3D ANIMATION MOVIES

The Simpsons burst onto the scene very strongly in the late 1980's. No one would ever be able to forget the rebellious Bart, the symbol of every little boy who just wants to have fun - and not do his homework. But their cartoon family as a whole is very broad and even. For instance, Lisa balances out Bart by being a hard-working, saxophone-playing do-gooder. And Homer's crack up antics as a lazy nuclear plant employee contrast endearingly to his wife, Marge's awareness of her family as a whole. She is always effortlessly taking care of her baby Maggie. It's just great.

Then with The Family Guy we again see some similar dynamics. For instance Peter the dad is a whole lot like Homer, without being so annoying. And he also has his trustworthy wife Lois. The kids are a little weirder though. I don't really get what's going on with their older boy.

And finally with South Park we see some hilarious American family stereotypes playing out. From white trash Kenny's family, where his mom is always wearing her "I'm With Stupid" t-shirt to Stan's Jewish family, it's all so over the top that it's hard to take offense. There are many funny cartoon families at play here.

But what do these all say about us? Well, since they are caricatures they really highlight a lot of the silly things we assume to be true on a daily basis. But in the Simpsons in particular there is always some sort of an uplifting moment at the end of the episode. This ties it all together so nicely that you almost accept our imperfections as being endearing. So be it. We're not God after all.

Set during the First World War, War Horse tells the story of a young man named Albert (Jeremy Irvine) and his horse named Joey. Albert has tamed and trained Joey over time and the two form a long-lasting bond with one another. After their long-standing friendship, the two are wedged apart when Joey is taken from Albert and is forced into the war. Joey goes off on a tour around Europe during the war and encounters several people of different nationalities. During this time, he affects their lives and we witness the true meaning of friendship, courage and humanity.

War Horse wants to be emotional and it is every now and then. However, the attempts at drawing out emotion hit a wall on a few occasions and appear overblown. I'm not an animal guy, but I find it hard to believe that a horse would evoke this much emotion from people who haven't been around it for very long. Even Albert's love for the horse seems unnatural and exaggerated. I can understand the little girl in the movie and her affections toward Joey, because she's a kid and you can easily say that she's probably always wanted a horse. When it comes to these grown men in the middle of a war, I just don't understand it. Those relationships usually seem implausible and cheesy.

Most of the film's real emotion comes from its human characters anyway and their dealings with each other. The actors who played these parts really did an exceptional job of pouring on the direct amount of emotion and personality that was needed. I got a sense that these were real people with human traits as they went on with their lives right in the middle of the largest war that they had ever seen.

I think the story and the actors were greatly helped out by the score of War Horse. It was forceful, loud and dramatic throughout. It even added some punch inside of the stale and corny parts of the film. This could be the best score out of all the ones that I've heard in 2011. It really captured the personality of battle, but still remained light enough to keep everything positive and upbeat.

The battle scenes were fantastic in my opinion. Remembering that this film is PG-13, they didn't have any blood or gore in the battles, but Spielberg did it in an artistic way that still showcases the emotions and brutality of war. It was cool to be able to only hear the bullets and explosions going on around the soldiers and yet still be able to feel the impact they brought. That and being able to see the fear and anxiousness in the eyes of some of the men helped to drive home the dramatics and help tell the story.

What might have been my favorite part in War Horse was the scene at No Man's Land. It's a scene in the middle of the war that doesn't contain any fighting and stands out to me due to its look at who we are as humans. I don't think there is any part in War Horse that signifies so much while doing so little. To me, it was the signature moment in a good film and it easily stands out more than anything else does.

With good directing, acting and music, War Horse is a film that a lot of people can get behind. I thought this movie was very artistic and dramatic. The only real problem that presented itself was the overly emotional relationships that some of the humans had with a horse most of them barely knew. Other than that, it was solid and I had no real complaints.

Score: 3/5

Rating: PG-13

Director: Steven Spielberg

Cast:
Jeremy Irvine
Emily Watson
Peter Mullan
David Thewlis
Tom Hiddleston
Niels Arestrup
Celine Buckens
David Kross
Leonard Carow

Film Length: 146 minutes

Release Date: December 25, 2011

Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures

If it is a real place; a country, state, city, community, neighborhood, street, etc..., then you need to physically go there if possible, spend some time exploring it, get to know that place as if you grew up or lived a large part of your life there. If it's absolutely not possible for you to go visit the actual location, then visit it using the World Wide Web, the internet. Print out everything that you can find; stories about the place or the people that live there, pictures, etc... Try to connect with someone that does live there on one of the networking sites and talk to them. In other words, find out as much as you can by whatever means you have at your disposal then use it to create the world for your story. On the other hand, if your story takes place in a fantasy world, as do most of my tales and stories, then I'm afraid that you're by no means off the hook. In fact, when you're dealing with a fantasy world, it's even more critical for you to spend a lot of time there getting to know it, thoroughly.

I know that at least some of you are now asking yourself how you can possibly spend some time in a place that does not exist. If it truly does not exist, then not only can you not go there, you can't write about it either. To write about a place then it MUST have a real and tangible existence, in your mind if nowhere else.

I've been told that I must have been gifted with a double dose of imagination and when it comes to visualizing imaginary worlds that just may very well be the case. But there are methods that can be used to help you make the place that you've created a little more solid in your mind. The best of these has been used in the making of fantasy and science fiction movies for many years, Storyboarding.

Storyboards are graphic organizers such as a series of illustrations or images displayed in sequence for the purpose of pre-visualizing a motion picture, animation, video game, or in your case, a story or book. The storyboarding process, in the form as it is known today, was developed at the Walt Disney Studio during the early nineteen thirty's and can be very tedious and intricate but very useful as well.

Along with helping you to develop the scene, storyboarding can also help you with all facets of the creation and building of your story. One huge advantage of using storyboards is that it allows you to experiment with changes in the storyline so that you can evoke a stronger reaction from the reader. Flashbacks, for instance, are often the result of sorting storyboards out of chronological order to help build suspense and interest in the story.

No matter whether the place is real or not, taking place now or in the past or even in some far flung future, to write the story you need to know the place just like you were raised there.

Here are a few sample questions that you will need to answer when developing a scene or setting for your story

1. What type of setting is it?

a. Big city? Small town? Rural area?

b. Mountainous? Plains? Coastal?

2. What's the climate like?

a. Hot and humid? Cool and dry? Cold and frozen?

3. Is the story long enough to change the seasons?

a. Leaves changing, Snow and ice, Birds returning, Plant life reawakening?

4. What time period is it?

a. Historical? 50's? 60's? 70's? 80's? Futuristic

5. What are the major landmarks?

a. Natural; distant mountain ranges, water falls, canyons, desert dunes, craters.

b. Man-made wonders; bridges, buildings, statues, super-cities, bomb scars.

6. What places do the locals frequent and why?

a. Restaurants, bars, parks, clubs, churches

7. Are there any odd or unusual characteristics?

a. Unique tourist attractions; the biggest, longest, tallest, oldest, fastest.

8. What are the nooks and crannies that are only known only to the locals.

a. The tree where all of the kids initials are carved.

b. Lover's lane where the romantic couples park.

c. The secret caves known only to a select crowd of locals.

9. Are there any local legends?

a. Ghost stories, haunted houses.

b. Exaggerated tales of local historical figures.

This is just a small sampling of the type questions that you'll need to ask yourself when picking out or creating the setting for your story. Keep in mind that the finer detail that you put into your story, the more real and tangible the scene will become for your readers. To be a successful writer, the readers must be able to see, hear, smell and feel that world as if they were actually there. The world your story takes place in must become a living, breathing entity to the people reading your story. You either want them wishing they were there or relieved that they're not. They must be able to step into that world every time they open the book and begin to read.

