Linda Wilson asked:


If you are planning a brunch and expecting diabetics to join you, following are some recipes that will insure you meet the needs of the diabetics in the group.  These recipes are also suitable for dieters and others.  This is not necessarily a complete brunch menu, but adding these recipes to your list will ensure that the diabetics have plenty to eat without worrying about their diets.

MINI CHEESE STUFFED TOMATOES

1 pint cherry tomatoes

8-oz cream cheese, softened

4 green onions, finely chopped

1 tsp garlic powder

paprika for garnish

Wash tomatoes and drain.  Pat dry with a paper towel.  Using a small spoon or knife, cut a thin layer off the top of each tomato and scoop out the seeds.  In a small mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, onions and garlic powder.  Mix to combine.  Fill the insides of the tomatoes with the cheese mixture.  Sprinkle with paprika for garnish.

BROCCOLI BITES

1 16-oz bag frozen broccoli pieces

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 cup mild shredded cheese

2 cups Pepperidge Farm stuffing

4 eggs

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 cup melted butter

1/2 tsp garlic salt

1/4 tsp thyme

Thaw broccoli slightly then break into pieces.  Beat butter, eggs, and stuffing together with wooden spoon.  Add remaining ingredients.  Form into appetizer-size balls and place on cookie sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees.

BACON TOMATO TARTLETS

12-oz can refrigerated flaky biscuits

6 slices bacon, cooked, drained and crumbled

1 medium tomato, seeded and diced

3/4 cup grated mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 tbsp fresh chopped basil

3/4 tsp garlic salt

1 tbsp fresh thyme

3/4 tsp chopped fresh oregano

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Split each biscuit into 3 layers.  Spray mini muffin pans lightly with non-stick cooking spray.  Press biscuit rounds into the tins.  Make only 24, not using the entire can of biscuits.  In a medium mixing bowl, mix the remaining ingredients together.  Fill each of the unbaked biscuit cups with the mixture.  Bake for 10 to 14 minutes or until slightly golden around the edges.

NOTE:  Can be made ahead and frozen for later use.  Bake, remove from pan, cool completely and freeze.  Reheat from frozen state for 10-14 minutes at 350 degrees on a cookie baking sheet.

OATMEAL-BLUEBERRY MUFFINS

1 cup + 2 tbsps flour

6 ounces uncooked regular oats

1 tbsp baking powder

2 tbsp Equal Sugar-Lite

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup skim milk

1 egg or 1/4 cup egg substitute

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 cup fresh blueberries

Vegetable cooking spray

1 tsp ground cinnamon

In a medium mixing bowl, combine flour, oats, baking powder, Equal and salt.  Make a well in the center of the mixture.

In a small mixing bowl, combine milk, egg and oil.  Add to the well of the dry ingredients.  Stir just until dry ingredients are moistened.  Gently fold the blueberries into the mixture.  Spray 12 muffin cups with vegetable oil spray.  Fill each cup 2/3 full of the batter.  Sprinkle cinnamon over the tops of the batter.  Bake at 425 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until lightly browned.

FRENCH TOAST STRATA

1/3 cup granulated sugar substitute (I use Splenda)

1 cup egg substitute

2/3 cup skim milk

3/4 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp maple-flavored extract

8 slices cinnamon-raisin bread

2 cups apples, peeled, cored, sliced thin

1/4 cup low-fat cream cheese

1 tbsp granulated sugar substitute (for this I use Equal Sugar-Lite)

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

  Spray an 8-inch square baking pan with non-stick cooking spray

In a medium mixing bowl, blend together 1/3 cup granulated sugar substitute, egg substitute, milk and extracts.  Tear bread into small pieces and toss into egg mixture.  Add apples.  Coat the bread evenly with mixture and pour into prepared pan.  Cut cream cheese into 8 pieces and place strategically over the top of mixture.  Blend cinnamon with 1 tablespoon of sugar substitute and sprinkle over the strata.  Covere and refrigerate overnight. 

Next morning preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Remove strata from fridge and bake 40-50 minutes or until lightly browned and set.  Serve immediately while hot.

