Introduction
We all know someone like my friend Carol. She has done fairly well for herself and holds down a reasonable job. She works as a primary school teacher here in the U.K. but quite frankly her salary is nothing to write home about. Yet, (and this is the amazing thing), Carol always seems to be able to take the most remarkable holidays outside of term time. Amongst our group of friends she is known as the “supremo of cheap last minute foreign holidays” as she always seems to be away on some Caribbean cruise or safari in Africa. One of her cheap vacations last year wasn’t quite so glamorous - she visited Argentina and stayed in some metal shack type accommodation, but when you are literally booking holidays at the last second you have to be prepared to take the rough with the smooth sometimes.
All in all, I know that Carol has had some great experiences and doesn’t regret any of the holidays she has taken. She is the most travelled person I know, which can only enrich the lives of the children she teaches. A couple of months I invited Carol over to my house for dinner with an ulterior motive in mind. I had been curious about her ability to find the low-cost holidays for some time and finally my inquisitiveness had got the better of me. The moment I had served dinner I decided to ask her outright how she managed to afford so many wonderful exotic holidays each year. She stared back at me for a moment, with a somewhat perplexed look on her faced as if I was trying to pry into her soul for some dark secret she was keeping, then she merely gave the answer that I had been expecting all along. She told me she used websites like lastminute.com to source the best holiday at the best price. However there was more to it that this – to Carol what had started as a bit of fun had now become a regular pastime. Carol admitted that she spent a lot of her free time searching out the best deals.
Part of the reason for me asking the question of Carol was that I had a holiday planned and needed to find a cheap vacation myself. When I asked for her best tips she really surprised me. From what little she had told me so far that her methods I assumed Carol found all of her low cost holidays by searching the Internet. But this was not the case. It transpired that Carol had many contacts in the travel industry itself, and could receive a call from personal call from any one of them at any time with an offer of holiday a discounted price. Because they had known Carol for a long time, they were familiar with her requirements exactly, they were well aware of her personal situation in terms of here availability i.e. when she did not work and the fact that she would be willing to travel at a moments notice Because of Carol’s availability and willingness to travel, this made her a very good contact to have for the travel agents and this was reciprocated by the agents in that Carol’s was able to get some of the very best deals available.
Conclusion
If you are looking for cheap last minute foreign holidays and cheap vacations, keep a close eye on site like last minute.com. That said, it is equally important to develop a close relationship with you local travel agent, making then aware of you exact requirements in terms of location and price and contact them often.
Thursday, 10 January 2008
13 Things Women Want in a Man
You may think that women want someone who is buffed and tanned and looks like a bodybuilder model from GQ. Those things are nice and yes we like to look at those guys, but just like you don’t need for us to look like Victoria Secret models we don’t require it in our man. OK. The 13 most important qualities that women look for in a man are: 1. Honesty 2. Intelligence 3. Nice Smile 4. Sense of Humor 5. Manners 6. Sensitivity 7. Sincerity 8. Gainfully employed 9. Has own place 10. Owns a car 11. Affectionate 12. Considerate 13. Thoughtful OK. First things first. Honesty is the NUMBER ONE trait that women look for in a man. That doesn’t mean to be brutally honest and tell her she looks fat. (Never do that) but we want to know that we can trust that what you are telling us is the truth. If you’ve lied in the past it will be a very cold day in Hell before she trusts you again. And she may want to check your phone messages and read your email and call you 10 times a day to feel secure that you’re trustworthy again. You may not like that but if you lie it may be the price you have to pay. Intelligence: Women want to feel safe and protected and we want our men to be smart. Maybe even smarter than us. Women feel that your brain is your sexiest organ. So dazzle us with your brain and you will be surprised how stimulated we become. Kick her ass at “Jeopardy” and watch what happens. Smile: We love your smile. We can’t get enough of it. It makes us want to touch you and kiss you. So brush and floss and see your dentist and keep your mouth kissably fresh. Sense of Humor: If you can keep us laughing you are golden. We love to laugh and we love a man who can make us laugh. This goes back to the smart thing as well. You have to be smart to be humorous. We like a man who’s humor challenges us. Leave that 3 Stooges stuff for the guys. Women don’t appreciate 12 year old juvenile humor. Manners: Little things like manners are very important. Women don’t want their man to drive up and reach over from the driver’s seat and open the passenger door or just wait for us to open the door. A little old fashioned chivalry goes a long way. Escort the lady to the car and open the door for her. We love to be treated like queens. It makes us feel like you think we’re special. And hopefully you do think she’s special. We love a man with manners. We know we can take him home and our parents will love him. We don’t want to have to worry about what you might do or say. We want to be with a man not a boy. That means no farting, belching, toe or nose picking, spitting, or smacking your lips when you eat. We want to know we can take you in public and we won’t be embarrassed. And don’t forget we also like to show you off to our girlfriends and we want them to approve. You want the girlfriends to think you’re a “Keeper”. Sensitive: That whole thing about being “Sensitive” and getting in touch with your “Feminine Side” are all very true. A woman is waaaay more attracted to a man who isn’t afraid to show his feelings and be gentle and sensitive. We actually think that makes you more manly. A man who clams up and thinks being macho is what we want is very wrong. One of the things that is extremely attractive to a woman is when it’s obvious that you are attracted to us. There is nothing hotter than seeing how much we turn you on. Don’t be afraid to show that. But of course there are limits and this can easily be overdone. Be careful about showing things like that at work or you might find yourself in a sexual harassment situation. And if you decide to try to tip your hand to a woman and show your interest, remember to keep it subtle. No woman likes a STALKER or a HORNDOG! We love to know that we are getting to you, but not in an obnoxious way. You may have to make some changes in your behavior. But of course, they’ll be changes for the better and you will most likely be happier for it. Sincerity: This is a little like honesty, but what I mean is if you need to change some of your behaviors to be more attractive to women then don’t just do it to get the girl. This is something that has to be real. If you think that’s not you, then maybe you should think about making a change. You can decide you don’t want to change, that you like yourself the way you are, but if that was working for you then you probably wouldn’t be reading this article. You were drawn to this piece because you must truly want to know how to be better with women and if you sincerely do then you may need to take an honest look at yourself and decide what you want because it has to be real. Employed: OK. This is a no-brainer, but truthfully there are some men out there without jobs that think they can get all the women they want. I have no idea what makes them think that, but their egos are on overtime. Women need security and we want a man who can provide for us. That doesn’t mean we don’t want to work, but it does mean that we want to know that you are a responsible MAN. Has Own Place: OK. Matthew McConaughey was really cute in Failure to Launch but that was a comedy. Seriously we don’t want to have a sleepover at your Mom’s house. Having your own place just shows us again that you are a responsible adult. And it does help if your place is decorated nicely. I don’t mean you have to hire a decorator, but we’re not drawn to frathouse chic. Impress us with your style. Again we want MEN not BOYS! Has Own Car: This may not be important if you live in New York or in a place where the public transportation makes owning a car unnecessary but in most of the world you need a car to pick up your date and take her out. It is important to mention here that even though we love luxury cars we don’t need that in our man. Women love men with all kinds of cars, but FYI keep your car clean (especially the inside). Nothing says SLOB more than a dirty car. Take out the fast food wrappers and keep it neat and smelling nice. Affectionate: We really do love to touch and be touched. And I am not talking sexually here. But try holding her hand when she’s not expecting it or gently rubbing her back. Little touchy things like that mean a lot. Rub her arm when you’re reading the paper or do little things like foot and hand massages. Women love that. Be Considerate: We appreciate the little things like holding a door open or not walking ahead of us. If we’re sleeping make sure you turn out the light when you leave. Show her you care by picking up after yourself. When you get some dessert out of the fridge ask if she’d like some or make sure you leave some for her. Just basic consideration is so important to us. Thoughtfullness: This may sound like consideration, but it goes a little further. Being thoughtful of her needs goes a long way. Maybe give her a call from work just to see how she’s doing. While we love that we don’t want to be smothered with a bunch of calls all day long. Bring something home for her when you go to the store, like some fresh flowers (I know that’s cliché, but that’s because it works) or maybe some of her favorite ice cream…just because. This shows us that you are thinking of us and that makes us feel important and special. Those 2 words important and special should be burned into your brain. If you can always make a woman feel important and special you will be an irrisistable Chick Magnet.
Why Study The Japanese Language?
You may ask yourself why start learning Japanese, a language which at the first sight appears very hard, almost impossible to learn. However this is not true, as the Japanese language is not very difficult to learn and if you think about it, there are numerous reasons for which you should learn it. You should know that Japan has one of the most influential economies in the world and there and many of the largest companies in the world are situated in this country. More and more western companies have offices in Japan and if you are to work there for a period of time, not knowing the language may be quite frustrating. You should see Japan from other aspects as well, not only the economical ones. It is a country with an extremely rich culture and history and the Japan’s natural beauty is overwhelming for any visitor. Everyone who had visited Japan agree that is a magnificent country. There are other reasons for which people learn the language. Many elements of the Japanese culture, both modern and classic, found their way into the western culture. Japanese cartoons and video games are very popular in today’s society and many people, especially young ones, enjoy reading and playing them. There are numerous video games that do not reach the western countries and in order to play them you need to know the language. Japan is known for setting quite a few trends and by knowing the language enables you to read Japanese websites and newspapers and you will be ahead of your friends in setting the newest trend. Knowing another foreign language can have a major impact on your personal life. Most people ad on their resume their Spanish or French knowing abilities, but very few people can prove that they know this exotic language. An employer who has Japanese business partners can be highly interested in you and your multilingual skills if you know the language. You can later use the Japanese knowing skills for getting a better job in a large multinational company. Just imagine working and living in Japan for some time. The Japanese culture is one of the richest in the world. If you are interested in foreign cultures, you will be able to better understand their habits, way of life and traditions. And you will see that Japan has ones of the most beautiful traditions in the world. Your resume will stand out sure when it comes to multilingual abilities in front of an employer. Even if he does not require any Japanese knowing personnel, you can prove him that you are an active person, always willing to learn something new and do not get scared away from unknown tasks. You can find out more about studying Japanese at http://www.whylearnjapanese.com And just imagine the ability to impress your family and friends with your new known language. Members of the opposite sex might even be impressed by your skills with this exotic language. And another reason for which you should learn Japanese is that the language is not as hard to learn as it may seem at first.
