting area complete with speed special satellite Internet connections, mini-bars and direct dialing telephone services.

Grand Imperial Hotel

The Grand Imperial Hotel is one of the first hotels in Uganda built in the colonial era. It is the only hotel that has been used by every governor of the colonial era. The 103 rooms, including suites, reflect the urban elegance and easy southern charm of the city. The hotel, part of the Imperial Group of Hotels, is centrally located in Kampala, and is just a 30 minute drive from Entebbe International Airport. All the rooms have high-speed Internet connection, electronic safes and mini-bars and direct dialing telephone services. The hotel has a swimming pool, saunas and Jacuzzi, massage rooms, steam and spa baths, a shopping mall and a large secure car park. It also offers free personalized airport service, forex bureau and doctors on call 24 hours.

Imperial Resort Beach Hotel

The five-star Imperial Resort Beach Hotel is situated in Entebbe on 27 acres of landscaped gardens on the shores of Lake Victoria. It is only a seven-minute drive from Entebbe International Airport, and a 30 minute drive to Kampala. The hotel is the finest convention centre in Uganda and a global landmark, offering technologically advanced conference facilities overlooking the lake.

With 191 rooms on six floors, extensive conference and banquet facilities and restaurants and bars, it is an ideal venue for meetings. A modern amphitheatre, 1 km private beach stretch along Lake Victoria, swimming pool and health club are just some of the delights.

Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel

The Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel has hosted a number of key conferences, including a summit of African leaders and former American President, Bill Clinton. It has modern well-equipped conference facilities, high-speed internet connection in all rooms, electronic safes and mini-bars, direct dialing telephone service, swimming pool, saunas and Jacuzzi, large secure car parking, free personalized airport service and a doctor on a 24-hour call.

Speke Resort & Country Lodge

Speke Resort and Country Lodge is a luxurious resort on the shores of Lake Victoria in Munyonyo, 12km from Kampala. This resort is spread over 50 acres of pristine land. It hosts leisure travelers, business and executive groups, weddings and other special travellers, business and executive groups, weddings and other special events. It is the epitome of an ultimate resort in the Great Lakes region. The emphasis is on exclusivity and comfort, with the décor incorporating ethnic design elements from various African communities.

The resort extends for over 400 metres along the shores of Lake Victoria. Landscaped gardens with indigenous plants and trees attract colourful birds and butterflies. Wide and well-lit pathways link the cottages, apartments and public areas. It includes 10 self-contained cottages, 20 serviced studio rooms, 11 one-bedroom apartments and 24 two-bedroom apartments with the latest amenities such as telephones, internet access and satellite TV. It has a large swimming pool, a restaurant, grocery, bar and an equestrian centre with 29 thoroughbred horses. There is a jetty where guests can hire speedboats

Mweya Safari Lodge

Mweya safari lodge is located on a peninsula in the heart of the Queen Elizabeth National Park. It offers sumptuous meals and luxurious accommodation and there are amazing views from every room, an abundance of game and birds. Easily accessible by air and road, Mweya Safari Lodge is the perfect place to start a refreshing experienced of Uganda.

Paraa Safari Lodge

Built in the early 1950s, Paraa offers visitors the dramatic Murchison Falls and a large variety of bird and animal species. Winston Churchill walked the 85 kilometres from Masindi to view the falls. Paraa is sandwiched by Lake Kyoga and Lake Albert in north-western Uganda and Murchison National Park. During Uganda’s political turmoil, the lodge collapsed but today the story is different. Guests can access it from Kampala by road or air

24 hours in Kampala

I had decided to venture into the unknown - Uganda. With only a sketchy knowledge of the history of the country, I had covered most of Kenya and my visits to Tanzania were becoming monotonous. Coming all the way from Mombasa, the thought of flying to Nairobi then to Entebbe offered a mixed package. On the one hand, I would arrive fast and embark on my working holiday, but on the other, I would miss invaluable experiences that my grandchildren would love to hear.

