Barbara Hudgins
Barbara Hudgins is the author of "Crafting the Travel Guidebook.". She was the author of "New Jersey Day Trips" and is the New Jersey Day Trips examiner at examiner.com.Her newspaper articles appeared in the Recorder newspaper chain and many NJ media.
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Brooklyn College,/BA, Pratt Institute/ MLSInterests
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Displaying Results 1 - 110 (of 110) for All Content
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What is the Jeopardy Challenge?The Jeopardy challenge between a thinking computer named Watson and top Jeopardy champions Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter proved less exciting than other show but more important historically.
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"The Fighter" Joins the List of Best Boxing Films"Golden Boy," "Champion," "Raging Bull," "Rocky" and "Cinderella Man" -- just a few of the memorable movies about boxers, both real and fictional. Now "The Fighter," a gripping story about light welterweight Micky Ward joins the group of top boxing films. -
Will Colin Firth Win the Oscar for "The King's Speech"?Hollywood sometimes awards an actor for a whole body of work rather than a single performance. Colin Firth was nominated last year for a movie few people saw. Perhaps this year he will win because more people have seen "The King's Speech."
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Five Things They Don't Tell You About Las VegasEver hear of a resort fee? Expect to swim in Vegas in December? Find out tips about Player's Club cards, how to make the elevator move and other essentials for first-timers to this desert Sin City. -
How to Make the Golden Globe Awards More ExcitingThe 2011 Golden Globe Awards were less exciting than the red carpet scene that preceded them Is there some way for the award winners to get to the stage more quickly? And surely they need better joke writers. Here are some tips. -
Sarah Palin's Alaska -- a Travelogue or an Infomercial?The Learning Channel's reality show, 'Sarah Palin's Alaska' is both a travelogue about Alaska's working folk and scenic wonders and a commerical for a political candidate. But does it work?
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Where to Eat at the Philadelphia Museum of ArtStephen Starr restauranteur has taken over the dining options at the Philadelphia museum. The cafeteria and restaurant have a new look and French themed offerings.
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WE TV's "Downsized" Gets DramaticIt started out as a family with financial troubles in the recession. Now with Laura's MS prognosis and Todd's possible move out of state, it's becoming a live soap opera. -
Seabiscuit and Secretariat: Two Race Horses, Two Different MoviesRacetrack attendance around the country is shrinking, but the appetite for movies about race horses seems to be growing. Seabiscuit (2003) and Secretariat (2010) are examples of first class rendition of two racing legends. Each has its own audience. -
Five Best Christmas Events in NYCIt's Christmas time in the city. And that means a visit to Rockefeller Center, tickets to The Nutcracker,looking at department stores Christmas windows and more.
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Titanic: The Artifact Exhibit at the Luxor, Las VegasFrom hulking artifacts to recreation of shipboard cabins and the grand foyer staircase, the Titanic exhibit brings the full majesty and terror of the fateful voyage of the luxury liner. -
Downsized: The New WETV SeriesThe Bruce family -- Mom, Pop and seven kids from two previous marriages lived the good life for a few years. Now the construction business is down and they are renting and eating on food stamps. Will they recover? -
The 40-Year-Old Loser: A Comparison of the Movies Greenberg and SidewaysAt mid-life, characters tend to wonder if they will ever accomplish anything in life. Will they ever find the right woman? Two different movies approach this idea. -
The Please Touch Museum in PhiladelphiaChildren's interactive museums are great for both the kids and the parents. And the Please Touch Museum, in its new location in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park is the best with hundreds of creative exhibits.
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The Situation and Bristol Palin Make a VideoReality TV brings opposites together. Bristol Palin, an advocate for teenage abstinence, and Mike "The Situation" from MTV's 'Jersey Shore' made a video about preventing teenage pregnancy. -
Law & Order Los Angeles, 5th Episode: TV ReviewLaw & Order has always featured stories ripped from the headlines. How about two headlines? This episode features a Congressman, a mistress, an unborn child and a terminally ill wife.
