Poetry Archives

Sometimes people get a little too overwhelmed with trying to make every holiday "picture perfect" and they forget to have fun. One way to help ease that stress is to create some fun and easy holiday traditions that are relatively stress-free and easy to do. The possibilities available with "You Custom Trading Card Maker" (www.customtradingcardmaker.com) can make a great tradition for any holiday and can document your holiday celebrations at the same time. The best part about the program is that it is easy to use and it takes only about five minutes to make each card.

Here are some examples:

New Year's Day

Take a picture of you, your family, or your friends as they bring in the new year. Use the back of the card to list their New Year's Resolutions

Valentine's Day

Instead of store bought valentine cards, make up your own with family pictures, pictures of the recipients' favorite things or creative holiday themed shots such as a pile of conversation hearts.

Document Valentine's Day with your significant other by taking a picture each year and highlighting how you celebrated.

Easter

Use custom trading cards to create a scavenger hunt for your family to find their Easter baskets. Provide a pictorial hint on the front such as a picture of the room they need to go to or an extreme close-up of the hiding spot. On the back, give a few hints to lead them in the right direction.

Instead of filling the Easter basket with candy, add in some custom trading cards in the form of coupons such as a special movie night at home, playing a board game or doing a craft.

Mother's Day/Father's Day

Take a picture of the kids and have them each write their favorite things about mom or dad on the back.

Fourth of July

Teach your kids about Independence Day. Have them document what their favorite freedoms are and include an appropriate picture on the front.

Halloween

Get a great shot of the costume and write about its special features and why it was chosen on the back.

Thanksgiving

Have each family member create a card that highlights what they are most thankful for. Set them out for everyone to browse during the day.

Christmas

Create memorable ornaments for each member of the family. Put a recent photo on the front and fill the back with fun facts from the previous year. Punch a hole and tie a loop to hang from the tree.

General

Create invitations with appropriate photos and the details on the back.

Forget about elaborate, expensive party favors for your kids' birthday parties. During the party, get a shot of the birthday kid and each guest. Make up a trading card with the picture and a list of all the fun things they did at the party.

Use a trading card as a thank you. Take pictures from your celebration and turn them into funny or sentimental cards and send them out with messages on the back.

Due to daily alteration in Internet, the online gaming industries are changing continuously faster than any other industry at present gaming industry is on the doorstep of a slope and no one can even guess where it will stop. With these changes console based systems linked to the Internet. Playstation2 and Dreamcast are the two separating lines between PC games and console-based games are becoming indistinct. Liam Dorey an avid gamer and Inscriber programmer states that gaming organization can be divided into three separate areas like open gaming systems, console gaming systems and closed controlled systems. There are so many disbeliefs with gamers that whether the fresh console systems will at any time be capable to contend with computers in online gaming. They think that they are too far away to fill the gap.

According to present conclusion about the consoles he may be correct. As per the Associated Press report the game machine technology is very complicated and needs money and time to produce excellent games. Because of high costs of machines producing companies earn their income by selling of games. Playstation2 was installed in previous year that a produces three directional image with a dominant 128-bit workstation is a money deficit for Sony due to its needs. As per CNN.com report the Dreamcast launched by Sega was the first to reach the 128-bit plateau, expected to eclipse its sales by PlayStation2. Sega's report says that due to fatalities of the plug Dreamcast game console will pull down.

The company is thinking to produce games for its competitor Sony's PlayStation2. Sega also downplayed press notes that it would be stopping making of its Dreamcast video game console. The games are installed online connecting individual players with master computer working as the major server and the others like clients. The benefit of these games is that individual is not paying any further cost once they have bought the game. Dorey said one drawback is that you can control the server to provide you a benefit in playing the game.

The generator of Quake III Arena, id Software is known as one of the developer of the online gaming organization. Human Tornado belongs to IDG said that Doom an online game has altered the path of computer games were designed and played forever. Doom's game play has given way to many copied games and a multitude of sequels in addition to provide the platforms for recent classics as imaginary tournament. Further he added that the "bloody battles of a nameless space marine against an invading alien horde were chronicled in what can be considered one of the greatest, if not the greatest PC action game ever... The premise is simple: Shoot everything that moves." Further more the range of armaments starting from the humble pistol to the rocket launcher all are reputable as principles in self-shooters these times.

Computer Gaming field introduced together Doom and Wolfenstein 3-D into their popularity, identifies game names that set the customs for superiority in the industry of games. Dorey recognizes the other games system like the congested system blizzard.com is the definitive model of this system. The games launched by Blizzard Entertainment comprise most hits like Starcraft and Diablo II. Starcraft is a genuine time imitation game that means you can clash your rival in genuine time and you can command the military.

ABC introduced a new game show called Duel on December 17.. As the writers strike drags on and slowly strangles the regular television schedule, networks are looking for easily produced yet fresh programming to fill the void. Will Duel fit the bill for the long term? Or will it be more short term filler, only to breathe a short time on the airwaves, but quickly disappear like game shows of the past like The Weakest Link?

Duel mixes elements the game show Who Wants to be a M...


