Camera cell phones are sweeping the nation! In fact, long gone are the days when a telephone is used for the sole purpose of speaking to another person. Cell phone cameras are all the rage and you’ll soon understand why! These days, people are using phones for all sorts of things! It is without a doubt, one of the greatest inventions that we’re able to enjoy today. We use it as a form of communication. We’re able to speak with our loved ones and stay connected on a daily basis. We use it every day to conduct business on a local, national, and international scale. It is so quick and easy to use – it’s no wonder why people depend on their cell phones every day! Imagine a day in the life without a phone. We wouldn’t be able to keep abreast of what’s going on. Now, imagine not having a telephone in your home or place of business. We would be completely lost if we weren’t able to communicate with other people in a quick and efficient manner. Now, enter the cell phone and imagine the possibilities! Millions of Americans have. We use cellular phones to our advantage because they’re compact, and most importantly, mobile! We can take it anywhere we want – whether in the States, Canada, or abroad. So, there’s no excuse to stay in touch with your loved ones! You can conduct business at any time of the day or night because you’ll always have some form of mobile service as you roam from country to country. Owning a mobile phone is like having a personal organizer all to yourself – a trusty friend that will never let you down when you need it the most! Millions of Americans use wireless phones for many reasons – all of which are valid and effective as a method of communication. Many business savvy people use their cellular phones to log onto the Internet. They use their mobiles to check and send email messages, send and receive text and picture messages, access their personal and professional contacts, and keep organized daily. Even more, they’re fun to use! First of all, cell phones nowadays come small and compact. You can fit them into your briefcase or pant pocket! Women love that they can fit their mobile phones in the smallest of purses without any trouble whatsoever! Keep track of special birthdays and agenda items, make memos, download special ring-tones, and play games. Now, they’ll take your picture too, so you can capture that precious moment in time that you’ll never get again! How many times have you been somewhere and missed having your camera handy? It’s true that we don’t always think to bring a camera when we leave our homes every day. Why would we? Then again, you never know when you’ll need a camera in the case of an emergency. This is why owning a camera phone is so convenient! Now there’s no need to carry around bulky and expensive photo equipment, when you can have a camera built into your cell phone – and we all know that once you own a wireless phone, it never leaves your sight! People come to rely on their phones a lot, especially for work. If you’re the type of person that travels frequently, having access to email doesn’t always cut it. If you’re on a plane, you may not be able to access the Internet from 40,000 feet above. What if your Internet server was down when you were trying to send an important message? Your email may end up getting delayed, costing you precious time when you could have just picked up the phone and conducted your business yourself through the tried and true telephone! There is no need for hesitation. This is the reason why more and more people today are realizing the benefits of owning the ever-so-popular multi-functional cellular phone. Mobile phones are there for you when you need them the most! If you’re at the grocery and need to call home, no problem! If you’re in the car running late and on you’re way to pick up your children, no problem! You’d just pick up your telephone and it’s done. Remember how much time you’d expend looking for a pay phone when you needed it the most? Take a look around! You won’t see many pay phones anymore, simply because there’s no need! Young and old alike are using cellular phones for their own personal and professional benefit. Owning a wireless phone is just too convenient to consider alternative options! Now you can own one too! If you have the notion in your head that a cellular camera phone will be way too expensive to afford, think again! They’re becoming more and more inexpensive because they’re being made in such large quantities, and Americans are picking them up like hotcakes! People see the value in these tiny photo devices! Don’t be fooled. These phones may be small, but they pack a lot of power! Most camera phones today come with at least two mega-pixels. Some even record video images! Once you’ve captured a shot on your cell phone camera, the fun begins! Take your photo, and just as you would with a digital image, create your own work of art! Customize your photograph as you see fit. Reduce red eye, brighten or sharpen your picture, or crop and resize. It’s all up to you! Then, you can take that image and store it on your phone! Now you’ll always have that very special photo to take with you wherever you go! Better yet, share your image with a friend and spread the love! It’s so easy to enjoy cell phone cameras, no matter who you are. These amazing little telephones come in an assortment of sizes, weights, and colors, equipped with a variety of features perfectly suited to meet your needs. Whether you use your cellular phone for business or professional use, there’s something out there for you! Imagine the convenience and the money you’ll save. It’s important to know that digital cameras are dominating the market today. They’re handy, affordable, easy to use, and inexpensive to maintain. Cellular camera phones are no different! With digital photos taken on your camera phone, you can print your images quickly and effortlessly. Print your favorite photos on professional photo paper in the comfort of your own home. Why not save it to disk and share it online with friends and family. The sky is the limit! More importantly, you’ll end up saving money! Think about it. With a digital camera phone, you can view your images right away! That means that if you don’t like a picture that you took, you can easily delete it. If you like it, store it and enjoy it! Remember, when you use a manual camera that requires film, you have no choice but to send it off to the lab for printing. You’ll end up paying for every single shot, whether good or bad. With digital images, you have the freedom to print what YOU want instantly, hence saving you valuable money and precious time! Why spend your time waiting to get your prints back from your vacation or a work function, when you can access them instantly on your phone camera! Choose from top of the line cellular camera phones today! Again, these phones are being made to serve the general population, so it’ll be important for consumers to do their research before settling on a make and model. If it’s important for you to have high quality shots taken on your cellular phone with a camera, make sure that your telephone comes with at least 2 mega-pixels for high quality shots. It may be a little more expensive than the typical mobile phone, without the camera feature, but it’s proving to be well worth it – and if you’re a new subscriber, you may get the deal of a lifetime! You could easily get your wireless camera phone for free if you sign a contract! Typically, higher end phones will also come equipped with many valuable features that one can use at their discretion. Undoubtedly, it is truly amazing what wireless mobile phones can do nowadays. Without question, cell phones are being used as a highly effective method of communication. Adding a camera feature to that list only enhances your already stellar communication device. So, if you’re thinking about getting yourself one of these amazing wireless camera phones, this is what you need to look for. First, you’ll need to pick from a wide variety of reputable cellular carriers. Narrow it down to a couple of your favorite companies. Ask your friends and colleagues to give you feedback about their phone and cellular carriers. It’s always best to go right to the source. If someone is happy with their service, they will let you know! It’s also important to note that most of the bigger cell phone companies typically offer Americans the same types of deals. So, if you’re looking for more minutes during the day, free nation-wide long distance, or evening and weekend minutes, choose wisely! Many companies offer the same types of phones, so it’s best to choose what cell phone company will best suit your needs first. This also means deciding whether you want to go monthly or with a prepaid cell phone plan. Again, the choice is up to you! Going monthly offers consumers more value and bang for their buck, but some consumers can’t justify all the minutes and features. Some people use their phones in the case of an emergency only and don’t want to be burdened with monthly charges. Whatever suits your fancy, pick the phone, company, and cellular phone plan that rings true to your heart! Whether you choose a Sprint, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, or Motorola phone – be rest assured that you’ll have a great phone to call your very own! So, get out there and explore your options. You’ll be surprised at just how much is readily available for consumers like yourself to enjoy! Let your cellular phone work FOR you. Use it as a personal organizer. Take pictures when you please. Get online! Most importantly, stay in touch! The lines of communication are open and ready for the taking. So what are you waiting for?

