Why the new format? Consider this: a movie of duration 90 minutes, at 54 Mbps recorded in 1080p will ask for approximately 29GB storage. Now knowing that standard DVD offers maximum capacity of 4.7 GB, the answer to the above-stated question may be clear.

Additionally, you can get up to 25 GB storage in single-layer or 50 GB in dual-layer when talking about Blu-ray discs. The basic concept behind Blu-ray is violet-blue 450 nm laser which is a shorter wavelength when compared to 650 nm red laser. This resulted in additional information crammed on disc due to focus of beam on smaller region.

And the result you get is a far more detailed picture, up to twice as good in fact. As far as sound is considered, Blu-ray offers latest audio formats that are of higher-resolution and provide clean mixes as well as additional channels as compared to standard DVD DTS and Dolby digital formats.

Ultimately it is the product line that puts Blu-ray up there. PS3’s by Sony are very good examples that are now compatible with Blu-ray discs and also high definition gaming titles. Other Sony products include the Laptop series. Also, Asus, Pioneer, Lite-On, Hitachi are now too offering Blu-ray compatibility. The list of products is increasing at a fast rate which now includes camcorders, laptops and disc players.

Undoubtedly, you can also think of buying an advanced DVD deck, but as technology advances you may have to regret this decision later on. The best part is that your Blu-ray deck can play all your DVDs while the vice-versa may not be true. So, why miss out on the fun?

In the movies, the main characters of Bella Swan and Edward Cullen are played by hot Hollywood newcomers Kristin Stewart and Robert Pattison, rumored to be in a romance off-screen as well. The gossip surrounding the cast and the upcoming film projects to be released keeps buzz freshly circulated around the phenomenon known as the Twilight franchise.

If you are looking for Twilight memorabilia, you won’t be disappointed at the selection available. Perhaps the best memorabilia available are the books themselves, especially if you find first editions or copies signed by the author. There may also be collector DVD sets released of the films as well. Then there are fan T-shirts of all kinds, apparel and accessories based after items in the movie. There is even a Twilight fragrance. You can find keyrings, art and many other collectibles available. Some of the items are quite common, then you will find rare Twilight collectibles.

One of the most common reasons to collect Twilight memorabilia is if you or someone close to you is a fan. Many fans like to show their support for certain characters with jewelry and T-shirts. For collectors some items, especially if they are rare, may rise in value over the years. So whether you are interested in snatching up cool Twilight merchandise to enjoy yourself or want to be a serious collector, there are many different choices available.

You could display some Twilight collectibles around the home, such as in the rec room or den. Many teen girls love plastering their bedroom with posters and photos from the movie, and interviews with the actors. The type of display to choose depends on the type of collectible you have. Some pieces of Twilight memorabilia would be ideal for a display case while others can be worn, displayed and enjoyed.

One thing is for sure, the Twilight memorabilia craze is not going anywhere anytime soon. It is likely that even after the last film is released, the franchise will still be going strong. The success of this book and movie collection has been phenomenal and will most likely continue to be for years to come. It will go down in history as one of the most popular books and movies of all time. By collecting Twilight memorabilia now you might be able to cash in later.

Controversy followed the band everywhere they went, along with hordes of screaming girls. Over a billion Beatles albums were sold, and the band had over 40 number one hits. Tragically John Lennon was murdered by a crazed fan in 1980. This catapulted both Lennon and his former band to legend status and to this day the Beatles and their music (both as a group and as solo acts) live on in the hearts of fans everywhere.

There is so much Beatles memorabilia available it can be hard to choose what you want. You can find T-shirts from both now and decades past, some signed by the members of the band. There are autographs, posters, albums, bobbleheads, figurines, movies, drinking glasses and more. Some collectibles are virtually priceless while others are more affordable.

You can easily decorate an entire rec room with Beatles memorabilia if you choose. Framing prints and posters or even hanging album covers on the walls is one idea you may want to consider. Whether you want to go all out with a 60’s psychedelic theme or feature a few favorite items you can turn any rec room into a showplace for your Beatles memorabilia.

In 1953, author Ian Fleming created the character of James Bond 007. Although Fleming wrote 12 books and two story collections based on Bond, other authors continued the series following Fleming’s death. More popular than the books are the movies, which total 22 to date. The first James Bond flick was Dr. No with the most recent release being Quantum of Solace. With all of the euphoria, it’s no wonder that there is a huge amount of James Bond memorabilia available.

