Tintin Goes Hollywood

Tintin Goes Hollywood by Jimmy li

In 1929, a French cartoon series appearing in a children's supplement in Belgian newspaper Le Vingtieme Siecle would introduce the world to a unlikely hero. Written and drawn by Belgian artist Herge, the series focused on the adventures of boy reporter Tintin and his faithful sidekick french terrier dog Snowy. The stories followed the two on a series of globetrotting adventures as they uncovered mysteries in the post depression world. Tintin's adventures were infused with Hergé's charm and humor. A colorful cast of supporting characters such as Captain Haddock, Professor Calculus and the Thompson twins rounded out the ensemble. Although Hergé may not have known it his beautiful art style and knack for adventure storytelling ensured that on January 10 1929, a star was born.

My earliest memories of Tintin come from reading the comic series as a child in the library. My parents would leave me for hours at a time at the local library while they went grocery shopping and I quickly became familiar with Tintin's adventures. The books possessed a swashbuckling adventure quality similar to Indiana Joenes which would translate quite well into film.

Recently it was announced that Tintin would be made into a feature film to be released in 2011. Spielberg first acquired the rights to Tintin after Hergé's death in 1983 and re-optioned them in 2002. The film was to be made into a motion capture 3-D feature (think Beowulf and Monster House) with live actors recording movement and audio to be translated into a digital model. The film is set to be a collaboration between Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson with hopes to become a trilogy. The first film tells of the tale of Tintin's first encounter with Captain Haddock as told in "The Crab with the Golden Claws" and "The Secret of The Unicorn.". Although it has seen a long development cycle and has already seen a delay in release date, the first film has wrapped principle shooting and is currently in post production.

I have mixed feelings about the Tintin books receiving the Hollywood treatment. Part of me is interested in seeing how Tintin is translated on the big screen. Another part of me fears that those same childhood memories will be sullied by another big budget Hollywood feature. The fear is that Hollywood will change the source material to make it more marketable to the masses. Tintin will be a relatively new character to the majority of moviegoers who see it in 2011 and I wonder if the original source material will be as charming in the 21st century. It is often tempting for filmmakers to alter characters, plot points and narratives to make it more stylized and appealing to the young demographic it wants to cater to.

With heavy star power behind the production and within the cast, I cannot see Tintin being anything but a commercial success. As Hollywood struggles to find original property to film, more and more source material will be mined from classic cartoon, comics, and literature. I realize I am being naive but sometimes I wish Hollywood would ask us for permission before filming our childhood properties. I may not have millions invested but I do have an emotional one. With movie technology as advanced as it now is, Hollywood can now make a movie out of just about anything they want. The question is, should they?



Jimmy Li has followed The Adventures Of Tintin. For further information on the Tintin series, please go to http://www.tintin-books.com


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Excellent Feedback, The Key To eBay Success

Excellent Feedback, The Key To eBay Success by John Thornhill

Having excellent eBay feedback is a key factor that affects how many sales you will make, as many people see your feedback as a sign of trustworthiness and experience. For example, if your feedback score is high, that means you have sold a lot of products therefore a potential buyer will see that the products you sell are good, because you have sold a lot. However, if you have a lot of negative comments on your feedback score people are less likely to buy from you and your business will suffer.

Buyers can also leave comments when they have purchased your product. They are likely to comment on things such as efficiency with delivery and the level of service, etc, etc.

It is not hard to gain excellent feedback on eBay and avoid those dreaded negatives. Just follow these 3 simple steps and you will have excellent eBay feedback in no time.

1. Always be polite when dealing with customers, no matter what the situation is just deal with it without getting angry and being aggressive towards the customer. No matter how amazing your product is, you will always get one awkward customer, but if you remain polite and deal with the problem in a polite and professional manner you will probably find your customer leaves you a glowing report. However, if you lose your temper a negative comment is almost guaranteed.

2. Be efficient. Don't keep your customers waiting for their product, the longer the customer is waiting the more likely they are to leave you negative feedback. Think about sending a confirmation email, to reassure the customer that their order/payment has been received and that their product is on the way, this reassures the customer that their purchase has been acknowledged and that their product should be with them shortly. And as always remain polite and try to be as helpful as possible.

3. Provide your customers with good value for money, don't sell products that are not worth the price your charging, and don't try to bump up the price by charging excessive postage costs. Many people will be deterred if they see a cheap item with a high postage cost. Also make sure your item description is 100% correct. For example, say your selling a 1982 marvel comic book, don't say it is in mint condition if it is not, as when the customer receives their product and finds that you lied in your item description they will most likely leave negative feedback and ask for a refund.

