The Secret Behind Harry Potter's Popularity
by: Eoghann Irving
Many articles have been written on the subject of Harry Potter and his remarkable appeal to the mass market, but that's not going to stop me putting in my five cents on the subject.
I came to Harry Potter late myself, having dismissed the books as something for children for several years. It was a silly dismissal on my part since I can name several children's books that I still happily read. However, a couple of years ago the staggering media coverage of the movies forced me to read the books to see what all the fuss was about. Since then, like most everyone else, I have been captivated.
I have read all of the Harry Potter books in order, watched the movies and read many articles about various aspects of both Harry and J.K. Rowling and I believe that I have identified two key elements in the success of Harry Potter. I make no claims that these are the only elements, but I believe they are central to its appeal to both children and adults.
GROWING UP ALONG WITH THE READER
One obvious feature of the Harry Potter novels is that Harry ages. With each book, a year goes by. While this is not unique to Harry Potter, it is unusual for a writer to stick with a single feature character over so many years. Particularly when those years encompass the key ages of ten through seventeen.
As a result of this, and the fact that the books have come out over an approximately nine year period (most likely ten by the time the final book is published), the children who read the Harry Potter and the Sorceror's/Philosopher's Stone have effectively grown up with Harry Potter.
Whether by accident or design, it seems that J. K. Rowling has reflected that increasing maturity in both Harry and her audience by telling tells that become progressively darker and more complex in their characterization.
This reflection of Harry's growth towards adulthood conveniently mirrors the same growth that Rowling's core audience was experiencing. It also has the side benefit of attracting the interest of adults, many of whom became aware of the books through their children but discovered something with a little more depth than the average children's tale.
So the increasing sophistication helped Harry Potter capture an ever larger audience, but what was it that appealed to them in the first place?
THE IMPORTANCE OF ARCHETYPES
The Harry Potter books are packed full of archetypes. From the Dursely's, a family that will be very familiar to anyone who has read the works of Roald Dahl, to Lord Voldemort (Tolkien anyone?), to the boarding school environment (a setting used in many older British children's books) to the magical creatures which inhabit Harry Potter's world.
Now, it's important to be clear on this point. I am not suggesting plagiarism. Those allegations have been made and in each case, clearly showed to be false. No I am talking here about archetypes:
"the original pattern or model from which all things of the same kind are copied or on which they are based
How To Cope When You Are Surrounded By Idiots
by: Ben Goode
Are the idiots in your life driving you crazy? Do you often feel like you are surrounded by idiots? Have you ever wondered if YOU are an idiot? Do the idiotic C.Y.A. instructions on the packaging of most products you buy these days make you feel like the world must think you are an idiot?
The following article contains lessons on stupidity. They cover things you should pretty much never do. There are many, many more lessons we could add, such as not floating face down in the septic tank or not applying your own tattoo with a wood burner and lead-based house paint, but these are normally material for a post-graduate stupidity course. You probably shouldn't attempt to comprehend these high-level concepts until you have mastered the more basic skills.
Experience has shown that the louder you yell the principle to the idiot pupil in question the better the procedure works. (OK, a little honesty here would probably be good. The truth is, shouting the lessons probably won't have much of an effect on the idiot, because as we all know, he/she is an idiot, but it will probably make you feel a little better).
Here are a few suggestions that could change your life if you are someone who is struggling with idiots in your life. If you are an idiot, try to find someone to read these principles to you and then apply them. If you are surrounded by idiots or if you have a loved one who has idiotic tendencies, you will probably want to teach these principles to the idiots in your life. You never know. It might just help.
