Saturday, July 10, 2010

E-cards with a Difference

Sam Desilwa

E-cards have been around for a number of years now, and for many people they offer a great alternative to traditional greeting cards: it’s much easier to personalize an e-card with your own message or images, plus you don’t need to rely on the postal service (especially important if you’re sending the greeting abroad). On top of all this you’re saving the trees by sending your greeting cards electronically!

The downside, of course, is that your recipient might feel that e-cards require less thought and effort than a paper version. After all, you don’t need to go to the shops and choose your e-card, nor do you have to purchase a stamp and pop it in the post box; everything can be sorted out while you’re in front of the computer.

But like all technologies, electronic greetings cards have evolved quickly over the last few years and there are some really unique versions available: the best online companies offer interactive cards, personalised cards, musical cards, or even a combination of all of the above. So if you’re prepared to put some time and thought into your selection, you can find an e-card that will impress even the most die-hard supporter of hand written messages.

First off, forget the traditional e-card providers where the recipient simply receives a static e-mail with a birthday message written on. Look for something quirky and well-designed that you can personalize as much as you like, from the message to the image to the music (a musical greeting is far more surprising and engaging than a silent version).

Secondly, you need to make sure that your recipient will actually open their card – some people check their inboxes more frequently than others after all. A sure fire way to do this is to find a company like Card Cube, where a text is sent to inform the recipient that their greeting card is waiting for them. This is a really clever idea which not only ensures that your message will be seen on the correct day, but it also builds anticipation – who is the card from and what does it say?

It’s also important to find a company with a really wide selection of designs and formats. It goes without saying that the wider range of choice you have, the more likely your card will both surprise and delight your recipient, and they’ll feel you’ve chosen something uniquely for them. For instance, if you have a puzzle loving friend you could hunt down an interactive e-card that doubles up as a jigsaw, allowing them to put the pieces together to get their message.

Finally, it’s worth pointing out that e-cards are not only useful for birthdays, Christmas and other traditional occasions: they can be a really thoughtful way of marking alternative celebrations where you might not usually consider sending a card. From pregnancies to driving tests, if you know somebody who is celebrating something and they’re not really expecting to receive greeting cards, why not surprise them with an electronic message? With a little effort they are convenient, thoughtful and fun.

Helpful Tips for Caring for Your Wedding Dress

Henray Mazza

If you’ve just purchased a bridal gown, or you’re almost ready to make your big buy, there are a few key components of wedding dress care that you need to know about. Considering what a big investment your dream dress can be, it’s well worth a little time and effort to keep your grown looking just as new and stunning as it was the day you took it home.

So much time and planning goes in to finding the ideal dress. And granted, you’ll most likely wear it only once in your life. But it’s never the less one of the most cherished and sentimental garments you’ll ever own. Luckily, it’s relatively simple to keep your dress looking absolutely beautiful for generations. Here are some helpful tips for storing, hanging and cleaning your beautiful new bridal gown.

Hanging Your Wedding Dress

In most cases, the materials that your wedding dress is made of aren’t designed with strength and durability in mind. A wedding dress is one of the most apt examples of form over function. So in order to avoid unsightly, and perhaps costly, rips, tears and snags, it’s very important to take special precautions when hanging your dress. It’s not a good idea to hang your dress on a conventional hanger, like other garments.

How awful would it be to hang your stunning gown on a conventional hanger and find it torn and damaged after only a few days. Substantial embellishments, bead work and other appliqués can lend a gown considerable weight – causing it to potentially tear near the hanger. To avoid this issue, most dresses have small loops of fabric sewn into the interior for easy hanging. Be sure to use these loops to prevent any damage. Also, you may want to use padded hangers to avoid catching the fabric and risking a tear.

Wedding Dress Cleaning

Of course, your wedding dress needs to be dry cleaned. No sane bride would simply toss it in the wash. But it’s important to carefully select the right dry cleaner. Certain facilities are well accustomed to the delicacy of a high end wedding dress, while others are decidedly not. Speak to your dry cleaner and find out if they do their work onsite, or have it shipped to a separate facility.

If your dress is not handled gently during transit, it could risk being damaged. Additionally, make sure your dry cleaner will do all work by hand, rather than using an automated system. Be as selective as possible when choosing your dry cleaner. Just remember how much time and money you’ve put into this precious dress. You don’t want to leave it in the wrong hands.

Wedding Dress Repairs

It’s equally important to be selective about choosing a tailor or seamstress who is familiar with the intricate construction and detailing of a fine wedding dress. You want someone who’s experienced and skilled. Again, take the time to speak to your tailor and ask plenty of questions. You’ll have plenty of services to choose from, so you can certainly afford to be highly selective.

Preparing Your Wedding Dress for Storage

It’s important for your wedding dress to be in mint condition before it’s stored. On a clean, well lit surface, examine the dress to check for tears, holes, stains discoloration or any other signs of damage. Make sure all seams, beading and detail work is secure. Before placing your dress in storage, take care of all repairs, and allow it to hang for about a day or two after being cleaned. Otherwise, residual chemicals from dry cleaning could damage the dress.

Storing Your Wedding Dress

While it may seem like the easiest and most convenient option, don’t keep your bridal gown in a plastic bag or container. Over time, the plastic could potentially leach chemicals that might discolor white fabric, turning it an unsightly shade of yellow. Plastic can also wreak havoc on delicate embellishments, causing them to become hard or brittle.