There you go, 3 simple steps to ensure your eBay feedback score is preserved and your eBay business flourishes.



John Thornhill trades on eBay under the username planetsms and earns over $1000 per week on eBay on autopilot. To see how he does it visit his eBay store at http://stores.ebay.com/PlanetSMS


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LG Versa: Style & Versatility

LG Versa: Style & Versatility by Sam Lee

When you first look at the LG Versa, some similarities to another popular LG touchscreen phone, the LG Dare, becomes a bit evident. However, besides the similarities in overall appearance the Versa VX9600 stands apart as a very competent offering in the touchscreen segment.

Customizing Looks: In the standard packing, the Versa has an attachable QWERTY keyboard and a built-in leather casing. However, if the user does not want the QWERTY's bulk then there is a very interesting option — it can be detached and the typing can still be carried out with the virtual keyboard that is available as a part of the touch screen. Similarly, the back cover can be replaced with the QWERTY's cover pad and the phone now has a slightly different looks. The cover is equipped with a impressive OLED display. The standard call/send/end quick buttons are conveniently located for improved user experience. Yes, many superficial similarities to the Dare are there but the Versa is a sleeker version of the two and its battery cover has a smart high-end texture wrapped around. Customizing the appearance of each home screen is easy and the gear icons lead you to easy-to-follow instructions displayed on a page, explaining the entire gamut of settings options. The keyboard attachment also boasts of faux leather on either sides and this gives the phone an executive touch.

Evaluating Features on Offer: For a change, the handwriting recognition software actually works and even if you scribble, the text is changed into proper fonts. Yes, there are some issues in differentiating between numbers and letters but then that is the case with most touchscreens in this category. It has a huge phone book memory up to 1000 contacts. Other useful applications include Text/Multimedia messaging, speakerphone and a tip calculator. The drawing pad is very intuitive and it assists you when trying to sketch small drawings. The 2 megapixel camera is below average considering the current market standards. It could have been better if LG has fitted a 5 megapixel at the very least. The GPS work with the VZ Navigator Subscription Service and the audio specs offer a built-in speaker and A2DP stereo along with a 2.5 mm stereo headphone jack. Memory expansion is offered in the form of an SDHC micro-SD card slot.

Verdict — The LG Versa is a combination of being a slightly executive-styled and a fun-themed phone. It is a bit different from the usual touch screens in the market and operating it is undemanding. It does make a strong case as a smart purchase and promises durability and performance.



For more LG phone reviews and recommendations, go to => http://www.cellular-deals.com/tag/lg-cell-phone/

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The Advantages of Solar Energy in Home Energy Bills

The Advantages of Solar Energy in Home Energy Bills by Shellaine Enfesta

There are so many advantages of solar energy in our home energy bills. You can really make a list of all the advantages but the main advantage is that it gives you saving on your home bills. Another big factor is that you are helping the environment. Some of these devices are in the forms of panels that generate the power and turn it into energy power. The first major advantage is that these panels should last around 20 years or longer, in fact many manufacturers offer guarantees of 20 years or longer.

Depending on what solar power for residential homes are chosen, the initial investment can range from about $2,000 for a do it yourself home water heating system to much higher for systems that store power in batteries for use for heating, cooling, cooking and lighting as well as hot water. The United States Department of Energy has estimated that in a 100 square mile area in the southwest of the United States receives in on day the total amount of electricity consumed in the daily in the United States. For most of us this is not a reality. High prices for gasoline and home heating oil are here to stay.

Natural resources are not renewable forms of energy this means that many of them are already becoming more and more expensive. The energy in sunlight striking the earth for 40 minutes is equivalent to global energy consumption for a year. It is also compatible with cell phones and other portable electronic devices. Solar energy makes use of the sun's energy. Its unique fan blade design allows it to achieve maximum solar area when in use, and to fold compactly to the size of an average mobile phone when stored.

The storage system is usually created from batteries, not unlike those used in vehicles. Scheer said, the grid owners are the owners of the conventional power companies, and it is normal that they want to give priority to their own production and even block the entry of renewables. Because a system that is not properly installed will not pass inspection by local officials and has the potential to cause a fire, this is a job for a skilled person that is well versed in the engineering involved in home electrical systems. If the area your house is built in gets enough sunlight then it should be possible to run most appliances. This would not only mean that solar power would be saving the environment but also saving people's lives. The surge of interest in the payment system is a recognition that despite generous state and federal incentives, the United States still lags far behind Europe in solar power.

