Archive for October 2011

 
 

Winter Park Ski Resort Colorados Secret Playground

If you are planning a ski trip look no further than Winter Park Resort.in Colorado. Sure there all lot famous resorts here in Colorado that are household names across the United States, but these well-known resorts are plagued with crowded ski slopes and lift lines. Which is why Winter Park Resort is known as Colorados Favorite. Coloradoans frequent this ski resort more than any other in the state, due to the fact that it is one of the biggest resorts, with the most snow and fewest tourists. It also helps that it is only 67 miles from Denver.

Winter Park Resort is also the home of the legendary Mary Jane. Mary Jane was named as one of the top 5 resorts in North America for bump skiing according to Snow Country Magazine. It is not for the faint of heart, as there are no green runs anywhere on the Jane.

Parsons Bowl takes you above the clouds and the tree line. The bowl offers intermediate to advanced ski runs, and happens to be a favorite of the locals. Once you get to the top you will be looking for your camera, and a warming hut.

Ski Magazine ranks the terrain parks & pipes of Winter Park Resort in the top 10 of the nation. The Railyard is one of the longest terrain parks in Colorado, and covers 15 acres over a 3,650 foot stretch of rail-grinding madness. For beginners there is the Jack Kendrick, which has extra wide rails and non-threatening jumps to help advance to the next level.

There are plenty of great restaurants and bars on the mountain, and like the lift lines, the crowds never seem to be a problem. You can also head to the actual town of Winter Park after the lifts close. It is a quaint little strip of restaurants, bars and shops. There is actually a very good sushi bar in town that often surprises people with its great food and reasonable prices.

Round off the day with a trip to the lighted tubing hill in Fraser. They provide a lift, warming hut and the tubes. And if you would like a day away from the slopes, you can enjoy a snowmobile tour up to the top of the Continental Divide, or get down right old fashioned and jump on a dog sled.

Ski-in lodging can be found just a five minute walk from the base of Winter Park Resort. Slope View Bed and Breakfast offers views of the Continental Divide, unique amenities and a knowledgeable staff. 970-531-2386

Getting Unexpected Profits With a Car Wash Fundraiser!

Instead of wasting lots of precious time on thinking what’s the best fundraising idea, go with what works. Setting up a car wash fundraiser may not be the most original thing to do, but it has always proven to bring great results. As long as you settle your team on a high traffic area and generate a sound attention-capturing system, the rest practically takes care of itself. Unlike complicated fundraiser event ideas, a car wash is a simple concept to apply. However, you still need some minimum planning.

First things first. Design or have someone design a simple straight to the point flyer that includes the following:

- Purpose of your fundraising group
- Price of the car wash
- Location and time
- Any other information that relates to your cause

In order for you and your team to be extra successful with your car wash fundraiser, you have to squeeze everything you can out of it. For example, while the car washing is taking place you can sell coupons and make an extra profit. If you notice that you can’t handle everything, consider partnering yourself with another group with similar values. Charge an extra fee for additional services such as waxing or vacuuming. Instead of aimlessly standing in the middle of nowhere trying to stop cars, sell tickets several days before the event to ensure a hefty lineup of cars to attend.

Setting up a car wash is no big deal. Your team just has to be prepared to work hard for several consecutive hours during one day. If your group is big enough, it’s better to have two lines instead of one. When it’s time for action follow these four steps:

1. Attract your customers with eye catching signs.
2. Make the sale
3. Wash the car
4. Dry the car

Yes, that’s the beauty of a car wash, pretty much anyone can make it happen. There are several other things you can do to make it even a greater success. For instance, you can offer the car wash for free and simply accept donations. This way you don’t put a cap to your earnings and will probably get the best out of generous people. Also, you can try to get free advertising in your local radio station, magazines or newspaper. Finally, remember to have fun! Having energetic music playing in the background and providing refreshments for your crew stimulates the best performance.

Study In Germany The Best Education Bargain In The World

More and more college-bound students from the U.S. and around the world are traveling to Germany to study, some for a semester or a year, but others to pursue a two- or four-year degree at one of the countrys many prestigious universities.

The reason? Part of it is pure quality the university system created in Germany after World War II has a well-earned reputation for excellence but another, more pragmatic reason is cost. Students who in the United States would be facing over $50,000 in student loans after four years of college can attend a public German university for an average of $700 a semester, plus between $50 and $150 in registration fees. Tuition itself in the public universities is free; the $700 covers the cost of arranged lodging and other official expenses. Even adding food, transportation, and other daily costs to that, the German university is an incredible bargain. And to sweeten the offer, the German government offers scholarships to help defray the costs of fees, lodging, and any number of other daily expenses associated with study in Germany.

Engineering students in particular are making a beeline for Germany, choosing to pursue a degree at one of Germanys excellent technical universities, while other students decide to experience the countrys rich cultural history while earning a degree in humanities at one of the centuries old traditional establishments. Many courses of study leading to a wide range of career paths are available to foreign students at more than 300 colleges and trade schools. Some students limit themselves to a single semester or a year in Germany, largely for the experience of living abroad, but more and more students are deciding to stay and earn an undergraduate or advanced post-graduate degree.

Learning the language

While some courses at German universities are taught in English, the vast majority of instruction takes place in German, and the federal government requires foreign students to pass a DSH exam to prove their proficiency in the German language before being accepted for university study. The government licenses a number of private German language schools to provide intensive instruction in German; students live in German towns, sometimes with German families, and shop, travel, and attend movies, concerts and restaurants in a total immersion experience that serves to develop remarkable skill in speaking and reading the language in an amazingly short period of time. Scholarships are also available from the German federal government for these courses.

