To Brand Your Business Find Your Niche Or My First Lesson in Branding and Positioning

"Frink you got to have a gimmick." That was the advice given to me on how to get women from Andy, one of my college roommates. I didn't realize it at the time and though I was in my third year in college as an advertising major it was my first lesson in branding and positioning.Andy's gimmick was to take on the persona of the "charming hick." Andy was a very bright guy from Beaumont, Texas. He was well read. There were few topics on which he couldn't converse with you. He graduated from The University of Texas with an accounting degree and a 3.5 grade point average. Yet he methodically and consistently over a period of four years cultivated his image as a hick. Why you might ask, would anybody intentionally portray themselves as a "hick". Andy's motivation was what we call in the advertising and marketing industry, "branding" and "positioning".Andy and I were members of a large fraternity at The University of Texas in the mid 1970s. The fraternity from a social stand poin t was our world, a small provincial, pretentious, chauvinistic world. Many of our "brothers" were handsome guys; we called them "face jocks." Even more of them seemed to be from wealthy families. They dressed well and they drove very nice late model automobiles. Being a face jock, dressing well and driving nice cars had its' advantages in the Greek world at The University of Texas in the mid 1970s. The most important advantage of course was with the women. If you had these characteristics you were guaranteed opportunities to date some beautiful sorority girls who might also be from a wealthy family. Yeah the Greek world at The University had some shallow aspects to it. Andy wasn't a face jock. He didn't drive a nice late model car and he didn't appear to be from a wealthy family. Since he couldn't compete in those areas Andy brilliantly identified a strength he could exploit when it came to competing against wealthy "face jocks" for women. Andy developed a "charming hick" pe rsona. Think Andy Griffith as the small town North Carolina sheriff in The Andy Griffit h Show. Andy was good at it. He worked construction during summers in east Texas and enjoyed using the region's accent and some of its' interesting phraseology that he had picked up. His positioning strategy worked. Andy dated more than his share of pretty sorority girls and eventually became engaged to one during his senior year. I wasn't rich or particularly handsome and I had no gimmick as Andy perceptively pointed out. Despite Andy's advice I didn't identify a positioning strategy that I could successfully execute. Therefore my love life was some what of a bust juxtaposed to my roommate the "Charming hick". What's your business' "gimmick" i.e. your position versus your competition?Have you done what Andy did by identifying and exploiting a market niche for yourself? Or are you like I was, without a positioning strategy? If your position is; "low prices", "been in business a long time" or "locally owned and operated" you probably haven't claimed a unique position in t he market place and my advice to you is, "you got to have a gimmick."

Coping With a Broken Relationship is Not a Simple Task - 3 Things That Make it Easier

There are many things in life, like coping with a broken relationship, that will prove to be most unpleasant tasks. Whatever the reason for a relationship ending there is likely to be more than a little hurt on both sides of the equation. The decision to end a relationship is never an easy decision and should not be taken lightly.However, there are a few things you can do while coping with a broken relationship that will improve the odds of getting back together when all is said and done. That is, of course, if you are interested in attempting to save the relationship.Don't Shoot Yourself in the FootEver watch old episodes of the Andy Griffith show? Barney was only allowed to carry a single bullet in his shirt pocket so that he doesn't accidentally cause mayhem (which he somehow always managed to do regardless of the fact). The running gag was that he might shoot himself in the foot.You don't want to shoot yourself in the foot so get rid of the ammunition. Let go of the pain, insecurity, retaliations, old grudges, old slights, and petty jealousies. Let them all go and start over with a clean slate so that neither of you are carrying the chalky, dirty residue of the past into what you hope will be the next step in your relationship.Don't Lock Yourself in a Cage You Can't Get Out OfAnother running gag on the Andy Griffith show is that Andy and Barney always seemed to be landing themselves in the slammer. Considering their positions it was no laughing matter (although it led to plenty of laughs on the other side of the television screen).You do not want to lock yourself into a prison of no escape while coping with a broken relationship. Avoid confrontation and thoughtless words and gestures during this trying time for both of you. You can't un-say something so it is better to guard your words carefully when speaking to your ex or in any manner that may get back to your ex.Rely on Your Friends to Pull You ThroughThe final lesson to be learned about coping with a broken relationship is that your friends can get you through almo st anything. You don't need to watch the Andy Griffith show to see this in action but if you do, you will find that there are all kinds of people you know and love that you can see in the faces and characteristics of those kind people in Mayberry.

Of Bluegrass and Barbers

Where else but in Bristol, Virginia, the birthplace of country music, would you find a fiddling barber? Where else would you find a barber often featured in Jim Scancarelli's comic strip "Gasoline Alley"? In what other barber shop in America can you find a barber with over 50 years' experience in both cutting hair and making bluegrass music?Every Thursday morning, a group of some of the most talented musicians this side of Nashville gather amid the Vitalis, Osage Rub, and Pinaud Clubman Talc to give Star Barber Shop patrons a free concert. They even take requests.Gene Boyd began the Star Barber Shop business in 1950, and his relationship with music goes back even farther. He began playing bluegrass around age 10 and performed with such local groups as the Holston Valley Gang, the Boys from Hickory Tree and Leon Kiser and the Holston Mountain Boys. Mr. Boyd has performed with Bill Monroe, Jim and Jessee and Roni Stoneman. Fellow Bristolian Ernie Ford was a disc jockey when Mr. Boyd played bluegrass on the radio. Mr. Boyd was awarded a BCMA Lifetime Achievement Award by the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance in 1998. He also appears in an English film company video titled "Crawdaddy-from Bristol to Bristol."Music provides a strong bond between the musicians who frequent the Star Barber Shop and their families. On the Thursday morning that I visited the shop, one guitar player's daughter had accompanied him to the shop and proudly declared to me, "That's my daddy!"Another Star Barber Shop regular player showed me a guitar that had been handmade by his son. The guitar featured beautifully inlaid tiny mosaic tiles around the base and down the neck."Does he do that for a living?" I asked.The man laughed. "Nah. He works at Eastman."Mr. Boyd's own fiddle is a lovely piece of his own craftsmanship. The only place some of the cherry finish has worn thin is where Mr. Boyd's left hand holds the neck. This is a fiddle that has been played often and with a great deal of love and respect for the instrument and for the music it emits.If you're ever in Bristol, Virginia, on a Thursday morning, go by the Star Barber Shop at 1003 West State Street. You'll be welcomed with a cup of coffee, a song, and a haircut, if you want one.Everyone Welcome...Except Maybe Big MaudeYou might think that Floyd's City Barber Shop with its homespun charm and "two chairs, no waiting" exists only in The Andy Griffith Show reruns. After all, who can run a successful business and still take time to shoot the breeze with passersby? Well, don't tell anyone that you heard it from me, but Russell Hiatt can.Want a good haircut and all the latest gossip about the fine folks from Mayberry? Then stop in at Floyd's City Barber Shop on Main Street in Andy Griffith's hometown of Mount Airy, North Carolina. I did. I didn't get a haircut, but I did get a few interesting tales. Now, here again, you didn't hear any of this from me, but Andy recently came home to dedicate a stretch of road named in his honor. It's officially called The Andy Griffith Parkway, but some people are already calling it "Andy's Road." They're not really ones to put on the dog in Mayberry, you know...er, I mean, Mount Airy. And you know Hal Smith who played Otis the town drunk on the show? He confessed to Mr. Hiatt that he'd never drank in his life. And Ernest T. Bass? He isn't a nutty little troublemaker at all. He's a really nice guy named Howard Morris who has visited Floyd's City Barber Shop a number of times. Helen Crump (a/k/a Aneta Corsaut) came for a visit once and brought along about 500 people from a tour in Winston-Salem. That visit provided the inspiration for Mr. Hiatt's "Wall of Fame."It was about fourteen years ago that Ms. Crump paid that visit. Since then, Mr. Hiatt has put 23,000 photographs on his wall (and has another 1,800 ready to be placed, though finding 1,800 empty spaces might pose a problem). These photographs include everyday people (like me), a Cleveland, Ohio woman (who was the fir st to be photographed for the "Wall of Fame"), governors, major league ballplayers and officials, Oprah Winfrey (whose father Vernon is a barber in Nashville, Tennessee), and even "The Incredible Hulk" Lou Ferrigno."Now that one fills up a barber chair," observes Mr. Hiatt, pointing out the photo of Lou Ferrigno.It's true. I'll bet even Aunt Bee and Clara peeped around the corner from Snappy Lunch in order to get a better look at the muscle-bound, smiling actor.Mr. Hiatt has had a lot of fun over the past 56 years being "Floyd the barber." Who'd have thought that cutting Andy Griffith's hair when Andy was in college would play such a role in shaping Mr. Hiatt's life? Howard McNear who played Floyd Lawson on The Andy Griffith Show suffered a stroke in the show's last year, 1968. Mr. McNear died on January 3, 1969. Thus, the real life "Floyd" attends Mayberry's reunions and celebrations. When he gets back home, he once again gets out the scissors and the comb and goes back to work.I have to say, Russell Hiatt is a real Mayberry kind of guy. He faithfully visits his mother-now 98-in the nursing home; and every other Sunday, he helps cook dinner for the entire family (23 in all). And much like Floyd Lawson, you can't one-up him no matter how hard you try. I showed him photographs of my boy-girl twins, and danged if he didn't turn right around and point out a photograph of his boy-girl twins (just two of his ten great-grandchildren).In 2000, Mr. Hiatt was inducted into the Barbering Hall of Fame. "If I'd retired, I'd have missed that," he told me. "And if I'd stayed home today, I'd have missed you...and I wouldn't have missed that for the world."That said, consider yourself warned about visiting Mount Airy/Mayberry. We watch The Andy Griffith Show, and we get preconceived notions about what these townspeople might be like. Then you go there and find that it's really better than anything Hollywood could concoct. You go to the Visitor's Center and Ann and Millie make you feel like a VIP, and then Mr. Hiatt treats you li ke family. I was almost surprised that no deputy stopped me on the way out of town to give me a jar of pickles...but then again, someone did mention that that particular deputy was mostly on duty on Fridays.