In Gainesville, the new policy has already sparked a rush to put up panels. We project that this energy could be sold to consumers at rates equivalent to todays rates for conventional power sources, about five cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh). The decay of vegetation along the riverbed can cause the buildup of methane. There are even designs that can be found that use empty aluminum cans, such as beer and soft drink cans, and old sliding glass doors to create a perfectly functional system at very low cost.

Why should we use regressive taxation to support the most expensive form of renewable energy? In the past few years the cost to produce photovoltaic cells and modules has dropped significantly, opening the way for large-scale deployment.



Get The Facts About Solar Energy and learn more about Renewable Energy as Well as Solar Energy For an Efficient Home Energy Saving go to EfficientHomeEnergySaving.org

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Public Speaking - How to Speak With Confidence

Public Speaking - How to Speak With Confidence by Edward Hope

Most people experience "nerves" when they speak in public. Both skilled public speakers and novice speakers experience this anxiety. The difference is in how they use it when they present because of the actions they take and their attitude towards it.

The way to speak with confidence is:

1. Preparation

Careful preparation naturally leads to self-confidence. This involves researching your topic thoroughly so you can build your expertise in it. When a selecting a topic it helps greatly if you are interested in it because when you stand up to speak to a group you are merely expanding the conversation you will have had previously. Once you have researched the topic the next step is to organize, outline and write the speech. When beginning in public speaking, it is advisable to write your speech out in full, so you get a fully thought through speech. Keep the sentences short. Use spoken language rather than written language especially if you are considering reading your speech. (Note it is difficult to convey confidence when reading a speech).

2. Practice

Thorough practice builds confidence. The more familiar you are with your speech the better armed and confident you will be in delivering your speech. The number of times required to run through your speech will depend on the nature of the speech and the natural skills of the speaker. The practice speech delivery should include presenting in front of friends and family. If possible have a dry run at the venue will help you get used to the actual circumstances of the delivery.

3. Performance

When it is your time to present, keep a confident expression on your face and walk purposefully to where you will present from. Stand firmly on both feet placed slightly apart and stand up straight (don't lock your knees). This gives over an air of confidence. Pause and take a few deep breaths and smile (but not like a Cheshire Cat) to settle your nerves. A smile is contagious and also conveys confidence. Be natural, move and speak like you would in normal conversation. This includes looking at your audience. Looking down or away from your audience can be interpreted as "nerves" or lack of preparation. The more often you speak in public or to groups the easier it becomes and the more confident you become. 4. Self Talk

Talk to yourself in a positive way. Keep focussed on the success of the talk rather than what could go wrong. Just before you go on to speak, really go overboard on the positive self talk so you are bursting with "positivity" when you speak.

Experienced speakers can still have "nerves" before they speak. They see this as a spur to give the best speech they can. Others see it as excitement. The same feelings are experienced but a different attitude towards them makes a big difference.

Speaking with confidence comes from exercising a little courage. Many talents are denied the world because it is not exercised. The forest would lack much music if only the birds that sang were the ones with the best voice.

Persistently speaking in front of groups builds confidence. It is by consistently practice and doing, that public speaking is improved. By taking the first step and realizing that the key to success is in your own hands the first "bud" of confidence appears. With proper care and attention the "bud" is developed so that you become more effective and speak with confidence.



Discover how to speak with confidence in public speaking and conversation with "The Art of Great Conversation." To claim your free preview visit http://www.SelfConfidentSpeaking.com

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Bing Vs. Search Engines : A New War About to Heat Up

Bing Vs. Search Engines : A New War About to Heat Up by JimK.

Microsoft launched Bing at the beginning of the month, after a lengthy development period and months of internal testing. And with the unveiling of Microsoft's new search engine “Bing”, the battle in the field of search engine has heated up. For Microsoft it is not just about reinventing its search engine, but also about delivering a new consumer brand. The search engine is pretty different in respect of user experience.

Bing is all about the users preferences. It is build with a deep understanding of how people really want to use the Web. Bing is an important first step forward in our long-term effort to deliver innovations in search that enable people to find information quickly and use the information they’ve found to accomplish tasks and make smart decisions. Usually search engines do a decent job of helping people navigate the Web and find information, but they are unable to let them use the information they find. And now Bing is here to solve all these problems. Bing yields more relevant and more up-to-date search results.

Bing is not just about reinventing a search engine but it also promise a new brand in the market. Microsoft has acknowledged repeatedly that Live Search suffered from a branding perspective, and Bing is the answer.

