It seems almost like a Christmas ritual: there's a Next Big Thing in the video game world almost every holiday season. Last year featured a particularly interesting competition between the new gaming hardware put on the market by Nintendo and their prime competitor, Sony with its PlayStation series.
The Sony PS3 is the high-end, bells-and-whistles choice between the two. It includes high-definition graphics, a hard disk, and a Blu-ray Disc drive that delivers great image quality. The top tier 60GB hard drive version also includes a hefty $600 retail price. Nintendo's Wii (pronounced "we") costs $250 and builds in Wi-Fi (but not ethernet). Like the PS3, it has an SD Card slot and can display photos, but its standard-def DVD drive can't yet play movies (Nintendo and Sonic Solutions are working on that).
What Nintendo does have that keeps it in the game is a unique gaming remote device (the Wiimote) and an enormous library of games. The PS3 enters the market with significantly more horsepower and better graphics, but their game options are, at this point, fairly limited. Wii came on the market with 62 games available; the PS3 opened with an inventory of 20 games.
PC World's review provides a clean portrayal of the difference between the two systems. The graphics on the PS3 are state of the art 1080p high-definition and present a new level of quality for gamers. The Wii's graphic capability is limited to standard definition, which is equivalent to the PS2, Sony's last (and highly successful) video game console. However the Wii has a remote gaming control that utilizes motion-sensing technology, so that the gamers' motions with the remote are mimicked in the game. If you're playing football, a pass requires a passing motion with the remote. A sword fight will require a little air-fencing as part of the game participation.
The intuitive nature of the Wii remote is its strength, along with the relatively inexpensive cost compared to the PS3. Wii also has an additional controller called the Nunchuk which is a joystick-type device that works in conjunction with the motion-sensing remote.
The graphics and multiple uses (the PS3 includes a Blu-ray HD DVD player) are what make the Sony product attractive. When they both came on the market, the fact that each relied on separate characteristics to define their value has made for an interesting market contest.
The PS3 is the high-horsepower (and high priced) option on the market. It can handle HD DVDs, play back your digital photographs, and connect to the internet with a built in browser. Its graphics are unparalleled, and it comes with a decent game inventory that will at least get you started. It too has a new controller, one that utilizes a tilt feature that is a token effort at motion sensitivity.
With the Wii, Nintendo decided to forego the digital video wars and focus on a simple box with unique controls that is designed for fun. The Wii can play GameCube games (Nintendo's last offering) and has been introduced with a new addition to the chart-busting Zelda game series. While the Wii hasn't done much to upgrade the visual quality of the gaming experience, it has added substantial new dimension to the gaming process itself. It too can be utilized for web access.
Nintendo's decision to target so-called "casual gamers" seems to have paid off in the short run. It's too early to pick the long term winner; both companies limited their Christmas product issue in order to ensure sellouts and high product demand. The PS3 definitely has a price-break issue that will offset some gamers' lust for the best graphics out there. On the other hand, it's a system with a great future. Wii's future is now, for the most part, and the product issues an intriguing invitation for a substantially new gaming experience, even if it occurs using last year's graphics.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Wii Fitness With The Wii Fit
The Nintendo Wii revolution continues with the pending launch of the new Wii Fitness products as announced at this year's E3 2007. This brand new product from Nintendo, called Wii Fit, will take the form of a balance board controller accessory and a bundled exercise game.
The Wii Fitness products take off from where Wii Sports started by introducing active-play games that are not only great fun to play, but also great exercise as well. In fact the Wii balance board brings exercise and fitness for the entire body. The software and balance board is aimed at a large array of exercise based fun, including dancing, aerobics, balancing, and of course games.
The Wii Fit software uses the balance board to compile data in order to plan your fitness progress over a period of time. The software's fitness measurement system can collect data about an individual in order to keep track of their fitness goals. The fitness readings are presented in the way of a graph that measures your body mass index (BMI) and will adapt your Mii character accordingly. The Mii character is a animated character that represents an individual player's physique, so it's important to enter your stats correctly for accurate progress analysis.
Once your personal settings are calibrated, you can then start to have fun playing the fitness mini games. One of the most fun Wii Fitness games looks like the football heading game, in which the players are required to move their heads in the right direction to head the oncoming balls. Other mini games include doing hula hoops by shaking your hips and a marble madness style game where your balance is key to winning. The more serious fitness style games include doing strenuous balancing exercises, press-ups, and yoga.
The release date has still not been announced and neither has the price, but the price is rumoured to be in the range of $49 to $69. What the new Nintendo Wii Fitness products will hopefully bring is a whole new line up of interactive games. Who knows yet, but I can already imagine the likes of skiing, snowboarding, skate boarding, and so on. Maybe these future games could be used in conjunction with the Wii remote for a complete interactive experience?
Whatever happens next, the Nintendo Wii and the new Wii Fitness range are taking the console to a new level that the likes of Microsoft and Sony will find tough to match, especially at Nintendo's affordable prices.
The Wii Fitness products take off from where Wii Sports started by introducing active-play games that are not only great fun to play, but also great exercise as well. In fact the Wii balance board brings exercise and fitness for the entire body. The software and balance board is aimed at a large array of exercise based fun, including dancing, aerobics, balancing, and of course games.
The Wii Fit software uses the balance board to compile data in order to plan your fitness progress over a period of time. The software's fitness measurement system can collect data about an individual in order to keep track of their fitness goals. The fitness readings are presented in the way of a graph that measures your body mass index (BMI) and will adapt your Mii character accordingly. The Mii character is a animated character that represents an individual player's physique, so it's important to enter your stats correctly for accurate progress analysis.
Once your personal settings are calibrated, you can then start to have fun playing the fitness mini games. One of the most fun Wii Fitness games looks like the football heading game, in which the players are required to move their heads in the right direction to head the oncoming balls. Other mini games include doing hula hoops by shaking your hips and a marble madness style game where your balance is key to winning. The more serious fitness style games include doing strenuous balancing exercises, press-ups, and yoga.
The release date has still not been announced and neither has the price, but the price is rumoured to be in the range of $49 to $69. What the new Nintendo Wii Fitness products will hopefully bring is a whole new line up of interactive games. Who knows yet, but I can already imagine the likes of skiing, snowboarding, skate boarding, and so on. Maybe these future games could be used in conjunction with the Wii remote for a complete interactive experience?
Whatever happens next, the Nintendo Wii and the new Wii Fitness range are taking the console to a new level that the likes of Microsoft and Sony will find tough to match, especially at Nintendo's affordable prices.
Wildlife Photography
Just close your eyes for a moment and try to visualize what the essence of wildlife photography might be. You are bound to see the mesmerizing images of a lion or a cheetah going for the kill. This is because this class of photography aims to captures and captivate you! If you have a passion for photography and if you love being nature, raw and unforgiving, then photographing wildlife is the ideal choice for you.
There are certain key factors that will play an important role in shaping each image while drawing you out for a ‘kill’. You just can’t pick your camera and walk right into a game hunting reserve to shoot a wild animal. You will have to learn ad unlearn. The results, when drawn out of your camera, will be well worth the wait despite the difficult but thrilling process involved in shooting the game.
There are some commandments that you need to follow in wildlife photography and they are:
1) Tracking: You need to study and develop skills that will help you to track a tiger in 100 sq miles of forest land. Tracking is important for the perfect photograph and you can do it by following the paw marks, and the feces.
2) Patience: patience is a big virtue and if you want a great picture, you will have to wait. Remember, you are in their territory!
3) Eye Contact: One of the important rules of photography in the wild is: never try to make eye contact with a wild animal that is bigger and more dangerous like lions, cheetahs, leopards and even wilder beasts.
4) Timing: Timing is synonymous to animal photography. If you are not there at the appropriate time then you will most certainly miss the opportunity. You can achieve perfection in timing by applying the watch and wait theory.
5) Proximity: Don’t get too close to predators as their behaviors can be erratic and dangerous. If you are using a digital SLR camera with a telephoto lens, then you can even take wildlife photographs from a distance.
6) Clothes: During photography, it is always advisable to wear clothes with earthen tones rather than camouflage.
7) Movement: Wild animals respond to movements and even the slightest movement can scare the nervous types like the Deers and Zebras. Sometimes, you will also have to ‘stalk’ your subject, as a predator stalks its prey.
Now that you know the various aspects of photographing wildlife, all you need is a good camera. Any camera that offers the following makes for a good buy:
It should provide a manual override of automatic functions. The camera should have an auto-focus as well as manual focus option.
The camera should allow you to set the required shutter speed and aperture.
It should also have an option for mechanical remote release.
Your camera should have a wide angle lens starting at 28mm and can go up to 70mm or 105mm. It should also have a telephoto zoom between 70mm and 100mm and capable of reaching 300mm.
Some of the other accessories required are a polarizing filter, warming filter (81A or B), UV filter, lens hood and the camera bag.
Once you have the camera and lenses in place, you should start from your backyard to get a taste of it before trying out serious wildlife photography. Don’t forget to enjoy your ‘shoot’!
There are certain key factors that will play an important role in shaping each image while drawing you out for a ‘kill’. You just can’t pick your camera and walk right into a game hunting reserve to shoot a wild animal. You will have to learn ad unlearn. The results, when drawn out of your camera, will be well worth the wait despite the difficult but thrilling process involved in shooting the game.
There are some commandments that you need to follow in wildlife photography and they are:
1) Tracking: You need to study and develop skills that will help you to track a tiger in 100 sq miles of forest land. Tracking is important for the perfect photograph and you can do it by following the paw marks, and the feces.
2) Patience: patience is a big virtue and if you want a great picture, you will have to wait. Remember, you are in their territory!
3) Eye Contact: One of the important rules of photography in the wild is: never try to make eye contact with a wild animal that is bigger and more dangerous like lions, cheetahs, leopards and even wilder beasts.
4) Timing: Timing is synonymous to animal photography. If you are not there at the appropriate time then you will most certainly miss the opportunity. You can achieve perfection in timing by applying the watch and wait theory.
5) Proximity: Don’t get too close to predators as their behaviors can be erratic and dangerous. If you are using a digital SLR camera with a telephoto lens, then you can even take wildlife photographs from a distance.
6) Clothes: During photography, it is always advisable to wear clothes with earthen tones rather than camouflage.
7) Movement: Wild animals respond to movements and even the slightest movement can scare the nervous types like the Deers and Zebras. Sometimes, you will also have to ‘stalk’ your subject, as a predator stalks its prey.
Now that you know the various aspects of photographing wildlife, all you need is a good camera. Any camera that offers the following makes for a good buy:
It should provide a manual override of automatic functions. The camera should have an auto-focus as well as manual focus option.
The camera should allow you to set the required shutter speed and aperture.
It should also have an option for mechanical remote release.
Your camera should have a wide angle lens starting at 28mm and can go up to 70mm or 105mm. It should also have a telephoto zoom between 70mm and 100mm and capable of reaching 300mm.
Some of the other accessories required are a polarizing filter, warming filter (81A or B), UV filter, lens hood and the camera bag.
Once you have the camera and lenses in place, you should start from your backyard to get a taste of it before trying out serious wildlife photography. Don’t forget to enjoy your ‘shoot’!
Will The Xbox Have Long Term Staying Power?
Unless you've been living under a rock, then you've known about the release of the Xbox 360, the mother of all video game systems...well at leats until the Playstation 3 comes out in addition to the new Nintendo box currently code-named "Revolution." Anyway, by the end of the year, the Xbox 360 will have about 25 or so titles to choose from. And by the end of 2006 there should most likely be at least 100 titles. If you've seen the games in action then you know just how powerful this new system is when compared to the original Xbox or any other game console currently available. The games are nothing short of breathtaking. If there were more systems available then impulse buying for this thing would probably be through the roof. And finally you have the backwards compatitbility of the 360 that allows you to play the majority of the original Xbox games.
Now having said all of this, one would think that the life expectancy of the original Xbox is short at best. But is this really the case? Let's look at a few more details.
At this point the scarcity of the 360 is driving the price at places like Amazon and Ebay through the roof. I've seen prices as high as $1500 for some packages. Even if you get one for the retail price, it's still 3 times higher then the original Xbox, which is now typically in the low hundreds range. But the biggest reason the Xbox will not go away quietly is the same reason the Playstation 2 is still going strong...the games. People who've been buying and trading games for years now are not going to see the need to upgrade their system right away. At least not for a while. But even if they do, all one has to do is look at the success of the GameBoy and Playstation 2 and the loyalty of their users. Game developers still make games for these consoles because they still sell like hotcakes. It really is all about the games. Its the main reason you see free Xbox giveaways, and also the reason Microsoft takes a loss with every system they sell...or so they say.
So while the Xbox 360 may be the big boy on the block right now, don't write off the original Xbox just yet. It'll be around for a while and the best may be yet to come!
Now having said all of this, one would think that the life expectancy of the original Xbox is short at best. But is this really the case? Let's look at a few more details.
At this point the scarcity of the 360 is driving the price at places like Amazon and Ebay through the roof. I've seen prices as high as $1500 for some packages. Even if you get one for the retail price, it's still 3 times higher then the original Xbox, which is now typically in the low hundreds range. But the biggest reason the Xbox will not go away quietly is the same reason the Playstation 2 is still going strong...the games. People who've been buying and trading games for years now are not going to see the need to upgrade their system right away. At least not for a while. But even if they do, all one has to do is look at the success of the GameBoy and Playstation 2 and the loyalty of their users. Game developers still make games for these consoles because they still sell like hotcakes. It really is all about the games. Its the main reason you see free Xbox giveaways, and also the reason Microsoft takes a loss with every system they sell...or so they say.
So while the Xbox 360 may be the big boy on the block right now, don't write off the original Xbox just yet. It'll be around for a while and the best may be yet to come!
World Satellite TV - Why Should You Consider World Satellite TV Software?
World Satellite TV software is the rising star of personal computing entertainment. As with most innovative new technologies, this software is going where computers haven't been before. You can now watch satellite TV from your PC or laptop. You may ask yourself what benefits can be had over traditional dish satellite systems. Let's review the top 5 benefits of world satellite TV software here.
Cost would obviously be the first benefit to world satellite TV software. The average monthly fee for dish satellite TV ranges from $50 to $100 per month. Don't forget to add potential equipment fees and installation charges. Cable TV subscriptions can cost as much as dish systems or even more if you add lots of premium channels.
World satellite TV for PC software, however, charges only the cost of downloading the software. There are no monthly bills to pay after the initial download. Good quality satellite TV software costs can range from $40 to $100, but since it is a one time only fee, the long range cost is considerably less than dish or cable.
The technology of world satellite TV allows you to view sports, movies, and TV shows from around the world and since the software runs from your personal computer, you may be inclined to branch out and watch programs you might not watch otherwise.
Downloaded to a laptop computer, world satellite TV software becomes a wonderfully portable way to access your favorite TV channels from home, work or while travelling. Some people even take their laptop camping and hunting. The only thing neccessary is a reliable remote connection to the internet and a good power source for your laptop computer.
The ability to view TV channels in different languages is a great innovation for people not living in their home country. With world satellite TV, there are multiple foreign language channel choices. Watching TV from your homeland can make foreign travel or foreign residency much easier to bear.
Both traditional dish satellite systems and cable TV have their own unique benefits. They can be watched on a large screen TV and are generally a reliable form of entertainment. But for cost effectiveness, ease of use, extensive channel variety and portability, world Satellite TV is worth consideration.
Cost would obviously be the first benefit to world satellite TV software. The average monthly fee for dish satellite TV ranges from $50 to $100 per month. Don't forget to add potential equipment fees and installation charges. Cable TV subscriptions can cost as much as dish systems or even more if you add lots of premium channels.
World satellite TV for PC software, however, charges only the cost of downloading the software. There are no monthly bills to pay after the initial download. Good quality satellite TV software costs can range from $40 to $100, but since it is a one time only fee, the long range cost is considerably less than dish or cable.
The technology of world satellite TV allows you to view sports, movies, and TV shows from around the world and since the software runs from your personal computer, you may be inclined to branch out and watch programs you might not watch otherwise.
Downloaded to a laptop computer, world satellite TV software becomes a wonderfully portable way to access your favorite TV channels from home, work or while travelling. Some people even take their laptop camping and hunting. The only thing neccessary is a reliable remote connection to the internet and a good power source for your laptop computer.
The ability to view TV channels in different languages is a great innovation for people not living in their home country. With world satellite TV, there are multiple foreign language channel choices. Watching TV from your homeland can make foreign travel or foreign residency much easier to bear.
Both traditional dish satellite systems and cable TV have their own unique benefits. They can be watched on a large screen TV and are generally a reliable form of entertainment. But for cost effectiveness, ease of use, extensive channel variety and portability, world Satellite TV is worth consideration.
Wow Gold Buying Safety Measures
Ok, you’re sick and tired of grinding and working 8 hours of day in World of Warcraft to make that 100 gold. It’s time to buy some WoW Gold and buy it now. But wait, who do you buy from? Who can you trust? You want the best price but you don’t want to get ripped off by some fly by night gold seller… believe me there are plenty of them. I’ll out line a good starting point for you so you know what to look for when buying.
Before you buy there are a few ground rules and precautions you should know. First, it may seem like common sense, but never give out your password or login information to any gold seller. They don’t need it! They only need to know what server you’re on and where to meet you.
You also should check into the seller’s reputation. One simple tactic is googling their name and quickly looking over what others have said about them. Also if they use paypal as a payment method be sure they are a paypal certified merchant that accepts credit card payments. Sellers must go through a long process with paypal verifying their credit card, identity, address, and bank account. If anything goes wrong paypal can track them easily. Also paypal has a list of reputation points for all their merchant sellers. You can easily see how many sales the wow gold seller has made via paypal. I would recommend not buying from a seller with less than 10 sales.
