Towards A Healthy Economy + Marketing World

Watching iPod movies is just one of the many ways you can enjoy your iPod. But hold on. Before you hit the Internet looking for movies to play on your iPod, there is something you should know. You cannot just click and play. First, you’ll need some helper software to get the movie into a format your iPod can handle. Although there are some companies that want you to plunk down your credit card for that software, this isn’t necessary. Once you finish reading this article, you’ll know how the secret to downloading and converting movies into iPod movies for FREE!

Step #1 of this free process is to install the latest version of iTunes on your computer. This is easy because there is a free version of iTunes waiting for you on the Apple website. Just click on http://www.apple.com/itunes/, read through the system requirements, and begin the download. The iTunes installation program will guide you through the necessary steps.

With iTunes installed on your computer, you’re one step closer to being able to watch iPod movies. The next step involves moving your preferred movie files into the iTunes directory. If you have not downloaded any movies yet, go to your online movie source and begin downloading. When the movie download is complete, there will be a .mov video file on your computer. Just drag and drop this video file into the iTunes video library.

Once the .mov video file is in the video library, a thumbnail image will appear. If several movies are in the library, you’ll see several thumbnails. To select one for viewing, right-click on the desired movie file. From the menu that appears select, Convert selection for iPod.

Congratulations! You are now converting movies into iPod movies. The conversion process will be quick, lasting a few seconds to a few minutes. The amount of time it takes for conversion depends on the size of the video file being converted. The bigger the file size, the longer the conversion process. The converted file will be easy to identify because iTunes creates a new thumbnail for the converted movie file. It, too will reside in the iTunes Video library.

At this point, you’re almost ready to view your iPod movies! The last step is to get iTunes in sync with iPod. Follow the normal procedure for syncing the two. Once you have finished this step, you’re ready to watch iPod movies - for FREE!

Want more tips, techniques and tricks to enjoy more movies in your ipod now? Discover them in my blogs on ipod movies and ipod video now!

No matter what type of movie you enjoy - comedy, drama,
horror, romance, science fiction, or independent film -
movies are a great source of entertainment for you and
your family. A great movie can bring out all types of
emotions - laughter, sorrow, thoughtfulness - and can
even make us think about our own lives.

There are a lot of people who rate watching movies as one
of their favorite activities, especially if their favorite
actor is featured in the film. In fact, with the advent of
video and DVD, many people watch their favorite films over
and over again. For many, a favorite movie can be a great
source of comfort and joy and something they can share with
friends and family.

And now, across the Internet, there are literally thousands
of full-length movies available for download. You can even
download movies that are still being shown in theaters or
have just been released on video and DVD. And with a good
broadband Internet connection, you can download any movie
in as little as an hour. And these downloaded movies are
of DVD quality, and can be seen immediately on your PC.
With downloaded movies, you can enjoy the latest movies at
great picture quality no matter where in the world you are
located. As long as you have a fast Internet connection,
the world of movies is at your fingertips.

There are many advantages and benefits to downloading
movies. First of all, downloading movies is cost effective,
downloading movies is easy to do, and you can create your
own library of all your favorite movies. You can gain access
to an unlimited amount of movies including hard to find
movies and all the old classics. The process of downloading
movies is exceptionally easy and all you need is the
necessary technical requirements and a little patience in
order to successfully download movies.

When downloading movies from the Internet your best bet is
to do it from a legal source. Downloading speeds are much
faster when you are downloading from a legal movie site.
This is because legal movie sites do not rely on the speed
of other users, they are dependent on large server networks
throughout the world. This way you can also ensure quality
pictures, secure files, you can avoid viruses, and it is
completely legal. If you have a broadband connection, you
can download and start watching movies as soon as they
download.