15 Secrets To Boost Your I.Q In Less Than 30 Days
The same reason that people visit the gym on a regular basis, is probably the same reason you’re interested in raising your IQ. We just aren’t challenged enough physically or mentally. Setting aside time to work your mind out and organizing your various mental muscles can help you to be more creative, solve problems quicker and focus on the things you want. Contrary to what most people believe, brainpower goes beyond inherited genes. Scientists have proven that intelligence is a combination of both genes and environment. When laboratory rats were given more toys to interact with, they ended up having much smarter rats than the ones that did not have any toys. Studies have also shown that you can grow more neurons with a stimulating environment. The benefits of being mentally fit are very obvious. You’ll be able to enjoy accelerated learning. If you’re in high school, college or attend a university, you may find yourself having an easier time of your studies and your grade point average raising. You’ll also find yourself being able to think logically more often. You’ll be able to assemble a clear line of logic and reasoning that can help you make better decisions in life. Another benefit is that of increased creativity. Whether you’re into music, art, writing or any other form of art, training your mind can definitely open the flood gates of creativity in those areas as well. In addition, your memory and focus will increase. Training with certain kinds of memory tools such as pegging and linking can help you uncover new ways to store information permanently and have an easier time of recalling things. Through meditation, your focus can improve greatly. You can start by meditating 10 or 15 minutes a day. Simply find a quiet place and sit or lay completely still, with eyes closed. Then, as much as possible, quiet your mind and focus on your breathing. If you’re not used to doing this, it may be extremely difficult. That’s ok. The more you do it, the easier it gets. As you stick with it, you’ll notice some very big improvements of being able to hold ideas and imagines in your mind much longer and stronger. So how can you boost your IQ in less than 30 days? Here are the key secrets: 1. Write – when you write down your thoughts, it can be a great tool for you to reflect and make decisions. Some people use journals to write down their thoughts, others have simple notepads or notebooks. Simply writing what you think and feel can help you have a new perspective when you go back and read those words. 2. Meditate – as already stated, you can significantly boost your IQ through meditation. It may not seem logical, that you could boost your IQ by thinking about nothing at all, but it does help you bridge a connection from your conscious to your subconscious mind. And the subconscious stores every bit of data of our lives. Nothing is lost to the subconscious. 3. Be active – if you’re not already active, start a regular exercise routine. Having a healthy body also affects the mind. 4. Have Hobbies – have a regular routine of doing things you love to do, whether it’s fishing, bowling, bicycling, knitting, or reading a mystery novel. The more fun and passion you experience, the easier it will be to process and assimilate new information. 5. Read at least 15 minutes a day – Try to read at least 15 minutes a day. It may be hard to read if you’re pressed for time, but 15 minutes is very doable by anyone of this day and age. 6. Think – involve yourself in documentaries, books, magazines or board games that make you think. Actively challenge your current assumptions. 7. Study IQ puzzles – visit your local book store and buy yourself a couple of IQ puzzles or crossword puzzles. Make sure you get ones that have the answers in the back so that you can work out any mistakes. Go over them again and again. It keeps your mind sharp. 8. Play competitive games like chess. You can log on to the Internet and play with other players around the world. You can also play billiards. 9. Walk in someone else’s shoes – empathy goes along with IQ intelligence. By exploring someone else’s perspective of the world can help you to think through other people’s eyes. Although this is not a logical reasoning ability, it is an ability that can help you think out of the box when you’re stumped on a problem. 10. Create something on a regular basis – find something you can create, whether it’s writing an ebook, building a bird house, planting a flower, overhauling a car engine, or drawing a picture. Use your creative powers on a regular basis. 11. Conduct thought experiments – Ask yourself “what if” questions. Write them down and see how far you can take a certain question. 12. Break out of the routine – try to consciously break a routine, even if just for a short time. If for example you drive the same way to work every day, try a new route. If you sleep on the left side of the bed, sleep on the right side, or even the opposite direction. 13. Explore new cultures – seek different worldviews than your own. Meet people from other cultures and let them teach you about their food, language and traditions. 14. Learn outside of your usual interests – don’t stick to the same old things. If you like rock music, try listening to rap or jazz. If you’re into art or music, get into a programming language. 15. Use your brain more – Force yourself to use your brain more in everything that you do. In many cases its just having the intention to use your brain more that can actually give you surprising results. Logic, focus and creativity are a handful of mental muscles that you should be exercising on a regular basis. These techniques can definitely help you boost your IQ, no matter who you are. If you’re looking to join a high IQ society, like MENSA, then are two ways to go about it. The first is to submit your GRE scores. The other is to let MENSA send you a supervised test. In my opinion, if you haven’t completed your GRE yet, you may find it easier to take the GRE after having studied GRE test books. You can get them at any major book seller. By implementing these IQ boosting strategies for the next 30 days, you can significantly increase your Intelligence Quotient.
Students: Control Your Debt
Each year, a majority of students leaving college come home close to $20,000 in debt, not including the student loans. One of the main reasons students come home in debt is because of the majority of credit card offers on campus. Since credit cards aren’t a bad thing, it all comes down to the person that is in charge of using them.
A credit card is only bad if you abuse the powers. If a student is going to go out and purchase things he/she can’t afford, they will soon find out that they will be over their head in no time. The main reason this is, is because they don’t physically hand of the money. Instead, they hand a plastic card over that has no value.
There are many ways to control your debt but the first thing it comes down to is the person using the credit card. If a person can accept their responsibility and be able to control their spending habits, you’ll be past the hardest step in no time.
In order to achieve these first two goals, there are other optional steps that you can take in order to stop your debt in no time. If you follow these steps and use them religiously, you will find your net worth will go from the gutter to the positive side in no time.
One of the best things to do when you’re controlling you debt is to use your debit card. If you don’t have one, contact your bank immediately and have it linked to your checking account. This way you’re able to see how much you’re spending each time you use. An easy to way to control how much you’re spending is to create an online bank account user name. This will immediately post each transaction you have.
Next, you’ll want to create a budget. A budget is helpful for month to month activities. This will show you how much money is going out and in. This will also give you a better overall picture of how your finances are. It’s usually best to add in savings as a bill too so that you can save a little bit on the side as well. If you stick with your budget, this will be one of the best debt fighters in the long run.
These are just a few ideas when it comes to fighting debt. In the long run, you should use your imagination on creative ways to save money. Instead of going out to eat, buy a cheap can of soup and make a tuna fish sandwich. That right there will save you a few bucks. If you continue to be creative and get into the habit of doing these things, you won’t have a probably at all with paying off your debt after college.
If you come out of college in debt, don’t let it get you down because you’re not alone. In fact, you’re in the majority. If you’re motivated and have a strong mind, you’ll be able to kiss your debt goodbye in no time.
A credit card is only bad if you abuse the powers. If a student is going to go out and purchase things he/she can’t afford, they will soon find out that they will be over their head in no time. The main reason this is, is because they don’t physically hand of the money. Instead, they hand a plastic card over that has no value.
There are many ways to control your debt but the first thing it comes down to is the person using the credit card. If a person can accept their responsibility and be able to control their spending habits, you’ll be past the hardest step in no time.
In order to achieve these first two goals, there are other optional steps that you can take in order to stop your debt in no time. If you follow these steps and use them religiously, you will find your net worth will go from the gutter to the positive side in no time.
One of the best things to do when you’re controlling you debt is to use your debit card. If you don’t have one, contact your bank immediately and have it linked to your checking account. This way you’re able to see how much you’re spending each time you use. An easy to way to control how much you’re spending is to create an online bank account user name. This will immediately post each transaction you have.
Next, you’ll want to create a budget. A budget is helpful for month to month activities. This will show you how much money is going out and in. This will also give you a better overall picture of how your finances are. It’s usually best to add in savings as a bill too so that you can save a little bit on the side as well. If you stick with your budget, this will be one of the best debt fighters in the long run.
These are just a few ideas when it comes to fighting debt. In the long run, you should use your imagination on creative ways to save money. Instead of going out to eat, buy a cheap can of soup and make a tuna fish sandwich. That right there will save you a few bucks. If you continue to be creative and get into the habit of doing these things, you won’t have a probably at all with paying off your debt after college.
If you come out of college in debt, don’t let it get you down because you’re not alone. In fact, you’re in the majority. If you’re motivated and have a strong mind, you’ll be able to kiss your debt goodbye in no time.
Coffee: What Are The Health Benefits?
If you are a coffee drinker, you no doubt have asked yourself how much coffee is it safe for you to consume on a daily basis. This is not surprising since so much has been blamed on coffee. Heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, you name it. At one time or another, coffee has been made to blame. Coffee has joined the ranks of red wine and chocolate as a guilty pleasure that may actually be good for you. As much as it is a great way to get that fix in the morning, recent studies have shown that coffee has been found to be rich in antioxidants and contains hundreds of pain-relieving and anti-bacterial compounds. Although one should not drink coffee with wild abandon, it's comforting to know that maybe that cup or two in the morning may be good for you. Here is a statistic to ponder: did you know that there are over 160 million coffee drinkers in the Unites States alone? In terms of consumption, the average American consumes 8.8 lbs. of coffee per year. But consider this: the world leader in terms of consumption is Finland which comes in at nearly 30 lbs per year. That's a lot of coffee!