Instead, delicately fold the bridal gown and put it in a museum-quality, acid-free storage box; these are available specifically as wedding dress or bridal gown storage chests. Wrap your dress fabric or acid-free tissue to protect it from the rough cardboard or paperboard of the storage box. Keep the storage box in a dry, cool place where temperature and humidity are relatively constant. Basements and attics are not advised.

Regardless of whether you’d like to treasure your dress as a memorable keepsake, or possibly hand it down to future generations, it’s important to keep your wedding dress looking brand new. With these simple steps and care tips, it’s easier than ever to do just that.

Three basic types of diamond bracelet

Kendoabate

A diamond bracelet is an elegant piece of jewelry that encircles the wrist and emits the glint and sparkle that only diamonds can. There are three basic types of diamond bracelets all of which come in variety of styles and can be made from a selection of materials.

The traditional diamond line bracelet was reborn as the diamond tennis bracelet when a bracelet worn by Chris Evert at the 1987 U.S. Open Championship broke and play had to be suspended while she gathered her diamonds from the court. Diamond tennis bracelets are usually made from gold or platinum and feature lines or a symmetrical pattern of diamonds often interspersed with other gems like sapphire or ruby.

A diamond bangle bracelet consists of one or more rigid hoops that are slightly larger than the wrist and normally made of precious metals like gold, white gold or sterling silver. It is not uncommon for there to be two or more loops making up the bangle bracelet. Small diamonds are set into the hoops or supported on links between them.

The diamond charm bracelet starts out as a normal a link bracelet on which small pendants or trinkets can be hung. The charms are gifts or small items that have special meaning to the person wearing the bracelet and are usually collected over many years often beginning in childhood. The diamonds in a diamond charm bracelet can be set in the charms or into the links of the bracelet. Either way, the sparkle of diamonds adds to the attraction of this collection of mementos.

Enlighten yourself with ancient history of jewelries

Diana

Jewelries have played an important role in human life ever since they came into being. Jewelries have a long history and eventually they have become an important part of or attire. Your attire is considered to be “incomplete” in the absence of perfect and matching jewelry. Hence it is important to wear jewelries as such they should complement to your dress and enhance your personality. Jewelries can be of varied types. They can be bracelets which can be easily worn with any casual or formal dress or can be rings such as Cubic zirconia rings which can be your best mate in any party or casual purpose without affecting your budget at all.

There are various metals that are used in jewelries which have their own impact. Every metal symbolizes a different feel and also depicts your personality. There are metals like diamonds which leave a rich impact of your personality and at the same time there are metals such as silver and gold which are classic and loved by all. Many a times people are not affluent enough to spend their hard earned money on costly jewelries however everyone wishes to have the best pair. In such condition you are not required to worry anymore as you have the wondrous option of Cubic zirconia jewelry.

This metal can prove to be your savior as it doesn’t cost much as also at the same time looks trendy enough. You can simply buy a pair of earrings or bracelets or a beautiful necklace made of this metal and flaunt your beauty among your pals. This metal promises to enhance your personality and will fill your with confidence as you know you are looking gorgeous. The beauty of this metal is that it does not require high maintenance and you can easily clean the piece whenever you feel it is high time.

Reasons why you should have diamond bracelets

Kendoabate

A diamond bracelet, whether it is the type known as a tennis bracelet, an eternity bracelet, an infinity bracelet or a traditional diamond line bracelet, is a terrific fashion accessory that looks great worn with anything from a swimsuit to an evening gown. You can go for the simple elegance of a thin gold or platinum band with pave set diamonds or for the sparkling glamour of alternating channel and bezel set diamonds on white gold. Whatever your choice, the bracelet can be worn by itself or as part of a matching set with a diamond necklace and earrings.

The stones set in diamond bracelets are generally smaller and of lower quality than those selected for rings, pendants or earrings but a luxuriant bracelet featuring quality stones will still cost thousands if not tens of thousands of dollars. Fortunately, there are plenty of stunning designs to be had for only a few hundred dollars. Obviously the quality and quantity of the diamonds will be a major determinant of the price but the type of precious metal used and intricacy of the design are also important.

As the popularity of diamond tennis bracelets bloomed in the late 1980’s, so did the available range of designs and settings. A wider range of gemstones is being used for bracelets nowadays and not even all of the diamond bracelets are made with diamonds alone. In-line and link bracelets combining diamonds with rubies, emeralds, sapphires, onyx, amethyst and other birthstones make memorable birthday gifts. Men are also choosing diamond bracelets to complete their outfits and of course the thinner designs can be worn as ankle bracelets.

Tips to buy Clothes online

Syed Mutajib

Each and every human being on this earth have to wear clothes. People wear Clothes to aid their bodies from heat, rain, cold and all other weather conditions.
But now Clothes have become the sign of dignity, status, and well educated. As it is a very well saying that "A man is known by the way he dress".
Thus for different people around the world, Clothes have become the crucial part of the life.
Fashion clothing has become the interesting part of the life. People are now addicted in buying a wide variety of Fashion Clothes.

Now the Question is which is the best method for buying clothes?

You like to buy clothes but you disfavor the idea of reaching the Mall, wondering here and there for your choice, inquiring about the price, and stand in a queue near the dressing room and finally standing in a line for billing. Isn’t it?
So now the people have acclimated their buying the best method which is online buying.
The only thing you have to do is that you should just give the title of the Apparel you are buying, and then the result is a wide variety of clothes appearing. No worry of visiting the mall, standing in a queue near the dressing room etc.
The advantage of online shopping is that you will find a great variety of clothes available, complete details like Price, Made in, cloth, size and Payment type. You will now have the benefit of buying your best choice from your home with in a fraction of seconds.

