Archive for the ‘Christmas Shopping’ Category
In Finland, Christmas Eve is the traditional time to set up the Christmas tree and it’s also traditional to visit the sauna and for families to listen to a broadcast of the national ‘Peace of Christmas’ on the radio. Read the rest of this entry »
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In New York, a style capital of the world, black is always a chic and fashionable selection. That’s even more so in the Fall and Winter seasons when dark colors are favored. But even the fashionistas who like somber colors add a bit of sparkle and cheer to Christmas and holiday clothing with some color, usually magnificent red.
Dominant colors at Christmas are red, black and white and a red scarf, or a white one, is a must-have accessory. Holiday-themed apparel with snowflakes, candy canes, stars, Christmas trees, are also popular during the season. Along with being colorful, they also convey the message that the person is fully embracing the spirit of the season and is in a festive mood. When individuals wear holiday-themed apparel, they are therefore radiating a positive attitude and giving the signal that it is pleasant to be around them. After all, nobody wants to be around the ‘grumpy bah-humbug’ type of personalities during the Christmas season. Read the rest of this entry »
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Christmas is a special time of the year for the joy and intangible magic that fills the season. It comes through in the delightful Christmas decorations, glorious get-togethers with family and friends and the sheer feeling of joy one gets from giving and receiving gifts.
Although the commercialization of Christmas is often decried, shopping is an important and central activity to some of the intangible magic of Christmas. It is at the malls or downtown stores that some of the favorite sights, sounds and scents of Christmas can be experienced. Read the rest of this entry »
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Maybe it’s the undeniable alliterative appeal of Rudolph the Red-Nosed reindeer that makes him the most known or popular of all Santa’s nine flying reindeers. It certainly doesn’t seem as easy to come up with a similar catchy description for the others – Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen – as named in the song. Read the rest of this entry »
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James Cameron’s Avatar the Movie is Christmas 2009′s blockbuster of the year Release. It was 15 years in the making but it has been well worth the wait. Avatar is a major franchise with tons of merchandising: figurines, books, clothes and of course, a variation of Avatar the Game for each gaming platform.
Figurines
Many of the movie character figurines are tipped to become collectible items and would make wonderful Xmas presents for movie fans and action figure collectors of all ages.
The magnificient graphics and compelling story line is sure to grab all who see Avatar the Movie’s and children of all ages are going to want to collect the figurines.
An added bonus that comes with each figurine are the iTags which can be used to play an “augmented reality game via webcam.” What that means is that you can hold these iTags up in front of a webcam attached to a laptop or PC and you are logged onto the Avatar web site. Depending on which figurine/s you have, you will be able to control their 3-D character images, vehicles, armaments or creatures and have them interact with each other, fight, move through the envrionment and so on. iTags will be have value in their own right and be collectible and tradeable like collectors cards.
Figures released: Jake Sully, Colonel Miles Quaritch, Corporal Lyle Wainfleet, Dr. Grace Augustine, Norm Spellman, Neytiri, Private Sean Fike, Tsu‘Tey, AMP Suit, Direhorse, Banshee, RDA Grinder, Thanator, Leonopteryx, RDA Dragon Gunship, RDA Scorpion Gunship, Eytukan, Trudy Chacon, Jake Sully with Interactive Battle Pack
The Music
The soundrack for the Movie “Avatar” was released on December 15th 2009. It features music composed and conducted by Academy Award-winner James Horner (Titanic, A Beautiful Mind, An American Tail). The Album is available as an album or in individual track downloads.
Track List:
- “You don’t dream in cryo. ….” (Album Version) James Horner 6:09
- Jake enters his avatar world (Album Version) James Horner 5:24
- Pure spirits of the forest (Album Version) James Horner 8:49
- The bioluminescence of the night (Album Version) James Horner 3:37
- Becoming one of “The People” Becoming one with Neytiri (Album Version) James Horner 7:43
- Climbing up “Iknimaya – The Path to Heaven” (Album Version) James Horner 3:18
- Jake’s first flight (Album Version) James Horner 4:50
- Scorched earth (Album Version) James Horner 3:32
- Quaritch (Album Version) James Horner 5:01
- The destruction of Hometree (Album Version) James Horner 6:47
- Shutting down Grace’s lab (Album Version) James Horner 2:47
- Gathering all the Na’vi clans for battle (Album Version) James Horner 5:14
- War (Album Version) James Horner 11:21
- I See You [Theme from Avatar] (Album Version) Leona Lewis 4:20
Avatar the Game
Avatar the Game released for PSP/ PS3 / Xbox 360 / PC – Windows 7, Windows Vista, XP / Nintendo DS / Nintendo Wii
Do not get confused with “Avatar: The Last Airbender” or “Avatar: The Burning Earth.” These games are based on the Animated TV Series and not connect with the Movie in any way.