Another thing I always do before buying wow gold is talk to someone! I know you might hate the thought of picking up the phone and calling to some company when all you want to do is click a button to order. So, don’t call. Talk to live support. Every good wow gold seller will have 24/7 live chat support. If they don’t, they can’t deliver your gold when you want it… now! So make sure you talk to someone before ordering even if all you do is ask them if they’re awake. This way they’ll know you’re ordering and be waiting to fulfill your order as soon as it comes through.
So use some common sense when buying World of Warcraft gold online. It’s easy to think you’re still in a safe game when you really need to consider the person or company you buy from fairly carefully before buying.
Before you buy there are a few ground rules and precautions you should know. First, it may seem like common sense, but never give out your password or login information to any gold seller. They don’t need it! They only need to know what server you’re on and where to meet you.
You also should check into the seller’s reputation. One simple tactic is googling their name and quickly looking over what others have said about them. Also if they use paypal as a payment method be sure they are a paypal certified merchant that accepts credit card payments. Sellers must go through a long process with paypal verifying their credit card, identity, address, and bank account. If anything goes wrong paypal can track them easily. Also paypal has a list of reputation points for all their merchant sellers. You can easily see how many sales the wow gold seller has made via paypal. I would recommend not buying from a seller with less than 10 sales.
Another thing I always do before buying wow gold is talk to someone! I know you might hate the thought of picking up the phone and calling to some company when all you want to do is click a button to order. So, don’t call. Talk to live support. Every good wow gold seller will have 24/7 live chat support. If they don’t, they can’t deliver your gold when you want it… now! So make sure you talk to someone before ordering even if all you do is ask them if they’re awake. This way they’ll know you’re ordering and be waiting to fulfill your order as soon as it comes through.
So use some common sense when buying World of Warcraft gold online. It’s easy to think you’re still in a safe game when you really need to consider the person or company you buy from fairly carefully before buying.
Woodcraft Plans: Unlock Your Genius
Almost anyone who has had success in any field of life will tell you that one of the secrets to living effectively is to have a plan. By having a plan they are able to focus on their goal and the steps needed to achieve it, while eliminating any unnecessary demands on their time. By being able to concentrate on what’s important, they inevitably produce results superior to those achieved by someone who never really understood how to get from a concept to a completion.
Woodcrafters are no different from anyone else in their need to begin their projects with woodcraft plans. Woodcraft plans will enable the crafter to better visualize what he or she is attempting to create, and can be supplied by someone else or drawn up by the crafter. For those just taking up the art of woodworking, woodcraft plans with step-by-step instructions are readily available.
Types Of Woodcraft Plans
The woodcraft plans you choose will, of course, depend on the nature of your project. Woodcraft plans for building furniture may lean more towards the functional than ornamental aspects of woodcrafting, but will be invaluable nonetheless. Other woodcraft plans will appeal to the whimsy of the woodworker, with designs and instructions for creating garden statuary, birdhouses, and wooden architectural accents to attach to the home itself. Some woodcraft plans make marvelous children’s toys which will be enjoyed and handed down for generations.
The complexity of woodcraft plans ranges from pre-printed patterns to all-encompassing guides which provide the minutest bits of information, down to the specific types of wood to be used in each part of the project for maximum artistic impact. If you decide to purchase some pre-printed woodcraft plans, you’ll benefit for several reasons.
Benefits Of Working With Woodcraft Plans
The most important reason is that you’ll get off on, and stay on, the right foot when working on your woodcraft project. The patterns will act as a guide when you are sawing the shapes of your project; getting the proper shapes is, after all, the hard part. Once they are taken care of, you can proceed to assemble, sand, and paint or stain them with ease.
Using woodcraft plans will also spare you from those little miscalculations in measuring the pieces of your project. The plans have been produced with the nth degree of precision. For more info see http://www.allthingswoodworking.com/Woodcraft_Furniture on Woodcraft Furniture.
Finally, if you are new to the art of woodcrafting, browsing over the thousands of woodcraft plans at your disposal will inspire and encourage you. Just paying attention to their layout is sure to improve your grasp of the woodcrafting process. You’ll be thinking, “So that’s how they do that!” more times than you can imagine.
If you know there’s a woodcrafting masterpiece in you just itching to get out, let some woodcraft plans get you started on your way!
Woodcrafters are no different from anyone else in their need to begin their projects with woodcraft plans. Woodcraft plans will enable the crafter to better visualize what he or she is attempting to create, and can be supplied by someone else or drawn up by the crafter. For those just taking up the art of woodworking, woodcraft plans with step-by-step instructions are readily available.
Types Of Woodcraft Plans
The woodcraft plans you choose will, of course, depend on the nature of your project. Woodcraft plans for building furniture may lean more towards the functional than ornamental aspects of woodcrafting, but will be invaluable nonetheless. Other woodcraft plans will appeal to the whimsy of the woodworker, with designs and instructions for creating garden statuary, birdhouses, and wooden architectural accents to attach to the home itself. Some woodcraft plans make marvelous children’s toys which will be enjoyed and handed down for generations.
The complexity of woodcraft plans ranges from pre-printed patterns to all-encompassing guides which provide the minutest bits of information, down to the specific types of wood to be used in each part of the project for maximum artistic impact. If you decide to purchase some pre-printed woodcraft plans, you’ll benefit for several reasons.
Benefits Of Working With Woodcraft Plans
The most important reason is that you’ll get off on, and stay on, the right foot when working on your woodcraft project. The patterns will act as a guide when you are sawing the shapes of your project; getting the proper shapes is, after all, the hard part. Once they are taken care of, you can proceed to assemble, sand, and paint or stain them with ease.
Using woodcraft plans will also spare you from those little miscalculations in measuring the pieces of your project. The plans have been produced with the nth degree of precision. For more info see http://www.allthingswoodworking.com/Woodcraft_Furniture on Woodcraft Furniture.
Finally, if you are new to the art of woodcrafting, browsing over the thousands of woodcraft plans at your disposal will inspire and encourage you. Just paying attention to their layout is sure to improve your grasp of the woodcrafting process. You’ll be thinking, “So that’s how they do that!” more times than you can imagine.
If you know there’s a woodcrafting masterpiece in you just itching to get out, let some woodcraft plans get you started on your way!
Friday, December 18, 2009
Woodworking Jigs That Guide With Precision
The average do-it-yourself homeowner has only had to experience once cutting or drilling without a jig to know the value of a good woodworking jig. It makes for a frustrating experience when holes get drilled too deeply or picture frame moulding doesn’t square up during the final gluing and nailing stages. Then, of course, there have been the disastrous routing or dovetail cuts that just don’t measure up in the end. The solution to this and any woodworking problem is to have the right jig available.
Jigs do not need to be fancy or expensive. Often you can create your own jig for smaller jobs. However, if you are a steady hobbyist or use woodworking in your profession, it is well worth investing in a good assortment of jigs. The time savings alone is worth it, but you will also save countless dollars in ruined wood.
The Short List of Jigs Long on Performance
If you only have a few basic items to add to your workshop this year, consider the following short list of must-have jigs.
A dowel jig, for example, allows you to cut dowel holes to precision diameters and widths. This is ideal in furniture making where dowels can hold together drawer fronts to the frame or for inserting tight-fitting legs into tables and chairs.
Another furniture making jig you must have is the dovetail jig. Dovetail jigs give drawers the professional touch. If you have ever looked at a bureau that is at least 50 or more years old, you will see that the old way of doing things was to dovetail drawers. These fine pieces of furniture are around today for a reason! Dovetailing drawers makes them durable and keeps them functioning for decades, even centuries. Couple your dovetail jig with a dovetail job, and you can create furniture like the masters of long ago.
Router jigs can support wood as it passes through the saw creating the fine, even ornate detailing of truly professional woodworking projects. The bevelled edges of table tops and drawer faces are created accurately for each side of the wood using a router jig.
Kreg – The Leader in Jig Creations
The Kreg jig is a fine example of form meeting function.
The Kreg set usually come with face clamps to support these precision drill jigs. With the Kreg jig you can drill to specific depths and hole sizes for perfectly fitting matches.
One trick to use if you don’t have a jig on hand in the middle of a drilling job is functional, if not fancy. Try taping a thick band of masking tape around the drill bit at the desired depth. Then as you are drilling you will be able to see where to stop putting on the pressure. It works, even though it isn’t quite as precise! That kind of quick solution is fine if you are just doing the occasional woodworking job, but for less frustration (it can be hard to get the gooey tape off the drill bit) and more precision, professional grade jigs are the only way to go.
Jigs do not need to be fancy or expensive. Often you can create your own jig for smaller jobs. However, if you are a steady hobbyist or use woodworking in your profession, it is well worth investing in a good assortment of jigs. The time savings alone is worth it, but you will also save countless dollars in ruined wood.
The Short List of Jigs Long on Performance
If you only have a few basic items to add to your workshop this year, consider the following short list of must-have jigs.
A dowel jig, for example, allows you to cut dowel holes to precision diameters and widths. This is ideal in furniture making where dowels can hold together drawer fronts to the frame or for inserting tight-fitting legs into tables and chairs.
Another furniture making jig you must have is the dovetail jig. Dovetail jigs give drawers the professional touch. If you have ever looked at a bureau that is at least 50 or more years old, you will see that the old way of doing things was to dovetail drawers. These fine pieces of furniture are around today for a reason! Dovetailing drawers makes them durable and keeps them functioning for decades, even centuries. Couple your dovetail jig with a dovetail job, and you can create furniture like the masters of long ago.
Router jigs can support wood as it passes through the saw creating the fine, even ornate detailing of truly professional woodworking projects. The bevelled edges of table tops and drawer faces are created accurately for each side of the wood using a router jig.
Kreg – The Leader in Jig Creations
The Kreg jig is a fine example of form meeting function.
The Kreg set usually come with face clamps to support these precision drill jigs. With the Kreg jig you can drill to specific depths and hole sizes for perfectly fitting matches.
One trick to use if you don’t have a jig on hand in the middle of a drilling job is functional, if not fancy. Try taping a thick band of masking tape around the drill bit at the desired depth. Then as you are drilling you will be able to see where to stop putting on the pressure. It works, even though it isn’t quite as precise! That kind of quick solution is fine if you are just doing the occasional woodworking job, but for less frustration (it can be hard to get the gooey tape off the drill bit) and more precision, professional grade jigs are the only way to go.
Wrist Tattoos - What Do They Really Mean?
At present, a wrist tattoo is one of the hottest designs that you can select. From Hollywood A-listers to ordinary people in the street, thousands are choosing to place a tattoo on this part of their body.
But what do wrist tattoos mean?
As with all tattoos, designs placed on the wrist can mean many things to many people. In past centuries wrist tattoos were used to ward off illness and disease.
Over the years many seagoing people have also relied upon wrist tattoos, especially nautical star designs, to act as their guide and keep them safe until they arrive at their destination.
And in modern times many people use their wrist tattoo as a source of inspiration. When times are tough, one glimpse of their wrist design helps to carry them through their difficulties.
The most important thing is to find a wrist design that means something special to you and makes you feel better every time you see it.
But before you set your sights on a wrist tattoo there are a few important points to bear in mind.
First, it's important to consider the pain factor. Is a wrist tattoo painful? Traditional wisdom suggests that tattoos are more painful on areas where the skin is thinner and has less flesh to cushion the needle. So if your pain threshold is particularly low, it might be better to consider placing your tattoo on an area of your body that has more padding.
However, many people who have had a tattoo placed on their wrist have stated that the discomfort is no greater than areas where the skin is thicker. But regardless of the pain aspect, wrist tattoos can take longer to heal because the area is more exposed. And for the same reason, wrist tattoos may need to be refurbished years into the future in order to maintain the general sharpness of the design.
Second, it's vital that you're 100% committed to your choice of wrist tattoo. According to various reports, 25% of people who have tattoos placed on their wrists regret the decision shortly after the design is completed. In comparison all tattoos, wherever placed, cause fewer regrets that wrist tattoos, with only 17% of people unhappy with the outcome. So it's extremely important to be 100% certain before you place a tattoo on one of your wrists.
And finally, during the 1950's and 60's before tattoos had achieved mainstream acceptance, wrist tattoos, especially those depicting stars, were closely identified with the gay and lesbian communities. And although times have changed and the old associations have almost disappeared, it's worth being aware of the history of these tattoos before you proceed with your design.
If you bear these things in mind you'll be able to find a meaningful and popular design that you'll be happy with for many years to come.
But what do wrist tattoos mean?
As with all tattoos, designs placed on the wrist can mean many things to many people. In past centuries wrist tattoos were used to ward off illness and disease.
Over the years many seagoing people have also relied upon wrist tattoos, especially nautical star designs, to act as their guide and keep them safe until they arrive at their destination.
And in modern times many people use their wrist tattoo as a source of inspiration. When times are tough, one glimpse of their wrist design helps to carry them through their difficulties.
The most important thing is to find a wrist design that means something special to you and makes you feel better every time you see it.
But before you set your sights on a wrist tattoo there are a few important points to bear in mind.
First, it's important to consider the pain factor. Is a wrist tattoo painful? Traditional wisdom suggests that tattoos are more painful on areas where the skin is thinner and has less flesh to cushion the needle. So if your pain threshold is particularly low, it might be better to consider placing your tattoo on an area of your body that has more padding.
However, many people who have had a tattoo placed on their wrist have stated that the discomfort is no greater than areas where the skin is thicker. But regardless of the pain aspect, wrist tattoos can take longer to heal because the area is more exposed. And for the same reason, wrist tattoos may need to be refurbished years into the future in order to maintain the general sharpness of the design.
Second, it's vital that you're 100% committed to your choice of wrist tattoo. According to various reports, 25% of people who have tattoos placed on their wrists regret the decision shortly after the design is completed. In comparison all tattoos, wherever placed, cause fewer regrets that wrist tattoos, with only 17% of people unhappy with the outcome. So it's extremely important to be 100% certain before you place a tattoo on one of your wrists.
And finally, during the 1950's and 60's before tattoos had achieved mainstream acceptance, wrist tattoos, especially those depicting stars, were closely identified with the gay and lesbian communities. And although times have changed and the old associations have almost disappeared, it's worth being aware of the history of these tattoos before you proceed with your design.
If you bear these things in mind you'll be able to find a meaningful and popular design that you'll be happy with for many years to come.
Wrist vs. Forearm Picking - Which Is Better?
When playing the guitar, picking from the wrist vs. picking from the elbow or forearm is something that is very important to think about, especially as a beginner.
When I first started playing, I gravitated towards playing from the forearm when picking as opposed to the wrist. As a result, I found it difficult to play a lot of alternate picking exercises and it also made certain types of rhythm playing much harder then they needed to be. I continued this way for a number of years, and it wasn't until a couple years ago that I tried to break myself of this habit. It was actually Al DiMeola who suggested in his REH instructional video to focus on playing from the wrist. And while I was watching how flawless his technique was, it really hit home with me. While I still at times get the forearm involved, I think I pretty much play from the wrist for the most part now, but only after practicing exercises very slowly and speeding them up, all while concentrating on picking from the wrist. It helped to look in the mirror and make sure that I was.
The habits you form early on will be tough to change as you play more and more. I won’t say that you should do one or the other because ultimately its up to you. And there are certainly plenty of players out there who pick from the forearm. But I would still like to recommend now that you try to focus on picking from the wrist whenever possible. The reasons for this are as follows:
1) You have much more control with using only the wrist.
2) Picking from the wrist minimizes overall movement which makes it easier to play complex passages.
3) Most rhythm playing (especially on acoustic) can be done more easily and sounds less mechanical by using the wrist.
4) Its easier to play muted passages using the wrist.
Again, it’s a matter of personal preference, and there are some players who pick primarily from the elbow (Michael Angelo and Vinnie Moore) and do it very well. But the vast majority of players pick primarily from the wrist.
Experiment with both and see which feels more comfortable for you. But keep in mind once you get used to one, its tough to break the habit.
When I first started playing, I gravitated towards playing from the forearm when picking as opposed to the wrist. As a result, I found it difficult to play a lot of alternate picking exercises and it also made certain types of rhythm playing much harder then they needed to be. I continued this way for a number of years, and it wasn't until a couple years ago that I tried to break myself of this habit. It was actually Al DiMeola who suggested in his REH instructional video to focus on playing from the wrist. And while I was watching how flawless his technique was, it really hit home with me. While I still at times get the forearm involved, I think I pretty much play from the wrist for the most part now, but only after practicing exercises very slowly and speeding them up, all while concentrating on picking from the wrist. It helped to look in the mirror and make sure that I was.
The habits you form early on will be tough to change as you play more and more. I won’t say that you should do one or the other because ultimately its up to you. And there are certainly plenty of players out there who pick from the forearm. But I would still like to recommend now that you try to focus on picking from the wrist whenever possible. The reasons for this are as follows:
1) You have much more control with using only the wrist.
2) Picking from the wrist minimizes overall movement which makes it easier to play complex passages.
3) Most rhythm playing (especially on acoustic) can be done more easily and sounds less mechanical by using the wrist.
4) Its easier to play muted passages using the wrist.
Again, it’s a matter of personal preference, and there are some players who pick primarily from the elbow (Michael Angelo and Vinnie Moore) and do it very well. But the vast majority of players pick primarily from the wrist.
Experiment with both and see which feels more comfortable for you. But keep in mind once you get used to one, its tough to break the habit.
Wrought Iron Shelf Brackets Add Quality To Your Display
Adding shelves to a space is a wonderful way to stay organized while adding interest to the room. While you are working on this project you might as well invest in wrought iron shelf brackets to bring the look together. You might be surprised to discover how important these elements are to the overall design of the room.