Carbs 20g, Protein 7 g in each 1/8 of strata serving

FRUIT AND NUT BREAD

1/2 cup fresh blueberries

2 1/4 tsp baking powder

1/3 cup light olive oil

1/2 cup quick cooking oats

1 1/2 cups flour

2/3 cup Splenda

1/4 tsp salt (optional, according to diet)

1/2 cup egg substitute

1 cup mashed ripe bananas

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Sprinkle 2 teaspoons of the flour over blueberries.  Sift rest of the flour with Splenda, baking powder and salt.  Stir in oats.  Blend egg substitute, olive oil and banana together.  Combine dry ingredient mixture with banana mixture.  Stir in nuts.  Fold in blueberries.  Pour into a loaf pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray.  Bake one hour.  Cool ten minutes then remove from pan.  Allow to cool before slicing.

PUMPKIN SPICE SPREAD

1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, room temperature

1/2 cup canned pumpkin

1/2 cup Splenda

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp maple flavoring

1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1 small carton frozen whipped topping, thawed

In a large mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, pumpkin, Splenda, spices and flavorings.  Mix together well.  Fold in whipped topping.  Refrigerate until serving time.  Serve with graham crackers or gingerbread.

STRAWBERRY SPREAD

1 qt fresh strawberries

3/4 cup cold water, divided

2 tbsp lemon juice

1/4 tsp cinnamon

3 tbsp cornstarch

1 cup Equal Sugar-Lite

Wash, hull, finely coarsely chop berries.  Combine in a small dutch oven or other heavy saucepan, strawberries, 1/2 cup water, lemon juice and cinnamon.  Bring mixture to a boil, stirring well.  Dissolve cornstarch in the remaining cold water and add to the boiling mixture. Reduce the heat and simmer a couple of minutes or until mixture thickens, stirring occasionally.  Remove from the heat and cool.  Stir in Equal after mixture has cooled down. 

NOTE:  This is good spread on toast, bagels, or used anyway you might use jelly or jams. 

BROCCOLI, POTATO AND BACON QUICHE

1 bag (19 oz) frozen roasted potatoes with broccoli and cheese sauce

1 deep-dish pastry shell

4 eggs OR 1 cup egg substitute

2/3 cup lite whipping cream

7 slices bacon, cooked, drained, crumbled

1 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese

1 cup finely shredded low-fat cheddar cheese

1/2 tsp dried basil

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1/4 tsp parsley flakes

1 tsp finely chopped fresh chives

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Microwave vegetables as directed on package. In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs and whipping cream together with a wire whisk until well blended.  Stir in cooked vegetables along with the other ingredients except chives.  Pour into pastry shell and spread evenly.  Sprinkle chives over top.  Bake 30-40 minutes or until edge of filling is light golden brown and knife inserted in center comes out clean.  Let stand 5 minutes before cutting.

Note:  This recipe is adapted from a Pillsbury Bake-Off winning recipe.

MINI HAM & CHEESE FRITTATAS

1/4 lb cubed fully cooked lean ham

1 cup shredded fat-free cheddar cheese

1 1/2 cups egg substitute (or 6 eggs)

4 egg whites

3 tbsp minced chives

2 tbsp skim milk

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Coat 8 muffins cups with nonstick cooking spray.

Divide ham evenly among the 8 muffin cups.  Top ham with cheese.  In a large mixing bowl beat eggs or egg substitute with egg whites.  Beat in the chives, milk, salt and pepper.  Pour this mixture over the cheese in muffin cups.  Each cup should be about 3/4 full.  Bake 22-25 minutes or until a knife inserted near center comes out clean.  Carefully run a knife around edges to loosen.  Remove from pan and serve warm.

 BAKED OMELET ROLL

6 eggs or 1 1/2 cups egg substitute

1 cup low-fat milk

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 cup shredded low-fat cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. Place eggs and milk in blender.  Add flour, salt and pepper.  Cover and process until smooth.  Pour into prepared pan and bake for 20 minutes or until eggs are set.  Sprinkle with cheese.  Roll up omelet in pan starting with a short side.  Place seam down on a warm serving platter.   Cut into slices.  Garnish plate with some fresh parsley or cilantro. 

Enjoy!



Visit Singapore!

Mark Hirst asked:


Why are you looking so tense? Has something gone wrong at your work place? Is there some other problem? Do not let the tension seep inside you just ward it off. But how is it possible? Take a warm and relaxing bath and then switch on dim lights and put on your favorite music and lie down on the settee. You will find that within minutes your tension has left you and you are feeling both fresh and relaxed physically and mentally.