Beyond Cost Savings and Course Work the Ultimate Value of German University Study
The current climate of commercial and political globalization offers an advantage to students with fluency in a second language, and particularly to those who have a deep familiarity with another culture; graduates who boast a degree or even a semester at a foreign university will probably be looked upon with high interest by recruiters for large corporations. But beyond that kind of pragmatism, living in a foreign country and studying elbow-to-elbow with students from Europe, the U.S., Japan, China, the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, and other geographically and culturally diverse corners of the world offers students a unique opportunity to develop diverse friendships and an understanding of other cultures and world views. And perhaps this opportunity to connect on a meaningful level with individuals from other, often profoundly different, cultures is the most important benefit, in this complicated and troubled world, of study abroad.

Hindu Astrological Predictions

For thousands of years the Hindus in India were using the planets and stars to predict the future and confirm the past. The Hindu astrology defines the characteristics of a person depending on the place and the time of birth. The place and time of birth corresponds to a start and each star has its own distinct characteristics.

Some of the planets are thought to be good for people and some are thought to be bad for persons life. If a persons horoscope has a strong influence of the planet Saturn at any point in life, the person goes through lot of sufferings. As per the Hindu Vedas the life is full of joy and sorrows. One can not have life full of joy or full of sorrow. There are many remedies given to soothe the sufferings when a person goes through bad planetary positions.

Here are the categories of Hindu horoscopes.

Mesha
Vrishaba
Miduna
Kataka
Simha
Kanya
Tula
Vrischika
Dhanus
Makara
Kumba
Meena

The terms Aries,Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn , Aquarius and Pisces are used ONLY to denote their corresponding equivalents in Vedic Astrology. Any extension of them would lead to misinterpretation of the predictions . Predictions are on the basis of the birth stars and not on the English date of birth.

The hindu vedas gives many things one can do to prevent bad period in life. These are called Pariharams and are usually done in any temple. Some of the famous temples for doing pariharams are Tirupathi, Tiruchendur, Tanjore Siva Temple, Varanasi, Bath in the holy Ganges, Puttabarthi, Sai Baba temple, Palani, Kalahasthi, Thirunallar, Panjavadi, Guruvayur, Kumbakonam, Thiruvarur, Nagarcoil, temples in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh etc.

Many pariharams also talk about specific Gods like Krishna, Ganesha, Karthikeya, Siva, Vishnu, Kali, Linga.

Usually astrological predictions are done for a monthly or yearly period.

A Guide For Writing a Funding Proposal

No guide for writing a funding proposal would be complete without cautioning that a business looking for funding cannot do so without also presenting a completed business plan. Every lender, whether bank or other financial institution, venture capitalist, or private individual, will want to see the firm’s business plan in addition to the project detail. They’ll want to know the company’s mission, its goals, its steps to achieving those goals, its products and services, its available resources, the market, the competition, and your firm’s competitive edge.

The business plan that accompanies the funding proposal you write and present should also include the owners or officers and all major players such as executives and others instrumental in the day to day workings of the company.

If you’re new to writing a funding proposal a guide is essential, whether a written brochure or publication, online assistance, or a counselor at the local small business development center. SCORE, the Service Corps for Retired Executives, is another top-notch resource that can guide you through writing a funding proposal. The volunteers are all retired executives and other experts who have been where you are and have succeeded.

In addition to the standard documents that the bank or credit union will require for the loan application, the lender also expects to see a written funding proposal when you apply for the loan. Rather than looking at writing a funding proposal as a tedious chore, look at it as the guide for your lender to see just how exciting, promising and profitable your idea and firm could be and what an opportunity they have to be a financial part of your great venture.

Give your funding proposal a zippy but clear title, then talk about the overview of the project you’ve planned, supplying background information on the problem as you see it, the details of the project that will solve the problem, what resources you have available and what resources you’ll need to get the job done, what staff and administration help you have and what else you might need, the facilities available for your project and any that you’ll need to lease or buy in addition, any supplies or equipment or personnel that will be added, and any communication capabilities or requirements that are pertinent. Present a budget for your project.

Step by step, you should….

* Write a cover letter with your funding proposal, both as an enticement to read the proposal and a guide to what will be found in the funding proposal pages. Included in the cover letter, besides the title, are a brief introduction to your firm, the purpose of the loan and the amount of money you are requesting.

* The funding proposal should begin with the company name, address, and contact information such as phones and e-mails. Here should also be the names, titles and social security numbers of all the principals, the reason for the loan, the amount requested and details of what you will be doing with the money including the equipment and supplies purchase, perhaps the lease of new facilities, the resources now available, the staff that might be added, and the administration personnel that will oversee the project.

* Next offer extensive details about the firm, including any previous projects and performance, clientele, overall goals and objectives, unique aspects of the firm and the ownership and legal structure.

* Background information is next, with details about the company budget, as well as the project budget, the market and the competition, and your firm’s standing among the competition. Details on the current clientele as well as an evaluation plan for determining the company’s overall financial and competitive health and for that of the project itself should be included as well.

* All key personnel should be profiled, including their education, the accomplishment both as a firm member and prior, as well as their qualifications. Along with background information and a budget for the project, you should provide all information and documents about the last three years of the company’s operations. If not in business that long, provide the financial statements including balance sheets and income statements that you have. Collateral should be pledged for the funding.