Another statistic is that there have been well over 19,000 studies done to analyze the effects of coffee. Now, studies can often be skewed to show whatever the author wants, but here is what is generally agreed: consuming 2 to 3 cups of coffee per day is often considered more beneficial than harmful. Recent studies have shown that moderate coffee drinking can reduce the risk of colon cancer (due to it's ability to keep you regular), gallstones, cirrhosis of the liver and more, due to the fact the it is loaded with healthy antioxidants. So loaded, that studies have implied that coffee contains higher levels of antioxidants compared to other commonly consumed beverages, such as tea and fruit juice. Coffee has joined the ranks of red wine and chocolate as a guilty pleasure that may actually be good for you. As much as it is a great way to get that “fix” in the morning, recent studies have shown that coffee has been found to be rich in antioxidants and contains hundreds of pain-relieving and anti-bacterial compounds. Although one should not drink coffee with wild abandon, it's comforting to know that maybe that cup or two in the morning may be good for you. Several studies are also being conducted on Parkinson's and diabetic Patients. Research has shown that just one cup of coffee per day can halve your risk of Parkinson's, the brain disease that causes tremors and affects movement. Caffeine may protect the brain cells typically lost to Parkinson's disease. However, it has been noted that women on hormone therapy do not seem to benefit. It is felt that Estrogen may dilute the effectiveness of caffeine. It has also been found that if a woman drinks three cups of coffee a day, she can reduce her risk of Type 2 Diabetes by twenty to thirty percent. Coffee may help promote the delivery of insulin to the tissues. Experts believe that coffee's antioxidants, such as chlorogenic acid and caffeine acid, deserve the credit. There are also on going studies that are producing favorable reports on coffee helping to fight Alzheimer's due to the caffeine stimulating the cognitive area of the brain. This is just the tip of the ice berg.
People with asthma who drink coffee can have up to 25 percent fewer symptoms because one of the compounds in coffee - theophylline - acts as a bronchodilator. A recent Brazilian study showed that consumption of coffee promotes better sperm mobility - and now studies are in progress to determine whether caffeine can help infertile men. Coffee contains polyphenols, substances that may reduce the risk of cancer and coronary artery disease. Caffeinated coffee, as opposed to decaffeinated coffee, makes you a better thinker. Studies have shown that coffee keeps you focused, particularly when you are doing not-so-pleasant work. A researcher with the U.S. Army stated caffeine improved scores on a range of cognitive tasks, such as decision making, learning, and attention in the sleep-deprived. Coffee can also boost your mood, probably by making you feel more energetic. A little known fact is that coffee contains antioxidants which have been shown to imporve oveall health. Here is a short list of some benefits which have been shown to be present in coffee:
Reduce symptoms of Parkinson's Disease
Antibacterial ingredients
Reduce the risk of developing gallstones
Preserve mental accuity
Reduce risk of developing type 2 Diabetes (if you have diabetes, reduce your consumption
If you are free of hypertension, coffee will not likely produce it
Headache relief
Reduce the risk of some types of cancer
Improve physical endurance
Another statistic is that there have been well over 19,000 studies done to analyze the effects of coffee. Now, studies can often be skewed to show whatever the author wants, but here is what is generally agreed: consuming 2 to 3 cups of coffee per day is often considered more beneficial than harmful. Recent studies have shown that moderate coffee drinking can reduce the risk of colon cancer (due to it's ability to keep you regular), gallstones, cirrhosis of the liver and more, due to the fact the it is loaded with healthy antioxidants. So loaded, that studies have implied that coffee contains higher levels of antioxidants compared to other commonly consumed beverages, such as tea and fruit juice. Coffee has joined the ranks of red wine and chocolate as a guilty pleasure that may actually be good for you. As much as it is a great way to get that “fix” in the morning, recent studies have shown that coffee has been found to be rich in antioxidants and contains hundreds of pain-relieving and anti-bacterial compounds. Although one should not drink coffee with wild abandon, it's comforting to know that maybe that cup or two in the morning may be good for you. Several studies are also being conducted on Parkinson's and diabetic Patients. Research has shown that just one cup of coffee per day can halve your risk of Parkinson's, the brain disease that causes tremors and affects movement. Caffeine may protect the brain cells typically lost to Parkinson's disease. However, it has been noted that women on hormone therapy do not seem to benefit. It is felt that Estrogen may dilute the effectiveness of caffeine. It has also been found that if a woman drinks three cups of coffee a day, she can reduce her risk of Type 2 Diabetes by twenty to thirty percent. Coffee may help promote the delivery of insulin to the tissues. Experts believe that coffee's antioxidants, such as chlorogenic acid and caffeine acid, deserve the credit. There are also on going studies that are producing favorable reports on coffee helping to fight Alzheimer's due to the caffeine stimulating the cognitive area of the brain. This is just the tip of the ice berg.
People with asthma who drink coffee can have up to 25 percent fewer symptoms because one of the compounds in coffee - theophylline - acts as a bronchodilator. A recent Brazilian study showed that consumption of coffee promotes better sperm mobility - and now studies are in progress to determine whether caffeine can help infertile men. Coffee contains polyphenols, substances that may reduce the risk of cancer and coronary artery disease. Caffeinated coffee, as opposed to decaffeinated coffee, makes you a better thinker. Studies have shown that coffee keeps you focused, particularly when you are doing not-so-pleasant work. A researcher with the U.S. Army stated caffeine improved scores on a range of cognitive tasks, such as decision making, learning, and attention in the sleep-deprived. Coffee can also boost your mood, probably by making you feel more energetic. A little known fact is that coffee contains antioxidants which have been shown to imporve oveall health. Here is a short list of some benefits which have been shown to be present in coffee:
Reduce symptoms of Parkinson's Disease
Antibacterial ingredients
Reduce the risk of developing gallstones
Preserve mental accuity
Reduce risk of developing type 2 Diabetes (if you have diabetes, reduce your consumption
If you are free of hypertension, coffee will not likely produce it
Headache relief
Reduce the risk of some types of cancer
Improve physical endurance
Getting DJ Bookings Through Self-Promotion
By DJ fairycup
How and when you finally decided that you wanted to be a night club DJ is most likely now just a blur. When the idea finally hit you to go out and compete in the world of professional DJing, chances are you didn't realize what a challenge it was going to be to get work as a DJ. You may have initially found that no one wanted you to DJ, but most everyone would have been happy to give you a job as a street promoter. You see, one of the most important aspects of almost everything involved with the dance music community is promotions.
Promoting yourself as a DJ can be a very confusing thing when you are just starting out. Putting yourself, as well as your promotional materials in the right places can be the difference in succeeding or not. Where you choose to spend your time and your resources trying to get gigs, should depend on what you have to offer and where you fit in. What kind of a DJ are you? What style of music do you want to perform and in what kind of venue? Your style and your performance vibe will determine where you should go to look for work. For example, if you were the type of DJ that plays San Francisco style house music, you wouldn't want to be spending the most important parts of your time trying to get booked in a banging techno club. Because there are so many places to expend resources, where you will see very little return on them, we would like to show you a few ways that may help you down the path to getting gigs a little smoother.
How much work is available and who else is trying to get that work, is a very important thing to keep and eye on. One thing is for sure, if there are available time slots in a certain night spot, someone else is trying to figure out how to secure it before you do. The DJ world is very competitive. You see, there are predominantly three layers of status in every local DJ community. First, you have the DJs that are playing in the resident DJ positions. That is the top level. Then, just under them you have the DJs that "support" the resident DJs above them. These guys or gals are the ones who open up the night and get everything started for the resident DJs. Then, just under the "support" DJs, is the level that we call "the trenches." This level is where most of the competition takes place for the guys or gals that are trying to get into the system. This is the level where everyone is trying to get noticed and hopefully booked for a gig. "The trenches" contain many different levels of DJs as well. There are all kinds of individual levels of experience, those with a lot of time in the scene, and those with very little time in the scene. What is visible is actually only a fraction of what goes on at this level. There are propositions about DJing and for DJing gigs going on all the time. If you want to be a part of the game, you have to get out there and play it.
Getting out there and actually doing what it takes to be a club play DJ, takes a great amount of drive and determination. You physically must be out there in the mix of the community, interacting as the person you want to be. You want to be a DJ. You are promoting yourself as a DJ. Earlier, we talked about putting your materials in the right places, now it is time to actually put them there. In the night club world, several people have influence over what DJs play in the night clubs. Promoters, Club Managers, Owners, and Bar Managers, are the most popular of these people. Getting your materials into their hands is important. Once you have determined where you would like to work, get out there and make yourself visible. No one is going to give you a gig if you just stay at home and mail CDs to people. Getting into the environment, and shaking that promoters hand, and meeting that club manager is a must. Meeting the promoters right hand people is very important as well, they can help you break the ice with the main promoter. Talk to the bartenders, say "hi" to the securities, analyze the environment from a spot in the club. You can figure out who's in charge by watching the situation from a perched position. If you don't already know who the promoter is, look for the guy or gal that seems to be in control of everything. Who does everyone else look to, to make the decision? Try to meet the friends of the promoters, they are a good way into seizing the chance to meet the guy in charge. Buy someone influential a drink. By buying a drink for someone, you seize a valuable few minutes of their time spent in gratitude for the drink you bought them, and the value of the social concept of drink buying. You really don't want to talk someone's ear off the first time you meet them, but do gain some knowledge on who they are, and what they do in the club. Ultimately, through patronizing the club you will meet the right people to go after for that booking. Meet the other DJs. If anyone is a possible ally, it would be the DJs that are there already. Ultimately, they will be the people you want to work with, so it would probably be a good idea to get to know them a little. It is better that they meet you on the front end, than for the promoter to go up to them and ask them who you are. Promoters rely a lot on they're DJ's advice and experience with other DJ's reputations in the music community.
How to properly promote yourself as a DJ is an art in itself, and worthy of a small series of articles. The basics of promoting yourself to gain bookings and ultimately making a name for yourself, lies in being tolerant of the ever changing night club world. That is the reason why we mention the fact that you must be out in the community and obsessively active in what goes on. Putting CDs in people's hands matters a lot too, but it is ultimately about being elastic to, and changing momentum, with the shifting of the night club world. A spot that is hot this month, may not be next month. Many other factors determine how much work is available in any given cities community. Are the local colleges in session? Is it wintertime? Was there just a major incident somewhere in the country? A lot of factors depend on how much work there is for you to compete for. Knowing the main methods for getting people to remember you and what you seek, are important to your success at getting booked.
