The History of Pinball Machines

Today, pinball may seem like it is a popular game to play around the country, but pinball did not start out that way. From the early 1940s well into the 1970s, pinball was actually banned. Big cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles banned the game because it was a game of chance, and they were trying to get a hold on gambling during that time. The mayor of New York at the time, Fiorello LaGuardia, believed that pinball machines were a way for the mafia to nickel and dime the lunch money that was given to school children.

The Extent of the Ban

The pinball ban began in New York, and the other major cities followed suit shortly after. One week after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the police in New York City began performing prohibition style raids where the pinball machines that were found in public locations were seized. The owners of these establishments were also arrested for going against the pinball ban.

Within a matter of days, thousands of pinball machines were confiscated, and to make matters worse, the mayor and the police enforcing the ban were seen smashing these beautiful machines with sledgehammers. Instead of simply confiscating the machines, they decided to make a public display of the destruction of the machines. Once they were smashed to pieces, the parts that remained were dumped into the river.

How Pinball Survived

The ban did not kill pinball; in fact, the only thing that it did was make the pinball machines move to seedier locations where they would not be seized. Many of the machines found new homes in places like Greenwich Village and Harlem. Raids still happened well into the 1970s, but all of the pinball locations were not discovered, which helped keep the game alive.

Many of the public locations that still housed pinball machines removed the pay-to-play feature, which made it impossible for the authorities to consider it gambling. Instead, the games advertised free balls, which made it different than free games and helped differentiate the pinball machines from games of chance (slot machines).

In addition, pinball was only illegal in public locations, so many of the machines that were in danger were moved to private residences where they could not be confiscated.

Legalizing Pinball

During 1976, the city council in New York City agreed to re-examine the status of pinball machines, and the ruling was overturned. This was not an easy task because the way that it was overturned is that it was proved that pinball is a game of skill, not a game of chance. The Music and Amusement Association (MAA) searched the city for a talented pinball wizard who could demonstrate his pinball skills in front of the city council. 26-year-old Roger Sharpe, who was one of the most talented pinball players in the country at the time, took on the role and made history.

The MAA brought two different pinball machines to the hearing so that in the event that something happened to the first one, there was another one that they could use for their demonstration. Mr. Sharpe had played on the first model before, so he knew the ins and outs of the machine, but a councilman insisted that he played on the backup machine to prove that the machine wasn’t rigged.

As he pulled the plunger to release the ball, he stated that he was going to get the ball into the middle lane during this shot, which is exactly what happened, proving that it takes skill to play a pinball machine. The ban was immediately overturned based on that one shot, which made history around the world. If Mr. Sharpe had missed that shot, pinball may still be banned to this day.

Still Illegal

Even though the ban was overturned in New York, that did not mean that pinball would be legal in all of the states. Yes, they mostly removed the ban over time, but cities like Nashville, Tennessee did not allow children under 18 to play or even stand near a pinball machine until 2004. In addition, playing pinball in Ocean City, New Jersey is still illegal on Sundays.

Pinball Today

Even though companies like Bally continued to manufacture new pinball machines during the ban, they did not last. Today, there is only one company that creates new pinball machines, and that is Stern Pinball, which is located in Chicago, Illinois. However, many of the pinball machines that survived the prohibition style raids can still be played today.

What Happened to Roger Sharpe?

He continued to play pinball with amazing skill for years after the ban was lifted, but today he has been overtaken by two other Sharpe boys. His son Zach is rated the number one pinball player in the world, and his other son Josh does not fall far behind at number 15.

Jessica Kane is a writer for The Pinball Company, the best online source for new, used, and refurbished pinball machines, arcade cabinets, and more!

Four Things That Serious Musicians Do to Be Successful

Many musicians never leave the basement. Making music may just be a hobby, and that’s okay! That is, unless you really want to turn your hobby into a successful career.

Talent is important, but it isn’t the only thing that will lead you to the successful music career of your dreams. There are quite a few other things you need to do if you want to get serious about turning your hobby into a reality.

Purchase the Right Equipment

It all starts with the right equipment. If you play an instrument, it means purchasing one that is professional quality. If you’re a DJ, it might mean shelling out a little cash to find the best VST plugins.

Professional equipment can be expensive, so don’t feel discouraged if you have to start small. Purchase one piece of equipment, then when you can afford it, upgrade another piece of equipment.