One of the biggest mistakes that many writers make is not being consistent throughout the story. I've seen the seasons in the wrong order, immovable objects changing locations, even time periods changing without a flashback memory. All of these and more are actually relatively easy to mix up and can also be easily spotted and corrected by using the storyboard method I mentioned earlier. It is one of the best tools that a writer can use.

You may think that you can't do it because you are not a good enough artist, you are wrong. As long as you can recognize what you have drawn, that's all that matters. You don't have to be a professional illustrator to use this valuable tool, but if you happen to be good, then the storyboards can also be used later to illustrate your book or to show the artist you hire to do the illustrations what you have in mind.

In conclusion; to truly capture the interest of a reader, they must be able, for a time, to suspend their belief in the real world while they are magically transported into the world of your story. This is, after all, is the reason that most people read fiction anyway, a temporary escape from the real world that they are forced to live in the rest of the time.

At the risk of sounding like a travel critic some of the most memorable sites I've had the pleasure to visit have been Michelangelo's fresco in the Sistine Chapel, the iconic Eiffel Tower, the Leaning Tower of Pisa before fear of toppling the entire structure barred visitors from entering, the eeriness of Anne Frank's attic, the skeletal Atomic Dome of Hiroshima, Japan, the majesty of Buckingham Palace, and the sheer architectural beauty of the Sydney Opera House. None, though, maybe with the exception of the Atomic Dome, evoked the sense of awe I felt when I entered the excavation site of the Terra-Cotta Soldiers or as the Chinese would say Bing (Soldier), Ma (Horse), Yong (wooden or earthen figure buried with the dead).

It reminded me of an old movie I saw as a child about an elaborately booby-trapped tomb of the Pharaohs that was being invaded by grave robbers. The entire pit was covered with a hangar like structure that protected the artifacts from the elements. Photographs were forbidden and unless you were a head of state, world dignitary, or very famous you could not walk among the life-sized replicas of warriors and horses. Even now, I can smell the damp earth and feel the coolness of the setting. The soldiers and horses positioned abreast, dress right dressed, standing apparently where they were found. Some headless, some handless, and most were lacking the vivid colors they once had due to environmental decay, exposure, and post interment military raids. Amazingly, the grave site was unknown for 2000 years until a farmer literally drilled into it while searching for water in 1974. There have since been two more pits excavated where sacrificial animals can be found. The main tomb remains sealed due to issues of mercury poisoning and possible booby-traps. It is also worth noting that this period of the Qin Dynasty (third century BCE) is whence present day "China" derives its name.

If you can't make it to Xi'an, you can find larger than life replicas of Terra-Cotta Soldiers at your local P.F. Chang's China Bistro.

The big cats have in the past been more widely dispersed in the world than they are today. In our time, the redoubts of the big cats are in Africa and small pockets of Asia. The cat family is known by scientists as felidae and refers to an assortment of animals grouped as small and big cats. The small cats are less well known and appreciated. In East Africa small cats include wild cats, sand and serval cats. The small cats are very widespread in almost all habitats in East Africa. But they keep their heads down and elicit little conflict with man- the ultimate enemy of all wild animals.

The big cats you find outside Africa include tiger, jaguar, leopard, cougar and Iberian lynx. The big cats are the most committed carnivores in the entire animal kingdom. They are mostly nocturnal and rather secretive in nature. In common with primates, they read a lot from facial expression and love to play. The big cats capture and kill their prey. To witness a lion on a hunt is truly fascinating- if for a moment you take your mind from the fate of the prey. For all the fame of the big cats of East Africa, there are just three of them: lion, leopard and cheetah.

The lion, so called the king of the jungle, is the largest carnivore in East Africa. The adult lion stretches between 1.4m to 2.2 m - excluding the tail. The male can attain a weight of up to 225kg, while the hefty female reaches 168kg. The lion is noted for its exceptional strength and has been known to bring down the much larger buffalo, which has about 4 times its weight. For this reason, kings have understandably sought to be associated lions. But they hesitate to be associated with its reputation for sloth- for the lion shamelessly spends up to 20 hours daily resting.

Lions are social animals and of the big cats, they are the only ones to live and hunt in family groups. The group or pride usually consists of a number of related females and few unrelated males. Young females usually join their mother pride, but young males venture into the outside world to seek female company. Females in a pride practice communal cub rearing and hunting.

Lions are highly territorial. Males enforce territorial integrity, by means of their characteristic fierce roars, scent marking and periodic border patrols.

Lions of the same pride develop strong social bonds and practice head rubbing and social grooming. Females give birth after a gestation period of 3.5 months. After only 6 weeks, the cubs are induced into a lifelong habit of meat eating. Cubs play in imitation of adults and this helps in the development of such useful skills as stalking prey. Though born to kings, cubs need protection from hyenas and leopard. And also from non-pride male lions- for the reason that females will not mate until cubs are about 18 months old. The cubs therefore stand in the way of a mating encounter.

Fighting off males bent on infanticide appears to be one of the reasons why females live in prides. The moniker "king of the jungle" is misleading, for buffalo and hyenas sometimes kill lions. Elephants too have no fear of the king - they will charge at lions to encourage them to move on. But man remains the biggest threat to lions and he has hunted the lion to extinction in most of the world. The lion population in Africa is today estimated at only 23,000 and the survival status is listed as vulnerable in international conventions.

In most parks and game reserves of East Africa, however, the lion is impressively visible. Particularly in the grassy plains and dry forests where the large plains herbivores they prey on thrive. You will easily see the king in Ngorongoro and Serengeti in Tanzania and Amboseli, Nairobi, Lake Nakuru, and Maasai Mara in Kenya. In some other locations- such as Lake Manyara in Tanzania, Tsavo, in Kenya and Queen Elizabeth in Uganda, patience and skill is called for.

Early the last century, lions received extremely bad press when they disrupted the building of the East African railway in the Tsavo area of Kenya by feeding on the workforce. The movie "The Man-eaters of Tsavo" has captured this macabre drama. It is in this atmosphere that Theodore Roosevelt, the American president who was a pioneer safari enthusiasts said of lions: "except when resting and in the breeding season, the whole career of a lion may be best summed up in the single word: rapine".

Lions when deprived of their usual prey occasionally attack domestic animals and even human beings. Lions that are infirm- such as the old and the sick can easily attack humans and you are advised to exercise caution and take your photos from the safety of a car. So if you are out camping, watch out! All said, incidences of lions attacking humans are extremely rare. The image of the lion has recently been rehabilitated in the minds of many by the popular children cartoon drama "Lion King", whose hero is Simba- Swahili for lion.

The future of the lion in the savannas of East Africa is not assured. The main challenge is conflict with man, his ancient enemy. People living in areas bordering parks, sometimes inflict the ultimate punishment to lions when they are caught preying on livestock. In the Serengeti plains of Tanzania, the king has recently experienced attacks by a viral disease know as FIV -Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. FIV, just like HIV in humans, results in lowered immunity making the animals vulnerable to other diseases. Unlike HIV, however, the primary means of transmission of FIV is bite wounds and not sexual intimacy.

Of the big cats of East Africa, the most elegant is the leopard. The leopard is the most naturally adapted of the cats. It can survive in almost in any habitat offering sufficient food and cover. That is why, of the big cats, leopards thrive in the most diverse range of habitats; and of land mammals they enjoy the widest distribution in the tropics. In East Africa, they have been found in the most unlikely of places- from deserts, to mountaintops and even in cities. That not withstanding, scientists were surprised, when in 1990 three leopards were found living in a Kampala city train station.