Here there are some advices for online buying

Make sure to give the exact size of your Apparel, it will need a painful few minutes with a measuring tape, but the result is worth.
Before giving for payment make sure to read all the terms and conditions and privacy policies.
Most buyers like paying with credit cars, as the services it provides.
Keep your Payment options safe; disclosing your financial and personal information will be costly.
Most of the online sellers are honest but it will take a few seconds to put your payment at risk. So it is always recommended to make your Payment type secure.
Buy from whom you know and whom you trust.
If you are new to any online store, check for encrypted sites this is more advisable.
Don’t tell your security social number or bank information as branded sites won’t ask for this.
Qatar Classifieds
Classified Ads

Six High Fashion Wedding Dresses for Modern Brides

Henray Mazza

If you’re planning a wedding, then maybe you have had this dream.

You’re standing at the chapel doors, waiting for your moment to begin walking down the aisle on your wedding day. Looking through the small windows on the doors, you can see all of the people who have chosen to celebrate your nuptials with you. You see your handsome groom and his groomsmen take their places near the preacher at the front of the church.

Suddenly, you hear those first few notes of “Here Comes the Bride” being played on the pipe organ, and you see all of your guests standing up. The chapel doors open, and you begin your long-awaited stroll toward the altar. Your veil is in place, your flowers are in your hands, and you are clad in a wedding dress that was voted “Most Beautiful Bridal Gown… of 1975?”


You see the looks on the faces of your guests turn from anticipation to horror. A few snickers are heard, which gradually build toward full-fledged laughter. Your bridesmaids cover their faces, and your husband-to-be lets his mouth fall wide open. And as you look down to see the aged relic that adorns your body, you wonder how you could have made such a gaudy, fashion-backward choice for your wedding dress…

And then you wake up (maybe in a cold sweat).

The good news is that there are so many gorgeous and contemporary bridal dress choices that you don’t have to worry about committing a fashion faux pas on your wedding day. When you know which features, cuts and silhouettes to look for, it can be surprisingly easy to find an entirely modern wedding dress. Here are six high fashion wedding dresses which are ideal for today’s modern bride:

Neely by Vineyard

This regal dress was featured in Martha Stewart’s Weddings magazine in the Winter 2010 issue. The quintessential modern empire dress is spun from rich silk taffeta and features a satin neckline which attaches to spaghetti straps that are removable. The shimmering empire bodice makes it one of the most refined high-waisted dresses you can buy.

Jules by Vineyard

This gown is for the woman who prides herself on wearing the chicest outfit in any room she is in. The ensemble begins with a cotton and silk faille material which is molded into a short-sleeve fit-to-flare shirt dress. But the two most distinctive features on this gown are the oversized upturned collar at the neckline and the ultra-fashionable bow sash at the waist.

Laeticia by Melissa Sweet

Some adjectives to describe this dress include “Eco-Goddess,” “Fairy Queen,” and “whimsically beautiful.” The English net strapless gown has a full sweeping skirt which is embellished with hand-cut lace flowers that are scattered all over the garment. It’s finished with a delicate rushed bustline and a matching floor-length veil.

Uma by Melissa Sweet

Think of this dress as a 21st-century version of the classic strapless bridal gown. Made of lovely silk organza, this dress features a unique diagonally-draped bodice with a floral accent at the neckline and a matching veil. The long flared skirt draws the eye because of the fabric petals which decorate it.

Capri by Reverie

If you want to show off your figure, this form-fitting yet elegant dress is a perfect choice. The sleek silk chiffon dress hugs your body from your bodice all the way down to your skirt – which is ornamented with chiffon flowers and ribbons. But the other distinguishing characteristics of this outfit are the two tip-of-the-shoulder straps with graceful floral accents that form a V-neckline in the front and a deep V-backline in the back.

Amalfi by Reverie

This dress is not only modern – it’s also sassy and sexy! Perfect for the bride who has fantastic legs and loves to show them off, this above-the-knee dress features a net skirt which flares at the waist. The bodice sports a fabulous floral layout, while spaghetti straps adorn the shoulders and attach to the deep V-back neckline.

All of these dresses can be custom fit to your unique measurements. That’s the beauty of couture wedding attire. These unique pieces can be custom tailored just for you, resulting in an unforgettable bridal look that truly reflects your personality and style.

You are constantly seeking out the latest styles and fashions for your everyday clothes – so why do anything different when it comes to your wedding dress? Discover this amazing collection of the cutting-edge trends in bridal wear. But be warned: when you sachet down the aisle on your wedding day, people may mistake you for a supermodel working the runway!

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Factors to consider when choosing where to locate a new tattoo


Eric Stevens

Choosing a site on the body to ink a tattoo is one of the two biggest choices that people planning a new tattoo have to make. It is crucial to consider that each area of the body has its own set of unique characteristics, and that these characteristics need to contemplated before a final decision is made. This article focuses on the most fundamental factors to think about when planning where on the body to ink a new tattoo.

