Thursday, October 27th, 2011
Product packaging CDs and DVDs is most definitely one of the most repeatedly disregarded and yet absolutely essential practices to deal with when copying and delivering DVDs. Even the smallest details could certainly take away from the quality of the entire venture and damage your toil. DVD and CD packaging is one thing you positively have to get right.
Firstly, here’s one thing you need to know with respect to packaging CDs and DVDs: there is a great distinction between replicating media and duplicating them. There’s a substantial difference, even though both sound exactly the same. Duplication incorporates precisely the same process you select at your house while you burn CDs, however it is a lot faster in turnover time, as one would commonly expect from an industrial process. However, it’s pretty regrettable that this particular course of action is a bit more high-priced since it’s largely selected when creating tiny clusters of around 10,000 or even less. Additionally, it features a considerably lesser value compared to alternative solution to DVD and CD product packaging to wit production via replication. Therefore, take care to select your approach sensibly! CD and DVD packaging through replication means the data is processed by stamping all data files onto the DVDs and or CDs. Subsequently, they’re properly printed and worked over with a protective finish. This is ordinarily the process for a significant lot of CDs, and the quality achievable is actually remarkable. For small production jobs this isn’t particularly economical. You will also have to settle on whether to utilize industry-standard cases or alternatively the more sophisticated digipacks. The standard cases would be the larger recycled plastic types which feature a list of guides for the paper inlets. You can select from diverse designs. They can hold several DVDs or CDs, and they are popular as they provide a little supplementary protective cover to the discs on the inside. Yet, they happen to be highly-priced and not exactly very eco friendly, unless you’re geared up to pay more for ones made with reused components. Noticeably more expensive: absolutely bio degradable solutions that has a nil or even a negative carbon impact.
Digipacks consist of card board featuring a little clear plastic support within.
Start thinking about getting innovative with your DVD and CD packaging. Deploying our present-day tools, you will have the opportunity to go way further than standard design featuring photos and graphics to go for something less tedious and maybe even fun for the CD packaging. Pop-ups, a larger number of components, cut-outs, in conjunction with other artistic tricks all work well and help make media products, info, video clips or sound clips be noticeable on the shelf. Freebies or prize draws have equally turned into really popular addendums to regular packaging CDs and DVDs. Many people adore collecting prints, collectible cards, signed memorabilia, together with other things you can also add to them. Or, include special codes people may put in on your current web site in order to gain access to undocumented movies or sound tracks, participate in challenges, or receive bargains.
DVD CD product packaging will probably have a huge effect on product sales as well as the opinion buyers form of your products. Check to make sure your discs won’t disappoint by insisting on outstanding wrapping and, of course, design.
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Thursday, August 4th, 2011
Adequately product packaging DVDs and CDs is likely to be one of the most commonly ignored yet imperative practices to deal with when replicating and putting out media discs. Let’s counternance it: even the most miniscule detail could well take away from the quality of your total undertaking and so negate your labor. Crafting and carrying out the packaging of those DVDs etc. is something you totally must invariably get right. So you should never run the risk of compromising your corporation’s good reputation rendering low quality work.
To begin with you have to realize with regards to packaging CDs and DVDs: there’s a big distinction between replication and duplication. There is a tremendous difference, in spite of the fact that both look the same. Copying makes use of precisely the same course of action you choose at home as you burn DVDs, though it’s a lot faster in performance, as you might typically imagine with professional gear being tasked.
It’s unfortunate that this distinct approach is marginally more high priced since it’s largely chosen when undertaking small clusters close to 10,000 or fewer. In addition, it boasts a considerably lesser value as compared to the complementary solution to DVD packaging to wit production by replication. Therefore, select your methodology wisely. DVD CD product packaging employing replication implies that the data is actually copied by imprinting the information on the DVDs and/or CDs. They’re subsequently run through the printing press and eventually finished off with lacquer. This is primarily carried out for many DVDs, and the attainable quality is actually phenomenal. But for minor production runs this is usually not economically sustainable. You will also need to make a decision about whether or not to utilize standard cases or alternatively the somewhat more sophisticated digipacks. Standard cases would be the larger pvc kinds which have a couple of pegs for the paper cover and booklets. These come in different models. They will hold several discs, and are well-liked mainly because they furnish a little extra stability for that discs within. Yet, they are just plain pricey and not particularly ecologically friendly, unless you’re eager to pay extra for ones created from reprocessed stuff.