1. You should never try to lick the bottom of the blender while the blades are still turning.
2. Never drink quarts of vinegar while eating boxes of baking soda.
3. Never clean up nitro-glycerin or unstable nuclear waste with a vacuum cleaner.
4. Never let friends hit you over the head with a baseball bat unless you are wearing a good helmet.
5. Never adjust your TV antenna during a lightening storm.
6. You shouldn't smoke while siphoning gasoline.
7. Don't microwave dynamite.
8. Never dry your hair with a blow torch.
9. Never pick your scabs while swimming with sharks.
10. Never hang glide during a hurricane.
Vegetarian Recipes - A Way To Eating Healthy
by: Kelvin Hall
More and more people are choosing to eat a vegetarian diet because they know that veggies are healthful food. Using low calorie and vegetarian recipes is one of the most important things you can do to protect your heath and the health of your family since obesity is now an epidemic in the United States and other developed countries. Cooking them is still better than the alternatives to a vegetarian lifestyle or a vegan lifestyle, but we receive the most nutritional benefit from ingesting whole and organic raw foods. They will often include many of the vitamins, minerals, and sources of nutrition that every body needs. These low calorie recipes, usually high in fiber, protect against digestive disorders such as diverticulosis and may offer protection from colon and lung cancers. Many low calorie and vegetarian recipes use soy, tofu, dried beans and peas to add protein to meals. Using low calorie recipes will provide a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, grains and legumes, adding high amounts of all the essential vitamins and minerals. Subscribing to vegetarian magazines, scouring newspaper food sections, and visiting veggie websites will bring you a respectable number of recipes, but it's more convenient to have hundreds and hundreds in one place.
Including a few vegetarian recipes into your diet can quickly improve how you feel and can be part of an overall health plan that will improve your life. And contrary to popular belief, these recipes are full of the taste and enjoyment of many other foods you eat. Incorporating vegetarian recipes into any diet will bring variety and give healthy eating options. Plus, vegetarian cuisine is chockfull of dishes that are robust and flavorful, and a match for any standard meat dish. Such treats as squash with tofu, vegetarian paella, and baked figs with dried fruit and anisette may well convert some confirmed carnivores to part-time vegetarians. Many of these recipes cook faster than those made with meat.
As more people juggle trying to eat healthier with their busy lifestyles, they may find that Vegetarian slow cooking provides an answer. What I like best about slow cooker Vegetarian recipes is that the long, slow-cooking process enriches the flavor of the dish in a way that other cooking methods can't match. The gentle slow-cooking process actually draws more flavor out of the ingredients. In addition to convenience, slow cooking also scores high marks for taste and nutrition since the long cooking time allows both flavors and nutrients to concentrate in the food. While the slow cooker was once synonymous with cooking pot roasts and other meat dishes, just as my friend discovered, the Vegetarian cook will find a vast number of ways to use it.
Exploring vegetarian recipes is great simply to spice up the kitchen with something new. Whether you are choosing to eat vegetarian dishes as a permanent diet or as part of a healthier lifestyle, Vegetarian Recipes is packed with ideas to tempt the most committed carnivore.
čtvrtek 31. ledna 2008
úterý 29. ledna 2008
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pondělí 28. ledna 2008
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Fun Facts About Ice Cream
by: Alli Ross
To this day, the history of ice cream remains a mystery. However, many say that the first ice cream is credited to Emperor Nero of Rome. It was a mixture of snow, nectar, fruit pulp, and honey. Others proclaim that Marco Polo, a 13th century adventurer, brought ice cream to Europe from the Far East. However, regardless of where it came from, today's average American consumes 23.2 quarts of ice cream per year, with the first ice cream parlor in America opening in 1776 in New York City.
So, which countries like ice cream the most? The United States, New Zealand, Denmark, and Australia top the list. The favorite flavor is the classic vanilla. Then comes chocolate, strawberry, neapolitan, and chocolate chip.
How do these line up with your own list of favorites?
The most popular topping for ice cream --- chocolate syrup. Who would of thought ; )
Around 13% of men and 8% of women will admit to licking the bowl clean after eating ice cream.
Biggest ice cream sundae - 12 ft tall! This one was made with 4,667 gallons of ice cream in California in 1985.
The average single-scoop ice cream cone takes 50 licks to finish. Try it out with the following recipe.
Quick Strawberry Parfait:
Ingredients
1 quart of strawberry ice cream
1 pint of whipped cream
Instructions
Mix the strawberry ice cream with the whipped cream at serving time. Serve in a glass of your choice and top with whipped cream, with a strawberry on top. (Feel free to top your parfait with other fruits as well.)
This recipe will fill eight glasses.
For other parfait flavors, simply use a different flavored ice cream.
Unusual Baby Names - A Popular Trend
by: Alli Ross
Parents today seem to be favoring unusual baby names. At one point in history, over half of the children born were given popular names. No more. Today's trend is to break with the traditional. Your picking a name because you love it, not because of what everybody else thinks of it.
A name is central to a child's earliest sense of identity. It's often the first word he or she learns to read and write. Naming trends of today are defined by celebrities, literary classics, and even name brands. Look no further than your favorite book, car, or brand for baby name ideas. Names like "Armani", "Del Monte", "Infiniti", "Celica", "Chevy", and "Lexus" are increasing in popularity.