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Will Bristol Palin Win the DWTS Trophy?The daughter of Sarah Palin is lasting much longer on Dancing with the Stars than anyone expected -- or than her dancing talent merited. Is the Tea Party giving her steam?
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La Cage Aux Folles --Three Versions of the BirdcageFrom its beginnings as a French play to films (both American and French)and a musical, this story of family, love and gay masquerade still brings laughs.Also published on: -
The Mad Men 2010 Finale --Suddenly It's 1965!Mad Men started in 1960 with a strong sense of the Jet Set era. Now suddenly, it's hitting the mid-decade without much cultural transformation. -
The Seven Best Movies About TelevisionWhen Hollywood makes movies about television they are realistic and revealing. Network, Broadcast News and others were penned by writers who began in TV.
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Where to Eat at the Metropolitan Museum of ArtThe Met has reconfigured its eating areas with three options options now available: a cafeteria, a self-service cafe and a sit-down restaurant. -
Law & Order L.A. PremieresNew look, new actors, same tight dialogue and complicated plot lines. Will Law & Order survive in LaLaLand? -
Italian Restaurants in the Basking Ridge NJ AreaNorth central New Jersey is awash with Italian restaurants. These three are reasonably-priced favorites in the Basking Ridge area. -
Dancing with the Stars Lineup by Ethnic and Professional CategoryThe popular dance show features contestants of all ethnicities. With figures from both the entertainment and sports world plus oddball choices, they target a wide audience. -
The 8 Best Movies About HollywoodFrom silent pictures to the golden age of Hollywood to the free-wheeling independent films, Hollywood sometimes shines a mirror on its own culture. Sunset Boulevard, The Player, Mommie Dearest and others are memorable views of that fantasy world.
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Was This Restaurant Coupon Offer Worth It?Ever get one of those free restaurant coupon offers from your credit card company? Well, I did, and it was not what I expected!
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Three New Jersey Art MuseumsAlthough often overshadowed by the nearby grand museums in NYC, The Princeton Art Museum, the Zimmerli and Newark museums all boast superior special collections.
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Local Mexican Restaurants - New Providence and Meyersville, NJMexican food in New Jersey is served up by immigrants from south of the border. The food is not Tex-Mex from the American southwest which is what most folks think is Mexican fare.
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My Favorite Character Actor -- Stanley TucciWhether he's playing a gay fashion director, a loving husband or the neighborhood pervert, Stanley Tucci has gone far beyond his original typecasting as a gangster.
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Eat, Pray, Love: The MovieThe best-selling book about a woman's search for self-renewal and peace is translated into a so-so film with Julia Roberts smiling through Italy, India and ultimately finding love in Bali.
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Best American Movies About ImmigrantsMillions of immigrants have come to America whether by stealth or by offical entry. Each group had their own struggles and family conflicts. Here are six movies that mirror the immigrant experience.
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The Best Sports Movie -- Hoop Dreams (1994)This documentary is as relevant now as it was fifteen years ago. Two young black basketball players go from Chicago's slums to prep school and college: but will they make the NBA?
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Movies for Food LoversFake butter popcorn and watered down cola doesn't do it for movie-watchers who yearn for better fare. The following films will whet your appetite for fine dining.
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Local Bookstores in Mendham, Clinton and Bernardsville, New JerseyThree independent bookstores in north central New Jersey have bucked the trend with customer events,children's books and more.
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Jersey Diners in My Neck of the WoodsNew Jersey is famous for its diners. Here are three that cater to the well-heeled suburbs of Madison, New Providence and Bsaking Ridge.
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The Mel Gibson Meltdown -- What's Next for Mel?The leaked audiotapes of Mel Gibson's rants may not land him in jail, but they have destroyed his box office appeal. What's next for this one-time golden boy?
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Best Supporting Actor -- Greg KinnearAlthough he has never actually won the best supporting actor award, Greg Kinnear has handed in a number of Oscar-worthy performances.
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Who's at Fault -- Jake, Vienna or ABC?Jake and Vienna argued on TV -- but is ABC's miserliness the real reason their split became so public?