I settled for the long journey by road from Mombasa. The Mombasa to Nairobi trip was uneventful and by morning, I was on my way to the Malaba border. Through the Kenyan towns of Nakuru, Eldoret and others, which I knew like the palm of my hand, we reached the border and disembarked, passport in hand. I eyed the surroundings curiously. We completed immigration formalities and set off from Malaba through Tororo to Kampala. The Owen Falls Dam provided a spectacular view of the source of the Nile. And Kampala beckoned.

By 6:30pm, the bus arrived in Kampala. Dusk was swiftly giving way to night and I had not made any accommodation arrangements. I tried to recollect the names of some of the hotels and approached an all too willing taxi driver (here they are called ’special hires’). I addressed him in English and mentioned the names of the various hotels that came to mind, three to be precise, but he immediately ruled out two as being upcountry! So, he took me to the one in town. It was a three-star hotel. I was caught in the horns of a dilemma. I didn’t wish to appear as someone with no clue of what I wanted, yet I had this ominous feeling that the cost would subject my pockets to unwarranted, self-inflicted shock therapy. I decided to bite the bullet and approach the receptionist, who appeared rather busy with some clients. I waited. The wait seemed rather long; I know places in my home city (Mombasa) where the moment you step in you are literally lavished with service.

I boldly confronted the receptionist and politely asked her to attend to me. Turning the look of being offended by my perceived interruption, she promptly read out the room rates. The figures sounded rather odd; USh 100,000 etc. I settled for the cheapest, which was USh 100,000. Someone told me the Kenyan Shilling was quite strong regionally so I need not worry, just spend and be happy. I fished out a wad of notes and counted USh 100,000 for that night. I was shown the self-contained room with a sitting area, a TV with numerous channels, among a host of other things. I settled in the room, took a shower, started counting the money while reconverting the currency mentally to Kenya Shillings, and realized that i had spent a whopping KSh 8,000 even before dinner!

I was however determined that the little shock therapy would not ruin my first evening in Kampala. Furthermore, there was no way I could dine at the same hotel as that would choke any attempts at sampling Uganda’s growing economy. I moved to Steers on Kampala Road around the CBD. There was little difficulty in following the directions to the fast food joint. They seemed more efficient than the three-star hotel.

It was Friday and I began my nocturnal tour at about 8:45pm. The city was teeming with not just vehicles, but human traffic too. I got a ’special hire’ to the ‘happening places’ as the seemingly enlightened driver called them. He quickly noticed two things: that I was new in Uganda and that I was from Kenya!

The driver through the city took me to what he rated as a client-friendly pub in the heart of the city and a couple of other places after which I thought: “well, i now know Kampala!” I decided to go it alone and the next 24 hours were a real rollercoaster ride. I entered what I later was told was a sleazy joint (not my type) and moved on to what surprised me most - a Kenyan nyama choma joint. There was a good number of Kenyans and Tusker flowed like water. It felt good to be ‘home’ again. The joint-hoping craze went on, this time with a group of homeboys who seemed to disappear in what I considered dark alleys, only to re-emerge stone drunk! I was told that they had gone to ‘re-charge the Tusker’ with some potent traditional gin by the name Kasese Kasese.

It was well past midnight. Back home, I would be worried about the police and robbers but here that did not bother the Friday night crowd. I met a young woman who said she was a Ugandan university student and we went to a disco. I do not remember the names of the clubs because we entered no less than three that night. The mood was real carnival with folks partying hard. I learnt a lot from the student on why people seemed so relaxed and at ease with foreigners.

The last disco we entered was playing a floor-closing number. It was 5:30 in morning. I escorted my guide to a special hire, paid for her trip back to campus wherever it was, and I took mine to my USh 100,000 hotel room. Later, some homeboys who promised to show me a ‘more affordable’ place lived up to their promise. I moved to an equally decent hotel within the CBD for less than half the previous cost!

I spent the afternoon visiting the famous Makerere University, Entebbe International Airport and its environs, the National Museum, Ndere Cultural Centre, the palace of the Kabaka of Buganda and the National Parliament. I went to bed early that Saturday evening because of the long journey ahead. In any case, the bus was set to leave at 7:00am on Sunday. I arrived back from Kampala with fond memories, having spent 24 great hours in Kampala. I most likely will go back, particularly to visit my university friend whom I guess must be about to graduate.