* Written communication is a crucial part of your funding proposal and someone should guide you through the process by proofreading the materials, to check for spelling, grammar, factual accuracy and overall quality of presentation.

Any time you apply for a loan, whether the details of the needed resources, the project overview, the statement of the problem, and the budget are already in the application or the cover letter, you should still submit a funding proposal as an overall guide to the loan officer and other funding decision makers.

How Do You Know What an Autographed is Worth?

Have you recently started to become interested in autograph collecting and would like to know the present day market value of an autograph that you are interested in purchasing? Or have you inherited an estate from a family member and was surprised to find an abundance of autographed photos, items, cards, posters that you have no idea how to find the value much less who to sell them too?

There are several sources to find out how much your collectible or autographed collectible is worth. The internet has open a world at our finger tips, with online auctions to online stores, published price guides that can be purchased at most bookstores offer a rough estimate, mainly it is worth what someone is will to pay for the item. Online Auctions are now a great source of finding out just that.

The key points that influence the value of autographed memorabilia is supply, demand, condition, form, content, subject, rarity. There is a demand for certain celebrity autographs and people willing to buy and sell them. That creates the market, which determines the value which is understood by both buyer and seller. Collecting autographs usually starts with a particular interest in and individual or occupation or interest in a certain subject. It is one of those hobbies that once you dibble in become a passion. Then in time become a very nice investment as those of you who have inherited collections and were surprise to find out that their value was more than you had ever imagined.

Many categories determine the price of a signature from an individual. The following abbreviations are used to help describe the type of letter or document that is being offered for sale.
AD: Autograph Document (hand-written by the person to be collected, but not signed)
ADS: Autograph Document Signed (written and signed by same individual)
AL: Autograph Letter (hand-written by the person to be collected, but not signed)
ALS: Autograph Letter Signed (hand-written and signed by same individual)
AMs: Autograph Manuscript (hand-written; such as the draft of a play, research paper or music sheet)
AMsS: Autograph Manuscript Signed (hand-written and signed by same individual)
AMusQs: Autograph Musical Quotation Signed (hand-written and signed by same individual)
AN: Autograph Note (much shorter than a letter)
ANS: Autograph Note Signed (hand-written and signed by same individual)
AQS: Autograph Quote Signed (hand-written and signed by same individual; poem verse, sentence, or bar-of-music)
DS: Document signed (printed, or while hand-written by another, is signed by individual sought to be collected)
LS: Letter Signed (hand-written by someone else, but signed by the individual sought to be collected)
PS: Photograph Signed or Postcard Signed
SIG: Signature on index card, cut out of autograph book or letter
SP: Signed Photograph
TLS: Typed Letter Signed
TNS: Typed Note Signed
folio: A printer’s sheet of paper folded once to make two leaves, double quarto size or larger.
octavo(8vo): A manuscript page about six-by-nine inches. (Originally determined by folding a printer’s sheet of paper to form eighty leaves.)
quarto(4to): A manuscript page of about nine and one-half by twelve inches. (Originally determined by folding a printer’s sheet of paper twice to form two leaves.)
Not only does the category determine price, but so does condition, quality, rarity and the person of interest celebrity will also play a major part in determining value. As you will see in future weekly articles; a detail definition of each abbreviation, so you will become more educated in the valuation process of collecting.

The Dot Com Era is Back

In a recent article titled “Internet use threatens to overtake TV in Canada” it discusses the threat of online marketing to traditional media sources in Canada. This isn’t a a threat anymore in the US. It is a fact.

An article written by Thomas Mucha from Business 2.0 says:

People are spending more time online than watching TV, which gives marketers a better chance to reach consumers in a place where they are just one click away from making a purchase. “More than 75 percent of companies using the Internet to advertise report confidence in their return on investment,” writes the study’s lead author, Jupiter Research senior analyst Gary Stein. This confidence, Stein argues, will sustain spending momentum across all the key online ad areas: paid search, display ads, classified ads, and rich media.

Interesting to note that two studies are similar. Although The Ipsos Reid study of Canada claims radio is losing more interest than TV in Canada, it may soon lose to the Internet as well.

Mr. Mucha claims 40 percent of total spending by 2010 will be paid advertisements on Google, Yahoo and MSN to an estimate of $19 billion per year. Not much wonder why the search engines are trying to dominate each other and the marketplace. The one that becomes the most popular will also make the most money.

What will become of the little guy? Will it put an end to buying keywords for ad placement on search engines? Will the small business owner get shoved out of the picture? Maybe not altogether… but let’s face it. If GM decides they want to use the keywords you are using, can you afford to compete? The search engines will be laughing “all the way to the bank” and the cost per clicks will just keeping going up… (he-he) similar to the price of gasoline at the pumps these days.

Even though the cost of clicks may get pricey, the major search engines will always have to index relevant websites and include these results and return them on any keyword search. Professional sites (versus linkfarm, affiliate, spam sites) will always be in favour, and the sooner business can get their company sites built, if they haven’t already; the better. Google seems to be the top search engine right now, and new sites often get sandboxed. If they hold on to their dominant position, new websites want to make sure this doesn’t happen to them.

I’ve always felt that there was something Google was doing that gave some sites more relevance than others in its index, but wasn’t sure how it was applied. At the Search Engine Strategies conference last week in San Jose, California, Rand Fishkin learned that Google places some new Web sites, “regardless of their merit, or lack thereof, in a sort of probationary category” for six months to a year to “allow time to determine how users react to a new site, who links to it, etc.”