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Kathy Bates: Her Best MoviesAs a seasoned character actress, Kathy Bates has never turned in a bad performance. But her memorable roles in Misery,About Schmidt and Primary Colors are among her best.
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My Purple HaikuThis is an entry in the AC contest for a haiku featuring the color purple.
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Jake and Vienna Split -- About Time!The breakup, two tell-all articles in rival magazines, the audience taking sides -- did the producers rig this up?
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Pride and Prejudice: Three Versions of the ClassicAlthough considered a comedy of manners at the time, Pride and Prejudice seems to have morphed into a Regency Romance over the years. Here are three versions.
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A Working Roman HolidayEarthwatch Organization allows anyone to participate in cultural or ecological expeditions. This one was in a Roman library.
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My Favorite Character Actor -- Alfred MolinaMolina has played villains and comic characters, Cubans,Persians,Italians,South Americans in movies but he is also an accomplished stage actor.
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Theater Review: Take FlightWhat do the Wright brothers, Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart have in common? They're the lead characters in this David Shire musical.
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Eat, Pray, Love: Another Look at the BookA combination of self-fulfillment book and travel memoir, the book should offer lush backgrounds for Julia Roberts as Elizabeth George.
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Yahoo! Buys Associated Content! How Will This Affect AC Writers?The news that Yahoo! is buying out Associated Content is just the latest in a series of Internet buyouts and mergers. How will it affect the content providers?
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Will Law & Order Bite the Dust?It's been twenty years since that familiar ding, ding introduced one of the best crime dramas ever. Now there's talk it will not last through next season.
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Where Senior Citizens Can Volunteer in Central New JerseyMan a thrift shop at a campus, teach a knitting class at the Y, help out at a local cancer-support center. These are just three volunteer possibilities for seniors in the Basking Ridge, New Jersey area.
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Where Did You Go, Vincent D'Onofrio?Law & Order: Criminal Intent just isn't the same, now that Detectives Goren and Eames have left the premises.
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Ten Most Romantic Restaurants in North Central New JerseyHere are ten restaurants within a thirty mile radius of the Somerset Hills of New Jersey where you can wine and dine with your loved one.
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Ten Best American Travel Writers - from Twain to TherouxTravelogues, memoirs, essays and guidebooks are all featured in this list of American travel writers and their works. Mark Twain, John Muir, Arthur Frommer are just some.
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Theater Review: Lend Me a Tenor on Broadway Theater ReviewIt's 1934 Cleveland and the local opera company has their financial future staked on the one-night performance by world-famous tenor Tito Merelli in their production. Will things to right? See this farce to find out!
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Movie Review: The Ghost WriterA political thriller about an ex-British prime minister, his involvement in the Iraq war and the ghost writer who is sent to shape his memoirs. Strong performances,film noir atmosphere and a twist ending make this worth seeing.
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Budget EntertainmentsWhile people have become more careful with their discretionary spending, there is still an urge to get out and find entertainment beyond the home. Here are some tips for frugal day or night out, whether for singles, couples or families.
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The Slacker as Hero in American MoviesBlockbuster movies may have two-fisted heroes, but romantic comedies are full of nice-guy couch potatoes and their slacker friends.
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Best Movie Weddings that Never Took PlaceHollywood loves a wedding scene. But even more Hollywood loves an interrupted wedding scene. Here are some of the best.
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St. Patrick's Day Parades in New Jersey for 2010Although many marching bands and sightseers from New Jersey go to the St. Patrick's Day parade in New York City, things can get not only rowdy but pretty crowded over there. Stay this side of the Hudson.
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Oscar Winners: The Right Actor for the Wrong RoleSome great roles were never rewarded for random reasons. There was too much competition one year, the actor's politics were out of favor, or the movie just never caught much traction.
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Host an Academy Award PartyYou don't have to go in for fancy foods and gala trappings for your own Awards party. Just a few ballots, some popcorn, dips and drinks should do create a movie-lovers atmosphere.
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DVD Review: Grey GardensThis HBO movie was one of the best films of 2009 in any category. Based on a 1975 documentary it depicts the lives of two eccentrics with outstanding performances by Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange.