 

But do you think it is possible to relax in this manner everyday? No, it is not possible. In the same manner one company thought about this problem and came out with a solution. Which company and what type of solution? The company is the leader in the mobile phone market, Nokia and the solution is the highly advanced music and other entertainment system which it has introduced in its latest phone N95.

 

Kinds of Entertainment

 

N95 has provision for all kind of entertainment. If you love music it is the music center as it has the FM radio, inbuilt MP3 player and the visual radio. It also has the recording system and internet system so you can download the song of your choice and store it in the large memory space. Now you need not wait when you feel tense, you can just pull out your mobile and listen to music and release your tension. But please don’t try this in the conference room.

 

If you are not crazy about music you can go to the game section where you will find many interesting in built games which you can play to drive away all your tension and worries and pamper the child within you. Not impressed by the inbuilt games you can download the games from the internet and create your own gaming zone by storing the games in the memory and playing them whenever you feel like except while driving or working.

 



Singapore Tourist Attractions

Dane asked:


With over 50,000 students there are numerous entertainment venues around the University of Texas.  Austin is frequently referred to as the live music capital of Texas.  And although when people talk about the music scene in Austin they usually think of downtown the campus area also reflects this saying with nightspots such as the Hole in the Wall, which is an Austin institution and has been the home of many local recording artists for more than twenty-five years, as well as the U.T. campus itself, which hosts regular live music performances in the Cactus Café, which is adjacent to the student union and which is located in the West Mall area. There are also faculty-oriented clubs and restaurants such as the Campus Club, at the corner of 24th and Guadalupe, which offers a daily special and a variety of top-notch choices in a buffet-style setting.

Other notable establishments in or around the campus area include the Frank Erwin Center, which hosts Longhorn basketball, and many other national as well as local sporting events and concerts and is located on the eastern rim of campus, adjacent to Interstate 35. The Darrell K. Royal Memorial Stadium, which is a few blocks north of the Erwin Center,  is home to the University of Texas Longhorn football team, and nearby Disch-Falk Field hosts U.T. Longhorn baseball games, and is directly across the highway from Royal Memorial Stadium on Interstate 35. One of the largest Austin metropolitan area hospitals, Brackenridge-Seton Hospital, is also just a few blocks south of campus, and is the oldest public hospital in Texas. The hospital complex includes the Children’s Hospital of Austin and the University Medical Center, all of which offer first class medical treatment for acute as well as long term care, ample parking, and many other facilities in a very convenient location.

In addition to football and basketball, the university sports and recreation department provides track facilities, including one of the only lighted intramural fields in the country, at the intramural fields complex, which is situated along the intersection of 51st and Guadalupe Streets in the North Loop neighborhood. The complex is about a mile north of the campus itself, and the intramural fields are home to the U.T. Rugby team.    In the neighborhood of Hyde Park, just north of the University of Texas, there are also museums and golf courses including the Elizabet Ney Museum, which is one of the oldest museums in Texas. The Hancock Golf Course, which was established in 1899, is just a few blocks away as well, and allows golfers to play the course on a daily fee basis. All and all, the University of Texas campus area in Austin offers something for everyone, and is one of the most popular destinations for locals, University students and tourists alike.   There is always something to do on or near campus.



Arts and Entertainment Singapore

Ken Snow asked:


Apple has been continuously innovating on its iPods. Initial iPods were meant to be a storage and playback device for songs on the go. Then came the feature of storing photos, soon followed with podcast facility. The latest iPods can even playback videos for you and come with a whooping 30 GB or 60 GB hard disk option, which can store up to 150 hours of video. So if you own this latest gizmo, read on.

The next question is ‘Where can you get those iPod videos and how can you download them on your iPod? Well, there are many options for you to choose from. The simplest option is to purchase music videos, Pixar short films, or select TV episodes via iTunes 6. iTunes music store has more than 3000 music videos covering almost all the artists from all the genres and select popular TV shows from ABC, MTV, ESPN etc. You have an option of browsing, previewing and in case if you like them, downloading it for $1.99. Having downloaded the ‘no advertisements’ iPod videos, you can then share it with friends or burn it on a CD.