On a final piece of advice he suggests:

“Several people have also predicted that Yahoo! or MSN may take up similar techniques to help stop spam. This phenomenon could seriously undermine new SEO/Ms and new campaigns, but it is a possibility. My recommendation is not to discount this possibility and launch projects or at least holding sites and their promotional efforts ASAP. The web environment right now is still relatively friendly to new sites, but will certainly become more competitive and unforgiving with time, no matter what search engine filters exist.”

Although it is starting to sound a little like the “Dot Com era is back” it will be a little different this time around. In 2000 when it went bust, it is partly because the percentage of consumers purchasing online didn’t justify the amount of spending. There was a lack of confidence. It is different now. Jupiter’s study shows that “73 percent of Americans who use the Internet have made a purchase online and four out of five of these potential shoppers have responded to an online ad.”

Repairing A Digital Camera

It would be ideal if you never had to use a digital camera repair service but the chances are that you will have to find one during the life of your digital camera. If you have bought your camera carefully then it should have a lengthy digital camera repair warranty. Even if your camera is still within the warranty period for digital camera repair then you still have to ensure that you meet the requirements of the warranty.

No digital camera repair warranty covers damage caused by abusing the camera or incorrect use. You also need to check what paperwork you have to send off with your digital camera repair for it to be carried out under warranty, such as the sales receipt and completed warranty card. Your warranty will provide instructions for how to obtain a digital camera repair and the procedures to follow. It is important to use a digital camera repair service authorised by the particular manufacturer of your digital camera to ensure that you do not incur any extra costs. A digital camera repair carried out under warranty will not cost you anything unless the equipment needs to be returned to the factory, in which case there are shipping charges.

One of the most frequent problems that require a camera to be sent to a digital camera repair service is a zoom lens that will not zoom, because the lens is out of alignment. This may have been caused by rough handling or some type of impact which will not be covered by the warranty. If your camera is not able to focus then it will not fire and may print out system error or not turn on properly. It is a relatively simple process for a digital camera repair service to realign the zoom lens or reset the zoom barrel guide pins that may have been pushed out of their slots, and this will then enable the lens to focus and zoom. The cost for this form of digital camera repair will vary from service to service but it should be a relatively quick job, as long as the digital camera repair company has the correct equipment onsite. It is worth checking before you decide which digital camera repair service to use that they have the necessary equipment and expertise to carry out the repair and not have to send it away.

The best digital camera repair services have skilled digital camera repair technicians that specialize in repairing certain types and brands of cameras, hundreds of specialized tools to properly service your camera and some may also have custom test jigs to help complete repairs more effectively and efficiently.

Understanding The Mind Of The Hunter

Contrary to popular belief, stalkers are not a problem relegated only to celebrities. Ordinary people can also end up having to deal with someone following their every move and observing their daily activities. The fact is, it isn’t just fame and fortune that makes someone so obsessed with another person as to follow them around and literally center their perception of reality around another human being. Especially one that likely doesn’t even acknowledge or is aware of their existence. Stalkers can be interpreted as having mental health problems, though they are similar to sociopaths, in the sense that there is no single, simple explanation that covers all forms of stalker behavior.

A Lighthearted Look at Bedwetting Alarms

The reactions of an older sibling are greatly enhanced by enuresis. Training is quick and easy one shared bedwetting episode generally does the trick. It is however not as easy to train the bed wetter to adopt the same fully-awake, upright posture in the bathroom, irrespective of the distance away, as it is to have a bed-sharing sibling do so.

Primary bedwetting, usually prevalent from the ages of three to seven years, also induces a disproportionate sense of terror in the male species when junior creeps through in the middle of the night and crawls under the sheets between mom and dad. Mom, generally speaking, continues her slumber but dad, as if by genetic disposition, starts experiencing REM (rapid eye movement) and false warm feelings.

For all marketers of bedwetting alarms: take advantage of this gender disparity fathers are generally more product-susceptible when buying alarms than mothers. Not to suggest that mothers are insensitive to the practicalities of bed-wetting; they are just not equally disposed to the midnight stark-staring-mad eyes look when urinated upon in their own beds. The hangover smell of stale urine in the children’s room and the washing of bedding is far more likely to trigger a buying signal in mothers than the prospect of being drenched.

All infants wet the bed it’s perfectly normal so we are left to argue for how long enuresis should continue and how best to hasten its demise.

Enter the bedwetting alarm. The vote is normally unanimous parents, siblings, grandparents and camp-out buddies united in squandering part of the child’s inheritance on any device that will speed up the process.

The majority of bedwetting alarms are aural aids to the enuresis sufferer. (A notable exception is the vibratory alarm, which is tactile.) They are meant, according to product brochures, to gently remind the wearer to wake up and use the bathroom.

Given that sound is the prime source of reminder, be aware that what sounds like a moderate beep in the supermarket may take on the qualities of a World War II Klaxton air-raid siren in the quiet of the night. Cheaper models may resort to a common vehicle alarm. You aren’t trying to stop the child from urinating for life; just to waken them sufficiently to move activities to the bathroom. If in doubt about the volume of the device, choose a model with volume adjustment.

Bedwetting alarms comprise a few parts. A moisture sensor, a wire, batteries and an alarm are generally the sum of the whole. Read the insert to get some idea of the model being contemplated. (No madam, you don’t tie the wire around the tip of his tinkie.)