So, how do you go about finding an unusual baby name? Believe it or not, celebrities are a great source of unusual baby names. There has recently been a major trend amongst celebrities choosing unusual names for their children. Julia Roberts named her twins Hazel and Phinnaeus. Demi Moore and Bruce Willis are the parents of Rumer Glenn, Scout LaRue and Tallulah Belle. Gwyneth Paltrow and Coldplay singer Chris Martin recently named their child Apple. Sylvester Stallone has given his children the names Sage Moonblood and Sistine Rose. Courteney Cox Arquette and David Arquette are the proud parents of Coco and John Travolta and Kelly Preston named their boy Jett.
While you may not want to be quite this unusual, a creative name gives your child a unique identity and distinguishes them from all the James, John's, and Jacob's.
You can also get some great baby naming ideas from other countries. In Ireland, some of the most popular baby names are Cian, Dylan, and Conor. Germany likes the names Felix and Lucas while Norway prefers Andrian, Sander, and Tobias.
You could even make up your own baby names! Here are some tips on how to come up with original names.
Create a name from two names. You can combine two names that you really like. If you really like Sarah and Beth, you could combine them to form Sarah-Beth. If you like David and Daniel, you could form Daviel.
You could also start spelling names backward to come up with some unique combinations.
Another common technique that is being used is giving a traditional name a different spelling. So David might turn into Dayvid or Sierra could be Cyera.
You might also want to consider naming your child after cities, street names, or landmarks. Montanna, Everest, Shea, Austin, and Dakota all make for great baby names.
Whether you choose a name that expresses family loyalty and tradition or your own flare and originality, it is sure to be an exciting milestone. Take some time to choose a name that your child will enjoy for a lifetime. A name is forever.
Teen Drivers - Distractions and Other Risk Factors
by: Valerie Nay
Obviously, there are some pretty big differences in the danger factors between teen drivers and adults -- not the least of which are inexperience, risk taking, immaturity and greater risk exposure.
The good news is if we are paying attention, we can help kids stay more focused on safety as they navigate the teen driving years (and possibly reduce our own risks as fellow drivers).
The Facts:
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the crash rate per miles driven is four times higher for 15 to 20 year olds than for drivers over age 20. The National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration reports that motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death for younger drivers, and that distracted driving is a factor in one out of every four crashes.
What’s Behind It?
A recent policy statement “The Teen Driver” from the American Academy of Pediatrics cites these reasons teens are at greater risk:
* Lack of driver experience
* Young age at licensure
* Failure to use safety belts
* Inadequate hazard-perception skills
* Distraction (cellular phone, food, drink, music)
* Transporting teenaged passengers
* Nighttime driving
* Speeding and reckless driving
* Fatigue
* Unsafe vehicle choice
* Alcohol use
* Drug or medication use
* Inadequate parental limit setting
* Unlicensed or revoked license
* ADHD
The Distractor Factor!
The study also reports a direct correlation between the chances of being in a car crash to the number of teen passengers. 16- to 17-year olds have a 40 percent higher risk of crashing when they have one friend in the car, 50 percent higher with two friends, and four times higher with three or more teen passengers!
The IIHS & NHTSA recommend the following for parents:
* Don’t rely solely on drivers' education – it may be convenient but typically it doesn’t do as good a job as a parent can at focusing on safety attitudes and decision making.
* Know the law – Restrictions on beginning drivers vary by state.
* Restrict night driving – it requires more skill and is generally more recreational – creating distraction and more risk taking.
* Restrict passengers – especially multiple teens. Nights are worse than days but passengers are always distractions for a beginning driver.
* Supervise practice driving – spread it over six months, continue even after full licensure and include night driving and a variety of other driving situations.
* Remember that you are a role model – practice safe driving yourself to increase the odds your child will drive safely.
* Require safety belt use – don’t assume, but insist that your child wear a safety belt at all times.
* Prohibit drinking – adopt a no-tolerance policy. Even a small amount of alcohol is an impairment to a teen.
* Choose vehicles for safety, not image – select cars with the best protection in a crash and avoid cars that encourage speeding.
* Make sure your child has emergency contact information with him or her at all times -- especially in the car.
