Movie Review - The Chronicles of Narnia - Prince Caspian

Nowadays, sequels to movies are not as good as their predecessors. But 'Prince Caspian' proved it wrong. It's better than 'The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe', though it does lack some of LWW's charms.

The sequel (which is also the fourth book of C.S Lewis' 'The Chronicles of Narnia) tells the story of Narnia, 1300 years after the Pevensies leave Narnia. Humans, called Telmarines, seize the land of Narnia and leave the Narnian creatures to be extinct. And while Prince Caspian the Tenth is under his uncle Miraz' care, Miraz' wife conceives a son, and Miraz devises a plan to murder Caspian, so his son can get the throne. Caspian escapes, and asks the remaining Narnians for help to overthrow Miraz from his castle, and claim his rightful throne.He also calls for the Pevensies to help him for his quest.

The film is very noticeably darker than LWW was. From the inviting glorious grasslands of LWW, we are transferred to the dark forest of PC. And also, the film is very violent, though no blood can be found. The film indeed has more glorious battle scenes than the first. And the last battle in the end of the film? It makes the last battle in LWW seem merely like a children's TV show. It is simply glorious.

However, even though Prince Caspian is better than the first, it lacks some of the charms that made the first film magical.

Aside from that, the biblical imagery in this movie is noticeable, though not as noticeable as in LWW. The imagery in the film tells us that if we do not believe in God, then how can we succeed?

All in all, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian is a great film, better than the first, and certainly worth one year and a half's worth of wait. It will still be a long wait, however, when we expect The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader to arrive in cinemas in 2010.

Scandal Shows Editors Don't Read!

If you've been following the story, I don't have to delve into the facts.

An up and coming novelist from Harvard has been accused of plagiarizing no fewer than two books by a "chick-lit" writer of some renown.

Specifically, she is accused of lifting more than 40 passages and some key story lines.

I recall seeing that she was paid a whopping $500,000 advance for her manuscript, which is a ton for such an ingénue.

Publishers, agents, and editors are all wringing their hands, expressing dismay and disappointment about how this rising star could do something so reprehensible.

Well, I have news for them, and maybe for you. Something even more disappointing and reprehensible is afoot. The simple fact is most of today's agents, editors, and publishers are not in the literature business at all.

They're marketers, not readers.

Why, you have to ask, didn't this new writer's agent catch her flagrant borrowings?

Moreover, didn't the editor that acquired the manuscript catch any striking similarities?

Were they asleep at the wheel?

No, my friends; let me inform you that most of these folks are functional illiterates, not members of the literati.

By the way, entire committees have to approve acquisitions these days, especially when they involve large advances, so this is not an oversight by one or two folks, but perhaps by a dozen or more.

Let's pin the tail on the real donkeys here, the smug poseurs who pretend to be people of letters, but who have insufficient background and judgment to do the jobs they're charged with performing.

Buy A Wholesale Truck With Warranty

So purchasers with cash or good credit rating could find some real deals these days on your preferred trucks. A large percentage of truck sales recently were to lease clients. The majority of those lessees are turning their trucks in instead of purchasing them out, and the market is filled with three-year-old trucks. Because of this, wholesale prices have dropped greatly on late model trucks.

On many occasions, trucks that are still under company warranty can sell at auction for less than half their original price. When purchasing a former lease vehicle, you must take note of the care the truck obtained. Unfortunately, a lot of lessees handled their trucks just like rental cars, in some instances turning them in after three years with the exact same oil as well as filter they left the manufacturing facility with. It is advised that anyone purchasing one of these trucks check the serial number with your local dealer for a service history. Avoid any truck with no dealer service history unless it had reputable records from the proprietor. There are a few other parts to inspect also. The original equipment tires create a choppy wear pattern unless they were rotated often, something which infrequently transpires on lease trucks.

When buying a second-hand truck, it is always advised buying a good service contract. These kinds of contracts, known as "extended warranties", would protect you from expense should a break down happen. A lot of firms provide such contracts these days, including a number of web-based vendors. It's recommended buying the longest term you can obtain (usually 4 years/50,000 miles) unless you have a specific reason to do otherwise. As you look over numerous plans, there are a lot of aspects you must pay attention to. First, find out if you are purchasing an "included component" plan or an "excluded component" plan. Included plans have a list of items that are covered. Coverage is purely limited to those things. Excluded component plans cover the whole motor vehicle except for the excluded items listed. Such plans seldom cost a lot more, and they are much better as a rule.

Premium second-hand trucks are offered by truck dealers under the certified program. This program fuses an intensive evaluation as well as service with a service contract. Dealers are supposed to select the best units for this program. Vehicles offered under certified program are likely to be in the top range in terms of both quality as well as price. By shopping around, you may find much better value with equal quality from reputable independents.

They may say they've got wholesale truck pricing yet upon investigation you could easily see that they're selling their trucks at blue book value, not wholesale. Even if they've got a cheap price, they can't sell at wholesale unless they are selling straight to a dealer. Before you buy your next truck, be sure to check out all of your options.