Pedro Pellicola is a contributing author of http://infobook-ezine.com.
He is owner and webmaster of Byte Movie, a leading Internet portal for movie information. For more movie
information and resources, please stop by:http://www.bytemovie.com

Long before Sex And the City and Desperate Housewives, there was “The Women”. Filmed in 1939, this film is a delightful rendition of the Clare Booth Luce play. Fittingly, no men appear in film; but they certainly are referred to, fought over, chased and sought after throughout the movie. That’s why the tagline to the film is “It’s all about Men”.

Don’t think because this movie is “old” that there’s no relevance to today. Besides being brought back to Broadway in 2001, the truly astonishing revelation here is that people really haven’t changed since 1939. We’re still worried about the same things and we still find that same things funny.

From the beginning this picture relates Darwinism of the animal kingdom to high society by assigning an animal role to each characterfrom sly fox to gentle lamb. Then metaphorically goes into a sequence of two dogs yapping at each other while the milieu of society queens gossip in the backgroundsimply brilliant.

Basically put, Mary Haines (Norma Shearer) tidy little Manhattan world is turned topsy-turvy when she learns that her husband has been having a little tryst with Crystal Allen (Joan Crawford). Early on, Mary plays right into the evil hands of Crystal, but soon wises up and protects her home and family with everything she is worth.

There’s only one way to say it, this show is funny and ironic. The complex relationships keep you riveted to the screen and the stars do a superb job of keeping the timing right on queue. My only complaint is a long fashion show sequence in the middle of the film, which really has nothing to do with the screenplay. Understanding that color movies were just beginning to be produced, this sequence is the only portion of the film brilliantly brought to the screen in colorthe balance of the film is in black and white as it should be.

Next time you are in the video store and there is nothing new to see, pick up a copy of The Women.

You won’t be disappointed.

Genre: Comedy/Drama
MCAA Rating: NR
Runtime: 2h 13mins
Cast: Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, Rosalind Russell
Director: George Cukor

David Zack Holmes provides movie reviews for the great DVDs never found in the New Release section. To read more features see: http://www.davidzackholmes.com

Initially broadcast in the Fall of 1996, Everybody Loves Raymond became an instant ratings boon its parent network, remaining a constant in the Nielsen Top 15 for its nine season run. Following the life of sportswriter Ray Barone (Ray Romano), audiences watch in hilarity as Ray and his wife attempt to deal with each other as well as Ray’s neurotic and dysfunctional family which includes Ray’s brother and his parents who live across the street…

The Everybody Loves Raymond (Season 3) DVD features a number of hilarious episodes including the season premiere in which Ray and Debra’s house gets quarantined after they spray for termites. Moving into Frank and Marie’s house along with the kids, they decide to give Ray’s parents a dose of their own medicine, but quickly learn that it’s near impossible to turn the tables on their annoying relatives… Other notable episodes from Season 3 include “Getting Even” in which Debra vows revenge on Ray for embarrassing her, prompting Ray to drive himself crazy in anticipation of her retaliation, and “Moving Out” in which Robert attempts to move out of his parents house and into a garage apartment only to realize that the couple he’s now living with are clones of the very parents he sought to escape…

Below is a list of episodes included on the Everybody Loves Raymond (Season 3) DVD:

Episode 48 (The Invasion) Air Date: 09-21-1998
Episode 49 (Driving Frank) Air Date: 09-28-1998
Episode 50 (The Sitter) Air Date: 10-05-1998
Episode 51 (Getting Even) Air Date: 10-12-1998
Episode 52 (The Visit) Air Date: 10-19-1998
Episode 53 (Halloween Candy) Air Date: 10-26-1998
Episode 54 (Moving Out) Air Date: 11-02-1998
Episode 55 (The Article) Air Date: 11-09-1998
Episode 56 (The Lone Barone) Air Date: 11-16-1998
Episode 57 (No Fat) Air Date: 11-23-1998
Episode 58 (The Apartment) Air Date: 12-07-1998
Episode 59 (The Toaster) Air Date: 12-14-1998
Episode 60 (Ping Pong) Air Date: 01-11-1999
Episode 61 (Pants on Fire) Air Date: 01-18-1999
Episode 62 (Robert’s Date) Air Date: 02-01-1999
Episode 63 (Frank’s Tribute) Air Date: 02-08-1999
Episode 64 (Cruising with Marie) Air Date: 02-15-1999
Episode 65 (Ray Home Alone) Air Date: 02-22-1999
Episode 66 (Big Shots) Air Date: 03-01-1999
Episode 67 (Move Over) Air Date: 03-15-1999
Episode 68 (The Getaway) Air Date: 04-05-1999
Episode 69 (Working Girl) Air Date: 04-26-1999
Episode 70 (Be Nice) Air Date: 05-03-1999
Episode 71 (Dancing with Debra) Air Date: 05-10-1999
Episode 72 (Robert Moves Back) Air Date: 05-17-1999
Episode 73 (How They Met) Air Date: 05-24-1999

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a blog where you can find more reviews like this one of the Everybody Loves Raymond (Season 3) DVD.

Are V-Chips (in televisions) designed to block indecent technology the answer to censorship? Do they really work? Why do some television programs get publicized in the first place? What is the FCC thinking? Shouldn’t all multimedia be censored as if children are viewing everything anyway?

Thankfully, the FCC has standard rules for television content, but it’s not enough. Most definitely, we need more censorship in all forms of media. Parents are already acting as police to their children―but why is the media making television viewing even more difficult than it already is? All programming (including commercials) should be rated, and as we know, advertisers are pushing the envelope every bit as much as television programmers.

What is even more complicated is that designers and advertisers who squirm or refuse to participate in tasteless advertising campaigns, music, or television programs stand to lose their jobs. This is the oddest predicament that faces multimedia artists today; yet the average employee in other professions are held in high esteem for their high moral ethics.

How can the FCC regulate and respond to the hundreds of thousands of complaints of valid concerns of censorship for the protection of jobs and families? Is the FCC going to support and protect employee’s jobs? Not all the multimedia artists want to be part of unwholesome advertising found in magazines, music, and programs being broadcasted throughout America today. No doubt about it, everything is subjective. Censorship and what is considered to be decent advertising and television programming is delicate ground. So, if you are offended by the current FCC censorship standards, the V-Chip is a technological way to help regulate your television programming for your children.

But, does the average person know how to find the V-Chip in their television? Do we even know if our televisions have them? Parents with young children need to find out. Even though there are unintended consequences for V-Chips such as having to put up with more offensive programming such as South Park; for the time being, this is our only immediate technological option for unmonitored censorship for obscenity, indecency, and profanity. (revised 2/15/2006)

Debbie Jensen, Graphic Designer and Photographer http://www.debjensendesigns.com

Watching iPod movies is just one of the many ways you can enjoy your iPod. But hold on. Before you hit the Internet looking for movies to play on your iPod, there is something you should know. You cannot just click and play. First, you’ll need some helper software to get the movie into a format your iPod can handle. Although there are some companies that want you to plunk down your credit card for that software, this isn’t necessary. Once you finish reading this article, you’ll know how the secret to downloading and converting movies into iPod movies for FREE!

Step #1 of this free process is to install the latest version of iTunes on your computer. This is easy because there is a free version of iTunes waiting for you on the Apple website. Just click on http://www.apple.com/itunes/, read through the system requirements, and begin the download. The iTunes installation program will guide you through the necessary steps.

With iTunes installed on your computer, you’re one step closer to being able to watch iPod movies. The next step involves moving your preferred movie files into the iTunes directory. If you have not downloaded any movies yet, go to your online movie source and begin downloading. When the movie download is complete, there will be a .mov video file on your computer. Just drag and drop this video file into the iTunes video library.

