Finding Better Karaoke MP3 Music Files

Are social networking sites the solution for the poor karaoke MP3 situation? There are a number of places to find accompaniment MP3s online, but many web users report countless irritations in the process, such as not receiving the lyrics with their download, being bombarded with advertisements, being unable to find the songs they were looking for, paying too much, or the songs were not recorded by the original artists.

Social networking sites like www.ksolo.myspace.com, www.redkaraoke.com or www.kariokebar.com offer an interesting alternative to karaoke downloads.

It is a natural assumption that where there is the internet, there is free everything. Unfortunately, the market selling karaoke downloads is still pretty hot and you are not likely to find any sites offering free karaoke MP3 files.

You may be able to find some downloads on peer-to-peer applications like LimeWire or BearShare; however, these sites are growing increasingly more unreliable and havens for computer viruses. Newsgroups like www.usenet-replayer.com/cgi/content/archive may have online karaoke files for download, although these sites are fairly limited in their offerings.

IRC file sharing channels like www.searchirc.com are popular ways of getting downloads because of the vast amount of accessible content, although it is technically illegal to share content this way, it may leave your computer vulnerable to hackers and it isn't user friendly.

One of the most popular sources for karaoke MP3 files is www.karaoke.com, where you can search over 10,000 karaoke songs. Some of the top artists searched on the site include Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Sugarland, Rihanna, Celine Dion, Johnny Cash, Abba, Journey, Elvis Presley, Miley Cyrus, The Beatles, Carrie Underwood and Frank Sinatra.

Users generally search by a specific artist that they are looking for or by the label, such as All Star Karaoke, Chartbuster, Disney, Forever Hits, Pop Hits Monthly or Sound Choice. You can also buy CD G and regular CDs through the site as well.

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Finding Better Atlas of The World

Traditionally, an atlas of the world was used to show a nation's topographical features, major road ways and natural habitats. The most modern atlases are geared toward animal species conservation, natural resource allocation, mapping out the oceans, tracing endangered languages, detailing natural disaster prone regions of the world and revealing environmental dangers our world faces.

Sometimes gaining this at-a-glance bird's eye view can grease the wheels of change to help us protect our planet and create a brighter future.

Sometimes you can find an atlas of the world that reveals the current state of our planet. The State of the World Atlas does just that, displaying the most current statistics, profiles and realities about world politics, economics, food supplies, military power, energy resources, pollution levels and biodiversity.

In a nutshell, what a hardcopy atlas of the world delivers, which online mapping lacks, is that historical, worldview of mapmakers and cartographers who take the great time and effort to color code our world and combine data with maps in a sensible way, thus painting the larger picture.

If you are looking for an atlas of American history to inspire the kids, then consider Elspeth Leacock and Susan Buckley's "Places in Time: A New Atlas of American History" (for 7-14 year olds), which teaches kids about fascinating stories behind 20 little-known American places using oral narratives, old maps, drawings and contemporary accounts.

Don't forget to get Lynn Kuntz's "Celebrate the USA: Hands-On History Activities for Kids" (for 8-10 year olds), which will have you playing musical inventions like Ben Franklin or creating liberty wind socks from oatmeal boxes, glues, yarn and paper.

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Driving Routes Online

Driving can be a lot of fun if you know just the right route to take. How many times have you been stuck in traffic, shifting constantly, feeling the urge to shout out the window, when you could have just waited an hour in a nice cafe and had an effortless drive home?

Unexpected weather conditions, construction or accidents can also really throw a wrench into your plans. With online maps, there is really no excuse to suffer. You will need an accurate site to guide you, but which one should you choose?

Google search may trump Microsoft by eons, but Microsoft Live Search Maps gives the Google Map site a run for its money. The Live Search menu is easy-to-use and aesthetically pleasing by design. The menu on the left-hand side lets you search a specific place on the map, lets you get driving directions or you can share your online maps with others.

The routes are generally good, but may mislead you down a weird street or off a roundabout exit from time to time. The "Bird's Eye" feature is really cool, which started the whole zoom-in/zoom-out craze that the other map sites now use. Microsoft also has an interesting 3-D map feature that works with Internet Explorer.

Online maps are currently the best way to obtain driving directions and local business information. Since the world is constantly changing, with weather, construction, accidents, traffic congestion and detours altering the way we get from place to place, it is crucial that we have resources which can be updated in real-time to make our commutes easier and more hassle-free.