By comparison, digipacks consist of cardboard with a little PVC support within. They are really different; they tend to stand out and typically a lot better for our global climate.
Consider pushing for creative within your DVD and CD packaging. Utilizing today’s technological know-how, you will have the opportunity to go far beyond run-of-the-mill photographic and design work and choose something special or possibly fun for your CD product packaging. Cardboard pop-ups, a wide range of materials used, paper cut-outs, and various other artistic techniques can work equally efficiently and help make media products, intel, videos or tracks stand out on the shelf.
Free gifts as well as contests have also turned into common inclusions in average packaging CDs and DVDs. Everybody loves collecting prints, treasured photo cards, autographs, and other things you could add to your DVD. Or, throw in codes people are able to type in on the web to access undocumented vids or songs, register for tournaments, or maybe receive cost savings. Product packaging CDs and DVDs will likely have a big effect on sales along with the impression consumers form of your DVDs. Double check your CDs or DVDs won’t disappoint by insisting on outstanding packaging and design. And in case you’re concerned, this won’t need to blow up expenses too badly, either – you can find a lot of world class creative talent on the internet for very little money thus, this decision is entirely up to you.
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Tuesday, June 1st, 2010
Gangster rap, or hardcore rap, is generally considered a sub genre of the larger category of rap music, which itself is a subcategory of hip-hop. Gangster rap is differentiable from other rap music in that it makes use of images of urban life associated with crime (Haugen, 2). According to the Encyclopedia Britannica definition of gangster rap, the top four images associated with the genre are violence, drugs, materialism and sexual promiscuity.
Gangster Rappers as Defining the Hip-Hop Social Group
As the hip-hop movement has gained recognition throughout the United States, it has established itself as one of the fastest growing social groups anywhere. In the late 1990s immediately following the murders of both Tupac Shakur and Christopher Wallace, two nationally known gangster rappers, a propaganda campaign escalated against rap music and the hip-hop culture (Slaughter). Although gangster rap only represented a small percentage of the hip-hop culture at the time, all hip-hop and rap music was instantly stereotyped negatively as being “gangter-like”. Why? Well, this gangster version of hip-hop was the highest selling and most recognized form of hip-hop music among the majority class. And many critics have determined that this is because America is in love with sex, drugs and violence (Whaley).
Hip-Hop’s Rejection of Inferior Social Group Status
Henri Tajfel, a social psychologist who developed a theory of inter-group relations and social change, argues that members of a social group deemed inferior by a majority class can either accept or reject their inferior position in society. If a group refuses to accept its inferior position in society as just, it will attempt as a group to change things (Coates, 8-9). A large number of hip-hop artists have used their musical lyrics to reject the inferior social status placed upon them by the majority class.
The Reconstruction of the Gangster Identity
I have found that hip-hop artists use lyrics, both musical and poetic, to redefine the negatives characteristics given to their culture by the majority class, and in the process, reconstruct the gangster identity. By examining these hip-hop and gangster rap lyrics as text, I will show ways in which the lyrics attempt to reconstruct the stereotyped gangster rap identity by examining different views of violence, drugs, materialism and sexual promiscuity. In the end, one tends to wonder: Who exactly are the real gangsters?
Violence
That the hip-hop culture represents gangster-like violence is perhaps the biggest disputed claim amongst hip-hop artists. In order to disprove this claim, many hip-hop artists have pointed to the violence that exists within the majority social group, and how it leads to violence all over the world.
In “Violence”, 2 Pac demonstrates his belief that violence was prevalent long before gangster rap existed:
I told em fight back, attack on society
If this is violence, then violent’s what I gotta be
If you investigate you’ll find out where it’s comin’ from
Look through our history, America’s the violent one
Here, the poet points to American society as “the violent one” and that he has to be violent in order to “fight back.”
In “Who Knew”, Eminem showed a similar viewpoint by expressing his belief that violence is a common occurrence in American society, yet not challenged in genres outside of the urban environment:
So who’s bringin’ the guns in this country?