When it comes time to make that irreversible decision of handing someone a CD, and stating, through that person listening to your CD, what kind of DJ you are, you should induce some serious thought into what you ought to put on that special CD. It is suggested that each CD have the tracks selected for that specific gig that you are trying to get. A format that applies to one location most likely will not apply at another. It is up to you to cater to those promoters, who see so many CDs submitted to them every week, to cater yours to what they want to hear. They will not read into what is on your CD, so make it hit a homerun instead of just getting a base hit with them. The demo CD is your audition into their night club. They don't really have the time to take out of their schedules to come to a club and listen to you play in an empty room during the week. Promoters rely on what they hear on your CD, and what the people around them say about what they have heard about you. Getting that all to rare first chance can depend upon how much effort you put into your materials. Take the time to put out a quality product and you will definitely have a better chance at getting some attention from the guys who call the shots.
Besides giving a demo CD to a promoter, there are other ways to get your name out in the local community. Printed media materials are not as expensive as they used to be. You could probably get yourself a nice business card sized flyer with all of your information on it for less that a hundred dollars. 5000 of those flying around a city can cause some attention to be focused your way. Around each city there are locations referred to as "drops." "Drops" are places that promoters leave their flyers that promote their night clubs. Leave some of your materials at these locations as well. You should always get permission from the owners of the location before you leave materials as a courtesy. You may even run into some of those promoters we talked about at these special "drop" locations. Catching them outside of their environment where you can actually get a few minutes of their time can be very valuable. Hanging out in the local record stores is pretty key as well. If your ultimate goal is to be a club jock, then hang out where the club jocks are. Through being at the record stores and befriending some key people, you can possibly gain an advantage over someone who doesn't spend as much time socializing as you do. Spending time doing what you need to do, and seeing who you need to see, is the most valuable attribute to getting successful. There is a very common quote in the world that goes, "Out of Sight, Out of Mind." If that quote had to prove it's validity in the world, being attached to the dance community would validate it. If you aren't around, no one will miss you.
Get out there! Stay out there! Get Bookings.
How and when you finally decided that you wanted to be a night club DJ is most likely now just a blur. When the idea finally hit you to go out and compete in the world of professional DJing, chances are you didn't realize what a challenge it was going to be to get work as a DJ. You may have initially found that no one wanted you to DJ, but most everyone would have been happy to give you a job as a street promoter. You see, one of the most important aspects of almost everything involved with the dance music community is promotions.
Promoting yourself as a DJ can be a very confusing thing when you are just starting out. Putting yourself, as well as your promotional materials in the right places can be the difference in succeeding or not. Where you choose to spend your time and your resources trying to get gigs, should depend on what you have to offer and where you fit in. What kind of a DJ are you? What style of music do you want to perform and in what kind of venue? Your style and your performance vibe will determine where you should go to look for work. For example, if you were the type of DJ that plays San Francisco style house music, you wouldn't want to be spending the most important parts of your time trying to get booked in a banging techno club. Because there are so many places to expend resources, where you will see very little return on them, we would like to show you a few ways that may help you down the path to getting gigs a little smoother.
How much work is available and who else is trying to get that work, is a very important thing to keep and eye on. One thing is for sure, if there are available time slots in a certain night spot, someone else is trying to figure out how to secure it before you do. The DJ world is very competitive. You see, there are predominantly three layers of status in every local DJ community. First, you have the DJs that are playing in the resident DJ positions. That is the top level. Then, just under them you have the DJs that "support" the resident DJs above them. These guys or gals are the ones who open up the night and get everything started for the resident DJs. Then, just under the "support" DJs, is the level that we call "the trenches." This level is where most of the competition takes place for the guys or gals that are trying to get into the system. This is the level where everyone is trying to get noticed and hopefully booked for a gig. "The trenches" contain many different levels of DJs as well. There are all kinds of individual levels of experience, those with a lot of time in the scene, and those with very little time in the scene. What is visible is actually only a fraction of what goes on at this level. There are propositions about DJing and for DJing gigs going on all the time. If you want to be a part of the game, you have to get out there and play it.
Getting out there and actually doing what it takes to be a club play DJ, takes a great amount of drive and determination. You physically must be out there in the mix of the community, interacting as the person you want to be. You want to be a DJ. You are promoting yourself as a DJ. Earlier, we talked about putting your materials in the right places, now it is time to actually put them there. In the night club world, several people have influence over what DJs play in the night clubs. Promoters, Club Managers, Owners, and Bar Managers, are the most popular of these people. Getting your materials into their hands is important. Once you have determined where you would like to work, get out there and make yourself visible. No one is going to give you a gig if you just stay at home and mail CDs to people. Getting into the environment, and shaking that promoters hand, and meeting that club manager is a must. Meeting the promoters right hand people is very important as well, they can help you break the ice with the main promoter. Talk to the bartenders, say "hi" to the securities, analyze the environment from a spot in the club. You can figure out who's in charge by watching the situation from a perched position. If you don't already know who the promoter is, look for the guy or gal that seems to be in control of everything. Who does everyone else look to, to make the decision? Try to meet the friends of the promoters, they are a good way into seizing the chance to meet the guy in charge. Buy someone influential a drink. By buying a drink for someone, you seize a valuable few minutes of their time spent in gratitude for the drink you bought them, and the value of the social concept of drink buying. You really don't want to talk someone's ear off the first time you meet them, but do gain some knowledge on who they are, and what they do in the club. Ultimately, through patronizing the club you will meet the right people to go after for that booking. Meet the other DJs. If anyone is a possible ally, it would be the DJs that are there already. Ultimately, they will be the people you want to work with, so it would probably be a good idea to get to know them a little. It is better that they meet you on the front end, than for the promoter to go up to them and ask them who you are. Promoters rely a lot on they're DJ's advice and experience with other DJ's reputations in the music community.
How to properly promote yourself as a DJ is an art in itself, and worthy of a small series of articles. The basics of promoting yourself to gain bookings and ultimately making a name for yourself, lies in being tolerant of the ever changing night club world. That is the reason why we mention the fact that you must be out in the community and obsessively active in what goes on. Putting CDs in people's hands matters a lot too, but it is ultimately about being elastic to, and changing momentum, with the shifting of the night club world. A spot that is hot this month, may not be next month. Many other factors determine how much work is available in any given cities community. Are the local colleges in session? Is it wintertime? Was there just a major incident somewhere in the country? A lot of factors depend on how much work there is for you to compete for. Knowing the main methods for getting people to remember you and what you seek, are important to your success at getting booked.
When it comes time to make that irreversible decision of handing someone a CD, and stating, through that person listening to your CD, what kind of DJ you are, you should induce some serious thought into what you ought to put on that special CD. It is suggested that each CD have the tracks selected for that specific gig that you are trying to get. A format that applies to one location most likely will not apply at another. It is up to you to cater to those promoters, who see so many CDs submitted to them every week, to cater yours to what they want to hear. They will not read into what is on your CD, so make it hit a homerun instead of just getting a base hit with them. The demo CD is your audition into their night club. They don't really have the time to take out of their schedules to come to a club and listen to you play in an empty room during the week. Promoters rely on what they hear on your CD, and what the people around them say about what they have heard about you. Getting that all to rare first chance can depend upon how much effort you put into your materials. Take the time to put out a quality product and you will definitely have a better chance at getting some attention from the guys who call the shots.
Besides giving a demo CD to a promoter, there are other ways to get your name out in the local community. Printed media materials are not as expensive as they used to be. You could probably get yourself a nice business card sized flyer with all of your information on it for less that a hundred dollars. 5000 of those flying around a city can cause some attention to be focused your way. Around each city there are locations referred to as "drops." "Drops" are places that promoters leave their flyers that promote their night clubs. Leave some of your materials at these locations as well. You should always get permission from the owners of the location before you leave materials as a courtesy. You may even run into some of those promoters we talked about at these special "drop" locations. Catching them outside of their environment where you can actually get a few minutes of their time can be very valuable. Hanging out in the local record stores is pretty key as well. If your ultimate goal is to be a club jock, then hang out where the club jocks are. Through being at the record stores and befriending some key people, you can possibly gain an advantage over someone who doesn't spend as much time socializing as you do. Spending time doing what you need to do, and seeing who you need to see, is the most valuable attribute to getting successful. There is a very common quote in the world that goes, "Out of Sight, Out of Mind." If that quote had to prove it's validity in the world, being attached to the dance community would validate it. If you aren't around, no one will miss you.
Get out there! Stay out there! Get Bookings.
How, Where and When Basketball Was Invented
Everywhere you turn in the US you will find youths playing basketball. so universal is it that you could be forgiven for thinking that its origins must be steeped in history. Yet, unlike most balls sports, it did not gradually evolved from some ancient roots. In fact, it was a certain Dr. James Naismith who, quite deliberately, invented the game in 1881. And from there it has grown to be one of the most popular sports in the United States. Dr. Naismith was actually born in Canada, and if he hadn't been living in Massachusetts when he created it, it's possible it wouldn't have made such a huge hit.
Prior to shifting to Massachusetts Dr Naismith worked as the athletics director at the University of McGill in Montreal for several years. In Massachusetts he worked with the YMCA Training School. Here Dr Naismith was looking for a game that the students would be able to play indoors. For during the winter months it was difficult to play outdoors. The first game of basketball was played with a soccer ball and two peach baskets. They used a broom stick to push the ball back out of the basket. It was later that holes were cut in the bottom of the basket to look like the hoop and net that we see today.
The YMCA promoted basketball worldwide and many people in a variety of countries play it as a hobby or a profession today. No other country has embraced it as widely as North America.
The game continued to grow until in 1936 basketball was one of the sports showcased at the Olympics in Berlin. The National Basketball League today is one of the most popular sports events on television. Before the NBA came the Basketball Association of America. Since then, NBA players boast some of the highest salaries in the professional sports.