The Avatar the Game released for PS3 / Xbox 360 / PC – Windows 7, Windows Vista, & XP are all the same game but there are variations for other consoles.
Avatar the Game released for DS & DSi are a simpler, less complex game than that of the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. It is, however, no less challenging.
Avatar the Game released for the PSP is similar but has many differences to the DS & DSi version of the game.
Avatar the Game released for Nintendo DS & DSi are again different from the PS3, Xbox 360, & PC. They are not major differences but enough for the gamer.
Avatar the Game released for Nintendo Wii has quiet a number of changes although the story line remains the same. The Game is designed to work with the with the Wii Blaster Controller attachment, Wii Balance Board & Wii Motion Plus Controller. It is very definately a work out game!
The PSP Game Avatar is based on the James Cameron’s 2009 released movie “Avatar” is in time to be a smoking hot PSP Game for the Christmas Gift season along with all the rest of the Avatar Movie merchandise and particularly the action figures which come with the i-Tag.
Genre: Action/Adventure Platform
Developer: Ubisoft
Ubisoft Website: www.avatargame.us.ubi.com
Characters you will encounter include:
RDA Commander Falco (Falco is a lifelong soldier who has fought with honor and duty without ever being truly rewarded for his efforts. When Falco won the assignment to Pandora, it was like hitting the jackpot. Second only to Colonel Quaritch in the RDA command structure, Falco aims to skim whatever he can from a planet teeming with abundance. Standing in the way of this, of course, are the Na’vi. Falco embodies “might makes right”, believing a bigger AMP Suit grants him moral authority. Control the planet, you control its wealth.)
RDA Kendra Midori (In spite of her assignment to research methods to make the atmosphere breathable for humans, Kendra became enamored of the planet’s ecosystem and its myriad of riches. Eventually, Kendra undergoes a profound change: she begins to understand the true nature of the conflict between Corp and the Na’vi, a conflict that sees both sides unwilling to reach a place of peaceful co‐existence. Kendra is soon forced to walk the fine line between her own personal survival and the survival of her lifelong ideals. In the end, she chooses to side with the one thing that has come to matter the most to her: the planet Pandora itself.)
RDA Dr. René Harper (Nearly ten years into his mission, Harper has proven a pe asp o e his worth as a top notch Xenolinguist in the Avatar Program. Specializing in the primitive language of the moon’s native inhabitants, his primary mandate is to accelerate the Na’vi’s understanding of Earth‐based languages, thus minimizing unwanted misunderstanding between the two cultures. Harper was instrumental in the formation of the Na’vi school and was one of the core instructors in educating the Na’vi on human language and customs.)
Na‘vi Beyda’amo (Beyda’amo is a powerful and respected Na’vi warrior whose grim persona and stern leadership have earned him a place of high regard within the Hadamaya. In addition to his formidable talents as a warrior and his uncompromising leadership skills, Beyda’amo is also a master Banshee rider, unrivaled among the People for adeptness on his airborne mount. He wears the scars from wounds delivered by a Pandoran beast across his body like a badge of honor. Beyda’amo’s actions represent a long dormant ideology in the Na’vi culture; a war‐like creed awoken by the human incursion into their lands. The homeland must be defended. Now is the time to fight.)
Na’vi Tan Jala (Tan Jala is a senior member the Hadamaya Clan, a warrior known for his wise words and honest perspective. Soon, the humans’ affronts to the land become impossible for Tan Jala to ignore or excuse. While he understood the frustration of warriors like Beyda’amo, he knows there is still much to be gained by a peaceful bond with the Sky People. Tan Jala believes in reaching out with an open hand to the humans rather than striking out with a fist. Peace and harmony are the way of the Na’vi.)
Creatures you will encounter include:
Thanator (Pandora’s top jungle predator, the Thanator is the perfect combination of agility, speed, and raw power. Getting anywhere near its powerful teeth and claws is an experience few have been able to survive. The Thanator can detect prey from miles away, so don’t expect that you’ll be able to avoid or surprise one if it lies in your path. Even the Na’vi, known for their courage and communion with their natural environment, have little else to say but warnings about the might of the Thanator.)