Making a deep connection quickly with a woman is a skill that most guys lack. They speak in logical ways, do not listen, and relate everything the woman says to themselves instead of trying to understand things from her point of view. This makes it difficult to establish a connection, evoke feelings in her, and make her feel like she has had a great conversation. Here is what you need to do:

1. Relate things to them not to you or your life

When someone says they have had an experience, like going to Thailand, it is common to instantly relate it to yourself and talk about the time you went to Thailand, or say that you have never gone. Instead, try to imagine what it was like for them, bring out the memories, and show interest in their amazing holiday, dont sweep it under the table by immediately talking about yourself. Connect for a bit, then it is fine to relate it to yourself.

2. Use what they give you

When someone is talking they give you pieces of information about them, their feelings and their lives. You can ignore this and talk about yourself or ask another question, but you will be missing an opportunity to connect. Connect on each point before moving on to the next.

3. Be Observant

Notice things about their appearance (clothes, accessories, hair, nails, jewellery). Women usually put a lot of effort and time into the way they look; their bag might match their shoes, belt, earrings, and dress. Most people dont notice, theyll be happy if you do. Jewellery and accessories also often have a story behind them or mean something to the girl.

4. Be empathetic

If someone has an interest, a passion, or a strong point of view you have 3 options. The first is to say me too, the second is to disagree, and the 3rd and best option is to show that you understand why she has this passion, interest or view regardless of whether you share it.

If someone likes cooking, you dont have to also like cooking to show that you understand why she would like it. In the form of a question, tell her why cooking might be something she enjoys so much.

5. Talk about things that evoke passions and feeling

What is something they are very passionate about, it might be anything from friends and family, to travel, to ballet. Connect on these points by showing you understand why they feel that way. Do not gloss over them, say me too, or immediately change subject, talk about yourself or ask another question.



Do these things and you will make a real connection quickly. Instead of it taking weeks, you can do it in hours or days.

Ok, this article on trying to seduce a girl will be starting of a little different from normal, because it will come with one condition and one very important condition. The girl has to already at least taken a small interest in you, which means that she has already agreed to come on a date with you. These methods are for those who have passed first base test and are now on a real date with them. It might not really work for those who are trying to court a girl from ground up, but you can try if you manage to get them in a one on one situation.

What you need to do first and foremost is to make sure you have on a cologne that is proven to tip the scales in your favour. Now aromatherapy doest exist for fun, it is there because it is a proven way for you to get women to like you. And this is because of the very fact that the smell glands have some sort of control over the emotive functions of the human body and you need to take advantage of that as much as you can. You also need to dress like you are at an audition, and this really makes the girl feels really important because you actually bothered to think that she was important enough for this. So dress to kill and I really mean it.

