Building on an ongoing theme, it’s only fitting that I mention google office’s new presentation app. Unlike word processing and spreadsheets, I make power point slides fairly often, so I was pretty into the idea of a google-based replacement. The great thing about making slides online is that there’s not need to transfer them from one computer to the next (transferring slides sucks, since on Macs and PCs they may look different). Plus if you collaborate on a presentation (as I often do) everyone can edit the slides online. In fact, you can even gchat while both looking at the slides. Also google office provides automatic back up and version history. The key drawback of using google presentations though is that the app pretty much blows. It’s just nowhere near Powerpoint. For one, it doesn’t automatically resize text, the one things that makes using Powerpoint super fast. It’s true that Apple’s Keynote doesn’t do this either, but the google program doesn’t even let draw lines and boxes or edit themes. This is particularly frustrating since I was able to import existing slides that contained objects I couldn’t edit or create from scratch. I was also surprised I couldn’t embed content using google video (or google images). Putting video in Powerpoint is risky, so this seemed like a potential major selling point. There was also no way to select multiple objects. Anyway, here’s my sample presentation. You need a google account to view it, and also it doesn’t show up correctly in Safari. Hopefully this app will get a lot better real soon.
My another blog: fresh-seafoods
Tuesday, 18 September 2007
Celebrities and Their Diamond Engagement Rings
What better way to show the world that you are in love than by the act of giving and receiving a diamond engagement ring? With many actresses and other famous women sporting bigger and sparklier diamond rings, celebrity engagements have become a delight for the jewelry lover. The size of the diamond is not necessarily the key as to what makes some of these rings so famous and recognizable, rather it seems to be a combination of the engagement ring itself and the famous lady it is associated with.
The history of diamond engagement rings
Maximillan I of Austria gave the first diamond engagement ring on record to Mary of Burgundy in 1477. He had the ring commissioned to unite their two houses and make their marriage a unifying symbol to the country.
The smallest diamond engagement ring ever made was given to Princess Mary who was married by proxy to the Dauphin of France in the year 1518. Princess Mary was two years old at the time.
Throughout history diamond engagement rings have become larger, more elaborate, and have included a wide variety of other jewels and metals. Diamond engagement rings settings can be made of silver, platinum, white or yellow gold or a mixture of these elements.
Famous ladies and their engagement rings
Celebrities and other famous people influence the look and style of many aspects in fashion and also set trends. Diamond engagement rings are no exception to this rule. The following is a partial list of the famous ladies and their equally famous engagement rings:
Royalty:
* Queen Elizabeth II received an engagement ring from Prince Phillip that was made from diamonds from his mother's tiara.
* Grace Kelly was given a 12 carat emerald-cut diamond engagement ring from Prince Rainier.
* Lady Diana was engaged with a ring made of an 18 carat blue oval sapphire that was circled by fourteen diamonds.
Actresses:
* Elizabeth Taylor was engaged to her third husband, Michael Todd, with an emerald cut diamond that weighed almost 30 carats. However, she is more known for her other pieces of jewelry, one more striking than the other: the 39 carat Krupp diamond, the 69.42 carat pear-shaped Taylor-Burton diamond and the 17th century heart-shaped Taj Mahal diamond.
* Priscilla was engaged to Elvis with a 3.5 carat diamond engagement ring that was circled by another 21 smaller diamonds and diamond chips.
* Sharon Stone was given a three diamond, 3 1/2 carat emerald-cut diamond engagement ring by Phil Bronstien.
* Catherine Zeta-Jones' promise to Michael Douglas was finalized with a 10 carat antique marquise diamond estimated at amost $2 million.
* Joan Collins got a heart-shaped diamond ring in a nineteenth-century setting from husband Percy Gibson.
Pop stars:
* Madonna received from Guy Ritchie an antique Edwardian three-stone diamond ring with a decorative platinum band. The Neil Lane ring was supposed to represent their family: mother, father and son Rocco.
* In the case of Toni Braxton, drummer Keri Lewis designed a stunning 4.5 three-stone diamond ring with an oval-shaped center stone and 2 heart-shaped diamonds on the sides.
* Paris Hilton, even though not a pop star but a diva anyway, received 2 diamond engagement rings from billionaire Paris Latsis, a $5 million 24 carat canary diamond ring and a $2.1 million 15 carat white diamond ring.
* Britney Spears has two engagement rings also: one that she bought for herself before the wedding, a $40,000 4 carat cushion-cut diamond ring with a platinum pave setting, and one that she received 9 month after the marriage from husband Kevin Federline.
* Christina Aguilera became engaged to Jordan Bratman after he presented a $54,000 20-carat diamond engagement ring designed by jeweler Stephen Webster.
* Whitney Houston sports a stunning 4 carat oval-shaped center stone with trillions on the sides which she received from Bobby Brown.
