Life shows no mercy for the weak. Cognizance about everythin has become mandatory to survive. Get a piece of everythin that life has in the offering ! i share all that i know to help others know what i know. we stay together , we survive. welcome to candor corner. know. share. survive. always with candor, Praveen Chandar
Friday, December 7, 2007
Does American Gangster make a classic ?
Hi film buffs and fans,
Ever since this Ridley Scott film was announced, it raised expectations for more than a few reasons. The first one being that it starred two of the recent Academy Award winners, Denzel Washington and Russel Crowe. And secondly, that the movie was based on a true story, that of Frank Lucas. I was even taken back by the fact that the film starred Denzel in the title role, which came to me as quite a surprise because I had always seen Washington play the upright cop, the tough cop the roadies always feared, be it in his recent "Inside Man" or his Oscar winning performance as the out-of-the-way cop in "Training Day". So, it just raised by brows about he playing the American Gangster. And I least expected that the American Gangster, Frank Lucas would be black. When the first few stills from the film were released, it threw me back with the way Denzel looked. He has shed a lot of weight to look the part and Crowe was in his coolest best.
I happened to watch the film on the first week of its release. I was immensely satisfied with Scott's work. But, what puts me into a dilemma is whether the film is comparable to other highly recommended film in its genre. First things first, American Gangster is not an all-out gangster film like The Godfather or Goodfellas. This film has an equal footage depicting the ways of the detective, played by Russel Crowe, in pinning down Frank Lucas, and more, not only does the film show his professional ways, but also compares his personal life with that of Frank's by juxtaposing several scenes that portray the contradiction in the way they lead their personal lives. But, comparisons to "Heat" are inevitable when it comes to character drama. While goodfellas din't really have a character play that runs into irony and contradiction, this film boasts of a strong character play right from the moment you find Russel turning in bags of unmarked cash into his office, and at the same time womanizing at every opportunity he find, that is cleverly juxtaposed with scenes showing Denzel bringing his mother and his relatives home and falling for one woman whom he wishes to keep with him forever. I would say the film does good to itself in being a story well told witht he necessary pacing, action and character sketching, rather than being compared to its predecessors in its genre. Moreover, American Gangster is a period film and handles a real story based on an issue its predecessors never did. Hats off to Scott for having pulled off an amazing film, leave alone the comparisons ( they are inevitable, that too once you've named the movie as **something** gangster!!) to other films in its category. Not too violent, not too dramatic, not flawless either. American Gangster, thus, does make a classic in its own sense.
mister gammon
There is good news for everybody again. Backgammon is back in all its glory. There are several backgammon sites on the net, so much that it leaves the layman confused as to which site he should choose to find his lucky table ! Mister Gammon solves all your problems by being the one stop shop for all your backgammon queries. There is no better place you will find for online backgammon. The site also features a variety of playing modes and contains information about the various tournaments that are hosted with precise dates and timings. The site is very lucidy fabricated with all the details you require to commence a fun carrier in backgammon online ! So, hit the tab and find your fortune !
Stranglehold is an entertainer
So we're back with stranglehold. The John Woo classic film has taken the console for its resurrection platform. The game packs all that you wanted to see in a John Woo flick. The game packs that punch and style you wanted to play any day. There have been mixed reviews about this game. But I would tell you, the only problem with the game is that it is too short, and in being so, the game does good for itself. The gameplay is awesome, and entertains you every moment with your guns sexily blazing through the completely destroyable environment. The game also features the favorite Slo-Mo action which puts you into "Tequila Time". You can quickly refill your tequila time by performing some cool moves. Sometimes these moves become mandatory to get across some really difficult levels. The limited quick save option do frustrate you at times, but otherwise the game come really ways to you. In more than a few ways, the game reminds you of Remedy's Max Payne. But, ironically, Max Payne itself was quoted to be a tribute to John Woo's style of action, so it wouldn't make much sense to call this game a rip off of Max Payne ! Max Payne, however became the father to this gaming genre with several others trying to mimic its "bullet time" but miserably failing to make an impact, some of which were Driver3 and True Crime. But Stanglehold does what it does best,a nd never disappoints you. The cut scenes between all that blazing action is very authentically done, and remind you of the corresponding scenes from the original motion picture. Chow Yun Fat, along with other actors have lent their voices, and the voice acting is one of the major pluses of the game. Thankfully the game ain't too long, because, though the action is fantastic, it tends to get repetitive after a while. You have a whole lotta moves to learn and several cool stunts to pull off, but still, the tenth and eleventh time you do it, you find its not as entertaining as it was when you did it the first or the second time ! It happens with anything you take in life ! Just when you think the game is getting repetitive, the game comes to a dramatic close, again reminiscent of John Woo's style of movie making. So, if you are ready for some high octane action, step into Inspector Tequila's shoes, and get loaded !
Sanju resumes shooting
There is good news for all Sanju fans. The actor will resume work for his pending films in a short while. He is just being met by all his well wishers at his residence in Mumbai. He was released on bail from the Yeravada jail. Dutt’s lawyer Satish Maneshinde visited Yeravada jail at around 0830 hrs IST with the relevant papers and delivered them to the jail authorities. He was accompanied by Dutt's former secretary Pankaj Kharbanda. The Munnabhai actor was sentenced to six years imprisonment under the Arms Act in connection with the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, and had been lodged in Pune's Yeravada jail since October 22. He was however granted bail by the Supreme Court day before yesterday. While the entire film industry can now heave a sigh of relief, all his fans can’t wait to see their silver screen hero back in action. The wait won’t be longer for his fans as Dutt features in one of the stories in next week’s release Dus Kahaniyaan.
This is a much awaited film from the Dutt camp. Sanjay Gupta and Dutt have never failed to impress their fans in any of their ventures. Be it the flamboyant Musafir, or the overtly stylish Kaante, or the recent dark brutally violent drama ZINDA, their products have always had something to boast, which obviously includes their mindblowing soundtrack. No wonder, the sound track of DUS KAHANIYAAN is already becoming a rage among the youth and the aged alike. After all, presenting ten stories, each spanning for a time frame less than a usual short film, does raise eye-brows. Hope they guess the pulse right this time too ! Good Luck, Sanju baba !