Mountain Banshee or Forest Banshee (The mountain banshee (like its smaller cousin, the forest banshee) is highly adapted for flight. Its bones are hollow and air‐filled. Specially developed muscles attached to the breastbone allow for the powerful strokes needed to achieve lift. Its torso is stiffened by fused backbones that provide support for the wings)
Viperwolf (Viperwolves, although not the largest beasts on Pandora, can be quite a lot to handle when they attack in packs, or at night, when they’re out on hunting sorties. Certain varieties of viperwolves have the ability to fully camouflage themselves in their surroundings, making them nearly impossible to detect and defend against.)
Hammerhead aka Titanothere (This massive, grazing creature travels in small herds or packs. It is moderately social, but also extremely territorial and hierarchical. Constant threat displays, both visible and audible, are a large part of the titanothere’s day. When angered (which happens easily and often), a titanothere will lower its head and charge at the perceived threat. The sheer momentum and ferocity of this display is usually enough to send any Pandoran creature running for cover.)
Tapirus (The Tapirus is one of the few nonaggressive creatures of Pandora. During the day, the can be found wandering the forest fringe and the plains in small groups. At night they assemble in the jungle for protection. Although not immediately dangerous, one should always avoid harming Tapirus unnecessarily, as their shrill cries are likely to attract the attention of larger (and more dangerous) predators.)
Direhorse (When wild, direhorses move together in a loose herd through the forests, feeding on tree bark and shrubs. Herds numbering in the dozens have been spotted from aircraft, but evidence (including scatological and plant impact) suggests that herds of over one hundred animals are not uncommon. The animals are easily startled, and, when all six legs are working in unison, can reach formidable speeds. The direhorse is larger by a third than the largest Terran draft horses such as the Clydesdale or the Percheron, and substantially larger than the biggest horse ever recorded on Earth.)
Vehicles you will encounter:
AMP Suit or Amplified Mobility Platform (The Amplified Mobility Platform, or AMP Suit, despite its significant bulk and stature (it stands nearly 4 meters, or 13 feet tall), is surprisingly nimble in combat. Controlled through gesture recognition by the pilot safely housed in the torso cockpit, the AMP Suit wields a powerful swivel GAU‐90 rotary cannon. This combination of deadly ordnance and groundshuddering power, makes the AMP Suit one of the most feared opponents of the Na’vi.)
SA-2 Samson Transport (The Samson Transport is truly the workhorse of the RDA fleet on Pandora. Its independent tilt‐rotors can stabilize heavy troop and armament loads while maintaining a high degree of manoeuvrability in order to avoid any unwanted attention. The Samson can be rigged with a variety of hull or skid‐mounted artillery when outfitting for missions into unknown or Na’vi controlled territory.)
Swan (In the thick of the jungle and the vast expanse of the plains on Pandora, you’ll be thankful that you left Hell’s Gate with nothing but the best equipment on six wheels: The Swan. This all‐terrain Ground Assault Vehicle (GAV) is built to take a bump, with its permalloy armor, and deliver a crushing blow to anything in its path, with four turretmounted sixty millimeter rotary cannons.)
Other Avatar Figures, Animals & Vehicles of Interest
Jake Sully (Human/Na’vi Avatar)
Neytiri (Na’vi)
Tsu’Tey (Na’vi)
Eytukan (Na’vi)
Direhorse (Na’vi Creature)
Mountain Banshee (Na’vi Creature)
Thanator (Na’vi Creature)
Leonopteryx (Na’vi Creature)
RDA Dr. Grace Augustine (Human/Na’vi Avatar)
Norm Spellman (Human/Na’vi Avatar)
RDA Colonel Miles Quaritch (Human)
RDA Corporal Lyle Wainfleet (Human)
RDA Private Sean Fike (Human)
Trudy Chacon (Human)
RDA Combat AMP Suit (Vehicle)
RDA Military Grinder (Vehicle)
RDA Dragon Gunship (Vehicle)
RDA Scorpion Gunship (Vehicle)
Movies related to Christmas help to create a fun atmosphere and can also teach moral lessons related to Christmas. While everyone will have different Christmas movies that are most enjoyable, there are some that remain favorites. Read the rest of this entry »
Some of the best toys I had when I was a kid weren’t really even toys at all. There was a large rock by the edge a stream that ran along the back of our house. That rock was a canoe during my Native American play, a stage when I needed an audience, a fishing boat, a car, a planet, and of course, a rock in the middle of Nestaria, my beautiful make believe world where fairies came to play with me. A long stick had some great potential as did the long breezy leaves of trees and cat tails. Those memories are ones nobody could have ever purchased for me, and of course, the initiation of growing my developing imagination has paid off even today in the form of my career. As perfect as those toys were for me, I don’t think many children would get overly excited to wake up Christmas morning or their birthday to find a large rock wrapped in bulky paper topped with a special stick.
