Scotty's Castle

By Penelope SanMateo

Now why anyone would want to live in Death Valley is beyond me but here but Albert Mussey Johnson decided to built his vacation home in Death Valley. It was supposedly built with the money from the gold mine that he had backed but in fact, there was no gold mine and so it was certainly not built with funds from one.

Walter Scott had gotten Mr. Johnson to invest in a mine that didn't exist. It wasn't a bad deal for Mr. Scott until Mr. Johnson decided to come and see the mine for himself. There was no mine. Pretty hard to keep excited about investing in a mine that doesn't exist.

Mr. Johnson and his wife liked Walter Scott, even after the knowledge that there was no mine. Mr. Johnson became enamored by Death Valley and with the encouragement of his wife built a vacation retreat. Although the retreat was actually named Death Valley Ranch it became known as Scotty's Castle.

The vacation retreat became a tourist attraction. The rich and famous came to see the castle built from the riches of the gold mine. Mr. Johnson never disputed the fact that the retreat was built with the money made from the gold mine. Probably a good thing for Mr. Scott or he would have been known for the liar he was.

There are guided tours available at the castle for those of you wanting to visit. With interactive displays, living history exhibits and all inside the house it will be a treat to see. The tours are available daily on the hour.

There is a second tour that you can take while at the castle. It is the tour of the underground area of the castle. It shows you the technology incorporated a the time to produce electricity and see the 1/4 mile underground tunnel system that runs under the house.

Using the technology of the past in conjunction with the technology of today keeps the castle well preserved. The National Park Service is responsible for maintaining the castle today. The underground area has been incorporated into the workings of the current management so you will get to see some of that along with history as you tour the basement level.

About the Author:

Penelope SanMateo is a travel writer who writes for the California Beautiful travel guide. If you are planning your next vacation, then check out this guide to California Tourist Attractions. And while you are there, explore the Gold Country California Tourism region to discover more interesting attractions that will make your family vacation one to remember.

Fall Into the Parent Trap

By Fabian Toulouse

Two plus two equals four and Disney plus families equals great entertainment. From theme parks to resorts to cruises and more, parents can be assured their children are only exposed to quality content and entertainment. Films like THE SHAGGY DOG, FREAKY FRIDAY, and HOMEWARD BOUND all come to mind -- and that's not even touching upon the animated features. The latest in the long line of family-friendly titles is THE PARENT TRAP.

Both the original and the re-make of THE PARENT TRAP were loosely based on the novel by Erik Kastner entitled "Lottie and Lisa." Though the location and some other elements were changed, the essential plot remains the same. The book was actually the basis for many genre movies. The differences between the book and the film are minor, with the film focusing more on the children trying to get the parents back together.

In 1961, Disney adapted the book into a film starring Hayley Mills, Maureen O'Hara and Brian Keith. In this version the girls meet at summer camp and quickly find out the truth about their births. It turns out the parents divorced when the twins were born and took once child a piece. The rest of the film deals with the girls as they embark on a madcap idea to switch places and thus meet the parent they did not know they had. The girls soon learn that their father is about to marry his gold digging girlfriend, a plan they must stop. After some shenanigans and an ill-fated camping trip, the wedding is canceled.

The latest version of THE PARENT TRAP is remarkably faithful to the 1961 version. The new version, however, places the mother in London, rather than Boston. Also, in this version she is unaware of the twins' plans to sabotage their father's wedding plans. The girls contrive to bring their parents back together by getting them both to the same hotel. Their mother has no idea their father is about to re-marry. They must race against time to get them back together before he say "I do" to the wrong woman.

The girls plot to switch places during their annual camping trip -- a secret that doesn't sit well with their mother. When she backs out of the trip, the twins set about to make their father's fiance miserable. As in the original version, the girls sabotage their father's fiance in the wild. Sugar-water mosquito repellent anyone? How about a trip down the river whilst snoozing? Either version of THE PARENT TRAP is sure to please. They will make a hilarious addition to any home Disney movie list. Just try to remember which one is which!

About the Author:

If you're interested in falling into the trap, make sure you add The Parent Trap to your must-see Disney movie list today.

Popular MythBuster Episodes

By Amy Nutt

MythBusters is a television show hosted by two men, Jamie and Adam, who set about testing myths to see if they hold up to scientific fact. The men have a lot of impressive skills and knowledge at their fingertips and what they don`t know, they learn. But not every episode is a winner, some clearly stand out from others.

