Unlike some dinner shows, this one is for families and it has been hailed as “the world’s most unique interactive dinner show.”

Guests are entertained with an astonishing display of special effects wizardry, aerial artistry, swashbuckling swordplay, dynamic duels and daring-do; a classic story of good vs. evil that offers the perfect blend of action, adventure, comedy and romance; the opportunity to interact in the adventure; and a sumptuous dining experience. The show is perfect for children and adults alike.

Each night one hundred guests are invited to take part in the show and don colorful pirate-era costumes. The show is celebrating its 10th anniversary in the past ten years it has hosted all kinds of groups including, corporate outings, off-site convention parties and even school field trips.

Pirates dinner adventure show is conveniently located one block from Orlando’s famous International Drive, minutes to the Orange County Convention Center, and 15 minutes to Orlando International Airport.

The attraction features an astonishing display of special effects wizardry combined with amazing aerial artistry, swashbuckling swordplay and dynamic duels. The show is staged on a full-sized authentic replica of an 18thCentury Spanish galleon afloat in a 300,000-gallon lagoon. Daredevil pirates dangle from 50 and 70-foot tall masts, delighting the 825 voyagers in tiered seating – each with the best seat in the house due to the theater-in-round design.

At Pirate’s Dinner Adventure, everyone time-travels to the 1800’s when pirates ruled the high seas and a man’s wealth was determined by the swiftness of his sword. Visiting the King’s Festival in the old seaport village, voyagers feast on a mouthwatering assortment of hors d’oeuvres served in honor of the King’s daughter, Princess Anita. Colorful entertainment abounds as Raddo – the Gypsy King – plus an exotic assortment of characters from snake dancer to fortunetellers, vie for our guests’ attention.

However, the fun is interrupted suddenly. The merriment subsides when something goes terribly wrong: a band of wayward pirates descend upon the village to pillage and plunder, prompting a fierce swordfight which ends with Captain Sebastian Black kidnapping not only the beautiful Princess Anita, but every single one of the King’s guests as well.

As the drama unfolds, the “kidnapped” voyagers dine on their “final” meal, one that is fit for a pirate or king. The meal begins with an appetizer selection and a fresh salad, followed by a main course of marinated chicken served with a choice of finely roasted, seasoned pork or shrimp with lobster served in a butter garlic sauce, the Captain’s favorite West Indies yellow rice teeming with Caribbean seasonings. Steamed fresh vegetables round out the meal, with a warm apple cobbler a la mode dished up as a perfect “just dessert.” Caribbean coffees, chilled beer, soft drinks, and vegetarian meals are available, and the little tikes in the bunch may dine on the Captain’s “Kid’s” meal — if the Captain approves.

After dinner and a climatic pirate battle, guests are invited to meet the stars of the show and “get up close and personal” with the cast for photos and autographs. And, the fun doesn’t stop there! Pirate’s Dinner Adventure includes a complimentary Buccaneer Bash Dance Party after the last show of the evening. The disco party zone features a DJ, sound and special effects system, and dancing to a wide variety of music, from classic tunes to current hits.

The attraction caters to groups through a variety of amenities and services, including priority seating; secure parking and tour bus loading zone; corporate buy-out programs that offer flexibility and customization; theater-in-the-round seating; tour operator incentives; and team-building events, along with a dedicated group sales team. Special group rates and packages are available by calling 1-800-866-2469, or by visiting at www.piratesdinneradventure.com.

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Mark Whichard writes frequently about Orlando Tourism. He is the proprietor of Orlando’s Finest Vacation homes (http://www.orlandosfinest.com) and you can read more of his articles at his website or find out about vacation rentals homes in Orlando.

But his pirate adventuring doesn’t have to come to an end, with the pirate themed furniture that transforms his bedroom to the perfect pirate’s lair.

He can drift off to sleep in a Pirate Sleeping Bag, made of 100% cotton that’s easy to wash and quick to dry. Keep several for sleepovers (they can roll up and be stashed in the closet when not in use) or keep in the living room for quick naps. But what if he doesn’t feel like sleeping? (“Pirates never sleep!”) Settle him down with the Pirate Rocking Chair, where he can watch a video or read a book, the rocking motions calming him down until he’s ready to nod off to bed.