Once the .mov video file is in the video library, a thumbnail image will appear. If several movies are in the library, you’ll see several thumbnails. To select one for viewing, right-click on the desired movie file. From the menu that appears select, Convert selection for iPod.

Congratulations! You are now converting movies into iPod movies. The conversion process will be quick, lasting a few seconds to a few minutes. The amount of time it takes for conversion depends on the size of the video file being converted. The bigger the file size, the longer the conversion process. The converted file will be easy to identify because iTunes creates a new thumbnail for the converted movie file. It, too will reside in the iTunes Video library.

At this point, you’re almost ready to view your iPod movies! The last step is to get iTunes in sync with iPod. Follow the normal procedure for syncing the two. Once you have finished this step, you’re ready to watch iPod movies – for FREE!

Want more tips, techniques and tricks to enjoy more movies in your ipod now? Discover them in my blogs on ipod movies and ipod video now!

David Armstrong is right: “The death of the Musical is greatly exaggerated.” The American musical is alive and well as witnessed by The Wedding Singer at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre. This remake into a musical of the Adam Sandler movie is an improvement in my book because it has more music and it has dancing. I’m a sucker for anything with singing and dancing in it.

Set in 1985, the play is filled with ‘80s jokes and allusions. One of my favorite dance scenes was the chorus using “Thriller” choreography.

The actors all have extensive Broadway experience and it shows. In fact, Rita Gardner who plays Rosie, Robbie’s grandmother, is the original girl in the Fantastics. I first saw the Fantastics when I was in high school, and we all know that was 150 years ago!

Anyone who’s seen the movie knows the story: Robbie Hart (Stephen Lynch) is a wedding singer, talented at what he does and happy in his four piece band with Sammy (Matthew Saldivar) on guitar, George on keyboards (Kevin Cahoon) and Big Lou on drums. Robbie and Linda (Felicia Finley) are getting married soon and Robbie is ecstatic.

At the first wedding we see, Robbie defuses the drunken brother-in-law/best man’s speech (horribly inappropriate and rude) and keeps the reception on track.

At this reception, we meet the waitresses Holly (Amy Spanger), on-again, off-again girlfriend of band member Sammy, and Julia (Laura Benanti), engaged to jerky and only occasionally monogamous Glen Guglia (Richard H. Blake), a rich stock broker. Holly and Julia are at all the receptions; they are waitresses at the reception hall.

At the next wedding, Robbie and Linda’s, her mom shows up with a note for Robbie. Mom gives it to Sammy to give to Robbie, waiting at the altar. Sammy explains it bluntly to the audience, “The bitch ain’t comin’.” She’s not coming and Robbie’s devastated.

The next weekend, he and the band have another reception gig but he’s so depressed and cynical, he turns the reception into chaos and the wedding party throws him into the dumpster.

After he’s pitched into the dumpster, Robbie and Julia get to know each other a little better, the beginnings of love.

Glen Guglia (Julia Guglia?) has a DeLorean, the dream car of the ‘80s, which he drives onto the corner of the stage. He has all the trappings of wealth: nice power suits and ties, slick hair, an early cell phone with a ten pound battery, and arrogance.

The opening number of Act Two is set at Glen’s office, complete with desks and computers and everyone dressed in grey suits and pastel shirts and ties, even the women. Glen is the only one in dark grey pinstripe suit with a red striped tie. The stockbrokers belt out “All about the Green” in an impressive performance of exquisite timing and office chairs.

Scott Pask’s sets are great. The reception hall has the stage and tables and chairs and is used in several scenes with the décor changed to reflect the weddings’ color themes.

There are set-lets, small sets that coast on and off to show Robbie’s basement bedroom (complete with hot water heater and big-hair band posters), Julia’s dormer bedroom (reversible so we see Robbie watching her from the yard), a revolving restaurant and a loading dock with the famous dumpster.