Robert Muhoho is a tour consultant in Kenya and has planned business and vacation safaris for over 10,000 tourists in the East African region. He is a tour operation- major and involved in National tourism policy development in Kenya.

Blog arts, audio, beverage, boat, car, chef, communication, creative, design, doctor, environment, fishing, food, games, happy, health, home, house, human, internet, leisure, love, movie, outdoor, personal, public, running, security, tax, time, traffic, travel, vacation, vehicle, yoga

Nominated for 20 Emmys and winner of a Golden Globe for Best Television Series (Musical or Comedy), Curb Your Enthusiasm is one of the more clever and hilarious shows on TV. The HBO original series is the brainchild of Seinfeld co-creator and writer Larry David, whose life maintains a peculiar resemblance to the quasi-fictional George Costanza. And just like George Costanza and his neurotically-low self-esteem (i.e. “God doesn’t want me to be successful), Curb Your Enthusiasm propagates a Murphy’s Law theme of “what can go wrong will go wrong”. It’s a true-to-life reality show about nothing in which every episode is certain to cause comedy connoisseurs everywhere to tremble in enthusiastic anticipation…

Curb Your Enthusiasm centers around the actual life of Larry David - post-Seinfeld and living the high life in Los Angeles. Just like Larry’s other successful TV venture, the show doesn’t focus entirely on plot, instead following the mundane and routine adventures of a famous Hollywood insider. And just like his alter-ego George Constanza, Larry often witnesses simple acts and gestures on his part snowball into a series of misunderstandings and embarrassing situations. Accompanying Larry on his daily adventures are his wife Cheryl (Cheryl Hines) and his manager Jeff Greene (Jeff Garlin) as well as a host of Hollywood and Broadway celebrities who make regular guest appearances… Blurring the line between fiction and reality, Curb Your Enthusiasm is the perfect sequel to Seinfeld. In a nutshell, it’s a glimpse of what would’ve been had Jerry and George’s pilot been picked up by NBC (which ultimately raises the question - who wouldn’t love a show about a man sentenced to be another man’s butler?)…

The Curb Your Enthusiasm (Season 2) DVD features a number of hilarious episodes including the season premiere “The Car Salesman” in which Larry shocks his friends and family by deciding to take on a job as a car salesman. Meanwhile, Cheryl and Larry purchase a seaside holiday home from Jason Alexander’s agent only to learn that the abode comes with its own disturbing “house sound,” and Larry contemplates launching a new TV series with Jason chronicling the life of an unemployed typecast actor… Other notable episodes from Season 2 include “The Shrimp Incident” in which Larry comes to believe that an HBO executive stole some shrimp from his Chinese takeout order, and “Shaq” in which Larry earns the wrath of L.A. when he inadvertently trips Shaquille O’Neal at a Lakers game…

Below is a list of episodes included on the Curb Your Enthusiasm (Season 2) DVD:

Episode 11 (The Car Salesman) Air Date: 09-23-2001
Episode 12 (Thor) Air Date: 09-30-2001
Episode 13 (Trick or Treat) Air Date: 10-07-2001
Episode 14 (The Shrimp Incident) Air Date: 10-14-2001
Episode 15 (The Thong) Air Date: 10-21-2001
Episode 16 (The Acupuncturist) Air Date: 10-28-2001
Episode 17 (The Doll) Air Date: 11-04-2001
Episode 18 (Shaq) Air Date: 11-11-2001
Episode 19 (The Baptism) Air Date: 11-18-2001
Episode 20 (The Massage) Air Date: 11-25-2001

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a blog where you can find where you can find more reviews of movies and TV series. Source: http://thedvdreport.blogspot.com/2006/02/curb-your-enthusiasm-season-2-dvd.html

Blog Blog, car, family, home, house, love, movie, music, review, sales, success

“Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.” If you answered yes to the title question I am sure you have realized the truth in this quote by Ambrose Bierce. In order to gain control over your tongue you must be determined to see things differently. People who lose their temper tend to view life in a negative and judgmental way. You have the ability to direct your mind away from angry and upset feelings. You need to realize that you can have peace of mind instead of conflict.