Advantage Term Life
Money has always been something we're after ever since we realized the undeniable fact that today, without money, you are non-existent to the world. Some people are gifted with inherited wealth, while others have to go through a day long toil to just make a few cents. And most of us fall under the second category. It is not easy to produce an eye-popping sum in a matter of days, in case you are planning on your son's marriage ceremony, or in case you are required to pay an advance to by a new house or any such situation that demands an amount of money that you cannot furnish all of a sudden. Many of us do more often than not come across any of these situations, that also most likely put a lot of mental pressure on us. We never know when we might pass out of the planet. So, when we do, what do we leave behind for the ones who are dependent on us? What do we leave behind for the children? What do you leave behind for your spouse? We need to make sure that the dependent people are taken care of and are well settled even after our death. This is where insurance policies come into action. It is very important that we take insurance policies for our children and spouses. And there are also insurance policies for cars, houses and various other material possessions. They become very crucial as accidents are a very common occurance today. Hence it becomes mandatory that we insure our vehicles too.
Leave all your worries behind ! Advantage Term Life sells all types of life insurance policies that you are looking forward to that include universal, term, employer group policies, whole life policies,all other kinds you might be interested in. Save Money on Insurance by visiting the site and take advantage of their Online Insurance Policy and Insurance Quotes. You can also find a variety of policies such as Life Family Plan Premium and also Corporate Insurance Plans for Employers.
This is your best opportunity to mitigate your insurance expenses. Don't wait any longer, hurry !
Does Evano Oruvan Work ?
Hi people,
I guess this is the first time I am reviewing a Tamil film on my blog. Well, I have got more than a few reasons for that. First of all, this is one of the most anticipated movies this year from actor Madhavan. The film also has a lot of interesting trivia backing it. It is the first film being produced by Abbas Mastan and Ram Gopal Varma's K Sera Sera productions in Tamil. This film, made on a shoe-string budget, is a remake of the commercially successful and critically renowned Marathi film by the name "Dombivilli Fast" directed by Nishikanth Kamath who has also directed the tamil version. It was quoted earlier that it was Madhavan who urged the director to remake the film in Tamil and that the director too felt that this film would work only in Tamil, next to Marathi and Bengali, owing to the fact that movies like "Paruthiveeran" and "Mozhi" have become commercially successful here recently. This is a heart quenching news for all the Tamils. I happened to see the film today, first day first show in a not-so-posh theatre in my town, simply to get the hang of the reaction from the audience of that strata of the society that has been depicted in the movie.
The movie, sans songs, dance sequences, or choreographed action sequences, is a very sincere attempt in showcasing the plight of a normal man, the way he perceives his society, his tolerance, his temperamental turbidity, his undying thirst to do something about the wrongs he explicitly sees happening around him unstopped, and the angst that builds up in him which eventually ends up rendering him violent and totally against the very ills in the society that had agitated him all his life. The movie is very realistic in its depiction of the events that unfold, and in the emotions that are portrayed. Madhavan has essayed the role of his career. You could confidently say that, more often than not, Madhavan does not appear to be the star you know in him. And it also helps the movie succeed in what its meant to and aspires to be.
In the original version, Sandeep Kulkarni was not a popular hero, more because he looked like a common man and he could effortlessly find himself lost in the many faces we see in the railway station or the crowded banks or bus stops in the city. Madhavan's efforts in unlearning his 'Hero' image shows and it does pay off in getting his character across without a trace of his on screen image. It is Madhavan who has penned the dialogues for the tamil version with Seeman's supervision. The dialogues are crisp and hit straight into your senses. The movie is linear and does not boast of any extra-ordinary camera work or mindless editing you find these days. The movie does really good for itself without any song sequences and also the background score, at no point, gets jarring and is kept to minimal at most places.
Seeman, as inspector Vetrimaaran, fits the role to a 'T' and executes the character with flawless perfection, depicting the helplessness in not being able to react to the ills in the society that he not only sees around him, but also consciously bolsters with guilt. His reactions when he receives the shoot-at-sight order to gun down Sridhar Vasudevan ( Madhavan ), shows the level to which he has truly imbibed the character's angst in him. His dialogues mostly rest on guilty lamenting. The scene which has Madhavan, at the zenith of his outburst, retiring to the depths of his uncontrolled and self-instated nightmarish rampage by confiding in a street artist one night, takes tamil cinema to heights it had not visited in the recent years. The monologue, directed at the Lord himself, delivered so eloquently and angst-ridden by Madhavan, captures one of the most beautiful character sketching (or rather etching) in cinematic history. This is definitely the actor's finest performance to date, about which he can always walk the streets head up.
There is nothing really negative to write about this movie or its intent. All the reviews would have banked on the same points that the film is very sincere, very realistic, must watch for all those craving for a real dose of realism and stuff like that. Everything they say is true, very much. So, does the movie really work ? Does the movie strike gold at the box office ? Does the crew manage to get the message across ? I came out of the movie hall with a heavy heart, not because the movie touched me with all its realism ( the movie does something different to you), but because the movie will fail to strike a chord with the audience. The movie simply lacks even the minimal sheen to keep the audience engrossed in the film. We're not talking about skimpy models doing a raunchy item number, or songs shot in exotic locales that have nothing to with the film or action sequences that remind you of Keanu Reeves and his Kung-Fu boys, but we're talking about getting the audience listen to you by simply making the narrative a little more engrossing by employing subtler measures unlike the more explicitly commercial methods mentioned above.
The movie simply does not heed to the requirement of a basic movie goer down south. A movie that is commercially released has one sole intention that cannot be denied- to sell its story. And it makes no sense to argue saying "These people don't listen to good stories". Any movie-goer sits in the hall, not for free, and not even for a nominal cost, but for a whopping average price of INR80. And, he is definitely not there to not listen ! It is quite easy to make a film that can be relished only by film fanatics and those residing in the field professionally or those elite few who appreciate authentic cinema. It is not easy to get a story across to a majority of the people and still have it critically acclaimed. I would say the film is 'too expensive in its thought' for a layman to buy it ! The film simply does not help or encourage the viewers in any way to keep their attention screwed to the screen. The editing, again, is too real (too many silences and pauses) to hold your attention incessantly.