Old TV Series - The Best There Is

I love old television series. My favorites generally include those which were made before I was born. The shows were generally family friendly, had moral stories, and you didn't have to follow the entire series to find out what is going on.Today, shows are completely different. The humor is different. The writing is different. Even the camera work is different. Everything is different besides both being on television.My favorites are as follows:Mr. EdA freaking talking horse! How great is that? When I was younger, I'd always watch the re-runs all the time. Classic humor. And a freaking talking horse!Hogan's HeroesThis is probably my most favorite. Although historically inaccurate in many ways, the show is amazingly funny. Hogan and Schultz are probably my most favorite characters of any TV series. Hogan is like the cool guy who is nice to everyone and Schultz is like the bubbly kid who just wants to have fun. Two great, great actors with a wonderfully written story.I Love Lucy Who doesn't love Lucy? She is one of the most famous actresses in the history of television. She helped break through the gender barrier and help other women become lead actresses for generations to come.M*A*S*H*Alan Alda plays an excellent Hawkeye. His wit and humor make an excellent character to love and follow. Honestly, the TV series is by far my favorite between it and the movie.The Andy Griffith ShowGrowing up in a small town, I can easily relate to Mayberry. People are friendly, everyone knows each other, and if someo ne new comes to town, the sheriff knows about it quickly.CheersThis show isn't completely before my time; however, it ended during my early childhood so I don't remember too much of the show when it was actually on. It is now considered a classic and amongst some of the best television shows of all time. A show that takes place in a bar. Excellent.TaxiAndy Kaufman is a comedic genius, but he doesn't completely make this show. Danny DeVito, Tony Danza, Christopher Lloyd, and Judd Hirsch are whom make this it so entertaining and amazing.If you happen to love watching television, check out these old TV shows. They are well worth the time and will give you a few laughs in the process. Old is the new 'new'. Check them out while you are waiting for your favorite new shows to come on television.

Famous TV Law Shows

There are plenty of TV shows that feature lawyers in one capacity or another, but not many that focus on a group of characters that all deal with the legal field. So what shows have focused around the law? What shows have featured not one, but an entire cast of lawyers and judges that daily dealt with the law? Which ones did it well and are the most memorable?Ally McBealWhile at first glance it could be easy to forget that this show was about lawyers, that was in fact the profession of all of the main characters, and there were often parallels between the cases they were arguing and the events in their personal lives. Unlike many shows, Ally McBeal was unusual in that it used the legal setting in a comedy series as opposed to a drama.Night CourtIf Ally McBeal was unusual, then it could be argued that Night Court was groundbreaking. A comedy set in a late night court room where the judge was as much of a character as any of the criminals being brought before him took the l egal setting and had fun with it. Throw in the always hilarious John Larroquette as a lecherous prosecutor and you have a dry, witty comedy that was a staple on NBC for five seasons.JAGThis legal show was unique because it dealt with military lawyers as opposed to civilian ones. Granted, the main character being a former Navy fighter pilot added an interesting twist since he wasn't your average JAG lawyer, but the Uniformed Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) also added another twist as there are several differences between a military court martial and a civilian trial.The PracticeA legal drama about a small Boston law firm, it spawned the more light-hearted Boston Legal, and occasionally crossed over with David E. Kelley's other legal show, Ally McBeal. The show was a launching point for Dylan McDermott's career and was highly regarded by the awards show, which regularly nominated it for various drama awards.LA LawFeaturing Harry Hamlin, Susan Dey, Corbin Bernsen, Jimmy Smits, and Blair Underwood, to name a few, the show combined comedy and drama in a way that was typical of the late 80s and early 90s. The show dealt with touchy subjects like abortion, racism, domestic abuse, and even gay rights.MatlockStarring Andy Griffith, the character of Ben Matlock was a down to earth defense attorney in Atlanta, Georgia with a knack for getting an acquittal for his clients at trial, usually by getting the real perpetrator of the crime, usually murder, to confess on the stand. He was also known for wearing a light grey suit to nearly every trial during the show's run.Perry MasonTo many it's the quintessential legal series. The show lasted nearly a decade and spawned thirty made for TV movies, with 26 of them starring Raymond Burr in the iconic role of Perry Mason, the role he played on television as well.Like Matlock, Perry Mason was a defense attorney that was known for proving his clients innocent. Unlike Matlock, he tended to prove their innocence during the preliminary hearing phase of the trial, in part because the network didn't want to have to pay twelve extras to be jurors.

The Top 10 Most Famous Men With the First Name of Andrew Or Andy

The most famous men (based on online chatter) with the first name Andy or Andrew are:10. Andy Griffith - Actor (The Andy Griffith Show, Matlock)9. Andy Garcia - Actor (The Godfather Part III, Ocean's Eleven, The Untouchables)8. Andrew Carnegie - Industrialist, Businessman, and Philanthropist in the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries7. Andrew Johnson - Seventeenth President of the United States of America6. Andrew Bird - Musician (Noble Beast, Armchair Apocrypha, Andrew Bird and the Mysterious Production of Eggs)5. Andrew Sullivan - Political Commentator (The Daily Dish)4. Andy Roddick - Tennis Champion3. Andy Williams - Singer (It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year, Moon River, Days of Wine and Roses)2. Andrew Jackson - Seventh President of the United States of America...and the most famous man named Andrew or Andy is...1. Andy Warhol - Artist (Marilyn Diptych, 32 Campbell's Soup Cans, Eight Elvises)Andrews not making the top 10 were Andrew Breitbart - Journalist and Publisher (Breitbart.com, Big Hollywood, Big Government); Andrew Clements - Author ( Frindle, The Landry News, Lunch Money); Andrew Cunanan - Multiple Spree Killer; Andrew Cuomo - New York State Attorney General; Andrew Weil - Author and Physician (Why Our Health Matters, Healthy Aging, Eating Well for Optimum Health); Andrew Wyeth - Artist (Helga paintings); Andrew Zimmern - TV Show Host and Chef (Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern, Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre World).Andys not making the top 10 were Andy Bernard - Fictional Character on the TV Series The Office; Andy Dick - Actor and Comedian (NewsRadio, The Andy Dick Show); Andy Gibb - Musician most notably as a member of the Bee Gees; Andy Kaufman - Actor and Performer (Taxi, Saturday Night Live); Andy Millman - Fictional Character on the TV Series Extras; Andy Milonakis - Actor and Comedian (The Andy Milonakis Show); Andy Rooney - Writer and Commentator (60 Minutes, A Few Minutes With Andy Rooney); Andy Samberg - Actor and Comedian (Saturday Night Live, I Love You Man, 2009 MTV Movie Awards); Andy Summers - Musician notably as a member of The Police; Andy Wachowski - Director and Producer (Bound, The Matrix, Speed Racer).An excellent mix of occupations for the top ten Andrews or Andys with one artist (Warhol), two musicians (Williams and Bird), two US Presidents (Jackson and Johnson), one tennis champion (Roddick), one commentator (Sullivan), one businessman (Carnegie), and two actors (Garcia and Griffith).I compiled this list by searching for each of the Andrews and Andys on a number of search engines and ranking them by the number of web pages, discussion forums, photos, videos, etc that are available online.