Pick out your best and make sure you have another girl there with you telling you what to wear and what not to wear. This is really one of the more important things here and you need as much feedback as you can get when it comes to this. So once you have that down, you might want to think about talking with your eyes. Your eyes is where most of your emotions actually come to life, and you need to use this to the best of your advantage. What is going to happen here is that you are going to be using your eyes on her, and make her melt with your cool and warm stare (yes they can co exist). Talk with your eyes and engage here as much as you can, she will respond to you.

And for the love of the lord, keep them fixed on her face. No matter what she is wearing, I need you to resist the temptation of looking down to her cleavage. Also, read her body language as much as you can, and make your moves based on this. Do not rush things or take things too slow, you will be in danger of making her either be on her guard or lose interest.  So be careful when you are doing this and make sure that you pace yourself accordingly. So when, you are following these advices you might just be well on your way to making her melt on the very first or second date.

Picking Up the Pieces



This Alex Gottfried photo for a New York cover was rejected as “too glamorous”

Not everyone gets to read their obituary in the New York Times. Indeed not everyone gets a premature obituary in the Times. So I guess it was a triumph of sorts. I got fired and the paper of record actually cared. Friends from around the world saw the story and sent bracing words. I read it Wednesday morning with my heart pounding. Not exactly what I would have written myself but hey… almost totally kind. It was kind of a hoot. And a revelation. I never knew any editor objected to my choices of restaurants to review or chefs to pedestal. I just blithely danced away thinking if it interested me, the foodie audience would care and if I loved it, most of you would love it too. That same incurable… shall I call it confidence or vanity?

I do wish my critics and chroniclers weren’t quite so hung up on how many chefs or celebrities I bedded. (Funny way of putting it. Like who bedded whom?) But then clearly I brought that upon myself by being quite candid in my memoir. I thought it was amusing that I got led into the bedroom by the young and adorable Elvis Presley fifty years ago because I just happened to be the only woman in the hotel room at the moment of his between-concerts horniness. And that he asked me to order him a fried egg sandwich afterward.

The fact that I didn’t have the character to resist romantic dalliances with chefs while a restaurant critic has always seemed unprofessional and risky to me. But there are no secrets in the tight little food world. Oral personalities, you know. I thought it best to confess before I got outed. But if you consider that there were just three chefs and three restaurateurs in 40 years of reviewing restaurants, it doesn’t strike me as an addiction or a felony. I think it sounds as if I wasn’t trying hard enough.

I say thank heaven the Timesman Glenn Collins in his reportorial vigilance was able to reach Michael Batterberry the venerable historian of America’s dining revolution, creator with his wife Ariane of Food Arts and before that, founders of Food & Wine magazine. He put my unexpected forced retirement into historic perspective. “It’s as if they removed the lions from the library steps,” he said. Dearest Michael. And a toast to Robert Lape too for testifying that I haven’t lost my tastebuds or my bite.

I promise you won’t see me dancing with the stars.

***

No Lipstick on This Pig



A daunting assemblage of pig at the revised Irving Mill. Photo: Steven Richter

There are pig people and no-pig people. Personally, I don’t encounter many who are neutral about it in my crowd. When it comes to pigging out, it’s us and them, those who avoid pork out of faith, health, animal activism or fear of the unknown. It’s not that they won’t find sustenance on the menu at Irving Mill. I say, go in good health. Have the eggplant and ricotta bruschetta, the fluke crudo. Try sunchoke and hazelnut soup with grilled endive, the loup de mer with quinoa, walnuts and soy beans. I could easily go for the aristocratic chicken for two from Four Story Hill farm myself if I weren’t so distracted by so much porky creativity.

All three of us are swept up in Chef Ryan Skeen’s porcine obsession. “Oh God,” cries Ava. “It’s all pig. I’m having the pig ear salad.” Alas, we will not be tasting that cartilaginous crunch with radicchio, escarole and poached egg on top. It’s been “eighty-sixed”, the waitress informs us ruefully as if to say, “And don’t blame me.” I look around the room with new respect – Is this a pig ear salad crowd that’s beat us to it? I wonder.



Irving Mill plans to add new art and more color to this vast sweep of room. Photo: Steven Richter

I never got to Resto where Skeen plumbed his fetish. But now he’s stepped into John Fraser’s clogs at Irving Mill. And overnight, the place has gone from Gramercy Tavern-lite to urban barnyard. Spicy pulled pork sandwich – two little sliders on soft potato buns – are frankly the least of it. But deep-fried minced pork toast – think shrimp toast in Chinatown – with creamy egg salad and a lick of caviar on top is weird and wonderful. Falling off the bone salt and pepper ribs, first marinated in soy and chili and lime, then braised, fried and propped up in a soup bowl – are merely marvelous.

