Contact Lenses Money Saving Shopping Tips
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All correcting contact lenses must have a valid prescription from an ophthalmologist or optometrist. Contact lens wearers are usually surprised and happy with the level of comfort that lenses provide. You’ll want to take simple precautions to make any lens purchase safe and effective.
Among the many kinds of contact lenses you can buy are: novelty, colored, crazy, Halloween, special effects, theatrical, costume, scary, glow in the dark, wild eyes, mirrored, black, white, and red. With a contact lens prescription in hand, it’s possible to buy your contact lenses from stores, the Internet, over the phone, or by mail.
Soft lenses also come as disposable products, that is, used once and discarded, or as planned-replacement lenses. There are differences in the water content and shape of the lens between different brands. If you live an active lifestyle, NIGHT & DAY breathable lenses will allow you 30 hours of continuous wear.
Soft lenses have the added benefit in that soft lenses aren’t as likely as rigid lenses to pop out or get foreign material like dust underneath. Contacts provide for excellent peripheral vision for sports, driving, safety, and performing. Newer soft lens materials include silicone-hydrogels to provide more oxygen to your eyes.
Bifocal correction is possible with both soft and rigid lenses. You can mark rigid lenses to show which lens is for which eye; they don’t rip or tear, so they’re easy to handle. Rigid gas permeable lenses tend to be less expensive over the life of the lens since they last longer than soft lenses.
Disposable lenses don’t come with instructions for cleaning and disinfecting, while those labeled specifically for planned replacement do. In some models, each lens corrects for near and distance vision and in others, one lens is for near vision, and the other is for distance.
When you place your order make sure your lenses are available and not out of stock, because you’ll need them now. Get a feel for how the retailer handles customer service calls; in case you have a problem after your order arrives. There are many good contact lens retailers now on the Internet making their lenses available at a good discount for prescription and non-prescription lenses.
When you place your contact lens order, request the manufacturer’s written patient information for your contact lenses; it’ll give you important risk and benefit information as well as instructions for use. Ask about prices at your doctor’s office when you have your eye examination, or during a follow-up visit after you get your prescription. If you have an insurance plan, the insurance plan’s seller’s prices may or may not be better than what you can find elsewhere; this should be just one option when you’re shopping for lenses.
Check out how long the online supplier has been in business before you buy. Before you buy online, check to see if there are any testimonials at the online supplier’s website. Check to see if you have a health insurance plan that includes vision coverage.
Getting a proper fit is essential; contact lenses that are poorly fitted can lead to eyesores, eye inflammation, and eye abrasions. Be aware that extended-wear (overnight) contact lenses - rigid or soft - increase the risk of corneal ulcers, which are infection-caused eruptions on the cornea that can lead to blindness; symptoms include vision changes, eye redness, eye discomfort or pain, and excessive tearing. When the eyes are open, tears carry adequate oxygen to the cornea to keep it healthy, but during sleep, the eye produces fewer tears, causing the cornea to swell.
To be sure your eyes remain healthy you shouldn’t order lenses with a prescription that’s expired or stock up on lenses right before the prescription is about to expire; it’s much safer to be re-checked by your eye doctor. Microorganisms may be present in distilled water, so always use commercial sterile saline solutions, if you plan to use enzyme tablets in water for disinfections. Always throw away disposable lenses after the recommended wearing period.
If you’re looking for cheap contact lenses, you may find that cheap materials or other ways of cutting costs will affect the quality you’ll want for your precious eyes. No matter which lenses your doctor prescribes, be sure to ask for written instructions and follow them carefully. Shopping for contacts online will save you a lot of money; contact lenses are deeply discounted.
Helen Hecker
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/contact-lenses-money-saving-shopping-tips-133076.html
How to Stop Being an Average Guy and Become a Master of Attraction
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You’re probably like most other guys. An average guy. A decent, hard-working fellow that is nice, neat, and respectful. You listen to her attentively. You’re polite and cautious with what you say and do. There’s only one problem:
Average equates to boring.Â
Don’t get me wrong. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with any of the things that are mentioned above. It’s just that they don’t make you stand out from the crowd. Keep being decent, hardworking, and the rest of it. Well, you might want to rethink the cautious with what you say and do. This is where loosening up will be a big improvement.