The movie fails to achieve what many other international films of this genre did. Some of them like Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver which depicted the angst of a Vietnam war veteran who retires to driving cabs in the night to kill his sleepless nights, which eventually turns him ultra violent in unleashing his wrath against the flawed society. Taxi Driver worked for distinct reasons. The first one being the milieu of film making the American society was exposed to at that time. The public were already served many such films and the genre was not all that new to them. So it was no surprise that a movie like Taxi Driver went well with a majority of the viewers that also pronounced De Niro as one of the greatest actors of his time. Secondly, Taxi Driver worked because it had some chilling moments like the one in which he spends a dozen minutes talking to himself in front of the mirror, who can forget the lines "you talkin'na me??". And scenes depicting the effect his loneliness would have over him when we see him cruise through the dark streets while he watches the evil in all its glory, unstopped and even invited, the scene that shows him buying fire arms telling you there is more he has to convey, or rather wreak on his oppressors, and scenes like the one in which he confronts with the young prostitute played by Jodie Foster asking her to go to school or the closing act when we get to sees his anger go uncontrolled as his fire arm blazes through the very souls you wished to see apart, all these add subtle commercial value to the film. In my words, I wouldn't call them commercial, but necessary ingredients that make good story telling.
And, ingredients that help the viewer stick to the screen, and play with his emotions. And it calls for deft writing to achieve such results on screen and intensive deliberation on fabricating the shots. Few luminaries in the industry have achieved this blend of critical and commercially successful products like Mani Ratnam, Ram Gopal Varma and Raj Kumar Santoshi.
A film maker is basically a story teller. A story, whether powerful or not, genuine or not by itself, can be told in many ways. A film uses a visual medium. Using the nuances and cutting edges visual media has over its counterparts to your advantage in telling a story is where your skill lies in packaging an idea. Evano Oruvan is simply one of the best stories you would want to keep listening to, and also wish to tell your friends or share with your children. But, the story very sadly falters in the way it is told. If the director aspired to make a beautiful movie that he can always take pride in, he has undoubtedly succeeded. But, if he thought the movie would get his message across to the audience he has delivered it to, he has failed, and very sadly. Very few would want to listen to a story told this way. And fewer would come back to listen to it a second time.
Praveen Chandar.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
we are talking about one of the most awaited movies down south. This movie has captured the attention for more than few reasons. Yes, you got it ! We are talking about Maddy's "Evano Oruvan". This film has Madhavan playing the protagonist with Sangeetha as his pair. The movie was a big success in Bengal. And the director felt that the movie had the potential to be remade only in Tamil, owing to the fact that Tamil cinema is undergoing a positive change.
Madhavan's much awaited Evano Oruvan releases this Friday, and expectations are high as the film is a remake of Dombivli Fast, one of the most successful Marathi films made in recent times.
Dombivli Fast was not only a commercial success. It won many international awards as well.
t was Abbas Mastan's idea to make Dombivili Fast in Tamil. They chose Nishikant Kamat himself to direct it in Tamil.
They chose to make it in Tamil because changes are taking place in the Tamil film industry. Films like Pitamagan, Mozhi, Chennai 600028 and Parunthiveeran can become a hit only in Tamil Nadu now.
Nishikant who knew me from the television days wanted me to do the film. When I was asked to watch Dombivli Fast, I was not that enthusiastic because it had been to several international festivals and won awards.
Those kinds of films were not my cup of tea. I see films which work commercially.
My interests are quite different. If you ask me about microbiology, quantum physics, or the latest gadgetry, I can tell you but I don't know anything about art, or art cinema. I can only talk to you about my kind of cinema.
But just three minutes into Dombivli Fast, and I knew Nishikant was the most accomplished director I have met. When the film got over, I could not get up; I was awestruck for the first time in my life. I was disappointed and agonised too beacuse I felt unsatisfied with my current crop of films. I felt there was a complete dearth of realistic story telling.
So don't forget to catch the movie this Friday in theatres.
Money is something that is more important than we ever thought of it as kids. Everyone would dream of either owning a luxurious house or a high class car. Money is simply not something that you can grab from trees. Only a few are privileged with inherent property like real estate or ancestral possessions.
The rest, like you and I, have to fight our way through all odds to make those few dollars to get both ends meet. But getting money all of a sudden is too difficult. Hence loans are the only option to fulfill your dreams. But getting loans isn’t so easy nowadays. They ask lots of guarantee and mortgages to provide you loans. Even if provided, they make take so much time to give away the loans. But Payday Loan Quotes provides you loans instantly with only asking you a few personal information. They contact you within seconds and approve your loans immediately. Payday loans or cash advance is a quick and easy way to bridge your cash needs between pay days without a credit check. You can also get your payday loans online by clicking here http://www.paydayloanquotes.com. You can also get to know more about how to obtain No Fax Payday Loan . Only some basic information has to provided. All your information and data are kept secure. You will also realize that this is the only place you will get your loans instantly. So get your loans right away. So what are you waiting for, go ahead and sign up for your payday loan today! And make sure oyu tell your friends about it !
Better Caring
So, we're here with something that everyone dies for. Something that could make someone turn over a new leaf. Something that could even make someone fall in love unexpectedly. Something that the world hangs on, without which we would have ceased to be humans and remained cannibals. Yes, we're talking about love and Caring. Love and care are two things ,which most people pine for. You can achieve anything with these qualities. I came across a site which is provides you with solutions to all those questions about self care or care for your loved ones. In this site you can find out all those means by which you can shower your love and care on someone. They have got plenty of care experts who publish daily articles and news related to care issues which will help you in leading a happy life. They even offer tips to better your care. They have a huge database of care homes in UK, and you can browse the one you want using their care homes search. The site also has a forum where you can share your experiences like how you felt when you felt devoid of care? or a situation when you were showered with care and all other things you wish share related to caring. bettercaring.com will be a favorite for all those who think care is an important element in life.