We must taste the house burger too. Already iconic on the food blogs, it’s a gently formed chunk of chopped flap steak larded with fat back, running-red-rare, under a melt of cheddar in another soft potato bun. In the bowl riding alongside, fingerlings make slightly soggy, puffy little fries and there’s a choice of ketchup, mayo and mustard.

The Road Food Warrior’s pappardelle with a sauce of rabbit, roasted tomato and fabulous black olives only seems to be a relief from the porky theme but it’s not, given a sprinkle of guanciale (cured pig jowl). It desperately needs more noodles to qualify as a pasta. And after the greediness of our warmup, my charcroute plate seems remarkably daunting. “I asked for the smaller $22 size,” I tell our savvy and agreeable server.

“You got it,” she says, setting down a tray with grainy mustard, crème fraîche and violet mustard (with the flavor and tint of wine must).

“You sure someone didn’t just throw on a few extras?”

“No, that’s how it comes,” she insists.



The delicious rabbit pappardelle needs more pasta and less soup. Photo: Steve Richter

Of course I have to taste a bit of everything – that’s my job (even if New York isn’t funding my research anymore). I start with a cut of boudin blanc and the mini blood sausage (a special passion of mine, best indulged in measured amounts, alas). And with scholarly precision, sample a melting bit of pig’s head, some pork shoulder, some meat torn from one of the ribs (another taste to test consistency never hurts). My favorite is the pig’s foot, boned, breaded and fried into compact wantonness. Even a side of kale is lush, cooked in wine and shallots rich with butter. Indeed, the macaroni and cheese with pork rinds is the only serious disappointment. It’s not the pork rinds I mind. Pasta ears in cheesy sludge is not my idea of macaroni.



Don’t skip dessert. Treat yourself to banana parfait and apple fritters. Photo: Steven Richter

What we all need now is a trot around the block but I feel obligated to try at least one dessert. A butterscotch blondie ice cream sundae with hot fudge, bourbon caramel and spiced walnuts seems to embrace enough sweet endings to tell the tale. “Fabulous” is the headline. And since Suzanne Vega, one of the three partners has spotted me, apple fritters and banana “cream pie parfait” has been forced upon us. I have never noticed pastry chef Colleen Grapes before, though she’s been making the rounds since her first assistant’s job at Aja under Gary Robbins, but her remarkable apple fritters – packaging whole circlets of apple with cinnamon ice cream, seem to deem her for stardom. And the banana parfait with roasted banana ice cream, coconut macaroons, vanilla custard and chocolate layered into a glass is even better. Suddenly it seems criminal to leave any behind.

I find myself recalling a table of women at La Côte Basque years ago, sharing a dessert and then spilling water on it to discourage a rupture in discipline.

I definitely have unfinished business at Irving Mill. The partners are planning more artwork, more color, a more contemporary look. As if I needed an excuse to come back beyond the lamb cassoulet with leg, loin and belly, possibly also bacon. Brunch begins this week too, and Skeen is mulling all the porky favorites plus baked eggs with truffle and pork caviar, an oyster BLT, and cream of wheat griddle cakes with huckleberry jam. I like the way his brain works.

116 East 16th Street between Irving Place and Park Avenue South. 212 254 1600

***

I’ll Bring the Turkey



Host Ed Schoenfeld contemplates Jacques Torres’ brilliant bird. Photo: Steven Richter

It’s not unusual for a New Yorker transplanted from somewhere else that friends are my family, the essential “we” of me, as my real family is scattered across the country. For the past few years our “family’ has joyfully let Eddie Schoenfeld choreograph and cook our Thanksgiving dinner. This year Eddie and wife Elisa expanded the congregants to three tables. Eddie did wings and drumsticks only, which was perfect for this mostly dark meat crowd. Eliza crowned an eclectic feast with prunes in port and crème fraiche, evoking memories of long ago great prune finales at Restaurant Troisgros.

Jacques Torres had asked if I would like a chocolate turkey. “Take it to your dinner,” he said, “and tell everyone it was made by Jacques Torres.” Late Wednesday afternoon, I stopped by his shop half a block from my office. The bird was huge and gorgeous, sculpted in dark chocolate, and actually looked like a three-dimensional Audubon. My guy and I had to take a taxi for fear someone would bump into it on the subway. At Eddie and Elisa’s I hid it in a closet so no innocent guest would sample the noggin before its debut. After dinner I set the gobbler on a beautiful Meissen platter and delivered it to Eddie. A few of the guests stood back awed. I had to break off the first piece. “Jacques Torres,” I said.

“Oh, of course, Jacques Torres,” someone echoed. Each small bite led to a second. Unlike all commercial chocolate turkeys I ever tasted, this one was made from chocolate worthy of Jacques Torres.

285 Amsterdam between 73rd and 74th Streets. 212 414 2462

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Honor Thy Pasta



Dinner at Fiore always starts with a grilled thin crust pizzas… Photo Steven Richter



For forty years my life has pretty much revolved around dinner (with time out for dancing, sex and falling in love) so why would it change, especially at this, the foodiest time of the year?