Don’t be afraid to purchase second hand either! You can find a lot of really great equipment at great prices if you’re willing to buy used.

Practice Every Single Day

Practice makes perfect. No matter how talented you think you are, the very best musicians in the world take time to practice every single day. If you want to make music as a professional, you should expect to spend just as much time honing your craft as you would at a regular job, if not more.

Daily practice creates muscle memory, which means you’ll be able to play a practiced tune without really thinking about it. It’ll make you sound better too, which is important if you want to make money doing what you love.

Find a Mentor, or Be a Mentor

With the internet, it’s easier than ever to learn any skill you can imagine, which includes music. However, if you really want to take your musical abilities to the next level, you need to find a mentor.

A good teacher can push you in ways that you would never push yourself, catapulting you to a higher level much faster than you would be able to do on your own.

If you’re a veteran, you can still learn and grow by becoming a mentor! Not only can you help an up-and-coming musician, but you may be able to learn something from them too.

Live a Healthy, Well Rounded Life

Making good music is about living a good life. That means:

  • Getting plenty of exercise
  • Eating healthy
  • Maintaining relationships with friends and family
  • Having non-musical hobbies

By living a well-rounded life, you can boost your creativity, improve your self-confidence, and sharpen your memory. It also enables you to derive inspiration from other areas of your life that can be applied to your music.

Successful musicians are always learning and growing. They realize there is never an end to their journey. That means seeking out ways to be a better musician and a better human being.

By doing the four things on this list, you can follow in their footsteps.

Nordic & Scandinavian Flooring Styles

One of the biggest décor trends over the last 18 months has been Nordic & Scandinavian style. That sort of minimalist look has been all the rage in the world of interior design, so we’ve decided to take a look at what Nordic and Scandinavian style really is, starting with the floor..

If you have any experience with Nordic & Scandinavian decor then you will probably be aware of the light and bright interiors that are often associated with this part of the world, and the flooring is no different. Think pale blondes and clean looking wood, with white washed boards and stunning oil finishes.

The great thing about trying to achieve this look is that it can be done by giving you a variety of choice, even when it boils down to the type of wood that you use; be it a solid or engineered flooring, it’s completely up to you!

Of course you’re not just limited to one colour when it comes to Scandinavian and Nordic style floors, as mentioned previously the palette in this style is typically light, but this doesn’t mean you have to opt for white wood floors as we know this won’t be suitable for every home; especially if there are kids involved! Although white is a fantastic colour if you’re looking to really give your room the authentic feel, not only this but it’s a great blank canvas to use for the rest of your room and allows you to introduce various colour combinations through your decor. On top of this, greys have also started being introduced to this decor and they can make for a beautiful serene interior, given half the chance.

So where does the desire to have brighter flooring stem from? Well, when you think of countries like Sweden, Denmark and Norway, they tend to have really long winters. Due to this there was little daylight in the longer months and as people had smaller homes they could appear small and dingy over these months, which is why white washed floors were introduced to make the houses seem brighter and airier but remain cosy too.

When it comes to introducing this type of decor into your home there are a number of things that you can do to accompany your stunning new floor. First off, don’t worry about matching all your decor, many Nordic homes tend to mix vintage and traditional elements so you don’t have to feel restricted when it comes to furnishing the room.

The Scandinavians also love incorporating ‘pops’ of colour in their decor, you may see this tactic used at a certain Scandinavian retailer. Try adding a singular large item that is brightly coloured, something like an armchair or piece of furniture. This can inject a bit of fun into the room and make the piece appear as though it is ‘popping’ from the pale floor. It is important to remember that Scandinavian decor stems from simplicity so try not to over complicate things when it comes to your furnishings and avoid any unnecessary clutter.

That being said, if bright and bold isn’t the route you’d like to go down then you can always stick to neutral tones but build some warmth in the room by layering complementary earthy tones. This can contribute to the depth in the room as well as making the space more homely and comfortable.

With so many ways to make Scandinavian decor your own it probably comes as no surprise  that this style has been so adapted over the years. Nowadays it is one of the most popular type of interiors to grace homes across the world and we just love it too!

Film Review of ‘The House’ – What is it All About?

Between blogging and DIY, I can get pretty busy sometimes. I am all about lifestyle and growth, but sometimes I just need to turn my brain off and watch a movie or TV series. I love going to the movies mostly because of the popcorn, but also because I am forced to turn off my phone and be engaged in what’s in front of me. I recently went to the movies to see “The House” and wanted to review it here on my lifestyle blog.