The full grown adult stretches between 1 to 1.5 m and can reach a weight of 60 kg. Man (and especially woman) has always been jealous of the leopards beautiful coat. Those of East Africa have round spots unlike the square spots of the southern African species. Leopards are solitary animals and you hardly ever find them in groups. The sexes associate only long enough to mate! Females are ready to breed at about 2 years of age, when they produce up to 3 cubs after a gestation period of about 90 days.

The leopard therefore faces less danger than either the lion or the cheetah. Notwithstanding that they are very widely distributed in East Africa, you are unlikely to see them in large numbers. In addition, this most secretive of cats is nocturnal. The traveler who is determined to see them must be very calm and patient, for only the most persevering are rewarded. Even scientists have such trouble spotting them, with the consequence that they are not as well studied as the other cats.

The leopard is the strongest climber among the carnivores. And they spend mostly their days inactive, draped over tree branches. So, to se them, set your sights to the treetops. You are further advised to take your game drives very silently and watch out at rivers and water holes. The leopard is a stalking predator and lies ready to pounce at such places where prey would seek food and water. Some lucky people also come across leopards basking on the rocks early in the mornings.

The cheetah is the smallest of the big cats of East Africa. It can reach up to 1.4 m in length; males can weigh up to 55 kg and females 40kg. For the inexperienced, it is difficult to tell apart from a leopard. But you can distinguish it by the long teardrop-shaped lines on each side of the nose, from the corner of the eyes to the mouth. It also has protruding and streamlined neck and thin legs. This animal is specially adapted for speed and it is indeed the world's fastest mammal.

From a resting position, the cheetah can reach a speed of 80 km/h in less than 3 seconds. It can run a stable speed of 105km/h, compared to a man's 37km/h. But take heart, it is not a man-eater. The cheetah lacks the stamina to be more than a short distance runner. It is not a very social species and lives either singly or in small groups. Females are ready to procreate from about the age of 2 years and after a gestation period of about 90 days give birth to up to 6 cubs. Hunting by day only, this solitary hunter relies on its famed speed and keen eyesight. It technique is to stalk stealthily and then take a short killer dash when prey is within 30 m.

The cheetah is mainly found in grasslands, woodland savannas and semi deserts. It survives best in vast ranges where prey is plenty. This cat has never enjoyed wide geographical distribution or high densities. And numbers have drastically fallen over the last few decades. Today not more than 12,000 remain worldwide, mostly in eastern and southern Africa. In East Africa, the only areas where you can easily spot cheetahs are Maasai Mara in Kenya and Serengeti in Tanzania. But the cat is also present, though in fewer numbers, in Tsavo in Kenya, Mkomazi in Tanzania and Queen Elizabeth in Uganda.

Scientists have classified the cheetah as an endangered species and think that it faces possible extinction. Only one species -jubatus remains today. The lack of genetic diversity, possibly caused by inbreeding, is yet another handicap in ensuring the long-term survival of this cat. In its daily life, the cheetah faces competition from other carnivores such as lions and hyenas. In some areas, Maasai Mara of Kenya for example, instances of lions killing cheetah cubs are very common; hyenas too eat them. The lion kills the cubs only to destroy and never eats them -an extremely disgraceful show for an animal that would be regarded as king.

Cheetahs are active only by day. In East Africa's game sanctuaries, tourists interrupt critical activities like feeding and suckling of the young. There are incidences of mothers abandoning their cubs under the pressure of human curiosity. Considering the challenges facing the species, conservation options are yet limited by the fact that cheetahs do so poorly in captivity and almost never breed unless free. Spare a thought today for the cheetah, whose future is so uncertain. If you want to do more, talk to the Cheetah Conservation Fund(www.cheetah.org). And hope that such glorious days as when it was honored as a cat-goddess in ancient Egypt will yet come again.

East Africa is a year round safari destination. The rains come around April- May and November-December. This does not however, much affect the travelers' ability to get around. In general the best time to go on safari to see the big cats is over the drier months when the grass is short and sighting animals is so much easier. But in areas such as the Maasai Mara, the animals are so plentiful that you are going to see lots of them regardless of the season. The peak tourist season falls around January to February and July to August. April to June is the low season and prices for accommodation in the lodges can be as much as 40% lower than in the high season.

Accommodation on safari varies from basic camping to luxury lodges and tented camps. Out there in the bush, you will be pleasantly surprised that there is a variety of East African safari lodges:-

- Kenya Hotels & Lodges

- Tanzania Hotels & Lodges

having all the trimmings of 5 star luxury. But if you want to rough it out,you will find campsites in almost all the game reserves and national parks. It is generally recommended to take an escorted safari package:-

- Kenya Safaris

- Tanzania Safaris

that includes transport, park fees and accommodation. The reason for this is that the tour guides are usually well versed about the animals, where to find them and how to get there and have other such useful local knowledge. But if you have a lot of time and need more freedom as you get around, then taking a rental car is an option.

On safari, wear light cottons and linen. Warmer clothing is needed for the evenings and for your early morning game drive. Some rainwear is advisable between March and June and October and December. You should bring along a decent pair of sunglasses. The glare you experience in bright tropical light is a new and uncomfortable experience for most. It is also a good idea to carry a pair of binoculars. They are very useful for spotting animals and will earn you the envy of your less
knowledgeable traveling companions.

Copyright © Africa Point

Well, when you finish reading this article, this will be a mystery no more. You will not only know exactly what that magical quality is, but you will be able to create that feeling in other people within moments of meeting them. And they will be the ones wondering what it is about you that make you seem so charismatic, so confident, so magnetic. The technical name for this is rapport, which is a term I'm sure you've heard before. It is an essential social skill that can unlock doors of pleasure you never thought possible. One of the many reasons these articles are so popular on my blog is because you can easily use this knowledge to get the upper hand in any social interaction.

So let's get to the nitty gritty of rapport so you can go out and use it today to make a fabulous impression on anybody you choose. Essentially, rapport is a deep, unconscious feeling of similarity. When you are in deep rapport with somebody, you feel similar to them. Imagine if you found yourself suddenly in a Turkish prison. (I know, far out, but go with me on this.) You would be horrified, until you saw somebody out in the prison yard wearing a t-shirt with your hometown on the front. You would immediately feel a connection to that person, and would never want to be separated from them. An extreme example, but because of the nature of human beings, we like to stick with people that are like ourselves. There is nothing wrong with this, it is natural. You can use this to your advantage.

Most people go about creating rapport the wrong way. When they try to do it consciously, and often times it comes across as being fake. We say we like the same movies, we like the same colors, and wow, we both really like animals. That usually doesn't work very well.

The best way to do this is to do it unconsciously, so the other person doesn't have any idea that you are performing a powerful Jedi mind trick on them. Here are three powerful ways to do this.

Match Their Body Language.

However they are standing or sitting, copy their body language. If they are crossing their legs, you do the same. If they have their left hand on their face, you do the same. When they change their position, wait a few moments, and you do the same. If you are worried about getting caught, don't. It won't happen. Even if it does, and they say, "Are you copying me?" Just look at them with an innocent expression and say "Wow! I was about to ask you the same thing!"

Match Their Speech

The easiest way to match somebody's speech is to match their speed, and their general tone. Pay attention to words they put emphasis on, those words are important to them. When you repeat those same words with the same tone, it will have a powerful effect.

Match Their Breathing

This one is the toughest, but has the most powerful effect. Watch their chest, (but don't be a perv!), and pay attention to the pauses they make while speaking to catch their breath. Do they breath in quick, shallow breaths, or do they breath in slow, deep breaths. People that are very skilled in this can actually inhale and exhale at the exact same as the other person, but don't worry about that. If you can inhale with them and exhale with them a few times during the conversation, it can have a very powerful effect.