John Woo's Stranglehold rocks !
This is to the delight of all you John Woo fans. As far back as I can remember, I had always been a fan of John Woo's films. Though they might not be cinematic masterpieces, they really pack that punch in the emotion and action conveyed that hits you straight into your bosom. And it is widely acknowledged fact that his movies sprouted a new genre of film making and also the more popular SLO-MO action sequences that became a craze in the hollywood milieu with John Woo's directorial masterpiece "Face Off" that also starred the uber cool John Travlota and the award winner Nicholas Cage. The movie was slickly packaged like never before and it packed so much style along with emotional content that it made John Woo the darling of the American cine goers over night.
Soon after the success of his Hollywood film, his home town movies came to light. The first of the several Honk Kong flicks were "The Killer" and "Hard Boiled" that immediately made Chow-Yun-Fat a common name in the U.S. The Killer had some of the best moments seen on the Honk Kong silver screen. Hard Boiled packed John Woo's punch all the way and the movie had the brunt of his style delivered powerfully through his raw cop character "Tequila" played by Yun-Fat. After years, the classic film which is also a cult film now is coming to the consoles and the PC in an interactive game version ! So, its a delight to all gamers and film buffs alike. After all, you get to play your favorite action hero, blasting through the breakable environment, and most importantly, all in the style you always relished on screen, would anyone miss out on the opportunity ?!! Catch the game DVD at your stores as soon as you can ! My review about this game will follow soon !
IAF pilots move to indian carriers
It has been reported that even the airforce is responding to the acute pilot shortage in India. Many IAF pilots have shifted bases to commercial airline carriers lured by the heavy pay packages and amenities. Facing desertions by its pilots, IAF was contemplating to 'depute' some of its senior pilots to the Air India and other civil carriers for a short period.
"We are in contact with Air India and others on how we can give some of our pilots to them on deputation for a year or two," Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Air Command (AOC-in-C), Air Marshal F H Major said here yesterday.
Making it clear that IAF trained its pilots to fight war and not to fly commercial planes, air marshal major said an officer upto the rank of 'Group Captain' has got 15-20 years of experience in flying. "So we are thinking of how we can give some pilots to Air India and others on deputation."
Seeking to downplay the desertions by the pilots in the IAF, he said it was 'not alarming', though some might have left the IAF.
Cosmetic Surgery
Hi people,
This is something about breast cancer that many would not prefer sharing with others. Well, this is a serious problem and could turn out to get more complicated if left unattended. A lot of breast treatment techniques have been introduced. But, there is not enough awareness among the populace today about the treatment techniques available.
Breast cancer is a cancer of the glandular breast tissue.
Worldwide, breast cancer is the fifth most common cause of cancer death. (after lung cancer, stomach cancer, liver cancer, and colon cancer). In 2005, breast cancer caused 502,000 deaths (7% of cancer deaths; almost 1% of all deaths) worldwide. Among women worldwide, breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer death.
In the United States, breast cancer is the third most common cause of cancer death (after lung cancer and colon cancer). In 2007, breast cancer is expected to cause 40,910 deaths (7% of cancer deaths; almost 2% of all deaths) in the U.S. Among women in the U.S., breast cancer is the most common cancer and the second-most common cause of cancer death (after lung cancer). Women in the U.S. have a 1 in 8 lifetime chance of developing invasive breast cancer and a 1 in 33 chance of breast cancer causing their death. In the U.S., both incidence and death rates for breast cancer have been declining in the last few years. Nevertheless, a U.S. study conducted in 2005 by the Society for women's health research indicated that breast cancer remains the most feared disease, even though heart disease is a much more common cause of death among women.
You may wish to contact the cosmetic surgeon to help yourself. The appointment and the issues discussed will be kept highly confidential. You may also wish to check out los angeles tummy tuck. And some may also be interested in los angeles breast implants. Feel free to find more about what you can do to improve your health and avoid complications in the future.MFC permitted to offer Maintenance Courses
There is good news again for the ground engineers in the aviation wing. One of the new courses to be handled by the Madras Flying Club is the Flight Maintenance Course. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has permitted the Madras Flying Club (MFC) to offer aviation maintenance engineering (AME) course and set up an engine overhaul workshop.
"We will seek the assistance of District Collectors to help create awareness among students in interior pockets of the State to encourage them to take up flying as a vocation and make it affordable to the economically weaker sections," ays Jacob Selvaraj, Air India pilot and chairman of the Madras Flying Club.
The MFC will make detailed presentations to Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, Union Minister of Communications and Information Technology Dayanidhi Maran, and Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram.
The MFC will approach Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Governments to help refurbish the airstrips at Sholavaram near Chennai and Lawspet on the outskirts of the Union Territory.
Capt. Selvaraj wants the Government to stop quarrying of gravel around the Sholavaram airfield. "The Government can hand over the Sholavaram airfield to the MFC to help kick-start flying activities." At present, trainee pilots have to go to Vellore for their training.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Stop Your Addiction
This is an important issue, yes, we are talking about drug abuse. It has been found that the ever increasing drug abuse rate and related toxic effects it has on the current generation is alarming and definitely seems to pose a serious threat to today's youth. The same brings a lot of questions about the topic as to how and where do these youngsters get access to their choice of drugs. What are the methods to control drug abuse ? And how do we make drug addicts see a new life ?
Well, here is one way that proves to be a boon to all those addicts who are looking forward to getting rid of their killing habit. stopyouraddiction.com is working towards setting up rehabilitation homes for the desolated. It is non-profitable organization that strives to achieve excellence in providing selfless care to the dying addicts who are so much in need of attention and care. They also have contacts with a drug treatment center that they could refer to. You can get to learn more about drug rehab and alcoholism rehab from the site. It is our duty to save our fellow youth. And, to render the future generation immaculate. Alcoholism could land individuals in chronic diseases and other complications. Alcohol addiction is very common among the youth today. What starts off as a mere celebrating issue, slowly catches on them, then firmly and eventually so firmly that they cannot get rid of it. When drugs and alcohol take control of your body, you no more have control over your senses. You don't listen to yourself. We definitely don't want to lose our youth to alcohol and dirty drugs. So, lets take the first step in doing something about it. I have done it. So, when are you taking yours.. ?
