James’ Ladies, A Telling Portrait
James, Henry. The Portrait of a Lady. Ann Arbor: State Street Press, 1996. The characters in Henry James’ The Portrait of a Lady demonstrate a complex, sometimes confusing and ambiguous, system of values and ideas in society. The novel portrays society’s inclination towards materialism and deception through characters like Madame Merle and Isabel Archer. Using [...]
Jade Empire
Martial arts, dragons, demons and magic, what more could you as for? In the world of action RPG’s, Jade Empire is seeks to grasp the hearts of all willing gamers through it’s amazing elements. BioWare comes to us once again to immerse us into a world of fantasy and magnificence. Choose your character and walk [...]
Jacobite
You may lose an election in Great Britain today and continue to live on the Island, perhaps even better than if you were voted to power! It has not always been so and the Stuarts for example had to live in Italy for more than a century after James II was overthrown. Jacobite descendants continued [...]
J. K. Rowling – Bio and Facts About the Author of the Harry Potter Books
She is the wealthiest writer in the world and also the richest in all of literary history. J. K. Rowling wrote the incredibly successful Harry Potter series, which has now sold over 325 million copies. The seventh and final book of the series has now been completed (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) and will [...]
Italian Baroque Composers: Alessandro Scarlatti
Alessandro Scarlatti was born in the western Sicilian capital of Palermo on May 2nd, 1660, the same year the monarchy is restored in England in the form of Charles II. The Baroque-era Palermo was rich in ornate architecture, particularly as produced by the wealthy churches of the period. Some of the most talented artisans were [...]
Italian Arts and Sciences through the Ages
You don’t need to be an expert in art, history or science to know that Italians have made great contributions to Western civilization. From ancient times to today, Italy’s contributions to the arts and sciences have been great. The remains of the Roman Empire’s artistic achievements are mostly those of architecture and sculpture. From the [...]
Hybrid Subprime Mortgages
Be wary of the new hybrid subprime adjustable rate mortgages that are being offered today. Financial lenders catering to individuals with bad credit, fair credit, and even no credit are offering this financial vehicle as a means of allowing consumers with less than stellar credit to finance a home purchase. Subprime lenders look at this [...]
Huvafen Fushi: A Safe Haven Amid Sea and Sun
Set amidst the tropical glory of Maldives, Huvafen Fushi is a resort that justifies its name. Translated, it means, “Dream Island”, and so it is, with its own private lagoon, and a structure built to merge seamlessly with its backdrop of rich vegetation that provides stunning views of the sea from all its points. Its [...]
Hurricane or Other Disaster Supply Kit Checklist
Hurricane or Other Disaster Supply Kit Checklist Every home that is located in an area that is prone to any type of natural disasters including hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, fires, or any other disasters should have a supply kit ready far in advance of the disaster. Many of these items you may already have, but [...]
Book Review: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
In the first installment of J.K. Rowling’s super-popular Harry Potter series, we, the readers, are introduced to the long-suffering hero, 10-year-old Harry Potter. When his wizard parents are murdered by the evil wizard Voldemort, Harry is taken to live with his only remaining relatives, the incredibly boring, safe, unimaginative Dursley family. The Dursleys are terrified [...]