On Saturday night we drove with friends to our beloved Fiore in Williamsburg, just four of us. We hadn’t been since late June when our good pals took their car and moved out to the lake for the summer. In Brooklyn no one seems to know I’ve been fired and I don’t have to be brave and pretend I’m okay. A hug from chef-owner Roberto Aita could be simply a welcome back. He puts us at a table against the door to the garden, right behind where he stands directing the kitchen from the pass-through. A waiter recites the specials. “Is it okay if I do a few antipastini for you?” Roberto asks. We nod.



It’s difficult to resist the hill of fried calamari and zucchini at Fiore. Photo: Steven Richter

It is wonderfully distracting to focus on pithy issues like whether Hillary should agree to become secretary of state and what we’ll do with Bill. We sip Roberto’s recommendation for a red by the glass, Negroamaro from Puglia, and discover we agree Hillary will be brilliant and half of us think Bill will behave. Two of us think Bill is the jewel in Hillary’s crown.

Roberto himself delivers the grilled pizza al formaggio with two cheeses, tomato and black pepper, really crisp and a nice happy medium between refined and abundant. Ava and I are planning to share the mushroom and roasted butternut squash salad – back on the menu now for autumn. And then it arrives, a plate for each of us, different than last year. Frisee makes it lighter. Roberto sets a bowl of intensely sauced braised baby octopus on the table and returns with a mountain of fried calamaretti and zucchini to a few groans. We had dared not speak its name but confess that we had all contemplated and rejected it – all that fat. Mere putty in the hands of fate, we devour it. As always, Tim seems pleased with a generous portion of fish, orata tonight. The Road Food Warrior sticks with his eternal favorite bucatini amatriciana. And Ava and I share the fine seafood pasta special.

As usual, no one wants dessert after the too-generous portions and extras that arrive in you-can- go-home-again style. But of course a trio of desserts descends. Chocolate and almond cake. A lemon tart. And smartly tart lemon sorbetto that turns out to be the perfect last taste.

284 Grand Street between Roebling and Havemeyer Street. Brooklyn 718 782 8222

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If you’re about to be married, you, know that the most important part of the wedding is the actual wedding ceremony itself. And one of the most important aspects of the wedding ceremony, besides the exchange of vows, is the music.

“Music has the power to set a mood, evoke emotion, and give moment cohesiveness,” says Nina Calloway of About.com. “Are you a traditional Wagner’s “Here Comes the Bride” and Pachelbel’s “Canon in D” type of couple? Or are you more contemporary, looking for a song that captures your spirit like Norah Jones’s “Come Away with Me”?”

Experts say the most important factor in choosing wedding music for the ceremony, is where you are holding the event. “If your ceremony will not be in a religious setting, you can choose just about any kind of music you like — although you will want to stay within the bounds of good taste!,” according to WedAlert.com. “On the other hand, if your ceremony will be in a church or synagogue, or conducted by a clergy person at another location, you will probably need to stay within guidelines set by the clergy person or the church.”

There are several distinct parts of the wedding ceremony and each merits different kinds of wedding songs. In the prelude, for instance, when guests are gathering in anticipation of the beginning of the ceremony, it is often advisable to have gentle jazz or chamber music, according to elegala.com “The music should not overpower the mood; rather, it should complement the budding excitement,” says the site. On the other hand, the music for the bride’s entrance should reflect the excitement and be dramatic and sweeping. “The traditional selection is Wagner’s Bridal Chorus (Here Comes the Bride), but many brides are not afraid to insert something a little more reflective of their unique personality,” says the site.

You might also choose to have a vocalist singing anywhere from one to four wedding songs during the ceremony, according to WedAlert.com: “Appropriate places in the ceremony for vocal selections, depending on church guidelines, may include: (1) during the seating of the mothers or lighting of candles by the mothers; (2) immediately before the processional; (3) before the vows; (4) during the lighting of the Unity Candle; and (5) during the serving of communion to the congregation, if this is included in the ceremony.”

In order to find just the right songs for the vocalist, you can ask her for her own suggestions and then ask to hear her sing a few selections. “Before deciding whether the songs suggested by your musicians are really what you want, you should go to a store that sells sheet music and songbooks and browse in the wedding section,” advises WedAlert. “Chances are, you may find something that more closely expresses what you want to say than the songs suggested by your musicians.” Further, you might even want to hire a songwriter to pen a custom wedding song just for you.

However you choose your music for that special ceremony, keep in mind that the music is bound to be one of the things your guests remember most. If it’s special to you, it will be special to them, as well.

The Web has all the information you need to select the right wedding songs for your special occasion. Be it instrumental wedding music or wedding love songs for vocalists, you can count on sites like Ez-Tracks.com to provide a full complement of musical alternatives. Saying “I Do” has never been this much fun!

Every year the first Saturday in May all the sports world sits on the edge of their seat waiting to see who will wear the bed of roses. With a rough economy this years Kentucky Derby has not been hyped as most of the recent races. But Craig is very excited as he thinks he has nailed the top three finishers in this years Kentucky Derby. The 2009 Derby trifecta play from sports handicapper Craig Trapp of CT Sports Picks is below for all of your sports gamblers to enjoy.