If you do not want to pay for these, don’t worry. The good news is that there is a lot of free iPod videos available on the Internet, provided you are looking at the right place. If you are familiar with BitTorrent, its search engine can track videos mainly encoded for iPod, especially the famous television shows. Another free category of available iPod videos is that of exercise videos. So go ahead, give your exercise regime a whole new meaning! Doesn’t satisfy you? Join the world of vodcasts and let the free iPod videos come to you without searching for them.

Are you a frequent traveler and miss your family a lot? You can even convert your favorite family videos into iPod videos. Just download the free software from ww.pqdvd.com and covert all the home videos to iPod videos in one click. The conversion speed is fast and it does not compromise on the video quality. You can also edit these videos. The other free software you can use is Videora or the 3GP Converter. For Mac users, Handbrake, iSquint or MovieToGo is a good choice. The other option of conversion is to utilize the ‘Convert Selection’ facility from the ‘Advanced Menu’ provided by iTunes. Though you will have to purchase an upgrade to Quicktime Pro, this does not need any extra software and you can convert your home movies in MOV, MPEG and MP4 format. Just synchronize it to your iPod and play on!

iPod videos can be a perfect gift for someone you love. Just buy and email an iPod video to a friend. If you are not sure of what the other person would like, just go ahead and print a gift certificate for an iPod video. It will be a gift that will remind the person of you, and rest assured, these will only be fond memories!



Entertainment Center

George S. Mc Quade III asked:


Sex dominates the content of a majority of TV shows, advertising and now the question begs of PR pros, where do we draw the line? How can Desperate Housewives or Baywatch not be about more than seeing hot, good looking people in extra martial neighborhood affairs or the newest swim suits. And now, new Las Vegas hotels have switched from the family fun themes to topless waitresses and entertainment at the new Casinos, pools and spas.

So this writer while attending the summer mixer at the Punch Grill in Santa Monica, CA, I couldn’t resist asking Entertainment Publicists Professional Society (EPPS) members where do we draw the line on Publicity for sex sells?

“Who are we to draw the line when it comes to sex sells in advertising or publicity,” said “Dr. Cynthia King, Cal-State Fullerton, Center for Entertainment and Tourism Studies” “I think you have to look at community standards to determine what’s appropriate and what audience. I find it’s interesting that any outlet would put a family angle given the historical experience in Vegas. It was an experiment that didn’t quite work, so it appears they’re going back to their roots.”

“I wish I was there now, although we have a pretty good substitute with us,” said Julian Myers, of Julian Myers PR, who also teaches entertainment publicity at UCLA. “As for publicist the more (of sex sells) the better,” he said.

“Sex sells very good,” said Author Kim Connet, who publicizing her own book called “Sex Secrets of America in Asia. “With a title like that sex sells, really helps the book sales.”

“It definitely works,” said Molly Capenella, account rep. for MarketWire, Los Angeles. “It is certainly a much more visual public relations and marketing culture than it ever was before, and if it has to be sex sells, I’m all for it.”

“I agree, it definitely gets your attention, and Las Vegas was never a family place anyway,” said Sherri Sibiski, west coast representative, MarketWire.

“Our biggest headline is ‘Mysterious Sexy’ so I think sex sells is a good thing,” said Courtney Jackson, publicist for high end Paris Fashion Designer Yves Castaldi. “For us we have incorporated sexy with classy, so there’s no trashy anymore, but rather mysterious, sleek and elegant.” “In Fashion, sex definitely sells, and the line we are doing is a little more conservative, and more tailored, clean and elegant, and I don’t know if we will follow the trend of sells. But, I really do think that you’re not going to appeal to the younger pop generation without someone that looks young and hot, someone they look up to,” said Morgan Olson, Yves Castaldi.

“I’m kind of tempered about it, because Las Vegas is taking on more show type, adult type of entertainment,” explained Ron Carter, The Carter Agency, Pasadena, which handles independent music artists. “10 or 20 years ago you wouldn’t see Celine Dion, Elton John Prince or Tony Braxton, but now they’re all in Vegas. Las Vegas used to known for the ‘has-beens’ and the few entertainers who meant anything to anybody. Because the city has taken on a whole new persona, Las Vegas is not the armpit of entertainment anymore.People should be able to take their kids to Vegas, but that’s not happening anymore,” said Carter.

The city is growing so fast, and you have all those big developers in and they don’t want to build things for kids, they’re thinking about building hotels for people who will come down there and spend a lot of money, and that’s really sad.”