These three simple techniques will put you light years ahead of any body else. Even many professional salespeople don't' know these tricks. Imagine the power and leverage you will gain as you these on dates, in job interviews, with your boss, your children, your husband or wife. The sky is the limit of what you can do with this. You are only limited by your imagination. For many more articles on covert social influence, and general self-development, come have a look at my blog, or my YouTube videos and find out what you've been missing out on. Once you do, you'll understand just how much is out there, waiting for you to take it, and make it yours.

He was pretty amazed with the large stadium style theater. Just before the lights went out, he gave me a golden moment that I will treasure always when he looked up at me and said:

"Daddy, I like being with you."

7 years later

These memories came to me today as my oldest son and I sat in the exact same theater waiting for King Kong to begin. Before the movie started I told him the story of what he had said seven years earlier.

I knew going in that the Kong on the screen was computer animation. Even knowing that, this Kong looked so real, so life like.

Remember how real the dinosaurs looked in the Jurassic Park series? These dinos make those look like guys in a dino suit.

Many times when you see a fight or battle in a preview, you worry that you have seen all the good parts. Not so here. The battle between Kong and the T-Rex that you see in the preview lasts for at least ten minutes in the movie.

At the end of this and several scenes, you can hear the audience take a collective breath.

Picture the attention to detail of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy combined with the intensity of the first Jurassic Park.

At the end of the time on Skull Island, I found myself thinking that we have gotten to see all this and they have not even arrived in New York yet.

Even thought you know how it is going to end, it is still a great ride.

Rating: 5 out of 5 ticket stubs.

Toward the end of the movie, my 11 year old son grabs my arm, curls up next to me and says:

"Daddy, I like being with you."

If you are hard pressed for time, but at the same time worried about your child's health, then you don't have to worry. Of late, bedding manufacturers have understood our dilemma and the need for more time and have made things easier for us. You can now find kids quilts easily in any shops or if you can take the time to go online, then you sure can find such quilts and that too from a huge variety that you can choose from.

Of late, the readymade kids bedding come in a variety of sizes. Now you can find kids quilt based on the size of your child's bedding or in accordance to your child's height. Moreover, such quilts also come in a variety of material. Based on the kind of material that you choose and also based on the size, you can expect the price of the kids quilt to vary.

Understanding the fact that kids are influenced to a great extent by what they see on TV, such quilts are now made in accordance to characters from comic strips or even from various movies. You can also find theme-based kids quilts that have fairy tale themes or the Western Rodeo theme, or even the barn yard animals theme easily.

1. First, a landlord acquaintance of mines, lost his lovely four unit building to foreclosure. At first, I was shocked, and saddened. His building was right next door to my unit. But, sadness turned to anger, and then to sadness, and then to anger, and finally settled back to sadness. Why? Well, it does not surprise me that this landlord lost his building. He truly did not understand what he was getting involved with when he bought the unit. He and his then girlfriend bought the building together for well over 500k, putting close to 100k down for the downpayment. He bought when the market was riding high, and I am sad to say, he overpaid for the building. At first thought, I knew the numbers would not work, not at that price. I buy buildings that only produce positive cash flow at the end of the month. Paying too much for a building, and then not have a positive cash flow situation, spells out a disaster for failure. Secondly, he was a terrible property manager. He showed the correct initiative by getting all of the units updated, with new carpeting, marble counter tops, dishwashers, etc. I actually thought he was gonna make me look bad by installing marble countertops, etc. Which at the time was a silly idea anyways. He only showed up to the property only when he had to. He was slack on his rent collection. The Tenants soon took control. It was like the movie animal house all over again. I had reached out to him, offered my assistance, told him what I thought he had to do, etc. But, he politely took my advice, but did nothing to implement any changes. Unfortunately I had to call the police on a few occasions to have them tell a few rowdy guests to pipe it down, or else. He hated confrontation. I wondered how long he would be able to stay in the game, before losing his mind due to undue stress.

2. Secondly, I was amazed that he did not try and reach out to me further. I had thought to myself on a few occasions to talk to him about letting me know if he would have any intentions on selling the property, but he was a very proud kind of guy, and I knew he wouldn't provide me that information. The property eventually sold, via the foreclosure process. It sold for 0K! I was so upset. Fiddlesticks, I could have placed a bid on the property if I knew what the situation was. By the time I got word of the foreclose pending, I called the lawyers office handling the case, and they promptly forwarded me over to the listing real estate office. Before a "for sale" sign was posted on the front lawn, the real estate agent already had someone lined up for a purchase. See folks, in a situation like this, time is of the essence. The minute the foreclosure process started, the clock started ticking, and all kinds of signals are set off, and opportunistic investors gravitate to situations like this. The lawyers office probably already had a buyer before it even got to the agent. At 0K, with even a 10 percent down payment, that lucky landlord will be pocketing a cool 00 mo positive cash flow, providing he can rent the units at market value.

3. Well, an opportunity was lost. I finally got the nerve to call the prior landlord and asked him what happened? He said it was too overwhelming. He could not take it anymore. He had just gotten married to his girlfriend it was causing a lot of undue stress on their marriage. I told him I wished he had contacted me. But he honestly said he was embarrassed, because he know I tried to help him, and he had felt like a failure. Failure or no failure, he threw away about 0k of hard sweat cash money on the building, in the form of the down payment and improvements.

And since the market had corrected itself, he had no equity, so, he just walked. Well, he will be fine, but, damn, I still haven't gotten over this lost opportunity. Have you ever lost an opportunity like this? If so, please share them with me.

Some folks enjoy Advent or Christmas calendars with little windows to open and tiny chocolate treasures inside. Then there are those who look forward to the local radio stations adding Christmas songs to their daily programming. Yet others religiously watch their favorite Christmas movies as the TV stations provide their version of the Christmas countdown.

What many people may not realize is that there are also free Christmas screensavers designed to help build excitement as the holiday season draws near. Christmas Countdown and Santa's Workshop 3D are two such screensavers. These free downloads add fun Christmas scenes to your screen and keep you engaged during the thrilling build up to Christmas Day.

Christmas Countdown Screensaver begins with a tinsel laced evergreen tucked into a snowy mountain scene. Prior to December, beautiful and calming piano music plays while a gentle snow falls. An occasional animated animal will visit the scene and add their voice to the mix while shooting stars brighten the darkening sky. On Dec. 1, a transformation begins as the screensaver becomes a countdown calendar. Each day, a calendar "door" will open to reveal a new addition to the pristine setting. The lovely evergreen becomes even more enchanting as Christmas decorations are applied and new wildlife comes to visit. A snowman, cozy cottage, and other surprises add a bit of winter wonder to the mountainous landscape. When Christmas Day finally arrives, your screen is filled with a full holiday scene.

Christmas Countdown progresses daily towards a festive backdrop, but Santa's Workshop 3D Screensaver is a snapshot from the North Pole right from the beginning. As the "Nutcracker Suite" plays in the background and snow floats lazily to the ground outside, a roaring fire keeps Santa's helpers warm and toasty while they busily prepare for Christmas Day. Above the hearth, a calendar reminds you and the elves how many days are left until Christmas.

With so many ways to get into the Christmas spirit, let the countdown begin! Mark "X's" on your calendar, set your radio to the station that plays the best Christmas songs, watch your all-time favorite Christmas movies on TV, and don't forget to download a fun and free Christmas screensaver for the holidays.

However, for the hard to visualize area of landscape design, it can provide one of the best portrayals of the 3D landscape.

Sketchup was originally owned by @Last Software, but it was bought by Google. Hmmm....I guess Google thought it was pretty good. And it is.