The fastest way to stand out in a crowd is to be funny. The second way is knowing what to do to have fun. The first can be a little tricky to master, but the second is a matter of talking and asking questions, then listening to answers. Which is interesting conversation.Â
When you find out what other people, girls in particular, like to do, become the supplier of that fun. If they like to talk about politics, suggest going to a political rally and follow it up with a discussion at a local pub. If the group of girls you have been talking with like comedy, suggest going to a comedy club for the evening. Become the guy who’s knowledgeable about what’s going on around town. The guy that knows how to make a good time. The guy that everyone goes to. That’s not average.Â
 Standing out from the crowd can take many forms. The point is that anyone can do average. Making yourself special is a way to become more attractive to the opposite sex. You will stand out in her mind, and that’s what you want. And you’ll never be average again.
Watch FREE hidden camera pickup videos and discover how to approach, meet and get dates with attractive women at the shopping mall, the park, even the street!
http://www.succeedatdating.com
Alex Coulson
http://www.articlesbase.com/dating-articles/how-to-stop-being-an-average-guy-and-become-a-master-of-attraction-665736.html
Driving in Austria Could Enhance your Holiday Experience
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From its stunning natural landscape and its rich musical heritage to its valuable artistic tradition, Austria is famous for a variety of tourist attractions; in fact, from Amadeus Mozart to Arnold Schwarzenegger, Austria is home to a veritable choice of allurements. Should you choose to travel to Austria on your next holiday, why not choose to rent a car? Hiring a car extols many benefits over using public transport or private tour coaches and can provide a novel way of exploring this fascinating country - particularly if you’re on holiday with your family.
If you decide to hire a car in Austria, you’ll enjoy hassle-free access to the country’s various ski resorts, swimming lakes and nature parks. If you’re travelling with small children, your ease of movement will be made that much simpler in a car, as you won’t have to rely on public transport in order to move from one place to another. Skiing, for example, is a particularly popular pastime in Austria, and the country’s major ski areas hold plenty in store for every ski or snowboarding fan. By renting a car for travelling in Austria, you’ll be able to enjoy the delights of different ski resorts in a cost-effective and hassle-free way. So, if you want to go skiing in the family ski resort of Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis but would also like to enjoy the thrills of the Bregenzerwald ski resort, hiring a car will make it easier for you to do so.
Hiring a car and driving in Austria will also make it easier for you and your family to vary your holiday activities. For instance, if you’re in Austria primarily on a skiing holiday, hiring a car will also make it possible for you to drive to nearby hiking trails or go rock climbing. Alternatively, you could drive to one of Austria’s main cities, like Vienna, Innsbruck or Salzburg, and take pleasure in the range of musical, theatrical or artistic offerings in Austria’s centres of culture.
Car hire in Austria is not difficult. Whether you choose to arrive at any of Austria’s main airports such as Salzburg, Graz, Innsbruck, or to a range of other airports in Austria, you’ll find plenty of car rental opportunities available at your chosen airport. But if you do decide to hire a car on your vacation in Austria, it’s important to be aware of the different driving regulations. For example, in Austria, it’s compulsory to drive with your head-lights on during both the day and night-time. Furthermore, the permissible alcohol limit in Austria is 0.5, which is lower than the legal alcohol limit in Britain. So make sure you’re fully aware of the differing rules of the road when driving in Austria in order to avoid any mishaps: you’ll be well on your way to an unforgettable driving holiday in one of Europe’s most naturally beautiful countries.