On November 7, 1896 the first professional game was played between the Trenton Basketball team and the Brooklyn YMCA. It was the first time that players were paid. In time the sport left the YMCA to enter the National Basketball League.
Today great basket ball players like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Wilt Chamberlain, Shaquille O'Neal and many more have made headlines not only in basketball, but in movies, tabloids, and even music. They even are role models for many kids as the game of basket ball is really very popular.
Every year the NBA finals are one of the most widely viewed sporting events in the United States. Audiences really get into the spirit and root for their favorite players and teams. Michael (Air) Jordan was one of the first players to be known for his product endorsements. Air Jordan jerseys, shirts, hats, shorts, and especially the shoes were coveted by many.
Today basket ball is one of the most popular games in the US and the NBA is a multi-million dollar association that earns revenue from ticket sales, televised games, and of course the equally popular merchandise. It is perhaps the favorite pass time and extra curricular activity with many children. Dr James Naismith must never have thought that his simple game with a ball and two peach baskets would become such a mega success.
Prior to shifting to Massachusetts Dr Naismith worked as the athletics director at the University of McGill in Montreal for several years. In Massachusetts he worked with the YMCA Training School. Here Dr Naismith was looking for a game that the students would be able to play indoors. For during the winter months it was difficult to play outdoors. The first game of basketball was played with a soccer ball and two peach baskets. They used a broom stick to push the ball back out of the basket. It was later that holes were cut in the bottom of the basket to look like the hoop and net that we see today.
The YMCA promoted basketball worldwide and many people in a variety of countries play it as a hobby or a profession today. No other country has embraced it as widely as North America.
The game continued to grow until in 1936 basketball was one of the sports showcased at the Olympics in Berlin. The National Basketball League today is one of the most popular sports events on television. Before the NBA came the Basketball Association of America. Since then, NBA players boast some of the highest salaries in the professional sports.
On November 7, 1896 the first professional game was played between the Trenton Basketball team and the Brooklyn YMCA. It was the first time that players were paid. In time the sport left the YMCA to enter the National Basketball League.
Today great basket ball players like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Wilt Chamberlain, Shaquille O'Neal and many more have made headlines not only in basketball, but in movies, tabloids, and even music. They even are role models for many kids as the game of basket ball is really very popular.
Every year the NBA finals are one of the most widely viewed sporting events in the United States. Audiences really get into the spirit and root for their favorite players and teams. Michael (Air) Jordan was one of the first players to be known for his product endorsements. Air Jordan jerseys, shirts, hats, shorts, and especially the shoes were coveted by many.
Today basket ball is one of the most popular games in the US and the NBA is a multi-million dollar association that earns revenue from ticket sales, televised games, and of course the equally popular merchandise. It is perhaps the favorite pass time and extra curricular activity with many children. Dr James Naismith must never have thought that his simple game with a ball and two peach baskets would become such a mega success.
10 Ways To Keep Visitors At Your Site Longer
The more time people spend at your web site, the
more time you'll have to persuade them to buy your
product or service. Below are ten powerful ways to
keep visitors at your web site longer.
1. Provide your web site visitors with content they
can't read anywhere else. People will stay longer at
your web site to read the original content.
2. Remind your web site visitors they can print out
your content. They may browse around your online
store while it's printing.
3. Offer your web site visitors a freebie if they take
the time to fill out your online survey. They'll be at
the site longer and might b.uy something afterwards.
4. Offer your visitors free software that they can
download right from your web site. While they are
waiting they might read your ad.
5. Provide a huge online directory of information
that your visitors could search. The directory must
contain information your visitors would want.
6. Make sure all your web pages load fast or your
visitors will leave fast. Time is precious; they won't
waste it waiting for your site to load.
7. Tell your visitors what's offered at your web site
at the very beginning. If people are confused about
what's being offered they may leave too early.
8. Publish your web site professionally. People will
get turned off and leave if they see a lot of spelling
and grammar mistakes.
9. Make your site text easy to read. Most people
won't strain their eyes trying to read text that is too
small, light or bright.
10. Use headlines and sub headlines all over your
your web site that will grab visitors attention. It will
attract them to explore your web site longer.
Quote of the Day:
"Wisdom is the principal thing;
Therefore get wisdom.
And in all your getting, get understanding." -- Proverbs 4:7
more time you'll have to persuade them to buy your
product or service. Below are ten powerful ways to
keep visitors at your web site longer.
1. Provide your web site visitors with content they
can't read anywhere else. People will stay longer at
your web site to read the original content.
2. Remind your web site visitors they can print out
your content. They may browse around your online
store while it's printing.
3. Offer your web site visitors a freebie if they take
the time to fill out your online survey. They'll be at
the site longer and might b.uy something afterwards.
4. Offer your visitors free software that they can
download right from your web site. While they are
waiting they might read your ad.
5. Provide a huge online directory of information
that your visitors could search. The directory must
contain information your visitors would want.
6. Make sure all your web pages load fast or your
visitors will leave fast. Time is precious; they won't
waste it waiting for your site to load.
7. Tell your visitors what's offered at your web site
at the very beginning. If people are confused about
what's being offered they may leave too early.
8. Publish your web site professionally. People will
get turned off and leave if they see a lot of spelling
and grammar mistakes.
9. Make your site text easy to read. Most people
won't strain their eyes trying to read text that is too
small, light or bright.
10. Use headlines and sub headlines all over your
your web site that will grab visitors attention. It will
attract them to explore your web site longer.
Quote of the Day:
"Wisdom is the principal thing;
Therefore get wisdom.
And in all your getting, get understanding." -- Proverbs 4:7
20 Ways To Make Someone Smile
Do you want to put a smile on someone's face today? Maybe make their day a little better. It won't cost you a single penny or much time to do just that. And because smiling is contagious, it probably won't just be one person you make smile today.
Here are 20 ways to turn that frown upside down.
1. Send some flowers to your partner at work.
2. Compliment a friend or work colleague on their appearance.
3. Donate something to charity.
4. Take a friend out to lunch.
5. Let someone know you miss them.
6. Make a surprise telephone call to your partner at work, just to say hi.
7. Hold a door open for someone walking behind you.
8. Hug your partner for no reason.
9. Leave a joke on a friends answer machine.
10. Send a card to a friend letting them know what a good friend they are.
11. Give up your seat on the train to someone when there aren't any left.
12. Share your umbrella on a rainy day.
13. Ask a friend if they need anything while you're out shopping.
14. When it's raining, plan an indoor picnic with your children.
15. Leave a love letter somewhere where your partner will find it.
16. Send someone an unusual and unexpected gift like chocolate, flowers or sex toys.
17. Tell your child you're proud of them.
18. Tell someone you thought about them the other day.
19. Cook a surprise meal for your partner one night, especially if they normally do the cooking.
20. Tell your partner you love them.
Did you know it takes only 17 muscles to smile, but 43 to frown. Why waste all that energy frowning when you could just smile.
Here are 5 more facts about smiling.
1. Women smile more than men.
2. Smiling releases endorphins that make us feel better.
3. We are all born with the ability to smile, it's not something we learn from others.
4. A smile is a universal expression of happiness.
5. A smiling person is thought to be a more pleasant, attractive, sociable, sincere and competent than a non-smiling person.
Just remember, smiling is the easiest and cheapest way of improving your looks.
Here are 20 ways to turn that frown upside down.
1. Send some flowers to your partner at work.
2. Compliment a friend or work colleague on their appearance.
3. Donate something to charity.
4. Take a friend out to lunch.
5. Let someone know you miss them.
6. Make a surprise telephone call to your partner at work, just to say hi.
7. Hold a door open for someone walking behind you.
8. Hug your partner for no reason.
9. Leave a joke on a friends answer machine.
10. Send a card to a friend letting them know what a good friend they are.
11. Give up your seat on the train to someone when there aren't any left.
12. Share your umbrella on a rainy day.
13. Ask a friend if they need anything while you're out shopping.
14. When it's raining, plan an indoor picnic with your children.
15. Leave a love letter somewhere where your partner will find it.
16. Send someone an unusual and unexpected gift like chocolate, flowers or sex toys.
17. Tell your child you're proud of them.
18. Tell someone you thought about them the other day.
19. Cook a surprise meal for your partner one night, especially if they normally do the cooking.
20. Tell your partner you love them.
Did you know it takes only 17 muscles to smile, but 43 to frown. Why waste all that energy frowning when you could just smile.
Here are 5 more facts about smiling.
1. Women smile more than men.
2. Smiling releases endorphins that make us feel better.
3. We are all born with the ability to smile, it's not something we learn from others.
4. A smile is a universal expression of happiness.
5. A smiling person is thought to be a more pleasant, attractive, sociable, sincere and competent than a non-smiling person.
Just remember, smiling is the easiest and cheapest way of improving your looks.
How to survive on nothing: No money? No problem! Find food, furniture, fun on a dancer's salary - Young Dancer
So you're a dancer with meager funds; does that mean you have to live like a hermit? Hardly. Whether you are a student in summer school, a fledgling dancer auditioning for a first job, or an emerging Broadway star, these practical tips to living a bohemian life can help you enjoy the big city on a dancer's budget.
Jason Shipley-Holmes, a dancer at La La La Human Steps in Montreal, for instance, says it's entirely possible to furnish a spacious two-bedroom apartment with objects that are found for free on garbage day. He did just that when he was a student in the Royal Winnipeg Ballet's professional division. "It wasn't easy to find that last piece for my living room," Shipley-Holmes recalls. "A leg was bent when I found it, and it smelled like the subway, but it was nothing that a hammer and a bottle of Clorox couldn't fix." Suddenly, he had a totally retro, rolling, stainless steel TV unit that was the envy of the whole ballet school.