Top 10 TV Shows of All Time

Here is my list of my all time favorite TV shows, in no particular order. These are the shows that I could watch at anytime. I'll try to keep it fun by telling you what I didn't like about them and their characters, some great lines from the shows, maybe some interesting things you didn't know, and more - anything but just the usual top ten list.1. The Rockford Files Cool theme song; cool car (gold Firebird, which crashed innumerable times); great cast with Rocky, Angel & others; cool trailer on Malibu beach with a handy bar for rendezvous and drops; great cases, mostly believable; lots of good guest stars, like Lyndsey Wagner at her most beautiful. I've said all this without even mentioning the lead: James Garner, the consummate cool actor. Gimmicks and or quirks, etc.: now-dated answering machine from which we hear something amusing before the theme song kicks in; James Garner's brother Jack in cameo roles as, often, a bailiff, a bartender and the like. Great line: Ange l: "Just do (kill) Jimmy, and I'll spread the word (tell what might happen to others should they doublecross these thugs like Jimmy did)."2. Gunsmoke What a great cast, with Matt, Doc, Kitty, Chester, Festus, Sam and others. This show began as thirty minutes but was expanded to an hour. Some of the early shows were tightly scripted and regular works of art. Ran twenty years (1955-75). Gimmicks and or quirks, etc.: early on, old Doc was often drunk as a skunk, but he sobered up as the years passed; the Bull's Head saloon as a rougher alternative to Miss Kitty's Longbranch; the house near the pond, which was often used in scenes set out of town. Great line: "Becasue we're gonna bushwhack em," as said by a very early and very un-Matt Matt, to Chester, when Chester asked him why they were hiding out in a cabin with some thugs nearby.3. The Andy Griffith Show This show has always been very therapeutic for me to watch . . . just something about it I can't put my finger on; let's just say that if it's an episode I've already seen, I don't care, I'll watch it again, because I just want to be in Mayberry, and it doesn't matter to me what they're doing there. Gimmicks and or quirks, etc.: drunk Otis having access to the keys as he's locked up weekly for being lit up; Andy being a lot more "countrified" in the earlier episodes, his pants sometimes stuck clumsilly down his nerdy boots; barber Floyd being nearly mad . . . as in crazy; Goober saying, "Yo"; Gomer saying, "Tell 'em Gomer says hey"; very fake downtow n Mayberry drawn as background mural outside the courthouse door; different love interests for Andy; such as, Elinor Donahue, Joanne Moore (Tatum O'Neal's mom), Julie Adams, Anita Whatever who played Helen for a long run. (I was more of a Thelma Lou fan; she looked remarkably like Olivia De Havilland.) Memorable lines: Goober: "Judy, Judy, Judy"; Gomer: "Shazam!"4. M*A*S*H Great ensemble cast. We've all seen it, so let me just blurb about the characters:Hawkeye: Great except for when there was too much Hawkeye, like when he was trying to stay awake by babbling to this Korean family unfortunate enough to be housing him. Don't get me wrong - I love the role.Trapper: Annoying to me, a bit too precious with the raised eyebrows and shoulder shrugs.B.J.: Better before he got the mustache, after which, he seemd to have a chip on his shoulder as if unsure of his manhood should anyone get beneath the cheese of the mustache.Klinger: Better before he became "Christianized" - I think yo u know what I mean if you've watched; just a tad too nice, a bit too eager to please.Hot Lips: I surrender. Lead me to Margaret in her tight sweater and tight britches, especially when her hair was parted in the middle, and before she got too thin and lost most of the Hot Lipsishness. There is, however, a nasty scene with her, when she and Charles were eating some canned bird and they became sick because of it - her teeth were quite yellow and she looked kind of gross gorging herself on it.Father Mulcahey: The excitement level dropped a foot when he was given a line. Sorry.Charles E. Winchester: Great role; very noble at times ... but justy barely, as when he admitted some general molested Hot Lips and not the other way around.Radar: The Zen and Taoist center of the cast, always trying to hide his poor deformed left hand, often behind a clipboard, as if any of us would think anything of it. (Pat Hingle, who guested as General Daniel Webster Tucker, was missing a pinky and di dn't try to hide it.)Henry Blake: Laugh riot; could have cried when he was killed off.Colonel Sherman T. Potter: One of the most annoying roles ever, one of those old grumps who thinks he's a natural treasure and that people want him to be regurgitating arid cliches. Pretty much played the same dumb role in Dragnet (see below).5. Alias Smith & Jones Great show because of the charming leads, Pete Duel & Ben Murphy. Pete, who committed suicide during the run of the show, was replaced by Roger Davis, who did the original narration of the lead-in theme. Mr. Davis wasn't nearly as likeable as Mr. Duel, though he was adequate in the role. There were some great guests, like Burl Ives, and some beauties like Michelle Lee, Claudine Longet, Susan Strasberg & Sally Fields. The show is said to be a takeoff on the popularity of the Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid film. Gimmicks and or quirks, etc.: the promise of amnesty for their crimes always being just on the horizon but somehow al ways beyond reach; the recurring Devil's Hole gang.6. Law & Order We all know this show that has run for years and has the most twisting and interesting plots, so let's get down to the good stuff: the rating of the female ADAs as to their attractiveness. (The list below shows the best as being #1.)1. Angie Harmon - that voice, the withering looks with which she could emasculate any male perp, her model looks, & heck, she comes from Texas! 2. Carey Lowell - the word adorable was created for this fresh-faced, earnest Bond girl; if she's good enough for Richard Gere, she's good enough for you. 3. Jill Hennessey - another model-quality gal with a husky voice, the exqusite bobbed hair; oh, how brutally they killed her off! 4. Annie Parisse - maybe the most beautiful of all, but her run seemed brief to me; related by marriage to Sam Waterston in real life, I believe; another of them killed off, she choking on her own vomit. 5. Alana de la Garza - haven't seen that much of this gir l, but she's a stunner with sculpted features. 6. Elisabeth Rhm - oh, dear, this girl was nice and pretty enough but, whereas she was attractive, the other girls mentioned above were absolutely magnetic; it's probably the blond hair, and she looks to me pretty much like every other blond.7. Dragnet This cop show was so earnest and corny, it was wonderful, and I couldn't take my eyes off it. I only had much exposure to the later (reborn) color issue of it beginning in the sixties. I think producer and star Jack Webb was trying to do the LAPD a big favor with this show, back in that crazy era, in trying to show that cops weren't so bad; but it was often pretty heavy-handed stuff, with the hippies being pretty much evil and the bad cop being as rare as platinum. Lots of square and cornball drug use allusions. Be warned, the grating Harry Morgan (who just turned 94!) was his sidekick (see M*A*S*H note above). Gimmicks and or quirks, etc.: Jack Webb barely moving his arms as he w alked stiff as a board; watch for Kent McCord as officer Jim Reed, without Martin Milner, of Adam 12; watch for Bobby Troup (as a bartender, perp, etc.), who penned song classic "Route 66" and was married to Jack Webb's ex-wife Julie London, with whom Bobby later starred in Emergency.8. The Waltons This show was born from the excellent and now classic Christmas movie The Homecoming. Seven kids living in 1930s-40s Virginia with their parents and paternal grandparents. Lots of heartwarming episodes. Slow episodes always concerned a moody Olivia. I had a big crush on Erin! My favorite episode was about a class reunion of John's (Ralph Waite's) high school class, in which several of his old classmates gave the warmest tributes to John; John was my favorite character. Gimmicks and or quirks, etc.: the old family truck, which seemed to be held together with chewing gum and chicken wire; Daddy's (Ralph Waite's) old longjohns looked like they might stand up by themselves if he ever took them off and stood them in a corner; the woodenness of the replacement John Boy when Richard Thomas left the show. Did you know that Mama (Michael Learned) wasn't really old enough to be John Boy's (Richard Thomas's) mother in real life, because there were only twelve years' difference in their ages?9. Dallas This wasn't just a show around my house on Friday nights, it was an event! We would pop popcorn and all gather around the set. Let me just blurb about some of the characters:J.R.: Who shot this guy? As evil as a lead came, but he had a deep sense of family . . . unless, of course, that family member stood in his way of something he wanted. Someone please set him up with a quenching bourban and branch, please. Jock: This patriarch always seemed to be way too rugged for the sissy settings, like breakfasting around the pool; one would rather expect to see him sniffing out an oil well or busting a bronco. He died too young, taking some of the heart of the show with him . Bobby: The pretty boy. Too nice until he learned to get right down in the dirt with J.R. He got to do love scenes with a youthful and exquisite Victoria Principle as Pam. Aside: My family and I sat next to his table at a Louise Mandrell concert, and she pointed him out in the audience and had him take the stage and do a number with her; and he obliged her, good sport that he was. His Buddhism helped him cope with the brutal, real-life murder of his parents. Pam: Tons of sex appeal but needy and moody. Sue Ellen: Beautiful ex Miss Texas. Drunk. She would hook up with Cliff Barnes & Dusty Farlow to get back at a cheating J.R. I thought shows with her battling the bottle were snoozers. Had sexy May/September fling with Chris Atkins (as Peter). Miss Ellie: Boring character. You will wonder what Jock and Digger Barnes . . . or anybody, for that matter, ever saw in her. Could kill the excitment level of any episode with one of her audible sighs. Lucy: Sex kitten deluxe. Drove th e much older Ray Krebs wild in the early days of the show, by seducing him in his truck as he drove her to high school, which led to their locating the nearest hayloft. She was built like a brick dollhouse and she knew it. Scenes she was in seemed to have a potential for fireworks, because she might say something that could be embarrassing to just about anyone.10. The Situation Room I better list a news program before you know I'm a complete idiot. The hard-working Wolf Blitzer hosts this show. Grouchy Jack Cafferty is always amusing.