The moisture sensor is at the sharp end of the enuresis business. This front-rank member should be safe, comfortable to wear and washable. Too sensitive and it will go off during the sweat of hot weather – too insensitive and immersion in a bucket of urine won’t trigger it. Testing the sensitivity in the supermarket by licking it is generally considered a no-no.

Comfort is paramount. If it is uncomfortable enough to keep a child awake, it’s bad. Mind the chunky sensor type.

The sensor’s connected to theay-larm. The ay-larm’s connected to the sorry, old songs are terrible things. A wire runs through it and you don’t want the wire around the windpipe. Check this safety aspect carefully. Some fancy models even have a remote facility to an alarm in the parent’s room guess who’s going to get up that facilitates checking that the child has woken up and gone to the bathroom.

Don’t buy any model that plugs into the mains, if there are any such models still available. You’re trying to train the bedwetter, not invoke the death penalty.

After selecting a model, you’re still faced with the prospect of getting the victim to wear it. Passing it off as a “Captainnnn Bladder!” suit works with the gullible, but it may come back to haunt in later years. Getting the child’s buy-in to wearing the device usually takes bribery, corruption and threats. Peer, not pee’er, pressure works for the campout types but don’t enlist the tent bully’s help.

Many models recommend inserting the sensor into a sanitary towel to make sure it hits the enuresis spot, especially with boys. Passing the sanitary towel off as “shoulder pads” can have embarrassing consequences when taking your toddler shopping and they brandish a pack, declaring loudly that you have forgotten the “shoulder pads.”

Models differ. A few aspects that may lead to failure are:

Missing the point girls are easier to line up than boys. Make sure the sensor can be kept in place without resorting to uncomfortable devices.
Sharp edges on any part… if the device is uncomfortable, the child is not going to wear it.
Ease of use the device should be simple enough for the child to reset it without parental assistance.
Durability sooner or later the device will accidentally end up in the toilet bowl.
Hygienic design you should be able to disinfect the sensor easily.
Tangling of the sensor / alarm connector wire wireless models are available, if your budget runs to this.

Bedwetting alarms are an aid to preventing enuresis and there are other factors to consider. Remove the fish tank from the child’s bedroom. That lovely gurgle-bubbly water sound you get the picture. Have soft lighting in the bedroom. Stumbling over discarded toys, the furniture or the cat in the dark with an alarm going off in your ear doesn’t endear the process to the child. Ultimately, be patient. It is usual for the process to take a few months.

Copyright Jared Winston, 2006. All Rights Reserved.

An Education In The Arts

For some people art is just something you put on your refrigerator doors. It is something you have to do for schoolwork, or to while your time away. In truth, there truly is something beneath the surface of art that will tantalize every student and teacher. And this is the truth behind art education.

Q. What Is An Education In The Arts?
A. Art Education is the means by which a student gains an understanding of form and design. An education in the arts is typically divided into three areas – the fine arts, such as music, drama, sculpture or painting, the general arts, programs such as education, criminology, etc, and design, such as graphic design, web design, or interior design.

Q. Why Arts?
A. Art has a great power to influence people. It also has a significant effect on the history of man. Art may seem like it is just something pretty, but under the hood it boasts of a pretty powerful engine. One that has shaped the world, and indeed your very life. You can’t go one day in the span of your life without being exposed to some form of artistic design, from the

A wise man once said that an education in the arts is the absolute best education one can have because it exposes you to the most general field of studies. Over time, you will know a little about everything. If you chose a more specialized field, you would gradually learn more and more about less and less. And I’d rather know a little about everything than everything about something, don’t you agree?

1. Express Yourself

Art is by far one of the most rewarding careers because, unlike a career in the sciences or a trade, it allows you to express your creativity. And no two days are the same. The power to captivate and inspire is also very rewarding. Hasnt the Mona Lisa drawn its share of oohs and aahs? And hasnt many a tear been shed at the beautiful works of art around the world? Man has always expressed his deepest thoughts and desires in a tangible form. This form is Art.

Industries need artists who have had a good education in Art. Creating labels, stickers, and advertisements for their products isnt easy. These things require plenty of thought and design. Every detail has been considered to make its effect on the consumer optimal. Have you ever been interested in a product simply because of the packaging? This is art at work.

2. Art Is Everywhere

- Color
- Psychology
- Design esthetics
- Advertisements
- Television & Movies
- Furniture
- Clothing

3. Who Should Study Art?

Almost everyone has gone to art class in grade school or high school. Even those who are not artists can benefit from an Art Education. They will come to appreciate the rich history and significance of Art.

4. I Want to Learn! How do I Sign Up?

Art education is not confined to undergrad studies. It also extends to tutors, art classes, vocational classes and other learning methods. Many schools exist that teach the history, principles and appreciation of Art. These schools carry the tradition of imparting to the next generation the significance of art.

5. The Rewards Of An Art Education

You may be tempted to think you will be able to wing it through a career without any formal training. That is possible, but not likely. Industries are on the lookout for those with professional education. Even with an education from a post-secondary institution, in this field, you never stop learning and keeping up with technology.

An Art Education is clearly important to artists and laymen alike. It may not be the path everyone takes, but it is the path that richly rewards those who take it. The riches here are not only of the material kind but that of a good education and a heightened appreciation of the world around you.

Shopping for the perfect briefcase

There are many factors that figure into buying a briefcase. Let’s take the features you’re searching for one at a time. If this is your first briefcase you need to look for something you’re comfortable with. If you’re an accountant or lawyer then carrying multiple files and papers is the norm. You’ll want something fairly large, with expandable capacity. Look for something that has a comfortable shoulder strap that you can manage easily. Accountants and lawyers tend to be pretty conservative so a black or brown case will surely work. Usually leather is the first choice, but there are many cases made of ballistic nylon with leather trim that are durable and have a professional look.

