The Best Of A Few Famous Actors

By Tammy Sanders

It's fun to swap opinions on favorite movies and favorite actors. Everybody has an opinion and none is more right or wrong but everyone has their own favorites that they like. Some actors shock us with their enormous talent, some actors are pretty to look at and then of course some are both of those things. Occasionally we admire an actor more for what he does away from the movie set as for what they do onscreen since some actors are just impressive people who use their fame and fortune to aid others who are less fortunate throughout the world.

It's pretty amazing to think that Tom Hanks started out on a little and kooky TV show called "Bosom Buddies". Who would have thought that he would boast the talent to pull off such great roles as Andrew Beckett, a gay lawyer who is infected with AIDS, who is fired from his conservative law firm because of the fear that they may also contract the disease. He won his first Academy Award for that role in 1993 and it was well deserved.

And in 1994, he became just the second actor in history to win back-to-back Oscars as he again took home the award, this time for "Forrest Gump". Yes, there are also many other great movies from the funny and sweet like "Big" to the more serious like "Castaway" where his co-star was in fact a volleyball.

Brad Pitt has been adored for his good looks ever since he charmed us in the 1991 film "Thelma and Louise". However he hasn't always played the pretty boy roles. Remember "Seven" and "Twelve Monkeys" both from 1995? Sometimes his personal life seems to eclipse his acting roles but the most notable thing about Brad Pitt is that he has been especially active in humanitarian causes throughout the world and he has donated huge sums of his money to these causes.

Brad Pitt founded the "Make It Right Foundation" to assist the citizens of New Orleans following the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina. The idea was to be a catalyst for the redevelopment of the Lower 9th Ward in New Orleans by building homes that were reasonably priced, sustainable and true to the culture of New Orleans. The goal was to complete it quickly so that the residents could return as soon as possible. Here is where he has had true achievement.

And that brings us to another great actor who is also known for his philanthropy. Paul Newman left us as he passed away this past year on September 26, 2008. During his life he entertained us with many great movies such as "Road to Perdition" in 2002, "The Color Of Money" in 1986, "Absence Of Malice" in 1981. He also played the leading role in the well known and much loved favorite "Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid" from clear back in 1969. Of course he played in a lengthy number of other impressive movies too.

But like Brad Pitt, Paul Newman was also known for his charity. In 1982 with a colleague he created a line of food products called "Newman's Own". It started with salad dressing and ever since then it has expanded to include pasta sauce, lemonade, popcorn, salsa, cookies and other items. Newman established a policy that all of the proceeds from Newman's Own, after taxes, would be donated to charity. As of early 2006, the business had donated in excess of $250 million.

Our favorite movies and favorite actors and actresses may vary from time to time. We may love them for their talent or for other reasons but now that we can download full length, high quality movies from the Internet instantly we don't have to miss any more of the movies that we intend to see. - 18418

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Live Music Concerts - The Power

By Ian Sawyer

When considering the power of Live music, it's easy to be quite literal. For instance, I remember attending a Tool concert at a small arena in Massachusetts around the time they released the popular Lateralus. My girlfriend, at the time, and myself took our positions on the general admission floor somewhat early and were present for a bit of the bass tech's sound check. Each strum of Justin Chancellor's significantly tuned-down bass guitar actually seemed to lift us off the floor and make our hair stand on end. I found it quite exhilarating.

Its funny to note that my girlfriend was reduced to a nauseous mess even before the concert began. She claimed it was the Fast-Food we ate before the show that drove her, vomiting, to the women's room as Tool took the stage. Days later, when talking to a friend who knows a thing or two about the science of sound, I confirmed what I had suspected: it turns out that incredibly powerful low-end frequencies can effect the physical constitution of a concertgoer. Tool had claimed the stomach of my girlfriend.

Live music can be powerful in a philosophical sense, as well. I've attended plenty of concerts where the next morning I felt a hollow sadness, and a longing to relive the previous night's glory. The hours before, during, and after a great concert can transport a music fan to a whole other world, regardless of any booze, drugs, or other chemical enhancements.

An intimacy is established with not just other concertgoers, but with the band itself. Why else would generations of Grateful Dead fans dedicate much of their lives to following a group of hippies around the country? Live performances are moving, both physically and emotionally.

In the course of live music history, a lot of things have changed since those early days of, say, Woodstock. Venues of every size, shape, and character have included speakeasy-like basements, local clubs, sports arenas, outdoor pavilions, and even massive stadiums. Through it all, the concentrated community that is established during each live show has maintained a unique electric bond. Sure, peaceful sway dancing has been replaced with the visceral, and sometimes violent, crush of sweating bodies.