Andy Griffith - Father to a Generation

Lessons in honor, morality, hard work, and integrity can come from many different places. I was fortunate to learn many of these lessons from my parents, and from my church, as well as from teachers in the schools I attended long before the educational system turned completely liberal. My generation also received lessons in life from another source, one that could be counted on every week to deliver an entertaining sermon in the form of a 30 minute folksy television program mixed with Southern wit, wisdom, and charm.There are few modern examples of the positive influence the Andy Griffith Show had on the children of the 60's, and for another couple decades in regular reruns. The misleadingly titled Family Guy is possibly the raunchiest program ever broadcast with no known redeeming qualities. Do you really want your children exposed to the values that are promoted on 30 Rock, GCB (they're not fooling anyone with those initials, and thank goodness the show has been cancelled), The View, Jersey Shore, The Cleveland Show, Bill Maher, etc.? The Cosby Show of the 80's and early 90's had a profoundly positive influence on America with it's married professional one male and one female parent household and strong family themes, but it's part of a disappearing minority of programs that provide a positive influence, and no show can compare to the morality play that unfolded on every episode of the Andy Griffith Show.The character Andy was a devoted father, a widow who took in his Aunt when she needed a place to live. As the local Sheriff, Andy worked hard and provided the balance and stability that held the town together. He was law enforcement, but he rarely carried a gun, preferring to solve problems with reason and wit rather than with force. He showed compassion and mercy to the town drunk, he resolved disputes between neighbors, he valued friendship and integrity, he went to church with his family, and he set an example that each of us could follow.My favorite episode showcased a harried businessman, Mr. Tucker, who ends up str anded in Mayberry (the home town featured in the Andy Griffith Show) for the weekend when his car breaks down. Mr. Tucker's impatience to leave on a business trip nearly drives everyone in town crazy, and I'll spare you the details, but in one of the final scenes he's standing on the porch signing "Come to the church in the Wildwood" in harmony with Andy and Barney. Thirty minutes in Mayberry didn't just change Mr. Tucker, it changed all of us.The Andy Griffith Show existed in a time before the Internet, before texting, blogs, Facebook, HDTV, personal computers, microwave ovens, and cell phones. With only 3 or 4 television channels to choose from, Andy had our undivided attention. The actor Andy Griffith, who recently passed away, owned 50% of the Andy Griffith Show and was empowered to wield a strong influence over the content and direction of the program. His guidance and oversight of the show and its characters created a perfect storm of entertainment and fatherly guidance that helped raise a generation of Americans and teach them what it means to be a man, a father, a Christian, and a hard working citizen of our great country. Catch the show in reruns sometime, the lessons it teaches are just as valuable today as they were a generation ago. Rest in Peace Any Griffith, you are sorely missed.

A Christmas Story - The Andy Griffith Show

In "The Andy Griffith Show"--which first aired between 1960 and 1968--Andy Griffith is a widowed sheriff living in the fictional town of Mayberry in North Carolina. It was a very popular show which depicted life in small town America in the 1960s. The only Christmas episode that was ever created for the sitcom was titled "A Christmas Story", and it's a modern-day Scrooge story. The plot of the "A Christmas Story" is explained below.It's Christmas time and the town of Mayberry has its own version of Ebenezer Scrooge in the form of department store owner Ben Weaver. When Ben catches Sam Muggins with moonshine on Christmas Eve, he demands that Andy arrest him. Andy and his deputy-sheriff--Barney Fife--try to argue that Sam should at least be allowed to spend Christmas with his family. However, Ben is adamant and he insists that Sam be arrested right away; he threatens to report Andy if Sam is released for the holidays.Since Sam can't go home for Christmas, and Barney will have to stay at the jailhouse and guard the prisoner, therefore missing the festivities at Andy's house, Andy comes up with a plan: they'll take Christmas to the jailhouse. Andy arrests Sam's wife and two children as "accessories before, during, and after the fact", and deputizes his friend Ellie, his young son Opie, and his Aunt Bee to help watch the prisoners.Everyone is having a great time at the jailhouse, trimming the tree, singing carols, eating turkey, and drinking eggnog. Barney even dresses up as Santa Clause. However, Ben- -who keeps spying on them through the windows of the jailhouse--feels miserable that he's missing out on all the Holiday fun. He tries to get himself arrested several times so that he can join in the festivities, but is unsuccessful due to Ellie's misdirected kindness.Andy finally catches on to what Ben is trying to do, and he drums up charges so that he can arrest him. Ben enters the jailhouse with Andy, carrying a big suitcase filed with gifts from his department store for everyone. He pretends to have put the gifts in the suitcase by mistake, and hands them out gruffly. Aunt Bee serves Ben a plate of food and Ellie gives him some eggnog, and Ben is made to feel welcomed. Just as in the story of the Grinch, Ben's heart grew three sizes that day.

The Andy Griffith Show (DVD) Review

One of the most beloved shows in television history, The Andy Griffith Show takes its viewers back to a simpler time of small town America, apple pie, and black and white television... The trademark whistling theme song is one of the most recognizable in history, and the duration of the show in syndicated reruns is unrivaled by its peers. The Andy Griffith Show follows the exploits of the small town of Mayberry and its family values, no nonsense sheriff Andy. Widowed, and father to a small boy named Opie, Andy is joined in Mayberry by his sidekick Deputy Barney Fife, his relative and housekeeper Aunt Bee, and a host of other eccentric characters.But the show stealer is Barney Fife (Don Knotts) who plays the role of a sometimes incompetent, kooky deputy always in over his head. The onscreen dynamic between Griffith and Knotts is truly magical. Both men would go on to heralded careers in show business with Knotts starring in numerous roles, such as Mr. Furley on Three's Company, and Griffith as the title star of Matlock. And Ron Howard (Opie) would go on to establish himself as one of Hollywood's most well-known directors...This first season DVD of The Andy Griffith Show is packed with some of the best episodes in the show's history. Episodes three and thirty-one feature the talented guitar playing of actor James Best, better known as Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane from The Dukes Of Hazzard. Numerous other famous faces turn up throughout season one. In fact, if you look closely enough, you might even see the Maytag repairman...The Andy Griffith Show DVD features a number of hilarious episodes including the series premiere "The New Housekeeper" in which Andy's former housekeeper, Rose, gets married, prompting his search for a replacement. But Opie, unhappy with Rose's departure, doesn't take too kindly to the new woman in the house, Andy's Aunt Bee... Other notable episodes include "The Guitar Player" in which Andy utilizes his powers as sheriff to help a young local guitarist (James Best) realize his dream of playing in a band for a living, and "Alcohol and Old Lace" in which, while on a quest to shut down loca l distilleries, Andy and Barney are surprised to uncover a trail that leads them to two aged sisters...Below is a list of episodes included on The Andy Griffith Show (Season 1) DVD:Episode 1 (The New Housekeeper) Air Date: 10-03-1960Episode 2 (The Manhunt) Air Date: 10-10-1960Episode 3 (The Guitar Player) Air Date: 10-17-1960Episode 4 (Runaway Kid) Air Date: 11-07-1960Episode 5 (Opie's Charity) Air Date: 11-28-1960Episode 6 (Ellie Comes To Town) Air Date: 10-24-1960Episode 7 (Irresistible Andy) Air Date: 10-31-1960Episode 8 (A Feu d Is A Feud) Air Date: 12-05-1960Episode 9 (Andy The Matchmaker) Air Date: 11-14-1960Episode 10 (Stranger In Town) Air Date: 12-26-1960Episode 11 (The Christmas Story) Air Date: 12-1960Episode 12 (Ellie For Council) Air Date: 12-12-1960Episode 13 (Mayberry Goes Hollywood) Air Date: 01-02-1961Episode 14 (The Horse Trader) Air Date: 01-09-1961Episode 15 (Those Gossipin' Men) Air Date: 01-16-1961Episode 16 (Andy Saves Barney's Morale) Air Date: 02-20-1961Episode 17 (Alcohol And Old Lace) Air Date: 01-30-1961Episode 18 (Andy, The Marriage Counselor) Air Date: 02-10-1961Episode 19 (Mayberry On Record) Air Date: 02-13-1961Episode 20 (The Beauty Contest) Air Date: 01-23-1961Episode 21 (Andy And The Gentleman Crook) Air Date: 02-27-1961Episode 22 (Cyrano Andy) Air Date: 03-06-1961Episode 23 (Andy And Opie, Housekeepers) Air Date: 03-13-1961Episode 24 (The New Doctor) Air Date: 03-27-1961Episode 25 (Plaque For Mayberry) Air Date: 04-03-1961Episode 26 (The Inspector) Air Date: 04-10-1 961Episode 27 (Ellie Saves A Female) Air Date: 04-17-1961Episode 28 (Andy Forecloses) Air Date: 04-24-1961Episode 29 (Quiet Sam) Air Date: 05-01-1961Episode 30 (Barney Gets His Man) Air Date: 05-08-1961Episode 31 (The Guitar Player Returns) Air Date: 05-15-1961Episode 32 (Bringing Up Opie) Air Date: 05-22-1961