Arthritis Gloves - Where To Buy Arthritis Gloves

Are you looking for arthritis gloves? If so, you would probably like to find best quality gloves for reasonable price online.

So many people are looking for these gloves, because they can help relieve pain, aches and stiffness associated with arthritis of the hands, and because shopping online is the easiest way to find them.

What kind of gloves you should be looking for:

Arthritis gloves should have open fingertips to allow you freedom to feel, touch and grip. They should be comfortable to wear day and night, and allow skin to breathe to keep hands dry. But most important they should provide a mild compression to help control swelling, offer warmth, increase circulation and promote healing, so make sure they're not too big or not too small for your hand.

Why shop online:

Shopping online is the easiest way to find arthritis gloves today. With few mice clicks you can find tons of information and dozen online shops that sell arthritis gloves at affordable price. Online shops always have all sizes and different type gloves, all you have to do just choose and click to buy.

It's really good to know that shop will deliver product for you, so you don't have to leave your warm comfy home and travel somewhere to brick and mortar shop to find these gloves.

So if you do agree that arthritis gloves can relieve aches and promote healing, and that shopping online is the best way to buy them, here's how to do it.

Where to Buy These Gloves:

First of all you should do search on Google for these gloves. Then you will have to check all the sites to come up, to find these gloves and compare the price. You might find some forums on your search results. Go and visit forums, they might have some crucial information about what you're looking for.

Industrial Accident Compensation At The Workplace

Whenever an individual is unlucky and he or she is involved in an accident at the workplace, he or she should not worry because that was not his or her fault. If an individual is involved in a work area injury, he or she is entitled to an industrial accident compensation claim. All accident compensation claims work by an individual proving that his or her illness, damage or ailment was caused due to the carelessness of another person and if so, an individual should appoint a lawyer particularly a personal ailment lawyer who will help him or her in organizing the proof and submitting the proof to the insurers.

There are various accident compensation claims that may occur from incidents in many areas such as within the car or in the house. Other areas include buses, trains, or even sport injuries that may occur due to faulty equipment in the gym or health club. The circumstances that may cause an individual to ask for an accident compensation claim should be valid.

The individual should go for the court proceedings within three years from the date the accident occurred hence after this the claim will be rejected. To ensure that an individual's case is successful, he or she should report the accident to the authority that in this case include the local authorities and the proprietor of the property where the particular accident occurred or the employer.

There are various accident compensation claims, some being resolved in days while others taking several years. Workplace injury claims are usually resolved away from the court while others have to be resolved in court proceedings. When accident compensation is given, it should not only reimburse an individual for expenditures such as a lost phone but it should also reimburse you for the suffering you have been exposed to because of the accident.

Small Farmers Are Important for Future Food Security and Sustainable Food Production

It is generally assumed that "big is best" because of the financial savings that can be made from economies of scale, and this has been one of the drivers of the trend to large-scale farming.

There is, however, a growing body of opinion that the reverse is true and that food security, diversity and sustainable agriculture may be better achieved by supporting the world's small and family farmers.

According to the US campaigning organisation foodfirst.org large-scale agriculture tends to focus on monocultures because they are the sie last year.

The pressure on farmers to produce more to meet the needs of a growing global population is therefore intensifying and it makes sense to make the best use of all the sources of food production on the planet, large and small.

While small farms are likely to plant mixtures of crops, to use techniques like intercropping and to rotate crops and livestock, with manure serving to replenish soil fertility, they will nevertheless need some support if they are to increase their production.

It is in the areas of access to new agricultural technology, such as low-chem biopesticides, biofungicides and yield enhancers, and to training in their use, where small farmers could most benefit.

Such products are derived largely from naturally occurring sources and would fit well into the mix of existing sustainable small farming methods and techniques to enhance yield and reduce crop loss from disease and damage.

But they are expensive to research, trial and license and therefore need strong support from governments, including perhaps financial subsidies, if they are to be affordable for the smaller producers.

Each small increase in production can only help towards ensuring that there are adequate food supplies for the future, but also there is evidence that small farms producing for local markets increase local prosperity, food security and promote better social cohesion.

Copyright (c) 2011 Alison Withers

Does The Blackberry Help Or Hurt Work-Life Balance?

Does being constantly connected mean that you are constantly available to work, and does the Blackberry help or hurt the balance between your home life and your job?

It is a very common argument that having a Blackberry, Treo, or other portable device gives busy people more flexibility and enables them to spend time with their families they otherwise would not be able to. They are able to take vacations, can attend events, and run errands that being connected makes possible.

The CEO of RIM puts it like this: "Would you rather have your parents 20% not there or 100% not there?".

It is an interesting argument - does the cost of having people be able to reach you 24/7 make up for the benefits it provides? In fact, a survey by Korn/Ferris says that although 4 out of 5 business executives are always connected to work through PDAs, 77% of those say that it improves their work life balance as it allows them to leave the office earlier.

There are signs, however, that the scales are tipping too far to one side. Some parents say that "Blackberry" is one of their children's early words, and toy PDAs are available for kids "just like mom and dad!".