There’s the Pirate Retro Rocker, where he can sail the seven seas (while still being kept within Mommy’s eye distance). It’s painted in rich colors of black and red, with the rockers artfully hidden under a wave design. It even has its own ship’s steering wheel. The only thing missing is a mysterious treasure map and his own imagination.

There’s the pirate ship loft, a lavishly decorated play area with a slide and stairs (walking off the plank has never been this fun!). Painted in a unisex shade of blue and red, it’s even got a genuine skull and crossbone logo at its helm. Great for imaginative play, and will make him the envy of every kid on the block.

And every little pirate will love Kidkraft’s Pirate Adventure Train Set. It encourages imagination and social play, and is completely compatible with other major train sets. Each set comes with a pirate ship (of course!), a network of bridges, boats and cannons, and gaily painted pirate figures A detailed island play mat completes the tableau—you can almost smell and feel the sand, and the call of hidden treasure!

Kidkraft also has a Pirate Ship Activity Set, with a collectible large wooden pirate ship, three pirate action figures, cannons, treasure chests. What makes this set adorable is the attention to detail, from gang planks that they can retract, cloth sails, and convenient features like hidden storage in the hull. All pieces are child safe and made with the finest materials.

These delightful pirate furniture are the perfect way to decorate the room of your favorite pirate. He’ll make many happy memories—playing with friends, exploring with his imagination—and in the end, memories are the best treasure of all.

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Misti is the owner of Wishrooms.com which offers Kid Furniture for Bedrooms and Playrooms at affordable prices.

Pirate History in the Bahamas

One of the most interesting things about the Bahamas is its history with pirates. Black Beard, Calico Jack and Captain Henry Morgan himself were known visitors to the Bahamian islands. 1680 to 1730 was the golden age for Bahamian pirates. These islands made an ideal home base for pirates because of the numerous islands and islets. These were great places to hide their renegade ships and stolen treasure. The islands were also close to well-traveled trading routes, creating the perfect opportunity to plunder merchant ships.

The battles fought between pirates, merchants and other authorities often caused may casualties, especially ships. These ships often sank off the coast of the Bahamas, laden with gold, silver, and other antiquities. Spanish galleons were easy prey for pirates. These ships carried stolen riches from the native peoples of South and Central America. Pirates would hide this treasure in the numerous limestone caves dotting the Bahamas or bury it somewhere on the miles of beaches.

Rumors of treasure still hidden in the Bahamas exist today. Pirate William Catt is supposed to have buried loot on his namesake, Cat Island. Sir Henry Morgan, who preferred the island of Andros, is said to have buried treasure throughout the many islands. Where rumors may be false, the Bahamas certainly offers a mystique that encourages its visitors to indulge in opportunities for adventure and seclusion. American Express Vacations is beginning to offer special tours for travelers interested in highlighting famous pirate sites all over the islands of the Bahamas.

Modern Day Fun, Rest and Relaxation

The Bahamas of today is still full of adventure and excitement. The islands of the Bahamas are some of the most popular locations for travelers in the world. A big draw to most Caribbean tourists, the Bahamas cater to travelers on a moderate to high-end budget. American Express Travel offers a number of moderate and high-end accommodations that give the best value for your money. There are no accommodations such as hostels because the focus of the island is a luxury experience. But travel to the Bahamas is on most world traveler’s to see list.

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Virginia Morgan writes tourism and travel articles for AMT American Express Travel, The Internet’s premier resource for American Express Vacations. Serving customers online since 1996.

Many may think that they are too old to play dress up or cannot find the right costume in the right size, but that is where the world has not changed, only now you can find the costume you are looking for online. Buying online, you will find the convenience of knowing what costume will fit without ever having to step into a dressing room. Just imagine dressing up as the scandalous Jack Sparrow, or as a female version in a women’s pirate captain costume. Halloween Costumes are meant to be fun, so why not a Sexy Pirate Costume.