Pioneerof the Nile: Trainer Bob Baffert is no stranger to winning the Kentucky Derby and he seems to think NILE is up to give him another win. Another very positive is that jockey Garrett Gomez had his choice to ride one of two favorites and chose NILE over DUNKIRK. NILE has is currently listed as 2nd favorite at 4-1. After a very nice Santa Anita Derby win Baffert is trying to keep this colt improving going into the biggest race. NILE will most likely sit just off the pace and take over down the stretch. Will be a very good WIN wager if you get in at post time at 4-1 or higher odds.

Dunkirk: The odd horse out of the Garrett Gomez sweep stakes is looking to prove him wrong. Lucky for trainer Todd Pletcher he was able to recruit other top jockey Edgar Prado to pilot Dunkirk in the Kentucky Derby. Pletcher has not had good success in the derby but he has been the hottest trainer the last 4 years otherwise. Not a large colt but very tenacious and a late charging kick always give him a chance. Currently 4-1 co 2nd favorite will most likely go off at around 6-1 or so. Not sure this colt can win but definitely a 2nd or 3rd place is attainable.

General Quarters: To get value into any trifecta box you have to find the value in one or two longshots. Craig has found the diamond in the rough and this longshot can not only hit the board but if things go right could definitely win. Trainer Tom MCarthy is 75 years old and is making his first and he says only Kentucky Derby starter. Also the best jockey in the Kentucky circuits the last few years is Julian Leparoux. General Quarters most recently won the Blue Grass Stakes at Keenland and is definitely heading in the right direction. If this horse is over 20-1 definitely need to place a small wager on him to win also. Would be surprised if he runs poorly hitting the board is a definite possibility.

Hope everybody enjoys the 2009 Kentucky Derby and if you decide to go along with sports handicapper Craig Trapp, good luck. First Saturday’s in May never get boring with those horses coming thundering down to the finish line.

Make sure you check out all of Craig’s free sports picks daily!! Also Craig’s Premium NBA plays have been hot and with the 2nd round of the playoffs starting Saturday you must get his 5 star Premium Plays!! Get all of your sports handicapping plays at http://www.CTSportsPicks.com!!

Interior designers and builders agree that the first element to consider when beginning to finish a room is flooring, because it sets the mood.

Many more professionals these days are bypassing tile and carpeting, and going with wood. What kind of wood should you choose? Beyond the basics of solid hardwood, engineered wood, and reclaimed antique wood, there are many options to choose from. Despite all the options, making the right choice for your tastes and circumstances is easier than it appears. Following are some important factors to consider when making your decision, as well as some helpful advice from the experts.

Which Wood-Flooring Type Should You Choose?

Solid Hardwood: Many shy away from solid hardwood because it expands and contracts and sometimes creaks. But its natural beauty adds value to your home. Further, it can be re-sanded and refinished, so it’ll retain that value.

Engineered Wood Floors: These floors are constructed of thin sheets of wood glued together and finished at the factory. The resulting product resists buckling and warping, make it more staple than solid wood. Whereas solid wood can only be nailed to a subfloor, engineered wood floors (although developed to be glued over concrete) can also be nailed or floated.

Reclaimed Antique Wood: This flooring option is custom made one plank at a time according to the customer’s specifications. This flooring type is especially stable, because it can cut from the center section of a beam.

Finished vs. Unfinished

One of the benefits of solid hardwood flooring is that it’s available finished or unfinished. If you’re trying to match an adjacent floor, you’re better off going with an unfinished option and staining it to blend. You will be pleased with the uniform color and finish you can achieve in your floor by finishing it on site. Remember, however, that an unfinished wood floor may take several days to install, stain, and finish.

On the other hand, finished wood (both solid and engineered) is factory sanded, stained, and finished. Thus it’s much easier to install and requires less time, not to mention that there will be no on-site sanding and finishing. Finished wood is durable and is therefore a great option for high-traffic areas. And don’t forget that it’s less expensive than unfinished wood.

Important Things to Consider

If you have radiant heating in your home, where the heat source is under the floor, then engineered would be the better option over solid hardwood because of its durability. The National Wood Flooring Association also recommends using quarter-sawn or rift-sawn wood due to the durability factor. According to the NWFA, since narrow boards fare better than wide ones when there are changes in temperature and humidity, with this type of heating, strip flooring is preferable over plank flooring.

Stoddard recommends engineered wood flooring for seaside homes, because it’s scratch-resistant—and less like to be damaged by tracked-in sand—and requires less maintenance. For any interior that’s not environmentally controlled—such as a cottage or summer home or below-grade installation—engineered hardwood flooring remains the best option.

Some Simple Design Tips

Pay attention to the understated details when personalizing a room. A great look is to use a lighter wood overall and then either add a dark border or drop in a maple medallion that looks like an area run.