Episode 12: This episode checked a very popular myth . . . do your toothbrushes really get fecal matter on them when you leave them in the bathroom? The answer might astonish you . . . and have you moving your bathroom as far from the house as possible! Also in the twelfth episode, Jamie and Adam built a machine to find out if they could actually collapse a bridge with soldiers marching in lock step across it, and a team of varsity rowers tested their strength by attempting to tow a waterskiing Jamie behind their 8 person shell.

Episode 20: Can you really die from eating a heated jawbreaker? Urban legend says it could explode in your mouth . . . so of course Adam and Jamie have to take on this challenge. They also check out the truth in the story about a man being electrocuted by sandblasting a plastic pipe and, one of the more popular tests, find out if a playing card really can be deadly when flicked at high speeds on edge. Curious? This is a great episode to watch!

Episode 30: Anything to do with sex tends to be popular and this episode, though it doesn`t actually contain anything risqu, is no exception. If you`ve heard the old story of a civil war soldier being shot through the lower body and the bullet then lodging in the uterus of a young woman who became pregnant, you`ll have an inkling as to what this interesting episode is about! The other myths include whether or not it can be fatal to use a phone in a thunderstorm and the re-enactment of a boat heading out to sea with the vehicle still attached.

Episode 35: Have you heard the one about the human slingshot? Apparently Mexicans were hurtling themselves over the border via giant slingshot, aiming so perfectly that they landed neatly on a mattress placed on the US side of the border. This is definitely a task for the MythBusters cast and they set about to find out if humans really can fly safely through the air.

Episode 67: Fans love a good shootout, something the Busters are famous for and this episode features three different gun related myths to put to rest. These more obscure myths include the supposition that two Civil War bullets that collided in midair fused together and the possibility of killing a sniper by shooting through his gun scope. The guys also investigate and try to disprove the story about a criminal`s bullet jamming the empty chamber in a policeman`s gun. And, as a bonus, we get a chance to find out just how dangerous a hammer really is!

Episode 72: Are you curious about the statement that you can`t fold a piece of paper in half more than 7 times? This episode of Myth Busters tests that theory to the max by building a sheet of paper the size of a football field to fold, but that`s not the most exciting part. How about a daring escape from a sinking car? We all know how dangerous it is to be inside a vehicle when it hits the water, but just how difficult is it to get out once you`re submerged?

There are plenty of MythBusters episodes to watch and all of them are good. However, these are some of the public`s favorites and well worth watching.

About the Author:

Famous Mythbusters show sets out to confirm or bust popular myths by conducting scientific experiments. Watch the Mythbusters episodes and find out what myths are real and what's not.

Cheap FX Lightsabers - 5 Tips For Getting The Very Best Deal

By R.M.Doyle

Of all the weapons that have appeared in the six Star Wars movies the one that most people would like to own is a Light saber. In fact those who are avid fans of these movies will be only too willing to admit that they have fantasized about wielding such a weapon against the foes of the Jedi Knights. Now they have the opportunity of owning such a weapon and you can actually purchase cheap FX Lightsabers if you know where to look.

One of the best places to search for affordable cheap FX Lightsabers is online and especially at auction sites such as eBay. However, you need to be careful when purchasing through auction sites and below we offer a few tips to ensure that you get not only a bargain but also you don't end up getting fleeced.

Tip 1 - You need to spend time actually looking at the sellers feedback rating carefully. If they have a positive feedback of 95% or more then these are sellers worth considering. But don't just go on the percentage rating also read their last couple of months of comments posted to them including the positive and negative ones.

Tip 2 - You need to be aware that not all items being sold are original items but are in fact fakes. If you can go with those who are classed either as power sellers or are eBay trading assistants. This way you are more certain that they can be trusted with selling you the real thing.

Tip 3 - Another thing to do before you actually put in a bid is to ask the seller some questions. This can easily be accomplished just through clicking on the "Ask a Seller a Question". If you obtain responses from them which are honest and returned in a timely fashion this is a good sign that they have good ethics.

Tip 4 - It is a good idea to spend time going over the description in the auction items listing. If you find that they only provide a few lines the same as the manufacturer provides then it is worth moving on to the next item on your list. Also make sure that they offer a few pictures within their listing as well.

Tip 5 - It is worthwhile also checking to see what money back guarantee or warranty the seller provides with the product. Just as when you purchase an item in your local store they should offer some sort of guarantee on theirs and if you cannot spot this then don't be afraid to ask the seller about theirs.