Different body areas present unique canvas sizes for tattooing. I therefore recommend that tattoo enthusiasts carefully deliberate the design as well as where it is to be inked. If, for example, you plan to have a big tattoo inked, you will need to pick a body area that provides a large enough canvas size. The back, chest, arms, and legs provide the biggest areas for inking tattoos, while small tattoos can be sited pretty much anywhere. Some areas of the body, the wrist for example, are only suitable for inking the smallest tattoo designs. Neck tattoos are also limited to small sizes due to the restrictions imposed by the small canvas size of the neck area. Tattoos sited on the neck can however be extended down the shoulder and back if desired. Other body areas are large enough for big designs, but people most commonly ink small designs on them. For example, the stomach is a relatively large body area, but belly button tattoos are usually comparatively small in size.

Another hugely important factor to deliberate is the ease with which your tattoo can be concealed, or shown off. many people planning a new tattoo have employers that enforce a strict no tattoo policy. It is consequently important for many people to be able to easily cover up their tattoos while at work. On the flip side, some tattoo enthusiasts choose to be able to show off their tattoo, prefering to ink body sites that are more exposed.

Pain is another important factor for many tattoo enthusiasts. The pain associated with getting a tattoo varies depending on the body area being tattooed. Generally speaking, fleshy areas such as the calf tend to be less painful to tattoo than very bony areas such as the ankle. Another essential aspect to deliberate is the size of the design. Big and complex tattoo designs take longer to tattoo than smaller designs, the result being that the associated pain has to be endured for a longer period of time.

As there are such a vast number of options for siting a new tattoo, I highly advise that people planning a new tattoo take thier time to think about what they really want. I suggest simultaneously thinking about the tattoo design itself, as well as where it will be inked, to make sure that the design and body area are compatible with each other. I also consider consulting with a reputable tattoo artist an essential part of planning where to ink a new tattoo. The most fundamental thing is to take your time making a decision. Remember, tattoos are permanent, and people who dont carefully plan thier tattoos often live to regret thier choices.

Diesel Watches:


Peter Farrar

Diesel watches are not known for subtlety. In fact, the Diesel brand is known for dominant watches with large faces, vibrant colours, and even digital numbers. What do you get from the Diesel brand other than power, though? You get a personalized statement of who you are.

With over 175 men's watches to choose from, there's bound to be something that speaks to you. Diesel is definitely a man's kind of sight, with heavy jewellery and massive watches in all shapes and colours. A man that would like the Diesel brand is some one that knows what they're looking for. Even if there was some uncertainty, browsing through what Diesel has to offer will surely help you come to a conclusion. Bright colours, angular faces, digital and analogue numbers, there are unlimited choices at Diesel.

Is there anything in it for the ladies, though? Women will find Diesel to be a great supplier of both jewellery and watches just as they are for men. Diesel's line of jewellery for women is feminine, flirty, sexy, and classy all at the same time. Diesel watches for ladies include the same bold and chunky style you find in the men's versions along with slim, daintier styles. White straps make for a clean, more classic look than what you would find in the men's section. With only just over 45 styles, however, the Diesel brand seems to be geared more towards the masculine side of the world.

Diesel also features unisex watches which can be worn by men or women without any preference. These unisex watches are normally included in with the ladies styles, so you sort of have to pick them out yourself. Any Diesel rep could also tell you what watches could go for either gender.

Aside from watches, Diesel features jewellery for both men and women. While their jewellery speaks well to both men and women, Diesel is better known for their watches. Over 60 items to choose from for men and just over 45 for women, many of these pieces are emblazoned with the Diesel brand, so you really have to love it. While there is more variety without the Diesel name for women, there is no shortage of materials for men with leather and stainless steel.

Diesel accessories for men include: bracelets, dog tags, rings, and watches; whereas women's accessories are slightly more expanded with rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets and watches. The increased selection for men makes up for the slight lack of selection in some cases.

A last look at the Diesel brand leaves a person with big, bold jewellery and watches that are only good on some one who knows how to handle big pieces. While there are some options for women that aren't so chunky, the majority of the selection still focuses on Diesel's signature style mentioned above. The main idea behind the Diesel brand is to exude power through accessories, which are normally meant to be complimentary to a person's style. A quick look at women's watches give a good variety of colour and style, whether your preference is big or more feminine and dainty; men's watches are big, bold, and classic in style with some new trends coming in that haven't been seen much yet.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

The Man with The Magic Bat

Stuart Larner

Despite all the work he had done for the Scoving Village Cricket Club, Jeremy Downing was still regarded as nothing more than a menial slave by some of the long-serving players.

For instance, during the spring, he had spent all his spare evenings painting the sightscreen and had hardly received a thank-you in return. There had only been the captain, Jake, who had shown any recognition of his contribution, and that was by a perfunctory “Thank you Jeremy”. The other players, especially Sykes, Fowler and Jones, were all too preoccupied and insecure about their own positions to encourage other team members.

On another occasion last season Jake had said “Sykes’ brother-in-law can get me some cheap paint for the lounge and I want to keep him sweet by giving him a game. Can you step down this week please, Jeremy?”

Jeremy was furious. True that Jeremy wasn’t a good player, but how could the captain draft in someone else who had never played cricket before, who had no skills, and was not even a member of the club? And all just to save a few pounds on some cheap paint. Jeremy bit his lip to keep quiet for fear of losing his long-term position in the club.

Today, Scoving was at home to Haysham on an extremely hot summer’s day. Scoving fielded in the heat of the afternoon and Jeremy was run ragged for over two hours.

Just as the players were struggling in for a very welcome tea, Jake said to Jeremy “We’ve got to have an emergency committee meeting during the tea interval. So can you please do us a favour and sweep the pitch and remake the creases? Oh, and can you put the roller on it as well? Thanks.”