Piracy has been around since men first sailed the seas, and is still around today. The pirates we think of range from swashbuckling heroes to actual historical ones like Barbarossa, Blackbeard, Redbeard, Anne Bonny, Mary Read, and William Kidd. There were both male and female pirates and they would all pillage and plunder to their hearts desire. The word pirate inspires by its meaning alone, “attempt, experience”, basically “to find luck on the sea”.

Piracy in the Caribbean has sparked not only the minds of young children but fictional writers, and movies as well. The infamous Jolly Roger flag and Edward England’s flag have been under the spotlight of history and Hollywood as well. Piracy reigned in the Caribbean from 1560 to the 1760s and still today, yet this was when Piracy was at an all time high. It sparked interest because of conflicts between England, Spain, the Dutch, and France. Most of the pirates of that time were of English or Dutch Origin.

Halloween, and the costumes surrounding it, gives not only children but also adults as well to be something else even if only for a few hours. It’s striking that many believe that America was the first to don Halloween costumes but masquerades and masks have been around for centuries. Halloween is also celebrated in other countries as well, including Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, and Wales.

Dressing up in a sexy Halloween costume gives you a chance to attract the opposite sex in a hot and appealing way to say trick or treat, whether you decide to hide yourself behind a mask or not. It is a time-honored tradition to celebrate a festive holiday. Halloween does not have to be scary, horrifying, or only about haunted houses. It is simply a way to dress up in theatrical costumes and have fun. Why not go as that sexy pirate and steal the heart of the one you love.

Autumn is the perfect time of the year to throw away your ordinary wardrobe and go to costume parties wearing the latest Halloween fashions. Therefore, why not have some fun while you are getting candy and other sweets wearing a risqué pirate costume.

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Susan writes about Sexy Pirate Costumes and offers advice on Halloween costumes.

Naming a baby is no easy task. However, the following tips will help you give your baby his or her very first gift.

1. Religion: For some parents, religion plays a major role in choosing a baby name. Roman Catholics traditionally choose saints’ names. Jews traditionally choose Old Testament names. Names of deceased relatives are often chosen. Protestants often choose both Old and New Testament names.

Interesting Fact! : The majority of the people in the Western hemisphere have names from the Bible. The New Testament is a more popular source of names than the Old Testament.

2. Number of Names. You have many options when it comes to the number of names you choose for your baby. It is very common for a baby to be given three names, however, this is not mandatory. You may choose a first and last name; a first and last name and only a middle initial; initials for both first and middle names; or several middle names. Keep in mind, though, that several middle names will cause space problems for your child any time he or she fills out a form.

3. Sounds. Names are easy or hard to say depending upon the combination of letters used. A name such as Harry Berry invites potential teasing. Try this to create a nice effect: choose a first name that has the same amount of syllables as the last name. Whoopi Goldberg is a good example.

Interesting Fact! : Whoopi Goldberg’s original name is Caryn Johnson.

4. Pronunciation. Nobody likes to have their name mis-pronounced. This is an important factor to keep in mind with unique names.

5. Popularity. Choosing a popular name increases the likelihood that there will be other children in your child’s school with the same name. This may make him or her not feel as unique. However, a child with a popular name may be perceived better by peers than a child with a unique name.

6. Stereotypes. Many names create a positive or negative image. A name is often a person’s first introduction to others. Therefore, you must make careful considerations when choosing a name to fit your new baby.

7. Initials. Initials of a person’s name often spell words. If you choose to take this route, be sure that it will be a word you son or daughter will be happy with.

8. Meanings. Almost every name has a meaning. However, most people don’t know the meaning of their names. This may help in deciding between some of your favorite baby name choices.

9. Family History. Family History often comes into play when naming a baby. If you have to use a family name that you aren’t happy with, consider using it as a middle name.

10. Celebrity Names. A common source of today’s baby names comes from the names of celebrities and from the names that celebrities choose for their children. Characters from TV and movies are another popular source.

11. Make sure that the name you choose is one that your child will be able to grow with. Keep in mind that it should be applicable for all ages. Many names come with stereotypes.