In this article we have offered a number of tips that could help you when trying to find and purchase cheap FX Lightsabers at online auction sites. Just spending a little time doing some background checks and research into the seller and their products can save you a whole lot of heartache in the future. Plus you could end up getting yourself the genuine article for a really great price.

About the Author:

Visit our website to discover more about the broad selection of cheap FX Lightsabers available, and the very best places to seek them out. All this and more can be found at http://scifimemorabilia.com

Christmas/Winter Holiday Online Shopping and Buying Season 2008

By Christmas Holiday Fan

It doesn't seem possible a year has passed since the Christmas and Thanksgiving holidays of 2007. Summer has come and gone. We are now busy making plans for church events, family gatherings, and social activities centered around this festive time for 2008.

The Christmas season or winter holiday season is a season that surrounds the Christmas holiday as well as other holidays during the months of November and December.

The Christmas buying and shopping season is already underway. Friends and family, not to mention you and your family, are making plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Several religious festivals during the Christmas/winter holiday season are celebrated with the exchanges of gifts, and the winter holiday season thus also incorporates the holiday shopping season.

The first Monday after Thanksgiving was named Cyber Monday as the kick-off to the Christmas/winter holiday season for online shopping.

Mondays are the most popular days for on-line shopping during the holiday shopping season, in contrast to the middle of the week during the rest of the year. They attribute this to people shopping in malls and stores on the weekends

Online shopping is the process consumers go through to purchase products or services over the Internet. An online shop, online store, or virtual store evokes the physical analogy of buying products or services at a bricks-and-mortar retailer or in a shopping mall. Visit Online Holiday Store!

The advantages of shopping on line are obvious. You save a lot of valuable time and energy. You save on gas. You can have your gifts sent directly to the person if you choose. Not to mention savings on wrapping paper, ribbon, tape, etc. Please Vist Online Holiday Store!

About the Author:

I hope you found my review helpful. At this time of year, we can use all the energy and extra time we can get. Don't stand in long lines when you can shop online? Make this season more enjoyable. Visit the Online Holiday Store today. Have a wonderful Holiday Season!

Disk Repair Information

By Rick Dupont

We have listed common questions and answers below that may help you understand any disc problems and how to repair it, as technology marches on it is important that we all take some time to learn more about the common problems that occur with electronic disks. The term electronic disk covers CD-ROM, CD-RW, PC software, X-Box and Nintendo games, and application software all of these store information the same way.

1. Between the chapters 16-25 the DVD stops/freezers or goes back to main page or becomes pixalated? 2. There is a scratch 5mm from the outside edge of PS game or DVD? 3. Fingerprints on a DVD causing the DVD to not load/start or work? 4. Why do some Dvds play in some players but not others? 5. Scuff marks and scratches, what is the difference between these? 6. What if there is a crack in the centre hole of my DVD or game? 7. Why do some of my new DVD's have visible shadows or dark marks? 8. (Very important) How can I keep my customers happy with clean DVD's and games from rental library without spending a huge amount of money? 9. What is the small 3.5imch CD ROM (half the size of a normal DVD)? 10. What direction is the video industry going and what affect will it have on us?

1. Between the chapters the DVD's stops/freezers or goes back to either the start

This has become a common problem; the reason being that new discs hold information on two layers while old discs only had one. Some of the older or cheaper machines have problems with the changing layers of the movie. There is no real fix to this problem but fast forwarding at the time that it skips at hope the machine can change to the new layer in time.

2. 5mm from the outside edge of PS game or DVD is there a scratch?

With the play station 2 this is common because when the disc is placed in the console standing up the speed causes the disc to wobble therefor it scraps the inside of the machine. Over a period of time this will damage the game and it will no longer play. This problem can be fixed by using round labels rather then the square ones and by using MACH 1 machine from the disc doctor.

3. Why do some DVD's play in some players but not others?

A simple fingerprint mark can affect a brand new DVD if the mark is in the right place, but there is a easy solution to this problem, by simply wipe the disc with a lint free cloth until all the marks have been removed. Regular maintenance is recommended to keep your DVD's in good condition. Cloth and cleaning solutions can be purchased from our page.