Replica diamond engagement rings
Of course there is the very famous pink diamond ring that Ben Affleck gave to Jennifer Lopez. This 6 carat radiant shaped pink diamond quickly caught the attention of the public and has become a highly sought after replica. It is completed with a platinum band as well as three baguette white diamonds on each side. The pink diamond engagement ring is reported to have been purchased for $1.2 million in 2002. The ring, while easily identified is also very feminine and modern looking.
Replicas of the famous pink diamond ring are now available for a moderate price. The cost of the replicas depends on the quality of the stones and the materials used in reproducing the pink diamond engagement ring.
Some replicas are styled as more antique diamond engagement rings. These rings have an everlasting quality and symbolize tradition and heritage. The recent engagement of Camilla Parker Bowles in February of 2005 featured such an antique engagement ring. The platinum ring has an emerald-cut center diamond with three diamond baguettes on each side. This ring originally belonged to the Queen Mother and is believed to be valued at over $1 million.
Since few people can afford the original item, there will always be a market for replicas of these one of a kind diamond engagement rings. The quality of the replicas varies, as does the price. It is important to note that the styles of diamond engagement rings that are popular with celebrities will soon become the styles that are sought after by the not quite so rich and famous.
Tim Richardson is your guide in the world of diamond engagement rings at http://www.loveanddiamonds.com where you can find tips on choosing the diamond and the setting for the perfect ring. You'll learn about diamond shape, cut, clarity, weight, color, how to read a diamond certificate and how to avoid scams.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Richardson
The history of diamond engagement rings
Maximillan I of Austria gave the first diamond engagement ring on record to Mary of Burgundy in 1477. He had the ring commissioned to unite their two houses and make their marriage a unifying symbol to the country.
The smallest diamond engagement ring ever made was given to Princess Mary who was married by proxy to the Dauphin of France in the year 1518. Princess Mary was two years old at the time.
Throughout history diamond engagement rings have become larger, more elaborate, and have included a wide variety of other jewels and metals. Diamond engagement rings settings can be made of silver, platinum, white or yellow gold or a mixture of these elements.
Famous ladies and their engagement rings
Celebrities and other famous people influence the look and style of many aspects in fashion and also set trends. Diamond engagement rings are no exception to this rule. The following is a partial list of the famous ladies and their equally famous engagement rings:
Royalty:
* Queen Elizabeth II received an engagement ring from Prince Phillip that was made from diamonds from his mother's tiara.
* Grace Kelly was given a 12 carat emerald-cut diamond engagement ring from Prince Rainier.
* Lady Diana was engaged with a ring made of an 18 carat blue oval sapphire that was circled by fourteen diamonds.
Actresses:
* Elizabeth Taylor was engaged to her third husband, Michael Todd, with an emerald cut diamond that weighed almost 30 carats. However, she is more known for her other pieces of jewelry, one more striking than the other: the 39 carat Krupp diamond, the 69.42 carat pear-shaped Taylor-Burton diamond and the 17th century heart-shaped Taj Mahal diamond.
* Priscilla was engaged to Elvis with a 3.5 carat diamond engagement ring that was circled by another 21 smaller diamonds and diamond chips.
* Sharon Stone was given a three diamond, 3 1/2 carat emerald-cut diamond engagement ring by Phil Bronstien.
* Catherine Zeta-Jones' promise to Michael Douglas was finalized with a 10 carat antique marquise diamond estimated at amost $2 million.
* Joan Collins got a heart-shaped diamond ring in a nineteenth-century setting from husband Percy Gibson.
Pop stars:
* Madonna received from Guy Ritchie an antique Edwardian three-stone diamond ring with a decorative platinum band. The Neil Lane ring was supposed to represent their family: mother, father and son Rocco.
* In the case of Toni Braxton, drummer Keri Lewis designed a stunning 4.5 three-stone diamond ring with an oval-shaped center stone and 2 heart-shaped diamonds on the sides.
* Paris Hilton, even though not a pop star but a diva anyway, received 2 diamond engagement rings from billionaire Paris Latsis, a $5 million 24 carat canary diamond ring and a $2.1 million 15 carat white diamond ring.
* Britney Spears has two engagement rings also: one that she bought for herself before the wedding, a $40,000 4 carat cushion-cut diamond ring with a platinum pave setting, and one that she received 9 month after the marriage from husband Kevin Federline.
* Christina Aguilera became engaged to Jordan Bratman after he presented a $54,000 20-carat diamond engagement ring designed by jeweler Stephen Webster.
* Whitney Houston sports a stunning 4 carat oval-shaped center stone with trillions on the sides which she received from Bobby Brown.
Replica diamond engagement rings
Of course there is the very famous pink diamond ring that Ben Affleck gave to Jennifer Lopez. This 6 carat radiant shaped pink diamond quickly caught the attention of the public and has become a highly sought after replica. It is completed with a platinum band as well as three baguette white diamonds on each side. The pink diamond engagement ring is reported to have been purchased for $1.2 million in 2002. The ring, while easily identified is also very feminine and modern looking.
Replicas of the famous pink diamond ring are now available for a moderate price. The cost of the replicas depends on the quality of the stones and the materials used in reproducing the pink diamond engagement ring.