During his labours Jeremy saw Sykes and Jones relaxing in deckchairs, sipping tea and eating cake.

“So that’s what the committee meeting is all about,” thought Jeremy as the colour rose in his cheeks. “Ha, I’ll know next time.” He brushed angrily at the bowler’s delivery footmarks. Biting his lip, he made no comment for fear of being left out next week.

Sykes came over to Jeremy at the end of the tea interval when Jeremy was sweating single-handedly with the roller.

“We need you to open the innings because the rest of the team has to discuss tactics,” Sykes said. “You can get your tea when you come back after you’ve had a bat. They’ve got a fast bowler on and we need to send somebody in to weather the storm for the first few overs until he gets tired. So when you’ve finished here you can get your pads on.”

Jeremy had time for only a quick swig of water before he went out to bat. He was exhausted when he arrived at the crease.

The first ball came down and Jeremy didn’t see it at all. It whizzed past his nose.

The second ball bounced over his back, but the third ball was the problem. He saw it leave the bowler’s hand and his eyes followed it down onto the ground, but he lost it and then suddenly saw it grow in tremendous size as it reared up straight for his left temple. There was a dull thwack and Jeremy’s legs collapsed under him. As he fell to the ground a terrible gout of pain locked his head in a vice-like grip and he passed out.

When he came to he saw a white ceiling and a line of coat hooks on a blue boarding on the wall. He realised that he was lying on his back in the changing room where his teammates had dumped him.

A head appeared round the door. It was Jake. He appeared unusually supportive. “How are you Jeremy, are you a bit better?”

Jeremy could only mutter, barely able to focus.

“We’re doing badly,” Jake knelt down and confided. “All due to that one bowler who’s got most of us out whilst you were asleep. There’s only Sykes that can play him. It just needs somebody to stay at the other end for a while whilst Sykes knocks them off. I mean, you weren’t out you know. You can’t be caught off your head.”

Jake took a groan from Jeremy as a grunt of agreement and returned outside.

Jeremy sat up and looked around the room. He still had his pads on exactly as at the moment the ball had hit, but he couldn’t see his bat.

Staggering to his feet, he popped his head out of the doorway onto the veranda.

“I’m looking for my bat. Have you seen my bat?” Jeremy muttered, screwing up his eyes from the outside sunlight.



“No. Never mind, “ Jake said. “Just use one of the club spares. In the equipment cupboard - there might be one there amongst all that old netting and poles from last year.”



Jeremy looked around the room. A shaft of sunlight had now penetrated through the frosted side windows and standing up in a corner bathed in light was a glistening bat. It certainly did not look like any of the old spares. It shone so brilliantly that he couldn’t believe he hadn’t seen it a few moments ago.

A shiver of excitement coursed through his body. Holding the bat revitalised his senses. His sight was now so acute that he could see every detail in the grain in the wooden bench round the musty changing room wall. He wafted the bat and went through a few preliminary strokes. Though the bat was very light it seemed to pull his arms and body into perfect textbook positions. It was as though the bat had a mind and power of its own.

At that moment there was a shout from the veranda.

“Oh no! That’s it! He’s out. Right then, Jeremy. Are you ready? You’re in.”

In contrast to his usual trepidation, Jeremy strode out calmly with the bat. His only concern was that someone would shout out “Hey! Where are you going with that? That’s my bat!” But no one did, for Jeremy was careful to hide the bat in front of him while he walked down the pavilion steps and out to the middle of the field.

He faced the first ball. His usual instinctive reaction was to back away towards leg and to lift his bat up at a skew-whiff angle. But he strangely found it impossible to do. For in that split second his left foot was placed by some unseen power down the line of the ball to meet it at its pitch as his bat was lifted in an exact backswing. Then, at the moment when the ball was virtually on him the pressure on the bat was suddenly released and the bat swung through an authoritative stroke with tremendous acceleration. There was a soft splat as he saw the ball speed off the bat face. The bowler fell over backwards as he tried to dive for the ball, but pulled his hand away as he realised it was travelling ferociously. A split second later it crashed into the sightscreen on the boundary.

Behind him he heard Jake from the pavilion shout “Well done, Jeremy!”

The bowler’s expression changed to disgust as he took the retrieved ball from a fielder and stomped angrily back to his mark.

Jeremy was more surprised than anyone. He lifted the bat up to look at the blade. It was unblemished even though it had hit the ball like a rocket. The sunlight caught on the blade and bathed his face in light.

Jeremy was wrenched out of his enchantment by the wicket keeper behind him shouting in a gruff voice and clapping his gloved hands together “Come on, lads, now then, concentrate. He can’t do it twice. We’ll get him now.”

Jeremy resumed his stance and the bowler came running in again. As the ball was released he automatically attempted to move his bat at its customary skew-whiff angle, but once again the unseen force inside the bat resisted anything but the most classical textbook positioning. An irresistible force moved his right leg back and across and turned his body square-on so that he looked straight at the oncoming ball. Then, once again at the moment that the ball was almost on him, the bat suddenly released itself and came across in a rapid arc to hook it with perfect timing to the boundary.

The fielder on the mid-wicket boundary did not have time to move. The bowler was dumbstruck and the wicket keeper was silent for once.

Sykes, the other batsman, came down the pitch and muttered “Steady on, Jeremy, don’t let it go to your head.”

The rest of the over continued like this, each ball being despatched to the boundary as if by an unseen alien force in the bat that controlled the shot. Sykes took a single off the first ball of the next over which brought Jeremy to face the other bowler, and the brilliant strokeplay continued.