12. It is important for both parents to compromise when selecting a name for your baby. However, keep in mind that you can always use two names, using one as a middle name.

Good Luck! A new baby is one of the most rewarding experiences of a lifetime.

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GranMamma is the webmaster at http://www.babynamebox.com - Where you can explore over 6,000 baby names and their meanings. Read articles on parenting, family, home and gardening and be sure to say hi to GranMamma!

As a Numerologist, if I want to see what is in persons future there are (3) main calculations which I check: their Life Cycles, their Letters of Transit and their Personal Year. These values give me a number of clues about what’s in store for a person over the coming years.

His Life Cycle

Johnny Depp entered his second Life Cycle in 1992, and will not enter his third and final Life Cycle until 2019. This cycle begins after his first big movie success in ‘Edward Scissorhands’, and covers his rise to stardom. It brings him endless possibilities. This is a highly emotional time for him, and is a particularly good time for creativity in artistic endeavors. It is a cycle of frequent sudden or unusual endings for him in his work and relationships.

This is seen in his several romantic attachments in the early years of this cycle before he met his current girlfriend French singer-actress Vanessa Paradis. Also, his several run ins with the law fit into this pattern.

The challenge of this cycle is for him to overcome a reluctance to accept his great personal power, and to avoid becoming greedy. I would say that so far, Johnny Depp has successfully lived up to that challenge. With his next Life Cycle 13 years in the future, we’re in the midst of a long period of creative success for him.

His Transit Letters

Transit letters are calculated from a person’s full birth name and are the most detailed predictor of events unique to an individual. Johnny Depp, being born a 3rd, (’III’ on his birth certificate,) has the unique trait of always having an ‘I’ transit letter in affect throughout his life.

His transit letter of ‘I’ marks a time of dramatic ups and downs in his life, a time filled with creative opportunities. Remember this is in affect for him all the years of his life, except when a double ‘I’ is in affect (such as occurred for him in 1983 through 1991). In those years he would have great difficulties getting things started in his life. Fortunately, that period is long passed.

His other current Letters of transit are ‘OPP’. They begin on his 41st birthday in June 2004, and will end on his 45th birthday in June 2008. Their affects on his life are as follows:

His transit letter of `O’ marks a time of calm and serenity in his life. He will accept responsibilities in his home life and experience improved finances during this period. I believe this indicates that he has found a balance in his family life, and that his film work will continue to bring huge success. The ‘O’ transit letter will stay in force through the end of this decade, so his career looks bright indeed.

His transit letters of `PP’ mark a time of too much privacy and solitude in his life. He tends to live like a hermit. This period of intense privacy will end in June 2008 when the double ‘P’ changes to a ‘P’ and an ‘H’.

Following up, his transit letter of ‘P’ in June 2008 will mark a time when Depp still needs solitude, but not to the degree of the last few years. It also marks an excellent time for business and financial growth.

And his future transit letter of ‘H’ will mark a time of professional growth, financial success, and independence. He should be careful to pace himself and not overwork.

His Personal Year

2006 is a personal year (5) for Johnny Depp; a time in which new opportunities abound. He will feel change in the very air. New people or interest will come into his life. Depp’s adaptability to changes in his life is enhanced. He may also find opportunities for a second chance at plans and tasks that were put aside or missed out on before.

In summation, I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a Numerology reading where so many factors point to career and financial success in the next four or five years. Every transit letter points towards Johnny Depp having the Midas touch for his business projects. A fitting image for a Pirate, seeing everything he touches turn to Gold.

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Keith Abbott is the developer and owner of ‘Numerology 4 You’ where you can view Johnny Depp’s complete Numerology reading, along with those of over 600 other celebrities. Order your own Numerology chart today at http://www.numerology4you.com/

Make a list of friends and acquaintances you would like to invite to your pirate party and assign each one of them their own pirate name. Use online pirate lingo translators to create fun names like Butterfingers Alena and Ian Deadbones.

Include pirate wording on your invitations and print them on aged paper. If it’s a costume party, be sure to include that information also.