Garage sales, estate sales, and going-out-of-business sales are great places to look for furniture and fixtures. Check newspaper classified ads on Friday night or local internet bulletin boards, and show up early Saturday morning before the good stuff is gone. Don't be afraid to mention that you're a fiscally challenged dancer before asking the seller for the price--and remember to haggle. In many places around the country, you'll find a monthly antique flea market; sometimes, at the end of the day, sellers actually leave things behind because they don't want to schlepp them home.
After you have made your space habitable, you'll want to fill your belly. You can do this even when your wallet is almost empty. Gianni Di Marco from Boston Ballet showed me a delicious dinner of black beans and rice that can satisfy a big party of hungry dancers, and it costs about as much as an appetizer at Ocean Bar and Grill on 81st Street in New York City. All you need are some vegetables, black beans, rice, and a pot. The recipe is written on the bag of beans. If you want wine, Trader Joe's and membership wholesalers like Costco (find a friend who belongs and shop with them) have bottles for under $5.
Because dancers perform better when they eat nutritiously, go to inexpensive farmers' markets with your friends, because vendors will give good deals when you buy fresh food in bulk. Ikolo Griffin, a soloist at Dance Theatre of Harlem, has become an expert on how to eat fresh, organic food on a low budget. He says that health food stores tend to be too expensive for him, so he shops at a co-op grocery instead. Most cities have them. Griffin belongs to the Park Slope food co-op in Brooklyn, where membership brings numerous benefits. To belong, he works a two-and-a-half-hour shift every four weeks. "Not only is it easy, it's fun," he says. "In return for working I get organic produce, meats, and cheeses for about half the price I would pay elsewhere."
But being on a budget doesn't mean that you can't go to restaurants. You simply have to pick the right spots. Search for crowded places full of locals and low prices, where the owner of the restaurant cooks the food and serves it.
Following dinner, you can find plenty of activities to do for free. Most museums have special evenings when they are open late and don't charge admission. Check your local newspaper for art openings (sometimes with free wine and cheese). Look at university and college bulletin boards for no- or low-cost lectures and events. Dana Genshaft, a San Francisco Ballet corp's member (pictured browsing, above and at left), likes to see inexpensive films at San Francisco's German cultural center, the Goethe-Institut Inter Nationes.
If you have a student ID, use it to get discounts on performances, museums, and lectures. If you don't have one, consider enrolling in an inexpensive college. I took a class at City College in San Francisco in video editing for $45, and the ample discounts I received with my student ID card exceeded the cost of enrolling in the class. Plus, I learned an excellent new computer skill.
For dancers who want to work part-time, it is important to find a desk job. The dancing waiter is a myth--after hours of class and rehearsal, most dancers can't be on their feet all evening. That's why computer skills, if only data entry or typing, are extremely helpful for dancers who want to make a decent wage while their bodies recover from training. An entry-level temp job is a good place to start giving computers a try.
Cross-training on a shoestring? Ask people with gym memberships to let you take advantage of their free guest passes. The big boom in yoga means that many studios now offer free introductory classes. Gypsy around town from studio to studio for free. Then ask your favorite one to do a work exchange. At the San Francisco Bay Area's Funky Door Yoga, students get unlimited yoga classes in exchange for a four-hour shift every week. Also, look for workout zones in city parks.
Sharing an apartment is a popular way to save money. Serious dancers should look for serious roommates. Still, if your roommates decide to have a loud Super Bowl party on your only day off, the library can be your quiet sanctuary. Even crowded city parks or cafes can be good places for private time, especially when you bring a book or slip on your headphones. After all, the world is what you make of it.
Eric Wolfram was a financially challenged dancer for years. Today he is still relatively free of material possessions in San Francisco, where he is a writer and documentary filmmaker.
Jason Shipley-Holmes, a dancer at La La La Human Steps in Montreal, for instance, says it's entirely possible to furnish a spacious two-bedroom apartment with objects that are found for free on garbage day. He did just that when he was a student in the Royal Winnipeg Ballet's professional division. "It wasn't easy to find that last piece for my living room," Shipley-Holmes recalls. "A leg was bent when I found it, and it smelled like the subway, but it was nothing that a hammer and a bottle of Clorox couldn't fix." Suddenly, he had a totally retro, rolling, stainless steel TV unit that was the envy of the whole ballet school.
Garage sales, estate sales, and going-out-of-business sales are great places to look for furniture and fixtures. Check newspaper classified ads on Friday night or local internet bulletin boards, and show up early Saturday morning before the good stuff is gone. Don't be afraid to mention that you're a fiscally challenged dancer before asking the seller for the price--and remember to haggle. In many places around the country, you'll find a monthly antique flea market; sometimes, at the end of the day, sellers actually leave things behind because they don't want to schlepp them home.
After you have made your space habitable, you'll want to fill your belly. You can do this even when your wallet is almost empty. Gianni Di Marco from Boston Ballet showed me a delicious dinner of black beans and rice that can satisfy a big party of hungry dancers, and it costs about as much as an appetizer at Ocean Bar and Grill on 81st Street in New York City. All you need are some vegetables, black beans, rice, and a pot. The recipe is written on the bag of beans. If you want wine, Trader Joe's and membership wholesalers like Costco (find a friend who belongs and shop with them) have bottles for under $5.
Because dancers perform better when they eat nutritiously, go to inexpensive farmers' markets with your friends, because vendors will give good deals when you buy fresh food in bulk. Ikolo Griffin, a soloist at Dance Theatre of Harlem, has become an expert on how to eat fresh, organic food on a low budget. He says that health food stores tend to be too expensive for him, so he shops at a co-op grocery instead. Most cities have them. Griffin belongs to the Park Slope food co-op in Brooklyn, where membership brings numerous benefits. To belong, he works a two-and-a-half-hour shift every four weeks. "Not only is it easy, it's fun," he says. "In return for working I get organic produce, meats, and cheeses for about half the price I would pay elsewhere."
But being on a budget doesn't mean that you can't go to restaurants. You simply have to pick the right spots. Search for crowded places full of locals and low prices, where the owner of the restaurant cooks the food and serves it.
Following dinner, you can find plenty of activities to do for free. Most museums have special evenings when they are open late and don't charge admission. Check your local newspaper for art openings (sometimes with free wine and cheese). Look at university and college bulletin boards for no- or low-cost lectures and events. Dana Genshaft, a San Francisco Ballet corp's member (pictured browsing, above and at left), likes to see inexpensive films at San Francisco's German cultural center, the Goethe-Institut Inter Nationes.
If you have a student ID, use it to get discounts on performances, museums, and lectures. If you don't have one, consider enrolling in an inexpensive college. I took a class at City College in San Francisco in video editing for $45, and the ample discounts I received with my student ID card exceeded the cost of enrolling in the class. Plus, I learned an excellent new computer skill.
For dancers who want to work part-time, it is important to find a desk job. The dancing waiter is a myth--after hours of class and rehearsal, most dancers can't be on their feet all evening. That's why computer skills, if only data entry or typing, are extremely helpful for dancers who want to make a decent wage while their bodies recover from training. An entry-level temp job is a good place to start giving computers a try.
Cross-training on a shoestring? Ask people with gym memberships to let you take advantage of their free guest passes. The big boom in yoga means that many studios now offer free introductory classes. Gypsy around town from studio to studio for free. Then ask your favorite one to do a work exchange. At the San Francisco Bay Area's Funky Door Yoga, students get unlimited yoga classes in exchange for a four-hour shift every week. Also, look for workout zones in city parks.
Sharing an apartment is a popular way to save money. Serious dancers should look for serious roommates. Still, if your roommates decide to have a loud Super Bowl party on your only day off, the library can be your quiet sanctuary. Even crowded city parks or cafes can be good places for private time, especially when you bring a book or slip on your headphones. After all, the world is what you make of it.
Eric Wolfram was a financially challenged dancer for years. Today he is still relatively free of material possessions in San Francisco, where he is a writer and documentary filmmaker.
Laughter is the best medicine and secret of remaining healthy
Funny joke is the way to making laughter among your friends circle or if you are in some get-togethers and parties. Most of the time, jokes are cracked with your friends having an enjoyable moment with each other and having an enormous laughter along with you.
It is a great opener for a speech in a social gathering. Laughter is the best medicine and very often telling someone who is sick, a funny joke gets them laughing and for a minute or two they forget about their illness.
Jokes are supposed to be funny and make people laugh. There are all kinds of jokes, such as riddles, poems, stories, pictures all with the same result laughter. When a person tells a funny joke, this often refers a memory in someone else and pretty soon, you have a whole room of people telling jokes.
If you decide to use laughter as a therapeutic method, the first obvious issue is that there are no harmful side effects, and you've got nothing to lose. The second issue is that you can actually improve your sense of humor in time, same as any other skill or ability. Next time you go to the movies, buy a ticket for a comedy, no matter how dumb the poster looks. When you read the paper, don't forget to check out their daily cartoon too. Spend ten minutes every day reading jokes, and, when you find something funny, share them with your friends. Last but not least, try to find the funny side of the small things that happen every day around you. There is always something stupid going on right near you, which may give you some minutes of good laugher, which in turn may unblock some arteries and keep the heart attack far away.
So, better way to live happy and enjoying life is to read jokes and share it with your friends. This will obviously keep you healthy and happy.
It is a great opener for a speech in a social gathering. Laughter is the best medicine and very often telling someone who is sick, a funny joke gets them laughing and for a minute or two they forget about their illness.
Jokes are supposed to be funny and make people laugh. There are all kinds of jokes, such as riddles, poems, stories, pictures all with the same result laughter. When a person tells a funny joke, this often refers a memory in someone else and pretty soon, you have a whole room of people telling jokes.
If you decide to use laughter as a therapeutic method, the first obvious issue is that there are no harmful side effects, and you've got nothing to lose. The second issue is that you can actually improve your sense of humor in time, same as any other skill or ability. Next time you go to the movies, buy a ticket for a comedy, no matter how dumb the poster looks. When you read the paper, don't forget to check out their daily cartoon too. Spend ten minutes every day reading jokes, and, when you find something funny, share them with your friends. Last but not least, try to find the funny side of the small things that happen every day around you. There is always something stupid going on right near you, which may give you some minutes of good laugher, which in turn may unblock some arteries and keep the heart attack far away.