. Today, there are many companies making cases so that every price range is covered. Try the case on in front of a mirror. Try it with the shoulder strap if that is the way you will usually be carrying it. There are many new ergonomically correct shoulder straps on the market. They fit your shoulder and are more comfortable than the old style thinner strap. Briefcases last a long time so you want the case you purchase to be something you’ll enjoy for many years.

If you need a case that is smaller or larger than your old case be sure to bring the old case along to compare. Cases look different in a large store than they do at home. Some briefcases come with hidden expansion zippers to make the case larger or smaller.

If you are going to be carrying a laptop be sure you know the size. There are cases for 14″ to 17″ laptops. Many have removable padded inserts that are very useful if you travel. This way you can remove your laptop while going through security and keep it safe in the padded insert. Other laptop cases have a padded pocket inside where the laptop is protected. Many have very comfortable shoulder straps because these cases tend to get heavy. There are also molded briefcases called attaches designed to carry laptops. These do not usually have shoulder straps and are carried by one handle only. They generally have a combination lock so they are more secure. Some models are watertight
.
If you are looking for a lighter weight case, there is a large variety available. You no longer have to rule out leather. Theres also good quality nylon or ballistic nylon cases. Hold the cases side by side and lift them.

When you begin to develop shoulder problems or neck problems, or your doctor has advised you to stop lifting or carrying a briefcase, than the rolling case is for you. There are quite a variety of cases available now with wheels. They come in all sizes and models. Some have removable wheels. They are also available in leather or ballistic nylon. Purchase one with the good inline skate wheels, so they will roll smoothly over cement or walkways or down office halls.

Especially for woman, but also for men there are now a wide variety of styles and colors available. Woman can choose from petal pink to lipstick red to bright purple! For men there is every shade of brown imaginable as well as black. There are soft leathers, grained leathers, and combinations of leather and nylon. Its always a good idea to have your initials monogrammed on the case so no one accidentally walks away with it.

Summer Activity Cache: Fun Things To Do With Your Kids

The word summer can have two completely different meanings for kids and adults. To kids its that precious time that they can do what they want without the set schedules of school, without set bedtimes and without school work. To you, it can seem like an endless time of trying to keep your kids occupied without allowing them to veg in front of the television and video games all day. You want them to have fun and create great summer memories, but, as a seasoned mom, you know that a complete lack of structure can lead to choruses of Im bored throughout the day.

Whining Your Way To Health, Happiness & Prosperity With EFT

It’s such a struggle having to be positive all the time.

Having a good attitude. Seeing the bright side to everything. Life’s hard enough as it is and when that becomes apparent, sometimes it really *is* right and proper to really express yourself.

You know, emotions build up. Or should I say, energies build up. And up. It is just like a pressure beginning to rise – hardly noticeable at first, then more and more. The pressure grows, the energy gets denser and tighter. And then there comes the point where the energy body needs to have this pressure removed or else it seriously starts to hurt, seriously starts to unbalance body and mind – and that’s why and when people blow their tops, start shouting or the tears begin to flow.

Of course, the reason for this is a blockage in the energy system, a stopper in the flow that causes the normal energy flow to back up and creates this pressure scenario. When you take out the blockages, the energy rushes through and out and phew – what a relief! That’s when people say, “Oh that’s so strange, that feeling isn’t there anymore – I feel fine now!”

The classical EFT effect, if you will.

But here’s our special application – whining.

Whining is an activity to *express* backed up emotions just as much as a panic attack or a temper tantrum – just at a lower end of the scale.

Here, we are talking about blockages not in the “life-and-death” systems of the energy body but more like a nagging pain or a thorn in the foot.

Even so, when the pressure gets too bad something has to be done and then we whine – about the government, about our spouses, our children, our finances, the weather, anything really to release the pressure for a while.

Interestingly, if people were allowed to whine more frequently to their partners, their co-workers and strangers in the street, they might be more healthy in the long run. But our 21st century First World civilisation frowns upon those who whine, accusing them of having a bad attitude, shunning them at parties and overlooking them for promotions.

We soon learn that whining is NOT how to make friends and influence people (other than to walk away swiftly with a sense of disgust!) and guess what?

What happens to the unexpressed pressure build up which could have been released with a jolly good, “Oh I’m so fed up! It’s so unfair! Whaaa …”?

Well of course, it will have to be *expressed* *somehow* – in other and possibly more damaging ways. In addictions and overeating, in repetitive behaviours, exercise, compulsive cleaning or working, and of course, there are many substances that can come to our aid, producing a state shift and making us move somewhere else for a time where we are unaware of that pressure down there …

So I have decided that whining is indeed, healthy and should be seriously tackled on a regular basis as a prophylactic mental and physical health measure.

Hopefully, we can use EFT as we whine to actually target and unblock the energy flow which *causes* the whining in the first place and thereby not only drain the metaphorical/energetic puss out of the boil but actually heal what caused the boil in the first place – so more whining will lead to less, and less, and eventually we will actually be *really* able to display that “good attitude” of fortitude, pro-activity, strength and courage we have *pretended* to have had for oh so long.