The character of James Bond has been played by a variety of notable actors including Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig, who happens to be the first fair-haired Bond. In addition to a variety of actors there have been a plethora of Bond girls to serve as sexy and dangerous love interests. Some of the more recent actresses to fill the role include Halle Berry, Jane Seymour and Eva Green. There are Bond enthusiasts who are just as interested in the Bond girls and their collectibles.

With the phenomenon of James Bond spanning more than 50 years, there is no shortage of collectible memorabilia available. James Bond memorabilia might include signed copies of books by the author, autographs from actors who played in the films, James Bond replica spy gear and accessories, shot glasses, martini glasses, home casino items, posters, action figures, soundtrack albums and so much more. There are plenty of places to find these collectibles including the Internet. Some collectors stick with one Bond era while others like to collect items from different decades.

You can outfit an entire room, such as a game room or bar area with James Bond memorabilia. With so much merchandise it is easy to make a theme room. Whether you are a collector who enjoys displaying their finds or one who likes carefully packing valuable collectibles away for investment purposes you will find plenty of James Bond memorabilia to select from.

There are seven books in the Harry Potter series, which follows the young wizard and his friends and their adventures at Hogwarts, a special wizardry school. The books in the series are as follows, in order of their release: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

When it comes to Harry Potter memorabilia, there are so many different choices available. You can find glasses like Harry’s, wands, stuffed white owls, signed copies of the books and more. The box set of all seven books is an excellent collectible. There are Harry Potter board games, video games, trading cards and that’s not all. If you enjoy collecting toys consider Harry Potter action figures.

There’s no question that the Harry Potter series will go down in history and is a modern classic beloved by children and adults alike. The books are best sellers and the movies are box office hits, and people stand in long lines for the releases, with die-hard Potter fans camping out to get a good spot in line. Some of the more sought after collectibles kept in pristine condition are sure to go up in value over the years.

Brunswick currently has over two dozen types of pool tables in production as of 2009 spanning styles like European (most popular), contemporary, traditional, and casual.

Do you own a Brunswick pool table? Have playing exercise on a Brunswick?

Write a review below!

The rules of 8-ball are fairly simple:  bust the rack with an open break, choose solids or striped balls (the first you knock down determines your balls) and keep putting them away — when you’re done, sink the 8-ball for the win.  8-ball can also be called solids and stripes billiards, but you can also play lows and highs — which is where one player sinks all balls 1 through 7 while the opponent sinks 9 through 15.

Starting 8-ball billiards

Make an open break, smashing all of the balls apart.  If you pocket a ball on the break, the type of ball (solid/stripe or low/high) you knock in determines what you hit for the rest of the game.  If you don’t hit a ball in, your turn is over and your opponent starts their turn.

Playing 8-ball billiards

Once you have determined stripes/solids and have begun playing, each following stroke must first hit one of your balls first.  Failure to hit one of your balls first when striking yields ball-in-hand to your opponent.

Ball-in-hand is also awarded when any cue scratch occurs.

Ending 8-ball billiards

8-ball rules state that scratching while occurring to sink the 8-ball is not a loss of game, unless the 8-ball goes into a pocket as well.  If the 8-ball goes lands into a pocket different than the one that is called, the game is immediately over and that player loses.

About House

House is an hour long television program broadcasted weekly on FOX.  The show’s name comes from it’s main character, Gregory House M.D (Hugh Laurie).  The show follows House and his supporting cast of diagnosticians as they treat patients and interact with each other.  It’s one of the top watched shows on televisions due to (in my opinion) it’s broad appeal — comedy, dark comedy, suspense, and drama.

Supporting Cast: Lisa Edelstein, Robert Sean Leonard, Omar Epps, Jennifer Morrison, Jesse Spencer, Peter Jacobson, Kal Penn, Olivia Wilde

House Memorabilia – Where to Buy, Ideas, Buying Tips

Since House is a relatively new show you shouldn’t have much trouble finding memorabilia.  Because the show is currently in production, set props may be hard to come by (unless they were temporary).  The most common thing you’ll be able to find are signed autographs, posters, and while rare, possibly clothing that was worn on the show by one of the cast members.