There is a free version and a paid version. For the average person, the free version is fine. If you want to get more intricate with such things as grading and showing different elevations, then you will want the paid version.

For residential design, you can use this program in a couple of different ways.

The first way is to design right in the program. With a click of the mouse, you can set the drawing in a perspective position. Guidelines help you make sure you are drawing correctly. You can enter actual heights and lengths of objects, such as a house. You can put in the dimensions of the house, ie., length and width. Then use something called the pull tool to extend it up to the correct height.

It is all very user friendly. Also, what is created has an artistic flair to it, which makes it a lot of fun!

You can also view different materials for landscape elements. For example, if you are drawing a patio, you can go to the Materials area and choose what you might like. There are many different materials and you can change them as you like to see the differences. Some choices are stone, pavers, brick and concrete.

A plant palette is offered also. These are fine. However, for a more sophisticated look, there are other inexpensive components you can buy to use in your design.

The second way of using Sketchup is to create a 2D drawing in such programs as AutoCad, and import it into Sketchup. In this situation, you are working from your drawing so that an exact replica of the design is created. This allows you to see what a drawing will look like when built. Changes are easily made if there is something you don't like or want to add.

Some of the components you can add to the 3D landscape design are people, cars, grills, pergolas, plants, any many, many more. These are available directly through the program or through something called Google Warehouse. They are all free.

There is a lot of flexibility with the components. You can resize or rescale them if you need to. You can also change colors of both components and materials.

By adding window components to a house, you can actually position a person inside the house. This allows you to attain a view as if you were inside looking out. What a great feature to see what your view will be like.

You can also create scenes. Scenes let you save a particular view. These scenes can also be exported into jpeg images. You can also create an animation which is a fly by or walk through of the entire design!

Any or all of these features can be used to suit your purposes. The software can be used in both simple and sophisticated ways. There are many other features available also. All in all it is a great 3D program.

Nevertheless, please take note that with great power comes great responsibility. Always use your knowledge for the benefit of everyone and not just your own. Do you get that, Spidey?

How To Make People Cooperate

1. Humor - If you can make people laugh, you make them feel good. This allows you to easily establish a relationship with them.

2. Smile - First impressions last, and first impressions created with a smile is definitely an advantage. Try smiling at every person you come across the street and you'll see what I mean.

3. Respect - We all know that respect is earned and not given. However, you should always give respect, initially, to any person you meet. It's always easy to do a favor for someone who shows you respect.

4. Build instant rapport - People who can create rapport instantly with anyone has more friends and can establish good relationships than those who can't.

5. Use body language - Understanding body language is part of the plan. Our everyday communication is 55% body language. Although you get the signals unconsciously from the people you talk to, knowing how to consciously recognize these signals is a plus in the art of persuasion.

6. The Halo Effect - We usually categorize people as generally good or generally bad. Any trait that you show to a person in the future can be influenced by what you show today. Make sure that anyone you meet today will get the impression that you are generally good.

7. Similarity - Birds of the same feather, flock together, don't they? If you can always find a way to immediately learn what's similar between you and the other person, you can easily create a bond. This bond will eventually develop into trust which is always what you need to get people to do something for you.

8. Goodwill - Always be genuine when showing interest in other people. Being sincere about your concern for other people will make them like you quicker.

9. Bonding - People's names sound like jingle bells to their ears. Call people by their names and they will give you more attention.

The Mirroring and Matching Techniques

10. Mirror their language - Mirroring is a technique used in neuro-linguistic programming to unconsciously establish rapport with a person. Using the same kind of language that the other person is using can help you build that rapport in no time at all.

11. Match their breathing - Breathing alone can help you establish rapport that you will use in persuasion. The effectiveness of this technique relies on its concealment. Who will ever notice that someone is trying to copy their breathing pattern anyway?

12. Match their voice - Matching a person's voice works on the unconscious level as all of the mirroring techniques you see here.

13. Mirror their moods - When a friend of yours is in a bad mood, do you approach them with a joke? Of course not. Always determine people's mood before you try and make them do what you want.

14. Match their energy level - A person's energy level will give you an indication of how prone they are to suggestions. If you can be as happy or lively as they are, it may be much easier for you to lead them toward your plan.

Applying Cognitive Dissonance

15. Create commitments - If you can get people to commit, it is more likely for that person to do what you've asked them to do. They will be left with an uncomfortable feeling that will last for a certain time if they do so otherwise.

16. Use written commitments - Written commitments are stronger than verbal agreements. Aside from that, it can serve as some kind of contract between you and the other person.

17. Create public commitments - Even stronger than written commitments are public commitments. Not only will there be a concern about the relationship, the person's reputation is also at stake.

18. Use external incentives - Business people always use incentives for their employees. Although the motivation it provides only lasts for a short period, it still gets the job done.

19. Always make them say "Yes" - This is a kind of conditioning wherein the person's response is matched with the stimulus you provide which, in this case, is your request.

20. Make them give an effort - If you can get people to invest an effort, it's more likely that they will stick to your plans or execute your requests.

21. Create dissonance and offer a solution - If you're planning to make someone feel uncomfortable to get them to do what you want, just make sure to offer a way out.

Creating A Sense Of Obligation

22. Gift giving - How do you feel when someone gives you a gift and you don't have anything to give back? Pretty awful, isn't it? You'll likely say, "Geez, don't have anything for you. Just let me know if you need anything..." Ain't that powerful?

23. Mutual concession - There will be times when someone will try to influence your mind wherein you might feel helpless after realizing you don't agree to what just happened. Don't worry! What the other person does not know is that he/she is just as vulnerable when it's your turn to make them agree to your demand.

24. Give a favor, get one back - Sometimes, people will do things for you whether you like it or not. The problem with this is that it generates a need to reciprocate within the recipient's mind. If you're a generous person who finds happiness in giving favors for other people without expecting anything in return, just make sure you let them know.

25. Sharing secrets - Share a secret to create a bond, a sense of obligation, and a feeling of trust. Just remember, the kinds of secrets you share should depend on the kind of person you're sharing it with.

The Power Of Groupthink

26. Create a group - The larger the group, the better. Humans have a strong need to socialize. People attach themselves to groups to have a sense of belonging. If you want people to conform with your ideals, strengthen the group and make it grow.

27. Make everyone familiar - If you can get people to strongly identify with your group, the easier it will be to influence their behavior. Also make sure that everyone is similar in the way they think.

28. Establish your principles - Companies usually have principles which they package in the form of mission and vision statements. It's important that people within your organization or your group learn to adhere to these principles.

The Law Of Scarcity

29. Illustrate the potential loss - The possibility of losing someone or something may sometimes make us feel that our freedom is being restricted. Sometimes, people act irrational when this happens. When you're offering a product or a service, add a sense of potential loss and see how much difference it makes.

30. Tell them they can't have it - At times it makes you wonder why you'll try everything to get something you can't have. Freedom of choice may have something to do with it.

31. Increase demand; limit the supply - When there's a strong demand for a product or a service, people tend to flock toward it. People are always inclined to purchase that which is in-demand.

32. Create an appeal - To generate interest in you or what you have, create an appeal by making yourself appear special. Surround yourself with good company and fancy objects to attract more people.

33. Show exclusivity - When you try the previous suggestion, you're already making yourself exclusive. People just can't get to you and they have to work their way through obstacles (if you want to call it that). The mere effort of trying to get close to you will give you an assurance that they will do anything to please you.

34. Announce a deadline - Procrastination is your biggest enemy. To make sure that your requests or instructions are executed at the time you expect it to be done, always put up a deadline.

35. Restrict their freedom - A person's desire always influences his/her behavior. Once you tell people that they can't have something, the more they will clamor for it. Believe me, this trick is a favorite amongst presidents.