So, and without any further ado, here is:

The EFT Whining Protocol

1. When the time is right, with or without another, sit down with an EFT protocol to hand.

2. Think about something that really annoys you about your life.

Please note we are not talking about major past issues of trauma and abuse in this case, but something you could really whine on about in no uncertain terms for ages. Pick your topic, take a deep breath and start whining.

Example. “Ok, about my wife. She *really* gets on my nerves. Always wanting to watch TV, can’t get her off the couch with a forklift truck! And that’s the least of it. The other day, she actually (insert next item) …”

3. As you whine, you tap. You may tap randomly or intuitively, or simply just tap the whole round, round and round, all through the whine. When you get to the Karate Chop point, you start again with the top of the eyebrow.

Please note: The tapping tends to get faster as you get into the whine. That’s alright and a natural response!

4. Continue until you:

a) run out of things to tap on;
b) feel lots better;
c) start laughing;
d) have somehow forgotten what you were tapping on.

To sum up:

Whining is a natural human activity that denotes the need for an energy release. In and of itself it is very healthy and prevents the need for escalation into cocain abuse, panic attacks, road rage and psychosomatic illness.

However, when the activity of whining is paired with the release and un-blocking effects of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), mind-body health is served in a profound way.

The EFT Whining Protocol is thereby fully recommended as a prophylactic measure and method for all.

Seriously.

Hemorrhoids: A Real Pain in the Butt!

Being afflicted by hemorrhoids is no laughing matter. The pain and itching associated with the condition can be embarrassing as well as distracting. There are a variety of solutions to help you overcome hemorrhoids and we’ll discuss some of your options here.

Exactly what are hemorrhoids? In short, hemorrhoids refers to a condition in which the veins around the lower rectum or anus are swollen and inflamed. Hemorrhoids can be found internally within the anus or externally around the anus.

The condition is often worsened as sufferers attempt to make a bowel movement. Other causes include: diarrhea, anal intercourse, pregnancy, constipation, and aging.

Signs of hemorrhoids are observed through blood on toilet tissue, as well as blood found in and around the toilet bowl. A lump or painful swelling around the anus can be a physical sign as well as extreme itching in the same area.

There are two methods you can try to actively reduce or eliminate the condition:

1. Apply a hemorroidal cream or suppository to the area affected.

2. Warm tub baths, several times a day, in plain water.

To prevent future attacks you can take the following steps:

1. If constipation is a problem for you, increase your fiber intake to bring on smoother bowel movements.

2. Cut back on caffiene as coffee and similar products may exacerbate the problem.

3. Exercise regularly.

In severe cases you may require a physician’s intervention. Your doctor may suggest that affected tissue be burned or the hemmorhoid removed altogether. Other options include rubber band ligation or the injection of a chemical solution to alleviate the condition.

Some cases of hemorrhoids simply go away on their own. In all cases you can control and even eliminate the condition by following the steps outlined for you.

The Basics of Weight Loss

For some people, simply exercising and eating less can cause them to lose a lot of weight. These are the kind of people who easily gain weight but lose what they have gained just as easily. However, there are people who easily gain weight but struggle to lose them in the end. Despite hours of running in the treadmill, these people will simply drive themselves to exhaustion but will not be able to shed so many pounds. They will soon realize that their efforts are not enough and it is about time to make use of additional help.

Should You Use Travel Guides?

Is going solo in an unknown area the right way to go, or do you want a tour guide to show you the highlights? I think that you can combine the two ways in one trip and have the best of both worlds. One trip we recently took was to Washington D.C. The best purchase we made was for a bus tour that would take us around the capital and point out all the main sites. Then allow us the next day to travel by foot to the ones we especially wanted to see. We knew ahead of time which Smithsonian building we wanted to see, if the Washington Monument was open to visitors and if you needed to get an advance ticket to take a tour of the White House or visit the Capital Building. It allowed us to plan our three days in the city and see all that we wanted to see. Individual tours to such landmarks as Fords Theater and Arlington Cemetery were tours we were glad we bought. The tour guides for these locations knew tidbits and items of interest that we would never have found out on our own.

Lets look at the San Francisco Bay Area which is another one of my favorite vacation spots and my family has many pleasant and happy memories of our visits to that area. Some areas are so familiar to tourists that its possible to view the attractions on your own. That allows you to take your time and go at your own pace. Fishermans Wharf and Pier39 are good examples. Just by walking a few blocks you can tour Aquarium of the Bay, take a cruise of San Francisco Bay, visit the world famous Ripleys Believe It or Not Museum and spend some down time at the Riptide Arcade on Pier 39. The antique carousel is a beautiful site and an attraction for all ages.

If youre going solo on this trip, you could consider buying a San Francisco CityPass. This special buy will give you tickets to five attractions, unlimited rides on the Cable Cars and an option ticket to use at the Legion of Honor or Academy of Science & Steinhart Aquarium. You are allowed nine days from the date you first start using your CityPass to visit each attraction and seven days for unlimited Cable Car rides.

Some attractions are worth having a tour guide for. If you go to Alcatraz Island, you have a choice of going solo, having a live tour guide or being guided by earphones which trigger the points of interest as you arrive at them. I would recommend the live tour guides. I have gone all three ways, and I received more enjoyment by someone telling me items of interest I know I had missed on previous tours.

Chinatown Walking Tours are tour guided must see. It gives you a behind the scenes look of colorful Chinatown. The tour covers, history, traditions of the local people and culture that you probably wouldnt know or see by traveling alone. The lions at the entrance of Chinatown are awesome to see!

San Francisco also offers over 30 fun and free walking tours of San Francisco. For more information on these free tours, go to www.sfcityguides.org.