Vision Bedding
Bedroom is one place that is a very special place for many. A bedroom is something more than merely a place that lodges your bed and your jewels. It is one place you not only find sleep, but love and peace. When I toil my day out working late hours, after a particular threshold time, all that I can think of is my "Bedroom", it immediately conjures up that placid smell and a scent that puts me to sleep everyday. The more time I spend wanting it, the more cozy I get. Well, thats the effect of a good and enchanting bedroom. If you ask any person, "which is your favorite place at home ?", without a second thought you'd get the reply, "Bedroom !". So, what makes your bedroom special, or where does mist of the action take place ? Bed ! So, we're here talking about the best Bedding in town.
At this site, you can customize your family bedding. You also get a variety of options to choose from that include kids bedding, boys bedding, teen bedding, photo bedding and a lot more. VisionBedding also sports styles that teens would treasure for the rest of their lives and styles that girls would cherish always. With endless design possibilities, you cant set your bedding exactly to your taste anywhere else, but Vision Bedding. So get your bed today !
First trial in Playing the players
Hi poker fans,
So we're back with playing the players. Here is how I tried playing the lousy players on my table. Well, it wasn't that simple as I had expected. It could get tricky on you too. So make sure you don't end up finding your players acting cute on you ! I joined a No-Limit table with $3/$6 blinds. I knew that all of the players there were good and I had played with all of them in the past. One was a maniac and the other four were tight, solid players.
When I recorded each hand they had played in my book, I noticed the distinct betting patterns they used. For example, one player named XjohnX would raise any pair $30. When he had a premium hand, AA, KK, or QQ, he would raise $24. I picked up on this fast and called his $30 pre-flop raise. I put him on a pair. I had pocket queens so I knew I probably had him beat pre-flop so I re-raised the pot to $48. He called and we saw the flop A-K-10. He went all-in and I made a quick call. He showed down 9-9.
The point I am trying to make here is that knowing your opponents makes a huge difference in what you bet and what you fold. I would never have made that call against any other player, but unfortunately for XjohnX, I called his semi-bluff.
I am not advocating that you make a book for each player; I am merely trying to get the point across that at the high limits knowing the players you are up against is crucial. I can't stress enough how important it is that you pick up the tendencies of your opponents at the card table. Also, always remember that this does not hold true for the low limits. Most of the players there are bad and simple basic strategy should be used.
So thats how it went, I know it wasn't all that easy. But hey, cumm'on pal, what is a game of chance without the difficulty and break-neck guessing ! So catch ya at the tables.
Play the players
Poker players, professionals and novices, have always wanted to know about how the others on teh table play. Guessing what lies beneath those cleverly set up poker faces is one tactic that could take you all the way to winning the biggest pot you never thought about in your dreams even. So here is how to do it. And, pro's, you call it playing the players... !
This is definitely the most interesting topic I've ever covered. Playing the player has absolutely nothing to do with your cards. I will discuss with you a study I performed and how it led me to a big-time profit at No-Limit cash tables.
It was late at night and I was sitting at home playing poker online. I had just gotten off the phone with a friend who had lost a lot of money playing. While we were talking, I joked about how I usually dominate him heads-up. He said, "The only reason you kill me heads-up is because you have watched me play for years. You know exactly how I bet and what hands I like to play and what hands I like to fold." I told him he was right. I also had an epiphany that would lead to over $6,000 in winnings that very same night.
At the higher limits, you will encounter many of the same players over and over. It is nothing like the lower limits where people move in and out of games quickly. I play with many of the same players on a daily basis.
For about four hours I studied each regular player exclusively. I pulled out a binder with a ton of paper and labeled each page with the name of a player, and listed which hands I had seen him showdown throughout the page. I began to detect patterns in almost every online player. I thought this was great because every time I play one of these players I should have an edge. It never occurred to me how big of an edge it would be until I joined my first game after amassing these dossiers.
I'll explain the first trial run in the next post. Until then make sure you get the theory right.Amana Refrigerators
Lets bid farewell to winter 2007 and invite Summer 2008. As the new year summer breaks into yet another suspenseful chapter in our lives, several things change, which include our dining habits, wine and wafer stuff, clothing, and almost everything that the new climate would cause a manifestation on. When I think of Summer, the first thing that comes to my mind is the ice-cold lemonade that would wait for me at 12 noon, when I'm on my way home from my workplace, tired after the day's toil. When I reach home, even before I remove my footwear, the only thing I can see is the refrigerator and the lemonade can inside it. And, at times like that, how would I feel if I found the lemonade as warm as my noon urine !?? Right, you got it, miserable ! Thats exactly what we're trying to find a solution for here. Old refrigerators, older models have compressors that break down very fast, rendering the refrigerator useless. And if you are thinking about repairing it, you are talking about shelling out hundreds of dollars to get that old machine rolling again, and just to see it break down within a span of another couple of months. Replacement is the judicious option.
Today, the internet has influenced every walk of our lives. Big ticket marketing through the internet is very common and infact, the preferred mode of purchasing. Amana Refrigerators gives you the option of choosing and buying your refrigerator online with various paying options. The Krillion search engine provides you an advanced search portal to find your specific item of interest. Krillion has generated over 275 million pages of relevant local search results showing local product information for major electrical appliances in over 40,000 cities and towns in the United States that has never before been available through extant search engines. So what are you waiting for, get your cooler machine right away and await the summer gracefully !
Online Vs Casino
There is always this topic that comes up when online amateurs and casino professionals meet up. The duel naturally tends to delve into the advantages that casino play has over online play. As we have already seen the advantages of online poker, let us see what the casino professionals have on their side to out-talk the online poker dudes and dudettes. After all, poker originated on the tables, in the speakeasies down in the streets of 1930 Chicago. The costs of going to a casino to play a live game are high. If you are traveling away from home, you need money for travel expenses like gas, tolls, food and accommodation. Tips for dealers and waitstaff, not to mention bigger rakes, can all add up. Although comp dollars pay for some of this, it is not nearly enough.