You could opt for cheaper options but you will probably regret the decision in the long run. Wrought iron shelf brackets come in an array of attractive designs and styles and you are certain that these items are of the finest quality. The material alone is superior to many other options in this kind of product.
When my husband and I moved into a small home we realized that the bedroom television just wouldn’t fit in the space without adding some kind of shelving to house the relatively large appliance. My husband added the shelves but he didn’t use wrought iron shelf brackets. This was a pretty big mistake.
First of all I hated the look of the cheap brackets. They looked like they belonged in a cubicle in an office. I was really disappointed in the overall appearance of the new shelves and I was even more disappointed in the wobbly holders. Wrought iron shelf brackets would have been a better choice.
My husband was more than aware of this and he actually wound up replacing the cheap brackets with wrought iron shelf brackets in no time at all. This change came as a big relief to me because I was really nervous that the television was going to topple over. This was especially true whenever I dusted around the area.
I also was pretty happy to see the attractive wrought iron shelf brackets because they looked so much better than the cheap alternatives. We chose some decorative holders that worked very well with the décor in our bedroom. While we did wind up spending a little more it was well worth it.
Now I am thrilled to see the television perched high in the corner of the room. I have peace of mind knowing that the wrought iron shelf brackets will hold the sizeable television in place. I also have the pleasure of looking at the beautiful details as well.
When it comes to making sure that your shelving units are attractively in place, it is important to invest in quality brackets. Wrought iron shelf brackets are ideal additions to your space.
You could opt for cheaper options but you will probably regret the decision in the long run. Wrought iron shelf brackets come in an array of attractive designs and styles and you are certain that these items are of the finest quality. The material alone is superior to many other options in this kind of product.
When my husband and I moved into a small home we realized that the bedroom television just wouldn’t fit in the space without adding some kind of shelving to house the relatively large appliance. My husband added the shelves but he didn’t use wrought iron shelf brackets. This was a pretty big mistake.
First of all I hated the look of the cheap brackets. They looked like they belonged in a cubicle in an office. I was really disappointed in the overall appearance of the new shelves and I was even more disappointed in the wobbly holders. Wrought iron shelf brackets would have been a better choice.
My husband was more than aware of this and he actually wound up replacing the cheap brackets with wrought iron shelf brackets in no time at all. This change came as a big relief to me because I was really nervous that the television was going to topple over. This was especially true whenever I dusted around the area.
I also was pretty happy to see the attractive wrought iron shelf brackets because they looked so much better than the cheap alternatives. We chose some decorative holders that worked very well with the décor in our bedroom. While we did wind up spending a little more it was well worth it.
Now I am thrilled to see the television perched high in the corner of the room. I have peace of mind knowing that the wrought iron shelf brackets will hold the sizeable television in place. I also have the pleasure of looking at the beautiful details as well.
When it comes to making sure that your shelving units are attractively in place, it is important to invest in quality brackets. Wrought iron shelf brackets are ideal additions to your space.
Xbox 360 Kameo: Elements Of Power
Kameo Elements of Power by Microsoft Game Studios is a fantasy adventure themed action game. It showcases the Xbox 360’s graphic muscle. You control Kameo and her power to assume the form of various elemental warriors. Each warrior has their own unique power and abilities. The creature’s abilities are connected to the elements such as fire, earth and water.
When I first got the Xbox 360 this is one of the titles I bought with it. It was money well spent. This game takes a unique approach to the fantasy action platform type of games. You can control many different elemental warriors. You usually have to use two or three of them together in order to solve the puzzles or progress through the levels. A good thing about the different warriors is their different abilities are fun to use. Often characters are thrown in for a specific purpose of a game and not needed later. Each of the warriors are fun and useful during most parts of the game.
To give you an idea of some of the creatures you control I’ll list a few of my favorites. The first character you receive is Pummelweed. He is a vine-like plant creature whose tentacles have red flowers that he uses as boxing gloves. You will continue to go back to him because of his ability to do melee combat. He can also crouch into the ground and then pop up in a super powerful uppercut move. One of my other favorite characters if Major Ruin. This character is an armored creature that looks something like an armadillo. His power involves rolling forward at high speed. This is useful in jumping over gaps and can be useful in defeating enemies. Lastly I would like to mention this game has incredibly fun coop mode. You unlock the multiplayer missions as you play through the single player story mode. You can also play online making this a must have for any fantasy/platform video game fans.
When I first got the Xbox 360 this is one of the titles I bought with it. It was money well spent. This game takes a unique approach to the fantasy action platform type of games. You can control many different elemental warriors. You usually have to use two or three of them together in order to solve the puzzles or progress through the levels. A good thing about the different warriors is their different abilities are fun to use. Often characters are thrown in for a specific purpose of a game and not needed later. Each of the warriors are fun and useful during most parts of the game.
To give you an idea of some of the creatures you control I’ll list a few of my favorites. The first character you receive is Pummelweed. He is a vine-like plant creature whose tentacles have red flowers that he uses as boxing gloves. You will continue to go back to him because of his ability to do melee combat. He can also crouch into the ground and then pop up in a super powerful uppercut move. One of my other favorite characters if Major Ruin. This character is an armored creature that looks something like an armadillo. His power involves rolling forward at high speed. This is useful in jumping over gaps and can be useful in defeating enemies. Lastly I would like to mention this game has incredibly fun coop mode. You unlock the multiplayer missions as you play through the single player story mode. You can also play online making this a must have for any fantasy/platform video game fans.
Xbox 360 Dead Or Alive 4
The characters of Dead of Alive tournament are back in the latest installment in the Dead or Alive series, Dead or Alive 4. This title has just enough sparkle in it to keep the almost dead genre of fighting video games alive. While at the same it manages to fall short of mark.
Along with Kameo Element of Power, Dead or Alive 4 was one of the games I bought with the Xbox 360. When I put the game in for the first time I was awed by the smooth graphics that the game displayed and the incredible detail in the many different fighting arenas. New to the series were more interactive back grounds where you objects or animals would leap out and cause damage to your character. This keeps you on your toes when considering at any time you could be knocked down by something other than the opponent.
The game play is almost exactly the same and only a few new characters. At this stage in gaming technology and with the power that the Xbox has I feel you should reasonably be able to expect a multitude of different players to fight with. It seems like they skated by with the selection of different characters you could use. It’s in defense through each character has over 100 different moves. It is different but no really new. At the end of the day it is just a fighting game engine.
The real problem with Dead or Alive 4 is that is doesn’t offer anything new over the series. The graphics are better but at the end of the day there are not any new features over the last Dead or Alive games. It is the only good fighting game available on the Xbox 360. If you like the other Dead or Alive games you will enjoy this one.
Along with Kameo Element of Power, Dead or Alive 4 was one of the games I bought with the Xbox 360. When I put the game in for the first time I was awed by the smooth graphics that the game displayed and the incredible detail in the many different fighting arenas. New to the series were more interactive back grounds where you objects or animals would leap out and cause damage to your character. This keeps you on your toes when considering at any time you could be knocked down by something other than the opponent.
The game play is almost exactly the same and only a few new characters. At this stage in gaming technology and with the power that the Xbox has I feel you should reasonably be able to expect a multitude of different players to fight with. It seems like they skated by with the selection of different characters you could use. It’s in defense through each character has over 100 different moves. It is different but no really new. At the end of the day it is just a fighting game engine.
The real problem with Dead or Alive 4 is that is doesn’t offer anything new over the series. The graphics are better but at the end of the day there are not any new features over the last Dead or Alive games. It is the only good fighting game available on the Xbox 360. If you like the other Dead or Alive games you will enjoy this one.
Xbox 360's Mutant Storm Reloaded
A fun game available on the Xbox Live Arcade is Mutant Storm Reloaded. It is even one my girlfriend will play with me. The game is fairly simple, mutants spawn in a room and you shoot them. The game uses only the two sticks which I prefer over button mashing. The game progress through 89 different boards with several different difficulty levels called belts. This gives the game a lot of playing time. However, the boards aren’t all that different from one another. It was cool how the colors and shapes of the guys varied a little bit from board to board.
My girlfriend enjoyed it because we could play cooperatively and did not get into fights. We played for 8 hours straight the first night we got it. She also thought the graphics looked really interesting and fun. She played a lot of the one player boards by herself when I wasn’t home. And, what's nice about all the arcade games is that you don't have to reload a disc everytime you want to play a new game. I'm a lazy gamer, and just selecting from stuff I've downloaded is nice.
It wasn’t the easiest game to get achievements on but it was just fun. I’ve only managed about 50 achievement points after hours of game play. However, most of the achievements are unlocked in single player and we mainly played cooperatively. If you remember the game Smash TV, it is an updated version of that game. After you play it enough to start getting good it becomes pretty addictive but never ceases to be challenging.
I would recommend this game to just about any gamer. It is easy enough for novice players to get into it without becoming frustrated. It is also challenging enough for your advanced gamer. Even your most advanced gamer will not beat this game in its first night. One of the best features on this game is the cooperative play. Nothing feels better than killing mutants with your best friend.
My girlfriend enjoyed it because we could play cooperatively and did not get into fights. We played for 8 hours straight the first night we got it. She also thought the graphics looked really interesting and fun. She played a lot of the one player boards by herself when I wasn’t home. And, what's nice about all the arcade games is that you don't have to reload a disc everytime you want to play a new game. I'm a lazy gamer, and just selecting from stuff I've downloaded is nice.
It wasn’t the easiest game to get achievements on but it was just fun. I’ve only managed about 50 achievement points after hours of game play. However, most of the achievements are unlocked in single player and we mainly played cooperatively. If you remember the game Smash TV, it is an updated version of that game. After you play it enough to start getting good it becomes pretty addictive but never ceases to be challenging.
I would recommend this game to just about any gamer. It is easy enough for novice players to get into it without becoming frustrated. It is also challenging enough for your advanced gamer. Even your most advanced gamer will not beat this game in its first night. One of the best features on this game is the cooperative play. Nothing feels better than killing mutants with your best friend.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Xm Satellite Radio Replacing Free Radio?
Remember the days when we thought paying for our TV service was ridiculous? “Cable TV!”, our mothers would exclaim, “Who has money to pay for their TV shows? It’s been free all these years; I don’t know why I would start paying for it now.”
But that was then and this is now. Today we pay for cable or satellite and consider it a necessity in our lives, not a luxury. Sure, we could stick with “free” TV, but the reception would be bad, we’d only have 4-6 channels to choose from and there would be no CNN, no Food Network, and no ESPN. What would we do with ourselves?
So it seems a little reminder of those days when we hear people scoffing at the notion of paying for radio. “I’ve gotten it free all these years,” you hear people exclaim. “Why would I pay for radio?”
Although satellite radio services have been around for a few years, its notoriety was spun into high gear when Howard Stern publicly made the jump from “free” radio to a satellite service in early 2006. Now, everyone’s curious and many people are considering paying a bill every month for the privilege of listening to the radio.
Just like cable TV, there are many proprietary shows on satellite radio you just won’t hear if you don’t have a subscription. So you have to pony up to the extra bill bar…but what do you get for your extra dough?
Lots. Talk shows, music shows, entertainment, sports.
Some of the most talked about XM Satellite Radio shows are not music shows but talk shows. There are literally more than a dozen to choose from.
Consider Air America Radio (on channel 167), which features chatter from such well-known mouths as those belonging to Al Franken, Jerry Springer and actress Janeane Garofalo. Largely a progressive station, this dial also features veteran radio host Mark Riley and commentator Alan Colmes.
For the right slant on things, take a listen to America Right (on channel 166). This program features shows from such luminary conservatives as G. Gordon Liddy, Peter Greenburg, Dr. Laura and Michael Medved.
If politics aren’t your bag, how about entertainment or humor? On XM Radio channel 162, you’ll find the E! channel. Yes, this is the same E! we pay for on cable and the format is generally the same. There’s the E! True Hollywood Story, E! news and celebrity profiles. Now you can get all your E! gossip and news while drinking Starbucks on your way to work. My, how the world has changed.
If you’re into sports, XM Radio delivers. There’s the Sporting News channel, the Nascar channel, the ESPN channel, and a wide variety of channels dedicated to various sports like baseball, football and even hockey. Though many channels feature talk and sports opinion, one of the big selling points for many sports fans is the live streaming games. In this case, you truly can take it with you.
But that was then and this is now. Today we pay for cable or satellite and consider it a necessity in our lives, not a luxury. Sure, we could stick with “free” TV, but the reception would be bad, we’d only have 4-6 channels to choose from and there would be no CNN, no Food Network, and no ESPN. What would we do with ourselves?
So it seems a little reminder of those days when we hear people scoffing at the notion of paying for radio. “I’ve gotten it free all these years,” you hear people exclaim. “Why would I pay for radio?”
Although satellite radio services have been around for a few years, its notoriety was spun into high gear when Howard Stern publicly made the jump from “free” radio to a satellite service in early 2006. Now, everyone’s curious and many people are considering paying a bill every month for the privilege of listening to the radio.
Just like cable TV, there are many proprietary shows on satellite radio you just won’t hear if you don’t have a subscription. So you have to pony up to the extra bill bar…but what do you get for your extra dough?
Lots. Talk shows, music shows, entertainment, sports.
Some of the most talked about XM Satellite Radio shows are not music shows but talk shows. There are literally more than a dozen to choose from.
Consider Air America Radio (on channel 167), which features chatter from such well-known mouths as those belonging to Al Franken, Jerry Springer and actress Janeane Garofalo. Largely a progressive station, this dial also features veteran radio host Mark Riley and commentator Alan Colmes.
For the right slant on things, take a listen to America Right (on channel 166). This program features shows from such luminary conservatives as G. Gordon Liddy, Peter Greenburg, Dr. Laura and Michael Medved.
If politics aren’t your bag, how about entertainment or humor? On XM Radio channel 162, you’ll find the E! channel. Yes, this is the same E! we pay for on cable and the format is generally the same. There’s the E! True Hollywood Story, E! news and celebrity profiles. Now you can get all your E! gossip and news while drinking Starbucks on your way to work. My, how the world has changed.
If you’re into sports, XM Radio delivers. There’s the Sporting News channel, the Nascar channel, the ESPN channel, and a wide variety of channels dedicated to various sports like baseball, football and even hockey. Though many channels feature talk and sports opinion, one of the big selling points for many sports fans is the live streaming games. In this case, you truly can take it with you.
You Don't Know How Write To A Song ... You're Not A Musician!
This is something I briefly touched on in a previous newsletter - ...over and over I get asked "will I write better songs if I'm a musician"?
What's the answer?
Yes AND no.
Confused?
Let me explain. For the sake of simplicity, here I'll talk about the 'music' aspect of songwriting.
First up, I'll tell you that I'm a musician, songwriter and a vocal coach. And I have worked with both songwriters who play instruments and songwriters who don't. Which group are a better bunch to work with?
It goes like this. Those who play an instrument (to a certain degree) are more prone to understand timing, tempo and perhaps some syncopation. Sometimes, musicians will also understand the creation of melody a little more than non-musicians. They'll understand the structure of harmony and some music theory that goes along with it.
Because of the various 'pieces' or 'songs' they have played with their instruments, these musical and rhythmic elements are more or less naturally embedded in their brain - in practice and in theory.
Of course, this is GOOD thing. It's an advantage. Now yes - there are non-musicians who are gifted with these elements also, but I'm just talking in general terms here. For the most of it, more musicians will have these elements than non-musicians.
Now here's the twist. It's because of this very same reason that many musicians find it hard to write great songs. How? Well, because there are musicians that are pre-programmed into believing that perhaps a melody should flow a certain way, or maybe a chord sequence shouldn't fall in that pattern, etc, BECAUSE they get caught up in the theory that indirectly tells them "this isn't right".
You see, songwriters who don't know anything about music theory or playing an instrument will write freely. Meaning they won't think about whether something is 'musically right' or not. Of course, you can't write a song of pure non-musicality and expect to get a welcoming reception. You'd be mad to.
But it's nice when you don't think too much about something 'sitting right' musically in the song. Why care? It's a song. If the second verse has 10 bars and the first verse has 8 - so what? No big deal.
On the flip side, there are non-musical songwriters who just need that little push to learn some very basic chords on a piano or guitar....just to give them that edge and sometimes to even super-charge their creativity. So....
....here's my conclusion. If you play an instrument and you wish to be a songwriter, then don't think too much about what's musically correct. Let the chords and melody take you away. Don't think about it too much. Yes, stick within the rules of music, but don't get caught up in it.
If you are a non-musician and you write songs, then a great idea would be to learn some very basic chords on the keyboard. This isn't completely mandatory, but it will definitely give your songwriting a boast. Just the basic chords will do. You'll be amazed the kind of music you can make with learning the basic stuff.
And why did I say the keyboard and not the guitar? Well, I believe the keyboard to be fundamentally easier to learn than the guitar, as you can blatantly see the notes for the intervals you are playing face-front.
But please, don't let me deter you from learning the guitar if that's in you to do so. It's a wonderful, natural songwriting accompanying instrument.
If and when you do decide to learn an instrument, I wouldn't get too caught up in the theory, unless it's your desire to really learn about it....
......and if you wish to do so, then try to draw a firm line between your musical ego and your songwriting craft. This is the key here. As much as they may fight against each other, they *can* work together, if you consciously try to find a balance.
What's the answer?
Yes AND no.
Confused?
Let me explain. For the sake of simplicity, here I'll talk about the 'music' aspect of songwriting.
First up, I'll tell you that I'm a musician, songwriter and a vocal coach. And I have worked with both songwriters who play instruments and songwriters who don't. Which group are a better bunch to work with?