The Language of Persuasion

36. Use double speak - Avoid using offensive words and substitute them with less offensive ones. For example: use "mentally challenged" instead of "idiot," "communication" instead of "propaganda," "enhanced interrogation" instead of "torture," and so on.

37. Play with numbers - When you are demonstrating something, play around with numbers in your attempt to persuade. Try something like, "close to nine out of ten" or "fewer than five out of every..."

38. Use positive words - What you want is for people to feel confident and comfortable in doing what you want. Hence, use positive words whenever you're trying to communicate.

39. Pack words with emotion - Emotion packed words are extremely useful in making people act. Just look at how George W. Bush used the word "terrorist" in his campaign against enemies of the U.S.

40. Be silent - After closing a deal, the best thing to do is to be silent. The person has already made his choice and you don't want to ruin the whole thing by accidentally giving the other guy contradicting ideas.

41. Paint pictures with words - Isn't it nice to spend some time walking at the park with those lovely trees all over the place, swaying back and forth to the flow of fresh air? You can just feel the rays of the morning sun gently touching your soft skin until, suddenly; you step on a pile of dog poo... (hehe! Just giving you a break. We're not even half-way through the list)

42. Choose the right words - Using the right words can sometimes make a big difference. Instead of saying, "Sir, I'm sure we'll have trouble convincing the staff about your plans." try, "Sir, I'm sure the staff will greatly appreciate it and give you more approval if we try other means."

43. Replace "you" with "let's" - You can get more cooperation from people by replacing "you" with "let's." The phrase "let us" gives a hint of involvement on your part. So let's try using "let's" from now on.

44. Use simple statements - Give your instructions in simple, direct, and brief statements. Not only is it easier to remember, but it is also easier to understand and absorb.

45. Use everyday language - Complicated language will only confuse your listeners and/or your readers. Sure you got an enormous vocabulary, but if you talk like an intellectually dexterous individual (geek) all the time, it's more likely that you'll just be misinterpreted.

46. Avoid vulgar and curse words - As much as possible, try to avoid using profanity in your statements (especially with new acquaintances). Most of the time, your credibility depends on the kinds of words you use.

47. Avoid jargon and technical language - If the person you're talking to is working in the same field as you are, then there's no problem with this. In most cases, however, you interact with different people. Like I said earlier, just use everyday language.

48. Keep sentences short - In the early centuries, a single sentence can stand as a whole paragraph. Today, we're clearly living in a world where a single word such as "party" is enough to say it all. With that said, "let's" "party."

49. Don't beat around the bush - If you have something to say, say it directly.

50. Use verbs - Action words are more likely to make people move. Keep in mind that the words you say are being imagined by the person you're talking to. Thought precedes movement.

51. Use words that grab attention - Words like FREE, EARN NOW, EASY, SEXY, and GUARANTEED are just few of the numerous attention grabbing words that you can use. Try to EXPERIMENT with these words by adding them in your statements.

52. Emphasize what you want - Take a look at the last sentence above.

53. Pace - Studies have found that speaking faster is more persuasive than speaking in a slow and monotonous way.

54. Avoid vocal fillers - What this means is that... uhm... well... to make... uhm... your ideas accepted... er... don't use these kinds of words when speaking.

55. Determine your pitch - Adjusting the pitch of your voice by making it lower is proven to be more effective in persuasive speech.

56. Adjust your volume - Always speak loud enough so that people can hear you. If you're speaking in front of a crowd, test the sound system first to ensure that your audience will not end up being deaf after your presentation.

57. Be more articulate - Ideas that are communicated in a smooth flow and a coherent way adds more credibility. People are more likely to act on your requests or instructions when they are able to fully understand what you're trying to say.

58. Take some time to pause - Emphasis does not necessarily mean you should only speak louder, more fluently, in a low voice, and so on. There are times when you need to pause so that people will have time to absorb what you just said.

Distinction and Contrast

59. Triple the value - If you are selling a product, people are more likely to buy it when they see an extra value. Whatever you are selling, try adding a discount, bonus products, a warranty, or anything else that will give the impression of a good deal.

60. Change their perspective - When you talk to a salesperson, try to observe how they breakdown the price of what they are selling into ridiculously small easy monthly payments. This is called reframing.

61. Shift their focus - This is a technique used by advertisers to put your attention on the "lighter" side of the picture. Is the glass half full or is it half empty? Is it bad for your purse or is it good for your health?

62. The Door-In-The Face - Make an initially huge request that has a possibility of being turned down. After getting the response, make another request that is reasonable for the other person.

63. Use Comparison - Another technique used in advertising. I'm sure you see a lot of this on television. You compare your product or request to something similar but undesirable in order to get the person to agree with you.

64. Start high with your request - When asking for a request, try to make your way through in getting a "yes" by starting off high. Large request usually get a "no" so make sure before you get down to the real request, ask for something bigger first.

65. Use the right timing - In order for the previous technique to be effective, always state your real request immediately after the earlier ones.

66. Take note of the situation - Are you in the office, in class, in a party, inside a church, or inside a bar? Different places have different moods. Be aware of the situation to be able to match the person's mood.

The Power of Suggestion

67. Expect to affect - Expectation is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Did you know that you can affect people's behavior just by showing them your expectations?

68. Consider it done! - You've probably heard this before. However, you're not supposed to be the one to say this. Whenever you send out instructions, just imagine the other person uttering these words to give strength to your unconscious signals.

69. Use persuasive suggestions - Doctors are not the only ones who can use the placebo effect. You can actually use the same principle to make people do what you want them to do.

70. Emphasize the time - What time is it? Well, it's time for you to make people do what you want instead of the other way around. Did you get the point?

71. Use their reputation - Most people strongly identify themselves with their reputation. "Boss, I know you're a generous guy. How about giving me a raise?"

72. Use embedded commands - Here's an example of an embedded command: "You can try this one right away after you finish this article. (Embedded command: "try this one right away")

73. Pacing and leading - Make the person feel comfortable and in agreement with you then try to move them in the direction that you want.

Getting People Involved

74. Increase their participation - The more a person is involved in what you are doing, the more likely it is for that person to feel connected with you.

75. Use role-playing - Celebrities often experience difficulty getting out of their roles. Pretending is an easy way to change your beliefs. Make people pretend and you'll be able to tap into their unconscious mind.

76. Ask for people's advice - Another way to get people involved is by asking for their advice. Some will even teach you how to do it the right way.

77. The Visualization technique - People who sell cars will offer a test-ride to a potential buyer. Surely, if you can visualize yourself riding a car more vividly, you're more inclined to buy.

78. Keep human contact - If you own a store, approaching your customers and making a conversation with a friendly touch is more likely to make a sale than just hanging around near your cash deposit box.

79. Create an atmosphere - Visual appeal, aroma, and music are used by many types of business establishments to create an atmosphere and to attract more customers.

80. Create tension - If there's tension, there has to be a release. Just like the plot in a movie or a novel, create tension then offer a resolution at the end.

81. Allow hands-on experience - Computer software companies release Beta versions of their products not only to test it, but to make consumers actually purchase the final version.

82. Learn how to handle objections - Let's face it. You won't be able to get people to agree with you all the time, but if you know how to handle objections, then they won't be able to escape your charm.

83. Tell mesmerizing stories - If you have the ability to tell interesting stories to your listeners or your readers, the more likely people will give you attention and the chance to persuade.

84. Use repetition - Advertisers know that a single exposure of their brand on television is not enough. That's why they continuously show the product to push it deeper inside your mind. You should do the same thing with your ideas. Push it deeper inside other people's minds.