Bing is positioned as a filter for the information overload users have to navigate with traditional search engines. Bing aims for an increased relevancy, a new way to organize search results, task simplification and greater insight.

It is a story of déjà vu all over again. Reinventing the search engine is an attempt to make some progress in the search engine wars. The question is whether Bing will actually end up making any difference?

The challengers in the field of battle plays out as follows. Google controls a gigantic chunk of it and is looking dangerously aggressive regarding those parts it does not control. Microsoft controls a very small section of the field, but has hordes of ammunition [cash] and is looking for a way to use it. Yahoo has its own section, but is under siege and appears ripe for the taking. This leaves Microsoft and Google as the two main predators.

The biggest thing about Bing is the new search parameters. Microsoft has actually tried to create a new niche search approach. The Bing search function is tailored to four verticals to enhance the search results. They include the buying decision, finding local businesses, making health decisions and planning trips. Put another way, the engine is designed to emphasize product purchases, health, local businesses and travel, which just happen to be four of the bigger niches on the web.

Google has always relied on the pillar of its search engine. Generally, Google is viewed as the best when it comes to producing quality results. Although the last Microsoft search engine, wasn't terrific, but with Bing, it hopes to change that.

Whether users will end up binging over googling will confirm or deny the relevance of Microsoft's efforts in search. Both the tools proves that the user experience for both searchengines is different, in many ways. Fact is Bing is hard on changing everything, and the Search Wars are heating up. Think on this.





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Everything You've Ever Wanted to Know About Perennial Herbs

Everything You've Ever Wanted to Know About Perennial Herbs by Mark Perlik

By definition, a perennial plant is one that lives for more than two years. In contrast, an annual plant germinates, flowers, and dies in one year. This article is about herbaceous plants, which are perennials. Woody plants such as shrubs and trees are also considered perennials.

Perennials grow and bloom during spring & summer. They die back during the autumn and winter, returning in spring from root stock rather than seeding as an annual plant does. So, you don't have to re-plant perennials each year because they come back by themselves. In harsher climates, many perennial herbs are treated as annuals, because they cannot survive the winter outside of their natural environment.

Perennial herbs originated from and grow best in temperate climates, which are the regions between the tropics and polar circles. Flavor comes from oil in the cell walls of the plant. Spices, on the other hand, come from tropical climates.

Perennial plants have stems that die at the end of the growing season. Parts of the plant survive under or close to the ground from season to season. New growth emerges from tissues on or under the ground such as roots, caudex (a thickened part of the stem found at ground level) or from various underground stems: bulbs, corms, stolons, rhizomes and tubers.

It is recommended to start most perennial herbs from young plants. Should you choose purchase seeds, be sure to get the best quality organic seeds. I personally like getting seeds from a source that also sells medicinal herb plants and seeds because I feel that they are more caring about the quality of their plants.

Here is a short list of perennial herbs that I like and recommend:

Echinacea- Used to prevent common colds medicinally, this plant has large, showy flowers that bloom from early to late summer.

Sage- Evergreen, with woody stems, grayish leaves, and blue to purplish flowers. A member of the mint family. Native to the Mediterranean. Has medicinal and culinary uses.

Lavender- Also a member of the Mint family, with medicinal and culinary uses. Native to the Mediterranean region south to tropical Africa and to the southeast regions of India

Thyme- A good source of iron. Often used to flavor meats, soups and stews

Sweet Marjoram- Sweet pine and citrus flavors. Indigenous to the Mediterranean area. Known to the Greeks and Romans as a symbol of happiness.

Chives- A member of the onion and garlic family, like a tiny green onion, cylindrical, hollow stems with flowers on top.

Mint- Aromatic, cooling. Good for digestion. A genus of 25 species, and many hundreds of varieties, of the Mint family. Must be grown in pots or contained in a garden due to its invasive nature.

Oregano- Widely used in Greek and Italian cuisine. Often used in tomato sauces, with fried vegetables, and grilled meat. Along with Basil, it is used in many Italian dishes.

Savory- Aromatic. Related to Rosemary and Thyme. Used mainly for seasoning game meats and in stews. Also good for seasoning beans.

Lemon Balm- Related to Mint. The leaves have a gentle lemon scent. At the end of the summer, small white flowers full of nectar appear, which attract bees. Has several interesting culinary and medicinal uses.

There are many others. You can easily find more information by searching online, or check out some of the herb books that I recommend on my website.



Mark Perlik loves herbs and all of their medicinal and culinary uses. He is a licensed acupuncturist in California. He has developed http://mygrowingherbs.com to help others find information and resources about growing their own herbs at home.


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