It goes like this. Those who play an instrument (to a certain degree) are more prone to understand timing, tempo and perhaps some syncopation. Sometimes, musicians will also understand the creation of melody a little more than non-musicians. They'll understand the structure of harmony and some music theory that goes along with it.
Because of the various 'pieces' or 'songs' they have played with their instruments, these musical and rhythmic elements are more or less naturally embedded in their brain - in practice and in theory.
Of course, this is GOOD thing. It's an advantage. Now yes - there are non-musicians who are gifted with these elements also, but I'm just talking in general terms here. For the most of it, more musicians will have these elements than non-musicians.
Now here's the twist. It's because of this very same reason that many musicians find it hard to write great songs. How? Well, because there are musicians that are pre-programmed into believing that perhaps a melody should flow a certain way, or maybe a chord sequence shouldn't fall in that pattern, etc, BECAUSE they get caught up in the theory that indirectly tells them "this isn't right".
You see, songwriters who don't know anything about music theory or playing an instrument will write freely. Meaning they won't think about whether something is 'musically right' or not. Of course, you can't write a song of pure non-musicality and expect to get a welcoming reception. You'd be mad to.
But it's nice when you don't think too much about something 'sitting right' musically in the song. Why care? It's a song. If the second verse has 10 bars and the first verse has 8 - so what? No big deal.
On the flip side, there are non-musical songwriters who just need that little push to learn some very basic chords on a piano or guitar....just to give them that edge and sometimes to even super-charge their creativity. So....
....here's my conclusion. If you play an instrument and you wish to be a songwriter, then don't think too much about what's musically correct. Let the chords and melody take you away. Don't think about it too much. Yes, stick within the rules of music, but don't get caught up in it.
If you are a non-musician and you write songs, then a great idea would be to learn some very basic chords on the keyboard. This isn't completely mandatory, but it will definitely give your songwriting a boast. Just the basic chords will do. You'll be amazed the kind of music you can make with learning the basic stuff.
And why did I say the keyboard and not the guitar? Well, I believe the keyboard to be fundamentally easier to learn than the guitar, as you can blatantly see the notes for the intervals you are playing face-front.
But please, don't let me deter you from learning the guitar if that's in you to do so. It's a wonderful, natural songwriting accompanying instrument.
If and when you do decide to learn an instrument, I wouldn't get too caught up in the theory, unless it's your desire to really learn about it....
......and if you wish to do so, then try to draw a firm line between your musical ego and your songwriting craft. This is the key here. As much as they may fight against each other, they *can* work together, if you consciously try to find a balance.
Your “Not To Play” List, (What To Do When You Really Hate The Macarena)
In today’s era, there are thousands of music folders available to whoever that makes of djing a source of his income. With so many options, the question arises, What music selection do I want for my wedding? And, why so many weddings still resort to the same old tunes?
As far as my experience is concerned, I can say that everyone wants their wedding music to be remembered as “fun”. Now “fun” has many connotations. First of all, you will have to determine what “fun” means for you and your partner. Once done this, you have to objectively consider how many within you guest list will agree with you on that. You might be surprised of the result! Now you will also have to consider what their impression of “fun” is. A good percentage of couples realize that by inviting Uncle Ed and Aunt Betty from out of town, they will have to cater a complete selection of music that they hadn’t even thought about in the first place, and more surprising even, that they probably hate and had already agreed as a pick on their “Not To Play” list.
During the course of one year I have been sitting down and conversing with at least 50 couples on regards their music planner. It’s interesting to realize that the majority of couples under 32 years of age, when asked about specific titles such as Macarena, Chicken dance and/or Y.M.C.A., will consistently reject them, arguing that they are too “Overplayed”, “Tacky”, “Boring” and other negative adjectives. As a professional I want to give the right impression to my clients and always agree on writing off these songs. I do this in front of them so that it is clear that I agree on their decision. However, I also always ask them about the possibility of their relatives requesting said titles. In many occasions their attitude changes, realizing that their family and friends are making a trip to their wedding and it might be probably selfish, if not rude, to stick to a list of Hip Hop or Techno that his or her side of the family will be totally unacquainted with.
At this point you might be freaking out to the possibility of having to listen to some music selection you really hate. Now my suggestion is that for as long as the song you don’t want to hear reminds you about bitter memories of the past (which happens often with Romantic/Slow jams), or it is offensive in lyrics, innuendo or speech to the general audience or to a particular individual, you should let the Dj play those songs. As a music engineer, he will try to wait and build up the spirit that conduces to those songs and blend them in the middle of a set that most people will be dancing to. Personally, I have seen that the majority of the times even the Bride and the Groom end up hopping around the Chicken Dance or the Cha Cha Slide. Don’t forget that once alcohol, atmosphere and mood kick in, people will dance to almost anything. And interestingly, it is precisely these songs that usually take the crowd to the next level. They have been designed for this purpose and they can really accomplish it. You don’t need to have Michael Jackson dancing skills to perform Y.M.C.A.; your 50 year old auntie will feel identified with it; if there are children in the crowd they will feel more compelled to go to the dance floor and share, etc. So yes, now you can realize that these songs are meant to do silliness, to break the ice and to motivate the crowd as a whole. It is also more interesting to realize that these are exactly the moments of the WHOLE evening your guests will remember the most, because crowd activities are what we fondly appreciate.
On a last note, I urge you to remember that weddings are in essence a show. Your guests expect to be entertained. That is why you are arranging a dinner for them. Not because they can’t afford to get one themselves, but because even dinner is part of making them feel welcomed and entertained. You want to share this occasion with all of these people, and by making them feel as comfortable as possible you are also addressing the notion for them to stick around a bit longer after dinner and participate of the dance floor and share with you and have fun. And in every party there is always a time when silliness kicks in. And that is exactly the time when the Pour Some Sugar On Mes show up, and people do silly things. And everyone laughs and have fun. Your guests will most probably forget everything about the cake next day, but they will certainly remember this!
As far as my experience is concerned, I can say that everyone wants their wedding music to be remembered as “fun”. Now “fun” has many connotations. First of all, you will have to determine what “fun” means for you and your partner. Once done this, you have to objectively consider how many within you guest list will agree with you on that. You might be surprised of the result! Now you will also have to consider what their impression of “fun” is. A good percentage of couples realize that by inviting Uncle Ed and Aunt Betty from out of town, they will have to cater a complete selection of music that they hadn’t even thought about in the first place, and more surprising even, that they probably hate and had already agreed as a pick on their “Not To Play” list.
During the course of one year I have been sitting down and conversing with at least 50 couples on regards their music planner. It’s interesting to realize that the majority of couples under 32 years of age, when asked about specific titles such as Macarena, Chicken dance and/or Y.M.C.A., will consistently reject them, arguing that they are too “Overplayed”, “Tacky”, “Boring” and other negative adjectives. As a professional I want to give the right impression to my clients and always agree on writing off these songs. I do this in front of them so that it is clear that I agree on their decision. However, I also always ask them about the possibility of their relatives requesting said titles. In many occasions their attitude changes, realizing that their family and friends are making a trip to their wedding and it might be probably selfish, if not rude, to stick to a list of Hip Hop or Techno that his or her side of the family will be totally unacquainted with.
At this point you might be freaking out to the possibility of having to listen to some music selection you really hate. Now my suggestion is that for as long as the song you don’t want to hear reminds you about bitter memories of the past (which happens often with Romantic/Slow jams), or it is offensive in lyrics, innuendo or speech to the general audience or to a particular individual, you should let the Dj play those songs. As a music engineer, he will try to wait and build up the spirit that conduces to those songs and blend them in the middle of a set that most people will be dancing to. Personally, I have seen that the majority of the times even the Bride and the Groom end up hopping around the Chicken Dance or the Cha Cha Slide. Don’t forget that once alcohol, atmosphere and mood kick in, people will dance to almost anything. And interestingly, it is precisely these songs that usually take the crowd to the next level. They have been designed for this purpose and they can really accomplish it. You don’t need to have Michael Jackson dancing skills to perform Y.M.C.A.; your 50 year old auntie will feel identified with it; if there are children in the crowd they will feel more compelled to go to the dance floor and share, etc. So yes, now you can realize that these songs are meant to do silliness, to break the ice and to motivate the crowd as a whole. It is also more interesting to realize that these are exactly the moments of the WHOLE evening your guests will remember the most, because crowd activities are what we fondly appreciate.
On a last note, I urge you to remember that weddings are in essence a show. Your guests expect to be entertained. That is why you are arranging a dinner for them. Not because they can’t afford to get one themselves, but because even dinner is part of making them feel welcomed and entertained. You want to share this occasion with all of these people, and by making them feel as comfortable as possible you are also addressing the notion for them to stick around a bit longer after dinner and participate of the dance floor and share with you and have fun. And in every party there is always a time when silliness kicks in. And that is exactly the time when the Pour Some Sugar On Mes show up, and people do silly things. And everyone laughs and have fun. Your guests will most probably forget everything about the cake next day, but they will certainly remember this!
Your Business Paris Hilton And Jail
Even in Jail Paris Hilton knows how to create buzz. As a business owner creating a healthy dose of buzz about your business is a must. Of course, you want your business to be known for skills more valuable than getting yourself in trouble.
You have to be determined to generate buzz about your products or services. The buzz has to be based on fact not fiction, but don’t worry it doesn’t have to be something outrageous that will land your name in the gossip magazines.
If you are waiting for the next big idea to hit you on the head, you are going to be greatly disappointed. You have to take a proactive measure in creating buzz about your business.
The Internet enables small business owners to create buzz quickly and inexpensively. With technology you can communicate with, entertain, and educate your customers. When you succeed you create an effective viral marketing campaign that can spread like cyber space fire.
Engage your customers on your site by asking them to respond to a site survey. Such survey engages your customers and it provides your company with quick information. If you don’t have a lot of traffic post your survey to Web sites with significant traffic such as some of the more popular social networking sites.
Whatever method you are utilizing to create buzz around your business, you have to be able to measure it. If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it. Once you have a system in place to measure the effectiveness of your buzz marketing campaign, you can quickly make adjustments to improve its effectiveness.
There are several factors to measure such as the number of new users, email registrants, and time spent on your web site. Don’t just measure once in the beginning of your campaign. Measure religiously and keep measuring. To compare the rest of your site’s performance with your buzz campaign performance, you should create a landing page. The landing page enables you to study the results isolated from the rest of your site.
Wouldn’t it be nice to get the kind of buzz Paris Hilton gets without having to get arrested?
You have to be determined to generate buzz about your products or services. The buzz has to be based on fact not fiction, but don’t worry it doesn’t have to be something outrageous that will land your name in the gossip magazines.
If you are waiting for the next big idea to hit you on the head, you are going to be greatly disappointed. You have to take a proactive measure in creating buzz about your business.
The Internet enables small business owners to create buzz quickly and inexpensively. With technology you can communicate with, entertain, and educate your customers. When you succeed you create an effective viral marketing campaign that can spread like cyber space fire.
Engage your customers on your site by asking them to respond to a site survey. Such survey engages your customers and it provides your company with quick information. If you don’t have a lot of traffic post your survey to Web sites with significant traffic such as some of the more popular social networking sites.
Whatever method you are utilizing to create buzz around your business, you have to be able to measure it. If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it. Once you have a system in place to measure the effectiveness of your buzz marketing campaign, you can quickly make adjustments to improve its effectiveness.
There are several factors to measure such as the number of new users, email registrants, and time spent on your web site. Don’t just measure once in the beginning of your campaign. Measure religiously and keep measuring. To compare the rest of your site’s performance with your buzz campaign performance, you should create a landing page. The landing page enables you to study the results isolated from the rest of your site.
Wouldn’t it be nice to get the kind of buzz Paris Hilton gets without having to get arrested?
Your Favorite Classic Tv Show: What Would It Be?
Classic television will never be completely forgotten or out of style as it brought so much to television screens in living rooms across the country. Watching reruns of classic TV shows will never fall out of fashion either. Not with those of us who grew up watching and learning from these classic TV shows. And not with the new generation of classic TV fans that the re-airing of these classics in television are creating now.
Some of us can remember that being youngsters in the 70s we rushed home from school to get started on finishing our homework right away so that we could watch such classic TV shows as Gilligan’s Island and I Love Lucy before suppertime. Some of our primetime classic TV selections included Bewitched, Happy Days, The Brady Bunch, Green Acres, and The Beverly Hillbillies, Petticoat Junction, and The Partridge family. Some of these classic TV shows were still being filmed into the 80s and were joined by what are now also classic television shows we remember fondly and still enjoy watching today. Laverne & Shirley, One Day at a Time, Welcome Back Kotter, Barretta, Starsky & Hutch, Hillstreet Blues, and Mork & Mindy. When Cagney & Lacey hit the classic TV scene in the 80s, young women were empowered to dream of going into professions usually reserved for males as these two women fought crime on the mean streets of NYC and in the sometimes equally mean environment of the male dominated workplace. Our Saturday mornings were reserved for Fat Albert and the Gang, Scooby Doo, and the Jetsons. Sunday evenings we watched classic television such as Hee Haw and Disney Family Showcase Theatre.
The raunchy, pushed to the limits reality television programs that have replaced old TV shows on most networks today have nothing on those classic TV shows from the 70s and 80s. We learned true family values from the Brady’s the Walton’s, The Ingals Family, and the Partridges, not to mention the Cleavers in Leave it to Beaver, and Timmy, his Mom and super canine hero and friend, Lassie. These classic TV shows from the 70s and 80s continue to teach the family values that would otherwise be lost to the generation of children now growing up in broken homes, in families headed by only one parent, or in families in which both parents are forced to work just to make ends meet.
Those old classic TV shows taught the importance of moral values and the strength and wisdom found with several generations of a family living together or close by to one another .We learned how to share with one another and how to make friends. We learned that it was important to never lie to our parents and that they would always love us no matter what mistakes we made. We learned that there were solutions to every problem, no matter how big or small they might be. We learned to believe in ourselves and to dream big. We learned about falling in love and how to mend a broken heart. We learned all of this and so much more from these classic TV shows that will live on in those of us who have come to love them and through the television networks still brave enough to provide a platform for quality, family values shows like classic TV shows.
For many of us these shows are so ingrained in our memories it is as if Ritchie, Potsie and Mouth were our high school chums and we were right there with them throughout all of the teenage angst and mischief they got into. At the time many of us would sit and wonder what it would be like to be a Brady or Partridge. Who among us didn’t wish we owned the General Lee and could do some off- roading that rivaled that of the Duke brothers? Mork made us hopeful that it there was life on other planets, that they would be as hilarious and ready to make friends as he was. Oh and how many of our big brothers shot BB guns into the ground when Mom wasn’t looking because they were intent on finding oil and becoming millionaires like good ol’ Jed Clampitt did? Okay so not everything we learned from these classic TV shows was something Mom was thrilled to find us reenacting. But is sure was a whole lot of fun. Classic TV encouraged you to use your imagination. Not at all like the mindless stuff that permeates television and our children our bombarded with today that spark little, if any imagination.
No, classic television will never be completely forgotten or go out of style. There are too many of us old and young who will keep the demand for these old TV shows alive.
~Ben Anton 2007
Some of us can remember that being youngsters in the 70s we rushed home from school to get started on finishing our homework right away so that we could watch such classic TV shows as Gilligan’s Island and I Love Lucy before suppertime. Some of our primetime classic TV selections included Bewitched, Happy Days, The Brady Bunch, Green Acres, and The Beverly Hillbillies, Petticoat Junction, and The Partridge family. Some of these classic TV shows were still being filmed into the 80s and were joined by what are now also classic television shows we remember fondly and still enjoy watching today. Laverne & Shirley, One Day at a Time, Welcome Back Kotter, Barretta, Starsky & Hutch, Hillstreet Blues, and Mork & Mindy. When Cagney & Lacey hit the classic TV scene in the 80s, young women were empowered to dream of going into professions usually reserved for males as these two women fought crime on the mean streets of NYC and in the sometimes equally mean environment of the male dominated workplace. Our Saturday mornings were reserved for Fat Albert and the Gang, Scooby Doo, and the Jetsons. Sunday evenings we watched classic television such as Hee Haw and Disney Family Showcase Theatre.
The raunchy, pushed to the limits reality television programs that have replaced old TV shows on most networks today have nothing on those classic TV shows from the 70s and 80s. We learned true family values from the Brady’s the Walton’s, The Ingals Family, and the Partridges, not to mention the Cleavers in Leave it to Beaver, and Timmy, his Mom and super canine hero and friend, Lassie. These classic TV shows from the 70s and 80s continue to teach the family values that would otherwise be lost to the generation of children now growing up in broken homes, in families headed by only one parent, or in families in which both parents are forced to work just to make ends meet.
Those old classic TV shows taught the importance of moral values and the strength and wisdom found with several generations of a family living together or close by to one another .We learned how to share with one another and how to make friends. We learned that it was important to never lie to our parents and that they would always love us no matter what mistakes we made. We learned that there were solutions to every problem, no matter how big or small they might be. We learned to believe in ourselves and to dream big. We learned about falling in love and how to mend a broken heart. We learned all of this and so much more from these classic TV shows that will live on in those of us who have come to love them and through the television networks still brave enough to provide a platform for quality, family values shows like classic TV shows.