- Experience: I play online every day so I'm used to it. I pick up players' tells pretty easily, and I'm probably more experienced than most players I'm up against.
- Playing only when I'm at my best: Table selection is much better online, and I don't have to wait for a table. If I sit down and realize all the players are good, I can instantly switch. It's much harder to do that at a casino. It's also considered poor etiquette to leave a table at a casino if you win big really quickly. However, when I play online I can easily leave, bank my money and start a new table.
- Bankroll size: When I play online, I don't sit down with more than $600 on a table at any one time. When I am in a casino, it's quite common for me to have $800 or $1,000 in play at once. There's a lot more pressure when a bigger percentage of your bankroll is in play. The last time I was in the casino, I folded hands I would've called while playing online because I would've been out of money if I lost. Playing online also means I have access to all of my money. At the casinos, I only allow myself to use the money I bring, and having a sufficient bankroll is almost as important as being a good player.
- Tells: There are certain tells that I've learned from online play, but I don't need to read any social situations online. So even though my knowledge of poker theory, playing the cards and reading online tells has expanded rapidly, my ability to read people in live games hasn't grown; in fact it may have even shrunk.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Spock
Information hunt has always been the craze among the youth ever since the period of renaissance. Information about people, about their findings, about their way of life, about their ancestors, about their habitat, about their languages and everything that you would want to collect information on. The best way to learn things is by looking at what others have learnt. You can get to know all about the world and the dynamics of the human mind by studying others. Spock offers you an amazing search database through which you can search for information and people and get to know of whatever you would want to know about. If you ever imagined or wished for a place that could answer all your Hows and Whats, this place is exactly that, and more. Spock is a people's website. It gives you access to the times and happenings of several personalities, their write-ups, quotations and everything you had wanted to learn about. Searching information has never been made easier. This site gives you a lucid way to hunt for information on the world wide web. Once you get to use Spock, you will understand why you would always wish to come back to spock over and again.
spock.com gives you access to innumerable sources of information about the stuff and people you always wanted to know about. And just imagine, all the information you wanted, in one place ! Could there be a better place to hunt for your information. There is no second choice ladies and gentlemen. Spock is the place. People can be searched by their names or by a "tag" consisting of a personal piece of information that would best describe them. These tags can be made by the you, or by other Spock members. You can also voice your opinion about a person by voting for or against a tag (this includes pictures of that personality and yourself as well). Although we're not a social network we do have some capabilities such as messaging, scrapping and other features that let you communicate with other spock members and share information and thoughts and ideas. After all this is basically a site that fosters information sharing.
As more and more members join spock every year, the information in it only seems to be growing bigger by the hour. So, all you information hungry people, join spock to quench your thirst for knowledge. This is the best place for you. And its in your hands to make this place better for you and for others who may look forward to join spock in the future. Add multiple tags and opine on the tags of other spock members to foster a healthy communication and strong links between the members and their tags. Hope you are impressed witht he idea behind spock. So don't wait longer. Go spock !
data="http://www.spock.com/widgets/person_pictures.swf" width="150"
height="250"> value="http://www.spock.com/widgets/person_pictures.swf" /> value='param_id=Denzel-Washington'>
Omaha- How to make a hand
Here is more on how to make an awesome hand. There are several combinations you can arrive at. Lets see some of them here.
There are two major differences between Texas Hold'em and Omaha. First of all, in Omaha each player receives four hole cards rather than two. Second of all, one must use two (exactly two) of the four hole cards, along with three (exactly three) of the cards on the board (the community cards), when making a hand. In Hold'em it is possible to use one, two or none (play the board) of the hole cards.
Example 1
The board: 10-7-2-3-KIn Hold'em: those players holding a Heart now have a flush. Any player holding the A now holds the nuts (the best possible hand), the Q will give the second nuts, and so forth.
In Omaha: any player holding a flush must have at least two Hearts amongst his hole cards. You do not hold a flush if your hand contains only one Heart. Any A-xh-x-x combination will be the nut hand.
Example 2
The board: 7-8-9-T-JIn Hold'em: every player holds a straight 7-J. Any player holding a Q has a straight (8-Q), and any player holding a KQ has the nuts (a straight 9-K).
In Omaha: You must use two cards from your hand to complete a straight. A 5-6-x-x makes the lowest straight (5-9), a K-Q-x-x makes the highest straight (9-K). A 7-8-x-x, 8-9-x-x, 9-T-x-x, T-J-x-x, J-7-x-x, and so forth, completes the J-high straight. Any Q-J-x-x, Q-T-x-x, Q-9-x-x or Q-8-x-x will complete the Q-high straight.
So guess you got the picture of it. So, go ahead and make your hand pal.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Hoteles - a boon for the spanish
I'm addressing the spanish travelers. Traveling is everybody's cup of tea. Who would not want to visit a romantic place far off your homeland and celebrate your honeymoon or a vacation with your family after a hectic week of workload ! Anybody and everybody would naturally prefer that. Well, if your are going to argue against it, then you better visit the doc ! Lodging is an integral part of any travel. And it is one thing that has the potential to add the cream to your trip or end up spoiling the entire experience. So it becomes extremely important to choose a comfortable hotel room to spend your nights. If not, it could leave the rest of your trip unsettled and disquieting. For travelers worldwide, booking hotel rooms has always been a taxing work. It also sometimes get clumsy. And for you spanish people who find it difficult to book hotel rooms, just give it up to Espanol Hotels. Here, you can book your Hoteles in your own language and with the ease you always had dreamt of. With hotel booking made easier for those form Spain, I'm sure you would love to travel more frequently and quench your thirst for adventure in ways you never would have imagined. This site exclusively facilitates the Spanish-speaking people in the United States. So, there is nothing more to think about packing your bags, your tickets are ready !