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Online Driving Directions

Most individuals understand that maps are so much more than a few lines or symbols on a piece of paper. Maps are the gateway to our understanding of the world, as well as showing migration patterns, continental climates and places of great biodiversity at-a-glance.

Presently, customizable online maps have opened a window of opportunity for having fun with maps. The course to our favorite restaurants and the cheapest gas stations can be plotted, or you can find local news. Modern day maps are so much more than basic driving directions.

Google Maps has become the template of choice for a number of local food maps. At www.menurequest.com, you can plot restaurants on a map of your city, as well as read/write reviews, make reservations and get driving directions. In Philadelphia, www.communitywalk.com is an amazing resource for local event organizers who want to ask a number of nearby restaurants to participate.

At www.toeat.com, you will find a number of dining options in your neighborhood. In major cities like NY, Paris, Bangkok and Chicago, you will find baked goods at www.yummybaguette.com. Or you may need to get your burrito fix at www.burritophile.com. Drinkers can appreciate www.drinktown.com, which lets you know all the local booze specials.

As you can see, street maps are so much more than just compendiums of driving directions. Today's online map is part travel advisor, part photographer, part encyclopedia, part Yellowpages and part friend.

You can read reviews of local businesses, learn about tourist destinations in a Wikipedia window or even find bus schedules. Google Maps. MapQuest, Yahoo Maps and MSN Live Earth are all competing sites vying for your attention. The best news is that all of this is easy to use and free!

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Online Driving Directions With Alerts

Before you drop $300 on that Garmin automobile navigation system, you may be wondering if you should stick with free online driving directions. After all, Yahoo and Google map developers are ambitiously working with cell phone application developers and carriers to offer mapping capabilities right on your mobile phone. In a few years' time, a car GPS device could become obsolete. Here are some practical pros and cons of the various map data sites.

Yahoo Maps driving directions allow online maps to be sent to mobile phones (for free), alerts you to traffic problems, lets you map multiple points and read local business reviews written by Yahoo users.

While other sites offer business reviews as well, Yahoo has the highest number of reviews, along with a 1 to 5 star rating system, which makes it much easier to sort through the data. You can also do a search based on ratings as well or type in something generic like "best pizza in Chicago" to get a list of top rated pizzerias.

Yahoo's construction and traffic information is notably reliable. However, like MapQuest maps, some of the Yahoo language can be awkward enough to get you lost once or twice. It is also difficult to re-route your way out of being lost. As well, Yahoo has the most paid ads in their local information search, so you may have to sort through some of the paid inclusion stuff to get to the objective reviews.

Online driving directions are not always perfect. In the worst case scenario, you may discover an error in your map data while you are navigating a new street, leaving you utterly lost and helpless. To avoid problems, it is best that you cross-reference your driving directions with a few of the other sites and try getting an alternate route printed out just in case.

Pay attention to the mileage and reset your odometer as you complete each step so you will know if you have traveled past a designated turn. Leave yourself plenty of time to make it to your destination, since construction, accidents and weather may complicate your trip.

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Popular Online Maps

MapQuest was the first of the online maps and has changed the least over time, yet it remains the most popular site for driving directions and local street maps. Google Maps is quickly inching up in popularity, which is fair since they are the innovators of the satellite imagery and aerial photography, yet some speculate that their tie-in with the search engines is corrupting web traffic data. The major players in the mapping industry each have their own special perks.

So what about maps of sightseeing? MapQuest does not offer satellite images currently, although if you have the addresses, you can plot out multiple points on your sightseeing tour to discover an efficient route. Google can show you extremely close-up views all around the world from Nairobi and Lima to Baghdad and Tokyo.

Yahoo also takes you right to the heart of the world's most far-flung continents using a number of sources for its images, although Google and Ask have more display pixels. Conclusively, Google Maps probably has the most comprehensive database of real-world images and the fastest response time for your sightseeing needs. In fact, there are entire websites dedicated to "sightseeing without leaving your living room via Google satellite maps."

Online maps will continue to progress faster than we can review their sites. The general rule seems to be: once one site gets it, they all catch on. Even so, you will always overhear someone say, "I hate MapQuest because it always gets me lost," or "Google Maps is creepy; how you can spy on people via satellite?" Or perhaps you'll hear "Yahoo Maps local listings rock" or a "MapQuest's gas prices are awesome," or "I love the map sharing capability of Google."