For many of us these shows are so ingrained in our memories it is as if Ritchie, Potsie and Mouth were our high school chums and we were right there with them throughout all of the teenage angst and mischief they got into. At the time many of us would sit and wonder what it would be like to be a Brady or Partridge. Who among us didn’t wish we owned the General Lee and could do some off- roading that rivaled that of the Duke brothers? Mork made us hopeful that it there was life on other planets, that they would be as hilarious and ready to make friends as he was. Oh and how many of our big brothers shot BB guns into the ground when Mom wasn’t looking because they were intent on finding oil and becoming millionaires like good ol’ Jed Clampitt did? Okay so not everything we learned from these classic TV shows was something Mom was thrilled to find us reenacting. But is sure was a whole lot of fun. Classic TV encouraged you to use your imagination. Not at all like the mindless stuff that permeates television and our children our bombarded with today that spark little, if any imagination.
No, classic television will never be completely forgotten or go out of style. There are too many of us old and young who will keep the demand for these old TV shows alive.
~Ben Anton 2007
Your First Love, The Slot Machine
When you think of a casino what mental image appears first? The room full of slot machines! The slot machine is first love of anybody that goes to the casinos or riverboats. The slot machine is an interesting piece of machinery, both mechanical and computer. The slot machine commonly called the one-armed bandit is now a computer in disguise and all slot machines are not created equal.
Nickel slots may offer lower payouts, but this is the most inexpensive way for a newcomer to learn the ropes of the casino slot machine. Many features are the same between the nickel slots and the 5 dollar slots, but you need to start out on the nickel machine so you can keep your money while you learn. . Nickel slots may offer lower payouts, but there is still nothing like the thrill of hitting the jackpot, no matter what machines your casino offers.
When you walk into the casino the casino will feature just about everything from ‘single coin’ nickel machines to 5 dollar and up multiple payline slot machines and slot machines with progressive pots. The single coin machine are just what their name implies; you are gambling with one coin whether it be a nickel, quarter or dollar coin. Also some slot machines can take more coins and the more coins you play on a single pull will increase the amount that you can win. The gamblers that play the maximum amount usually win the best jackpots.
Playing progressive slots are becoming a very popular past time. These machine usually have a very large jackpot, sometimes in the millions. Each time a coin is played on a progressive slot machine a percentage is added to the jackpot. The progressive slot machines are tied together through a computer network within the casino or they are networked between casinos. To win the big jackpots you will need to bet the maximum.
No matter what slot machines you play stick to your spending limits and read the instructions on every machine that you play. If you maintain your bank roll you can have hours of fun. Enjoy yourself and have a blast!
Nickel slots may offer lower payouts, but this is the most inexpensive way for a newcomer to learn the ropes of the casino slot machine. Many features are the same between the nickel slots and the 5 dollar slots, but you need to start out on the nickel machine so you can keep your money while you learn. . Nickel slots may offer lower payouts, but there is still nothing like the thrill of hitting the jackpot, no matter what machines your casino offers.
When you walk into the casino the casino will feature just about everything from ‘single coin’ nickel machines to 5 dollar and up multiple payline slot machines and slot machines with progressive pots. The single coin machine are just what their name implies; you are gambling with one coin whether it be a nickel, quarter or dollar coin. Also some slot machines can take more coins and the more coins you play on a single pull will increase the amount that you can win. The gamblers that play the maximum amount usually win the best jackpots.
Playing progressive slots are becoming a very popular past time. These machine usually have a very large jackpot, sometimes in the millions. Each time a coin is played on a progressive slot machine a percentage is added to the jackpot. The progressive slot machines are tied together through a computer network within the casino or they are networked between casinos. To win the big jackpots you will need to bet the maximum.
No matter what slot machines you play stick to your spending limits and read the instructions on every machine that you play. If you maintain your bank roll you can have hours of fun. Enjoy yourself and have a blast!
Your Friends Deserve The Best Personalized Gifts This Christmas
Christmas is in the air. You can feel it in the chilly and festive air, the heartwarming carols you can hear everywhere, and the blinding Christmas lights strung on trees and houses wherever you look. The time for eating, drinking, and being merry is here. Of course, who better to eat, drink, and be merry with but your closest friends? Indeed, above all else, Christmas is the time for family, and, of course, friendship.
When You Only Want the Best
You’ve probably noticed that of the multitude of presents you receive each Christmas, the best always come from friends. It’s no wonder because they know you best; therefore, they know what you want, or at least, what you need.
Of course, you want to do the same thing for your friends. You want to give them the best Christmas presents you can find, or at least, afford. After all, why should you settle for less when you can give the best?
Still, shopping for Christmas presents is never easy, especially when you only have the best in mind. It takes a lot of time and effort, not to mention money, to find the perfect Christmas presents for your nearest and dearest friends. And if you’re a busy, busy person, it’s unfortunately a luxury you don’t have. Consider giving your friends personalized gifts.
Get Up Close and Personal
As far as intimate Christmas presents go, personalized gifts are your best bet. These days, you can get absolutely anything personalized. Personalization can be done through print, engraving, emboss, embroidery, and monograms.
You no longer have to search for the perfect coffee mug that suits your best friend’s personality. You can have one made especially for her. Bath towels are no longer just bath towels. They can bear your friend’s name, or maybe a quotation or two. An engraved pen is something your writer friend will appreciate.
The list of personalized gifts can go on and on. It’s just a matter of using your imagination. With personalized gifts, you can get a memorable picture or a private joke immortalized on any seemingly innocuous item, making it so much more intimate and a great deal more important.
Personalize Anywhere, Everywhere
These days, more and more people are embracing the concept of personalization, so personalized gifts are easy enough to find. Simply walk into any specialty store, and chances are they can personalize any of their items for your friends.
For the busy career person, you can also get personalized gifts online. This way, you don’t have to feel guilty about not giving as much care and attention to your friends’ Christmas presents. With just a few taps on your keyboard and even fewer mouse clicks, you can choose an item to personalize, pick a design or specify your own, pay extra to have it gift wrapped, and voila! You have personalized gifts ready to be eagerly unwrapped come Christmas day.
Indeed, what friend wouldn’t like personalized gifts? You probably wish you’ll get one too. And guess what? You probably will.
When You Only Want the Best
You’ve probably noticed that of the multitude of presents you receive each Christmas, the best always come from friends. It’s no wonder because they know you best; therefore, they know what you want, or at least, what you need.
Of course, you want to do the same thing for your friends. You want to give them the best Christmas presents you can find, or at least, afford. After all, why should you settle for less when you can give the best?
Still, shopping for Christmas presents is never easy, especially when you only have the best in mind. It takes a lot of time and effort, not to mention money, to find the perfect Christmas presents for your nearest and dearest friends. And if you’re a busy, busy person, it’s unfortunately a luxury you don’t have. Consider giving your friends personalized gifts.
Get Up Close and Personal
As far as intimate Christmas presents go, personalized gifts are your best bet. These days, you can get absolutely anything personalized. Personalization can be done through print, engraving, emboss, embroidery, and monograms.
You no longer have to search for the perfect coffee mug that suits your best friend’s personality. You can have one made especially for her. Bath towels are no longer just bath towels. They can bear your friend’s name, or maybe a quotation or two. An engraved pen is something your writer friend will appreciate.
The list of personalized gifts can go on and on. It’s just a matter of using your imagination. With personalized gifts, you can get a memorable picture or a private joke immortalized on any seemingly innocuous item, making it so much more intimate and a great deal more important.
Personalize Anywhere, Everywhere
These days, more and more people are embracing the concept of personalization, so personalized gifts are easy enough to find. Simply walk into any specialty store, and chances are they can personalize any of their items for your friends.
For the busy career person, you can also get personalized gifts online. This way, you don’t have to feel guilty about not giving as much care and attention to your friends’ Christmas presents. With just a few taps on your keyboard and even fewer mouse clicks, you can choose an item to personalize, pick a design or specify your own, pay extra to have it gift wrapped, and voila! You have personalized gifts ready to be eagerly unwrapped come Christmas day.
Indeed, what friend wouldn’t like personalized gifts? You probably wish you’ll get one too. And guess what? You probably will.
Your Guide To Long Arm Quilting Machines
Long arm quilting machines are definitely rising in popularity at the moment and this trend looks set to continue well into a future. They can actually save you time when you are quilting thus allowing you to complete more quilts in a shorter period of time. There is a variety of long arm quilting machines available to choose from today and a whole list of features that seem to be interchangeable between models. The list of features actually determines price so you have to come up with a budget and decide what you actually want from long arm quilting machines. However, once you have decided on budget and need, you will have to do comprehensive research in order to find the perfect one for you.
Completing Your Research
There are a variety of sources out there that you can investigate the possibility of finding one of the perfect long arm quilting machines out there for you. The first place you should look is the American Professional Quilting Systems (APQS) range. They actually stock six different long arm quilting machines, although they are rather pricey at anywhere between $10000 and $18000 each. However, they also stock a range of extras that you can choose to add to your order to make the task of quilting easier. For example, you can actually include a computer system or software service with your long arm quilting machine to ensure that you actually get the best possible use out of it. As a result, it will probably answer any queries you have for you so that you will not be left with a redundant piece of equipment that you are stuck with forever!
Another company you can check out is Nolting Long Arm Quilting Machines. They are extremely highly thought of in the industry, to the point where they are actually considered to be the best. You do not have to trawl around stores for them either because you can buy Nolting Long Arm Quilting Machines directly from their website so that you have a ready source of support and can go straight to the source with ease should anything go wrong. There are also plenty of dealers that stock them so if you need a demonstration then you are best to go looking for one of them. Of course, the website can put you in contact with one in your local area. You can also book onto classes to learn how to use it effectively. For more info see http://www.iheartquilting.com/Quilting_Software/ on Quilting Software
Long arm quilting machines have added a new dimension to the world of quilting and can actually enhance the prospects of you turning your hobby into a viable business venture. There are other companies offering long arm quilting machines out there but my advice is to stick to the best. They represent a sizable investment so you are best to buy from the best Both of these companies offer your ongoing support and training should you need it, and there is also plenty of information to research on them before you go shopping for one. The maxim is to decide what you want and then go out and get it!
Completing Your Research
There are a variety of sources out there that you can investigate the possibility of finding one of the perfect long arm quilting machines out there for you. The first place you should look is the American Professional Quilting Systems (APQS) range. They actually stock six different long arm quilting machines, although they are rather pricey at anywhere between $10000 and $18000 each. However, they also stock a range of extras that you can choose to add to your order to make the task of quilting easier. For example, you can actually include a computer system or software service with your long arm quilting machine to ensure that you actually get the best possible use out of it. As a result, it will probably answer any queries you have for you so that you will not be left with a redundant piece of equipment that you are stuck with forever!
Another company you can check out is Nolting Long Arm Quilting Machines. They are extremely highly thought of in the industry, to the point where they are actually considered to be the best. You do not have to trawl around stores for them either because you can buy Nolting Long Arm Quilting Machines directly from their website so that you have a ready source of support and can go straight to the source with ease should anything go wrong. There are also plenty of dealers that stock them so if you need a demonstration then you are best to go looking for one of them. Of course, the website can put you in contact with one in your local area. You can also book onto classes to learn how to use it effectively. For more info see http://www.iheartquilting.com/Quilting_Software/ on Quilting Software
Long arm quilting machines have added a new dimension to the world of quilting and can actually enhance the prospects of you turning your hobby into a viable business venture. There are other companies offering long arm quilting machines out there but my advice is to stick to the best. They represent a sizable investment so you are best to buy from the best Both of these companies offer your ongoing support and training should you need it, and there is also plenty of information to research on them before you go shopping for one. The maxim is to decide what you want and then go out and get it!
Your Quick Guide To Learn The Art Of Paper Craft
Wise people say, there are two types of toys in the world. The toys that set the child to think and the toys that set the parents to think!
Making a paper toy is just like solving a maths problem. Not a difficult problem, not an easy problem, but mathematics does not condone a mistake. To arrive at the correct final answer, your steps need to be correct. Each and every step! Let's have a quick look at how to solve this question paper and learn to make paper toys articulately.
First things first, a paper toy is a toy that is made after folding the paper. It is all about folding the paper in style indeed! This art is known as Origami. You need to know the basic folds, the folds that give strength to the ultimate toy that you are going to form out of it.
Just study all the details of the toy that you are going to form, if you are making this new design for the first time. Your requirements of raw material is simple: Paper, foil backing, cutting material such as knife, scissors or blades, glues, paints and other craft goods.
Your end product needs to be good, appealing and also the product should last. By using a low quality paper, you might end up in fiasco. You would tear the paper at the most unsuspected moment, when you are about to give finishing touch to the toy. If you use the heavy paper, the folds will be tough, you will not be happy to work with this paper and the toy might end up with the appearance of a heavy-weight boxer.
The papers suggested are colored bond paper or the commercial origami paper. Once given proper shape and color, these nature-friendly toys are easy to carry-- they are lightweight and as for appeal and appearance, they score over with toys of any other genre.
Making a paper toy is just like solving a maths problem. Not a difficult problem, not an easy problem, but mathematics does not condone a mistake. To arrive at the correct final answer, your steps need to be correct. Each and every step! Let's have a quick look at how to solve this question paper and learn to make paper toys articulately.
First things first, a paper toy is a toy that is made after folding the paper. It is all about folding the paper in style indeed! This art is known as Origami. You need to know the basic folds, the folds that give strength to the ultimate toy that you are going to form out of it.
Just study all the details of the toy that you are going to form, if you are making this new design for the first time. Your requirements of raw material is simple: Paper, foil backing, cutting material such as knife, scissors or blades, glues, paints and other craft goods.
Your end product needs to be good, appealing and also the product should last. By using a low quality paper, you might end up in fiasco. You would tear the paper at the most unsuspected moment, when you are about to give finishing touch to the toy. If you use the heavy paper, the folds will be tough, you will not be happy to work with this paper and the toy might end up with the appearance of a heavy-weight boxer.
The papers suggested are colored bond paper or the commercial origami paper. Once given proper shape and color, these nature-friendly toys are easy to carry-- they are lightweight and as for appeal and appearance, they score over with toys of any other genre.
Zeitgeist: A Movie For The Time
Since June 2007, the movie "ZEITGEIST" has been taking the internet by storm. As of December 2007, ZEITGEIST had already gathered more than 6 million hits, making it one of the most popular online videos of all time. In fact, on Google video, ZEITGEIST was the no. 1 video for the months of November and December 2007, and there doesn't seem to be any stopping it. The movie's creator, Peter Joseph, has reported some 40,000 to 60,000 hits to his website, ZEITGEISTmovie.com, per day! Also, in November 2007, ZEITGEIST was presented a "Best Feature" award at the prestigious Artivists Film Festival at the Egyptian theater in Hollywood. As one of the sources for Part 1 of ZEITGEIST, I was in attendance as a featured panel speaker addressing some 650 people, who shared a mind-blowing evening. Both Peter and I have also done several radio programs addressing the subjects raised in ZEITGEIST, with me specializing in Part 1. The movie's narration has also been translated into a number of languages, including German. Truly, ZEITGEIST is a global phenomenon!
What is so special about ZEITGEIST that it has attracted so much attention? First of all, the movie is done in a very powerful manner - and, secondly, its message is controversial, to say the least! Since my work inspired some of Part 1, I can only discuss as an expert that segment, which deals with religious conspiracy. Part 1, in fact, claims that our modern religions, including and especially Christianity, are not "original" or "new revelation" but remakes of ancient faiths, particularly that of the Egyptians. In my books, "The Christ Conspiracy" and "Suns of God," I have striven to demonstrate that fact, with a combined 1000+ pages of fascinating research as to the true meaning of religion. Because of the intense controversy surrounding ZEITGEIST, with forums all over the net engaged in heated debates over the movie, I have now completed an ebook specifically addressing some of the comparisons between the Egyptian religion and Christianity. This new ebook is called "The Companion Guide to ZEITGEIST, Part 1," and it scientifically examines the purported parallels between the Egyptian god Horus and the Jewish godman Jesus, including whether or not Horus was born on December 25th of a "virgin," among other important assertions made in ZEITGEIST. The research on this subject was so abundant that I was unable to put it all into an ebook. In almost 50 pages, I did, however, manage to highlight these significant issues, including ancient resources in their original languages, with translations!
It is the fervent belief of both the creator of ZEITGEIST and me that this information is extremely important in this day and age, in order to further cultural understanding and bring greater peace to the planet, as well as to provide an insight into the working of society's elite, who may not have in mind the best interests of the common man. In this regard, we have taken the risk of bringing this controversial and often contentious material to the public eye, with the hopes of greater enlightenment worldwide.
What is so special about ZEITGEIST that it has attracted so much attention? First of all, the movie is done in a very powerful manner - and, secondly, its message is controversial, to say the least! Since my work inspired some of Part 1, I can only discuss as an expert that segment, which deals with religious conspiracy. Part 1, in fact, claims that our modern religions, including and especially Christianity, are not "original" or "new revelation" but remakes of ancient faiths, particularly that of the Egyptians. In my books, "The Christ Conspiracy" and "Suns of God," I have striven to demonstrate that fact, with a combined 1000+ pages of fascinating research as to the true meaning of religion. Because of the intense controversy surrounding ZEITGEIST, with forums all over the net engaged in heated debates over the movie, I have now completed an ebook specifically addressing some of the comparisons between the Egyptian religion and Christianity. This new ebook is called "The Companion Guide to ZEITGEIST, Part 1," and it scientifically examines the purported parallels between the Egyptian god Horus and the Jewish godman Jesus, including whether or not Horus was born on December 25th of a "virgin," among other important assertions made in ZEITGEIST. The research on this subject was so abundant that I was unable to put it all into an ebook. In almost 50 pages, I did, however, manage to highlight these significant issues, including ancient resources in their original languages, with translations!
It is the fervent belief of both the creator of ZEITGEIST and me that this information is extremely important in this day and age, in order to further cultural understanding and bring greater peace to the planet, as well as to provide an insight into the working of society's elite, who may not have in mind the best interests of the common man. In this regard, we have taken the risk of bringing this controversial and often contentious material to the public eye, with the hopes of greater enlightenment worldwide.