I couldn’t sneak a plastic pellet gun through customs over in London
And last week, I seen a Schwarzaneggar movie
Where he’s shootin’ all sorts of these bad guys with an Uzi
Here, the poet questions the existence of violence in a country that allows firearms and violent movies.
In “Casualties of War”, Rakim blames the United States government, specifically its Head of State, as the group causing the violence in society with their war-like ways:
I’ma get back to New York in one piece
But I’m bent in the sand that is hot as the city streets
Sky lights up like fireworks blind me
Bullets, whistlin’ over my head remind me…
President Bush said attack
Flashback to Nam, I might not make it back
In this text, the poet refers to our country’s decision to go to war as an example of the violence that exists amongst the majority social class.
In “The Watcher”, Dr. Dre redefines the negative characteristic of violence by pointing to the police force as the source of violence, and therefore, referring to them as “gangster-like”:
Things just ain’t the same for gangstas
Cops is anxious to put people in handcuffs
They wanna hang us, see us dead or enslave us
Keep us trapped in the same place we raised in
Then they wonder why we act so outrageous
Run around stressed out and pull out gauges
Cause everytime you let the animal out cages
It’s dangerous, to people who look like strangers
Here, the poet accuses the majority class of keeping them “trapped in the same place we raised in” and that the perceived violence is only due to the introduction of “people who look like strangers.”
These are examples of how hip-hop artists redefine the image of violence by showing how it exists or was created within the majority social group.
Drugs
Another common disputed stereotype of hip-hop artists is their use and distribution of illegal drugs. In attempts to redefine this negative characteristic, many hip-hop artists have pointed at the majority social group as the facilitator of drug abuse.
In “Justify My Thug”, Jay-Z speaks directly to members of government, raising questions about who has made the availability and use of these drugs possible:
Mr. President, there’s drugs in our residence
Tell me what you want me to do, come break bread with us
Mr. Governor, I swear there’s a cover up
Every other corner there’s a liquor store – what is up?
In this example, the poet inquires as to why there is a liquor store in “every other corner” of his community.
In “I Want to Talk to You”, Nas uses the same approach to challenge the notion of drug distribution by asking his representatives what they would do in his situation:
Why y’all made it so hard, damn
People gotta go create their own job
Mr. Mayo,r imagine if this was your backyard
Mr. Governo,r imagine if it was your kids that starved
Imagine your kids gotta sling crack to survive
Here, the poet claims that the distribution of drugs is not only an effect of the poverty that exists in his environment, but also a means of survival.
In “Manifesto”, Talib Kweli actually accuses the government of being the body which allows drugs into the country:
Like the C.I.A. be bringin’ in crack cocaine bailin’ out of planes
With the George Bush connections, I push Reflection
Like I’m sellin’ izm, like a dealer buildin’ the system
Supply and the demand it’s all capitalism
People don’t sell crack cause they like to see blacks smoke
People sell crack cause they broke
In this example, the poet accuses the C.I.A. of flying drugs into the country, and again reiterates the point that it is a means of survival due to the “supply and demand” of a capitalist society.
In “Damn It Feels Good to be a Gangster”, the Geto Boys fully redefine the negative characteristic of drug distribution by accusing the President of being a drug dealer, and therefore, a gangster:
And now, a word from the President!
Damn it feels good to be a gangsta
Getting’ voted into the White House
Everything lookin’ good to the people of the world
But the Mafia family is my boss
So every now and then I owe a favor gettin’ down
Like lettin’ a big drug shipment through
And send ‘em to the poor community
So we can bust you know who
These examples show how hip-hop artists redefine the image of being drug dealers and users by again pointing to the majority class as the creator of the drug problem in this country.
Materialism
Hip-hop music is also seen by the majority class as a genre dominated by materialism. Again, artists point back to the majority class in an attempt to redefine this negative characteristic.
In “Respiration”, Black Star points to all the wealth surrounding urban areas, and how it absorbs the lower class in materialism, making them want parts of that wealth:
Where mercenaries is paid to trade hot stock tips
For profits, thirsty criminals take pockets
Hard knuckles on the second hands of workin’ class watches
Skyscrapers is colossus, the cost of living
Is preposterous, stay alive, you play or die, no options
Here, the poet talks about various materialistic aspects of the majority class, and how the lower class must “play or die” to “stay alive.”