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Movie Review: Valentine's DayThis fluffy confection from the Garry Marshall candy factory is one of those old-fashioned anthology movies with a host of stories and characters loosely connected to each other.
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The Best Online Crossword PuzzlesOnline crosswords have the advantage of immediacy. You can start doing them, put them on "save" and come back later. Or, if you like the feel of paper and pencil you can download and print most online crosswords.
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Tour New Jersey WineriesWith more than thirty wineries in the Garden State and more opening all the time, wine tastings and tours are becoming popular.
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American Baptists in HaitiThere's lots of bad history with American missionaires and Third World countries. But should we abandon some misguided souls because they made a mistake?
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The Best Sports Movies for People Who Don't Watch SportsFrom bicycle racing in Breaking Away to the dreams of ghetto kids in Chicago to surly boxers and gallant horses, the spectrum of sports movies covers emotional highs and social lows that everyone can find compelling.
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Memorable Wedding Scenes in MoviesThere are a number of dramatic films that use a strong wedding scene to set up the story line or the characters. Or the wedding may come at the culmination of the film to tie up the threads of the plot.
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Rachel Getting Married ....Audience Getting BoredCinema verite effect plus dysfunctional family plot plus post-racial background never really jell together in this Jonathan Demme drama that stars Anne Hathaway.
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Mansions, Wineries and Sailing at Newport, Rhode IslandVisit the beach town that was once the watering place for the society's millionaires. Now restored as an architectural treasure it has many other options for visitors as well.
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It's Huge, It's Big, It's Colossal!Synonyms for the word "huge" have joined the English language from the realms of fiction, history and even pop culture. Here are their stories.
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Top Travel GuidesI have picked the top five guide series as best for overall usage. If you have specific interests or affiliations it's a good idea to look for local or well-targeted guides.
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Are Scented Candles the New Fruitcake Gift?When it comes to gifts that get passed around, fruitcake once was king. Now it looks like scented candles will take that honor.
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How I Found La Bella CubanaIt took more than 40 years to discover the name of a beautiful melody I had heard in the movie Our Man In Havana.
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Hugh Grant's Best MoviesFour Weddings and Funeral was just the beginning of a string of romantic comedies for this charming Brit. Some were more serious than others. Here is my pick of the best.
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How to Rent a Scooter at Walt Disney WorldElectric convenience vehicles, popularly known as mobility scooters, are a great way for those who have walking problems to enjoy Walt Disney World.
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When it Comes to Movies, We'll Always Have Paris!Remember Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant on the bateaux mouche on the river Seine? That's only one of the many moments that show Paris at its most romantic to the American audience.
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Julie & Julia & Book PublishingYou'll get copious scenes of kneading, chopping, stirring, eating in this movie--but also a look at the difference in book publishing from forty years ago to today.
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Divorce Don'ts: Don't Put the Kids in the MiddleWhen you ask your children to lie for you, you are asking them to take sides and divide they loyalties.
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Write Your Own Real Estate Ad: Part TwoTips on writing a succinct ad using common abbreviations and shortcuts.
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Write Your Own Real Estate AdLearn the right way to write a real estate ad when selling the house by yourself. First gather all the selling points and write them down. What are the values your house offers to a potential buyer?
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Professor Gates, the Policeman, Obama and Amos and AndrewA 1993 movie, Amos and Andrew, is based on the same premise as the current brouhaha over Professor Gates entering his house. Both take place in Massachusetts also.
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Free Things to Do in New JerseyDespite the rise in prices and the loss of some freebies, there's still plenty of no-cost entertainment in the Garden State.
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Outlet Shopping in New JerseyHere are three of the most popular shopping outlets to be found in the Garden State. Whether you are looking for shoes, bags, fashion design or housewares you can find them here.
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Breakfast with Princesses at Disney WorldStart out the day with a eggs, bacon and costumed ladies inside Cinderella's castle in the Magic Kingdom. Costly, yes, but it gets you inside the gates early and the kids love it.
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Want to Become an Examiner?Examiner.com is the latest in a long line of online content providers that presume to cover practically everything.