Some parents use a written driving agreement to outline their expectations, set penalties and establish graduated driving privileges in advance. The elements of a driving agreement can include obeying laws, practicing safe behaviors and even maintaining the car.
Fun Facts About Ice Cream
by: Alli Ross
To this day, the history of ice cream remains a mystery. However, many say that the first ice cream is credited to Emperor Nero of Rome. It was a mixture of snow, nectar, fruit pulp, and honey. Others proclaim that Marco Polo, a 13th century adventurer, brought ice cream to Europe from the Far East. However, regardless of where it came from, today's average American consumes 23.2 quarts of ice cream per year, with the first ice cream parlor in America opening in 1776 in New York City.
So, which countries like ice cream the most? The United States, New Zealand, Denmark, and Australia top the list. The favorite flavor is the classic vanilla. Then comes chocolate, strawberry, neapolitan, and chocolate chip.
How do these line up with your own list of favorites?
The most popular topping for ice cream --- chocolate syrup. Who would of thought ; )
Around 13% of men and 8% of women will admit to licking the bowl clean after eating ice cream.
Biggest ice cream sundae - 12 ft tall! This one was made with 4,667 gallons of ice cream in California in 1985.
The average single-scoop ice cream cone takes 50 licks to finish. Try it out with the following recipe.
Quick Strawberry Parfait:
Ingredients
1 quart of strawberry ice cream
1 pint of whipped cream
Instructions
Mix the strawberry ice cream with the whipped cream at serving time. Serve in a glass of your choice and top with whipped cream, with a strawberry on top. (Feel free to top your parfait with other fruits as well.)
This recipe will fill eight glasses.
For other parfait flavors, simply use a different flavored ice cream.
Unusual Baby Names - A Popular Trend
by: Alli Ross
Parents today seem to be favoring unusual baby names. At one point in history, over half of the children born were given popular names. No more. Today's trend is to break with the traditional. Your picking a name because you love it, not because of what everybody else thinks of it.
A name is central to a child's earliest sense of identity. It's often the first word he or she learns to read and write. Naming trends of today are defined by celebrities, literary classics, and even name brands. Look no further than your favorite book, car, or brand for baby name ideas. Names like "Armani", "Del Monte", "Infiniti", "Celica", "Chevy", and "Lexus" are increasing in popularity.
So, how do you go about finding an unusual baby name? Believe it or not, celebrities are a great source of unusual baby names. There has recently been a major trend amongst celebrities choosing unusual names for their children. Julia Roberts named her twins Hazel and Phinnaeus. Demi Moore and Bruce Willis are the parents of Rumer Glenn, Scout LaRue and Tallulah Belle. Gwyneth Paltrow and Coldplay singer Chris Martin recently named their child Apple. Sylvester Stallone has given his children the names Sage Moonblood and Sistine Rose. Courteney Cox Arquette and David Arquette are the proud parents of Coco and John Travolta and Kelly Preston named their boy Jett.
While you may not want to be quite this unusual, a creative name gives your child a unique identity and distinguishes them from all the James, John's, and Jacob's.
You can also get some great baby naming ideas from other countries. In Ireland, some of the most popular baby names are Cian, Dylan, and Conor. Germany likes the names Felix and Lucas while Norway prefers Andrian, Sander, and Tobias.
You could even make up your own baby names! Here are some tips on how to come up with original names.
Create a name from two names. You can combine two names that you really like. If you really like Sarah and Beth, you could combine them to form Sarah-Beth. If you like David and Daniel, you could form Daviel.
You could also start spelling names backward to come up with some unique combinations.
Another common technique that is being used is giving a traditional name a different spelling. So David might turn into Dayvid or Sierra could be Cyera.
You might also want to consider naming your child after cities, street names, or landmarks. Montanna, Everest, Shea, Austin, and Dakota all make for great baby names.
Whether you choose a name that expresses family loyalty and tradition or your own flare and originality, it is sure to be an exciting milestone. Take some time to choose a name that your child will enjoy for a lifetime. A name is forever.
Teen Drivers - Distractions and Other Risk Factors
by: Valerie Nay
Obviously, there are some pretty big differences in the danger factors between teen drivers and adults -- not the least of which are inexperience, risk taking, immaturity and greater risk exposure.
The good news is if we are paying attention, we can help kids stay more focused on safety as they navigate the teen driving years (and possibly reduce our own risks as fellow drivers).