Sport and Education Workshops Benefit Uttoxeter School Children

More than 200 seven to eight year olds from nine different schools across Uttoxeter visited the Pirelli stadium, home to Burton Albion Football Club, for a day of structured practical and theory sessions.

St Augustines, Hutchinson Memorial, St Peters, Tynsel Parkes, Richard Clarke, St Marys, Picknall and All Saints schools all attended the event.

Whilst there, the children participated in group sports, education workshops about respect and racism in sport and were also given a guided tour of the stadium.

Hosted by the Burton Albion Community Trust � a registered Burton Charity � the youngsters were arranged into five groups that saw them mixed with pupils from different schools.

Each group then participated in one of the four 45 minute sessions, or the stadium tour, which all ran simultaneously. When the lessons finished, the groups were then rotated throughout the different activities.

Made up of two theory workshops and two practicals, each child attended each workshop once.

The two practical workshops were held outdoors, one of them running to an Olympic theme that saw the children working together over a variety of different sports, the other a structured football session, which worked on the fundamental skills needed to play football.

The educational workshops taught the students about keeping a calm head in sport and the importance of mutual respect during a game. They also highlighted racial awareness and asked the children to consider the different countries coming to London for the Olympic Games.

Manager of Burton Albion Community Trust, Andy Taylor, said: "All the children were really well behaved and a credit to their schools."

Further information on any of the Community Trust projects is available by emailingor visiting the community page of the Club website �

ENDS

The Burton Albion Community Trust is a registered charity that is dedicated to helping the people local to Burton Albion FC.

An official registered Burton charity, BACT works to deliver projects based on the four main themes of health, education, participation and social inclusion and disability across the local area and currently works with thousands of people throughout our local communities.

Top Hollywood Surgeon Dr David Matlock in Dubai, Liposuction in Dubai - Health - Plastic Surgery

Dr. Matlock has dedicated his entire cosmetic practice to Female Genital Plastic Surgery (Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation and Designer Laser Vaginoplasty) and liposculpturing (including Brazilian Butt Augmentation and Vaser Hi Def Liposculpturing) thereby distinguishing himself as a highly specialized vaginoplasty surgeon with his office located in Los Angeles California he offers a vast amount of experience combined with education in the medical field.Dr. Matlock has put in over 10,000 hours performing Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation and Designer Laser Vaginoplasty on over 5,000 patients in 15 years. Dr. Matlock has also put in well over 25,000 liposculpturing hours (including Brazilian Butt augmentation and Vaser Hi Def Liposculpturing) over the past 23 years. In this time he has treated over 5,700 patients. Dr. Matlock is well known to the entertainment industry and he has treated numerous stars on both the big and small screen as well as world renowned music artist. He has also treated foreign presidents, their families, members of royal families and professional athletes.Dr. Matlock's practice is national and international and he has treated patients from all 50 states and over 63 countries. His highly refined, state of the art techniques yield the natural results that patients want. Dr. Matlock is known as the pioneer of Female Genital Plastic Surgery. Dr. Matlock has been contributed with popularizing LVR, DLV, Vaser Hi Def Liposculpturing and Brazilian Butt Augmentation over the past six years as a cast member of E! Entertainments hit (national and international) show Dr. 90210 Dr Matlock exclusively visits ABSAMC surgery dubai facility. Please book your consultation with Dr Matlock.Liposuction

Introduction To Liposuction

Take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the procedure and what you can do to ensure a result you will love. Remember, this presentation does not take the place of your consultation and you should make sure to jot down any questions you may want to ask us later about liposuction.

Many people seek liposuction because they want to improve their contour and remove fat from specific areas including abdomen, hips, thighs, back, arms, chest and neck. The best candidate for this procedure is a physically healthy, normal weight, person with firm, elastic skin, and with realistic goals. Patients may wish to combine Brazilian butt augmentation with their liposuction procedure.

Procedure TechniquesHow will your liposuction be performed?Typically performed on an outpatient basis in Absamc Surgery Dubai, Liposuction can last between thirty minutes to four hours depending in the amount of fat removed, number of areas treated and the technique performed. The most common techniques include tumescent and ultrasound assisted Liposuction.

Tumescent LiposuctionUsing a mixture of local anesthetics and adrenaline, a special solution called tumescent fluid is created. This fluid is inserted into the treated area through tiny access points. It helps numb the treated area controls bleeding and reacts with your fat making it easier to remove. The fat is then suctioned out through a blunt tubular instrument called a cannula.

Ultrasound Assisted Liposuction (UAL)The UAL technique uses ultrasound energy to literally melt your fat. Tumescent fluid is first injected and then special probes that emit ultrasound energy react with the fat to liquefy it. The liquefied fat is then suctioned out through tiny incisions using a cannula.

Surgery PreparationSome suggestions to help you prepare for Liposuction.During you consultation you should be very open; provide all of your medical history and list all of the medications, vitamins, and herbs you are taking (even if you don't think they're important).

Here are some tips that may help you shorten your recovery time and decrease your chances of complications.

Discontinue using Aspirin (including medications that contain Aspirin), Ibuprofen, Naprosyn, St. John's Wort, Vitamin E and other supplements as directed. These act as blood thinners and could cause excessive bruising, bleeding or other complications. We will give you a complete list of medications and herbal supplements to avoid prior to your procedure.Stop smoking for at least two weeks before and one week after surgery, as nicotine can impair circulation and healing.Don't drink alcohol in excess for two week before your Liposculpting procedure and one week after the surgery.Drink lots of water in the days leading up to your Liposculpturing procedure.

To make your recovery easier and more comfortable be sure to:

Arrange for someone to take you home and take care of you for at least the first day. For out of town, national and international patients, private nursing care, private recovery centers and hotel accommodators can be made through our office.Fill your prescriptions and place them within easy reach of where you well be resting.Place plenty of pillows, a spare compression and hand towels for drainage nearby.

Post SurgeryYou should expect some bruising, swelling and pain after your procedure. If you feel like you've lost sensations in the areas treated, don't be alarmed. As your nerves begin to regenerate feeling and sensation should return to normal. Swelling may linger for as long as several months. Pain medication will be prescribed to control any discomfort, however, if you begin to have severe pain, contact us immediately.

The recovery process is different for everyone, but within a day after your Liposuction, you should be up and walking around. Excess tumescent fluid will most likely drain from the access points for the first day or two and you may experience blood tinged fluid as well. You may shower on the second or third day following surgery. Depending on the number of areas treated, you may need to be out of work and away from your usual activities for the first week. Over the next two or three weeks your treated areas may remain very sensitive and strenuous physical activities should be limited. You will also need to wear a special compassion garment for up to a month to help ensure a good contour to your treated areas. Following this period you may gradually return to activities such or lifting, exercise and sex. Avoid any high impact activities for about one month. In particular you should avoid jogging and bouncing activities for up to six weeks. These procedures will help you avo id stress to your treated Areas and allow time for your time to heal and recover. All Liposculpturing procedures are performed using small incision, about the length of this red line -----, so any scarring will be minimal.The results of your Liposuction in ABSAMC Surgery Dubai are usually best seen after six weeks. Your treated areas should look great and retain their sculptured appearance for as long as you remain the same weight. If you gain weight, you will generally gain it in areas other than those that were treated.Dr David Matlock exclusively perform following Procedures at ABSAMC in Dubai. :///LiposuctionVaser Hi Def LiposculpturingBrazillian Butt AugmentationLaser Vaginal RejuvenationTummy Tuckhttp:///Tummy-TuckButtock Implantshttp:///Buttock-ImplantsVaginal TighteningYou are here because you are interested in liposuction,liposuction surgery, liposuction in dubai, liposuction costs, liposuction prices, laser liposuction, before and after liposuction photos,liposucti on surgeons, liposuction surgeons in dubai.