Cell phones have replaced lighters as a fan's beacon of light. And general admission 'mosh' pits have replaced seated floor plans. Still, fans remain bound together under one raftered roof, held together by the occasional audience-sweeping spotlight, and the glorious chorus that everyone knows by heart.

The exciting audience makes each song their own as they sing along and pump their fists to the music. This, in the end, is the true power of live music-that it brings together masses of people who wouldn't otherwise give each other a second look or moment of acknowledgement. Whether in the brooding darkness of the club, or in the brilliant afternoon sunshine of a football stadium, when our favorite band is onstage, we all rock together as one. - 18418

About the Author:

Ian Sawyer is a Freelance Writer for YouMusic.com, The Social Networking Site for Musicians, Featuring a vibrant Music Community has Music Chat Rooms, Music Forums, Music Blogs, Instant Messaging, Music Groups and Concert Tickets Outlets to be able to Buy Concert Tickets Online

The Internet: Your new piano school

By Lynn Lopez

Learning how to play the piano has traditionally taken place in music schools on one's town or within one's home with the aid and instruction of a music teacher. This traditional method requires time, a lot of money, and the pressure to comply with the instructor's lessons and expectations. The same is true with learning, well, practically anything. Yet thanks to the Internet's seemingly permanent status as a veritable gold mine of information, the traditional method is being severely shaken up. Practically anything can be obtained from the Internet these days: how-tos on arts and crafts, recipes, tutorials on everything under the sun, including, yes, learning how to plan the piano.

Indeed, learning to play piano online has become a common recourse for anyone with a fervent wish to become an accomplished pianist--or at least anyone who wants to learn the basics--yet do not have the time and money to learn to play piano the traditional way.

Learning to play piano online is an entirely different experience from attending a weekly lesson. For one thing, you won't have an instructor to guide you along the way, so you'll be working on your own drive and steam. What you need first and foremost to learn to play piano online is a lot of discipline; you need the same trait when studying the piano traditionally, but more so when studying online, because you'll essentially just be teaching yourself, so you will really need to focus every time you sit down and study.

In your effort to learn to play piano online, you should do your research in order to make use of the best materials available to you. Start by looking up free online piano lessons; these will just require your time and effort, and will be greatly helpful to you if you're working with a tight budget.Some basic courses are available for free, while other more advanced classes may require some fees. There are basic lessons available for adults as well as children, so you can easily find a course that suits you. Such courses come with audio instructions and even video clips as well to better illustrate the points of each lesson.

Because you can learn to play piano online, it's clear that it's never too late for you to learn piano no matter how old you are. Just find the most suitable lessons for you, make the time to learn, and really throw yourself into every lesson to get the most out of each online piano course. - 18418

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Learn how to play piano chords and you will improve motor skills, increase you musical ability and impress your friends and family. Start today living a dream, by learning to play piano by chords and it will help you gain a whole new sense of self.

Wonderful Music Memories: My Time With U2 Live Music Concerts

By Ian Sawyer

Back in 1987, when I was 15 years old, my father took me to see U2 at, what was then, Foxboro Stadium. It was the Joshua Tree Tour, in support of their Grammy winning album that would go on to catapult them to the top of the rock 'n roll food chain. I was old enough to appreciate the vibrant synergy of the audience and the incredible hold the band had over so many people. But I was too young to fully commit to each song, and took away more of the awe of being amongst 50,000 people than the awe of being in the presence of Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr., and Adam Clayton. I remember squinting to see Bono, in a cowboy hat and an arm sling (he had separated his shoulder the night before in New York) because he was so far away. For days after the show, I wore my concert t-shirt with pride even though it was too big for me and hung lifelessly off my bony frame. My friends, and even some strangers, would praise me in the hallway, impressed that I had actually seen U2 live. One year later, the t-shirt would be worn through and reduced to a dust rag.

U2 returned to Foxboro in August of 1992, supporting Achtung Baby!, I had just turned 20. Things had certainly changed. While I wasn't technically of drinking age, I will admit that the pre-show tailgating before the concert was one of the most glorious times I'd ever had in a parking lotuntil then, at least. The show itself, featuring an immense stage, inspired set list, and compelling onstage antics, would go down in the history books as one the most over-the-top and impressive live concert events ever. To say that the crowd was into it is like saying a starving man is into filet mignon. It was awesome. Highlights of the Zoo TV Tour included a stage so tall that blinking air-traffic lights were required, a gorgeous belly dancer seducing Bono during "Mysterious Ways," and Bono phoning the White House to talk to President Bush between songs. In retrospect, the entire production was one long highlight.