Sabena reacts to indian pilots pouring in
so you flyers all set to soar ? Well, there is better news here. But it is also to caution you that the pilot shortage in India is being acted upon swiftly, the DGCA and the Airline companies taking out-of-the-way measures to fill the gap between demand and supply. The recent news is about the Sabena Flight training academy, which is the official training place for SpiceJet Cadets.
The Mesa airfield will again host international pilots in training when the Sabena Airlines Training Center relocates this year.
The move will bring about 70 jobs to Mesa when the facility is fully staffed and leave 150 future pilots residing in the Mesa area at any given time, said Sabena's managing director, Kris Vandenbergh.
The move to Mesa comes on the heels of Sabena's agreement to train pilots for Indian airline companies, which will increase the number of aircraft in Sabena's fleet from 22 to 40 and put the training at about 160 flights per day, Vandenbergh said.
Corinne Nystrom, Falcon Field's director, said neighbors shouldn't be concerned about the extra flights.
"That is more activity, but they won't be flying a lot of jet aircraft," she said. "It'll be similar to the aircraft you normally see flying in and out of Falcon."
Monex Deposit Company
This is about a very interesting thing. Its about collecting precious metal coins of silver, gold or whatever precious metal that has been discovered by man on the face of the earth. MDC, an abbreviation for Monex Deposit Company exists exclusively to help you amass these precious coins. For over 30 years, the Monex companies have been America’s precious metals investment leader, and has emerged successful amongst stiff competition ever since investments in precious metals made its foray into the online investment market.
Silver has always been hailed as a precious metal for years, and it is available in the form of coins or ingots. Today, the demand for silver exceeds the production quantity. As the demand for silver increases, the price of silver commodity keeps sky rocketing. You can find competitive prices here. With prices soaring higher than you can ever imagine, surveys and statistics predict that the rise will only be steeper in the years to come, so if you ever thought of buying silver, there is no better time than this.
American eagle gold coins are available in units of 10 one-ounce coins for delivery at doorstep only and not for mass purchases. Gold has always remained a symbol of perfection and luxury from time immemorial. Its the best metal you can gift your soul mate on your anniversary. Gold prices are also soaring. Gold, that is available in coins and ingots can be purchased here. There is not better time you can find to take possession of your favorite bullion. So don't wait for the whole town to know this. Get your piece right away !
DGCA addresses pilot shortage by bringing down flying limits
there is good news again, DGCA, this month, has addressed the severe pilot shortage in the sub-continent by pushing down the limits of flying hours of captains and trainee pilots.
With the problem of pilot shortage in the country assuming alarming proportions, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is now mulling allowing pilots to fly five more hours per week on both domestic and international routes. Curiously though, the number of landings a pilot can make in a day on the domestic circuit is being brought down from six to five.
The proposals have been made in a bid to lay down rules for airline operators regarding the flight duty time limitations and flight time limitations (FDTLs & FTLs) for crews. Till now, only an Aeronautical Information Circular, regarded more of an advisory, was in place. Now, DGCA has invited comments from airline operators and professional bodies by November 17 on the proposed changes to be introduced in the FDTLs & FTLs.
In the draft Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs), the DGCA proposes:
• To increase the Flight Duty Time for domestic air operations (including those to neighbouring countries) to 12 hours as against the current 11 hours during a period of 24 consecutive hours.
• To increase the weekly cap on Flight Time from 30 hours to 35 hours for both domestic as well as international operations.
• That no crew member on a domestic flight should make more than five landings in any 24 consecutive hours. Earlier, six landings were permitted.
Omaha Hi-Low set up
Here'z more on poker... this time we're talking about Omaha Hi-Lo...!
Omaha high-low is a split-pot game. This means that there exists the possibility of making both the best high and low poker hand. Half the pot is awarded to the player with the best high hand, and half the pot is awarded to the player holding the best low hand. If no low hand is feasible or no one qualifies for a low hand, the whole pot goes to the high hand. The goal is to have both the best high and low hand (called scooping the pot).
The High Hand
The high hand is exactly the same as in regular Omaha, where it is the best "normal" poker hand, starting at the top with a royal flush and moving on down the line. Similarly, just as in regular Omaha, one must use two (exactly two) of the hole cards and three (exactly three) of the board cards when making a hand.
The Low Hand
The low hand is slightly more complicated to figure out. One must still use two of the hole cards with three of the board cards in order to qualify for the low hand. However, all low hands must be Eight or lower (the lower the better). An Eight low contains an Eight and four lower cards, a Seven low contains a Seven and four lower cards, and so on. The best possible low is called a wheel and is Five high, 5-4-3-2-A (a Five high straight). The worst possible low is 8-7-6-5-4 (an Eight high straight). Accordingly, in order for there to be a possible low on the board, there must be at least three cards Eight or lower on the board.
Examples
An 8-4-3-2-A low is worse than a 7-6-5-4-3 low.A 7-4-3-2-A low is worse than a 6-5-4-3-2 low.
An 8-7-3-2-A low is worse than an 8-6-5-4-3 low.
A 7-6-3-2-A low is worse than a 7-5-4-3-2 low.
An 8-6-5-4-3 low is worse than an 8-6-5-4-2 low, which is worse than an 8-6-5-4-A low.
Get Omaha guys !!
Low APR Credit Cards
As I had discussed more than a few times, money is not something that you can reap out of trees ! Its the result of a lot of hard work and toil, not for days, not for weeks, but for years together. Money has been one thing that has not been the privilege for everybody. It decides most of your stance in the society. The kind of impression your money makes, is simply more powerful than any other form of attraction. Its totally different when you get off a brand new BMW in front of your favorite star hotel and give a $50 note as a tip to your driver just for having taken you there on time, rather than arriving there in a hired cab and bargaining with the cabbie just because he asked for more than he initially demanded. I guess you can get the picture. Today, credit cards make a statement. When you pull out your credit card for making a payment, it does make an impact and says volumes about your financial strength.