Mixing woods from room to room is becoming more common. For a cozy room such as a den or bedroom, a dark wood like walnut or cherry would work well. But a lighter wood, like maple or birch, would brighten up any kitchen.

For formal, traditional, or historic homes, darker wood works best. But if your home is country, casual, or contemporary, a lighter wood might work well. Design your floor to complement fabrics, furnishings, and accessories.

Current Trends in Wood Flooring

The latest options in the flooring market include hand-scraped wood and “exotics” from far-off lands. Woods such as Brazilian cherry, Santos mahogany, and Amendoim have delightful grains and colors. All are available both in solid hardwood or engineered wood.

Owners of historic homes on the Eastern seaboard are increasingly going for the old look and simplicity of woods such as Old Groove Eastern White Pine. For owners of historic homes on the Eastern seaboard, woods such as Old Groove Eastern White Pine are prized for their old look and simplicity. Lately, dark woods have significantly increased in popularity, with walnut in the greatest demand.

DIY & Maintaining Your Wood Floor

Installing a wood floor yourself is definitely an option. Almost 30 percent of homeowners do it themselves. If you can operate a nail gun and a saw, then you can do it. Many resources are available to help you with this project, including instruction books and information online.

A great benefit of wood flooring is that it’s extremely low maintenance. Keep a step-off mat at any doorway, and then all you need is a regular schedule of sweeping and vacuuming. One thing to remember is clean up any standing water immediately. It’s not a bad idea to keep an extra box of wood in case you need to replace a strip.

Natural hardwoods stand up to many household mishaps much better than any laminate or synthetic flooring, since the grain and pattern of solid hardwoods go all the way through. Scuffs and burns that would be permanent in a synthetic surface can be repaired with relative ease.

Are Flamenco guitar lessons worth taking for somebody not raised in Andalucia? Many years ago you had to be a black American to have any credibility as a blues singer or guitar player. And if you were not Spanish you never got anywhere as a Flamenco artist no matter how good you were. But these days, like many musical traditions, Flamenco is now embracing young people from non-Spanish origins. Twenty or thirty years ago Flamenco guitar playing, at least as perceived by people outside of Spain was dominated by a couple of third-rate guitar players who were good at promoting themselves. Now you can see many fantastic guitar players, professional and amateur, Spanish and non-Spanish giving wonderful Flamenco guitar performances on YouTube. Here is a rundown on the guitar techniques you will be introduced to if you decide to take Flamenco guitar lessons.

So onto some basic Flamenco guitar techniques. The most distinctive technique used in Flamenco is the tapping on the body of the guitar. This technique is called the golpe and is performed just below the sound hole. Flamenco guitars are made with a tapping plate to minimize damage to the guitar from constant hitting of the body. The golpe is often used in conjunction with downward strokes of the thumb and with continuous up and down strokes of the index finger used by guitarists playing the Flamenco musical form called Bulerias.

The rapid picking exhibited by Flamenco guitarists is called picado. This is also used in classical guitar but to nowhere near the same degree. It is a “rest” stroke which is played by striking a string with an upward stroke of the first or second finger which comes to rest on the string behind it. So if you play a rest stroke on the second string the finger comes into contact with the third string after it has struck the note. Flamenco scale passages are played as picado using rapid alternating strokes of the first and second fingers.

Another Flamenco guitar technique is the use of rapid arpeggios. Arpeggios are played by placing the first, second and third fingers in position on the first, second and third strings as if you are going to pluck a chord. Instead of plucking all three strings you lift your whole hand slightly so that the fingers play the strings in rapid succession. The thumb and fingers of a guitarist who has practiced this technique can play some very fast arpeggio passages. The effect is similar to sweep picking used in rock guitar.

The thumb is uses almost exclusively in downstrokes. This is another rest stroke where the thumb plays, for example, the sixth string and comes to rest on the fifth string before starting the next stroke. It may seem strange to anybody who has not tried it to make the thumb and fingers “rest” between strokes, but this technique can produce some very fast thumb and picado playing.

Another technique used in Flamenco guitar is the tremolo. This is a technique for producing a long line of melody notes accompanied by the thumb playing bass notes. This technique was borrowed from classical guitar and differs in that Flamenco tremolo is played with four notes between each bass note whereas classical guitarists only play three melody notes between bass notes. In most guitar notation systems the thumb is shown as “p” (for the Spanish “pulgar”), the index finger is shown as “i” , the middle finger is designated “m” and the ring finger is “a” (for annular which is latin for ring).

To play a continuous E on the open first string of the guitar, use the fingers and thumb in this order:

Play a bass note on the open sixth string with your thumb using rest stroke.

On the open first string:

Play a free stroke with i

Play a free stroke with a

Play a free stroke with m

Play a free stroke with i

You have just played one bass note followed by four melody notes. To continue playing, make an E chord with your left hand and alternate the bass notes between the sixth, fifth and fourth strings.