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Duran Duran - From Past To Present - Entertainment - Music

When people mention music of the 80's, there is one band name that almost always comes to mind...Duran Duran. Although the band has enjoyed success over nearly three decades, they are still referred to as an 80's band due much in part to the success of their catchy singles and colorful music videos. Boasting chart-topping singles such as "Hungry like the Wolf", Duran Duran has sold over 70 million records across the globe.

Keyboardist John Taylor and Nick Rhodes formed the band hoping to encompass the energy of the Sex Pistols while still incorporating elegance and dance grooves. At a party, they met up with Roger Taylor who was to become their drummer. Andy Taylor responded to a band audition and bagged the gig for lead guitar while John Taylor moved to bass. A former girlfriend of a band member began singing the praises of Simon Le Bon. Pretty soon, the band booked him as their lead vocalist. It was the beginning of a story that would take five band members on a road to fame as they paved their path through music history.

It was not an overnight success story for the five talented men who had such contagious tunes and a distinct sense of style. The fact that each of the young men was startling good looking certainly did not hurt their cause. As their popularity mounted, they found their faces splashed across the pages of glossy teen magazines. This exposure was probably one of the main reasons their career suddenly skyrocketed, taking them quickly to the top. Throughout the 80's, Duran Duran treated us to chart-topping hits.

By the 1990's, music trends were changing. Band members had pursued side projects in the previous years, and they saw that Duran Duran's success had begun to wane. There is no denying that the band has seen its series of changes. Unlike some bands that have broken up entirely, Duran Duran never totally disbanded. Rocked by several line-up changes throughout the years, it was not until the early 2000's that Duran Duran really piqued media interest when the core five members reunited to delight of fans. In 2004, they released the long-awaited Astronaut, but fans were disappointed to see Andy Taylor quit the band in October of 2006.

Although Taylor's departure undoubtedly left its mark on the band, they are continuing to record their new album. Although the album is not expected to be released until mid 2007, fans and critics are already buzzing about what is coming next from one of the world's most talked about bands.

In an era where music evolves from year to year, music enthusiasts have watched bands break apart often. As new artists appear on the scene, listeners are often skeptical that their newfound success will last. Today's headliners are often yesterday's news. So what is it about a band like Duran Duran that makes them weather the rocky times, stick together, and ultimately continue to do what they love doing? Fans say there is something about the passion in their music that is almost contagious. You can't help but singing along. From the looks of things, we'll be hearing a lot more from these talented guys in the future.

Nick Rauge writes on topics including duran duran news and duran duran wallpaper.

Was Andy Warhol Gay? - Art - Painting

Many have argued that Andy Warhol was asexual - a man without sexual desire neither for women nor for men. Who knows, Warhol rarely spoke about personal matters in interviews. Mostly he he just answered with a nod or a simpel "no". And since he never was married or had any publicly known affairs hardly anyone ever knew Warhols deepest desires.

"Too swish"But Warhol did in fact hint about his sexual orientation in some of his published books. In "Popism: The Warhol Sixties for example Warhol writes that he had a hard time being accepted as an artist an as a person from fellow artists like Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg, who probably were gay (but closeted). Apparantly Warhol was "too swish". Warhol himself comments that:

- "There was nothing I could say to that. It was all too true. So I decided I just wasn't going to care, because those wereall the things that I didn't want to change anyway, that I didn't think I 'should' want to change Other people could change their attitudes but not me".

Nude malesBut what about his art? Does it convey any of his sexual orientation? At first glance no. But if we go back and investigate Warhols first years as an artist we might find something very interesting. As a young artist Warhol submitted quite a lot of nude male drawings for exhibitions, but were never accepted because they were seen as too openly gay. Later he also made photographs of nude males. There exist only one painting of a nude women (called "pati palomeras").

In addition, a lot of the motives Andy Warhol used as an artist - like the paintings of Elizabeth Taylor, Judy Garland and Liza Minelli draw from gay underground culture. But at the same time these motives also come from Warhols childhood and his obsession with the stars of his time. Also among his films there are examples of homoeroticism - like the film "Blow Job" and "Lonesome Cowboys".

A religious manBut why did Warhol rarely speak about his personal affairs and his homosexuality (if he indeed was gay)? First of all Warhol was a very private person, and not especially interested in talking about his private matters. But some of the answer might also lie in the artists religious beliefs.

Most people are not aware of this, but Andy Warhol was a deeply spiritual man. In his artistic work this is not apparent until the mid 80s when he made two art series called "Details of Renaissance Paintings" (1984) and "The Last Supper" (1986). A large body of religious work was also found after the artist death in 1987.

Like his sexual preferences, Warhol rarely spoke about his religious beliefs.

David Johansen Auby runs the Warhol Auctions website where you, among other things, can find Andy Warhol famous paintings and Andy Warhol bags.

Le grand monde d'Andy Warhol - Art

Andrew Warhola, born in August 6th, 1928, died in February 1987, more commonly know as Andy Warhol, was an American painter, printmaker, filmmaker and music producer. He was a central figure in Pop Art. He is especially famous for his serigraphy art work; this practise is from the advertising technique. His work treats us to many different subjects but the most famous subject is certainly his society consumer objects, like the famed "Campbell's soup".

The exhibition "le grand monde d'Andy Warhol", is the first great exhibition about Warhol produce in France. This exhibition proposes a different view on Warhol's work than the American view. So, this exhibition chose to show an aspect of his less known work, his portraits serigraphy, rather than his Marilyn's and Jackie's portraits which are famous in whole world, his portrait of order (portraits de commandes) are so much less known. As well as this we can see a part of Warhol's work that has a religious dimension.

To begin with, his portrait of order represents more of his entourage, artists like Joseph Beuys, Hollywood celebrities like Liz Taylor, musicians such as Mike Jagger, couturiers like Yves Saint Laurent, politicians and art merchants. All his portraits are made with the serigraphy technique which is a practise borrowed from advertising, Warhol revolutionizes portraits of order codes which have been practised for many centuries. All his portraits represent just the face of the person who wants a portrait. He took a Polaroid before making the serigraphy and painted directly from the Polaroid. This part of Warhol's art could be compared to portrait of order in Art History; it is a classic vision of art with a modern technique. All his portraits are the same size, so that if we put all portraits together we would get one giant portrait of 80's society.

Additionally, this exhibition shows a religious dimension in Warhol's art work, with the first and the last picture. The first picture is an auto portrait from 1948, we find the dimension in the title, "the Lord gave me my face but I can scratch my own nose." This Warhol auto portrait represents face artist so caricatured, when Warhol painted this picture he posed himself many question about religion and the meaning of the life.

Finally, the last picture represents the Last Supper, Warhol reproduced a detail of the picture the Jesus portrait, a hundred times over so that a whole wall was covered by the Jesus portrait. We can notice from this that twentieth century artists have not had the same connection with religion, unlike the ancient artists used to. It is interesting to see that Warhol has some connection to religion.

Even though Andy Warhol's connection with religion is not well known, we do know that Warhol was obsessed with death and this is surely because he was the victim of attempted murderer. Could this be the reason Andy Warhol turned to religion? In conclusion, this great exhibition about Andy Warhol chose to show different aspects of his work, the works that were presented are not very well known but they represented a great part of Andy Warhol's work.

Join the Inspired Art Club? Join The Club Members of the club receive regular updates on Inspired Art and the new artists we have onboard.

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Darts World Grand Prix Preview: Nine Times Champion Phil Taylor Is Favourite - Sports - Other Sports

The Citywest Hotel Convention Centre in Dublin will be the venue of the Bodog.com World Grand Prix Darts tournament, beginning on Monday night.

Thirty two players will compete for 350,000 prize money in the double-start competition that will end on September 10. Phil Taylor who has won the event a record nine times is the man to beat at the event that will be telecast live on Sky Sports HD.

All legs of the competition must begin and end with a double, making the World Grand Prix one of its kind, on the darts circuit.