85. Repackage your message - You can use repetition, but you don't want people to take you or your ideas for granted. Learn how to repackage your message just like how companies repackage their products.

86. Build suspense - Isn't it annoying to leave something unfinished? How about seeing that "to be continued..." message on the television series you're watching? Indeed, it keeps people coming back for more.

87. Build a competition - In order to make people loyal to your brand or to your group, there must be a competition. Create an atmosphere of "them" versus "us."

88. Engage the five senses - What enters our mind passes through our five senses. When persuading other people, try to stimulate the five senses as much as you can through the methods mentioned earlier.

Getting People's Attention

89. Present new and innovative ideas - If you know how to repeat and repackage, you should also offer something new from time to time. There are more choices today than there were before. They can leave you easily when they find something better. Don't give them the chance to do so.

90. Use quotes - "The real persuaders are our appetites, our fears and above all our vanity. The skillful propagandist stirs and coaches these internal persuaders." - Eric Hoffer (July 25, 1902 - May 21, 1983)

91. Make shocking statements - Just watch the primetime news and you'll learn how to do this in no time.

92. Give relevant examples - I think I'll leave this one alone.

93. Give shortcuts and tips - People want and need things that will make their life easier. We've all had it with this game we call life. Why not share something that is beneficial for all.

94. Learn the art of questioning - Indeed, questioning is an art. If you know how to use it well, you can enter other people's minds easily. Try these questioning techniques.

95. Make them ask - You're not the only one who should ask questions. When people don't ask, that means they are not interested. Do you have any questions?

How To Use Flattery

96. Favoritism at its finest - Favoritism in the workplace is definitely undesirable. So make everyone, in any place, your favorite and you are sure to get them to do things for you.

97. Challenge the person's ego - Do you have the guts to try out everything you've read here? Let's see!

98. Don't react; just respond - Persuasion is not about you. It's all about your purpose, and your purpose is to influence other people. Failure is sometimes inevitable, but once you've learned your lesson, brush it off and move on.

99. Make them feel important - Hitting on people's self-esteem by making them feel important is a very effective technique in persuasion. Give them a supply of importance; they'll give you a supply of favors.

100. Learn how to praise - Aside from making them "feel" important, it is also necessary that you tell people directly what you find nice about them.

101. Show appreciation - Every effort made from the other person's part should be responded to with gratitude and appreciation.

How To Use Association

102. Use endorsements - You don't always need to work alone. Persuasion also involves the help of other people. Companies rely on famous celebrities to endorse their products. If you know people with good reputations, find out how you can capitalize on your relationship with them.

103. Use the Anchor technique - Study how to tap emotions and experiences of events, places, and things inside other people's mind by using the anchor technique. The right kind of stimulus at the right setting is proven to be an effective persuasion tool.

104. Use signs and symbols - You see these everywhere. Just look around your room and see how many signs and symbols you can identify. If you want to take this seriously, you can try studying semiotics.

105. Associate positive experience - Salespeople take their clients out to lunch or dinner. Other businessmen do the same. Why? So that they can be remembered. It's just like taking your girlfriend out on a first date.

106. Use sponsorship - Many companies sponsor various events to make positive associations. If you watch sports, take a look at the banners all over the venue and try to distinguish which companies they represent.

107. Produce lasting images - Well-known personalities use different kinds of images to project the kind of qualities they want people to perceive. Have you ever tried wearing a bling-bling?

108. Make use of colors - There are many different meanings of colors. If you know what each color represents, you can use this knowledge to elicit a certain mood or feeling. Speaking of feelings, let's try to find out how to use them.

Using Emotions To Take Them Over

109. Envy - Envy is what a person feels when he perceives in himself a lack of other people's qualities, accomplishments, or material possession. Making others feel envy, however, is undesirable, but is still an effective persuasion technique.

110. Worry - Persuasion may be ineffective if the person you're trying to persuade is worried about something. Help the person get back to reality first by using positive and affirming words before applying any of the techniques here.

111. Fear - Fear is commonly used as a marketing strategy, but you can also persuade people by invoking fear with the use of your words.

112. Anger - Someone who is angry may be someone who wants attention. You just need to know how to diffuse the person's anger when it's time for you to persuade.

113. Sympathy - You see this being used a lot of times on television. Starving children, tortured animals, war victims, and so on. When people feel sympathy towards something, they are more willing to help.

114. Jealousy - Jealousy is what you feel when you see other's possessing something that you don't want them to have. There's a good chance that you can persuade a person who is jealous.

115. Shame - When people do something they regret, they may or may not be motivated to make up for their mistakes. If they still see a little bit of hope, help them get up.

116. Pity - Pity is what you feel for people who have been treated unjustly or have experienced some unfortunate events in their lives.

Using Facts and Figures

117. Cite empirical studies - People are more inclined to believe your claim if you back it up with scientific evidence. Sometimes, just adding the words "scientific findings have proven..." in your words can already make a big difference.

118. Gather testimony - There's a reason why we look at product reviews, movie reviews, book reviews, and so on. The more testimonies you can get, the more you add to the appeal of your product or claim.

119. Use statistics - Graphs, charts, statistical data, etc. All of these have numbers that will help you provide stronger evidence to your listeners or readers.

120. Create an analogy - You can sometimes go on explaining something for a long time, but people may still not be able to understand. Using analogies is just like making people watch a theatrical version of a novel.

121. Show published reports - If it's documented or published on a newspaper, then you can use it to support your claim.

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"The one influence most likely to assure a satisfactory progression of the swing is the clear visualization in the players mind of movements. This can do more for a player than anything else he can possibly do" BOBBY JONES

You can learn ways to change patterns of negative self-talk, so that you not only overcome their limiting effect, but replace it with hugely positive and motivating inner dialogue. Additionally you can learn how to create connections between "trigger words" and a desired state of concentration and focus, so as to anchor that feeling and employ it whenever you want to. Even if someone has reached a feeling of "burn out" this too can be overcome.

"When you walk to your ball between shots keep your head up, look around and be observant. In the jungle animals who keep their heads down get eaten" JACKIE BURKE jnr.

Golf is an incredibly "mental" game. Thus any serious golfer must learn how the mind works, how to focus, how to overcome self-doubt, how to change destructive habits and patterns of behavior...in short, how to overcome mental obstacles and to succeed, to win; to put your knowledge and ability into practice with consistency and to push past internal barriers.

"Whether you think you can or think you can't, you are probably right" HENRY FORD

At the very least, every golfer should be aware of certain basic mental skills that they can learn so as to make the game easier - the skills of belief, trust and focus, the ability to access a state of relaxed concentration at will, to overcome worries and fears. I'm sure everyone would agree that golf becomes significantly easier when you believe in yourself and your ability, when you have confidence rather than just trying, when you're able to narrow your focus and concentrate on the task in hand and avoid lapses of concentration and negative thoughts.

"Fears have no place in the now. They can only exist in the future, yet when we arrive in the future it simply becomes the now. Fears have no place in the now..." RICHARD WILKINS

Any golfer can learn to overcome the negative effects of tension, distraction, negative flashbacks which sometimes appear like mini horror movies, thinking too much and over-analyzing their swing. You hear far too many golfers trying to work out here their swing has gone or where their elbows were or their feet instead of focusing on the task in hand; that of hitting the ball towards the target.

"A golfer cannot score as well as possible if he is thinking about swing mechanics as he plays" BOB ROTELLA

Why not spend a little bit of time in learning to relax and focus properly upon the real task in hand? You can learn how to relax in an instant and to focus clearly with the help of hypnosis downloads. Why do you think the professionals use golf hypnosis? They use golf hypnosis because it works; hypnosis downloads can be used to get you to focus clearly, to stay in the now, to let go of worries, tensions and distractions, and to really visualize your shots. With hypnosis downloads you can learn to be calm, relaxed and focused whilst playing golf.