Zune: The Real Scoop
During these hard times, smart buys are rare and very hard to find. One such smart buy is the new Zune portable multimedia player, the latest offering from Microsoft. This nifty player has since made waves in the market. No wonder, when it has excellent functionality at a very affordable price.
Soon It’ll Just Be Zune
Predictably, the famous rivalry between Microsoft and Apple has now extended to portable multimedia players with Apple’s iPod and Microsoft’s Zune. Even more predictable is the non-compatilibity of multimedia files between the two players. After all, they each must do everything they can to thwart competition.
Switching from the iPod to the Zune may be a bit confusing at first, and no, music and videos downloaded from Apple’s iTunes store will definitely not work with a Zune. You can download Zune software, however, to make the transition easier for you. And if you’re wondering why you should bother, unlike the iPod, Zune has FM and – brace yourself – Wifi capabilities. Enough said.
Zune You Can Groove
With a minimum amount of fuss, Zune music downloads can easily be had, regardless if you’re a MAC or PC user. It’s just a matter of knowing what you want and where to get it. With over six million – and counting – music files, Zune Empire is one such source. After a short sign-up process with Zune Empire, you’ll be ready to groove to the music in no time. The software’s setup is painless, and if you’re very much technologically-challenged, you can get step-by-step support.
Depending on file size, Zune music downloads are actually pretty quick. Obviously, the larger the file, the slower the download. On a 56K modem, a 3-minute song can be downloaded in as little as seven minutes. And if you have a high-speed Internet connection, well, you can just imagine how quickly you can get your favorite tunes into your player. What’s more, you can play the same tunes on your computer with a Windows Media Player 7 or higher.
Zune You Can Watch
Apart from music, Zune Marketplace downloads also offer movie and video files, so you can download and enjoy movies from any genre. Suspense, science fiction, romance, comedy – you name it, and Zune can play it.
With this software, you can also watch your DVDs from your player. It’s just a matter of converting the DVD format to the required format. The process is easy enough, and once again, there’s support offered to technically-challenged individuals.
Zune You Can Enjoy
Apart from Zune music downloads and movie downloads, Zune Empire’s software also include other helpful applications to make your experience worthwhile. There are tools to make your downloads easier. You can even burn your downloaded music and movies into a CD or DVD.
Indeed, with Microsoft’s latest 80GB multimedia player, Zune has come and it is here to stay. You will no longer be idle ever again. With this player, a long bus ride or an even longer wait at the doctor’s office can even be – dare I say it – enjoyable.
Soon It’ll Just Be Zune
Predictably, the famous rivalry between Microsoft and Apple has now extended to portable multimedia players with Apple’s iPod and Microsoft’s Zune. Even more predictable is the non-compatilibity of multimedia files between the two players. After all, they each must do everything they can to thwart competition.
Switching from the iPod to the Zune may be a bit confusing at first, and no, music and videos downloaded from Apple’s iTunes store will definitely not work with a Zune. You can download Zune software, however, to make the transition easier for you. And if you’re wondering why you should bother, unlike the iPod, Zune has FM and – brace yourself – Wifi capabilities. Enough said.
Zune You Can Groove
With a minimum amount of fuss, Zune music downloads can easily be had, regardless if you’re a MAC or PC user. It’s just a matter of knowing what you want and where to get it. With over six million – and counting – music files, Zune Empire is one such source. After a short sign-up process with Zune Empire, you’ll be ready to groove to the music in no time. The software’s setup is painless, and if you’re very much technologically-challenged, you can get step-by-step support.
Depending on file size, Zune music downloads are actually pretty quick. Obviously, the larger the file, the slower the download. On a 56K modem, a 3-minute song can be downloaded in as little as seven minutes. And if you have a high-speed Internet connection, well, you can just imagine how quickly you can get your favorite tunes into your player. What’s more, you can play the same tunes on your computer with a Windows Media Player 7 or higher.
Zune You Can Watch
Apart from music, Zune Marketplace downloads also offer movie and video files, so you can download and enjoy movies from any genre. Suspense, science fiction, romance, comedy – you name it, and Zune can play it.
With this software, you can also watch your DVDs from your player. It’s just a matter of converting the DVD format to the required format. The process is easy enough, and once again, there’s support offered to technically-challenged individuals.
Zune You Can Enjoy
Apart from Zune music downloads and movie downloads, Zune Empire’s software also include other helpful applications to make your experience worthwhile. There are tools to make your downloads easier. You can even burn your downloaded music and movies into a CD or DVD.
Indeed, with Microsoft’s latest 80GB multimedia player, Zune has come and it is here to stay. You will no longer be idle ever again. With this player, a long bus ride or an even longer wait at the doctor’s office can even be – dare I say it – enjoyable.
Zune Downloads | What You Need To Know
Today’s hottest little gadget has taken the world by storm. Understandably so. The Zune portable multimedia player beats its competitors by a landslide with its crisp audio, crystal clear video, easy user interface, FM radio, and the much-applauded Wifi capability. Oh, and did I mention that it comes with an 80GB capacity? That’s more than enough space for those fantastic Zune downloads.
Get Lost!
Downloading your favorite music and videos to Zune is as easy as 1-2-3. With the right software, you can download to Zune to your heart’s content. It’s just a matter of knowing where to look for Zune downloads. One such software can be found in Zune Empire.
With over 300 million – and counting – zune downloads available, you can download whatever music floats your boat, from rock ‘n roll to hip-hop and old classics to the latest hits. You can get “emo” or get your groove on anywhere you want. You can easily hear every bass note and every guitar string from your Zune downloads with the Zune’s superior audio. Indeed, it’ll be so easy to get lost in your own life’s soundtrack.
Don’t get too lost just yet, however. You can also download movies to Zune. Different genres are available. If you want to watch your burgeoning DVD collection on the go, you can also download DVD to Zune. You can fall in love with Notting Hill, scream yourself hoarse with The Ring, and laugh yourself silly with There’s Something About Mary. You’ll enjoy watching your Zune downloads beyond high definition quality, so you’ll know exactly how “perfect” looks and sounds like. You won’t even notice that you’re watching your Zune downloads from a small, handheld screen. Now you can really lose yourself from the rest of the world.
Beyond Zune Downloads
More than just Zune downloads, Zune Empire’s software also has a score of tools and applications that will make your Zune experience an excellent one. Your Zune downloads are facilitated, so you know that you’re getting high-quality music and movie files and definitely not broken or corrupted ones. When you download a DVD to Zune, the software gives you the functionality of ripping the DVD - spectacular sound, picture and all - and converting the DVD movie format into the required Zune format. Similarly, it also lets you burn your Zune downloads into CDs and DVDs for backup storage, so you can make sure that you’ll never lose downloaded files ever again.
These may all seem overwhelming and daunting, to say the least, especially to those who are not very technologically savvy. Don’t fret because it isn’t. Installation can be done in just under three minutes and Zune Empire has made it easy for even the most technically-challenged laymen.
With the support offered, anybody can get the most out of his or her Zune software and player. Indeed, with the right Zune software and a score of Zune downloads, you can power up your Zune player, kick back, relax, and get lost in a whole new world of music and movies.
Get Lost!
Downloading your favorite music and videos to Zune is as easy as 1-2-3. With the right software, you can download to Zune to your heart’s content. It’s just a matter of knowing where to look for Zune downloads. One such software can be found in Zune Empire.
With over 300 million – and counting – zune downloads available, you can download whatever music floats your boat, from rock ‘n roll to hip-hop and old classics to the latest hits. You can get “emo” or get your groove on anywhere you want. You can easily hear every bass note and every guitar string from your Zune downloads with the Zune’s superior audio. Indeed, it’ll be so easy to get lost in your own life’s soundtrack.
Don’t get too lost just yet, however. You can also download movies to Zune. Different genres are available. If you want to watch your burgeoning DVD collection on the go, you can also download DVD to Zune. You can fall in love with Notting Hill, scream yourself hoarse with The Ring, and laugh yourself silly with There’s Something About Mary. You’ll enjoy watching your Zune downloads beyond high definition quality, so you’ll know exactly how “perfect” looks and sounds like. You won’t even notice that you’re watching your Zune downloads from a small, handheld screen. Now you can really lose yourself from the rest of the world.
Beyond Zune Downloads
More than just Zune downloads, Zune Empire’s software also has a score of tools and applications that will make your Zune experience an excellent one. Your Zune downloads are facilitated, so you know that you’re getting high-quality music and movie files and definitely not broken or corrupted ones. When you download a DVD to Zune, the software gives you the functionality of ripping the DVD - spectacular sound, picture and all - and converting the DVD movie format into the required Zune format. Similarly, it also lets you burn your Zune downloads into CDs and DVDs for backup storage, so you can make sure that you’ll never lose downloaded files ever again.
These may all seem overwhelming and daunting, to say the least, especially to those who are not very technologically savvy. Don’t fret because it isn’t. Installation can be done in just under three minutes and Zune Empire has made it easy for even the most technically-challenged laymen.
With the support offered, anybody can get the most out of his or her Zune software and player. Indeed, with the right Zune software and a score of Zune downloads, you can power up your Zune player, kick back, relax, and get lost in a whole new world of music and movies.
Zune Movies: You’ll Never Be Bored Again
They say great things come in small packages. This can't be any truer than the new Zune portable multimedia player from Microsoft. This miniscule gizmo never fails to impress with its crisp audio, realistic video, FM radio, 80GB capacity, and - brace yourself - Wifi connectivity. Whether you want to listen to music or even watch Zune Movies, you can expect great things from this little gadget.
Break Through with a Cutting Edge
Watching high definition Zune Movies in such a small device is a huge breakthrough in technology, no doubt about it. But how do you know that the movies you're downloading are the right Zune movies?
You need cutting-edge software to download movies to Zune. After all, you want to have the best quality Zune Movies there are, whether you're in the mood for a Hollywood blockbuster or a smart independent flick. It's just a matter of knowing what you want and where to look for it. With Zune Empire, you need not look any further. You'll be surprised to know that you can indeed find everything you want in one place.
Get Down on the Load or Let it Rip!
With the right software, a Zune video download is easy enough to do. You can choose from a very wide selection of available Zune movies. With a couple of clicks on your mouse and a few taps on your keyboard, you'll be downloading Zune movies directly into your Zune player in no time.
If you don't feel like downloading Zune movies because you'd rather use your own DVD collection, you're still in the right place. You can simply rip your DVD movie, spectacular pictures, sound, and all.
Because the Zune player can only play MPEG-4 videos, you can then convert this ripped DVD format into the required Zune format with the Zune movie converter. You need not be worried about losing high definition video or high quality sound because the Zune movie converter will in no way compromise the Zune movies' sound and picture quality. Furthermore, you have the option to resize and link different video files together - perfect for those TV shows and movie trilogies and quadrilogies.
Anyone Can Enjoy Zune Movies
Indeed, the right Zune software is every techie's dream. After all, it opens up a whole new world of possibilities for Zune movies.
If you're not such a gadget-freak, however, you may be less than enthusiastic and probably a little worried. Yes, you do want your Zune movies, but you are quite overwhelmed by the Zune's obvious technicality. Well, you'll be pleased to know that the software is designed to be user-friendly with its easy user interface and numerous functions. Even the most technically-challenged can get things done. Besides, you'll be supported all the way, so you'll have those Zune movies no matter what.
Whether you're a techie or technically-challenged, a gadget-freak or a novice, young or old, male or female, gay or straight, you'll surely enjoy watching Zune Movies from your Zune player. You'll never be bored again - ever.
Break Through with a Cutting Edge
Watching high definition Zune Movies in such a small device is a huge breakthrough in technology, no doubt about it. But how do you know that the movies you're downloading are the right Zune movies?
You need cutting-edge software to download movies to Zune. After all, you want to have the best quality Zune Movies there are, whether you're in the mood for a Hollywood blockbuster or a smart independent flick. It's just a matter of knowing what you want and where to look for it. With Zune Empire, you need not look any further. You'll be surprised to know that you can indeed find everything you want in one place.
Get Down on the Load or Let it Rip!
With the right software, a Zune video download is easy enough to do. You can choose from a very wide selection of available Zune movies. With a couple of clicks on your mouse and a few taps on your keyboard, you'll be downloading Zune movies directly into your Zune player in no time.
If you don't feel like downloading Zune movies because you'd rather use your own DVD collection, you're still in the right place. You can simply rip your DVD movie, spectacular pictures, sound, and all.
Because the Zune player can only play MPEG-4 videos, you can then convert this ripped DVD format into the required Zune format with the Zune movie converter. You need not be worried about losing high definition video or high quality sound because the Zune movie converter will in no way compromise the Zune movies' sound and picture quality. Furthermore, you have the option to resize and link different video files together - perfect for those TV shows and movie trilogies and quadrilogies.
Anyone Can Enjoy Zune Movies
Indeed, the right Zune software is every techie's dream. After all, it opens up a whole new world of possibilities for Zune movies.
If you're not such a gadget-freak, however, you may be less than enthusiastic and probably a little worried. Yes, you do want your Zune movies, but you are quite overwhelmed by the Zune's obvious technicality. Well, you'll be pleased to know that the software is designed to be user-friendly with its easy user interface and numerous functions. Even the most technically-challenged can get things done. Besides, you'll be supported all the way, so you'll have those Zune movies no matter what.
Whether you're a techie or technically-challenged, a gadget-freak or a novice, young or old, male or female, gay or straight, you'll surely enjoy watching Zune Movies from your Zune player. You'll never be bored again - ever.
What type of magician can I hire?
Are you thinking of hiring a magician? Have you hired one before?
Do you know what type you want?
There are various types of magic and magicians. Most magicians now specialise in a few areas of magic although some perform only one type.
Here is a general guide of what types of magician are available for a predominately adult audience although a good magician will take you back to being a child.
Close-up magic/ strolling / mix and mingle/ table magic can often be seen at cocktail parties, corporate events, banquets, weddings and generally any party event where the magician mingles and inter acts with the guests performing tricks. This form of magic is ideal for a reception and then when guests are seated at their tables and enjoying the meal.
Cabaret magic is a great way for a large or small audience to see some bigger or more involved magic tricks. Cabaret magic is suitable for most events but is most popular as after dinner entertainment. Sometimes the close up magician will double up and also perform the cabaret. A lot of magicians include comedy in their cabaret.
More recently mind readers have once again become very popular. Whilst some will include comedy, generally a mind reader is a little more serious and does things like reveal the name of a child hood friend or divine a selected word from a book chosen by a spectator.
If you are looking for larger, flashy magic then it is ideal to hire an illusionist. An illusionist needs a lot more room than a normal magician and work’s better from a stage.
Cabaret magic acts last any where between 10 minutes to an hour and normally perform for audiences of 20 to 600 however their are two rules that should be noted. The magician should be able to be seen and heard by everyone. Bear this in mind if booking after dinner entertainment in a hotel conference room. If you have lots of non English speaking guests you may prefer to have a silent magic act either manipulation or illusion however a comedy magician always plays well for an English speaking audience.
Corporations and companies are hiring magicians more and more to perform at Trade Shows and exhibitions. Magic is a great form of interactive entertainment where a message can also be presented in an interesting manner. The magician draws people to the exhibition space where the benefits and features of the product or service can be showcased. The magician can also present and provide suitable magic give aways that are branded for the company exhibiting.
It is always worth checking the credentials of the magician you are hiring. What is their track record? Who have been their previous clients? How long have they been performing? Most professional magicians also carry liability insurance.
For further details and information contact Nick Reade
http://www.nickreade.com
Do you know what type you want?
There are various types of magic and magicians. Most magicians now specialise in a few areas of magic although some perform only one type.
Here is a general guide of what types of magician are available for a predominately adult audience although a good magician will take you back to being a child.
Close-up magic/ strolling / mix and mingle/ table magic can often be seen at cocktail parties, corporate events, banquets, weddings and generally any party event where the magician mingles and inter acts with the guests performing tricks. This form of magic is ideal for a reception and then when guests are seated at their tables and enjoying the meal.
Cabaret magic is a great way for a large or small audience to see some bigger or more involved magic tricks. Cabaret magic is suitable for most events but is most popular as after dinner entertainment. Sometimes the close up magician will double up and also perform the cabaret. A lot of magicians include comedy in their cabaret.
More recently mind readers have once again become very popular. Whilst some will include comedy, generally a mind reader is a little more serious and does things like reveal the name of a child hood friend or divine a selected word from a book chosen by a spectator.
If you are looking for larger, flashy magic then it is ideal to hire an illusionist. An illusionist needs a lot more room than a normal magician and work’s better from a stage.
Cabaret magic acts last any where between 10 minutes to an hour and normally perform for audiences of 20 to 600 however their are two rules that should be noted. The magician should be able to be seen and heard by everyone. Bear this in mind if booking after dinner entertainment in a hotel conference room. If you have lots of non English speaking guests you may prefer to have a silent magic act either manipulation or illusion however a comedy magician always plays well for an English speaking audience.
Corporations and companies are hiring magicians more and more to perform at Trade Shows and exhibitions. Magic is a great form of interactive entertainment where a message can also be presented in an interesting manner. The magician draws people to the exhibition space where the benefits and features of the product or service can be showcased. The magician can also present and provide suitable magic give aways that are branded for the company exhibiting.
It is always worth checking the credentials of the magician you are hiring. What is their track record? Who have been their previous clients? How long have they been performing? Most professional magicians also carry liability insurance.
For further details and information contact Nick Reade
http://www.nickreade.com
What you need to know about a paint brush?