The funniest set, aside from the airplane cabins, was the White House Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas. It’s decorated with presidential portraits and an organ. A fake Ronald Reagan is the minister and a fake Nancy Regan is the organist. There are more ‘80s icon fakes: Billy Idol, Mr. T, Cyndi Lauper, Tina Turner and even an Imelda Marcos, complete with shoe box. Apparently Las Vegas is full of impersonators.

Gregory Gales’s costumes are so “totally awesome”: short skirts, high-heeled ankle boots, cropped and decorated jeans jackets, the bridesmaids’ and the wedding dresses. I really enjoyed the bridesmaids’ dresses. There is no way you can over goopy bridesmaids’ dresses.

The music by Matthew Sklar and lyrics by Chad Beguelin was wonderful. My only disappointment was that there hasn’t been a cast recording yet. I imagine that’s because the play is changing as it goes through try outs on its way to Broadway. It opens on Broadway in March.

Author Don Doman: Don is a published author of books for small business, corporate video producer, and owner of Ideas and Training (http://www.ideasandtraining.com), which provides business training products. Don and Peg Doman also own NW Adventures(http://www.nwadventures.us), which tells stories and provides information on two day get-a-ways in the Pacific Northwest.

Nominated for 6 Golden Globes and 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, The Aviator wows audiences with its breadth of scenery and vivid realism. Director Martin Scorsese, known for a host of excellent films such as Raging Bull (1980), Goodfellas (1990), Casino (1995), and Gangs Of New York (2002) - not to mention the highly controversial The Last Temptation Of Christ (1988) - by no doubt turns out his best work since Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci) sought to become a made man. The Aviator springs to life with nostalgic settings and a lavish tapestry of color and form, evoking all the enthusiasm indicative of Howard Hughes’ unique lust for life. John Logan, known for such films as The Last Samurai (2003) and Gladiator (2000), presents a screenplay that provides some insight into the enigmatic Hughes and captures the mannerisms of those who shared that life with him. In short, the film is a masterpiece of visual imagery and first-rate cinematography few movie lovers can afford to miss…

The Aviator focuses on the early life (1930-1947) of America’s most eccentric and bewildering billionaire playboy, Howard Hughes. Know for his seemingly erratic business dealings and fearless sense of adventure, Hughes (Leonardo DiCaprio) turned a small inherited fortune into an enormous corporate empire. And along the way, he captured the imagination of those around him with an attitude that embraced risk and life itself. Inheriting a majority interest in the Hughes Tool Company (founded by his father), Hughes embarks on a career in Hollywood where he produces a number of notable films including Hell’s Angels, The Front Page, and Scarface. Hughes’ obsessive dedication to perfection makes his stock rise in Hollywood and even helps launch the career of Jean Harlow…

But Howard Hughes is not just a one-trick pony, and his interest soon turns to the flourishing aviation industry where he becomes an integral part of TWA and pilots his own planes on a regular basis. His driving energy would lead Hughes to enter the defense industry, the electronics industry, Las Vegas casinos, and numerous other activities in the years ahead. But along the way, he deals with a cast of characters colorful in their own right. Romances with Ava Gardner (Kate Beckinsale) and Katherine Hepburn (Cate Blanchett) provide insight into Hughes’ personal life, while Noah Dietrich (John C. Reilly), Hughes’ assistant and right-hand man, sacrifices much in his own life to enable Hughes to live out his latest visions and inspirations. When Hughes makes the bold move of constructing the Spruce Goose - the largest airplane ever built (and able to land on water no less) - Senator Ralph Owen Brewster (Alan Alda) accuses the billionaire of war-profiteering. Hughes takes on the Senator full-force and with all the zest that marked his previous ventures. Vowing that the Spruce Goose will fly, in the face of highly publicized claims that it will not, Hughes proves his critics wrong, and the Spruce Goose rises to the occasion…

Despite its loss to Million Dollar Baby at the Oscars, The Aviator can take pride in being nominated as one of the best films of the year (along with Finding Neverland, Ray, and Sideways). And the film is certainly deserving of that high honor. Few films better illustrate the beauty of America, or more importantly, the mountains that can be moved when a single individual lives his life with ambition, drive, inspiration, and a naked enthusiasm for all that life has to offer. Overall, The Aviator is among the best films of the past several years, and movie aficionados would be well-advised to watch every last minute with same enthusiasm of a young Howard Hughes…

About the Author

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a blog where you can find more reviews like this one of The Aviator (DVD).