Ahoy thar Mateys!
Ye`re invited t’a pirate party
(date, time and location)
Take Note Ye Scalliwags…
Dress like a buccaneer if ye dare.
We have PRIZES fer best pirate costume.

Roll up the printed invitations and tie them with some burlap twine. Put each invitation in a bottle and attach a pirate label with the pirate name of the invited guest, along with an aka mention of their real name. (Mini champagne bottles work well for this.) Pour some sand or salt in the bottles along with a few small seashells and the invitation. Hand deliver the invitations to friends or use plastic bottles instead so that you can address and mail them.

If you have the creativity and means, decorate a room with old chests, barrels and tables made from weathered wood. Borrow or buy uniquely shaped bottles from second hand shops and flea markets. Clean them thoroughly and fill them with party beverages like cola and gingerale. Label them with fun pirate stickers, like “Non-Groggy Pirate’s Rum”. Mix up a disgusting variety of liquids like vinegar, cherry juice and hot sauce and label the bottle, “Drink if You Dare.”

Pirate-themed games and activities will make your party complete.
. Set up tables for playing cards and “Liar’s Dice”.
. Throw in a “Pirates of the Caribbean” trivia competition and then watch one of the movies.
. Have guests try and decipher the meanings of various pirate words.
. Send your guests on a pirate scavenger hunt that leads to a treasure chest of delicious treats.
. Instead of bobbing for apples, try searching for a candy eyeball in a gooey mess of jello and pasta.
. Challenge your guests to a sword fight dual on a low balance beam (use safety precautions).
. Hand out pirate coins to use for various challenges and bets throughout the night and give a prize to the person with the most coins at the end of the party.

When it’s time to send your guests home, a great favor to give is a game of “Liar’s Dice”. Print and roll up the instructions and place them in an opaque cup (They have great antique looking one’s at the dollar store). Include 5 dice, some chocolate coins, candy eyeballs, and whatever treats or trinkets you wish to include. Wrap the cups with clear cellophane, tie with burlap twine and finally, attach a pirate sticker or thank you tag.

So, what ye be waitin’ fer? Start plannin’ yer swashbucklin’ fun pirate party

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The author has hosted hundreds of events, showers, and parties over the last 25 years. If you are planning a pirate party visit http://www.diva-girl-parties-and-stuff.com for games and ideas.

Yes, despite all the nay-sayers the popularity of Podcasting is increasing at an astronomical rate. The question is no longer whether Podcasting is a fad, but on how large an audience this new media can sustain!

If you peek back in time, it was around 1994/1995 when the National Science Foundation opened its main backbone to the Internet, giving way to the flood of popularity that followed.

Similar to Podcasting now, people in the mid 90’s claimed the Internet was just a fad and would never amount to more than a fancy means of research. Of course, with advances in software and technology, we began seeing pictures, graphics and yes, even streaming video crop up and it was only a matter of time before it was adopted by tens of millions, and eventually hundreds of millions of people.

Podcasting Is Not The Internet!

No, you’re right. Podcasting is NOT the Internet… technology-wise. They’re like apples and oranges. However, they’re cut from the same mold and if you were to draw comparisons between their lifecycles, you will see that Podcasting has already surpassed the Internet in its meteoric rise in popularity.

The technology that makes Podcast deliverability possible was first developed back around 2000, but the first real Podcasters didn’t surface until the fall of 2004. Yes, 2004! The format was developed and pushed by two notable Podcasters, Adam Curry and David Wiener before it was quickly picked up by hundreds of others and the rest, as they say, is history.

Now, barely a year after Podcasting exploded onto the scene and was embraced by Podcasters, Bloggers, and Marketers alike, you can find over 10,000 Podcasts and over 100,000 episodes at popular online Podcast Directories like PodcastEmpire.com.

In Fact, the adoption of Podcasting has been overwhelming. The allure of the People’s Radio becomes quickly obvious when you listen to Podcasts such as ‘Dawn and Drew’ or ‘5 Minutes with Witchita’ - a real entertainer!

Listeners around the world are speaking out and clearly DO prefer the frank conversations, great information and raw emotions that are delivered via Podcast MP3’s!