Martin Mcallister
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/driving-in-austria-could-enhance-your-holiday-experience-88713.html
Austin Texas Live Music Scene
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“Touted as the âLive Music Capital of the World,â the city of Austin, Texas, has a rhythm of its own. With more live music venues per capita than any other music center in the world, Austin, TX dominates over other places known for music such as Nashville, Los Angeles or Las Vegas. The city of Austin, Texas offers several programs to assist musicians and to promote their music in a variety of genres, from country to blues.
Whether you are just arriving in Austin, Texas for the first time or you are a local coming home, you will be greeted at the airport with live music at three different airport venues. The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is just the first reminder that youâve entered the âLive Music Capitalâ of Austin, TX.
The Plaza at the Austin City Hall puts on a music showcase with different scopes that highlight different musicians and their music. Free concerts are given between April and October at The Plaza, making the music series âLive From The Plazaâ one of the more popular music venues around. The Parks and Recreation Department also highlights musical performances, with summer concerts in various locations, such as the Zilker Hillside Theater.
Many private organizations have emerged as a result of the hot music scene in Austin, TX. The cityâs famous Sixth Street is the heart of the live music scene, with more than 50 nightclubs, restaurants, bistros and dance clubs showcasing the latest musicians in a variety of music styles. West of the business district lies what is known as Austinâs Warehouse District, fast emerging as another neighborhood devoted to live music. With edgier restaurants and clubs renovated from old warehouses, the Warehouse District features trendy bars, restaurants and amazing concert halls.
There are several theaters in Austin, Texas that spotlight more live music, such as Estherâs Follies. Located on Sixth Street, Estherâs Follies has featured live acts of magic, comedy, music and sketch comedy for more than two decades. The Frank Erwin Center hosts many concerts and other musical events from its Red River Street location. The Zachary Scott Theater is another place to enjoy a wide variety of live entertainment, from seasonal plays to old-fashioned music concerts. Austin, Texas has many other theaters located throughout the city that are just waiting to be discovered by eager residents.
Of course, the âLive Music Capital of the Worldâ wouldnât be complete with out music festivals, and Austin, TX hosts several noteworthy ones. Try out the Austin City Limits Music Festival, a 3-day celebration of Austinâs music. The Southwest Music, Film and Interactive Festival highlights worldwide talents in each category. The Urban Music Festival and the Old Settlerâs Music Festival are two more popular events just right for the whole family.”
Eric Bramlett
http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/austin-texas-live-music-scene-267035.html
Buy Discount Contact Lenses Online - Save Your Money
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Now it’s easy to order the perfect contact lenses online at a great discount. Contact lens sales are regulated by the FDA (Food And Drug Administration) and the FTC (Federal Trade Commission.) Among the many kinds of contact lenses you can buy are: novelty, colored, crazy, Halloween, special effects, theatrical, costume, scary, glow in the dark, wild eyes, mirrored, black, white, and red.
You’ll want to take simple precautions to make any lens purchase safe and effective. There are 75 million contact lens wearers worldwide and 31 million in the U.S. alone.
If you live an active lifestyle, NIGHT & DAY breathable lenses will allow you 30 hours of continuous wear. Disposable lenses don’t come with instructions for cleaning and disinfecting, while those labeled specifically for planned replacement do. Extended wear contact lenses are used for overnight or continuous wear ranging from one to six nights or up to 30 days.
The expiration date for your prescription is currently set by your state requiring a one-year or two-year renewal; if your state hasn’t set a minimum expiration date, government regulation sets a one-year date unless your eye doctor determines there’s a medical reason for less than one year. The length of continuous lens wear depends on the lens type and your doctor’s evaluation of your tolerance for overnight wear. Bifocal correction is possible with both soft and rigid lenses.
Rigid gas permeable lenses tend to be less expensive over the life of the lens since they last longer than soft lenses. Keep in mind that contact lenses are often more complex than it appears. People who have good distance vision but need help for reading can get a monovision reading lens for one eye.
Rigid lenses generally give you more clear vision. You can mark rigid lenses to show which lens is for which eye; they don’t rip or tear, so they’re easy to handle.