Most of us like to paint different things. Some of us are professional painters while some of us just paint for fun. If you are serious about the subject it’s very important that you have some knowledge about the different types of paint brushes.
Paint brushes are made up from stiff or soft hairs, which are either natural hairs or synthetic fibers. Soft brushes are specially designed for thin paints as they spread easily. Similarly incase of hard strokes you need hard brushes for creating brush marks in the paints.
Is natural hair better than synthetic?
Natural hair paint brushes are expensive as compared to the synthetic brushes. The modern synthetic brushes are excellent and have flexibility to beat even a Kolinsky sable. If you are considering buying a painting brush then synthetic paint brushes are the way to go.
Natural Hair used in paint brushes
• Sable: Sable brushes are expensive as compared to the other natural hair brushes; they are soft, flexible and form a point when they are put into a brush. Kolinsky sable brushes from Siberia has been off late renowned the best hair for watercolor brushes.
• Squirrel: Squirrel hair brushes are comparatively quite cheaper than sable hair brush. They are made of soft hair with a little bit of spring. If you considering buying a squirrel hair brush it would be advisable to go for larger squirrel brushes as they work better than the smaller ones.
• Hog/Bristle: This strange brush is made from the hair at the back of the pig. A hog or a bristle brush is string and springy with natural split ends. They are mostly used for oil painting and acrylics painting.
• Camel: Camel brushes are made from other types of soft hair. Camel hair is unsuitable as it is too wooly.
Paint brushes are made up from stiff or soft hairs, which are either natural hairs or synthetic fibers. Soft brushes are specially designed for thin paints as they spread easily. Similarly incase of hard strokes you need hard brushes for creating brush marks in the paints.
Is natural hair better than synthetic?
Natural hair paint brushes are expensive as compared to the synthetic brushes. The modern synthetic brushes are excellent and have flexibility to beat even a Kolinsky sable. If you are considering buying a painting brush then synthetic paint brushes are the way to go.
Natural Hair used in paint brushes
• Sable: Sable brushes are expensive as compared to the other natural hair brushes; they are soft, flexible and form a point when they are put into a brush. Kolinsky sable brushes from Siberia has been off late renowned the best hair for watercolor brushes.
• Squirrel: Squirrel hair brushes are comparatively quite cheaper than sable hair brush. They are made of soft hair with a little bit of spring. If you considering buying a squirrel hair brush it would be advisable to go for larger squirrel brushes as they work better than the smaller ones.
• Hog/Bristle: This strange brush is made from the hair at the back of the pig. A hog or a bristle brush is string and springy with natural split ends. They are mostly used for oil painting and acrylics painting.
• Camel: Camel brushes are made from other types of soft hair. Camel hair is unsuitable as it is too wooly.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
What You Need To Know About HDTV
HDTV is an abbreviated representation of the term High Definition Television. HDTV involves a broadcast of television signals with a higher definition than traditional signals, usually through a digital capacity although some early broadcasts were sent in analog format in Europe and Japan. HDTV allows the viewer to see much more detail than on standard television broadcasts, by using more pixels in a given image and increasing the ratios used without letterboxing (the transfer of widescreen to video format).
Dolby digital is also broadcast in all HDTV modes, so that full surround sound capacity is available even with what some might consider mundane broadcasts such as the news or regular shows. HDTV eliminates any snow on your screen, as the broadcast will be digital. More pixels and higher resolution mean that the picture you receive will be noticeable clearer, with better and more realistic coloring and a great potential for larger screen viewing.
Most major broadcasters are now offering their programming in high definition, and the technology can turn your television viewing experience into a whole new level of cinematic enjoyment, especially in terms of sports events. A large screen high definition television combined with a digital broadcast from your provider mean that you are truly experiencing any sporting event that you may watch for an angle that is arguably even better than attending.
In order to get HDTV into your home, you may have to purchase a special box through your cable company. These boxes can receive and translate the digital broadcast to your television. You can also purchase televisions that are integrated or upgradable to HDTV capacity. The integrated models and upgradables will also require a box or antenna, although some models are available with slots in which you can put a Cable Card, provided your service offers this option.
As might be apparent, a lot of the decision process when determining whether or not to obtain HDTV will depend on your cable service provider. Some providers will offer high definition television only from national broadcasts, while larger local stations will also have HDTV broadcasting abilities. High definition will inevitably present a greater cost to the average consumer, as the receiver must be bought or rented from the service provider. However, most people agree that the clear image and the accompanying sound abilities more than make up for the extra cost of high definition television. Additionally, there have long been plans to fully integrate HDTV broadcasts into all programming. The original goal was to have this accomplished by 2006, however new projections are putting the date at 2009. This does not meant that all analog televisions will become obsolete, as most are able to have boxes attached to receive the high definition signal. Consumers may decide to lessen future expenses that will inevitably occur in the future, however, by purchasing their high definition television now. All HDTV systems available with analog tuners built in, so you will be able to enjoy the full range of programming.
Dolby digital is also broadcast in all HDTV modes, so that full surround sound capacity is available even with what some might consider mundane broadcasts such as the news or regular shows. HDTV eliminates any snow on your screen, as the broadcast will be digital. More pixels and higher resolution mean that the picture you receive will be noticeable clearer, with better and more realistic coloring and a great potential for larger screen viewing.
Most major broadcasters are now offering their programming in high definition, and the technology can turn your television viewing experience into a whole new level of cinematic enjoyment, especially in terms of sports events. A large screen high definition television combined with a digital broadcast from your provider mean that you are truly experiencing any sporting event that you may watch for an angle that is arguably even better than attending.
In order to get HDTV into your home, you may have to purchase a special box through your cable company. These boxes can receive and translate the digital broadcast to your television. You can also purchase televisions that are integrated or upgradable to HDTV capacity. The integrated models and upgradables will also require a box or antenna, although some models are available with slots in which you can put a Cable Card, provided your service offers this option.
As might be apparent, a lot of the decision process when determining whether or not to obtain HDTV will depend on your cable service provider. Some providers will offer high definition television only from national broadcasts, while larger local stations will also have HDTV broadcasting abilities. High definition will inevitably present a greater cost to the average consumer, as the receiver must be bought or rented from the service provider. However, most people agree that the clear image and the accompanying sound abilities more than make up for the extra cost of high definition television. Additionally, there have long been plans to fully integrate HDTV broadcasts into all programming. The original goal was to have this accomplished by 2006, however new projections are putting the date at 2009. This does not meant that all analog televisions will become obsolete, as most are able to have boxes attached to receive the high definition signal. Consumers may decide to lessen future expenses that will inevitably occur in the future, however, by purchasing their high definition television now. All HDTV systems available with analog tuners built in, so you will be able to enjoy the full range of programming.
When is it appropriate to contact a sweepstakes sponsor
When you enter a sweepstakes, you won’t gain any extra chances to win by sending a note to the sponsor. “Just wanted to know how the contest is coming along” notes quickly make their way to the trash can. The same is true for notes asking how the entries are coming in, how many have arrived, etc. However, there are appropriate times to contact your sweepstakes sponsor. Sending a note at the right time to the right address will mean a lot to the sponsor.
For instance, if you believe the sweepstakes has been conducted in an improper manner, please do the sponsor the courtesy of passing along your complaint. Read the fine lines in the sweepstakes rules. There should be an address listed in which to mail concerns or complaints. If there is not an address listed, contact the president of the company directly. You may have to do a little investigative leg work to find out who that is and where to send it, but if you have a real complaint it will be worth your time and effort.
One legitimate complaint would be if your sweepstakes entry was part of a direct mail package that did not reach your house until days after the sweepstakes had expired. In a situation like that, the sweepstakes sponsor probably would not make special exceptions to add your and others’ entries, but it would let the sponsor know that his promotions company failed him. When sponsors pay big money to give away a nice grand prize, then pay a company to promote the sweepstakes for them, the process gets to be an expensive one. The last thing the sponsor needs is the reputation of being delivered late, which is a risk when contest entries are delivered after the entry deadline has ended.
Another complaint would be if you are trying to complete an online entry application, but keep having technical difficulties. Make sure that the problem is not on your end. If it is a problem the company is having with the sweepstakes eb page, report it to the web master listed on the sweepstakes website or drop a note in the mail or e-mail to the company.
Another time it is acceptable to write to a sweepstakes sponsor is to thank them for sponsoring the contest. Always wait until the contest is over, then send your thank you card or note to either the company president or to its marketing director. They are likely the two people who decided to host the sweepstakes. The number of entries received will help the marketing department determine the success of the sweepstakes. A thank you note would be icing on the cake.
Please always be sure to take a moment to send the sweepstakes sponsor a thank you note if you have won a prize in the contest. Again, send it to the president of the sponsoring company or to the company’s marketing director. Your gratitude will be appreciated by those who made the decision to sponsor the sweepstakes and you will be showing your appreciation to them as well.
For instance, if you believe the sweepstakes has been conducted in an improper manner, please do the sponsor the courtesy of passing along your complaint. Read the fine lines in the sweepstakes rules. There should be an address listed in which to mail concerns or complaints. If there is not an address listed, contact the president of the company directly. You may have to do a little investigative leg work to find out who that is and where to send it, but if you have a real complaint it will be worth your time and effort.
One legitimate complaint would be if your sweepstakes entry was part of a direct mail package that did not reach your house until days after the sweepstakes had expired. In a situation like that, the sweepstakes sponsor probably would not make special exceptions to add your and others’ entries, but it would let the sponsor know that his promotions company failed him. When sponsors pay big money to give away a nice grand prize, then pay a company to promote the sweepstakes for them, the process gets to be an expensive one. The last thing the sponsor needs is the reputation of being delivered late, which is a risk when contest entries are delivered after the entry deadline has ended.
Another complaint would be if you are trying to complete an online entry application, but keep having technical difficulties. Make sure that the problem is not on your end. If it is a problem the company is having with the sweepstakes eb page, report it to the web master listed on the sweepstakes website or drop a note in the mail or e-mail to the company.
Another time it is acceptable to write to a sweepstakes sponsor is to thank them for sponsoring the contest. Always wait until the contest is over, then send your thank you card or note to either the company president or to its marketing director. They are likely the two people who decided to host the sweepstakes. The number of entries received will help the marketing department determine the success of the sweepstakes. A thank you note would be icing on the cake.
Please always be sure to take a moment to send the sweepstakes sponsor a thank you note if you have won a prize in the contest. Again, send it to the president of the sponsoring company or to the company’s marketing director. Your gratitude will be appreciated by those who made the decision to sponsor the sweepstakes and you will be showing your appreciation to them as well.
Where And Why – The Smart Buy Art
Since the days when cavemen began drawing on the walls – everyone has, at some point, displayed art in their home. In the beginning it was probably something we painted ourselves at kindergarten, aged four and a half, for mum to proudly display on the fridge in the kitchen, developing in our teens to the picture of the girl scratching her bare bottom on the tennis court or, in our later years, a genuine impressionist painting by an elephant called Tojo, purchased while on holiday in Thailand. At some point we have all fallen in love with an “image” and chosen to decorate our abode with that “must have” picture which momentarily amused or inspired us.
So, “art” for the home is nothing new. What is new is its’ abundance. Art is much more available now than it has ever been and the variety of things to choose from has never been more diverse. These days we can buy images of anything from architecture to erotica. We can buy it easier too. There is art on the internet, in furniture stores, high street galleries or even at the multiple outlet retailers who tempt us with their range of mass produced “two year tops - skip fodder”. We are literally spoilt for choice of things to buy.
But what should we buy and where should we buy it? Anyone can hang a picture on the wall, it’s easy. Buy something suitable, bang a nail in the wall, hang it up – job done! But that, dear reader, is as far from the truth as it is possible to get. In my opinion there are just three types of people who buy art. Those with genuine artistic appreciation and an eye for real talent, those who find it hard to make a distinction between creativity and an unmade bed and, probably worst of all – the decorists. What are “decorists” you may well ask – and so you should, for you might indeed be one of them.
Decorists are that happy band of picture hunters who never go shopping without their little bag of accoutrements. This essential selection of undeniable criteria can include many and diverse items. But those most commonly in place in their “art trappers bag” will be a swatch of curtain material, a piece of wallpaper, piping from the edge of a cushion, a lump of laminate flooring or the front of a draw from the new kitchen units. These people are to be helped and understood, for they are not responsible for their actions. They suffer from a condition you could call “refititis” which is usually caused or at least irritated by watching too many telly “experts” telling them that a piece of MDF painted the exact colour to match those items in their bag, is as good to hang up in your home as something genuinely artistic that employed real talent in its creation. Pretty though that may make your home, shallow is what it makes you.
There are only two rules to apply to the purchase of a picture for personal use in a private home.
1. Buy what you truly like to look at.
2. Spend what you can afford.
Such rules can, of course, be greatly extended but, simplistically, these are the two that really determine the purchase of most pictures sold today. What is more important is to understand what a picture is and what it does for you and your home. This is a topic that should provoke the whole picture industry to book a hall at the N.E.C. for a national debate, but here it is as I see it:
- The only place you should buy your pictures from is a specialist gallery – or the artist?
That’s generally sound advice. In both cases you can ask pertinent questions relating to the “art” and you should be able to expect a “sensible” answer. But watch out! Both can be biased and both are hungry to take your money off you. So, listen and take their advice with caution. Beware of the “independent” galleries that I call “Pubs”. These purport to be selling quality art that “you simply must be collecting right now”. What they are really doing is trying to shift their stock of sole supplier, industry dictated, over priced limited edition prints by artists who, once their day in the limelight is over, may be as worthless as that tennis player scratching her bare bottom. Essentially, there is nothing wrong with buying such pictures, the artistry is mostly excellent and very worthy of being featured in your home, so long as you are aware that what you are buying is often a “fashionable piece” and like your hair style in your wedding photos, may look bloody ridiculous in years to come. Whether you are told, with all genuine intention, that “this is a good investment”, choose not to believe it. The advice may well be right. But don’t take the risk. Stick to the two rules, if you like it and can afford it buy it.
- Pictures are much cheaper at the superstores.
Yes, they certainly can be – and for very good reason. Now, call me a snob if you like but for the same reasons I don’t go to Spain for my holidays to sit on a beach full of thousands of other overweight fat English people, I don’t buy pictures from a pallet in Ikea. I simply don’t want to make my personal space exactly the same as everyone else’s. If I had been born a Cow or a Sheep I’m sure I would have walked away from the rest of the Herd or Flock to stand on my own. But, same rules… if you like it, there’s no one on this planet to say you can’t have it. Just don’t invite me round for dinner.
- I only buy original Oil Paintings.
Very good, you are on the road to enlightenment and freedom of expression. However, you must be careful here too. There are original Oil Paintings and, wait for it, original Oil Paintings. You must be sure of what you are buying. Any oil painting is worth only what someone is prepared to pay for it. I tell my artists that a fair price to start from when pricing a work is double the amount it cost in materials and the sum amount of the hours it took to paint it, determined of course by the amount the artist expects to earn per hour. Any increment after that is essentially a grey area and inextricably linked to the quality and skills of the individual artist. Something you might choose to argue in your negotiations before you buy. This type of artwork is at least “honest” and “original” so our two rules apply again. The other type of Original Oil Painting is a very different story. I only need to say two words of warning, “Far East”. China, Taiwan, South Korea etc are all wonderful suppliers of “Original Oil Paintings”. They are very nice, painted by talented hands, but far from unique and even further from original. Many such paintings travel along a line of workers for each to add their individual bit, be it clouds, trees or rippling stream. The same rules apply – so long as you know “what” you are buying.
To Summarise
Shop at a reputable gallery, listen to what you are told with your ears open, ask plenty of questions, never allow yourself to be “sold” a picture, only buy pictures not promises, unless you are an expert don’t expect to buy as an investment, try to resist buying from a stack of identical pictures on a shelf, purchase strictly by the two rules and as you do, remember one last thought. The pictures on your wall tell others more about you than you might think. Consider the pictures you or your friends own now. What do they tell you about the people living in that house? Are they sporty, humorous, well travelled, pretentious, old fashioned, modern, driven by the herd, spontaneous, lovers of safe recognised artists, cultured or haven’t they got a clue? You be the judge but for what ever reason, do allow yourself to enjoy your chosen art whatever it may be and to yourself be true. After all, your taste in art is as individual as you are – or it should be.
So, “art” for the home is nothing new. What is new is its’ abundance. Art is much more available now than it has ever been and the variety of things to choose from has never been more diverse. These days we can buy images of anything from architecture to erotica. We can buy it easier too. There is art on the internet, in furniture stores, high street galleries or even at the multiple outlet retailers who tempt us with their range of mass produced “two year tops - skip fodder”. We are literally spoilt for choice of things to buy.
But what should we buy and where should we buy it? Anyone can hang a picture on the wall, it’s easy. Buy something suitable, bang a nail in the wall, hang it up – job done! But that, dear reader, is as far from the truth as it is possible to get. In my opinion there are just three types of people who buy art. Those with genuine artistic appreciation and an eye for real talent, those who find it hard to make a distinction between creativity and an unmade bed and, probably worst of all – the decorists. What are “decorists” you may well ask – and so you should, for you might indeed be one of them.
Decorists are that happy band of picture hunters who never go shopping without their little bag of accoutrements. This essential selection of undeniable criteria can include many and diverse items. But those most commonly in place in their “art trappers bag” will be a swatch of curtain material, a piece of wallpaper, piping from the edge of a cushion, a lump of laminate flooring or the front of a draw from the new kitchen units. These people are to be helped and understood, for they are not responsible for their actions. They suffer from a condition you could call “refititis” which is usually caused or at least irritated by watching too many telly “experts” telling them that a piece of MDF painted the exact colour to match those items in their bag, is as good to hang up in your home as something genuinely artistic that employed real talent in its creation. Pretty though that may make your home, shallow is what it makes you.