Several players took part in the weekend's Two Players Championship, as a warm up to the Dublin event, but champion Phil Taylor decided to give the weekend competition a miss.

Phil Taylor's first round opponent on Monday night is Brendan Dolan, and Taylor will be understandably nervous, considering that all his three losses at the tournament, in 2001, 2004 and 2007, have come in the first round.

Dolan, based in Fermanagh, was Taylor's first round opponent in 2009, a match he lost 2-0, but this year, Dolan believes he can win, especially as, given his past record, Taylor is considered vulnerable in the first round.

Eight first round matches are due to take place on Monday night. Terry Jenkins, who has been runner up twice, will play against Holland's Vincent Van der Voort.

In another match, Merwyn King, currently the world's fourth ranked player, will face Wayne Jones. In yet another first round game, Adrian Lewis will find himself face to face with Alan Tabern.

Andy Smith, returning after surgery on an infected leg wound, will play against James Caven. This will be Smith's first televised match. Another first round match will feature Steve Farmer and Steve Brown, both taking part in this tournament for the first time.

Ronnie Baxter will face Gary Anderson; while Baxter has entered the semi-finals on a previous appearance in Dublin, Anderson is Scotland's top ranked player.

Kevin Painter and Mark Dudbridge are the eighth pair to clash on the opening night; both players boast playing in world championship finals, in their resumes.

The other eight first round matches will take place on Tuesday night. John MacGovan, an Irish veteran and the oldest player in the tournament at 69, will meet Raymond van Barneveld, the runner-up to Taylor in 2008 and 2009.

Barneveld is second favourite for the title after Taylor. Simon Whitlock is joint second-favourite with Barneveld, while James Wade is the next among the players fancied to win the Dublin event.

For the latest sports gossip, including the Darts World Grandprix, click

Suresh Iyer is an avid sports fan and blogger.

Art Market Watch ANDY WARHOL'S MAO - Art - Painting

Andy Warhol is the measure of the contemporary art market. In 2010 alone, 1,646 works by Warhol were sold at auction, ranging from the exotic Liz Taylor homage from 1962, Men in Her Life, which went for $63 million, to a label from a can of Campbell's chicken vegetable soup that was signed by the artist, which topped $1,000 at auction in Chicago.

This month in New York, several big-ticket Warhol works are hitting the block, including a giant red Warhol "fright wig" self-portrait (est. $30 million-$40 million) and a 1963 portrait of Liz from the collection of hedge-funder Steven A. Cohen (est. $20 million).

Artnet Auctions frequently offers Warhol lots as well, and this week we are proud to present something really special: An authenticated, complete set of 1972 Mao prints in absolutely perfect condition. This set was stored in a flat file at the original printers for nearly 40 years, and only framed in 2010. Each impression is absolutely mint, with the original crisp, vivid color rarely seen in the majority of Mao prints that hit the block.

Complete portfolios that are authenticated and stamped come to auction only rarely. In October 2008, at the very bottom of the market, a stamped and authenticated set at Christies London brought just under $500,000. That same month, also at Christies London, a signed set in purportedly very good condition realized $458,000, almost 10 percent less than the stamped set. Since then no other complete stamped sets have come to auction.

Just last month, Phillips de Pury & Co. sold a signed but less than pristine Mao portfolio for $938,500, the top lot of the auction firm's new print auction at its Park Avenue headquarters. This increase from $458,000 in 2008 demonstrates a drastic rise in prices (see Warhol Mao Print Index Graph) due in large part to increased demand from Asian collectors.

As he had done with Marilyn, Liz, Jackie and Elvis, Warhol transformed the Chinese leader into a global Pop icon. These images of Chairman Mao have a special meaning to a growing generation of Chinese collectors, who arguably see them as a symbol of the New China and the progress the nation has made since the demise of the Cultural Revolution.

The opening bid for Artnet Auctions Mao portfolio is $595,000, and the estimate is set at $750,000-$850,000. The auction runs May 10-18, 2011.

Please continue reading here: Art worlds leading online magazine and International Galleries also Decorative Art online

All About Andy Warhol Style Portraits - Webmasters

Pop art was an art movement that became famous in the mid to late 1950's, it challenged traditional thought by using mass produced commodities of popular culture removed from their context and often in isolation and asserted these creations as art.Some of his more famous artworks used products from everyday life or advertising campaigns at the time, most famously seen in the Campbell's soup cans, he also experimented with portraits of celebrities at the time such as Marilyn Monroe, Liz Taylor and Mick Jaggar. These portraits were often an experiment with context and colour and the popularity of these portrait styles has recently seen a big come back as technology that is readily available on most PC's allows people with little or no graphic design training to recreate portraits with similar results.There are a number of characteristics that can be seen when Andy Warhol created these popular portraits and it is worth bearing these trends in mind when looking for suitable im ages to be used for Andy Warhol style art. They are as follows:� The subject fills most of the space. � The head and a portion of the shoulders were mainly used.� There was usually a good contrast between the colour of the hair and the background, i.e. if if the hair is light coloured then the background is dark or if the hair is dark coloured then the background is light.� The portraits usually had the hair back exposing the neck� The lighting was often from above and from the side creating some shadows and depth� There was often extra decorative detail such as earringsSourcing a company that has expertise in creating Andy Warhol art prints is also very important. Many of whom use the Warhol pop art style in creating personalised pop art effects on photographs and paintings.Andy Warhol's works can be seen at the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Not only will you find his paintings here but also his canvas prints, sketches, drawings, photographs, films and othe r miscellaneous pieces of work. The museum has become a shrine of sorts to fans of pop art, who make a trip there in droves every year even till this day.I bet that most of us love photographs too much. Most artistic-minded persons are not contented of viewing a simple photograph that features a natural image. They have a taste of unusual, creative and colorful forms of artwork. Thus, if you are one of this group of persons, you're most likely appreciative to the photo to photo to pop art prints. With this kind of art, you can speculate a certain colorful image from the existing photographs of any events and occasions. Photo to pop art print is also ideal to be printed in some personalized items like cup, t-shirts, bat and ball that are suitable for gift-giving.Warhol TypeThis is the type that mostly loved by people who have a taste for the artistically bold. Andy Warhol is a famous artist that worked with the celebrities for their photo to pop art print. The modern art canv as in line with the work of Andy Warhol is rich in computer-generated color schemes that will make an ordinary photo to a creative pop art canvas.Che GuevaraChe was a known revolutionist in the world's history. Actually, a famous director Steven Soderbergh had able to immortalized him in the recent two-part feature Che. The images of Che is also popular among the youths that manifest rebellion. Well, this might be your choice if you are "in" to the group.Photo To Pop Art CanvasLike the other form of art canvas, art is also an ideal choice for interior decorations. The pop rt image of your family members are somewhat funny and amazing that could able to convey a message. You can also turn the photo of your beloved pet to art that is a colorful decoration to your living room or even in your bedroom.Pop Art Photo Of Your Deceased FatherYou may be suffering because of the death of your beloved father. But, you have to move on! You cannot bring him back to life if you keep on gri eving for an infinite time. Surely, you could able to remember the funny memories and the memorable events while he was still alive. It is also a family heirloom since that a canvas print is durable and would last for a century.Photo To Pop Art For Your Baby's T-shirtYour baby is the precious gift from above. It is your responsibility to give a proper care and unconditional love for him. Thus, it is also your obligation to dress him up. His personalized art photo printed on his t-shirt is great for him especially if you are in the holiday picnic. The people will be amazed on his unusual image on his t-shirt.Pop Art Gift ItemsA unique gift is not always to be expensive. You don't have to buy a house and lot, car or even a diamond product just to please the recipient. His personalized pop art picture is also a great present for the receiver. He will surely feel your initiative to turn his picture to a colorful and more dramatic form of art.Pop art canvas prints have no end to their options, uniqueness, and quality. Your photo on canvas can be one of the finest ways to commemorate a memory. Simply make sure that before you trust your prints to someone, they know what they are doing. You will want to look for someone with artistic experience, either with a computer or without (and preferably both). Your choices are certainly more diverse with a professional software program, but they can take a great deal of time to learn and master. Let a professional ease the frustration before it has a chance to take hold.