“I think it is a positive direction that Las Vegas is going of sex sells is cool,” Lucia Singer, Berman Singer Public Relations, Los Angeles. “People always think sexy is cool, and they will also get people to visit to see how they are trying to promote themselves under the new sex appeals.”

The next EPPS event is an August 6th workshop entitled “Working with Fan Sites and Groups,” and will be held at the ICG Local 600 Auditorium, 7755 Sunset Boulevard

Hollywood, CA., 90046, 8:80 a.m. RSVPs at www.eppsonline.org.



Arts and Entertainment Singapore

Terry Reim asked:


Polynesian Cultural Center, Hawaii, located in Laie, Oahu about an hour’s drive from Waikiki, showcases 7 native Polynesian villages that give visitors the rare opportunity to participate in the daily adventures of Hawaiian and other South Pacific cultures. Together with the Center’s authentic luau and the world’s largest night show, the Polynesian Cultural Center has become the most popular paid visitor attraction in the Hawaiian islands..

All the Romance and Excitement of the South Pacific

Many South Pacific nations are represented at the Polynesian Cultural Center, where recreated villages, exhibits and hands-on activities highlight 8 of them: Samoa, Aotearoa (Maori New Zealand), Fiji, Hawaii, Marquesas, Tahiti, Tonga and Rapa Nui (Easter Island).

• Meet, learn about and interact with the people of Hawaii, Samoa, Maori New Zealand (Aotearoa), Fiji, Tahiti, the Marquesas and Tonga

• Watch Hawaii’s only canoe pageant

• Experience an authentic Hawaiian luau, a Hawaiian food feast and dinner-show feast fit for an ali’i (royal

chief) complete with Imu ceremony, Hawaiian dances, Hawaiian music and entertainment

• Enjoy our world-famous evening show, “Horizons: Where the Sea Meets the Sky”

• Enjoy family activities from all of Polynesia.

Founding of the Nonprofit Polynesian Cultural Center

The Center is a 42-acre facility on the North Shore of Oahu. Founded in 1963, the nonprofit Center was created so that the Pacific Island students of nearby Brigham Young University Hawaii could work their way through college by sharing their island heritage with visitors.

As early as 1844, missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (popularly called the Mormons) were working among the Polynesians in Tahiti and surrounding islands. Missionaries arrived in the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) in 1850. By 1865, the LDS Church had purchased the 6,000-acre plantation that encompasses all of Laie.

The students come from an area that covers approximately 12 million square miles of the Pacific Ocean. At the heart of the PCC experience are the island villages, which offer visitors a unique opportunity to learn about — and participate in — the customs of each island.

Travel Throughout Polynesia in a Single Day

Visitors are encouraged to take part in a number of authentic activities, representing everything from island games and crafts to food preparation and war training skills. An authentic Hawaiian luau, all-you-can-eat buffets, a canoe pageant, an IMAX™ theater, shops and the world’s largest evening show are all part of the experience.

With its large lagoon, waterfalls, lush tropical flora, and an “erupting” volcano, the Polynesian Cultural Center captures all the romance and excitement of the South Pacific islands. A visit here represents a chance to travel through Polynesia in a single day, and participate in the celebration of centuries of Polynesian culture — no passport is required.

Several villages provide more adventurous activities than the normal cultural presentations that have been scheduled throughout the day. These new activities now available include Spear Throwing, Fire Walking, Wood & Tiki Carving, Fire Pit Cooking, Tree Climbing, Fire Starting, Fire Knife Dancing, Tattoos, Haka Dance, Maori War Canoe, Coconut Husking.

The Polynesian Cultural Center has become world-renowned as a special place of enchantment, entertainment and education. The allure of old Polynesia lingers among the Pacific island people who demonstrate their traditional arts and crafts and perform their lively songs and dances at the Polynesian Cultural Center from noon till 10pm, 7 days a week.

All Day Package on Oahu

All Day Package for Polynesian Polynesian Cultural Center on Hawaii is the best way to experience the cultural, diversity and spirit of Polynesia. The Ambassador Package - with or without luau or transportation, is a great way to enjoy this unique Oahu treasure. Or take a Deluxe Circle Island Tour to explore many of Honolulu’s most scenic areas, tropical forests, Dole Plantation and Northshore surfing beaches, along with a visit to the Polynesian cultural Center.