The Facts:
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the crash rate per miles driven is four times higher for 15 to 20 year olds than for drivers over age 20. The National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration reports that motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death for younger drivers, and that distracted driving is a factor in one out of every four crashes.
What’s Behind It?
A recent policy statement “The Teen Driver” from the American Academy of Pediatrics cites these reasons teens are at greater risk:
* Lack of driver experience
* Young age at licensure
* Failure to use safety belts
* Inadequate hazard-perception skills
* Distraction (cellular phone, food, drink, music)
* Transporting teenaged passengers
* Nighttime driving
* Speeding and reckless driving
* Fatigue
* Unsafe vehicle choice
* Alcohol use
* Drug or medication use
* Inadequate parental limit setting
* Unlicensed or revoked license
* ADHD
The Distractor Factor!
The study also reports a direct correlation between the chances of being in a car crash to the number of teen passengers. 16- to 17-year olds have a 40 percent higher risk of crashing when they have one friend in the car, 50 percent higher with two friends, and four times higher with three or more teen passengers!
The IIHS & NHTSA recommend the following for parents:
* Don’t rely solely on drivers' education – it may be convenient but typically it doesn’t do as good a job as a parent can at focusing on safety attitudes and decision making.
* Know the law – Restrictions on beginning drivers vary by state.
* Restrict night driving – it requires more skill and is generally more recreational – creating distraction and more risk taking.
* Restrict passengers – especially multiple teens. Nights are worse than days but passengers are always distractions for a beginning driver.
* Supervise practice driving – spread it over six months, continue even after full licensure and include night driving and a variety of other driving situations.
* Remember that you are a role model – practice safe driving yourself to increase the odds your child will drive safely.
* Require safety belt use – don’t assume, but insist that your child wear a safety belt at all times.
* Prohibit drinking – adopt a no-tolerance policy. Even a small amount of alcohol is an impairment to a teen.
* Choose vehicles for safety, not image – select cars with the best protection in a crash and avoid cars that encourage speeding.
* Make sure your child has emergency contact information with him or her at all times -- especially in the car.
Some parents use a written driving agreement to outline their expectations, set penalties and establish graduated driving privileges in advance. The elements of a driving agreement can include obeying laws, practicing safe behaviors and even maintaining the car.
Rodina
matka mother
mamka mum
otec father
táta dad
rodiče parents
prarodiče grandparents
pra-prarodiče great-grandparents
babička grandmother
bábinka grandma
dědeček grandfather
děda grandpa
bratr brother
sestra sister
sestřenice cousin
bratranec cousin
synovec nephew
neteř niece
syn son
dcera daughter
vnučka granddaughter
vnuk grandson
mamka mum
otec father
táta dad
rodiče parents
prarodiče grandparents
pra-prarodiče great-grandparents
babička grandmother
bábinka grandma
dědeček grandfather
děda grandpa
bratr brother
sestra sister
sestřenice cousin
bratranec cousin
synovec nephew
neteř niece
syn son
dcera daughter
vnučka granddaughter
vnuk grandson
časování slovesa mít
já mám I have got stažený tvar I've got
ty máš you have got you've got
on he has got he's got
ona má she has got she's got
ono it has got it's got
my máme we have got we've got
vy máte you have got you've got
oni
ony they have got they've got
ona
ty máš you have got you've got
on he has got he's got
ona má she has got she's got
ono it has got it's got
my máme we have got we've got
vy máte you have got you've got
oni
ony they have got they've got
ona
neděle 27. ledna 2008
časování slovesa být
stažený tvar
já jsem I am já nejsem I am not I´m / I´m not
ty jsi you are ty nejsi you are not you´re / you aren´t
on he on he he´s
ona je she is ona není she is not she´s / isn´t
ono it ono it it´s
my jsme we are my nejsme we are not we´re/we aren´t
vy jste you are vy nejste you are not you´re/ you aren´t
oni oni
ony jso they are ony nejsou they are not they´re/ they aren´t
ona ona
já jsem I am já nejsem I am not I´m / I´m not
ty jsi you are ty nejsi you are not you´re / you aren´t
on he on he he´s
ona je she is ona není she is not she´s / isn´t
ono it ono it it´s
my jsme we are my nejsme we are not we´re/we aren´t
vy jste you are vy nejste you are not you´re/ you aren´t
oni oni
ony jso they are ony nejsou they are not they´re/ they aren´t
ona ona
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