5 years would go by before U2 returned to Foxboro, and I made sure I was there. The Popmart Tour, supporting a combination of POP and Zooropa came to town in July of 1997, and I was 25-a pretty good year all around. I was newly single, had a good job, and was living in the Boston area. I had already seen the band in Philadelphia on the same tour and was as big a fan as you could find back then. While many people consider POP and Zooropa to be less than stellar albums, at least by U2 standards, I've always found them quite enjoyable. Similarly, the Popmart Tour was considered, by some, to be weird and self-indulgent-a far cry from the successes of Zoo TV. The infamous giant lemon-shaped disco mirror ball, and the enormous yellow arch (suggesting half of the McDonald's golden arches) were meant to reflect the album's themes regarding pop culture and commercialism-elements that were lost on many concertgoers. However, I was a big fan of the set list and the techno-heavy nuances they brought to their songs, new and old.

In the 4 years between Zooropa and U2's next studio album, All That You Can't Leave Behind, the band shrugged off the flawed character-driven cultural study of the Popmart era and embraced their more personal lyric writing roots. Songs like "Beautiful Day" and "Walk On" were inspiring and uplifting. Appropriately named the Elevation Tour, U2 took the opportunity to leave outdoor stadiums behind, playing strictly arenas. Inside, U2's heart-shaped stage and cutting edge surround sound system were a welcome departure from the overwhelming grandeur of past tours. The Elevation Tour was more intimate, and more accessible for fans. I caught a couple shows at Boston's Fleet Center in June of 2001. Having an Irish-based affection for Boston, U2 pulls out all the stops when in town, and I am always proud to be present at a U2 concert in my hometown.

Nothing changed from the Elevation Tour to U2's next tour. Again taking place in arenas, the Vertigo Tour came to Boston's Fleet Center in December of 2005 in support of How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. The heart-shaped stage was now a giant circle, and a vast curtain of high-tech light bulbs surrounded the stage, making a floor-to-ceiling see-through screen. The stage was nearly centered in the arena and fans enjoyed seating pretty much all around the stage, upping the intimacy factor. The show I attended was one of the best sounding concerts I have ever been to and, as usual, the crowd was hanging on every guitar riff and vocal chorus.

U2 recently released No Line On The Horizon and is in the midst of warming up for their next world tour. On September 20, I'll be attending U2 360 in Foxboro. Early stage design research suggests that U2 will be playing in the middle of stadiums on a huge, circular, rotating stage. Reports claim that every seat in the place will afford fans a totally immersive experience. While ticket prices border on outrageous for high quality seats, I feel I owe it to myself to be as close to the band as possible since I've supported them on every tour since 1987. For almost 30 years U2 have provided me with a lifelong soundtrack that's gotten me though the best and worst of days. It's likely that this will be the last time I'll have this opportunity to enjoy the tailgating, the crowd, the stage, the lights, and, above all, the music. Hopefully it will feel more like a thank you than a goodbye. - 18418

About the Author:

Ian Sawyer is a Freelance Writer for YouMusic.com, The Social Networking Site for Musicians, Featuring a vibrant Music Community has Music Chat Rooms, Real-Time Music Forums, Blogs, Instant Messaging, Music Groups and Concert Tickets such as U2 Concert Tickets

Evaluate All In One Home Theater To Watch Downloaded Movies

By Linda Williams

Technology has expanded in such a way that we can now have movies at home with about the identical experience as a movie theater. However, technology can also be confusing and complicated and many people may not feel easy in knowing all of the gear and things they need for a terrific home theater system.

Avoiding the theaters saves time and energy, as it is so pleasant to have the experience right at home. For the persons who want a wonderful system but don't know where to start, they can now get an all in one home theater package. An all in one home theater package has all of the components that are vital to turn your family room into your own personal theater.

Keeping the cost down and making putting a home theater system together a lot easier is the objective behind an all in one home theater. The all in one home theater box is prompting more and more persons to renovate their leisure center in their home into a mini-sized movie theater.

One of the best things about purchasing an all in one home theater system is the fact that it is so realistically priced. Many packages begin as low as $200.00 but the complex systems can cost well into the thousands of dollars depending on a person's wishes and wants.

You can uncover an all in one home theater system at most electronic retail store and many national chains. The basic package as a rule has speakers, a surround sound system and a DVD player that comes in a compact package.

An all in one home theater system is planned to add to a room, not to engulf and take over. Some owners of an all in one home theater system often forget that they have one because the size of the speakers and DVD/CD unit are so efficient.

When a individual buys an all in one home theater system, they will uncover that all of the apparatus are very easy to install and even come with their own connection cables. An all in one home theater has very chief necessities of a TV with AV inputs and audio outputs as well as a DVD player. Most all in one home theater systems will come with its own remote control so that the entire system can be controlled from one principal location without various remotes.

Any home can enjoy the benefits of an all in one home theater system, as it is the great supplement to an entertainment area and a great way to view downloadable movies right at home. - 18418

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