This article will cover a variety of mindsets and behaviors that will teach you how to keep your mouth shut when you are angry.

1) Be quick to listen and slow to speak. Remember that you have two ears and only one mouth. Use them in this proportion. It’s better to be a good listener than to be a good speaker. Listen carefully to what the other person has to say. Take your time before giving them an answer.

2) Don’t be double minded. You can’t have peace of mind and conflict at the same time. Be clearly focused on the outcome that you want. (Example: “I want to go to bed tonight feeling close to my partner.”).

3) You can’t be right and be married. You have to decide “Do you want to be right or do you want to be married?” Trying to be right will destroy the connection between you. Instead, strive to do the right thing.

4) Don’t jump to conclusions. Slow down and think through the situation.

5) Don’t say the first thing that comes into your head. I often hear people say, “I cannot keep from saying the thoughts I have.” You can and you must.

6) As I was writing this, my daughter reminded me of Thumper’s quote in the movie, “Bambi”. “If you can’t say something nice…don’t say nothing at all.” This is always good advice.

7) Don’t overreact to criticism. Beneath the criticism is an underlying message. Criticism is a smoke screen for deeper feelings. I compare criticism to cheese on a mousetrap. What happens when the mouse takes the cheese? He gets his tail caught in the trap. That’s what happens when you take the bait of criticism. Don’t take the bait. Listen for the underlying message.

Stay away from negative thoughts and statements like, “I hate this!” “This is driving me crazy!” “I can’t stand this!” These types of statements are like throwing gasoline on a fire. You are making it much more intense. Replace these with positive declarations such as “I can handle this.” “This is not that big of a deal.” “I have unshakeable peace of mind.” “Nothing bothers me.” Your thoughts will direct your emotions. Choose positive thoughts that help you keep your peace.

9) If someone uses absolute terms like “always”, “never”, “everybody”, and “nobody”; don’t take them literally. These are emotional terms. If your wife says “You never take me anywhere.” and you know that’s not true; don’t take it as a personal attack. Try and hear her underlying request that she needs to know she is special and she wants to spend some time with you.

10) Don’t overreact and don’t give advice too quickly. This only trains people not to be open with you.

11) Don’t try to get in the last word. It’s not worth the damage you could do by trying to win or be heard.

12) If you are angry repeat this scripture based verse in your head, “In all things be self controlled.” Say it over and over so that you don’t get derailed into an argument.

13) There is life and death in the spoken word. Make sure your words build people up versus tearing them down.

14) Remember to breathe. Stick with the basics. When you are upset, take a few deep breaths.

15) Strive to use an approach that promotes honor and respect. This can make the difference between a twenty minute argument and a 3 day war.

16) Realize that your anger most likely is not going to help solve the problem and may actually make the matter worse.

17) Calmness will help you get to the heart of the matter. This leads to conflict resolution. Trying to be right or show your might will lead to conflict.

18) Staying connected is more important than making your point.

The only one who is responsible for the way your life works out is you. You cannot change the past, but you can take responsibility for your future. All it takes is a decision. Decide to live a life of discipline rather than one of regret. Remember that discipline weighs ounces and regret weighs tons. Develop the power of a tamed tongue.

Mark Webb is the author of How To Be A Great Partner and founder of Partner Focused Relationships™. Sign up for Mark Webb’s “Relationship Strategies” Ezine ($100 Value). Just visit his website at http://www.powerfulrelationshipadvice.com or http://www.therelationshipspecialist.com

Blog car, care, movie, personal, relationship, time, writing

Making its debut in the fall of 1985, The Golden Girls quickly established itself as a fixture of Saturday night prime time television. Following the lives of four older women living together as roommates in Miami, the show displayed a raw wit and a biting humor. The women live in the house of Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan), a Southern belle who loves men of every kind and has dated every eligible bachelor in the Miami area. Her roommates are former high school teacher Dorothy Zbornak (Bea Arthur) and St. Olaff housewife and widower Rose Nylund (Betty White). Rose loves to tell stories about her former hometown, much to the chagrin of the other girls. The three are joined by Dorothy’s mother, the firebrand Sophia Petrillo (Estelle Getty), a spunky Italian immigrant who always speaks her mind. In her early 80’s, Sophia may walk at a measured pace, but the velocity of her sarcasm only increases with age.