A recent AOL survey found some interesting stats:

Email user on portable devices has nearly doubled since 2004 59% of those with portable devices use them to check email every time a new message arrives 43% of email users with a device say they keep it nearby to listen for incoming mail while they sleep 83% of email users admit to checking their mail at least once a day while on vacation 53% of portable device users admit emailing from the bathroom, 37% check it while they drive (yikes), and 12% check email in church

I don't believe there is an easy answer to the question "does the Blackberry help or hurt work-life balance?", but perhaps it is best to keep in mind a postcard I read about online: "Your Blackberry can't love you back".

What Kind Of Tile Should You Install In Your Bathroom?

If you want to transform your bathroom without having to do a major refurbishment, then it might be an idea to look down at the floor, and think about replacing the flooring with some new bathroom tiles. And those tiles don't have to a dull design or color, since there are now hundreds of tile designs and colors to choose from that can really turn your bathroom into a place you love to be. There are now many different types of materials to choose from. Everything from stone through to the more traditional ceramic. Here we'll look at some of your floor tile options.

One of the tile materials that has really grown in popularity in recent years is stone. As you would expect it is very hardwearing, and that is something that is always a good feature of any type of flooring material. But the other good thing about stone is that each type imparts a different feel. Granite can give a feel of real solidity to your floor, while tiles in materials such as sandstone tend to give a warmer, softer feel.

One thing to remember is that stone can be heated. Perfect for those cold winter mornings when the last thing you want is to feel cold feet when you go into the bathroom. It is never a good idea to install carpet in the bathroom, and many other types of material do have a cold feel, but with stone floor tiles and under-floor heating you can have the best of both worlds. A material that is easy to clean and yet warm to the touch. Stone can also be cool in summer. another advantage.

If you do intend to add under floor heating to you bathroom then make sure you decide exactly where the heating will go before you plan your bathroom any further.

If you want to add a feel of luxury to your bathroom, then you might do well to consider marble floor tiles. You have to be careful of the stains that can happen to marble, and so you do need to care for marble tiles accordingly, but they are well worth the effort. For an easier maintenance choice you might consider artificial marble tiles rather than quarried natural marble.

If you are looking for something easy to install, you might consider linoleum floor tiles. These are widely available in many different designs and colors. Linoleum can become damaged though, and some care needs to be take in its maintenance.

One of the most common types of tile found in bathrooms is the good old ceramic floor tile. They can impart an almost regal look. It is very important to make sure that the tiles you sue are the non-slip variety, since a fall in the bathroom can be dangerous. Tiles can be extremely slippery in a steam-laden bathroom. There are some disadvantages to using ceramic tiles, since they can easily become cracked. Especially when some hard object such as a glass bottle is dropped on them. This needs to be taken into account if you are considering ceramic floor tiles.

But whatever the material you choose, remember that there are now hundreds of different designs of floor tiles. The old style mosaic floor tiles can still look good, but there are many others to consider, and choosing something more outlandish for your floor might be just the thing to really make your bathroom refurbishment go with a bang.

Screen Your Patio Doors

Patio doors open a room to the outdoors. They allow light in and let you see out. For many times you do not want others to look in, patio doors could be fitted with options that provide privacy. You can screen your door. Many patio doors will be having sliding patio screens to keep out bugs. If your door has a screen but not providing any privacy, then visit your local hardware shop and ask about privacy screen that can fit your frame. If your patio doors do not have a screen, you can add one. If you have a standard door, home development stores may have a screen in stock that could be directly installed with no modifications.

Bamboo screens will roll up and down so as to protect your doors and windows. The bamboo screens are reasonably priced and are easy to install. They generally take three or four hooks installed over the door. The screen clips onto the hooks is rolled up or down as needed. Drapes or curtains could be installed on the wall inside the door frame. Hanging rods and hardware are obtainable at hardware and department stores. Heavier drapes will be expensive and can be more challenging to install. Lightweight curtains take a simple rod and could be quickly pulled to one end and tied.

Holiday door covers are a fun and a fast way to provide privacy. These huge decorative vinyl decorations are meant to cover your front door. They are available for you at dollar stores and department stores. Use removal tape to put a colorful or serene picture over the door. They are cheap and could be changed with the season. Temporary privacy could be a family project. Use a butcher paper cut and taped to fit the door. Make it a family project to poster paint designs on the paper. You can use a felt pen or brush to paint the lines in a grid on the paper like panes on a window. This will make individual blocks for every person to do their design. When the paint dries thoroughly, then it can be put on the door with removable tape. Though this is not a permanent solution it can provide a few days of family privacy and leisure.

Sun films could be installed on patio door glass. The shades come in light to dark film. You can look out but it is not simple to see in. Light adhesive will hold the film in its place. Sun film must not be installed on thermo pane windows as it might affect the warranty. Better check with a commercial installer who provides a separate warranty against damage from sun film. Tinted PVC or vinyl film is also capable of providing privacy and is carried by some fabric stores. It is less luxurious than sun film and is held in place by static. Just put it up on wet doors, squeegee it in place, and finally peel it off when you do not need it. As with the sun film, tinted film could also affect the warranty on thermo pane windows.