The film is based on the family who is financially poor. The family can’t even afford to pay for their daughter’s tuition fees. To sort out the issue of money, they decide to open a casino. However, in the casino, they get stuck in an unfortunate situation of a bet is a comedy.

‘The House’ stars ‘Will Ferrel’ and ‘Amy Poehler’. The people are stuck in bad financial depression and hence to sort out the economic problem, this suburban couple decides to open a casino. Casino, they start up are all illegal. Their daughter who wants to attend the college runs out of tuition fees to be paid. Finally, the couple opens up a casino.

The whole film has a set of a casino in the basement which is sparsely furnished. The entire plan of setting up the casino, from ideation to finally play, happens to come into existence overnight. In the time what all things needed for the casino were managed and also clients eager to bet and participated were available readily.

The movie is presented and pictured in a comedy manner. The part of joke becomes, Casino turns out to be a place where everyone gives into their inner libertine. The scene with the casino is, there happens greed, there is cocaine, and there are lust and long-simmering resentments which get erupted into screaming matches. All this chaos leads to extreme-fighting which results in betting action. Actors even happen to come in the ring being violent.

Thus the movie is, in a nutshell, about casino setup which puts into picture comedy, action and lust even.

Financial problem could be a genuine concern for many. Not everyone could manage a casino set up as shown in the movie, but everyone could handle to play it online without doing any illegal work, unlike shown in the movie. There is higher probability to win the Powerball jackpot with Multilotto.com

I have been motivated myself to play a little online after watching this movie. I hope you are all able to take a break from your busy lifestyle and relax at the movies (or casino haha!). If going to the movies is one of your favourite hobbies as well, I encourage you to go see “The House”. It was super funny and definitely a positive experience away from all my DIY’ing.

Make 3000 a Month Online

Make 3000 a Month Online

With access to internet a human necessity and the growing prevalence of consumer relying on the internet for seeking information to make important decisions and purchases, , making money has become easier than ever before! Even if you’re already working, you can run your own blog or an eCommerce website on the side and use it for your own gain however you like.

But what does blogging have to do with making money? What will writing and publishing blogs online do to earn you money? Well, for starters, millions of people are performing billions of searches each day online just seeking information. Whether it is to make a decision about the new car or just to shave off an hour reading or watching an entertaining piece, people are searching for information. Hence, writing is an excellent way to put your passion for writing to good use and earn money off of it! Everyone’s doing it, you should give it a try as well.

Making money online

Blogging is an excellent way to make 3000 a month online. Even if you’re a beginner, you’ll be guaranteed to earning a great deal and if you work hard enough and know all the ins and outs to follow then you can be like Ewdison Then or Gina Trapani, two of the top earning bloggers. However, just like every kind of work, even blogging requires you to follow some guidelines to ensure you reap all the benefits.  Here are a few tips to make money by blogging for beginners:

· Focus on the topic as well as content

While this may not come as a surprise to you but you should make sure exactly what you’re going to be writing about. Remember, the more passionate you are about what you write, the more people will want to read your work. Apart from the topic, one more key feature that leads to a good income via blogs is to add content that would be beneficial for the reader. For example, try out tips and tricks or share your experiences, these often attract more people to reading what you have to say. Remember, the more traffic you have, the more you’re likely to earn.

Also remember to be consistent in your postings. Don’t put off your readers for days or even months at a time, they need to be aware that you are up, active and prioritize them.

· Advertising and Marketing

If no one knows about your blog, then there’s a high chance you won’t get traffic directed towards it. That’s why it’s crucial to advertise your blog either through advertising tools (like PPC marketing) or via organically through social media and regularly creating valuable content for your audience.

· Know your audience

While your content should reflect you, you also have to know what your readers will need. Remember, blogging is a two way street! That’s why it’s important to interact with your readers and keep your content regarding their interests.

· Be connected

You blog should be unique but you should also be connected with other bloggers so that you can get new ideas and be open to different writing styles as well. Not only that, it also keeps you connected and disperses the feeling of loneliness of being a writer.

There are several other ways you can use blogging to make 3000 a month online but be sure you focus on the aforementioned points first. Remember, blogging is a fun and interactive way to make use of your passions and earn a few bucks along the way. Who knows, before you know it, you might even end up earning in thousands like Kristina Bazan, owner of the personal style blog, Kayture.