Perhaps on your next trip, you can try plugging directions into each of the maps to see which site speaks to you.

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Google Map Help Using Online Tools

Millions of people use the maps Google offer, each and every day. While the basic functionality of Google Maps is quite straightforward, you may still desire map help to unlock all of Google's secrets.

After all, recent innovations have added many new features, allowing you to create and share maps, view satellite maps, drag and drop the street maps and search for local businesses. Here are some tips and tricks to help you navigate Google Maps like a pro.

You may also need map help customizing your trip to suit your needs. One of the latest joys of online mapping, particularly for longer trips, is that you can change your route to take a more scenic drive. Say you are driving from Nashville, Tennessee to Asheville, North Carolina but you decide you would like to traverse through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park along the way.

To customize your route, hover your mouse over the portion of the route just above the park. You will see a little white box that says "Drag to change route," which you will drag and drop to your location.

Google will stick a new place-mark there that looks like a pause button and will adjust the route, recalculating driving time and directions. This is also very handy if you see construction or traffic on your route that you would prefer to navigate around.

Travelers often need map help finding notable landmarks. You may not necessarily know the address of the Eiffel Tower, but you can zero in on the location by typing in "Eiffel Tower." Now say you are in the car driving but you have no idea where you are.

You can turn your cell phone into a GPS device using Google Maps for Mobile right on your cell phone. (Check out the video for this on the Google Maps site). You may also want to explore the country of Japan to decide where you would like to visit, just by typing in "Japan." You can also search for zip codes, airport codes, latitudes and longitudes.

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Maps Yahoo Offer Better Traffic Information

The maps Yahoo offers have changed over the years. The look has gone from a MapQuest Maps look, with many data entry windows to more of a Google Maps layout, with the large, interactive map featured to the right and a few search boxes to the left.

Some people want to stick with the familiar MapQuest layout, quickly typing in addresses to receive information. However, others prefer the drag-and-drop or satellite maps of Yahoo. Currently, Yahoo is the third-leading provider of online maps, just barely trailing Google and MapQuest. Yet proponents of the site are fierce supporters of Yahoo, stating that the traffic and business information cannot be surpassed.

You may be thinking, "Well Google has business listings too. Why should I look at the maps Yahoo makes for local information?" One distinction you will notice is that most of the real estate on Yahoo is dedicated to business listings, with only a small map. So if you are looking for local directories of businesses, then Yahoo would probably be best, whereas driving directions are more prominent on the maps Google offers.

You will also notice that Yahoo Local has more paid ads, which account for the top three listings, as well as a few listings on the bottom of the page. User reviews are provided for each local listing, with a 1 to 5 star rating format to help you choose the best local business to suit your needs.

One current problem is that Yahoo sometimes returns non-relevant listings. For instance, if you type "dog bathing service," you will also get paid listings from animal hospitals, pet food stores and dog walking services. In that respect, Google may give you more targeted listings.

As of 2009, some new features have been added to Maps Yahoo. Initially, there were only driving directions for the US and Canada, but now they have added more than 34 European countries to their database as well. You will notice their look is a little different too; fashioned like a Google Maps, rather than a MapQuest map.

You can now select different terrain overlays, construction overlays and building footprints for major cities like NY and San Francisco. Users can search multi-destination directions, enter one box address entry and an interactive print page for easier functionality.

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Google Maps With Many Online Features

Google Maps is a free mapping application found online at www.maps.google.com. Web users can plot out street maps for walking, biking, driving or taking public transit. They can also search local businesses or international businesses based on location in a certain city or proximity to a current location.

Using Google Earth overlays, users can also view the globe like never before, and using satellite maps and real-time successive photos allows users to see popular city streets exactly as they are, as viewed through a camera lens.

The "My Map" mashups are like the social networking community of online mapping. Here you can create free customized maps, search in between two destinations, check out weather information, find your way around natural disasters or search through a number of useful utilities.

One cool Google Maps mashup is the useful "Search In-Between" widget. Once you add this function to your maps, type in exactly what you are looking for, for example "gas," "food" or "restroom," add the start and end locations, then enjoy your map of all the gas stations, restaurants or rest-stops along your route!

Road trippers just love this feature when navigating new places. Similarly, the "Places of Interest" mashup shows you the bars, ATMs, eateries, churches and more along your route.