Ask about prices at your doctor’s office when you have your eye examination, or during a follow-up visit after you get your prescription. You can buy contact lenses from an eye doctor, on the Internet, from an optical store or a warehouse club. Rebates may be available from the seller, from the manufacturer, for first-time contact lens wearers and for individuals who buy lenses and get an eye exam.
Preferably buy your contact lenses from a supplier you’re familiar with and know is reliable or has name familiarity. When you place your order make sure your lenses are available and not out of stock, because you’ll need them now. Before you buy online, check to see if there are any testimonials at the online supplier’s website.
Compare prices - get quotes from two or three online and offline suppliers. There are many good contact lens retailers now on the Internet making their lenses available at a good discount for prescription and non-prescription lenses. Beware of attempts to substitute a brand different from the one you want when buying contacts.
Don’t wear lenses any longer than they’re prescribed for, nor when sleeping unless you are otherwise directed. The FDA has approved extended-wear lenses for use up to seven days before removal for cleaning; but there are risks with use of extended-wear lenses even for one night. Basic rule: never swap your contact lenses with anyone else.
Microorganisms may be present in distilled water, so always use commercial sterile saline solutions, if you plan to use enzyme tablets in water for disinfections. Soft extended-wear lenses bind down on the closed eye, but they are porous and allow some tears through during sleep; because they have so little form, their binding has very little effect on the shape of the eye. Extended-wear rigid lenses can cause unexpected, undesirable, reshaping of the cornea.
Make sure you’ve done your homework before you buy any pair of contact lenses. Ordering discount contact lenses online has never been simpler with, and sometimes without, a credit card. If you prefer the way you look without glasses or find glasses to be cumbersome and awkward, contacts can provide the ease, convenience and comfort you need.
Helen Hecker
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/buy-discount-contact-lenses-online-save-your-money-127117.html
Don’t Forget Glasgow’s Festivals!
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As one of Britain’s largest and most diverse cities, Glasgow has always had a lot to offer the potential visitor to Scotland in terms of arts and culture. However, the city often tends to be overlooked when it comes to its festival offerings; being shunted aside in favour of Edinburgh’s vast comedic and theatrical offerings that takes place every August. But while the Scottish capital’s annual offerings are certainly some of the best on show in the British arts scene, it’s important not to forget that Glasgow also hosts a variety of arts festivals throughout the year.
February, for instance, sees the annual Glasgow Film Festival. Taking place across a variety of locations throughout the city, this annual film festival is one of the most anticipated in Europe and pays tribute to a range of new films from across the continent and the rest of the world. As well as a range of Scottish talent, the 2007 Glasgow Film Festival selection includes over 90 films that will be screened over the festival’s ten days, including Hollywood-hyped offerings like Robert de Niro’s ‘The Good Shepherd’ and well-known Chinese director Zhang Yimou’s new film ‘The Curse of the Golden Glowerâ.
The month of February also sees the ‘Aye Write! Book Festival’ descend on Glasgow. As one of Scotland’s premier book festivals, âAye Write!â celebrates the rich literary pickings of Glasgow and beyond; paying homage to the best in Scottish literary talent. In 2007, the festival will be held at The Mitchell Library on North Street, a stunning baroque building which is well-known as Europe’s largest reference library. This year, more than 150 writers are participating in the festival: personalities expected to attend include Iain Banks, Alasdair Gray, Andrew Motion, Will Hutton and David Blunkett.
If you’re thinking about visiting Glasgow in March, you’ll be treated to the Glasgow International Comedy Festival, which runs from 8th to 24th March. The event, which operates across 40 venues and plays host to some of the best stand up comedians in the world, is the largest comedy festival in the UK; 2007’s hottest tickets include Russell Brand, Jimmy Carr, Paul Merton and Frankie Boyle. As well as over 270 shows, various drama workshops and industry events will also be held - so if you get bored of stand-up shows, there are plenty of interactive events in which you can participate.