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Movie Review: Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds in the ProposalNasty, mean female boss insists ambitious male assistant marry her in order to keep her U.S. resident status. They go off to a family party in Alaska where an impromptu wedding ensues.
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Imagine That!! MuseumLooking for a place for interactive fun and children's birthday parties? A discovery museum is just the place.
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Where to Eat at Grounds for SculptureThis New Jersey sculpture parks offers a museum cafe and a fancy restaurant for your enjoyment.
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Movie Review: The SoloistRobert Downey,Jr. and Jamie Foxx shine in this involving movie about an L.A. Times reporter and a mentally-ill homeless musician.
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Budget Dining: Wine by the Glass, Carafe or Bottle?When dining out, look over all the possibilities for the best price when you order wine. It may be cheaper to buy a carafe or bottle than by the glass.
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Wedding Gift Ideas for a Third MarriageHere are some tips on what to give as a wedding gift. A lot depends on the relationship. Is it your boss, your neighbor or your mom who is getting married?
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The Nine Best Movies About BrooklynFrom A Tree Grows in Brooklyn to the disco beat of Saturday Night Fever to the steamy neighborhood of Do the Right Thing, Brooklyn looms large in many a film
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There's More Than Baseball at Cooperstown, New YorkThis picturesque town set in the foothills of the Catskills offers a pleasant reflection of small town America. Besides, there's baseball, old-time hotels and a first-rate farm museum.
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The Equity Funding ScandalLong before Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme and AIG's manipulations of fact, there was the Equity Funding scandal in the early 1970's.
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Self-Publishing Versus Self-Publishing CompaniesMany authors are swept into the notion that they are self-publishing when they pay an outside company to do it for them. Others think they have a traditional publisher when they have really signed on to subsidy firm.
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The Libraries of Somerset Hills, New JerseyBernards Township, Bernardsville and Far Hills are offer superior library services to the patrons of these well-positioned communities.
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Watching the Pengiuns at the Central Park ZooA great little zoo when you're in the midtown area.
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Ten Tips for Day TrippersThis is an updated version of the Ten tips for Daytrippers that appeared in my book New Jersey Day Trips.
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What is a Real Estate Open House?Realtors may show your house to other agents, to prospestive clients or you can take on that task yourself.
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The Stephen Colbert NASA DisputeTalk show host and satirist Stephen Colbert covets the naming rights to NASA's new Node #3. With 230,000 votes he should win. But his votes were write-in while among the official entry names, Serenity won.
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The Liberty Science CenterSet in Liberty State Park which overlooks the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, this museum combines whiz-bang science, a small aquarium, great traveling exhibits and the largest IMAX theater in the U.S.
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Brooklyn on My Mind: A Review of the Object of My AffectionA romantic comedy with dramatic overtones in which a pregnant woman and her gay roommate find a kind of peace, if not happiness, with each other and the outside world. Filled with scenes of serene Brooklyn and frenetic Manhattan life.
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Uncivil EngineeringWhy do engineers make products for the household that seem to defy common sense?
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Uncivil EngineeringWhy do engineers devise household appliances that go against common sense?
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Grounds for SculptureVisit this 35-acre park that combines modern sculpture and beautiful landscaping. There's also a gourmet restaurant placed in a Monet styled setting.
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The Ladies Luncheon Rules for TippingHow to split the bill and figure the tip for a group of ladies who lunch.
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Consignment Shopping and Rummage SalesWhen the economy goes down, the number of people who patronize consignment shops and rummage sales go up. Hrfe's what to expect.
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The Crossings Outlet in the PoconosWith a hefty sprinkling of brand-name stores, the Crossings Premium Outlets makes for a popular day trip from New Jersey, New York and eastern Pennsylvania.
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How to Climb the Upscale Food Chains: Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, McCormick & Schmick and P.F. Chang'sHere is a review of three upscale eateries: Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, McCormick & Schmick and P.F. Chang's.
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Supermarket Scams and How to Avoid ThemLearn how to notice the most outrageous scams that supermarkets use on sale items.