Chandeliers have been famous for being viewed and revered as gleaming emblems and symbols of wealth, affluence and social status. These multi-faceted crystal fixtures were design shorthand for class.

These ornate lighting fixtures were reserved to install only in the homes of the affluent, and were common fixtures in the ballrooms, dining rooms, and hallways of wealthy landlords, kings and queens, and aristocrats. However, as times have changed, and designs evolving, the look and feel of these lighting pieces has also truly been revolutionized.

In the 1960s, the world of interior design took a turn toward less formal but more subtle forms of illumination. Recessed lights, track lighting and other minimalist innovations became the standard trend. These lighting fixtures were often seen as fine pieces for castles, historic estates, grand mansions or the lobby of a classy five-star hotel, but viewed as too impractical, large and quite fussy for modern homes.

chandeliers Are Making A Unique, Modern Comeback

These elegant and gracious lighting fixtures have been making a comeback of late; and although they still retain their fabulous looks, they are now more fun to look at. chandeliers are enjoying a renaissance of their own. These multi-tiered ornate lighting moguls have always been seen as regular fixtures in the fine' furniture sales and country house contents auctions, and sometimes have specialist dealers to deal with.

Now, partly in a revolt against mean-spirited minimalist lighting creators and partly because cut, blown or molded glass and soft lighting are blending into a wonderful mixture that has enthralled many for over three centuries, the private markets are setting their sights for these glittering works of art again. And, in keeping touch with the old traditions of excellence, more young lighting designers are turning out unique, modern but still extraordinarily beautiful 21st-century lighting fixtures.

Today's modern chandelier creations are being produced in a wide array of shapes and sizes, and using a much wider array of materials. Metal chandeliers made of wrought iron are very popular and are seen to have a wider piece of the market. Glass chandeliers are also available, and has a much wider price range. From small delicate lighting pieces that can add an element of style to even a small room, to elaborately designed intricate crystal ones, glass chandeliers offer a range of variety.

According to home lighting analysts, there are no defining boundaries or dead ends for the designing of modern chandeliers. At present, A popular European design company has come out with sleeker and more revolutionary designs as diverse as milk bottle chandeliers that have just one light bulb, to elaborate pieces that have 85 light bulbs.

Sleek designs are now being viewed as the hallmark of modern chandeliers. The sleekness of the design ensures that there are less number of surfaces to clean, and to ensure that this would fit very well with the modern fast paced lifestyle. Less maintenance hassles make modern chandeliers a sensible purchase option for today's diverse line of home and office lighting buyers.



Vanessa Arellano Doctor
http://goldenageusa.com

Social networking giant Facebook may be losing its shine following a drop in users over the new year period.

Figures from Nielsen Online in the United Kingdom show a 5 per cent drop in the number of Facebook users between December and January, with a similar fall for social networking websites MySpace and Bebo.

It is the first time in 17 months that Facebook has recorded a drop, and figures in Australia show a similar pattern. Hitwise Australia's social networking and forums subcategory shows Facebook's market share dropped from 18.36 per cent in December to 17.95 per cent in January.

MySpace experienced a similar fall with its share going from 23.14 per cent to 22.58 per cent in the same period. "Facebook was never going to be able to carry on growing the way it has, and a lot of people - especially those who've been using it heavily - are now starting to get Facebook fatigue," Nielsen Online analyst Alex Burmaster told The Times Online.

"I think when something explodes like that a lot of people check it out because they feel they should, but while getting alerts about what your friends are up to is exciting for a time, that's inevitably going to die down."

The growing number of "invite a friend" spam messages could also be turning people away from Facebook.


Vanessa Arellano Doctor
http://wirefan.com

Two bills before Congress would give bankruptcy court judges the authority to reduce mortgage debt, which could save thousands of borrowers from foreclosure. But lenders are furious at the prospect of having judges seize control of their mortgage portfolios. Community and consumer advocates argue that such a move makes sense amid the current mortgage crisis.

Both the Emergency Home Ownership and Mortgage Equity Protection Act of 2007 and the Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 aim to provide relief for some home owners in bankruptcy. Only borrowers who live in their homes and hold subprime or non-traditional mortgages, like interest-only loans, would be eligible.

"This will help 600,000 households avoid foreclosure this year and next," said Ellen Hornick an attorney for the Center for Responsible Lending. The policy, which in industry parlance is called a cram-down, would reduce mortgage balances and monthly payments based on how much a home's value had decreased.

It is one of many efforts by government and consumer groups to encourage lenders and mortgage servicers to restructure loans to more affordable terms for home owners in danger of default.

"While there are some loans being [voluntarily] modified," Hornick said, "foreclosures are still outstripping modifications by seven to one; subprime ARM foreclosures by 13 to one."

However opponents argue the cram-downs would increase mortgage borrowing costs for everyone. "It would affect a lot of prospective home owners," said Wayne Brough, chief economist for FreedomWorks, a conservative policy advocate, "anyone who applies for a mortgage


Vanessa Arellano Doctor
http://realestatepress.org