There are only two rules to apply to the purchase of a picture for personal use in a private home.
1. Buy what you truly like to look at.
2. Spend what you can afford.
Such rules can, of course, be greatly extended but, simplistically, these are the two that really determine the purchase of most pictures sold today. What is more important is to understand what a picture is and what it does for you and your home. This is a topic that should provoke the whole picture industry to book a hall at the N.E.C. for a national debate, but here it is as I see it:
- The only place you should buy your pictures from is a specialist gallery – or the artist?
That’s generally sound advice. In both cases you can ask pertinent questions relating to the “art” and you should be able to expect a “sensible” answer. But watch out! Both can be biased and both are hungry to take your money off you. So, listen and take their advice with caution. Beware of the “independent” galleries that I call “Pubs”. These purport to be selling quality art that “you simply must be collecting right now”. What they are really doing is trying to shift their stock of sole supplier, industry dictated, over priced limited edition prints by artists who, once their day in the limelight is over, may be as worthless as that tennis player scratching her bare bottom. Essentially, there is nothing wrong with buying such pictures, the artistry is mostly excellent and very worthy of being featured in your home, so long as you are aware that what you are buying is often a “fashionable piece” and like your hair style in your wedding photos, may look bloody ridiculous in years to come. Whether you are told, with all genuine intention, that “this is a good investment”, choose not to believe it. The advice may well be right. But don’t take the risk. Stick to the two rules, if you like it and can afford it buy it.
- Pictures are much cheaper at the superstores.
Yes, they certainly can be – and for very good reason. Now, call me a snob if you like but for the same reasons I don’t go to Spain for my holidays to sit on a beach full of thousands of other overweight fat English people, I don’t buy pictures from a pallet in Ikea. I simply don’t want to make my personal space exactly the same as everyone else’s. If I had been born a Cow or a Sheep I’m sure I would have walked away from the rest of the Herd or Flock to stand on my own. But, same rules… if you like it, there’s no one on this planet to say you can’t have it. Just don’t invite me round for dinner.
- I only buy original Oil Paintings.
Very good, you are on the road to enlightenment and freedom of expression. However, you must be careful here too. There are original Oil Paintings and, wait for it, original Oil Paintings. You must be sure of what you are buying. Any oil painting is worth only what someone is prepared to pay for it. I tell my artists that a fair price to start from when pricing a work is double the amount it cost in materials and the sum amount of the hours it took to paint it, determined of course by the amount the artist expects to earn per hour. Any increment after that is essentially a grey area and inextricably linked to the quality and skills of the individual artist. Something you might choose to argue in your negotiations before you buy. This type of artwork is at least “honest” and “original” so our two rules apply again. The other type of Original Oil Painting is a very different story. I only need to say two words of warning, “Far East”. China, Taiwan, South Korea etc are all wonderful suppliers of “Original Oil Paintings”. They are very nice, painted by talented hands, but far from unique and even further from original. Many such paintings travel along a line of workers for each to add their individual bit, be it clouds, trees or rippling stream. The same rules apply – so long as you know “what” you are buying.
To Summarise
Shop at a reputable gallery, listen to what you are told with your ears open, ask plenty of questions, never allow yourself to be “sold” a picture, only buy pictures not promises, unless you are an expert don’t expect to buy as an investment, try to resist buying from a stack of identical pictures on a shelf, purchase strictly by the two rules and as you do, remember one last thought. The pictures on your wall tell others more about you than you might think. Consider the pictures you or your friends own now. What do they tell you about the people living in that house? Are they sporty, humorous, well travelled, pretentious, old fashioned, modern, driven by the herd, spontaneous, lovers of safe recognised artists, cultured or haven’t they got a clue? You be the judge but for what ever reason, do allow yourself to enjoy your chosen art whatever it may be and to yourself be true. After all, your taste in art is as individual as you are – or it should be.
Where Everybody Knows Your Name
Life today is full of stress and anxiety. There is so much pressure to perform socially, professionally, and personally that it takes everything that the average person has not to go completely insane. All this stress and anxiety can easily build up in a person's mind, if left unattended. The steady build-up of anxiety and enormous stress can actually lead to serious psychological illnesses.
Relieving stress and anxiety early on is key to prevent serious mental disorders. But the ultimate question is: How can you find effective anxiety relief?
You might decide to take pills for anxiety relief, as there are medications that are designed to help with that. After all, like most moods and states of mind, anxiety, excessive worrying, and stress are firmly rooted in the brain's complex biochemistry. Since most anxiety relief drugs are of the psychoactive sort, meaning they affect the chemical and neural responses of the central nervous system. That means that your typical anxiety relief medication might have side-effects on your mental health, which could end up being worse than the stress and anxiety in the first place.
There is, however, one particular alternative to the expensive anxiety medication products you might find in the market. Anxiety relief need not come in the form of a pill, after all. Anxiety medication doesn't even have to come in the form of a bottle, though small amounts of alcohol during particularly stressful times can really help. Perhaps the simplest, oldest, and easiest anxiety relief out there comes in the form of the people around you. The best way to relieve stress could very well be simply gathering your close friends in a place where the sources of stress are as far away from you as Pluto is from the sun. This idea is best exemplified by the lyrics of that old Gary Portnoy song:
Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name.
As the song says, sometimes the best way to relieve yourself of the burdens and stresses of everyday life is to go to a place where you and a few friends can just take some time out and relax. For some people, this might come in the form of a pub where the gang can gather around and tell stories of their lives. Nothing like a little ranting and raving to blow off some steam, after all. This approach is usually better with a little alcohol thrown in, just to loosen the inhibitions a bit. However, it is advised that people who take this route to avoid too much alcohol intake.
To be honest, any location where a group of friends can gather and talk freely, without worrying about the boss listening in or being rebuked by somebody. A pub, an apartment, or a coffee shop can all serve as a venue for people to relieve stress and feel liberated from the “mask” they wear while at work. It is in these sorts of environments that people can cut loose and just let everything roll out without really paying much attention to the potential consequences. It is in environments such as the above where people can just sit back, let go, and unwind. In the end, isn't taking a little time to relax a better method of anxiety relief than expensive medications?
Relieving stress and anxiety early on is key to prevent serious mental disorders. But the ultimate question is: How can you find effective anxiety relief?
You might decide to take pills for anxiety relief, as there are medications that are designed to help with that. After all, like most moods and states of mind, anxiety, excessive worrying, and stress are firmly rooted in the brain's complex biochemistry. Since most anxiety relief drugs are of the psychoactive sort, meaning they affect the chemical and neural responses of the central nervous system. That means that your typical anxiety relief medication might have side-effects on your mental health, which could end up being worse than the stress and anxiety in the first place.
There is, however, one particular alternative to the expensive anxiety medication products you might find in the market. Anxiety relief need not come in the form of a pill, after all. Anxiety medication doesn't even have to come in the form of a bottle, though small amounts of alcohol during particularly stressful times can really help. Perhaps the simplest, oldest, and easiest anxiety relief out there comes in the form of the people around you. The best way to relieve stress could very well be simply gathering your close friends in a place where the sources of stress are as far away from you as Pluto is from the sun. This idea is best exemplified by the lyrics of that old Gary Portnoy song:
Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name.
As the song says, sometimes the best way to relieve yourself of the burdens and stresses of everyday life is to go to a place where you and a few friends can just take some time out and relax. For some people, this might come in the form of a pub where the gang can gather around and tell stories of their lives. Nothing like a little ranting and raving to blow off some steam, after all. This approach is usually better with a little alcohol thrown in, just to loosen the inhibitions a bit. However, it is advised that people who take this route to avoid too much alcohol intake.
To be honest, any location where a group of friends can gather and talk freely, without worrying about the boss listening in or being rebuked by somebody. A pub, an apartment, or a coffee shop can all serve as a venue for people to relieve stress and feel liberated from the “mask” they wear while at work. It is in these sorts of environments that people can cut loose and just let everything roll out without really paying much attention to the potential consequences. It is in environments such as the above where people can just sit back, let go, and unwind. In the end, isn't taking a little time to relax a better method of anxiety relief than expensive medications?
Where To Find Concert Tickets And Other Event Tickets
Concerts have long since become the popular way to see your favorite bands perform. Although there are very few free concerts, OzzFest is offering free tickets for its 2007 tour. The only thing you need to do is order the printable tickets online. Now for those who want to see Keith Urban or American Idol, you can look to other websites that buy and sell tickets. The first choice is www.ticketsinstock.com, which has tickets for every event possible. Whether you live in the United States or Canada, you can buy these tickets online.
When you look for tickets online, you need a place that is secure, easy to use and a site that gives you a choice of seating. The cost should be affordable with easy to find seating guides. If you need to see a bio of your favorite group, www.ticketsinstock.com has all this information as well. In all looking for affordable tickets starts with finding the time and date of the event and then doing a search for that specific ticket. Once you find the tickets you are looking for, you can then pick the seats that you want, then just pay for your tickets and you are done.
Now if you want to talk to a live person, www.ticketsinstock,com has live chat or an 800 number for obtaining more information. When you need tickets, why look through the classified advertisements when you can see all the information in one place online. The perfect way to shop is sitting in front of the computer.
You might find ticket fast tickets ready to be shipped out, hard tickets ready to be shipped out, premium seat hard tickets and soft tickets ready for emailing. Whatever the need for tickets you can find what you need online at www.ticketsinstock.com. This is always better then trying some of the other websites that are always so busy. Why buy tickets the first day, wait and see who is selling their tickets because of plan changes.
When you need tickets for NASCAR, boxing tickets or comedy tickets, you can find everything at www.ticketsinstock.com even tickets for something you might have forgotten about. If you have tickets, you need to sell, just fill out the form and submit it to the administrator and you will be on your way to selling your tickets. They do all the work for you and you just sit back and relax.
When you look for tickets online, you need a place that is secure, easy to use and a site that gives you a choice of seating. The cost should be affordable with easy to find seating guides. If you need to see a bio of your favorite group, www.ticketsinstock.com has all this information as well. In all looking for affordable tickets starts with finding the time and date of the event and then doing a search for that specific ticket. Once you find the tickets you are looking for, you can then pick the seats that you want, then just pay for your tickets and you are done.
Now if you want to talk to a live person, www.ticketsinstock,com has live chat or an 800 number for obtaining more information. When you need tickets, why look through the classified advertisements when you can see all the information in one place online. The perfect way to shop is sitting in front of the computer.
You might find ticket fast tickets ready to be shipped out, hard tickets ready to be shipped out, premium seat hard tickets and soft tickets ready for emailing. Whatever the need for tickets you can find what you need online at www.ticketsinstock.com. This is always better then trying some of the other websites that are always so busy. Why buy tickets the first day, wait and see who is selling their tickets because of plan changes.
When you need tickets for NASCAR, boxing tickets or comedy tickets, you can find everything at www.ticketsinstock.com even tickets for something you might have forgotten about. If you have tickets, you need to sell, just fill out the form and submit it to the administrator and you will be on your way to selling your tickets. They do all the work for you and you just sit back and relax.
Which Abstract Art? - Making A Strong Personal Statement
You are a connoisseur - when it comes to choosing a work of abstract art.
Just like choosing a good wine ... it is all down to personal taste. If you like it then that is good enough - regardless of what others might think.
But how do you go about choosing the right painting to say what YOU want it to say. Different pictures make different assertions.
Here are some major statements:
1. Simply filling a wall space
2. Harmonizing your decor
3. Proclaiming your artistic prowess and astute eye for a good investment
4. Provocation
The first is in many ways the simplest to deal with. However, you do not want spaces filled with just anything so lets take a little time to consider the situation.
Choose a particular area - notice how the room relates to the space. The most common observation is of course that you are gazing at a number of straight lines - both horizontal and vertical. These in turn produce intertwining rectangles of varying sizes. Therefore the obvious choice would be to choose a work that is split up by straight lines, or includes rectangles. Once you are happy about the shapes you will be looking for then comes the colour. If you just want something decorative then a painting with similar colours to the surrounding area will tend to blend in, filling the space but not being too visible - a little like background music. If you are looking for something a bit stronger then look for bright or deep colours but of similar hue to the surrounding area. Having said that choosing a picture which has a lot of straight areas AND includes a splash of some other shape (say a broken circle or a gash of colour) will add a little extra dimension to the space to be filled. And if you want something even louder then you will have to wait until we talk about the provocation or challenge.
Harmonizing a room is a larger quest. Many people have succesfully harmonized their spaces using Feng Shui, and you will find many websites giving you specific tips. But you can make it far more personal by using your own observation and personal taste. To some the colour red means drama, alertness, and action, whilst others see green as relaxing, refreshing, light, and cool. What colours, then, would you regard as appropriate for your space? Put another way - what kind of space are you looking at? A quiet corner? A games area? The dinning room? ... Verbalize what the space is, then begin associating the space with the colour. For instance if I think of a dining area I am immediately taken back to my childhood ... dinner was served in a room of deep dark brown and light grey. I associate brown with food things like roasted food, chocolate, and that gravy my mother used to make - dark, delicious, and such a wonderful homely smell! Part of the beauty of harmonizing your space is that you can choose a number of paintings - all by the same artist. They will be different - and yet the same ... like an orchestra of different instruments all producing the same musical piece.
If you wish to be seen as an active knowledgeable art collector then you will have a lot of work to do. You will need to see what is the latest in abstract art - and make your own decisions as to whether you agree or if you dare to try to find your own choice of more innovative work. Do not just choose the well known artists - hunt out some of the more obscure painters. Find out as much as you can about them - get a "feel" for them and their work. You could end up being a trend setter, which will require you to make choices that many people will vehemently disagree with - but then again you might be the first to discover a true artistic genius. You are also at the cross roads between harmony and challenge. You can have one or the other ... or both! In this case the world is your oyster (that is if your budget will stretch that far).
The provocation is perhaps the most personal decision. Here your own history, your own personal life, your individual attitude to others and the whole world will be displayed - naked for all to see. Therefore it will be worth shouting about won't it!. Earlier we spoke about harmony - in this section disharmony, anarchy, aggression, and shock tactics are the rule of thumb. You will need to be precise in choosing your particular challenge. Once you have found it then seek out the painters who look towards the extreme of things - This is a dangerous yet exciting world where you may find yourself shocked. And just like the avid horror film buff, you may be looking for that image which will take you just a little bit further towards the edge ... and others WILL follow.
Just like choosing a good wine ... it is all down to personal taste. If you like it then that is good enough - regardless of what others might think.
But how do you go about choosing the right painting to say what YOU want it to say. Different pictures make different assertions.
Here are some major statements:
1. Simply filling a wall space
2. Harmonizing your decor
3. Proclaiming your artistic prowess and astute eye for a good investment
4. Provocation
The first is in many ways the simplest to deal with. However, you do not want spaces filled with just anything so lets take a little time to consider the situation.
Choose a particular area - notice how the room relates to the space. The most common observation is of course that you are gazing at a number of straight lines - both horizontal and vertical. These in turn produce intertwining rectangles of varying sizes. Therefore the obvious choice would be to choose a work that is split up by straight lines, or includes rectangles. Once you are happy about the shapes you will be looking for then comes the colour. If you just want something decorative then a painting with similar colours to the surrounding area will tend to blend in, filling the space but not being too visible - a little like background music. If you are looking for something a bit stronger then look for bright or deep colours but of similar hue to the surrounding area. Having said that choosing a picture which has a lot of straight areas AND includes a splash of some other shape (say a broken circle or a gash of colour) will add a little extra dimension to the space to be filled. And if you want something even louder then you will have to wait until we talk about the provocation or challenge.
Harmonizing a room is a larger quest. Many people have succesfully harmonized their spaces using Feng Shui, and you will find many websites giving you specific tips. But you can make it far more personal by using your own observation and personal taste. To some the colour red means drama, alertness, and action, whilst others see green as relaxing, refreshing, light, and cool. What colours, then, would you regard as appropriate for your space? Put another way - what kind of space are you looking at? A quiet corner? A games area? The dinning room? ... Verbalize what the space is, then begin associating the space with the colour. For instance if I think of a dining area I am immediately taken back to my childhood ... dinner was served in a room of deep dark brown and light grey. I associate brown with food things like roasted food, chocolate, and that gravy my mother used to make - dark, delicious, and such a wonderful homely smell! Part of the beauty of harmonizing your space is that you can choose a number of paintings - all by the same artist. They will be different - and yet the same ... like an orchestra of different instruments all producing the same musical piece.
If you wish to be seen as an active knowledgeable art collector then you will have a lot of work to do. You will need to see what is the latest in abstract art - and make your own decisions as to whether you agree or if you dare to try to find your own choice of more innovative work. Do not just choose the well known artists - hunt out some of the more obscure painters. Find out as much as you can about them - get a "feel" for them and their work. You could end up being a trend setter, which will require you to make choices that many people will vehemently disagree with - but then again you might be the first to discover a true artistic genius. You are also at the cross roads between harmony and challenge. You can have one or the other ... or both! In this case the world is your oyster (that is if your budget will stretch that far).
The provocation is perhaps the most personal decision. Here your own history, your own personal life, your individual attitude to others and the whole world will be displayed - naked for all to see. Therefore it will be worth shouting about won't it!. Earlier we spoke about harmony - in this section disharmony, anarchy, aggression, and shock tactics are the rule of thumb. You will need to be precise in choosing your particular challenge. Once you have found it then seek out the painters who look towards the extreme of things - This is a dangerous yet exciting world where you may find yourself shocked. And just like the avid horror film buff, you may be looking for that image which will take you just a little bit further towards the edge ... and others WILL follow.
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