If you’re planning to visit Glasgow for any of these events this winter, make sure you book your Glasgow hotel in advance of your arrival, in order to secure a place to stay. Many travel sites offer discounts on a variety of hotels in locations across the city; so whether you’re looking for a 4-star hotel near The Mitchell, or simply seeking a small bed and breakfast in the city centre, you’ll always be able to find what you’re looking for. Just don’t miss out on Glasgow’s finest arts festivals - you’re sure to have an unforgettable cultural experience.
Martin Mcallister
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/dont-forget-glasgows-festivals-93288.html
Enjoy The Excellent Beaches In Florida
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Visitors are drawn to Florida as a result of the states ideal climate, beautiful beaches and warm waters. The beaches and waters that surround Florida not only offer excellent relaxation opportunities, but also provide many water activities such as fishing. Florida also offers vacations for the family with their Disney World attraction and the site of Cape Canaveral along the space coast which features the space shuttle launch pad.
On the southeastern coast of Florida there is the top visitor destination, Miami. This city offers an excellent tropical climate and landscape. Another reason many come here is because of the wide cultural diversity. Miami offers visitors a wide selection of museums, nightclubs and outdoor activities so you are sure to find an attraction you like.
The next largest visitor center in Florida is Orlando which houses about forty-five million tourists a year. The major attraction of this city is the Disney World theme park. Although the city also offers other theme parks including Universal Studios. In addition the city of Kissimmee is located very close by and offers a variety of outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, camping, fishing and boating. In downtown Orlando you will also find the Orlando International Fringe Festival which features over five hundred different theatrical and performing arts shows. Orlando is truly the place to go if you want to do a variety of activities.
For the ultimate travel experience in Florida it is best to stay at a resort or spa if you can afford it. In Orlando an excellent option is the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort which offers many excellent luxury benefits. One of these is a half-acre pool that features a dozen waterfalls. In addition this hotel offers extras such as three spas, twelve tennis courts, four golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus and a natural walk in a forty-five acre park setting.
Of course you can never travel to Florida without visiting at least one beach. The most world renowned beach is South Beach which is actually the Lummus Park Beach. If attending a party is something you like then this is the beach for you to visit. Another excellent beach option is the Canaveral National Seashore which is located near Cape Canaveral. This is a nice protect piece of coastline between the Daytona Beach and the Kennedy Space Center. This is a wonderful stretch of twenty-four miles of beauty that you can visit if you just want to relax and soak up the sun for a few hours.
The final option when it comes to beaches is the Gulf Islands National Seashore in Pensacola. Much of this area has been preserved in its undeveloped state. You can come here to just relax or enjoy the many species of birds that flock to this area every day.
G. Chadwick
http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/enjoy-the-excellent-beaches-in-florida-127143.html
The King Of Queens (Season 4) DVD Review
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A spin-off of the Emmy Award-winning comedy series Everybody Loves Raymond, The King Of Queens took the TV viewing public by storm in the Fall of 1998. With a colorful cast of characters and well-written comic sequences, it more than lives up to the standards of its predecessor. The King Of Queens follows the lives of Doug (Kevin James) and Carrie (Leah Remini) Heffernan, a middle-class, blue-collar couple living in Queens, New York. Life is great for the couple, until Carrie’s widowed father Arthur (Jerry Stiller) moves in with them. Now, the two must battle not only each other’s eccentricities, but Arthur’s as well. With some of the more memorable one-liners and comedic sequences in today’s TV landscape, King of Queens is a hilarious comedy series the whole family can enjoy…