The best place to buy House memorabilia is eBay.  Take a look:

You could buy a bar already assembled.  You could build your home bar.  Or you could have it built, but outsource the work to a general contractor or the sort.  I’ll go over each option for you.

You got skills?  Build a home bar.
We’re not talking about hanging the Christmas lights or changing the oil in your Volvo.  This is a considerable job reserved for a handyman of intermediate to advanced knowledge.  Even if you do know what you’re doing, do you have the required tools and available time necessary to build a home bar?  Also remember that while you may be talented with a buzz saw, most home bars (depending on your design) would require electrical and plumbing work.

Not ready to build your own bar?  Keep reading.

Who says happiness can’t be bought?  Buy a home bar someone else made.
There are a variety of sites where you can buy home bars.  Prices vary wildly from $600 to $20,000+.  Pre-packaged home bars come with very little assembly required and once unpacked, they shouldn’t take more than a few hours to setup.  If you still need someone to connect it to the electrical and plumbing systems, a reasonable general contractor (GC) can be hired for about $50/hour.

You’re lazy, know nothing, and/or you have a lot of money.  Hire.
General contractors are notoriously unreliable.  They overcharge you, show up late/not at all, produce shoddy work… the list goes on.

I spent about 2 months shopping around, visiting Circuit City, Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Target, HHGregg, as well as a plethora of websites (I ended up buying online).   I learned a lot and eventually had a 52″ Philips Plasma HDTV shipped to my door for $1,499 — best purchase I ever made.

Should you get an LCD or Plasma HDTV?
Cost wise, LCD and plasma are pretty much the same these days.  The main difference between LCD and Plasma HDTVs lies in the picture quality.  Technical jargon aside, plasma HDTVs have darker and more vibrant black levels — meaning movies that you watch with a lot of dark in them, The Matrix for example, would look a lot better on a plasma screen.  Alternatively, LCDs have a slighly better picture when it comes to movies with a lot of color — practically any children’s movie.

Plasma HDTV Advantages

• Overall, better picture quality vs. LCDs
• Albeit close, slightly cheaper than LCD
• Widest viewing angle available
• Deeper, more vibrant blacks
• Strong front glass (good for Wiis and kids)

LCD HDTV Advantages

• Higher brightness levels, better for rooms with a lot of lighting
• Larger available screen sizes
• Weighs less than plasma, easier to move
• Generally consumes less power than plasma

What about DLP rear-projection HDTVs?
DLP is good when you need a massive HDTV for a relatively cheap price.  You can pickup a 60″ DLP for around a couple ground, with neither LCDs or plasmas coming anywhere close to that.  The largest downsides on DLPs (and projection screens for that matter) are:

• Overhead lights don’t mix well.  If you want to watch television, you’ll need the room in almost complete darkness or the picture quality will be extremely poor.
• Very poor viewing angle.  Meaning, if you’re not directly in front of the DLP,  the picture quality will begin to deteroriate as you move sideways.  LCDs also have a problem with limited viewing angles, not so much with plasma diplays though.

If you’re buying an HDTV for a home movie theater, DLP is definitely a great option.  If the television will be a fixture in a room with other activities (game room, living room, etc), I’d suggest sticking with LCD or plasma.

720p vs 1080p
This is basically picture quality.  If you buy a smaller HDTV set under a few feet in dimensions, it’ll be hard to notice the difference between 720p and 1080p.  Any screen over 40-45 inches or so will want 1080p, but it all comes down to value.  Will a 52″ 1080p look better than a 52″ 720p?  Yes, but most likely, you won’t care enough to pay for the 1080p.

Check the contrast levels.
These represent how well a television can display deep, dark color levels.  As I mentioned before, LCDs are usually pretty weak in this category — but that doesn’t mean all plasmas are perfect.  Before you buy a television, insist on viewing something that is extremely dark on it.  You shouldn’t feel silly for bringing a movie from home and asking the Best Buy employee to put it in the DVD player for you.

Ports!
How many ports do you (or will you) need?  Not just component, but HDMI ports… HDMI cables provide the best picture for all the newest technology items like XBOX360, PS3, cable/satellite DVRs, etc.

Good luck with your search!