So, better way to live happy and enjoying life is to read jokes and share it with your friends. This will obviously keep you healthy and happy.
Not only words make a magic of laughter
Not only words make a magic of laughter, even wordless pictures speak out louder to make your laughter. It is a quicker way to start your laugh. All jokes are not understood by most of the people but in that case funny picture really work, all the people enjoy these pictures. Funny pictures are not limited to some peoples or countries; it is for all the people who can see it.
You might have also felt this? You are depressed and all alone walking in the street. You suddenly see some funny pictures on the wall or on the hooding board; you definitely will start to laugh. This is the power of funny pictures. I’m not sure if a few funny pictures could promise your life to be spent happily but it is sure that exactly this kind of simple stuff that helps you to enjoy life a little more. Even if humor doesn’t make us live longer, its sure… it does make us live better.
Always laugh when you can. It’s cheap medicine. One of the most common traditions is that we need a reason to laugh and not only a reason but a good enough reason so that when other people ask us, “What are you laughing about?” they will laugh about it too and for that purpose funny pictures play a vital role not to make a word and the whole reason is already answered back.
Laughter is fun but it also has been found by many physicians and therapists to be a powerful healing force. In fact, many therapists use laughter to help people share and work through painful experiences such as terminal illnesses and many more. Laughter is a best solution of fear, anger and boredom. It is a cleansing of the soul.
Emotions have great impact on our human body because when we have emotions, our body changes throwing our body in balance and preparing us for remaining happy and healthy.
A funny picture joke works the sane way. There are many funny pictures that are not harmful to anyone and sometimes the pictures you see are so hilarious that you can’t help laughing at them no matter what.
The Internet is a popular place to find a huge collection of these funny pictures of all kinds. It is a place where you can find lots of funny pictures which will make you laugh all the day long. It is also a free source of entertainment.
Why don’t you try it out yourself? You can find lots of funny pictures on web which are really strong enough to make you laugh.
You might have also felt this? You are depressed and all alone walking in the street. You suddenly see some funny pictures on the wall or on the hooding board; you definitely will start to laugh. This is the power of funny pictures. I’m not sure if a few funny pictures could promise your life to be spent happily but it is sure that exactly this kind of simple stuff that helps you to enjoy life a little more. Even if humor doesn’t make us live longer, its sure… it does make us live better.
Always laugh when you can. It’s cheap medicine. One of the most common traditions is that we need a reason to laugh and not only a reason but a good enough reason so that when other people ask us, “What are you laughing about?” they will laugh about it too and for that purpose funny pictures play a vital role not to make a word and the whole reason is already answered back.
Laughter is fun but it also has been found by many physicians and therapists to be a powerful healing force. In fact, many therapists use laughter to help people share and work through painful experiences such as terminal illnesses and many more. Laughter is a best solution of fear, anger and boredom. It is a cleansing of the soul.
Emotions have great impact on our human body because when we have emotions, our body changes throwing our body in balance and preparing us for remaining happy and healthy.
A funny picture joke works the sane way. There are many funny pictures that are not harmful to anyone and sometimes the pictures you see are so hilarious that you can’t help laughing at them no matter what.
The Internet is a popular place to find a huge collection of these funny pictures of all kinds. It is a place where you can find lots of funny pictures which will make you laugh all the day long. It is also a free source of entertainment.
Why don’t you try it out yourself? You can find lots of funny pictures on web which are really strong enough to make you laugh.
10 Ways To Take Care of Yourself That Do Not Cost Money?
Most people do not spend enough time on self-care. They think it is selfish and self-indulgent. This could not be further from the truth. My experiences have shown me that when I do take care of myself in the ways that I need to, it is only then that I am truly capable of being of real service to someone else. What are some practical and empowering ways of taking care of yourself?
Voice you feelings. Don't keep them inside you. Share your accomplishments or disappointments with someone you trust. Remember that when you express your feelings, it is then that you can change them.
Do not compare yourself with others. This kind of jealousy causes self-disgust. Do not think others are better than you. If there is someone you admire, use them as a model to improve yourself.
Take time to play. Play is any activity that makes you feel good. You not only deserve it, it is essential to a balanced state of well-being.
Learn to say no. When you become more comfortable with saying no to others you will find that your self-esteem improves. When you then choose to say yes to others, you will want to and you will feel great and energized by your choice.
Exercise. Go for a walk. Ride a bike. Take the stairs. You don't need to go to a fancy gym to break a sweat. There is nothing like some physical activity to help shift yourself from a mood of despair to one of hope.
Remember you are only a human being doing your best. Don't let others put you high up on a pedestal. When this happens they expect you to be perfect and they feel angry and disappointed when you let them down.
Please remember to laugh, laugh at everything, especially at yourself. Try it! It is the cheapest and most effective form of medicine for life.
Practice being an encouraging and kind person. Find 2 people today you can help out in this way. When you do this, you will not only feel amazing, but it will kick up your self-esteem a notch or two.
Take up a hobby. What is one thing you have always wanted to try out? It could be oil painting, learning a foreign language; taking flying lessons ... the list is endless. Creativity helps you unleash a sense of enthusiasm and zest for life.
Put time aside for your spiritual life. Slow down. Practice sitting quietly. When thoughts crop up, acknowledge them but do not pay attention to them. Be still. Be courageous and if a traditional religion has not been helpful for you follow your own spiritual path.
As an action plan for the week, how about choosing 3 tips from the list of 10 below? Put them into practice everyday and take note of how it affects your week.
"Live life fully while you're here. Experience everything. Take care of yourself and your friends. Have fun, be crazy, and be weird. Go out and screw up! You're going to anyway, so you might as well enjoy the process. Take the opportunity to learn from your mistakes: find the cause of your problem and eliminate it. Don't try to be perfect; just be an excellent example of being human." Anthony Robbins
Voice you feelings. Don't keep them inside you. Share your accomplishments or disappointments with someone you trust. Remember that when you express your feelings, it is then that you can change them.
Do not compare yourself with others. This kind of jealousy causes self-disgust. Do not think others are better than you. If there is someone you admire, use them as a model to improve yourself.
Take time to play. Play is any activity that makes you feel good. You not only deserve it, it is essential to a balanced state of well-being.
Learn to say no. When you become more comfortable with saying no to others you will find that your self-esteem improves. When you then choose to say yes to others, you will want to and you will feel great and energized by your choice.
Exercise. Go for a walk. Ride a bike. Take the stairs. You don't need to go to a fancy gym to break a sweat. There is nothing like some physical activity to help shift yourself from a mood of despair to one of hope.
Remember you are only a human being doing your best. Don't let others put you high up on a pedestal. When this happens they expect you to be perfect and they feel angry and disappointed when you let them down.
Please remember to laugh, laugh at everything, especially at yourself. Try it! It is the cheapest and most effective form of medicine for life.
Practice being an encouraging and kind person. Find 2 people today you can help out in this way. When you do this, you will not only feel amazing, but it will kick up your self-esteem a notch or two.
Take up a hobby. What is one thing you have always wanted to try out? It could be oil painting, learning a foreign language; taking flying lessons ... the list is endless. Creativity helps you unleash a sense of enthusiasm and zest for life.
Put time aside for your spiritual life. Slow down. Practice sitting quietly. When thoughts crop up, acknowledge them but do not pay attention to them. Be still. Be courageous and if a traditional religion has not been helpful for you follow your own spiritual path.
As an action plan for the week, how about choosing 3 tips from the list of 10 below? Put them into practice everyday and take note of how it affects your week.
"Live life fully while you're here. Experience everything. Take care of yourself and your friends. Have fun, be crazy, and be weird. Go out and screw up! You're going to anyway, so you might as well enjoy the process. Take the opportunity to learn from your mistakes: find the cause of your problem and eliminate it. Don't try to be perfect; just be an excellent example of being human." Anthony Robbins
Chinese New Year - 2008 Chinese New Year Eve
Chinese New Year follows the track of Chinese calendar and the people of China give it a hearty welcome in the cheerful season of spring. And therefore, the entire month of February brings in exciting holiday time for all parts of East India. The entire fervor attached to the Chinese New Year 2008 that is about to begin with 7th February, is bound to stretch to the next 15 days that comprise to form the time when the New Year seeps in. And the last day of Chinese New Year celebrations touches its culminating mode with the bright celebrations of Lantern festival, which adds glitter to the overwhelming celebration mood with an array of bright and colorful lanterns.
Lighting numerous lanterns is similar to glorifying all the newfangled things coming our way with New Year. Also, the days preceding the Lantern festival are filled with the illumination of candles of varied sizes. People consider it auspicious to refurbish their surroundings through and through so that their homes exude good vibes to influence their future days. Along with candles, all the bulbs and chandeliers at home are turned on to burnish every pocket of home. Thus, we can say that all the jolly fifteen days marked by New Year gaiety witness the sparkle of lights that New Year brings with it.
Apart from lights, a variety of flowers are drizzled over varied parts of our house and all of them together add the scent of New Year to everyone’s life. Beautiful flowers like Plum blossom, Sunflower, Narcissus and many others promise to bring in loads of good fortune. Their fragrant bunches spill over the display areas of almost all the markets.
Other than flowers and lights, there are a host of multifarious objects that hold immense significance in all Chinese New Year celebrations. Embroidered decors surfacing various colorful fabrics are used to spruce up different walls of your home. They showcase wonderful Chinese calligraphy that is used to convey wishful New Year messages. Chinese people make it a point to shape up such pretty wall adornments and many traditional designs along with rich Chinese idioms find their space on the whatever material they use to make them. Such compelling adornments with their indigenous Chinese element diffuse every aspect of our home with their compelling beauty and ensure to remain close to us throughout the year.
