Over the past few decades, a number of amazing war movies have hit the theaters. Although there are many war movies that have done an excellent job of portraying the conflict and the reality of the situation at hand, there are five that rank at the top of the list. Platoon Released in 1986 and directed by Oliver Stone, Platoon is still considered by many to be the best war movie ever made. Starring Charlie Sheen and the then-little-known actor Johnny Depp, Platoon reached a depth of realism that many could not fully understand unless they had actually been in the military or experienced the Vietnam War the movie depicted. Apocalypse Now Also taking place during the Vietnam War, Apocalypse Now presents a unique and magnificent story with finely crafted characters. Released in 1979 and directed by Francis Ford Coppolla, the film is not only a great war story but is also considered by many to represent the dark side of the human psyche. Starring Martin Sheen, Harrison Ford, Marlon Brando, and Robert Duvall, the movie certainly enjoys a cast that is to be admired. Saving Private Ryan Taking place during WWII, Saving Private Ryan presents a unique story during one of the country’s most trying times. The special effects and graphic ealism of the movie are truly amazing. In addition, it offers an excellent cast of actors, including Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, and even Vin Diesel. Directed by Steven Spielberg, the film achieved critical acclaim by receiving Academy Awards for Best Sound, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Sound Editing, and Best Director. It was also nominated for six other Academy Awards, including Best Picture. We Were Soldiers Based on a novel written by a Lieutenant General and a reporter that were at the Battle of Ia Drang in Vietnam, We Were Soldiers takes a personal look into the lives of real soldiers and events that took place at the time. Directed by Randall Wallace and starring Mel Gibson, it is one of only a few war movies to depict the feelings, actions, and thoughts of soldiers on both sides of the war. Glory Glory, which takes place during the American Civil War, stars Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, and Morgan Freeman. The movie, which was released in 1989, tells the riveting and heart wrenching story of coming of age of African American soldiers as they are placed on the battlefield for the first time. Each of these movies stirs the emotions and puts the viewer on the battlefield, showing the emotional, mental, and physical toll the soldiers undergo during wartime and when on the battlefield. They also delve into the politics behind these wars, including depicting the roles of commanders and politicians that are no where near the actual battlefield.
Monday, September 19, 2016
Sunday, September 4, 2016
Developing jewelry making instructions
There are two types of jewelry manufacturing: mass market and custom. In both cases the manufacturing of jewelry requires the development of a very detailed set of instructions for jewelry making. The process typically starts with a craftsman developing the prototype jewelry piece. Then the ring, necklace, bracelet or other trinket must be approved both from a beauty and sales standpoint and an assessment made of its manufacturability. It is after this point where the process changes drastically. Mass-Market Jewelry Making Throughout the world we now see jewelry selling for less and less as the jewelry making instructions improve and millions of the articles are mass produced. Houston is now one of the centers of commercial wholesale jewelry. In Houston you can find stores where there are literally hundreds of the same items of jewelry in a given stand on the wall. Most of these items are not made of precious metals or stones but are pressed out of chrome-based metals with rhinestones or other glass placed into the setting by a machine. Thus, instructions for jewelry making in such an environment must include details at such a level of granularity, that a programmer can develop machine instructions to make the jewelry. Custom Jewelry Making For custom jewelry, the instructions for making jewelry may be nothing more than the jeweler’s notes listing the materials they used in constructing the jewelry, a diagram of the setting or positioning of the gem stones and the size or amount of the material. For instance, the jewelry making instructions for a gold chain with a custom design would include the number of ounces of gold used, the length of the chain, the type of clasp and most importantly, the custom extrusion design. With this information one would expect that a replica or replacement could be made quite easily. In fact the test of good jewelry making instructions will be whether or not it has sufficient detail to accomplish making this replica in a timely manner. Maintaining Records Whether the instructions for making jewelry are for custom or mass-market pieces, it is essential that the original manufacturer maintain the information securely. Should the instructions for a custom piece of jewelry be misplaced and found at a different jeweler, the original purchaser would have every right to be upset. Should a specific set of jewelry making instructions be for a popular mass-market piece, then many millions of dollars could be lost in opportunity costs alone, as some other manufacturer captures their market share.
Friday, August 26, 2016
How to make a tin can luminary
A tin can luminary is a fun, easy craft project for all ages. They are great for any holiday and only limited by your imagination! You can transfer any simple shape onto a tin can to create a beautiful candle holder for any occasion. I chose to make luminaries for Christmas this year. You can choose any simple design to transfer onto your tin can. I used a favorite clip art program on my computer to look for easy Christmas designs to print out. I chose a Christmas tree, a snowman, and a pair of gingerbread men. Here's what you need to get started: Empty tin cans (washed and labels removed) Design to transfer onto can Hammer Large nail Tape Dish towel It is easiest to punch the holes in your tin can if you freeze some water in it first. Fill the can with water, leaving 1/4 inch space at the top for the ice to expand. Place in freezer until frozen. Your can may bulge a little at the bottom while in the freezer, but after you remove the ice you can use the hammer to flatten out the bottom of the can. You might want to freeze a couple more cans then you think you'll need in case you make a mistake and have to start over again. After the ice has frozen, take the tin can from the freezer and tape your design to the can. I used packing tape, but you can also use duct tape. The tape won't stick to the cold can, but you can wrap the tape all the way around the can so it will stick to the paper. If you don't have a design on paper, you can also draw a design on the can freehand with a permanent marker. You can also just punch the design freehand without drawing it first. Lay the can on a folded dish towel so the towel will catch the ice chips that try to escape. It will also hold the can in place. Using the hammer and nail, tap holes around the border of your design, trying to punch holes evenly and not too close together. You want a simple design so that when you see only the holes in the can you will be able to tell what it is! After punching the holes, remove the paper and tape and admire your design. It is really so easy! If you plan to hang your luminary, also punch two holes at the top of the can. You can make a handle out of wire (from a craft store) or a wire coat hanger. Place the tin can under running warm water to melt the ice. Dry the can with a towel and place a votive candle in the bottom. You will need a long lighter or match to light the candle. To further decorate your tin can luminary, you can spray paint the can any color you wish. Be creative! This is a great family project. Just make sure kids have adult supervision while using the hammer and nails. Have fun! Photos of finished project: crafty-moms/tin-can-luminary. shtml