As he made his way triumphantly off the field at the end of the match, his team-mates applauded him.

“Well done Jeremy. I’m sure you’ll be certain of a place in the team every week. It’s up to others to stand down now,” Jake beamed and patted him on the back.

Sykes grunted. “I’d like to see it done regularly and not be a fluke before we reach that stage. Hah!”

“Now, now, Sykes. Give the lad his due,” Jake said presidentially. “I note you didn’t score many when Jeremy came to the wicket.”

Sykes scowled and grunted again, “Hah! We’ll see! How did he do it anyway?”

“I found this bat,” Jeremy said, holding it aloft and feeling that he had to do the right thing. By honestly owning up to the fact that it really wasn’t his, he secretly hoped that he would be allowed to keep it.

“Jeremy, you fool! That’s your own bat. You’ve had that all along,” Jake was mystified.

“No it isn’t. It’s new. I haven’t seen it before,” asserted Jeremy.

But no matter how much Jake protested and pointed out the features of the bat, Jeremy argued back for he was convinced that it was new.

The next week they had a return match at Haysham’s home ground. Again Jeremy batted brilliantly and so they were through to the finals at the County Ground.

By now he had been promoted to open the innings but in the minute before striding out to the crease at the County Ground he realised that he couldn’t find the bat. An intense fear came over him and he searched the changing room high and low and asked everyone if they had seen it. None had. Jake asked him if he could remember bringing it home with him from when they played Haysham last week. Jeremy had to admit he couldn’t remember precisely.

“Well then, they’ve had a midweek match since then and anyone could have it by now,” Jake said and offered to lend him his own bat. Jeremy grudgingly accepted it and after a cautious start the precision of the strokes was once again evident. Sometimes he made a beautifully crafted stroke like the touch of a feather, at other times a brutal cudgel that seemed it could break the ball apart. Then, at another time an effortless six hoisted high over midwicket.

The scoreboard clattered to victory and Jeremy was once again toasted in the changing room.

After the game, Sykes said loudly “Well Jeremy, I don’t know how you did it, but you’ve done it again – and with someone else’s bat, too. But I know where your bat is. One of the spectators has just given me this.”

He produced a newspaper cutting. Turning to the rest of the team he said, “ It’s in the blacksmith’s forge in Haysham.”

Jeremy took it over to the window to read, the sun illuminating the white page as he read.

“John Smith, the local Haysham blacksmith made history in an evening match on Wednesday this week when he hit the fastest double hundred ever, off seventy five balls. Every ball was hit with invariable precision to the boundary. The feat beats the previous record of Jeremy Downing who hit one hundred off fifty balls earlier this month. The record was even more remarkable because he had misplaced his own bat and was recovering from a cricketing injury at the time.”

Katrina Kaif: Most searched bollywood actress 2010


Nurit

Katrina Kaif, the hottest actress in Bollywood is now voted as the ‘Best actress’ by Bollywood Trends readers. Here are Katrina Kaif’s achievements. Beware; they can make the women green with envy and men pink with admiration.

Katrina Kaif is a gem for the Bollywood Industry. Her mother was British and Father was an Indian Kashmiri but she is very poor in Hindi. She has done lot of modeling assignments in London before coming into Hindi Film Industry. Her first modeling assignment was for a jewelry shop.
Although she is very poor in Hindi but look at her courage of doing films. She not only had done lot of Hindi movies but also few Telugu and Malayalam movies, and guesses what; she is not at all comfortable with any of these languages.
Her first hit Hindi movie was “Sarkar” but for her career the first hot was “Namaste London”. Now she is a very strong character for Indian film industry and she has won lot of awards like Zee Cine Awards in 2008, Breakthrough Performance Award by StarDust for year 2005/06.
That’s not all. She had won lot of awards in Hindi Film Industry. Some of them are Screen Awards (Entertainer of the Year) in year 2010, IIFA (International Indian Film Academy) Awards for Glamorous Diva of the Year in year 2008 and lot more. She was nominated 2 times for Best Actor (Female), 1 time for Negative Role, Star of the Year, Best Actress in supporting role, and Best Actress in leading role.
Her first movie was BOOM and was a big flop but Katrina proved her attitude and hard work in her two Telugu Movies ‘Malliswari’ and ‘Pidugu’. She was the first actress in South Indian Cinema who had got 70 Lakh (highest amount so far) in a debut.
Not she a shining star of Indian Cinema and brand ambassador of many famous brands like Lakme, Veet, Kodak, Samsung, Slice, Spice Mobiles. In year 2005 she was chosen as face of the year for Lakme Fashion week.
Google has announced that in 2009 the most searched celebrity of Indian cinema was Katrina Kaif.

Bollywood

Matt Rosenberg

The world's movie capital is not Hollywood but Bollywood. Bollywood is the nickname for the Indian film industry located in Bombay (now known as Mumbai, though Mollywood hasn't quite caught on.)
Indians are in love with movies, even though most films follow a similar format called masala (the word for a collection of spices). Movies are three to four hours long (and include an intermission), include dozens of songs and dances (featuring 100 or so choreographed dancers), top stars, the story between the songs of boy meets girl (without any kissing or sexual contact), lots of action (though no bloodshed), and always - a happy ending.

Fourteen million Indians go to the movies on a daily basis (about 1.4% of the population of 1 billion) and pay the equivalent to the average Indian's day's wages (US $1-3) to see any of the over 800 films churned out by Bollywood each year. That's more than double the number of feature films produced in the United States.

