Downloading Movies, Music and Games for your PSP is now very simple. Their are lots of online stores that allow you to download media files for your PSP, some charging small amounts, whilst others allow you to download non copyrighted material for free.
As I'm sure you know, you can buy UMD discs for your PSP, with lots of brand new release movies now being released every single week. The problem with UMD's is that they cost quite a lot of money, but downloading movies from an online store is much cheaper, as you are not paying for packaging and also postage costs. Purchasing a 4 or 8gb memory stick duo for you PSP, will allow you to store many hours of media files on to your console. I currently use the 2gb memory stick, which contains 4 hours of my favourite TV shows, so the 4gb will store 8 hours and the 8gb will allow you to carry around up to 16 hours of media files, whether that be 16 one hour episodes of ABC's Lost, or 8, two hour movies.
If you are going to purchase from an online store I personally advise that you also download the new 4.01 upgrade for your PSP, this makes uploading from your computer very easy. Also, any memory stick under 1gb and you will struggle to upload any TV shows or movies as the are usually in the area of 350 - 400 mb per file.
Being a self confessed PSP addict, I suggest for legal reasons that you don't download media files from illegal websites, this can cause problems for your computer. Many files that are downloaded from illegal sites have viruses, hijacking and advertisement programs built in to them.
For more tips and to find out how to get brand new release movies for your PSP visit - PSP Movies and More Downloads.
AP - The terrorism threat to the United States over the next five years will be driven by instability in the Middle East and Africa, persistent challenges to border security and increasing Internet savvy, says a new intelligence assessment obtained by The Associated Press.
So you think you know violins? Here are ten questions about violins, violinists, fiddles and such that'll probably make you say "Ah Fiddlesticks!" How many will you get right?
1. You probably know that at one time violin strings were made of a substance called "catgut." What was the major ingredient in catgut?
2. Although many parents find it a bit of a fight to get their violinist to practice, playing the violin is usually a non-contact sport. But the name of at least one part of a violin might remind you of boxing. What might that (those) part(s) be?
3. You've heard that Stradivarius violins can be very expensive. You've heard how rare they are and how well they are made. How many violins did Stradivarius make?
4. Violinist Mark Wood calls himself the "first heavy metal violinist." He plays an innovative electric violin called a "Viper." What notes are the strings on Mark's Viper tuned to? (Hint...The Viper has more than 4 strings.)
5. Most violins are made of wood. How many kinds of wood are there in most violins, and what woods are violins usually made of?
6. Which character on the old television show Hogan's Heroes played the violin?
7. Many people associate wearing black clothing with singer Roy Orbison. Some call Johnny Cash, "the man in black." What famous violinist from the past was notable for wearing all black clothing?
8. Three men were involved with writing the Declaration of Independence which declared that the American colonies were independent from their British rulers. One of the three was renowned for, among other things, playing the violin. Who?
9. Where are the strings on a Hardanger Violin?
10. The organ is often referred to as the "King of Instruments." What royal nickname is bestowed upon the violin?
Well, those are my questions. How'd you do? Let's take a look at the answers!
1. Contrary to popular belief, catgut strings are NOT made of cat innards, they are made of sheep intestines.
2. The "sides" of a violin are called "bouts," another definition of which is, "a contest or trial of strength, as of boxing."
3. Trick Question! How many violins did Stradivarius make? NONE. The famous luthier's name was Antonio Stradivari, not Stradivarius.
4. From highest to lowest, the strings on Mark's Viper are E, A, D, G, C, F, B-Flat. Seven strings!
5. Typically there are three woods used in a violin. The back and bouts are maple. The belly, or table, is spruce, and the fingerboard/tailpiece/chinrest are made of ebony, or boxwood or rosewood.
6. On at least one occasion, Colonel Klink played the violin in his office.
7. Paganini was the original "man in black." He was said to be so good on the violin that many people suspected he had made a pact with the devil to give him that skill. His clothing choice did not help them change their minds.
8. A song from the Broadway musical 1776 has Martha Jefferson sing about her husband.
He plays the violin
He tucks it right under his chin
And he bows, oh he bows
For he knows, yes he knows
That it's hi-hi-hi-diddle diddle
It's my heart, Tom and his fiddle
My strings are unstrung
Hi-hi-hi-hi
I am undone
Among other skills, future President Thomas Jefferson was an accomplished violinist.
9. On a Hardanger violin, four strings are in the traditional place above the fingerboard, and several sympathetic strings are below the fingerboard.
10. The violin is called the "King of Strings."
So, how many did you get correct? All ten? That's phenomenal! Have you considered a career teaching music? Five? You're probably still above average! But no matter how many you got correct, you've probably learned something you didn't know about one of the most beloved instruments in the world, and that's a good thing!
Arthur Haule studied violin in a traditional program for ten years. He participated in several orchestras and an opera company in the New York City area and founded a string quartet. He has taken part in several music festivals and even acted as a violin coach. He is currently webmaster of http://www.ViolinStudent.com
Although Art learned violin in a traditional setting, his daughter Adriana studied with a Suzuki Violin teacher. So Art has personal experience in both traditions. And you'll often hear him say, "It Doesn't Matter How You Learned, All That Counts Is That You Play!"
A fan of classical music, Art is dedicated to promoting the violin no matter what type of music is being played. If there is a melody there, Art probably listens to it.
Art Haule lives, plays violin, and designs T-shirts for http://www.cafepress.com/violin_student in Flower Mound, Texas with his wife Kathy and his daughter Adriana.
AP - A former Utah state trooper suspected in a series of Dallas-area roadway shootings died on Christmas Eve, a day after police said he turned a gun on himself following a brief standoff.
