It can be really difficult to come up with innovative ideas for gifts year after year and more often than not it’s a last minute dash round the shops to buy some toiletries set or taking the easy option of buying gift vouchers. The old saying goes that it is the thought that counts, and if you put in a little thought to a gift it will be appreciated much more. Theming gifts around someone’s favorite book will be a guaranteed hit, and you don’t have to be terribly creative either.

Narnia

For Christmas, a Narnia gift is perfect. The land through the back of the wardrobe is chilly and frosty on a permanent basis, and the series of novels have been popular for decades with both children and adults alike. Make up a traditional hamper basket with items associated with the books such as a hat, glove and scarf set, some Turkish delight, a model lion, a copy of the book or a voucher for a digital downloaded copy and a DVD of the film series.

Harry Potter

Everyone loves the stories about Harry and his battle against the evil Lord Voldemort and the books were instant best sellers when released. The perfect gift for a Potter fan is the “Weasley sweater” which Molly Weasley knits for Harry and Ron as a Christmas gift in the first book. Patterns are available to download online, so get out your King Cole DK yarn and needles and get ready for Christmas. Or you can make it easy on yourself and find a turtleneck sweater. If a jumper seems too much of a challenge, make a Gryffindor scarf in stripes of claret and gold King Cole DK yarn and bundle it up with some jelly beans, DVDs of the movies, a pair of toy glasses and a magic wand.

Twilight

The Twilight series of books and movies has been incredibly popular with the teenage market so if you have an awkward to buy for teenager this could be the perfect choice. Cover a plain cardboard box with black paper and fill it with everything and anything vampire related such as a copy of Dracula, DVD of the Twilight movie, some black nail polish or temporary tattoos, black or lacy clothing and anything else which has a gothic feel to it. The vampire theme is so popular for gifts at the moment that a few minutes on the internet will throw up thousands of possibilities.

James Bond

The movie franchise has a higher profile than the original novels, but James Bond gifts are a great idea for Dads, uncles or brothers. Buy ingredients to make the classic vodka martini, and put them in a smart case alongside a pair of classic cufflinks, a book about code breaking or a spy novel, vouchers for a meal at a posh restaurant or a phrase book for some obscure foreign language. If your budget doesn’t run to a full sized Aston Martin or Jaguar, buy a toy model similar to the ones driven by Bond in the movies and put that in the box too.

Citations:

• Photograph of Harry Potter Scarves by Aine D Via Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)

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•  License: Creative Commons image source

Guest article by blogger M Peers.  Peers is a massive Harry Potter Fan which gave her the inspiration for this article, after she decided to knit a Gryffindor scarf as a present using King Cole dk yarn from Yarnfest’s online store.

Image by: Dynamosquito

Humans are great at scaring themselves. There are examples everywhere; from the Y2K bug to superstitious refusals to walk under ladders.

It seems like the common thread that runs through some of the scariest things we have conjured out of our collective consciousness is the idea of a lack of control, over both our environment and the situation we happen to be placed in at that time.

Nothing embodies this sense of gut wrenching powerlessness and vulnerability quite like a big supernatural monster that is trying to kill you.

But apart from the lack of control, there must be some other reasons why we get so terrified of things that we know are not real, right? Well, let’s have a look at some of the more famous scary beasts out there to try and find out.

 

The Minotaur

The story of this man with the head of a bull is more tragic then terrifying really, but this mythical character must surely have endured throughout thousands of years for some reason.

Minotaur’s mum was cursed by Poseidon into having sexual passions towards a giant white bull on the island of Minos. Despite all of her advances the bull remained steadfastly uninterested, so her husband (being an understanding kind of guy) built her a hollow bull that she could climb inside of. Needless to say, the bull liked it and the result was little Minotaur.

The man-eating Minotaur is scary today because it embodies the idea of mindless brute strength, and as such forms an archetypal monster model that is still used to great effect today.

 

Pennywise the Clown

From the mind of Stephen King, this monstrous creation almost completely ruined my childhood. Pennywise is an alien who eats people but thinks they taste best when they are full of fear. Therefore it can take the form of whatever its victims fear the most.