In “All Falls Down”, Kanye West actually blames this materialism on American society:
It seems we living the American dream
But the people highest up got the lowest self esteem
The prettiest people do the ugliest things
For the road to riches and diamond rings
In this example, the poet blames the “American dream” for materialism, saying it causes people to “do the ugliest things” for “riches and diamond rings.”
In “Los Angeles Times”, Xzibit also blames this materialism on the majority class, claiming that is what the youth are taught coming up in urban environments:
Welcome to L.A.
Where you can see the whole city burning
Cause the cops got Uzis and the dealers keep serving
And your kids ain’t learning it, except this
Sex power and wealth, forget everything else
Here, the poet expresses his belief that certain aspects of materialism, including “power and wealth” are taught to children through occurrences in society.
These are examples how hip-hop artists redefine the negative characteristic of being materialistic by showing examples of how this materialism is prevalent in the majority class, and often created within that class.
Sex
And the final debated stereotype of the hip-hop social class is that they are sexually promiscuous, often leading to disrespectful treatment towards women. The poets also attempt to redefine this stereotype by blaming the core of the problem on society.
In “Pussy Galore”, the Roots claim that the country’s obsession with sex is pushed by sexually-driven marketing campaigns:
Lookin’ out the limo window up at the billboards
200 miles, she was the only thing I saw
Promotin’ everything, from the liquor to the nicotine
Cell phones, anti-histamines, chicken wings
You gotta show a little skin to get them listening
For real yo, the world is a sex machine
In this example, the poet retells a personal experience in which he saw sex advertisements as “promotin’ everything.” And in order to “get them listening”, he claims, “you gotta show a little skin.”
In “Get By”, Talib Kweli blames this sexual obsession on what we view on television:
The TV got us reachin’ for stars
Not the ones between Venus and Mars,
The ones that be readin’ for parts
Some people get breast enhancements and penis enlargers
Here, the poet expresses his belief that television creates a misconception of what people should be sexually, and that contributes to the promiscuity that is being blamed on the hip-hop movement.
Hip-hop artists have used their lyrics and poetry to influence the rejection and reconstruction of the gangster identity that plagues their social class. This is accomplished through the redefining of negative characteristics assigned by the majority class. In most cases, these redefinitions include pointing to the majority class as the real holders of these negative characteristics. The redefining of these “gangster-like” images through hip-hop lyrics helps to reconstruct the gangster identity by questioning “gangster-like” behaviors and which social class actually has these behaviors. So the question presented is: Who exactly are the gangsters?
Works Cited / Discography
2 Pac. 2Pacalypse Now. Jive Records, 1991.
Black Star. Mos Def & Talib Kweli are Black Star. Rawkus Records, 1998.
Coates, Jennifer. Women, Men and Language. Longman Publishing, New York: 1993.
Dr. Dre. The Chronic 2001. Interscope Records, 1999.
Eminem. The Marshall Mathers LP. Interscope Records, 2000.
Geto Boys. Uncut Dope LP. Interscope Records, 1999.
Haugen, Jason. “‘Unladylike Divas’: Language, Gender and Female Gangster Rappers.” Popular Music and Society: December, 2003.
Jay Z. The Black Album. Def Jam, 2003.
Kanye West. College Dropout. Roc-A-Fella Records, 2004.
Nas. I Am. Sony Records, 1999.
Rakim. Don’t Sweat the Technique. MCA Records, 1992.
Rawkus Records. Lyricist Lounge Volume 1. Priority Records, 1999.
Slaughter, Peter. “Attack on Rap Music.” Barutiwa Weekly News. June 14, 1997.
Talib Kweli & DJ Hi-Tek. Train of Thought. Rawkus Records, 2000.
Talib Kweli. Quality. Rawkus Records, 2003.
The Roots. Phrenology. MCA Records, 2002.
Whaley, Angela. “Hip Hop is Not for Sale.” Colorado State University’s Talking Back: Volume 3, Issue 1.
Xzibit. 40 Days and 40 Nights. Loud Records, 1998.
Nathaniel Long is the creator and editor of Hip Hop Linguistics, a website dedicated to studying, interpreting and understanding hip-hop music, language, philosophy and culture. You can read more articles and reviews at www.hiphoplinguistics.com.