As of 2006, Google Maps became accessible on mobile phones, which was obviously a huge breakthrough for the online mapping community. Now they are viable competitors with GPS devices, paper street maps, 4-1-1 service, the Yellowpages and other cell phone application creators.

The "My Location" feature turns your cell phone into a global tracking device so you can automatically use your position as a way-point, even if you do not know the exact address.

So far, the Android, iPhone, Windows Mobile, Nokia/Symbian, BlackBerry and Java platform phones and Palm Pilots can all access a Google map, although every new phone will likely have the capability in the future.

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Pleasing Your Best Friends With Personalized Photo Gifts

Personalized photo gifts can be found online and in gift shops. You can also create your own gifts and then include a photo of the recipient in the gift. The recipient will appreciate the efforts you made to create the gift and to include their photo as part of the gift. A custom made gift shows you really value your friendship.

If you do not have crafting skills, then you can choose from the wide range of gifts online or in gift shops. You need to know what the recipient really likes, in order to give them a gift they will use. If you know he likes gourmet foods, then you can place an order for a gourmet food basket with his favourite gourmet food. You should include a gift card with his photo.

If you have crafting skills, you can create your own personalised photo gifts. The only limit is to give yourself enough time to create the gift. If you know you are creating the gift for a birthday, and the event is months away, then you have enough time to create the gift.

If the birthday party is tomorrow, then you may not have enough time and your options are rather limited. Your only solution may be to search for a personalised photo gift online and hope to find the perfect gift.

There are a large range of gifts you can buy and then personalize. For example you may buy the ever popular fruit gift basket and include a personalised photo gift card, with a photo of the gift recipient on the card.

You may need to find out the favourite fruit of the recipient, so that the choice of fruit are included in the gift basket. This will be a fantastic gift as it is a personalised gift basket with the recipients’ favourite choice of fruit and the a personalised photo gift card.

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How To Take Better Images Of Baby Models

Baby models can be difficult for many budding baby photographers. The baby can be cranky, and never co-operates. To be a baby photographer, you need to be a like a baby whisperer. To take quality images of your baby, you need to have your camera ready. There is no time to fiddle with your camera equipment, while you are holding the baby.

You should take test images with your digital camera and test your flash around your home, while the baby is asleep. Once the baby awakes and he has been changed and fed, you can then take out your digital camera and take a number of quick images.

Planning to take images quickly is the key to your success. You do not want your baby to become tired and start crying while you are fiddling with the settings on your camera.

It took me a while to work out how to take good images of baby models.

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Creating Your Own Pictures Of Hummingbirds

Pictures of hummingbirds can be found online, in books and magazines. You can also take your own images of hummingbirds, if you have a digital camera. You can use a small digital camera with a zoom and a flash, or more preferably a DSLR camera with a zoom, flash and a tripod.

If you see hummingbirds in your area, you can attract them to your yard with a hummingbird birdfeeder. Once you notice the birds feeding from your birdfeeder, you can arrange your camera and equipment to take pictures of hummingbirds in flight.

When you are setting up your camera, it would be ideal to use a DSLR camera with an attached flash, in order to get the quality image. You can keep your distance by using a zoom lens, and hide behind a tree or a small bush, so that the hummingbird is not frightened by your presence. Once you can see the hummingbird in the viewfinder, test your flash to ensure there is enough flash to cover the area.

You can then place these images on your website, for the world to see. You may even compare your images with images taken by other photographers. The secret to your success is to take the time, to set up your equipment and then patience with taking better pictures of hummingbirds.

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Better Ideas For Gifts Crafts

Making homemade gifts is a great way to show you care, and a great way to be more economical all year round. People will appreciate your thoughtfulness and admire the handiwork of your art and craft projects. In this article, we have some simple and elegant ideas for gifts crafts that will be perfect for any occasion.

No one can have enough candle holders in their home. Even if you don't light the candles, the holders will add a decorative flair to the decor. These gifts are not only beautiful and festive, but they're also environmentally friendly. Save your Christmas and birthday cards, and some small bottles. You can also purchase cheap candle votive jars.

Go through the cards and cut out pretty scenes, flowers or shapes like stars and squiggles, and glue them to a jar. You can even collect letters to spell out names for really personalized gifts crafts. Gold, silver and sparkly or glittery objects look especially beautiful when the candlelight shines through the jar.