Resources:

http://www.hawaiiactive.com/activities/oahu-polynesian-center-day.html

http://www.myhawaii.net/category/oahu-luau-pcc.html



Arts and Entertainment Singapore

Nicole Evans asked:


Every time the computer industry tries to make inroads into the home entertainment center by offering products that are designed to use the home TV screen as a computer screen, consumers offer a lot of resistance. Yet, the computer industry persists as evidenced by Intel’s Viiv technology and the fact that the media center version of Microsoft’s Windows XP operating system and several versions of the Vista operating system are designed to make computers a part of the home entertainment center.

While consumers have been busy resisting the incursion of the home computer into the home entertainment center, computer equipment has been sneaking in anyway. This covert incursion can be seen in the form of newer forms of TV technology. DVD players, digital TV converters, satellite receivers, DVR’s, and video gaming systems are all computers in some form or another.

One of the side effects of having all of this new technology so thoroughly computerizes is that there is an unprecedented level of compatibility between computers and the Internet, and the home entertainment center. For example, there are a variety of devices that take advantage of Internet connections to provide their users with more options. The TiVo is a good example of this. TiVos download their program guide information from the Internet and are even capable of being programmed to record specific TV shows from another location over the Internet. Some of the newer TiVos are even capable of downloading movies from the Internet to be shown on TV sets. Other devices that can do this include some versions of Sony HDTV sets, the Vudu, the Slingbox, Microsoft’s Xbox 360, and several others. The Apple TV can fetch video from the home computer(which can get the video from the Internet or from a digital video camera), and the ability to download movies directly from the Internet is expected to be coming soon to the Play Station 3 from Sony.

Another interesting result of the overlap between computers and TV is the introduction of portable video devices. A portable video device is a hand held, battery powered portable device that can store video on a built in data storage system and then display it on a TV screen or its built in screen. These devices come in a variety of sizes and capacities. For example, there are versions with only two gigabytes of storage space and such small screens that you have to wonder why anyone gave them the capacity to play video. At the other end of the extreme are devices that have amply sized screens, the ability to store over a hundred hours of video, access the web over a WiFi connection, and even record video that’s being played off of other devices and store it on their own hard disks. The data storage systems use either flash memory or more conventional hard disks, and the screens can either be conventional LCD technology or energy saving OLED screens. Some of these devices can even download video from some Digital Video Recorders if all of the compatibility issues are taken care of.

All of these devices show the benefits that computer technology can have when applied to home entertainment.



Entertainment Center

Q.M. Le asked:


The gaming industry has seen tremendous growth in recent years. Even the movie industry looks pale in comparison. Traditionally, we’ve seen games being developed after movies. Current market trends have many movie makers developing adaptations of video games knowing they will be a sure-fire hit at the box office. But why are we seeing such trends? One can point towards the evolution of the television and the increased demand for quality home entertainment furniture.

Television has seen one of the greatest advances in technology in recent years. High-definition television and Plasma TV’s have the technologically-savvy drooling. And it’s because of the advent of these that many furniture manufacturers are taking the initiative to make the home entertainment system something to behold. For many of us, there is no better feeling than seeing in perfect detail, the game-winning overtime goal during the Stanley Cup Finals, or watching the walk-off home run during the World Series.

Proving to be one of the most advantageous from the advent of High-Def and Plasma TV’s is the gaming industry. In recent years, we’ve seen the birth of such next-generation gaming systems such as the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Nintendo Wii. These systems have taken the world by storm, with over three quarters of the homes throughout North America, Europe, and Asia owning at least one of the three aforementioned systems. And is it any wonder why these systems are the “Must-haves” for any teen or young adult? Not really when you think about it. For many gamers, for years they’ve wanted to see their games come to life, and with the engines these systems are equipped with, the graphics are so realistic that it may be as close to real life as they’ll ever get. Or perhaps they’ve wanted to be part of the game, acting as the main hero in the story, or actually driving the car. Enter the Nintendo Wii - a system that uses a remote control as a peripheral device that acts as your own personal sword, steering wheel, golf club, etc etc.

So what does this mean for the state of the home entertainment system? A tremendous leap in demand for high-quality entertainment centers, big-screen units, and/or other home theater furniture.

Keeping up with this demand, many furniture manufacturers are producing home entertainment centers as their top line of product, as they too want to be part of the home entertainment phenomenon. In today’s marketplace, it is not uncommon to see a wide selection of big screen and corner units, entertainment armoires, TV stands and cabinets, and other home theater furniture from your local retailer or online store.