Although American-made films have been edging into India, only the blockbuster Titanic has ever made India's top five list. One hundred and fifty U.S. films arrived in India in 1998. However, Indian films have become somewhat of an international obsession.

Bollywood films are being shown in American and British theaters on a more and more frequent basis. These theaters have become community foci for the South Asian communities around the world. Though separated by a vast distance from home, South Asians have found Bollywood films to be a great way of staying in touch with their culture and their fellow South Asians.

Since India is a country of sixteen official languages and a total of twenty-four languages spoken by over a million people each, some portions of the film industry are fragmented. While Mumbai (Bollywood) leads India in film production, its specialty lies with Hindi movies. Chennai (formerly Madras) produces films in Tamil and Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) is the Bengali movie capital. Neighboring Pakistan's Lahore calls itself Lollywood.

Bollywood's film production center is a government-owned studio facility known as "Film City" in the northern suburbs of Mumbai. Bollywood traces its start to 1911 when the first silent Indian feature film was released by D.P. Phalke. The industry boomed and today there are over 250 theaters in Mumbai alone.

The stars of Bollywood are very popular and highly paid, considering the budget of the films. The lead star in a film often receives as much as 40% of the US $2 million budget for the typical masala film. Stars may be in such high demand that they're working on ten films at once. Photographs of Bollywood stars grace shop windows and homes throughout the country.

Providing three to four hours of escapism is the primary objective of Bollywood and it's a recipe done well. Indian movies are becoming more and more popular around the world so watch for them in theaters and video stores near you.

HOW CELEBS STAY YOUNG, 6 SECRETS

Dr. Grace Angel

1. AVOID EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL

Alcohol despite its bubbly pleasures causes dehydration and skin damage. "You may as well spend a week at the beach in the sun without sunscreen if you go to sleep after a drinking bender without properly protecting your skin," suggests a High School Musical diva.

Abusing alcohol will, over time, decrease the body's ability to produce collagen and reduces skin's firmness and elasticity, which will cause dry, sagging, wrinkled skin.

2. LIMIT YOUR EXPOSURE TO THE SUN

This is just good common sense. But if you cannot avoid it, use a quality high spf sun protectant. "I use spf 50 on my neck and face; however, I do recommend spf 35 on your body. Doing this protects my vulnerable skin, but allows me to develop a nice brownish tan everywhere else," suggests a former Mickey Mouse club member.

3. DON'T DRINK COFFEE

A natural diuretic, coffee causes the body to void needed liquids and amino acids. A "Lord-lovin" country music diva agrees, "Drinking too much coffee stains my teeth, gives me yucky coffee breath, and causes the little wrinkles around my eyes to look so horrible, like big nasty crow's feet."

4. EAT LOTS OF CITRUS AND VEGETABLES

Spinach and other leafy greens contains vast amounts of antioxidants that aid skin health. Citrus like oranges and grapefruit have vitamin C, which boosts the skin's production of collagen. And collagen production is essential to skin elasticity, firmness and prevents the onset of premature wrinkling.

5. DRINK 10 GLASSES OF WATER

According to a famous hotel-fortune heiress, "If I don't drink at least ten glasses of water everyday I notice that my skin looks dull, vapid, and gray."

6. USE A NIGHT TIME MOISTURIZER THAT CONTAINS RETINOL, VITAMIN C, & PEPTIDES

Using a night time moisturizer is the simplest yet most necessary part of your beauty routine. Choose a night cream with proven age-fighters like vitamin C, peptides, and retinol. These compounds applied at night will reduce the effect of aging and the environment on your skin. "Young men always approach me at clubs and at the gym thinking I'm 25. My night time moisturizer has allowed me to maintain my youthful skin. These boys obviously haven't seen my movies from the early 1980's and would never guess that I'm actually 45," chuckles a member of Hollywood's brat pack, who chose, astutely, to remain anonymous.

Monthly Flower Delivery

Shana Cornwell

Do you love flowers? Do you like to have fresh cut flowers around you? If you do, then joining a club that offers a monthly flower delivery would be excellent for you. Once a month, you will get a delivery of fresh cut flowers, and every month the flowers will be different. The flowers will match the seasons and can prove to be a great ornamental accent for your house.

Or perhaps you know someone that loves flowers. Then, why not get a membership for them? This is certainly a gift that may last the whole year long. Surprise them whenever they receive that first delivery of fresh cut flowers. This will definitely show them how much you care.

Several firms offer this service. To find the companies, all you've got to do is perform a search online. Use the keywords,'monthly flower delivery.' From here, there'll be all sorts of options that may pop up for you. To find additional information out about each service, visit the internet site.

This is truly a present that keeps on giving. If you move, you don't have to worry about it. You may have the delivery moved to your new address. There is not a entire lot of trouble to have this done, either. Basically, it is just a matter of calling and telling them to move the delivery to the new address.

You will receive quality, variety, and freshness with each delivery. The corporations that specialize in monthly flower deliveries know which flowers ship the best. So, the flowers that'll be shipped to you may still look attractive, smell beautiful, and will last for ages. They will not be wilted, or mashed. You will pay for quality and professional service, and that is what you will get.