The King of Queens (Season 4) DVD features a number of hilarious episodes including the season premiere “Walk, Man” in which Doug and Carrie decide they want to try to get pregnant once again (following Carrie’s miscarriage several months earlier), but the problem is that Arthur is sleeping all day and then wants to spend all night hanging out with Doug and Carrie. To get some alone time, the two concoct a story and hire a stunning dog walker who pretends to be interested in Arthur… Other episodes from Season 4 include “Friender Bender” in which Doug and Carrie run into the back of Deacon and Kelly’s car and the incident drives a wedge between the couples’ friendship, and “Hero Worship” in which Doug contemplates following a lifelong dream to open his own sandwich shop…
Below is a list of episodes included on the King of Queens (Season 4) DVD:
Episode 76 (Walk, Man) Air Date: 09-24-2001
Episode 77 (Sight Gag) Air Date: 10-01-2001
Episode 78 (Mean Streak) Air Date: 10-08-2001
Episode 79 (Friender Bender) Air Date: 10-15-2001
Episode 80 (No Retreat) Air Date: 10-22-2001
Episode 81 (Tricker Treat) Air Date: 10-29-2001
Episode 82 (Lyin’ Hearted) Air Date: 11-05-2001
Episode 83 (Life Sentence) Air Date: 11-12-2001
Episode 84 (Veiled Threat) Air Date: 11-19-2001
Episode 85 (Oxy Moron) Air Date: 11-26-2001
Episode 86 (Depo Man) Air Date: 12-10-2001
Episode 87 (Ovary Action) Air Date: 12-17-2001
Episode 88 (Food Fight) Air Date: 01-07-2002
Episode 89 (Double Downer) Air Date: 01-14-2002
Episode 90 (Dougie Nights) Air Date: 02-04-2002
Episode 91 (No Orleans) Air Date: 02-25-2002
Episode 92 (Missing Links) Air Date: 03-04-2002
Episode 93 (Hero Worship) Air Date: 03-18-2002
Episode 94 (Screwed Driver) Air Date: 03-25-2002
Episode 95 (Lush Life) Air Date: 04-08-2002
Episode 96 (Bun Dummy) Air Date: 04-29-2002
Episode 97 (Patrons Ain’t) Air Date: 05-06-2002
Episode 98 (Eddie Money) Air Date: 05-13-2002
Episode 99 (Two Thirty) Air Date: 05-20-2002
Episode 100 (Shrink Wrap) Air Date: 05-20-2002
Britt Gillette
http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/the-king-of-queens-season-4-dvd-review-31675.html
Orlando is Situated in Florida
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The city Orlando is situated in Florida. The estimates population was 213 223, making it the sixth largest city in Florida. The city is best known for the many tourist attractions in the area. It sees an estimated fifty two million tourists a year.
Without doubt the Magic Kingdom is Disneys most popular and recognized Theme Park and probably the prototype for all Theme Parks that followed. If youre visiting Walt Disney World for the first time, or if you only have time to visit one of the Disney Theme Parks, this is a must see or a must do on your visit. Especially, if you have children.
Probably the second most popular of the Disney Theme Parks is Epcot Centre. Here, theres a little of something for everyone. Kind of reminds us of a living encyclopaedia of knowledge and human experience, ranging from the agricultural, to life in the oceans, to technology to the history and cultures of the World. As a dream of Walt Disney himself, it was Walts dream to have a playground for adults as well as children. A fascinating complex of rides, technology and educational exhibits.
Disneys MGM Studios has long received mixed reviews over the years, but this is gradually changing as they continue to add newer and exciting thrill rides to accommodate both the young and young at heart a like. Among these are Disneys The Twilight Zones Tower of Terror and the Aero smith Rock N’ Roll Roller Coaster.
Disneys Animal Kingdom is really the newest of all the Disney Theme Parks. Sort of Disneys answer to Busch Gardens, but with a Disney flair. Its definitely a Theme Park that has had mixed reviews because of its main themes around animals. But just like Disneys MGM Studios, this too is also changing. World Class surprises here such as the theatrical production of The Festival of the Lion King, rival to any Broadway Show in New York City. And lets not forget about the zany 3D special effects show offered by the Its Tough to be a Bug located in the Parks centrepiece The Tree of Life
Blizzard Beach is one of two themed Water Parks in Walt Disney World. The other park being Typhoon Lagoon.
Pleasure Island is a complex of eight different sound stages.