However, when this beast is trying to snare children who might not know they should be scared, it takes the form of a particularly grotesque clown in order to lure them closer to it.

As well as being a terrifying embodiment of the “child snatcher” archetype like Freddy Kruger, Pennywise also reveals something else about what we find scary: a completely self interested desire to get what you want with little or no regard for anyone else.

 

Creepy Children

From Japanese horrors such as ‘The Ring’ to ‘The Exorcist’, children have been used to unnerve the hell out of us in cinemas around the world.

In our culture, children are obviously meant to imply dependence and innocence, so the idea of a child knowing more about a situation then you do and be actively using that knowledge to try and harm you is a really freaky idea.

Imagine that you came home one day and your five year old child had mastered the art of video conferencing in order to plan your birthday. Even though this is essentially a happy thought, it is still a little unnerving though right?

Also, sinister things sound a lot more sinister if heard coming from the mouth of a ghostly pale child that you have just witnessed crawling out of your TV.

I know there are lots more monsters out there that I haven’t mentioned, but I could spend all day doing this and I have other things that need to be done.

So it’s over to you. What monsters instil you with fear and can you think of any more mundane explanations for the shivers they cause in your spine?

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•  License: Creative Commons image source

James Duvalis an IT specialist who still occasionally thinks that Pennywise may be lurking around the corner somewhere. When not writing blogs for companies such as Intercall, James likes to ride the countryside on his motorbike and pretend he is out-running some hideous space beast.

The holiday season is a great time for gathering friends and family around the table, sharing stories over delicious meals, baking grandma’s secret gingerbread cookie recipe, and indulging in some eggnog. With all the delicious foods the holidays bring, it’s hard not to enjoy yourself. And for many of us, we enjoy ourselves a little too much and before we know it, we’re a few pounds lighter.

Don’t worry. This article isn’t going to tell you to avoid Thanksgiving dinner like the plague or shame you into never eating another piece of pie ever again. Staying healthy during the holiday season doesn’t need to involve the latest diet trend or a super cleanse, or even an extreme workout ordeal. A healthy holiday can be as simple as moderation and smart thinking. You’ll still get to eat the holiday foods you love without having to fear the scale.

Healthy Cooking

If you get the chance to host your own holiday party, you’ll have the perfect opportunity to keep things light and tasty. Look for food items that are low on fat and sodium, cook with skim milk, and trim the fat off of any meat you plan to serve. If you’re worried about losing some flavor, substitute some spices and no one will even notice the difference! Also, have some healthy sides and desserts available. There’s nothing wrong with having some vegetable sticks with a light ranch for dip and some fresh strawberries with raw sugar on the table. Not only will you be keeping yourself healthy, but you’ll be helping your guests out, too! Also, find healthier versions of beloved holiday recipes to bring with you when you’re invited to holiday potlucks, too.

Set Aside Some “Me” Time

The holidays can be hectic, with relatives coming and going, gifts to purchase, and parties to attend. However, the stress doesn’t have to add up to overeating. Be sure to set aside some personal time to work out, even if you have the whole family in town. Set the kids up with a fun and easy activity, like making ornaments, and get out for a quick run. That way, you can keep up on your fitness and break up some stress that is sure to be building up. Having work out time set aside might also be the motivation you need to limit yourself to just one piece of cheesecake.

Keep Eating

When people fear they are gaining weight, their first reaction is to just stop eating. If we didn’t have to eat, we’d all be looking like super models, wouldn’t we? However, eating is a necessity and it doesn’t have to be detrimental. Eating in the right way can also help curb your appetite for other meals. For instance, breakfast is still the most important meal of the day, regardless of time of year. If you’ve got a big day of gift shopping or errand running ahead of you, fill up on a balanced breakfast to give you fuel to keep going and to prevent you from stopping at every Starbucks you see. If you have a party to go to, eat some healthy snacks ahead of time so you’ll already be on your way to feeling satisfied and full. You can still enjoy the tasty treats, but at least you won’t feel the need to fill up on them.