Overall, this is a charming situation comedy with likeable characters who have certainly developed their own unique identities. Although some of the same aspects of the show tend to be used over and over again (such as the St. Olaff stories and Dorothy’s reaction to them), The Golden Girls never seems to grow tiresome. With powerful performances from each of the cast members, viewers will find that Sophia steals the show…

The Golden Girls DVD offers a number of hilarious episodes including the series premiere “The Engagement” in which Sophia Petrillo moves in with her daughter Dorothy and her two roommates, Blanche and Rose, after a fire destroys her retirement home, Shady Pines. Meanwhile, Rose develops a bad feeling when Blanche’s boyfriend Harry proposes… Other notable episodes include “The Competition” in which Dorothy and Blanche enter into a heated bowling competition with Rose and Sophia, and “The Operation” in which Dorothy is forced to undergo surgery on her foot. Feeling scared and sorry for herself, she develops a new outlook on life after her encounter with an inspirational hospital roommate…

Below is a list of episodes included on The Golden Girls (Season 1) DVD:

Episode 1 (The Engagement) Air Date: 09-14-1985
Episode 2 (Guess Who’s Coming To The Wedding?) Air Date: 09-21-1985
Episode 3 (Rose The Prude) Air Date: 09-28-1985
Episode 4 (Transplant) Air Date: 10-05-1985
Episode 5 (The Triangle) Air Date: 10-19-1985
Episode 6 (On Golden Girls) Air Date: 10-26-1985
Episode 7 (The Competition) Air Date: 11-02-1985
Episode 8 (Break-In) Air Date: 11-09-1985
Episode 9 (Blanche And The Younger Man) Air Date: 11-16-1985
Episode 10 (Heart Attack): Air Date: 11-23-1985
Episode 11 (The Return Of Dorothy’s Ex) Air Date: 11-30-1985
Episode 12 (The Custody Battle) Air Date: 12-07-1985
Episode 13 (A Little Romance) Air Date: 12-14-1985
Episode 14 (That Was No Lady) Air Date: 12-21-1985
Episode 15 (In A Bed Of Rose’s) Air Date: 01-11-1986
Episode 16 (The Truth Will Out) Air Date: 01-18-1986
Episode 17 (Nice And Easy) Air Date: 02-01-1986
Episode 18 (The Operation) Air Date: 02-08-1986
Episode 19 (Second Motherhood) Air Date: 02-15-1986
Episode 20 (Adult Education) Air Date: 02-22-1986
Episode 21 (Flu Attack) Air Date: 03-01-1986
Episode 22 (Job Hunting) Air Date: 03-08-1986
Episode 23 (Blind Ambitions) Air Date: 03-29-1986
Episode 24 (Big Daddy) Air Date: 05-03-1986
Episode 25 (The Way We Met) Air Date: 05-10-1986

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a blog where you can find where you can find more reviews of movies and TV series. Source: http://thedvdreport.blogspot.com/2006/02/golden-girls-dvd.html

Blog Blog, car, care, education, girl, home, house, humor, hunting, inspiration, love, movie, review, school, time, women

When you visit the festive city of Baton Rouge, you’re never out of interesting places to visit. Thankfully, the wonderful Baton Rouge hotels will accommodate you generously until you feel fully satisfied with your journey to this historical city. In terms of the quality of service, not only do the hotels of Baton Rouge match the top of their peers, but they also offer something special and unique to the flavor of the locality.

If you’re looking for a top notch hotel, look no further than the magnificent Embassy Suites Hotel of Baton Rouge. Situated at 4914 Constitution Avenue, its location is walking distance away from the Louisiana State University Campus and the LSU Rural Life Museum. It is also at a convenient distance to the Louisiana Art and Science Museum, the Pentagon Barracks, the Greater Baton Rouge Zoo and the Audubon Golf Trail.