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Based from the facts that we read, we have known that dinosaurs has unique characteristics from all other regular reptile. An example is the raptor. They are small but have high levels of intelligence that gives them an advantage when hunting preys. Their mode of communication uses sounds in order to communicate to other kinds of dinosaurs.

Raptors are likened to eagles and falcons, but fiercer. It had traits very similar to birds. Studies even show these raptors having feathers in their bodies as well. Raptors hunt in groups. This characteristic makes raptor a social reptile. There are many other facts available about dinosaurs. The ones stated above are just a few of those facts that are written.

Another important fact about dinosaurs is that they have been extinct for over 65 million years ago. Although there have been debates about the extinction of dinosaurs, there are no final facts about their extinctions. All facts are still subject for further studies.

There are numerous explanations accounting for their extinction. One explanation revolves around asteroids and multiple collisions, plus environmental factors. Another explanation offered is the massive volcanic eruption of a volcano. This implies that volcanic eruptions were happening even in the age of dinosaurs. Upon eruption, the earth is covered with sulfur dioxide that blankets the earth's surface. This cloud blocks the heat and light of the sun that was suppose to enter the earth. This made the earth's temperature to plummet and it killed all the living things during those times.

There are many kinds of dinosaurs but the most popular is the T-rex. a complete list of all dinosaurs can be found in the archeology and paleontology books.

Dinosaurs are classified into two orders - the Saurischia and the Ornithischia. The Saurischia are the group that walked in the surface of earth. They have hip joints which allow them to walk. T-rex belongs to this group. The Ornithischia, on the other hand, has bird bones that enable them to fly. Archaeopteryx is an example of this group.

You will find some reference books that discuss the bone composition of a dinosaur. Since there are no dinosaurs that exist these days, researchers and scientists relied on dinosaur fossils to explain these animals' behavior. Some museums hold important facts about dinosaur bones. They display huge skeletons of dinosaurs.

Dinosaur bones have a complex skeletal network. Large dinosaurs have strong bones to be able to support their massive weight and size.

There is also a lot of information that has been gathered about the dinosaur eggs. This information focuses on the appearance and the kind of dinosaur that the egg came from. The texture of the egg can determine the dinosaur's specie. The dinosaur egg varies in size and shapes. The size depends on the kind of specie.

There is much other information about dinosaurs that are very interesting to know. Try to read more about them and you will enjoy exploring the history.

First, however, I'd like to address the question of whether or not "past lives" are real.
In my years of both academic research and experiments with PLR, I have found huge
volumes of data that would prove to any legitimate scientist that many "past life"
memories are based on real historic people and events. I refer the reader to Helen
Wambach's seminal research work Reliving Past Lives, Marge Rieder's extraordinary
and well-researched Mission to Marlboro, and Ian Stevenson's exhaustively scientific
30 Cases Suggestive of Re-incarnation written by a skeptical scientist. It seems to
me that there are a sufficient number of books to prove that past life memories have
been documented as accurate for a statistically significant number of test subjects.
Those who continue to deny this may present themselves as scientific. Possibly they
are trapped in an irrational dogma comparable to the beliefs of those church
"scholars" in the 16th Century who maintained their belief in an earth centered solar
system in the face of Galileo's telescopes. In the past, tragically, these hardened
dogmatists were in charge of much of the research funding and training of
therapists, just as the Church had a stranglehold on science in the 16th Century.

In any event, I have no particular desire to "prove" the existence of past life recall to
the fanatical skeptic, since I feel the literature on the subject is replete with such
proof. More practical is my concern that many people today are interested in
experiencing past life memories for themselves. And they want to know if their past
life memories are real. One must admit that many past life memories recalled by
clients are not easily provable. They may even be products of the client's
subconscious imagination. As an example, the client sees himself as Sir Lancelot
approaching the great castle of Camelot in shining armor and mounted upon a
white charger. While the client may or may not have been Sir Lancelot, historically,
King Arthur's knights, if they existed at all, wore leather armor and lived in primitive
wooden forts circa 600 AD.

There are a number of indications according to researchers that a past life memory,
whether spontaneously recalled or found under hypnosis, is an accurate
recollection. First, are the emotions evoked by the experience more powerful than
those evoked by a movie or novel? Some clients even experience PLR emotions as
more powerful than any evoked by present life experience. These powerful feelings
can be an indication that a past life memory is accurate. One client weeps
prolifically over the fallen bodies of his family, victims of a massacre. Later he
describes the emotions evoked as far more powerful than anything he has ever
experienced in present life. While hardly scientific, this evidence is often used as a
measure of the validity of the memory.

Sometimes a creative ability emerges from a past life memory for which the client
can find no other easy explanation. Musical or artistic abilities, for example, can be
brought forward from past lives that might be otherwise hard to explain. For
example, one client with no artistic gifts or experience emerges from trance and
starts to draw animal figures beautifully.

One of the paramount proofs is when historic details of an experience can be
validated by research. A therapist I know asked his subconscious mind for a past
life that could be historically validated. He was given precise biographical details of
a life as an architect in Venice in the 15th Century. In a later visit to Venice he was
able to view some of the buildings he had designed hundreds of years before, as
well as confirm the precise biographical details he had received in trance. While such
historical proof may be beyond the reach of many subjects, it is not difficult to
examine such things as clothing, architecture, diet, and technology to find historical
parallels.

Another validation of past life memories occurs when we meet people who have
shared our past life experiences and remembers them the way we do. I had the
disturbing experience of taking a client into trance and helping him recall a duel in
Paris with an arrogant musketeer. I knew who he was fighting...me in a past life!
Together we both described every detail of the scene, including our clothes, our
weapons, and the reason for the duel, and its outcome. He killed me. This is one of
many such experiences I have had which has confirmed my belief in the reality of
my own past lives.

The most important question in my view however is not whether PLR is "real" but
whether it works in solving the client's problems. This question continues to be very
difficult to answer. My concern is that most PLR therapists have received very little
formal training in the field. Hypnotherapy as a field has made great strides in the
last 50 years. But, PLR as a specialty is a valuable new technology that is still in its
infancy. Therefore, I find most hypnosis trainings offer only a few hours of brief
instruction, without adequate supervised practice, and with little emphasis on the
specific therapeutic issues that respond best to PLR. Many other trainings in
hypnotherapy and psychotherapy simply dismiss the whole concept of PLR as
"unproved" and therefore beneath their need to teach or explain. We may compare
the relative success or failure of many modern PLR therapists to the clumsy
chopping of "surgeons" in the 15th century. Surely, if we judged "surgery" by the
success rate of these practitioners, it would be found to be mere quackery by any
modern analysis.

Copyright © September, 2005 By David Quigley CHT

Since most people do not have access to professional image editing software like Photoshop nor the skills to use such a complex program, we will just look at some of the automated cartoon yourself for free methods available. So if you're still wondering how to make me a cartoon then keep reading.

Perhaps the quickest way to make a cartoonize photo of yourself is to use an online image editor like Lunapic. It's really simple...first I just go to the Lunapic website, then I choose an image file for my web face and click "upload now". After the image has uploaded to their server, I can create the cartoon picture of myself by going to the "effects" drop down menu at the top and then click on "cartoon". Right after the effect is applied, I always save my web face cartoon by clicking on one of the "save to" links below the image.

Similar cartoonize photo results can be obtained by using Google's online image editing tool at Picasaweb. This service is a little more complicated than the Lunapic method above but it can produce similar results. One of the difficulties with Picasa is that Google will insist that you have an account with them before you can use the service but they do have more options available in their interface.