To help your monthly flower delivery last longer, you will also receive care tips. The care tips will greatly improve the longevity of the flowers. One thing that you must look for whenever considering a company who offers a once per month flower delivery is to ask them when they cut their flowers previous to shipment. The longer that it has been since the flowers have been cut, the sooner the flowers will die. You'll want to discover a company that ships the flowers inside one day of their cutting. This may help ensure that you will enjoy the longest life possible that these flowers offer. Another way to help your bouquet last longer is to make sure that you follow the care instructions completely.

A once per month flower delivery can help to brighten up your life. You will get so you are forecasting the delivery every month just so you can see what type of flower you'll be getting and how beautiful the bouquet is.

A Quick Look At Satellite Tv To Pc

Audrey Hemingway

The television has always been man's favorite recreational gadget since it was first invented. There's just something really special with the television that makes it essential for any household.

You may notice that children turn on the television right after waking up and grown up rely on the television to put them to bed.

The invention of cable has further revolutionized the contribution of television in our daily lives. Cable TV has opened us up to the world of nonstop quality shows regardless of the time of the day.

The only disadvantage with cable is that monthly fees arrive like clockwork. If you combine the payments for a year's subscription, that can add up to a whole lot.

While I was googling on the internet, I stumbled on the Satellite TV to PC.

What I learned about the Satellite TV to PC is that it is a kind of software that allows its users to watch television channels in their very own PC. It works just like cable but it's on your computer.

The glaring benefit of the Satellite TV to PC is that you can totally forget about monthly cable fees. With the Satellite TV to PC, all you have to do is to purchase the software. You no longer have to worry about getting subsequent bills even if you watch television shows through the software nonstop.

On top of that, you can watch 3000 channels form countries worldwide. That means that you'll never run out of channels to choose from when you're awake late at night and you can't sleep. Channel surfing will never be the same again.

What you have to consider with the Satellite TV to PC is that the audio and video quality of the shows depend heavily on the hardware that is connected to your PC.

If you want to have sharper sounds, you might consider installing a more high tech sound system. It also works better if you have high speed internet connection. Having a broadband connection will ensure that you get quality images.

High Street Summer Fashion: Key Pieces For Your Wardrobe

Josef Kazan

With the approach of summer, it's all go-go-go in the fashion barracks, as fashionistas across the world rush to get to grips with the new season's trends. As a result, it can be a rather expensive period for anyone who likes to be on trend, specifically if you enjoy completely refreshing your wardrobe every season. To hold on to some of your hard earned cash this summer, why not search for the newest trends on the high street?

A look that's destined to be great this summer is the maxi dress. From elegant to laid-back, bold to understated, there's a maxi dress design available for everyone's taste, just waiting to fill up wardrobes across the world. If you like easy-to-wear, comfortable fashion, Boden has some great maxi dresses designed to be quick throw-on beach looks. Made in soft, stretchy fabrics, they also feature Boden's signature bold colours and classic patterns. For a shop with a huge variety of different styles, you should hunt down the ever popular Monsoon. They have lots of beachy cover-ups, as well as a fantastic range of evening maxi dresses in all shapes and forms, from boho, ethnic chic to classy, traditional styling.

When summer comes round, there are few women in the know who wouldn't be seen searching for the newest skirt trends. This year, head to New Look to find skirts of all shapes and sizes, inspired by the hottest 2010 catwalks. Whether you want a more casual, skater skirt or fancy trying the ruffles trend, this high street shop aims to cover all bases. Floral patterns, maxi designs, and tube skirts are but a few of the trends on offer which are bang on for summer 2010, and you can find them all for under $30.

A summer staple that comes around every year is swimwear, and it's one of the main arenas in which designers like to get creative. This summer, some styles that are hot off the catwalk include cut-away swimsuits and one-shoulder looks. If you want to pick up a cheaper cut-away style, high street shops like Topshop have a great range of different designs. One-shouldered swimsuits are an unusual way to rock the beach look, and can be found at bargain labels like J by Jasper Conran. An important thing to remember about swimwear, though, is to buy not just to follow the latest trends but moreover to suit your body shape. Magazines and blogs will be bombarding readers with advice on how to do just that in the coming months, so be sure to look out any useful guides.

Every summer, new trends flood the shops at a starling speed, so whilst it's nice to be in fashion don't forget to choose the looks that work for you. For those shoppers keen to be on trend every season, don't go overboard spending loads on designer clothes: if you're going to be buying a whole new wardrobe each summer, try the high street for styles that won't put a big dent in your bank account!

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Priyanka Chopra: A New Face For Lux


Pawan Kumar

Known as the beauty of film stars, Lux has had promotional campaigns with many Bollywood actors like Sridevi, Madhuri Dixhit, Aishwarya Rai, Karishma Kapoor, Juhi Chawla and even Madhubala. Now, Lux has chosen the new face for its ad, and its not any other but former Miss World Priyanka Chopra.

For years together, Bollywood actress have endorsed HLL's oldest soap brand Lux. Joining the beauty bandwagon is ex-Miss World turned actor Priyanka Chopra.

HLL is planning a grand launch with Priyanka Chopra, as the new face of Lux, There will be a series of television and print advertisement, which will be devised by a leading advertising agency in the city.

It is believed that the actress has been paid exorbitant for the endorsement. Priyanka, who claims to be as choosy about her brands as her movies, has now been seen in a commercial for brand like Pepsi, Spice mobile, Tag Heuer, and now HLL's Lux.

Lux has always proven a luck advertisement for many of the Bollywood ladies. After joining Lux the actress has only gain name and fame. And now its turn of Priyanka Chopra, hope the continuity remains the same with her too.

Popular Posts

My Blog List