Another thing that Chinese people consider extremely felicitous is Koi Fish. Even the artificial image of this fish stands for brighter fortune. Also, this fish has direct associations with the inflow of money. They appear to be extremely lively and their cheerful posture along with their slanting tail brings in bundles of money and good luck. Because of their high significance in the beliefs of the people of China, beautiful figures of these fishes can be easily spotted as the attractive toppings of several Chinese dishes.
Moreover, Chinese New Year celebrations cannot be imagined without being redolent with elegant Lion dances that team up with the rhythm of complementing musical drums. The entire dance is rejuvenating and symbolizes happiness to accompany us in the upcoming Chinese New Year 2008.
Lighting numerous lanterns is similar to glorifying all the newfangled things coming our way with New Year. Also, the days preceding the Lantern festival are filled with the illumination of candles of varied sizes. People consider it auspicious to refurbish their surroundings through and through so that their homes exude good vibes to influence their future days. Along with candles, all the bulbs and chandeliers at home are turned on to burnish every pocket of home. Thus, we can say that all the jolly fifteen days marked by New Year gaiety witness the sparkle of lights that New Year brings with it.
Apart from lights, a variety of flowers are drizzled over varied parts of our house and all of them together add the scent of New Year to everyone’s life. Beautiful flowers like Plum blossom, Sunflower, Narcissus and many others promise to bring in loads of good fortune. Their fragrant bunches spill over the display areas of almost all the markets.
Other than flowers and lights, there are a host of multifarious objects that hold immense significance in all Chinese New Year celebrations. Embroidered decors surfacing various colorful fabrics are used to spruce up different walls of your home. They showcase wonderful Chinese calligraphy that is used to convey wishful New Year messages. Chinese people make it a point to shape up such pretty wall adornments and many traditional designs along with rich Chinese idioms find their space on the whatever material they use to make them. Such compelling adornments with their indigenous Chinese element diffuse every aspect of our home with their compelling beauty and ensure to remain close to us throughout the year.
Another thing that Chinese people consider extremely felicitous is Koi Fish. Even the artificial image of this fish stands for brighter fortune. Also, this fish has direct associations with the inflow of money. They appear to be extremely lively and their cheerful posture along with their slanting tail brings in bundles of money and good luck. Because of their high significance in the beliefs of the people of China, beautiful figures of these fishes can be easily spotted as the attractive toppings of several Chinese dishes.
Moreover, Chinese New Year celebrations cannot be imagined without being redolent with elegant Lion dances that team up with the rhythm of complementing musical drums. The entire dance is rejuvenating and symbolizes happiness to accompany us in the upcoming Chinese New Year 2008.
The Recipe for A Modern Orchestra
There are many other odd and interesting woods which will be found in every symphony orchestra. Drumsticks will be found made of snakewood from Dutch Guiana, a reddish-brown wood with spots in color from brown to black, similar in markings to that of a snake.
The fingerboards, pegs and tailpieces of violins are made from African ebony, brought ail the way from the tropical forests of Africa. The bars of xylophones and marimbas and often the castanets are made of rosewood from Brazil or Central America.
This wood ranges in color from reddish brown to deep purple or black, with streaks of purple through it, and it gets its name from its fragrance. It is ideal wood for the purpose, since it is hard, dense, takes a high polish and produces a brilliant, resonant tone when struck.
Then there is mahogany for drum shells, hickory for drumsticks and drum hoops, walnut for tambourines, maple for violin backs and bassoons, and basswood for "cases.
Some people find less music in the orchestra when they learn that the death of from two to three sheep is required before one violin can be equipped with strings. It doesn't seem necessary, but such is the case, and such is the price of great music. So-called "catgut" used on violins is made from the intestines of sheep.
The average length of the sheep intestine is twenty-four feet, and it requires from ten to twelve half-intestines to spin a string only four one hundred ths of an inch in diameter, since only the fine, soft, submucous membrane is used. A set of four violin strings is eighty-eight inches long on the average, and into a set of four violin strings go the intestines of from two to three sheep.
Even old Dobbin contributes his bit, for what would a violin bow be without horsehair? Makers today use 150 hairs about twenty-eight inches long in a standard bow, although Tourte, who created the violin bow of modern times, used slightly fewer hairs. Then the pig comes in for his share, for tom-tom heads are usually of pigskin.
All fine drumheads are of calfskin, the thinner and finest heads coming from the skins of "slunks" or unborn calves. Many different materials are used for mallets of bass drums, tympani, marimbas and bells. Among them are yarn, felt, soft rubber, hard rubber, rawhide, lamb's wool and pyralin.
Copper is the most important metal used in the construction of band and orchestra instruments. The big tympani or kettledrums are drawn from one piece of copper sheet into the half-sphere bowl.
Copper is also the principal ingredient of brass used in the bells of brass instruments, about seventy parts of copper being combined with about thirty parts of zinc to form brass. Valves, keys, braces and other parts of the brass instruments are made from a brass alloy incorporating in addition small quantities of tin, aluminum, lead or other metals, depending upon what is expected of the part.
Metal clarinets and flutes are often made of what is called nickel silver, an alloy of nickel and other metals. Nickel, chromium, silver and gold are used in plating various parts of many instruments used in the band and orchestra.
From the forests, from the foundries, from deep mines and across great seas, from desert wastes and tropical jungles come, in a real and true sense, the great music of the symphony.
If asked to give a recipe for making a symphony orchestra, the historian might start out: Take some oboes from the Orient, some clarinets from Greece and some horns from Palestine. The man of commerce might start out: Take some cane from the Var district of France, some Pernambuco wood from Brazil, and some grenadilla wood from Mozambique, South Africa.
Another and better way would be to say : To form a symphony orchestra of about one hundred pieces, make a mixture of about 40 per cent violins and violas, about 20 per cent cellos and basses, with just a sprinkling of a harp or two.
Make another mixture of woodwinds composed of flutes, single reeds and double reeds, up to about 15 per cent. Make an equal quantity of brass mixture, composed of trumpets, trombones, horns and tubas. Pour all three mixtures together and add about 6 per cent tympani, drums, bells and traps.
The recipe for a modern concert band would be something like this: Make a mixture of about 38 per cent clarinets soprano, alto and bass. Add to it about 10 per cent other woodwinds oboe, English horn, bassoon, flute.
Then make a mixture of about 38 per cent brass, including cornets, trumpets, trombones, horns, baritone horns and bass tubas. Pour these two mixtures together, stirring in at the same time about 8 per cent saxophones. Then add about 6 per cent tympani, drums, bells and traps.
The fingerboards, pegs and tailpieces of violins are made from African ebony, brought ail the way from the tropical forests of Africa. The bars of xylophones and marimbas and often the castanets are made of rosewood from Brazil or Central America.
This wood ranges in color from reddish brown to deep purple or black, with streaks of purple through it, and it gets its name from its fragrance. It is ideal wood for the purpose, since it is hard, dense, takes a high polish and produces a brilliant, resonant tone when struck.
Then there is mahogany for drum shells, hickory for drumsticks and drum hoops, walnut for tambourines, maple for violin backs and bassoons, and basswood for "cases.
Some people find less music in the orchestra when they learn that the death of from two to three sheep is required before one violin can be equipped with strings. It doesn't seem necessary, but such is the case, and such is the price of great music. So-called "catgut" used on violins is made from the intestines of sheep.
The average length of the sheep intestine is twenty-four feet, and it requires from ten to twelve half-intestines to spin a string only four one hundred ths of an inch in diameter, since only the fine, soft, submucous membrane is used. A set of four violin strings is eighty-eight inches long on the average, and into a set of four violin strings go the intestines of from two to three sheep.
Even old Dobbin contributes his bit, for what would a violin bow be without horsehair? Makers today use 150 hairs about twenty-eight inches long in a standard bow, although Tourte, who created the violin bow of modern times, used slightly fewer hairs. Then the pig comes in for his share, for tom-tom heads are usually of pigskin.
All fine drumheads are of calfskin, the thinner and finest heads coming from the skins of "slunks" or unborn calves. Many different materials are used for mallets of bass drums, tympani, marimbas and bells. Among them are yarn, felt, soft rubber, hard rubber, rawhide, lamb's wool and pyralin.
Copper is the most important metal used in the construction of band and orchestra instruments. The big tympani or kettledrums are drawn from one piece of copper sheet into the half-sphere bowl.
Copper is also the principal ingredient of brass used in the bells of brass instruments, about seventy parts of copper being combined with about thirty parts of zinc to form brass. Valves, keys, braces and other parts of the brass instruments are made from a brass alloy incorporating in addition small quantities of tin, aluminum, lead or other metals, depending upon what is expected of the part.
Metal clarinets and flutes are often made of what is called nickel silver, an alloy of nickel and other metals. Nickel, chromium, silver and gold are used in plating various parts of many instruments used in the band and orchestra.
From the forests, from the foundries, from deep mines and across great seas, from desert wastes and tropical jungles come, in a real and true sense, the great music of the symphony.
If asked to give a recipe for making a symphony orchestra, the historian might start out: Take some oboes from the Orient, some clarinets from Greece and some horns from Palestine. The man of commerce might start out: Take some cane from the Var district of France, some Pernambuco wood from Brazil, and some grenadilla wood from Mozambique, South Africa.
Another and better way would be to say : To form a symphony orchestra of about one hundred pieces, make a mixture of about 40 per cent violins and violas, about 20 per cent cellos and basses, with just a sprinkling of a harp or two.
Make another mixture of woodwinds composed of flutes, single reeds and double reeds, up to about 15 per cent. Make an equal quantity of brass mixture, composed of trumpets, trombones, horns and tubas. Pour all three mixtures together and add about 6 per cent tympani, drums, bells and traps.
The recipe for a modern concert band would be something like this: Make a mixture of about 38 per cent clarinets soprano, alto and bass. Add to it about 10 per cent other woodwinds oboe, English horn, bassoon, flute.
Then make a mixture of about 38 per cent brass, including cornets, trumpets, trombones, horns, baritone horns and bass tubas. Pour these two mixtures together, stirring in at the same time about 8 per cent saxophones. Then add about 6 per cent tympani, drums, bells and traps.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)