At the same time, when a child is ranting and wailing and making one of those lusciously embarrassing scenes in public because they have been told that horrible temper tantrum word, “No,” I often want to suggest giving the kid a big rock and a special stick simply so they can learn that they really don’t need the momentary object of their tantrum. But in today”s world parents who give their children rocks and sticks for special gift giving occasions aren’t considered very good parents.
So, what is a person with a child to buy for to do? We all know that there are mind numbing warnings out there about the overuse of electronic toys and video games. However, these mind numbing toys can actually teach kids a few things like persistence, problem solving skills, eye hand coordination, and with appropriate parental interference, self discipline. Electronic toys really only become terribly inappropriate when a parent realizes what an excellent baby sitter it can be and allows for its near constant use. However, before purchasing any type of game console beyond the educational type, if its not your child, be sure to talk to the parent first. Its not really fair to dangle an Xbox 360 in front of the child and then force the parent to become the bad guy when they disallow its use in the home. It can get messy. Communication can prevent messes.
As for the electronic education gadgets, of which there are numerous types, there has been a tremendous leap forward in electronic education. Someone finally figured out how to make them intoxicatingly fun for kids. The pay off for these types of toys can be tremendous, as kids learn so much from them while being tricked, since they truly feel they are playing a game. Games like Pink Tag Reading System fromLeapfrog, Robosapien and Lego Mindstorm. You should still breeze this idea with’ a childs parent before running out there and snagging up electronic toys, as some parents are still resistant to the idea.
Venturing back into my land of the stick and rock for a minute, what made those the best toys in the world was their versatility. They lasted for years because they could grow with me, change with me, at my own command. As my games changed, my “toys” could change with me. Some very smart toy makers have created a few of these toys for kids that resemble actual toys and less like bits of nature. Toys that have these qualities may only last two years, but at least there is still a growing aspect that allows a kid to develop at his or her own rate while playing the games and fantasies that they construct in their minds. This type of imaginative play is phenomenally important to healthy development and learning skills.
Despite the fact that children will tell you that the best toys are those that provide them with simple entertainment, the truth is (and some day they will look back and willingly admit this) the best toys are those that encourage them to use their imagination, to create, to ponder, and even to destroy. Learning to live in this world is difficult. Learning to create in this world is a blessing. To learn to create something from nearly nothing is a huge gift. The old favorites like Legos, Playmobil and Play-Doh are of course excellent for younger children, while art supplies, building toys, and toys that encourage creative play are perfect for school aged kids. Without the use of their imaginations, we strip children of their brightest chances, and we strip society with what they may have one day created had their imaginations been encouraged to fester and create.
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Because Christmas is a time to be with family, loved ones and friends, it is one of the busiest times of the year to travel. People locally, to different regions and to international destinations to share Christmas dinners, exchange gifts and recall fond memories they have of the season. There’s also travel for entertainment reasons that’s done by tourists within the country or from abroad. And even on Christmas Day, the highways are busy with vehicles as relatives and friends travel between towns and states to spend the day together. Read the rest of this entry »
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The day after Thanksgiving is commonly referred to as “Black Friday”. This day is traditionally one of the busiest shopping days of the years and for many signifies the first day of Christmas shopping. While the term black Friday was originally used to represent the day in which retailers returned to profitability many who work in the retail industry use this term as a way to describe the crowds and chaos which accompany Christmas shopping on the day after Thanksgiving. Likewise consumers expect significant sales to go along with the large crowds which flock to stores. Read the rest of this entry »
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Several times a year retailers offer big sales on many of their items. Some of these times include President’s Day, Easter, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and of course Christmas. Retailers hold sale events during these times of year to encourage shoppers to get out and make some big purchases. The last minute Christmas shopping frenzy which takes place each year can be largely attributed to the sale events at Christmas time. Many shoppers specifically wait until the last minute to do their Christmas shopping because they know many items will go on sale at this time. While this is an excellent way to save money, savvy Christmas shoppers know that doing a little bit of their Christmas shopping at these other sales during the year can help to ease the stress and financial burdens often associated with last minute Christmas shopping. Read the rest of this entry »
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- The Fame Monster (Deluxe Version) - Lady GaGa
- iTunes Session - Natalie Merchant
- Sigh No More - Mumford & Sons
- Step Up 3D (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) [Deluxe Version] - Various Artists
- Brothers (Deluxe) - The Black Keys
- To the Sea - Jack Johnson
- The Remix - Lady GaGa
- Need You Now - Lady Antebellum
- Inception (Music from the Motion Picture) - Hans Zimmer
- Lungs - Florence + The Machine