The Embassy Suites Hotel offer luxurious suites with a spacious living room. The bedrooms features either one king bed or two full size beds. Cable television, pay-per-view movies, and Nintendo games are available for a very enjoyable entertainment suite. Additional furnishings include a mini-refrigerator and microwave oven. And oh, don’t forget High-speed Internet access, for the busy business people. Check-In takes place at 3:00PM, and check-out occurs at 12:00PM. More details about the Embassy Suites Hotel are available at http://www.embassysuites.com. You may also contact the staff members at 225-924-6566.

If you’re looking to settle in downtown Baton Rouge, then be sure to take a good look at the Sheraton Baton Rouge Convention Center Hotel. The address is at 102 France Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802, United States. The staff can be contacted by phone at (225) 242-2600. Among the Baton Rouge hotels here, it boasts being the newest hotel around as well as the only downtown hotel that provides full hospitality services for its clients. The Sheraton Baton Rouge Convention Center Hotel has around 300 guest rooms & suites. Common sought after services like High-speed Internet access and wireless connections are available. It also features meeting facilities, airport shuttle, valet, laundry and many more other services to take good care of you. Be sure to check out the main website at http://www.starwoodhotels.com. Take a tour and find all the reasons why this is one of the most talked about hotels in Baton Rouge.

Of course, your choice of lodging is not limited. There are plenty of other hotels available in Baton Rouge with more economic pricing. One such hotel is the Baton Rouge Marriott Hotel, located at 5500 Hilton Avenue. It’s only 15 minutes away from the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport. This Marriott hotel has around 300 guest rooms, featuring both one and two bedroom suites. Among the furnishings provided include Cable TV, in-room coffee makers, irons, and two telephone lines - for DATA ports and voice mail functions. For more details, get in contact with their staff at 1-225-924-5000, or fax them at 1-225-926-8152.

Choosing among the Baton Rouge hotels available is not an easy task. Hopefully, that will be the hardest part of your trip to Baton Rouge. Depending on your purpose of visit, duration of your stay, and your own personal preference, Baton Rouge has enough customized hotel rooms to make you feel at home.

Tael Marco is a native of Baton Rouge, Lousiana. He now resides in Boston due to occupation, but he still travels back to Baton Rouge at least twice each year to participate in festivities and to meet old friends. His favorite food was and still is spicy, cajun crawfish steamed to perfection.

Blog car, care, coffee, entertainment, food, games, home, internet, movie, personal, science, travel

The Internet has long since passed the buzzword stage of business adaptation. It is now recognized as an integral part of any new successful business venture. While the Internet’s business value has become ubiquitous in industry journals and classroom texts, very few businesses truly understand why successful eMarketing, and not simply a Web presence, may be the true path to Internet business nirvana.

“If you build it, they will come” only works in the movies

In this respect doing business on the Internet is no different than its brick and mortar counter-part. It’s not the old-school business 101 mantra of “location, location, location”, but rather the new-school mantra of “visibility, visibility, visibility.” Of the billions of pages existing in the Internet’s ethereal online universe only 16% are indexed by search engines (source: Web Developer’s Journal). This is in high contrast to the 73% of customers who use search engines to find new Web sites (source: Jupiter Media). If your potential customers can’t locate your site it becomes that much more difficult for them to purchase your services or goods.

However, search engines aren’t the only way to drive traffic to your site. A successful eMarketing approach will be integrated to drive traffic through multiple channels. Press releases can drive interested consumers from online news placements, white papers will help turn researchers into purchasers, online advertising (banner ad’s, newsletter sponsorships, etc.) can entice prospective clients from other sites to browse your wares as well, viral marketing and Web-based guerrilla marketing campaigns can bring tremendous brand awareness and drive results, but are a notoriously finicky audience. Businesses with established customer relationships, especially in the b2c realm, can repeatedly tap their existing client base to drive new traffic and increase sales through active e-mail engagements that entice customer’s to make impulse purchases multiple times throughout the year.

Businesses can also effectively use offline ad campaigns to drive new visitors to your site. This is inherently a bit more difficult as you are requiring customers to remember your Web site address, which is not always easy. The most effective offline campaigns are integrated with online campaigns to take a comprehensive approach to customer engagement. A targeted direct mailing with personalized e-mail and telephone follow-ups that drive clients to a Web-based demo of services will ultimately attain much better results than the more limited traditional mail-only approach.