Make Some New Traditions

It can be hard to limit the sweets when family holiday traditions include chocolate advent calendars, gingerbread house making, and other food-centric activities. Don’t do away with them completely, after all, they’re probably cherished traditions. Instead, try incorporating holiday activities that involve arts and crafts like the aforementioned ornament making, writing letters to Santa, and you can never go wrong with pulling out some board games. You can still serve some snacks and drinks to keep the mood light, just make sure they’re healthy ones!

The holiday season is a great time to get the family together, break out those delicious recipes, and have an enjoyable time. But too often we regret our eating decisions and being fearing the next holiday party. This year, don’t live in fear of all the finger-licking goodies the holiday bring. Instead, continue embracing everything from turkey to pie to hot chocolate…so long as you eat in stride, pick up a few healthy choices every now and then, and find some time to continue exercising. The holidays don’t have to leave you feeling like a regular Santa Claus and you don’t have to step up the diets, either. Arm yourself with these simple healthy tips and you can continue enjoying your holiday season without the regular weight gain fears. ‘Tis the season to a happy and healthy you.

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It could be that you’re just starting to get into reading and don’t know what’s good, or you’re an avid reader whose exhausted your reading material. Either way, these five series’ will have you dying to read more and more and more. These books are personal favorites of many and even if they’re not worldwide best sellers, they’re all entertaining and provide an exhilarating reading experience. You’re thoroughly encouraged to try them out.

Game of Thrones – George R. R. Martin

A fabulous and extensive tale of the struggle for power in the fictional realm resembling medieval Europe called Westeros. Alliances are made and broken as powerful families plot, charm, betray and fight for power. George R.R. Martin is a skillful writer who doesn’t fear shocking his readers with absolutely unexpected events. It’s been converted into a successful and acclaimed TV show. If you haven’t caught up, or even if you’ve already watch the two seasons currently out, this series comes highly recommended. So far, five volumes are out. While the television show is great and does it justice, there’s just no way to fit the enormous universe that Martin has created into a television show.

Lord of the Rings + Hobbit – J. R. R. Tolkien

If you’ve never watched or read the Lord of the Rings trilogy for reasons none of your friends will accept, it’s the perfect time to get into this universe with the upcoming release of An Unexpected Journey, the first installment of the Hobbit trilogy. A timeless classic, this series birthed the fantasy genre. Tolkien’s immersible universe has inspired generations. The Hobbit being released as a trilogy is testament to the enormity and depth of the tale. It’s remarkably simple language makes it accessible to anyone who can read. Read the books before going and seeing the new movies.

The Inheritance Cycle – Christopher Paolini

Don’t judge a book by its cover… or its movie adaptation. There are no excuses for the quality of its movie spin-off Eragon, but the book is in no need of such excuses. Christopher Paolini, despite starting this series at the age of 16, writes a gripping tale of dragons and rebellion. Perhaps a series more fit for teens than adults, it’s a worthwhile read that keeps you wanting more.

Troy – David Gemmell

A grossly underrated series by a grossly underrated author. This series gives depth and incredible magnitude and sophistication to the legendary Trojan War featured in Homer’s Odyssey. This trilogy focuses on a number of characters of different alliances and walks of life and does a fantastic job at putting on a totally different spin on this 4,500 year old tale. The characters are what make the books riveting – they are incredibly relatable, admirable and deep, none of them representing a saint or evil villain and all of them having dreams, motives and regrets. The Trojan War is not the whole story, only arising at the end of the second book. More important are the relationships and struggles that the characters face. This work of historical fiction has all the attributes of wondrous fantasy on the backdrop of real history. Check out this series – you won’t regret this insight into Ancient Greece. For better or worse, it’s nothing like the movie, and that’s a guarantee.

Seven Ancient Wonders – Mathew Reilly

The Australian author renowned for his action-packed novels often featuring international conflict tackles the apocalypse. Seven Ancient Wonders is the first book of a trilogy which is followed by Six Sacred Stones and Five Greatest Warriors respectively. It explores the story of Jack West Jr., the head of a team of representatives from not-so-powerful countries intent on maintaining balance and resisting hegemony. This story resembles that of Indiana Jones only with ten times more action. It’s one of the few enjoyable apocalyptic stories and definitely worth a read.