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Day three of the Collection of Elizabeth Taylor - Art - Humanities

The two-day sale series devoted to the haute couture, fashion and accessories portion of The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor realized a combined total of $5,586,913 (3,631,493/ 4,301,923). A fitting celebration of Hollywood�s most glamorous star and her fearless sense of style, this portion of the collection was 100% sold by lot and by value. Comprising almost 400 of Miss Taylor�s most iconic looks, the sales featured fashion and accessories collected over five decades with scores of museum-quality treasures. The Evening Sale opened with an announcement that the Elizabeth Taylor Trust will donate Miss Taylor�s sunflower yellow dress from her first marriage to Richard Burton to a major American institution. Further details will be announced by the Trust in the coming days.The top couture lot was a Christian Dior Evening Gown of Silver Encrusted Brocade with matching Evening Bag, 1968, which Elizabeth Taylor wore to Guy de Rothschild and his wife�s yearly ball at their countr y home, Chateau de Ferrires, in Brie, France. This ensemble realized $362,500 (235,625/ 279,125). The accessories were led by the three lots of Louis Vuitton luggage which fetched $245,500 (159,575/ 189,035) in total."It was an honor to open the Evening Sale with the announcement that Elizabeth Taylor Trust will donate Miss Taylor�s sunflower yellow dress from her first marriage to Richard Burton to a major American institution. The superb total achieved over two days for the Haute Couture, Fashion & Accessories from Miss Taylor�s extraordinarily well-preserved wardrobe reflects the inspiration and delight that this portion of her collection sparked around the globe during our international pre-sale exhibition tour this fall," said Marc Porter, Chairman and President of Christie's Americas. "The success of the Andy Warhol �Liz� lithograph with a dedication "to Elizabeth with much love� paves the way for the auction of Fine and Decorative Art & Film Memorabilia, which feature s 146 items, including costumes and Elizabeth Taylor�s scripts for "National Velvet" and "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof.""We are delighted with the combined result of these auctions which confirms Elizabeth Taylor�s status as Fashion Icon and Muse. Interest was truly international throughout the two days and four sessions, with private individuals, celebrities and fashion archives all competing fiercely online, in the room and on the telephones," noted Patricia Frost, Christie's Head of Fashion. "From couture gowns and jackets to caftans and Miss Taylor�s luggage - famously labeled �mine� - bidders have been paying tribute to Miss Taylor�s sense of style. Christie�s are very pleased that her wardrobe will continue to inspire further generations of fans, fashionistas and designers and it is wonderful that The Elizabeth Taylor Trust have generously donated the iconic Irene Sharaff Sunflower Yellow Silk Chiffon Wedding Dress, 1964, to a major American institution. Bidding has yet to cl ose on further fashion and accessories featured in the Online-Only Auction which runs until 17 December."Further Highlights from the Haute Couture, Fashion & Accessories offered in The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor Andy Warhol (1928-1987), Liz, offset lithograph in colors, 1964, signed with a dedication by the artist in felt-tip pen: 'to Elizabeth with much love', which sold for $662,500 (430,625/ 510,125). This work is from the edition of approximately 300, published by Leo Castelli Gallery, New York. This leads the way for the art works will be offered on 16 December in the Fine and Decorative Art & Film Memorabilia, Including Costumes, which will then be followed by the Impressionist and Modern works from The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor which will be offered in February 2012, Christie�s London.Miss Taylor's Gina Fratini Wedding Dress, which she wore at her second marriage to Richard Burton in Botswana, 1975, sold for $62,500 (40,625 / 48,125). Labeled �Gina Fratini�, 1975, it has a patchwork silk bodice and floating pastel chiffon ombr sleeves and skirts, with long, beaded, feather trimmed streamers.A Versace Beaded Evening Jacket, 'The Face', circa 1992, realized $128,500 (83,525/ 98,945). This jacket is beaded with rhinestone portraits of Elizabeth Taylor in her most famous roles, including Cleopatra. Miss Taylor wore this jacket when she spoke at 'The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert for AIDS Awareness', which featured a performance by the remaining members of the band 'Queen', in 1992 at London's Wembley Stadium.Cleopatra, 1963, an Irene Sharaff evening robe which was made for Elizabeth Taylor in her role as Cleopatra for the 1963 Twentieth Century Fox production, achieved $62,500 (40,625/48,125). An identical robe is worn by Taylor during the scene where Cleopatra is informed that Marc Anthony has successfully stabilized relations between Egypt and Rome, but only by marrying Caesar's sister Octavia. The news devastates the divine Que en and she screams Anthony�s name in anger and frustration. She slashes his clothes hanging in their quarters and brutally stabs the bed they had shared. Irene Sharaff is credited for dressing Elizabeth as Cleopatra and although this garment is not labeled, it is likely to have been designed by her.A Tiziani Black Velvet 'Scorpio' Evening Cape, 1968-9, realized $60,000 (39,000/ 46,200). Elizabeth Taylor commissioned the Roman dressmaker Tiziani to create this dramatic black velvet cape embroidered with diamant scorpions on the front and on the hood for Princess Grace of Monaco�s 40th birthday "Scorpio Ball." Intended strictly for Princess Grace�s fellow Scorpios Miss. Taylor, who was a Pisces, was permitted to attend the ball as the date of her husband Richard Burton, who shared the correct zodiac sign. Karl Lagerfeld was Tiziani�s freelance designer when the cape was commissioned and this eye-catching piece, exquisitely detailed with an ivory moir silk lining, may well have been one of his designs.The impressive array of highly admired Caftans was led by two Thea Porter designs which both fetched $23,750 (15,438/18,288); a caftan of cotton ikat with associated traditional multi-strand necklace, 1980s and a blood red chiffon caftan, late 1970s.The top Accessories were A Louis Vuitton Set of Soft-Sided Garment Carriers and a Hat Box, 20thcentury and also A Louis Vuitton Set of Alzer Suitcases and a Boite Pharmacie 20th Century which each realized $110,500 (71,825/85,085). The three lots of Louis Vuitton luggage achieved $245,500 (159,575/ 189,035). Other highlights were led by A Multi-Gem and Gold Scarab Necklace, designed as a graduated series of hard stone scarabs, which fetched $74,500 (48,425/57,365) and A Black Alligator Mini Kelly Bag, labeled �Herms�, late 1960s which fetched $74,500 (48,425/57,365).

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Taylor Sent for Surgery on Forearm,Roach Fined for Deliberately Barging Lee - Careers - Interviews

Ross Taylor will undergo surgery on Tuesday on his broken left forearm and will not be able to bat in the second innings of the third Test against South Africa. Taylor was struck by a Morne Morkel short ball in the 66th over and faced one more delivery before retiring on 18. After being examined by an orthopaedic surgeon, it was determined that the best course of action would be for the New Zealand captain to go under the knife."This will give him the best opportunity to recover with the actual return date determined by the speed of his recovery from surgery," Ian Murphy, New Zealand Cricket's medical director said. "It is not anticipated he will be able to play within the next four weeks but this will depend on how quickly the injury has healed and Ross's level of comfort."Taylor's surgery means there will be no chance for him to pull off a repeat of the heroics Graeme Smith performed when he came out to bat with a broken hand against Australia in 2009, even if New Zealan d need him bat. It is also inevitable that Taylor will miss part of the IPL. He was due to turn out for the Delhi Daredevils after transferring to them from the Rajasthan Royals last month.Taylor has had an unlucky run with injuries in Test matches. He tore a calf muscle in January against Zimbabwe and only recovered in time for the Test series against South Africa, where he has been injured again.South Africa are also without one of their star attractions. Hashim Amla was ruled out of the rest of the Test and is recovering from the emergency surgery he had on Friday night after being hit on the groin off an inside edge from Chris Martin. He continued to bat for more than an hour after being struck when he was on 33, but was sent to the hospital for observation when he was dismissed 30 runs later. Amla has been resting at the team hotel while play has continued.The tourists' other walking wounded is Jacques Kallis The allrounder strained a muscle in his neck during training, which did not recover in time for the match. Kallis went for a scan on Monday in Wellington and was found to have done no serious damage. He should be fit in time to play in the one-off Twenty20 against India in Johannesburg on Friday, which is being held in honour of his service to cricket.West Indies fast bowler Kemar Roach has been fined 50% of his match fee for making deliberate physical contact with Brett Lee twice in the same over, during the fifth one-dayer against Australia in St Lucia.The incident took place during the 39th over of Australia's innings. Lee took a single off Roach and was approaching the other end when Roach first made contact with him. The two stared at each other before Roach nudged Lee again while walking back to his mark.Roach pleaded guilty to the Level 2 offence of the ICC Code of Conduct, which relates to "inappropriate and deliberate physical contact between players in the course of play". There was no need for a Nike Free Run formal hearing ."There is no doubt that Kemar deliberately made physical contact with Brett, not once but twice," Andy Pycroft, the ICC match referee, said. "This is completely unacceptable as there is no place for physical contact in cricket."It is not the sort of example that players should be setting at any time, least of all in a series as high-profile as this one. Kemar accepted his mistake and admitted that his behaviour was over aggressive and inappropriate. I am sure he has learnt his lesson and will be more careful in future.

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