In short there is more to eMarketing than a Web site presence and an integrated eMarketing approach is the only way to ensure that your business reaches the widest possible target audience and successfully achieves online nirvana.

Adam Harrell is the President and COO of NeboWeb (http://www.NeboWeb.com).

Blog advertising, customer, internet, lease, marketing, movie, personal, relationship, sales, school, success, time, traffic

Let your Script breath…

Let a script breathe? Come on. A script isn’t human (not before your shoot it) so how can it breathe?

Think of it as a child, your child. You must have at least nine months of pregnancy to have a child. There is no instant child. The same is with a script. There is no time limit when you write it unless you are professional and someone hires you to write it. For a freelance writer it can take months or years to have one ready and even then it is not finished until the film is shot and edited.

You started writing knowing - more or less - what is the concept, where you are heading, what is that you want to express. The urge that made you put everything else aside and dedicate your life to writing the script.

You finally managed to finish a draft of the script - all 90 or 100 pages of it. You have now earned the right to sit back and relax. What now? What would be the next step? You probably can not wait to open the window and shout to the world “I did it!! My script is finished!!”

My advise - Don’t. Don’t print it and don’t distribute free copies to family members and close friends. Why? because your creation is still a long way from being completed. Now you got to put it aside for at least a month or even more. Try to put it out of your mind as if you never wrote it. Let the script breathe for one month before you look at it again. Now read it. You will then realize that your first draft is not exactly a masterpiece. Scenes and dialogues have to be changed or deleted in whole or partly. Some of them are pure shit. You can’t believe that you were the one to create them. Why does it happen after a month? The lapse of time gives us a much better perspective of the script. A distance. You were detached from it for a certain period and can now be much more realistic. The first draft is written from the guts. All your feelings - and fewer thoughts - are in it.

You are now ready to start rewriting the 2nd draft which is very painful process to a writer. Writing the 1st draft you fell in love with your words and now you realize that in order to make it a better script you got to be merciless and delete scenes and dialogues. I had a 100 pages script which I thought - after the 1st draft - was great. 30 pages were deleted when I worked on the 2nd draft to be replaced by other 10 pages. As a result the script looked much better and tighter.

How many drafts should you write ? No one can tell you that because the rewriting goes on even during the shooting of the film. But you still have a very long way to go before your script reaches the shooting stage. In Hollywood each draft of the script has a different color. In some scripts they ran out of colors. But do not let this discourage you because the roads from the 2nd draft to the other ones are much easier. It is a matter of fine tuning - just like a car.

Yair Packer has been writing scripts for theater and movies as well as participated in several feature film productions. Yair’s scripts are being adapted to both theater and cinema all over the world. Find out more about Yair’s Short Scripts at http://script4all.com

Blog car, family, human, love, movie, time, writing

Global Domains International, Inc. is the worldwide domain name registry for all .ws (Dot WS) domain names. The product is an incredible $10 per month package that includes your own domain name, hosting accounts, and up to ten email accounts, plus an easy-to-use online web site builder that will allow you to get a professional looking web site on the web as quickly as possible. And the best thing is, you can try out everything we have to offer, starting today, for FREE.

If that isn’t enough everyone that signs up to Global Domains International (GDI) has the option to join the business opportunity. Every person, group, and business introduced to GDI earns his or her sponsor recurring monthly income. They in turn sponsor others and earn commissions also.

The power is in the network marketing system. Let’s assume for a minute I introduce you to GDI. You view the 7-minute movie on GDI that explains the benefits of the product and the business opportunity. The movie can be viewed on your computer via the Internet. There is a DVD available as well but as I prospect globally I prefer to introduce the online version. There is also a more detailed 25-minute presentation.

Having seen the movie you decide it’s a great service and signup for your own domain. I earn $1. Not much I hear you mutter! Well, for a start that’s $1 per month for as long as you subscribe to your personal domain. Every paying member I introduce earns me $1 each month.

Now you introduce a new member. Now you earn a dollar per month and so do I from your member. These commissions are good for five levels. If I introduced three people and each member on each level introduces three people there would be a total of 363 people in my downline, which equates to $363 per month. OK, still not much and I would not be giving up my day job for that income.