ABC introduced a new game show called Duel on December 17. As the writers strike drags on and slowly strangles the regular television schedule, networks are looking for easily produced yet fresh programming to fill the void. Will Duel fit the bill for the long term? Or will it be more short term filler, only to breathe a short time on the airwaves, but quickly disappear like game shows of the past like The Weakest Link?

Duel mixes elements the game show Who Wants to be a Millionaire and Texas hold em poker according to ABC. While the scene and setup of the game resemble most of the current and former prime time game shows, the tournament style format is a refreshing change. Game play involves 24 contestants over six episodes in a week long tilt, competing for a final jackpot. Unlike game shows like Deal or No Deal, where sometimes the contestant comes away with nothing, the final winner will take home over $1.5 million according to ABC.

Contestants play in a head-to-head format, answering multiple choice questions. At the beginning of each round, each contestant is given ten chips each representing $5,000. On any given question, a contestant may use as many chips as he feels he needs to stay alive. So if the contestant does not feel confident in answering a question, he may use four of his chips to cover all of the multiple choice answers. While this keeps the contestant alive, he loses three of his chips, which are added to the jackpot. This quickly reduces the chip count of the contestant who hedges his bet in this way.

An interesting twist to each Duel is the "pressure" button. Contestants are not given any time limitation at the start of each question, but if they feel their opponent is slow in answering, they can use the pressure button, thus putting an immediate seven-second clock on their opponent. Each contestant can use two "pressures" per duel. This element certainly keeps the game moving, and avoids the horrific slowdowns that frequently pop up in Deal or No Deal and Millionaire.

Will viewers commit to watching six episodes of one game show in seven nights? While that may be difficult, ABC is certainly counting on hooking viewers early and keeping their attention. Rather than pulling the average trivia geek off the street, Duel labels its contestants by occupation.

For example, in the first batch of 24 contestants, we have The Lunch Lady, The Belly Dancer, The Used Car Salesman, and The Telemarketer, among others. By drawing from a diverse background, Duel intends to have the home viewer make an attachment to their favorite player, and hopefully stay with the program for the duration. Smack talking among the contestants seems to be not only tolerated, but encouraged, and adds additional entertainment value to each duel.

Duel is hosted by Mike Greenberg, of ESPN's Mike and Mike in the Morning radio show. Greenberg does an adequate job of keeping the game moving, however does not bring any real comedic value to the program. The ever present game show requirement, the female hostess, is also fulfilled in the form of two chip girls, Jennifer Aguero and Olivia Fox.

Duel will face stiff competition from the start, as NBC premiers its own game/reality show Clash of the Choirs on Monday night as well. If Duel holds its own in the ratings numbers during this one week trial, expect to see it quickly return. The ongoing writers strike will insure the quick renewal of any new game show that strikes a chord with the viewing public.

I don't know about you, but I don't live close to town.  You look any direction out of my home's windows or doors, and you are going to see fields.  This has its advantages, and its disadvantages.  One disadvantage, if I am working on or planning a new craft project, I can't just run to the craft store real quick.  It is much more convenient for me to find what I need online.

Convenience is not the only reason to shop online.  You can find some great deals online that you ...


I don't know about you, but I don't live close to town.  You look any direction out of my home's windows or doors, and you are going to see fields.  This has its advantages, and its disadvantages.  One disadvantage, if I am working on or planning a new craft project, I can't just run to the craft store real quick.  It is much more convenient for me to find what I need online.

Convenience is not the only reason to shop online.  You can find some great deals online that you may not find in a craft store.  However, before you rush to your computer, there are some things that you should always keep in mind when shopping online.

Check the websites of craft stores you typically shop at.  Michaels, JoAnn Fabrics, and Hobby Lobby all have websites..  You can also look at other reputable online stores like http://Amazon.com.  Other websites geared directly toward selling craft supplies include Moore's, Create for Less, and sunshinecrafts.

If you haven't checked out ebay before, now may be a good time to start.  Lots of crafters who have extra supplies, fabrics, or other materials that they are not going to use will put those extras on ebay for a very reasonable price.  The key is – shop names that you know.  If you don't know the names of any good online stores, ask around.  See where your friends or colleagues have had good luck finding quality supplies at good prices.

There are other things to consider before you skip the craft store for an online store.  What is their return policy?  Make sure that you are able to return a product before you purchase it.  Know whether or not it has to be returned within a certain amount of time, unopened, and if you are responsible for paying return postage.  What payment types do they accept? 

You are not going to be able to pick up and examine the product as you would in a craft store, so be sure you read everything about the product.  Pictures are great, but also read all the information they have listed.  Check their shipping rates.  It's not a great deal if the cost of shipping is outrageous.  Keep in mind that heavier and larger items are going to cost more to ship. 

Websites, much like physical craft stores, can give you great ideas for new projects.  You can find a lot of really good ideas, and free directions.  Often, these sites will give you a supply list that you can then use to order your products.

The downside to ordering your supplies online?  You have to wait!  If you put together a good shopping list, and need to be in town anyway, you could get the things you need from the craft store today, then you can get started on your project right away!

My recommendation is that you shop at both the craft store and online.  You never know what deals and what products you are going to find where.  It is always best to look at all your options.  Besides, what is better than spending an hour in the craft store looking at all the great things you could do!