As you can see these techniques are hard to explain in words. They are easier to understand if you use my written descriptions in conjunction with watching Flamenco guitarists on video. It will take some hard work to actually use these techniques, and I strongly suggest you take lessons from a guitar player who knows how to play Flamenco.

A Need To Know Basis

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Too often investors buy shares in a stock armed with little more than the ticker symbol and a tip from a friend at work. Why not arm yourself with the best possible information, especially when it is all there at your fingertips for free? Here are the bare bones factors that are important to know about the company you are going to invest in, and how they can impact the prices of shares.

Revenues

This is how much money the company is making. Many penny stocks may not have revenues at all if they are in the development stage, or if they are trying to bring a brand new product to market. However, if the company has been around a while they had better have enough revenues to offset some of the costs.

If the company is in its growth stages, there has to be an increasing trend in revenues. If they are trying to gain market share, or break into new markets, their success should be tempered with improving revenues.

Earnings

Of course, revenues are just a precursor to earnings. All companies want to eventually make money, and it is when they start bringing in more revenues than costs that all the magic happens. Positive earnings can have an excellent effect on penny stock companies, because they are suddenly on their way to becoming something more.

If a penny stock is not heavily funded from external sources, or they don’t have a significant cash position, they need positive earnings to stay afloat, fund ongoing operations, and take advantage of their intended strategic options.

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Debt

Some companies can get saddled by enormous debt, especially in their start-up or early growth phases. This can be detrimental in many ways, as interest payments can cut into earnings, and creditors can pull strings at inopportune times, effectively sweeping the feet out from under a fragile company. There are also issues of control, and dependence.

Until a company’s revenues out-pace expenses, debt will continue to grow. Unless, of course, the company raises capital through other means such as dilutive stock offerings, or by giving up significant control to venture capitalists.

Assets

All of the cash, inventories, and property of a company have some value, and can give you a quick glimpse of the health and position of a company. For example, if they have six million in cash, with yearly costs of one million, you could assume that they would be able to meet their operational requirements for a long time.

If they had significant miscellaneous assets, they may be able to sell these off to raise capital if they needed. However, if their assets are well below their liabilities, the company will likely need to find a quick source of financing to meet their obligations.

Liabilities

Here is how much the company owes or needs to pay out. The lower the value the better, especially when compared to assets. There should almost never be higher liabilities than assets. In fact a ratio of 1:2 is standard in some sectors, to give a company some breathing room.

The Bare Bones

Without at least this basic understanding, it is unlikely that you have enough information on the stock you are interested in. Sure, its great to jump on board a stock with a good story, but if you dig a little deeper you may find that the company actually has a great story, or has some underlying problems that the average investor may not know about.

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Gas Fireplace – Things to Know About

A gas fireplace is mostly a firebox with a glass face to see the fire. Most of the designs of gas fireplaces are made per specifications provided by the customer. These fireplaces have ducts that help with even distribution of the heat to different corners of the room. This allows for your fireplace to not only work more efficiently, but it leads to maximum utilization of heat and less waste of gas.

Whether it is a gas or a direct vent fireplace, both have a sealed combustion chamber for the release of emissions through the chimney or vent. A gas fireplace in Atlanta has many advantages being that it’s convenient and ignites at the press of the switch. A new range of natural gas fireplaces is getting increasingly popular amongst buyers in the market.

These fireplaces keep the house clean and produce less pollution in comparison to the wood-burning fires. A high quality natural gas fireplace in Atlanta heats up to 1,000 square feet of living space efficiently and turns out to be the most cost-effective fireplace option.

Most of us think that revamping the whole hearth is the only option left after picking out the fireplace mantel. But, you can also give your fireplace a new look by installing a gas electric fireplace that has following pros and cons:

Positives of a Gas Fireplace

Gas Fireplace has many benefits like:

• It is reliable and easy to control. Nowadays, gas fireplaces with a remote and a single button allow for easy, hassle-free operation. There are also fireplaces fitted with timers, so that one can control the total time for which the fire should burn.

• Most of the gas fireplaces can be easily inserted and fitted into the old firebox. If you are going for an un-vented gas fireplace, it won’t require a chimney. A vented gas fireplace needs a chimney so that waste product is immediately expelled out.

• With a gas fireplace, 70% of the heat remains in house instead of being lost in the atmosphere.

• When you are using gas fireplace, no time is wasted in building a fire or cleaning the ash later.

Negatives of a Gas Fireplace

Undoubtedly, a gas fireplace is a great addition to your home, but there area few things to consider:

• If you are buying an un-vented gas fireplace, you should know that it has oxygen depletion sensors for turning the gas off if the carbon monoxide level increases. You might be required to install additional carbon monoxide detectors in your home as an extra precaution.

• You can not get the authentic crackle and smell of the burning wood in the fireplace.

• Because the un-vented gas fireplace is hot as the natural gas burning inside it, you have to take extra precautions if there are children or pets in your home.

• A gas fireplace creates extra moisture because water is a byproduct of combustion of a gas fireplace.