4. Why do some DVD?s play in some players but not others?

There are a few reasons as to why some DVD?s will work in some players and not others, one of the factors is the age of the player and the DVD, newer disc carry more information and some older player have problems reading that information. Then there is the laser, the stronger the laser the more likely it is to get through any scratches or fingerprints on the disc that can cause deflection. Cheaper machine have cheaper lasers so we recommend that you stick to the better-known brands and keep disc clean and protected.

5. Scuff marks and scratches, what is the difference between these?

There is a simple test to see if you have a scratch or simple a scuff mark on your disk. Scratches can be felt with your finger or nail, these will need to be taken out with a special machine. Scuff marks on the other hand can be removed by using a polishing spray (disc wipes). This is available from www.discrepair.biz

6. What if there is a crack in the centre hole of my DVD or game?

Cracks in the center of disks can be bad and sometimes fatal; the old push button covers are the main reason this occurs. Disk protectors are available and they go over the graphics side of the disk, these come with care instructions come on them and are easily wiped off.

7. Why do some of my new DVD?s have visible shadows or dark marks? (Very important)

Laser rot, is what this problem is known as. This is a major industry problem, laser rot is caused in during the production stage, it is occurs when air becomes trapped between the layers of the disk which, over time that can vary from a week to one year the air can expand and the disc will become un playable. The only thing you can do is take it back and ask for it to be replaced.

8. How can i keep my customers happy with clean DVD?s and games from rental library without spending a huge amount of money?

Now days with the growth of Dvds and electronic disk it pays of to be a good disc repairer, the only real option you have is to ensure a good maintenance routine to really look after what you have, to ensure the long life of you disks, disc wipes from www.diskrepair.biz can also help keep your disc clean.

9. What is the small 3.5imch CD ROM (half the size of a normal DVD)?

These disks have been around for a while, if you look in your CD-ROM drive there should be a indent, this small disc acts just like normal disks and is the futures game entertainment. The game cube uses this disc

10. What direction is the video industry going and what affect will it have on us?

I am no mind reader but i do believe that the industry is changing very quickly and it is hard to say where its going and the affect it will have on us, although this is a good question we can only wait and see what happens.

About the Author:

Author Rick Dupont writes for Disk Repair a business that is fixated on finding great ideas on repairing all manner of Disc's visit www.diskrepair.info .

Get Free Music Download Com

By Susan Renolds

Internet revolutionized the music industry like most other industries. Before the advent of internet, selecting and listening to music was not such a simple process. One had to depend on the traditional music shops to browse for the favorite music artists and then select the album.

Choosing and listening to individual tracks was impossible since only entire albums could ever be purchased. However following the arrival of internet many websites provided a platform where different styles and genres of music could be made available to its followers. People could quite simply browse for their favorite artists and select their preferred tracks or albums and download them.

They didn't have to purchase entire albums to listen to a few chosen tracks. This facility of free music download com is also available through musicdownload3mp.com. However the biggest difference between most websites offering free music download com and this website is that the music downloads on this website are entirely legal. This makes the process of accessing and downloading music through this website not only easy but also entirely hassle-free.

The process of enlisting the services of this website is rather simple and the user only has to provide his email address and all the information provided by the user is kept entirely confidential. This portal offering free music download com is extremely easy to use and if the user needs any guidance at any step then the same is also provided with this website.

Certainly, it is a terrific place to experience and appreciate some fine music with as many as 800 million tracks obtainable free download. Considering that a user is not limited on the numerous downloads that he is permitted to effect, an individual can utilize the website without difficulty nor any limits. At the same time, this portal sustains all system set-ups, the music downloaded through this website can be played on all MP3 players without difficulty, and so, no problems would be met in accessing and using the amenities given on this website.

Many other websites also claim to provide impeccable services but quite often these portals have hidden adware and spyware applications that are also installed when these portals are run. So many people experience problems of their computers slowing down while using these websites.

This website offering free music download com is completely free from any adware or spyware problem. This website also offers free music download of songs in different other languages and many genres. It is truly a music lover's paradise. It is also very simple and easy for users to just search and select the songs they desire and then burn a CD of their selected songs. This program is certified for windows vista and Microsoft windows programs.

This website offering free music download com also has a sound customer service section wherein users with any queries, issues or problems can simply call and chat with one of the many customer service representatives and get the problem resolved immediately. In just three easy steps of searching artists and tracks, downloading them and burning a CD, the user can have his own library of favorite tracks to listen to and enjoy.

About the Author:

Susan is the chief content editor for MusicDownload3mp.com the leading Free Music Download portal.