The Liberty ship SS Richard Montgomery is a time-bomb waiting for a terrorist to give Britain its first real tsunami and, maybe, worse. This film shows what can happen when a government conceals something very dangerous from its own people.

Fact: The US explosives carrier Richard Montgomery sank in the Thames Estuary in August 1944. It was loaded with 1500 tons of explosive munitions. The Admiralty decided to leave the wreck and its dangerous cargo undisturbed. The wreck lies just a few hundred yards offshore between an oil refinery and several towns. South end on Sea is just a couple of miles away on the other side of the Thames estuary.

Rumours about the ship and its cargo have circulated in these towns ever since. Denials have been issued by ministers in the House of Commons in response to members questions about the presence on board of biological, chemical and gas warheads. Nevertheless, rumours persist that the real reason the wreck was not made safe was because of the existence of ‘dirty weapons’ on board. See website for links to factual information about the ship & its cargo, and to read movie script synopses about a fictional attack by terrorists on the ship to hold the government to ransom.

http://www.ssrichardmontgomery.com

With a slew of movies coming out that have been modeled after popular books, it seems to be a prevalent theme that the book is almost always better than the movie. Perfect case in point is the latest release “The DaVinci Code”, an adaptation of the wildly popular and controversial work of fiction by author Dan Brown. I loved the book, couldn’t put it down. But the movie was average.

If I would have only seen the movie and not read the book, I would have walked out of the theater with the conclusion that I would not have wanted to read such a mediocre book. Of course for every status quo, there are always exceptions to the rule. The movies “Angela’s Ashes” based on Irish novelist Frank McCourt’s story of a poor Irish family ended up being an excellent film, well acted with a perfect cast and authentic feel.

Another example of a good movie based on a book is the autobiography about an embittered Vietnam veteran, Ron Kovic, played in the big screen adaptation by Tom Cruise (before he was annoying). The film ended up being a heart breaking protrayal of a man who served his country in good faith, and then lost his legs and seemed to be cast off and forgotten by the very government he fought to protect.

Let’s not also forget an excellent silver screen adaptation of the novel Dr. Zhivago, played by Omar Sharif, and the story of his unrequited love for Lara Antipova, played by the beautiful Julie Christie. This masterpiece of a film was directed by David Lean with a true authenticity and loyalty to the story. It seems that if the director and actors really know the story, this is when the best results occur.

The trouble is when a movie is just thrown together, without the time being taken to maintain the integrity of the written story, and the money to make the sets as realistic as possible, or sometimes it’s just plain old misdirection.

Take for example the adaptation of the science fiction novel Battlefield Earth by L. Ron Hubbard. The movie, featuring John Travolta dressed in alien garb, ended up being a gross misinterpretation of the story, as well as the brunt of several jokes around Oscar time, due to its poor reception from audiences and critics.

Or how about the unforgettable Ishtar starring Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty? This atrocity was the brunt of jokes for years after its dismal release as the most boring movie ever made. And what about this list of bombs that originated as well spun novels and novellas, only to be poorly translated to the big screen?

- Dangerous Minds
- Dune
- The First Wive’s Club
- Freaky Friday
- Girl Interrupted (this may just be my opinion though)
- The Ghost and the Darkness
- Little Women

And the list goes on. Just goes to show, the majority of the time, one’s imagination can produce far more vivid and emotionally moving images than that of a Hollywood director, or any amount of special effects.