Credit Cards are very important these days. When you are with your loved one to get a brand new piece of her favorite metal to adorn her tenth-anniversary neck, you cant carry a hundred thousand dollars with you, stuffed into your trouser pockets ! And, choosing a credit card involves some meticulous deliberation. Nothing much to worry. Just check out the all new Low APR Credit Cards. Its one of the age old internet sites to compare credit card features and prices. It helps business personnel, students and the likes to choose the right card for themselves and also apply for them right there. You also got reward cards to people with bad credit and average credit. It also features cards from leading U.S card renderers like J.P. Morgan Chase, Bank of America, Citibank, American Express, Discover Card and the likes.
So don't wait more time thinking. Hit the site and get your credit card today !
Texas Hold'Em Rules of the Gameplay
A lotta my friends keep me asking about how to play poker. They know all the science of the game, about the hands and stuff, but they still have doubts about the gameplay, some minor glitches that may seem very crucial when it comes to playing with big money. So you don't want to lose out to your opponent with a winning hand just because you didn't know that it was your pot ! Well, here is a short presentation of the gameplay of Texas Hold'Em. Catch ya at the table !
Here we Go :
- One player acts as dealer. This position is called the button and it rotates clockwise after every hand.
- The two players to the left of the dealer are the small blind and the big blind, respectively. They are the only players who have money in the pot before the cards are dealt.
- Every player receives two cards face down. These are hole cards.
- The first betting round begins with the player sitting immediately to the left of the big blind, and continues clockwise.
- When the first betting round is completed, three community cards are flipped face up on the table. This is called the flop.
- The second round of betting begins with the first remaining player seated to the left of the button. The betting resumes, clockwise.
- When the second round of betting is finished, a fourth community card is flipped face up on the table. This is called the turn.
- The third round of betting commences with the first remaining player sitting to the left of the button. The betting moves clockwise, with the bets doubling on the turn.
- When the third round of betting is over, a fifth community card is flipped face up on the table. This is called the river.
- The fourth round of betting starts with the first remaining player seated to the left of the button. The betting continues to move clockwise.
Praveen Chandar.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Bad Credit Offers
According to me, there are two kinds of people on the face of the earth. The people who are born rich, with a fancy appellation 'Born-with-a-silver-spoon' and the inherently opulent form the first kind. The people who are born not-so-rich, or real low lives, toil their way, break all odds, fight their means to buy every single brick that their modest dreams would cost fall into the second category. Money is not something that all of us can amass, or if borrowed, re-pay in a prescribed period of time. So all bad credit holders, there is nothing to put your head down or feel bad about. Just tell yourself "It happens man !", and put your spirits up and turn to badcreditoffers.com
BadCreditOffers helps the increasing number of bad credit consumers in the U.S to stand back on their feet once again and look up again in the society. Instead of applying for the first offer that appears in their mail, it is possible for viewers to compare bad credit offers from various sites and then choose the best one that suits their needs and expectations. And by making small payments on time and by adhering to the rules laid by the offer company, they can earn back their lost credit and pave a new financially strong way for themselves. You can compare credit cards offers too. So get moving and revive your credit and get your piece of bad credit loans.
More senior pilots to fly the indian skies
This is no good news or bad news. But only reflects the miserable shortage of pilots in the sub-continent. So if you ever thought of becoming a pilot, you will never find a better opportunity.
The skies are expected to get greyer. We’re not talking about weather conditions, but the increase in the number of pilots above the age of 60 in Indian skies.
In a bid to ease the acute shortage of pilots, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has streamlined the process for foreign pilots to get licences to operate in the country.
This means that pilots in the US who are barred from flying commercial aircraft after the age of 60 could be at the controls in India where the age limit is 65 years.
The government is desperate to attract more foreign pilots to make up for the huge deficit airlines are facing. Senior ministry officials said that information on all relevant documents required to be furnished by foreign pilots is now available on the web and they can get a licence to fly Indian carriers in a matter of days against the long wait earlier.According to Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, the preset requirement of type-rated pilots for scheduled, non-scheduled and private operators is 4,754 but only 3,950 Indian type-rated pilots are available.“The shortfall is being met with foreign pilots. Currently, 804 foreign pilots are employed with various airlines,” he said in reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
The largest number of foreign pilots — 263 — is employed by Jet Airways, 148 by Air Deccan, 96 by Kingfisher, 74 by IndiGo and 45 by SpiceJet.
Writing Services
Writing is something that is no easy task. Expressing through words doesn't come to everybody. It is a very intricate skill that only a few get to master. And writing, comes only by rigorous practice and knowledge. Be it writing about technical stuff, or something creative, or elaborating on an incident or writing an essay about a social issue, or be it writing about any topic under the sun, only the best can write an interesting one that will keep the reader's eyes focussed on your work. Today, when it comes to writing your assignment papers or project work documentation, second best is simply too far off from expectation taking into consideration the amount of competition extant now. Writing services helps you write wonderful assignments. Here you can find renowned essay writers, who can help you bring your ideas in ways you never thought it could be expressed. And for your thesis paper, you can find people for that too. And be rest assured, your thesis writing will be the best in your class. And don't forget, its important to be the best, because today, the second best is simply not good enough !
Flight training
After Air India now it is the turn of SpiceJet. The airlines that fly for everyone have just launched the Cadet Pilot programme ' to identify young people driven by their desire to make a profession out of flying airline jets'.
Interested young men/women can register at the airlines site.
Though age limit is not given there at the registration page, it seems the minimum educational qualification is 10+ Physics & Maths.
Even as the airlines site provides little information beyond the queries given in the registration page, all the details are available at the United Aviation Training's site . It seems the institute and the airline are working together on this.
The United Aviation site says the aptitude tests will be conducted at Mumbai & Kolkata on 22nd of this month and at New Delhi & Bangalore on 26th.
The brochure can be downloaded from the website.
Gammon World
We're back with Gammon after quite a while. Gammon online is the best place to play gammon on the internet. Gammon has been gaining importance and popularity in the recent years. With the ever increasing demand for entertainment, Gammon has proved to be quite a relief after your busy and hectic week. And also for avid gammon players, you can play backgammon on Gammon World. And also, the site organizes a lot of backgammon tournaments. You can choose to play backgammon anywhere. But, you will not find a better place than gammon world. So make your fortune here.