Some replicas are styled as more antique diamond engagement rings. These rings have an everlasting quality and symbolize tradition and heritage. The recent engagement of Camilla Parker Bowles in February of 2005 featured such an antique engagement ring. The platinum ring has an emerald-cut center diamond with three diamond baguettes on each side. This ring originally belonged to the Queen Mother and is believed to be valued at over $1 million.
Since few people can afford the original item, there will always be a market for replicas of these one of a kind diamond engagement rings. The quality of the replicas varies, as does the price. It is important to note that the styles of diamond engagement rings that are popular with celebrities will soon become the styles that are sought after by the not quite so rich and famous.
Tim Richardson is your guide in the world of diamond engagement rings at http://www.loveanddiamonds.com where you can find tips on choosing the diamond and the setting for the perfect ring. You'll learn about diamond shape, cut, clarity, weight, color, how to read a diamond certificate and how to avoid scams.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Richardson
Monday, 17 September 2007
Ramstad To Retire (washingtonpost)
Minnesota Republican Rep. Jim Ramstad announced his retirement from the House today, creating another major problem for House Republicans and a golden Democratic pickup opportunity. Ramstad is the seventh House Republican to choose against running for re-election in 2008. He joins Reps. Rick Renzi (Ariz.), Duncan Hunter (Calif.), Dennis Hastert (Ill.), Ray LaHood (Ill.), Chip Pickering (Miss.) and Deborah Pryce(Ohio) on the sidelines. Two Democrats -- Reps. Mark Udall (Colo.) and Tom Allen (Maine) -- are leaving their seats. Both are running for Senate. Like the seats of Pryce and Renzi, Ramstad\'s 3rd district is almost certain to play host to a very competitive race in 2008. Ramstad\'s departure will further talk that Republicans are headed for an avalanche of retirements heading into next November. In 1994, the last time control of the House flipped, 29 Democratic representatives headed for the exits -- 22 of those simply retired while the others ran for higher office. Just 12 Republicans retired from Congress. According to the latest edition of the Cook Political Report (subscriber only but you should be a subscriber, five Democratic Members are listed as potential retirements while 19 Republicans (not including Ramstad) are listed as potential Republican retirements. As always when a new seat comes open, we offer our sketch of the district. Geography:: The district takes in much of the suburbs surrounding Minneapolis-St. Paul and includes the Mall of America. It is overwhelmingly white (89 percent according to the 2000 Census) and white collar (73 percent). Election Results: A Republican has represented this district for the past 37 years. Rep. Bill Frenzel (R) held it from 1970 to 1990. When Frenzel retired, Ramstad won and has never faced a serious fight for re-election; in fact, he has never won less than 65 percent of the vote. But, that unbroken line of Republican representation hides a very competitive seat. President Bush carried it with 51 percent in 2004 and 50 percent four years earlier but President Clinton also caried it twice with 47 percent in 1996 and 39 percent in 1992. (Ross Perot won 24 percent in the district.) Candidates: Ramstad\'s retirement was unexpected so no Republican names immediately surfaced. Among those mentioned on the Democratic side include attorney Andy Luger, who ran for Hennepin County Attorney in 2006, state Sen. Terri Bonoff and state Rep. Denise Dittrich . Given that Ramstad had represented the district for the past 17 years, there are almost certainly a number of aspiring pols who have been waiting for an opportunity like this -- meaning that both sides are likely to have competitive primaries. Outlook: While New Hampshire drew most of the national attention in the last election after ousting both of its Republican House Members, Minnesota voters also showed they were ready for change. The race to replace Sen. Mark Dayton (D) was expected to be among the most competitive in the country but turned into a blowout for Democrat Amy Klobuchar as Rep. Mark Kennedy (R) found his support for President Bush and the war in Iraq hung around his neck. And, in southern Minnesota, Rep. Gil Gutknecht (R) was defeated by teacher Tim Walz (D) who ran on a strong anti-war message. This cycle Sen. Norm Coleman (R) is a major Democratic target and the 3rd district is almost certain to be among the top 20 (or so) races in the country. Democrats believe that suburban districts are moving in their favor thanks to Bush and the war; if they\'re right, this is the sort of district they should be able to win.
source - http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/09/ramstad_retires.html
source - http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/09/ramstad_retires.html
Friday, 14 September 2007
Scrapbooking Article: Free Scrapbooking Stuff at Your Fingertips
Online is the best place to gain access to free scrapbooking stuff. All types of sites can be used for online scrapbook or can be even printed out on a high-quality computer and used on typical scrapbook pages. Several websites to check out for free scrapbook stuff are Escrappers, Free scrapbooking Fonts, Scrapbook Scrapbook, Mom’s Break, and Creating Keepsakes. Certain websites with free scrapbooking stuff are linked to major scrapbooking and craft stores, as well as television stations for a treasure trove of scrapbooking ideas: Joann, Michaels, AC Moore, and HGTV.
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