We are now left with the evolution of gaming, combined with top-of-the-line entertainment furniture. What does that make? Home entertainment for the 21st century. A state where our lives are being fulfilled by unbelievable clarity in the games we play and the movies we watch and undeniable fun when entertaining our guests.

The evolution of the television has indeed forever changed the outlook on modern day home entertainment. With it, we are once again seeing our living rooms as a haven where fun and entertainment lives. High definition and plasma televisions, next generation gaming, and quality home entertainment centers are the future of home theater. This is home entertainment for the 21st century!



Visit Singapore!

Jon Arnold asked:


When you walk into the home theatre system area of your local consumer electronics outlet, the multitude of choices are daunting. Everything is gleaming under the fluorescent lights, very new and very shiny, each system seemingly saying “buy me, buy me”. Before you get to that point, there are many things you need to understand and realize to help you make the best possible decision for your home and your wallet.

First you need to determine which room of your home will house this home theatre system. Note that if you are going for the very large screen like 50 or 60 inches or more, the best viewing is from about 10 to 12 feet away. So putting a screen of this size into a small room is going to disappoint you because the screen will not look sharp or crisp. On the other hand, if you go with a smaller screen like a 36 or 42 inch screen, this would be adequate for a small family room or even a larger bedroom.

You need to decide on what type of display you want. LCD and plasma displays will provide the clearest and sharpest images. DLP and rear projection systems can cost less, but a major disadvantage in these systems is the viewing angle — DLP and rear projection do not provide as clear a picture when viewing the screen from an angle. Again, examine your target room where your system will be located, and determine the typical viewing angle for the viewers which should help you decide the best display technology to use.

Another important component is the receiver. Some receivers for home theatre systems have inputs for your cable TV or satellite dish connection, as well as inputs for a variety of other things, such as your DVD player, your VCR, your surround sound system, and perhaps even a PC input. Some even have a built-in radio, although these are becoming less common. One of the newer additions to receivers is the ability to play XM radio, although XM radio will require a monthly subscription. So with all these choices, you need to evaluate what is important to you, as well as what you will actually USE. There is little sense, for example, in equipping the receiver with XM radio if you will never or rarely use that option.

No home theatre system is complete without a good speaker system. Ideally, the surround sound should be Dolby 7.1 or at least Dolby 5.1. If you are going to spend the money on a great home theatre system, it makes little sense to “cheap out” with the speakers and audio system, since after the picture, the SOUND is the other component that lights up your internal sensory perceptors as you are enjoying your system.

You can even go the extra mile with your surround sound system if you want to go whole hog, and use the “bass shaker” attachments that are available with some systems. These gadgets attach to your recliner or sofa, and when a scene comes on with an explosion or car wreck, these gadgets actually SHAKE the recliner or sofa, adding to the realism of the movie.

I suggest you make yourself a list, or maybe even a paper spreadsheet that you take with you when you shop around. Put a column for must-have features, a column for nice-to-have features, and perhaps yet another column for a feature you find that is specific to a particular brand. And definitely SHOP AROUND for your home theatre system! Create a budget for yourself that will NOT be exceeded, regardless of how loudly a particular system is screaming at you to buy it. Watch for systems to go on sale, which they do on a frequent basis, and you can save yourself a wad of cash. If you are buying the components separately, my recommendation would be to buy them all from the same store. That way if there is a problem, you will not have the issue of “finger pointing” from the various stores trying to blame each other.

The smart shopper is the one who gets the quality system and doesn’t pay “sticker price” for it. Be informed, know what you want, be willing to learn if you run across an intelligent salesperson who knows what he is talking about, and stick to your budget.

You will be able to enjoy your investment in this superb home theatre system for years to come.



Arts and Entertainment Singapore

Christa Kowalczyk asked:


King of Prussia Mall, Mall of America, South Coast Plaza, Sawgrass Mills and Del Amo Fashion Center are the prominent shopping centers in the US.

Below is an overview of the 5 prominent shopping centers.

King of Prussia Mall

The conception for the King of Prussia Mall began in 1959. M.A. Kravitz Company, Inc. now popularly known as Kravco Company, started to conceptualize a discount center to be built on a 30-acre location. The center was to incorporate a local supermarket network and E.J. Korvette, a department store.