There Be Pirates In Them There Waters!

Maybe it has something to do with a generation who is still longing to have their own pirate radio station, like Christian Slater in “Pump Up The Volume”… Perhaps it’s just that more people have something to say, desperate to climb above the masses and make their voices heard…

Either way the ‘Waters of the Podverse’ are filling up with self-proclaimed pirates, and why not? There is no policing of the Podcast airwaves, it costs very little to get started and anyone with something to say can find an audience!

The reason so many of these Podcasting rebels succeed is the same reason why so many traditional radio stations are beginning to fail. With no FCC regulators knocking at their doors, Podcasters don’t need to hold anything back. You can say anything you want, whenever you want, as loudly as you want. And listeners are flocking to the raw, honest format.

X Marks The Spot! Arg!

After a solid year (Podcasting was even named Word Of The Year in 2005!) and a drastic increase in popularity, advertisers are slowly beginning to come out of the woodworks, enabling some Podcasters to see a return on their efforts.

Unfortunately though, Podcasting is not yet a medium where you should expect to become rich overnight and this may be one area where terrestrial radio stations have an advantage over the Podcast Upstarts. With gold in the coffers already and more advertisers lining up each day, it doesn’t really matter what they do in the medium, traditional radio stations have all the money they need to keep their Podcasts in the game indefinitely!

Also, the entire concept of commercializing Podcasting has become a heated debate, splitting the Podverse in two ever since advertisers began trickling in last year. The same issues that we saw in the ’90’s around commercialization Online are starting to crop up. Podcasters and Podcast listeners alike are refusing to conform, and many are refusing advertisers outright.

We are slowly starting to see changes in this mentality though as more and more Podcast Creators are adding commercials and name drops to their shows to help keep costs down and keep their content online. And the pervasive fear, that listeners will go so far as to stop listening if they hear any advertisements, have so far, proved unfounded.

Walk The Plank, Ya Filthy Skallywag!

Where does Podcasting go from here? Can it survive? Well it was back in May of 2005 when Bill Gates commented in an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung:

“As good as Apple may be, I don’t believe the success of the iPod is sustainable in the long run. You can make parallels with computers: Apple was very strong in this field, with its Macintosh and graphic interface — like the iPod today — and then lost its position,”

The comment was realistic, but does it also offer some insight into Microsoft’s own plans?

Microsoft has a proven track history of moving into an existing and established arena and quickly slaying the dominant forces! So was Gates simply foreshadowing his own companies venture into this industry? With the success of Windows Captaining their ship, Microsoft could be the ultimate pirate, sailing the seas looking, not for simple treasures, but for entire colonies to conquer.

So far Microsoft has not made any moves although Yahoo!, one of Microsoft’s leading competitors in the Online Search world has jumped into the fray with their own solution for Podcasting and in typical fashion has released their own directory.

Meanwhile, Apple remains unphased and continues to roll out new incarnations of their wildly popular iPod players.

You Have The Power!!!

At the end of the day the emerging Podcast Industry will evolve as it does, without ever consulting any of us, but the continuing appeal of Podcasts and Podcasting is that, for possibly the first time ever, you and I have a very real opportunity to influence mainstream media, or at least, bypass traditional media and influence the masses; which really amounts to the same thing anyway.

Overall, you should expect to see sustained growth in Podcasting in 2006. So, if you have something to say, anything at all, pull out your eye-patch, slap a parrot on your shoulder and dive into the world of Online Pirate Radio while the Booty is still good!

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Brent Paine is a writer and partner at http://PodcastEmpire.com, Canada’s leading Podcast Directory. http://PodcastEmpire.com not only provides a comprehensive list of Podcasts, they also offer services designed to help Podcast Creators increase their listenership and capitalize on their efforts.

The Story

The Pirate Queen is a biography of Grace O’Malley, an Irish hero who lived during the late 16th and early 17th Centuries. This was a turbulent time in world history, as Queen Elizabeth I of England had grown increasingly uneasy in regards to the relative instability of Ireland’s government, and England began to assert its authority over Ireland. This was the beginning of a struggle that in some ways continues to this day, and the very reason that The Pirate Queen tickets are worth the effort to obtain.