It really is the thought that counts, so tap into your inner artist and make special, personalized presents for your loved ones. Scope out the discount stores, look for end of season sales on items to use as materials and get creative with them.

You'll be amazed at what you can make with very little time and money. Most importantly, your friends and family will appreciate the thoughtfulness of your gift.

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Easy To Make Crafts Dolls

Crafts dolls are always popular at art and craft shows. Whether they are fun dolls or classic collectibles, there is something enchanting about these homemade dolls that people really enjoy.

However, these dolls can be quite pricey, yet with a little time and imagination, you can make some at home at a fraction of the cost. In this article, we'll show you how to make dolls that are so easy that a child could make them!

Raggedy Ann is perhaps the most famous doll of all. If you love the fun and floppy look of rag dolls, you can make them yourself without craft kits. Get a sturdy piece of paper and fold it in half, length-wise. Draw half a body along the fold, so that when the paper is opened the two halves will be symmetrical.

Don't worry about being fancy; just think of the shape of a gingerbread man. Draw a second outline about an inch and a half outside the first. This will be the guideline for your seam. Cut out the half-body outline on the outer line. Lay the pattern on the cloth that will make the rag doll's body and cut out two shapes.

On one shape, design what will be the front of the doll. To get a traditional look, use markers to make a red bow mouth and sew on buttons as eyes. Now sew the front and back together but leave a gap so you can stuff the doll. After you have stuffed the doll, simply sew up the gap.

You don't have to be an experienced crafter to make great dolls. If you're looking for crafts for kids, doll making is a great place to start. Crafts dolls are easy to make and it's also a functional item for your child. As a bonus, the doll will be a treasured childhood keepsake for years to come.

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Greener Crafts Projects

If you're looking for special projects that will teach your kids to be environmentally friendly, then why not get them involved with crafts? Ordinary items around the house like coat hangers, CDs and DVDs and old clothing often end up in landfill sites when they can be used to make functional and attractive items for your home, office or garden.

Fridge magnets are a fun way to dress up your kitchen and they're great for holding photographs, recipes or shopping lists in a convenient place. If you're looking for environmentally friendly craft projects for your kids, make some eco-fridge magnets.

You'll need CDs or DVDs that are no longer in use, felt in your favorite colors, a black marker, decorative materials like gems, beans, beads or ribbon, eyes from a craft store and a magnet. Trace the disc out on the felt, cut out the shape, and glue the felt to one side only. Using your decorative materials and some glue, turn the disc into a potato head, a frog face, a happy smile or even a flower.

Add a dollop of glue to the top, backside of the disc and carefully place the magnet in the glue. Once all the material dries, you'll have a cute magnet that will hold your child's crafts and paintings to the fridge.

Crafts are a great way to use old objects around your house that may otherwise end up in a landfill site. As a bonus, you can save money by making ordinary household items yourself. Imagine how much you'll save if you never buy tea towels, pillow cases or holiday ornaments ever again.

If you'd like more green craft ideas, then check out craft books, visit craft shows or go online. You'll find countless ideas for being creative and eco friendly at the same time.

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Setting Up A Computers Video System

If you are looking to buy computers for your computers video hobby, then you have probably heard that Macs are the ultimate filmmaker computer. However, with the many advances in personal computers these days, a high-end Dell has comparable capacity to process video. Buying the equipment is half the battle, but learning to use that equipment efficiently will solidify your hobby and perhaps enable you to make some money from your pursuits.

Next, after you have looked at desktop computers and cameras, you will need software. There are two software systems that every digital editor must have: Adobe Premiere and Final Cut Pro. These two contenders have risen to the top, offering user-friendly interfaces and a number of features.

The final results are so impressive that beginners and advanced editors love them all the same. Once you have purchased your computers video software, you might find you need a computer training course to help you get acclimated. Otherwise, you could spend agonizing hours staring at manuals and ripping your hair out!

Once you are armed with the tools of the trade, you will be ready to start your computers video hobby. Given the economy, many people are converting their hobbies into cash, so why shouldn't you?

With a bit of practice, you can be filming weddings, making videos for your friend's band, working on commercials, creating montages for parties and submitting to film festivals. If you are really serious about pursuing this career avenue, then you may want to consider attending film school or hooking up with a filmmaking guild.

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