Two years ago, the Kravco Company had to make changes in the architectural concept to produce a combination of open mall and shopping complexes, which would accommodate three department stores including J.C.Penney and E.J. Korvette.

The building of the King of Prussia Plaza was finished in 1963, and it was opened to the people the same year. The mall’s open spaces featured exceptionally remarkable outdoor attractions such as beautiful landscapes, amphitheatre, promenade, gazebos, and cascading waters.

In 1967 the Plaza developed into a real shopping complex in the region with enclosed and open mall areas that contained almost 150 retail shops.

By 1980 through 1981, the King of Prussia Plaza underwent renovation as three-storey parking sites and other structures had to be constructed.

The building of The Court, an important renovation of the King of Prussia Plaza, had resulted in a new floor, roofs, as well as interior landscape.

Over the succeeding years, expansions and renovations were performed. The latest major addition was The Pavilion.

Covering almost three million square feet of business domain, The King of Prussia Mall now contains The Pavilion, The Court, and The Plaza. It also lodges 365 specialty stores, seven department stores, and more than 40 restaurants and is considered as the biggest shopping mall in the United States.

Mall of America

In 1982, The Vikings and the Twins, pro football and baseball teams of Minnesota, left Bloomington’s Met Stadium to transfer to the downtown Metrodome.

In 1985, the Port Authority of the city of Bloomington acquired the 78 acres location that housed the Met Stadium. Four proposals were presented; however it was the proposal for a combined entertainment and retail complex that gained approval.

The following year, the Bloomington Port Authority tasked the Ghermezian brothers to build what would become the United States’ biggest retail and entertainment center. Melvin Simon and Associates, one of the biggest contractors of shopping malls in the country, became a part of the historic project in 1987.

The Ghermezian’s, Melvin Simon and Associates, and the Teachers Insurance and Annuity began to break the ground for the Mall of America on June 14, 1989.

Mall of America opened in August 11, 1992, a day that would alter the reputation of Minnesota for the many years to come.

South Coast Plaza (Costa Mesa)

Business partners and cousins Henry T. Segerstrom and Harold T. Segerstrom launched South Coast Plaza, in the land where the family used to grow lima bean. It’s in Orange County and the date was March of 1967.

The shopping center quickly prospered and generated expansion and renovation. Added annexes were built in the area of Bullock, I. Magnin, Nordstrom, and Saks Fifth Avenue in different years. The launching of the Nordstrom shop is a one decisive episode since it was out of the vicinity of the Pacific Northwest.

South Coast Plaza started to open its biggest expansion in 1986 as Nordstrom took the place of its shop with a latest site 2 times bigger as the first one.

The Mall has roughly an area of 2,600,000 square feet, which contains more than 280 stores. The Plaza is still owned by the Segerstroms this present day.

Sawgrass Mills

Sawgrass Mills opened in 1990. It is Florida’ biggest and the fourth biggest shopping mall in the US, with its retail area of 2,500,000 square feet. Sawgrass Mills lies in Flamingo Road and West Sunrise Blvd., Sunrise, Florida.

It has become so popular for its inimitable alligator-shaped structure. More than three hundred brands and retail shops are housed in the mall and that includes J.C. Penney, Saks Fifth Avenue, The Gap, Neiman Marcus, plus a lot more.

Sawgrass Mill’s newest expansion was completed in 2006.

Del Amo Fashion Center

For a time Del Amo Fashion Center was the nation’s biggest shopping complex. However when Mall of America opened in 1992, it was outshined. It is now ranked fifth among USA’s largest shopping malls.

Guilford Glazer a real estate expert, developed Del Amo that has progressed in the span of many years from a merger of expansions on the crossroads of Carson and Hawthorne in Torrance, California.

Del Amo Mall was opened by The Broadway, an average department store chain, in 1959. Yet the mall itself, along with Sears and J.C. Penney outlets, opened in 1961 at the Hawthorne Boulevard and southeast side of Carson Street.

Del Amo Fashion Square revived as a second shopping center in 1975. This time it encompassed added outlets like Montgomery Ward and it lengthened I. Magnin.

After three years, Glazer purchased adjacent Del Amo Mall. In November 1981 the two previously detach shopping centers were formally fused to establish what is recognized today as Del Amo Fashion Center.



Arts and Entertainment Singapore