Given that historical setting, it appears now that O’Malley was destined to ultimately cross paths with the queen as a result of her own life. O’Malley was born in 1530, and her family had a long tradition of making their living as prominent seafarers. Grace was always interested in the ways of the sea, but as was custom at the time, she was arranged in marriage, and this was to take place when Grace was 15.

Grace went through with the marriage and had three children. However, her husband was part of a warring faction, and he was ultimately killed in battle. As a result, local warriors turned towards Grace for guidance and leadership, even though Gaelic law prohibited women from holding such positions of power.

The faction that had killed her husband had taken over the castle he was defending, but Grace led a legion of soldiers and retook the castle, thereby renaming it “Hen’s Castle,” a name which is still in place today. Her extreme bravery and cunning led many to follow her into a life of mercenary battles.

Ultimately, Grace remarried, and her destiny-determined foe, Queen Elizabeth and England, together with several Irish barons, began to encroach on Ireland. Grace and her soldiers fought valiantly for freedom from the crown, but ultimately too many forces against her united and her territory was overrun by a baron with a specific vendetta against Grace.

Grace’s son was captured, and Grace decided to go over the local baron’s head and directly to Queen Elizabeth I herself. This meeting remains the stuff of legend, and the ultimate conclusion of this life of seafaring and battling is something to behold on stage.

If you want to see how this historical tale plays out, you need to secure The Pirate Queen tickets, as this story is one that needs to be told for several reasons.

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By Jay Nault, sponsored by http://www.stubhub.com/. StubHub sells The Pirate Queen tickets, general sports tickets, concert tickets, theater tickets and more to just about any event. Please link to this site when using this article.

Horse and Buggy – AOL

In one of the great bum rushes of all time, Time Warner and AOL merged in 2000. Although it was actually AOL that purchased Time Warner, those in the search engine game snickered at the prospects of the new supposed media giant. Time Warner executives apparently failed to realize AOL was going to have major problems as surfers switched from dial-up to broadband Internet access. Well, Time Warner knows it now and is looking to sell.

As is well known, AOL has an antiquated business model since it dominates a dial-up market that is circling the proverbial drain. As DSL and cable broadband services become widespread, members are bailing on AOL at a prolific pace of millions a year. Time Warner appears to be seeking some way to get out of the loss of revenues, but who would buy a company that missed out on the evolutionary process?

Market Share

Despite the dire outlook, AOL still has tons of members. In fact, between 20 and 21 million people still use the platform. In a very smart move, AOL has also opened itself up to non-members, a move which has resulted in former subscribers continuing to use AOL.com even though they are now on broadband. These numbers represent a significant chunk of the domestic Internet search engine market.

While Yahoo has decided to try to gouge sites with Site Match instead of entering the AOL fray, MSN and Google consider it another part of their ongoing war. There are a variety of reasons for this war, foremost being Google’s penchant for swiping…err, hiring executives from Microsoft. With AOL, MSN has a chance to punch back.

Google provides search results to AOL. The Google Adwords advertisements are all over AOL. Hmmm…anyone see why MSN might want AOL? If MSN were to purchase AOL, you can be assured Google would be shown the proverbial door as soon as possible.

Keep an eye on this situation because it the proverbial catch-22 situation. How much is MSN willing to pay for the short term benefits of controlling AOL while knowing it is a turkey in the long term? More so, how much can Google drive up the price MSN is willing to pay? Will Google panic and buy a chunk of AOL to stop MSN? Whatever the result, it will make for good reading.

Whether you like it or not, MSN is finally getting off the mat in the search engine games. It is launching a pay-per-click service for MSN.com, which means Overture or whatever Yahoo is calling it these days is going to lose some luster. If MSN takes the plunge on AOL, it will pick up search engine market share and become a bigger player. With software sales lagging, many think MSN is looking to the Internet as a way to generate revenues.

Let the fun begin.

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Halstatt Pires is with the Internet marketing firm - http://www.marketingtitan.com - a San Diego Internet marketing and advertising company.