So say I introduce 100 people and on average they all introduce only 3 people? Now we are talking. I now have 12,100 people and $12,100 dollars per month! There really are people earning an annual six-figure income from GDI. Anyone can duplicate this system and gain freedom from the drudgery of the 9-5 ‘proper job’.

The problem with most network companies is the drop out rate. People drop out because their chosen network is complicated; they have to by a truckload of product or it just too difficult to find interested customers. GDI is different it not only the most stable network marketing company around but there is no selling, no physical product to buy and people are clamoring for domain names and email. The domain business is still expanding at a phenomenal rate. Having a web site and personal email addresses is a great incentive for people to stick with the system.

Global Domains International is without doubt the best network marketing opportunity available today. GDI is without doubt the perfect network marketing business opportunity on the planet. A visit to the web site costs nothing. Are you ready to change the way you live?

Dave Knight writes how-to articles on computer and Internet related subjects. To view the free 7-minute movie go to this web site: http://www.thumbsupmarketing.com/Recommends/gdi_ez1.html. You may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice and the author name and URL remain intact.

Blog computer, customer, domains, hosting, internet, marketing, movie, network, personal, plane

iPhone Downloads - 10 Tips on Finding the Best iPhone Download Site

The iPhone is finally here! As a result, many free download sites have popped up that allow for downloading copyrighted material. It is best to avoid these sites as I am sure you do not want the authorities knocking on your door.

However, there are iPhone download membership sites that provide an excellent alternative to itunes. The problem is determining which of these iPhone sites provides the best service. Here are some tips to help.

1. Per iPhone Download Fee vs. One-Time Fee

Many iPhone sites will offer free membership, but then charge you for each file you download, 99 cents or $1.99. If you love your music as much as me, this can get expensive very quickly. Sites that charge a one-time fee are the way to go. You will save a lot of money in the long run.

2. iPhone Music Download Variety

It is true what they say: Variety is the spice of life. You probably want to find an iPhone download site that offers files from all genres of music.

3. File Selection for Movies, TV, and other Media

Having access to a lot of files is perhaps the most important thing to look for if you want to get your money’s worth! Fortunately, most iPhone download sites have overwhelmingly large databases, in the range of 100,000,000 files. (That is one-hundred million files!) Also, make sure the site you are looking at offers music, movies, tv shows, games, and software, not just music. Remember, we are trying to get the most for our money!

4. Website Interface

This is an important feature because the easier a website is to navigate, the easier it will be for you to find what you are looking for. Although you cannot see the member’s area until you sign-up, you can get a good idea just by browsing around the non-member’s area of the site.

5. Free iPhone Software for File Compatibility

A quality iPhone download site should provide you with free software to help you in downloading those movies and mp3s. They should also provide free converting software for files that need to be converted to play on the iphone.

6. Fast iPhone Download Speeds

Does the site offer fast download speeds? Some sites with small servers will put a limit on download speeds in order to allow more people to connect. Look for sites that do not have any such limits.

7. Safety of Files

When downloading anything off the internet, there is always a risk of the files being infected with spyware, adware, or viruses. The best iPod download sites will screen all their files before you download them. Additionally, you may want to have adware scanning software on your computer before you sign up. This is a great back-up just in case any corrupted files slip through the cracks.

8. Reputation

Does the iPhone download site have a good reputation? You can judge this by the credentials they list on their site and through various iPhone related forums.

9. 24/7 Customer Support

Customer Support is a very important thing. The best iPhone download sites will have an extensive FAQ (frequently asked questions) section that covers most common questions. However, don’t hesitate to contact a site with a question to determine how long it takes them to respond and in what manner. They should respond to your inquiry within 24 hours. If not, you may want to consider another service.

10. Secure Payment Processing

This usually is not a problem, as most online merchants accept payments through Paypal, Clickbank, or another trusted source. With these companies, you do not have to worry about anyone reading or accessing your personal information.

Did you find this information helpful? You can discover the best unlimited iPhone Downloads at the lowest cost by checking out http://www.TopiPhoneDownloads.com

Blog computer, customer, forum, games, internet, love, movie, mp3, music, personal, software, time, tips