Adrian Rodriguez is a freelance writer and university student looking for houses for sale. Mernda has a display center which is hard to resist buying from. 

Chess has been around for centuries. Early variants of chess games originated in India around the 6th century and chess gradually evolved into its current form in the 15th century. Somewhat fittingly for a game that was considered to evoke military tactics and use pieces named after the nobility, two of the reasons that chess spread across the globe was as a result of the expansion of historical empires and the introduction of the game into the courts of the nobility.

India introduced the game of chess into Persia and the game became a popular means of educating the Persian nobility in the concepts of logical thought and patience. The word, ‘checkmate’, comes from the Persian phrase, ‘Shāh Māt’, which translates into English as, ‘The King is dead’.

Unfortunately for the Persians, they perhaps spent a little too much time playing chess and not enough time developing their actual military as between 644 and 651 AD the Islamic Conquest of Persia passed the land of Persia and the game of chess, into the hands of the Muslim world.

By the 10th century the expanding Arabian empire had introduced chess to parts of North Africa, Europe and Iberia. Conquering armies played the game during their down time and continued to introduce the game into their captured territories.

Into The Contemporary

Chess has been recognized as an important educational tool that can help in the development of reasoning and forward thinking. In fact a bill has been passed in the US senate that seeks to introduce chess more widely into US educational programs as a means with which to act as a supplement to learning. The legally recognized bill noted that:

• “Chess increases strategic thinking skills, stimulates intellectual creativity and improves problem solving ability, whilst raising self-esteem.”
• “When youngsters play chess they must call upon higher-order thinking skills, analyse actions and consequences and visualize future possibilities.”
• “In countries where chess is offered widely in schools, students exhibit excellence in the ability to recognize complex patterns and consequently excel in math and science.”
• “Instruction in chess during the second grade will enable pupils to learn skills which will serve them throughout their lives.”

In addition to these officially recognized benefits of the instruction of chess, several psychologists have underlined how chess can aid a person’s ability to concentrate on one specific activity uninterrupted for a prolonged period of time and have recommended chess games as a treatment for Alzheimer’s.

The fact that a game of chess demands the complete focusing of the mind for the duration of the game has led psychologists to underline its usage as a means with which to developed concentration. In fact, it is hard to think of any other pastime which demands one’s continual attention to the extent that a game of chess does.

Around six hundred million people across the world currently know how to play chess and chess games have become increasingly competitive as a result of the rise of on-line chess forums; where chess fans gather together to create leagues and exchange tactics and plays.

Chess: Some Interesting Facts

• The word ‘rookie’ is derived from the chess piece known as ‘the rook’. When playing a game of chess the rook is generally the last piece to be moved into the field of play. As such, the phrase ‘rookie’ was adopted by several American sports commentators to describe the circumstance of an unseasoned sportsman being brought into a game long after it had commenced. In terms of a Premiership football equivalent this would denote a situation in which a young player’s confidence is built-up via introducing him into the game as a substitute during the second half.
• Despite the names of pieces such as king, queen, bishop and soldiers none of the actual chess pieces in chess games look much like their description. This is due to the fact that the Islamic world, who introduced chess to a wider audience, forbids the making of statues of animals and people. Hence the reason why the pieces aren’t clearly distinguished designs of the people that they represent.
• In the 12th century the church deemed chess to be a frivolous activity and so banned it. Bishop Guy of Paris threatened to excommunicate any priest caught playing chess. In 1125 one chess-loving priest subsequently invented the folding chess board so as to be able disguise the board as two books and continued to play in secret.
• In other languages the pawn is not a foot soldier; in German the pawn is known a peasant and in Spain the pawn is known as a farmer.

Chess games remain as popular today as they have been throughout history and can help you to develop reasoning and concentration skills. In addition to these benefits it is also incredibly rewarding when you put an opponent into check mate and watch as they slowly realize that they are utterly done for.