Disney Quest is one of those quiet Disney Attractions you dont always hear about, or even discover. Billed as Indoor Interactive Theme Park Disney Quest, will thrill the younger members of your group with its five levels of just pure plain fun.
Douglas Scott
http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/orlando-is-situated-in-florida-118814.html
Stranger Than Fiction
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I recently had the pleasure of watching Marc Forster’s film, Stranger Than Fiction, which I found to be a delightfully charming, intelligent comedy written by first-time screenwriter Zach Helm. I give it two guitars up. Way up. (Platonically speaking of course).
It’s about an uptight IRS agent, Harold Crick (Will Ferrell), who realizes that his mundane life is being narrated by the voice of a chain-smoking novelist played by Emma Thompson. The novelist is suffering from a bad case of writer’s block and is on the verge of a nervous breakdown because she can’t decide the ending to her story.
Going mad with the constant narration in his head that accurately predicts his every move, Crick solicits the help of a literature professor (Dustin Hoffman) to help find his voice. To his utter shock and dismay, Crick learns that the voice of his narrator belongs to this eccentric author that writes tragedies in which her heroes are killed off.
But Crick does not want to die! For the first time in his life he is discovering who he really is and what his true passions are. He sets out to meet the author with the determination to alter his fate. And upon meeting, the two worlds collide. The author is petrified to see that her main character has come to life and that he is very real indeed.
I can certainly relate to this movie as a writer working on my first inspirational novel. The movie raises some intriguing questions: What does it mean to be real? To find one’s voice? To express one’s voice? Who is narrating our story? Can fate be altered? Where do the boundaries of fiction and non-fiction collide?
I certainly don’t pretend to know the answers. I can only share my perspective as a writer. One of the challenges writers face is to know their characters inside and out and to have a complete understanding of the world they have created so that everything magically comes to life. As the story-writing guru, Robert McKee, likes to say, “Not a sparrow should fall in the world of a writer that he wouldn’t know.”
I believe in a sense that we are all writers. We are writers of our own play. In The Hero Soul (http://www.HeroSoul.com), I close the last chapter of my book with a quote from Shakespeare:
“All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players.
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages.”
The world is a stage upon which we perform. Each age consisting of the acts and scenes of the play. But it’s our play. We choose how we act in each scene moment by moment. What type of play do you want to write? What type of a life do you want to live?
Realizing that he is going to be killed off, Harold Crick asks the literary professor for advice. The professor gives him a deceptively simple answer, “Go live your life! Do what you love to do!”
At first, Crick is offended by the professor’s triteness; but he realizes later that he has no control over his mortality and decides to do just that: live his life. He’s always wanted to play the guitar but never really had the time. For the first time in his life he walks into a guitar shop and sees this wicked turquoise guitar starring back at him. He picks up the guitar and begins strumming. In that moment his life is transformed from a tragedy into a divine comedy.
What have we been denying ourselves? What type of play do we want to have a starring role in? Sometimes we act in an “If Only” play with a bit part in shoulding all over ourselves until we are mired deep in our own pile of dung. I should write a novel. I should exercise. I should be a painter. I should start my own business. I should go on a dream vacation. If only I was younger. If only I was older. If only I had the money. If only I had the time.
In the professional world of writing there is a clause known as the “kill fee.” The kill fee is a fee paid by the editor to the writer for an assigned piece of writing that is killed off and never published. It’s usually a percentage of the total amount that was originally agreed upon between the editor and writer. Although there can be many reasons for rejecting a piece, the kill fee is often executed because the writing simply isn’t up to par.
When we’re not being our best selves, when we’re not expressing our unique voice, when we’re not being true to ourselves and not doing what we love to do, something inside of us dies. Life then pays us a kill fee: something less than what we truly deserve.
Are we living a life that’s worthy of being published, or will we live a life of mediocrity and accept the kill fee that’s assigned to us?
Sharif Khan
http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/stranger-than-fiction-99732.html