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Thursday, November 19th, 2009
Westlife have revealed they plan to create a male fragrance, hot on the heels of their new female scent.
The Irish chart-toppers – Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Shane Filan – launched Westlife X in Dublin, celebrating their ten-year anniversary in the pop business.
Despite having to deal with the devastating loss of his dad on November 3, Nicky was happy to promote the fragrance, saying: “We’d love to do an aftershave at some point, obviously – we’d wear it then, wouldn’t we, ourselves? So yeah, down the line, we’ll start small and see where we go with this.”
Westlife paid an emotional tribute to fellow boyband star Stephen Gately dedicating their headline show to his memory at the Cheerios Childline concert at Dublin’s 02 arena last night.
The Irish popstars gave a riveting performance at their first homecoming gig since playing to 82,000 adoring fans at Croke Park last summer and helped raise 400,000 for the Irish children’s charity.
And for disappointed fans who couldn’t get tickets to see last night’s sold-out show, the band revealed they were in talks for another gig here next summer.
But last night, the memory of the Boyzone singer — who co-hosted the annual charity concert twice and performed at it three times — was foremost in their minds.
Band member Kian Egan said they were still reeling from Stephen’s tragic death.
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Thursday, October 1st, 2009
The excellent Need4 Video Converter can convert your best videos in the WMV format to X vid. This will let them be played of different sources, form your Mac or PC, to a cell phone amongst other types of mobile device. The clip may also be uploaded to a video sharing file so it could be seen by your family and friends. You could then convert WMV videos to X vid in no time. If looking to convert an entire video in one go or a little bit at a time, Need4 Video can take care of it.
Launch
You will need video converter software to get you started, such as a Need4 Video Converter.
Download it and follow the step by step guide.
Add WMV Video To Converter
Click the +Video button to add the video you would like to convert.
Select WMV in the Files of type field and choose the relevant video file and click Open
The selected file will be added to the list of opened files.
Select Output Format
Select General Video in the opened Profile list .
Open the Presets list on the right and choose the output format you would like from in the Presets list and click open.
Step 4. Specify Folder to Save Video
Enter the name of the converted video in the Save as field.
Specify the folder where you would like to store the converted video in the Save to field, highlight the folder where you want to store the converted videos.
Poiint out any supplementary considerations you may require when saving video.
Overwrite existing files and check it to replace any existing video files with the same name with brand new ones.
Open the output folder. You can then review the folder with a ready file.
Select a Video Segment to Convert
If you wish to convert an individual section of your video clip, then click the Edit button next to your video in the list.
When opening the window, drag the left marker to the start of the video episode you want with the right marker at the end.
Hit Convert to Save WMV Video to X vid.
It is recommended that, in the List of opened files, you examine the added video file just to double check.
Then hit Convert to convert it to X vid and the proces is complete.
Need4 Video can convert any video clip format to another, without any trouble.
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Thursday, August 20th, 2009
Paloma Faith is part of the latest wave of “new hot things” to come out of the UK music scene, and as thehothits.com discovered when we spoke to Paloma recently, it’s not only now that she gets to rub shoulders with the rich and famous.
The ‘Stone Cold Sober’ singer has had many jobs before she got famous, including magician’s assistant, a scary ghost on a ghost train amusement ride, actress, playwright and, the place of her most awkward celebrity encounter, as a sales assistant in a sexy underwear shop.
CLICK HERE to see Paloma do 1940’s glamour and cute burlesque in the video for ‘Stone Cold Sober’
“When I was working in Agent Provocateur, I served Angelina Jolie. And when I meet people who are celebrities I tend not to change,” she explains to thehothits.com
“I sold her knickers and bras and then she said that she couldn’t be bothered to hand wash [them] cos’ all the bras and knickers there are hand wash [only].
“I told her that next time she has a bath she should put them all in the bath with her and wash them in the bath with soap. I think she was a bit weirded out, but then after a while she just laughed a lot and said I was really cool,” Paloma muses.
*tries to picture Angelina washing her underpants in the bath*
“You wouldn’t imagine Angelina Jolie doing that now would you?” she says.
No, we can’t! Doesn’t she have people who do that for her?
Paloma will be in Australia this October for a promotional visit. Her debut album Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful? comes out on September 21.
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