The same goes with Napa valley tours. Its possible to drive to the area and go solo, but you will want to take guided tours of some of the vineyards and wine tasting rooms. If you are driving and just taking your leisurely time, I would recommend this way to see the beautiful sights of the wine country.

Another driving tour that is popular is the 17-mile drive down the coast. It winds around giving you glimpses of beautiful mansions and spectacular views. It will take you to Carmel and to Pebble Beach Golf Club.

One of my most popular tours is the Winchester Mystery House. Its located in San Jose, an easy drive from San Francisco and Oakland and is worth the ticket cost. This unusual house can be toured many times and with each tour guide, you will learn something new about the eccentric Mrs. Winchester who believed the spirits told her to have the sound of continuing construction going on in her home to avoid death. This led to many quirks and funny sights in the house since Mrs. Winchester served as her own architect. She kept crews busy 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for many years. I loved the stairs leading to nowhere, and the built in magnifying glass in the window looking out over the garden. Ive seen it four times, and will probably go back. Rumor has it, there was a wine cellar that was boarded up and sealed away. I wonder if it has been found yet!

You can go solo to attractions or take a guided tour. Its your choice and you can choose whichever would give you the most memorable experience. I recommend both.

Dealing With Fevers And Colds

When your baby has a fever or cold, your first urge is to run right to the pediatrician. But, mild colds and fevers are common, and often dont require a visit to the doctor, just some at home management. Here are some techniques to help manage colds and fever at home, and some information to help you know when to call the doctor.

First, most doctors dont consider a fever under 100F a fever at all, unless your baby is under two months old, in which case you should seek medical treatment with any fever. Otherwise, as long as the fever doesnt go above 102F, you need not treat it unless it is making your baby uncomfortable or unable to sleep. However, any fever which reaches 105 rectally, or a fever accompanied by signs of dehydration (infrequent urination, sunken fontanel, dry lips), or a feverish baby who has a stiff neck, is limp or has purple spots on the skin, should be treated by a professional immediately.

To treat a mild fever, try keeping your baby cool, using compresses or a tepid bath. Dress her loosely that old wives tale about keeping them bundled up is just that- an old wives tale. Feed her lots of fluids, and keep a watch on her. But, try to avoid the use of over the counter medications, unless your baby is unable to sleep. Fever is the bodys way of fighting infection, so, when possible, its best to let it do its job.

For minor colds, the best treatment is rest. However, your child may be unable to rest comfortably unless you treat the cold symptoms. A vaporizer can do wonders to relieve congestion, as can vapor treatments in the bath. But, if your child is really uncomfortable, using an over the counter cold medicine is fine. For dosage guidelines, follow your doctors recommendations, or those on the bottle, but go by weight, not age.

Colds should resolve themselves in a week or so, but if they do not, look for signs of an ear infection. These can include unexplained crying, especially when lying down, tugging the ears, or tossing and turning while trying to sleep. If you notice these symptoms, take your child to the doctor. Ear infections can be very painful, and are often hard to recognize in young children.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding his recommendations for treating colds and fevers, and when he believes you should call or come in. But, trust your instincts, and dont hesitate to call anytime you believe there is a real problem.

Modern Art a Conspiracy Part 1

I have been turned down several times by some ignorant gallery owners on both sides of the fence for their lack of interest in African Art. In their words African Art is primitive. The sad thing is that our so-called elites gallery owners do not get it too. In most cases they are worst and very ignorant and nave about African art. How long are we going to allow these false monsters of the past run wild in our present time?
I have realized that truth is usually a hard pill to swallow but we must confront our past for a better tomorrow.

We have been forced to look down on ourselves. They held our minds captive with the television, print media, history books or documentaries of their explorers that were written supposedly for them, but ended up in our nations schools bookshelves for mind alteration and economic exploitation. Maybe I am missing something; please tell me the expectation of an educator who thought the grand children of Amina in Nigeria, that River Niger was discovered by Mongo Park.

The same River Niger, where their grand ma, Anina bath, swam, fetched water, they have known and played in the river all their lives and in fact the legend had it that their grandpa Obi was among the men that guided and guarded the strange White man from the wild beast of the jungle. Instead of a letter of appreciation, their great grand children are forced and feed lies of the incident in the name of education.

They constantly used whatever they can to accomplish their vision. The invention of television became an effective tool for manipulation of generations with ease using Jacobs vision power of increase, Genesis 30: 31 43, for their negative agenda. There is power in what we hear and see. That is more reason they will never show you good side of Africa.

During the era of European avant-garde artists, there were prolific African Artists such as Aina Onabolu and many others whose works were never considered modern. Obviously including them in their modern era will mean making them equal with their counterparts in Europe. You know what that means to black man who was supposed to be picking cottons. European modern art was the biggest scam on African Art. They took the best of our forefathers and kicked us to the trash.

They knew what they were doing and the effect of these centuries of bad seeds is what we see today in Africa and beyond. It is very common to see African professionals, highly educated but with no knowledge of self and very much whiter than the white, if you know what I mean. I have walked into a financial firm in Atlanta, owned and managed by some Nigerians and the issue of African Art came up, One of the owners was asked what type of art do have hanging on your wall. You need see him go off with pride and talked eloquently on modern art at the end he declared that he doesnt want to be associated with African Art.

You can imagine how that made me feel, having studied art and taught art professionally to hear a Nigerian elite in the position of power and influence, to promote our arts and culture, out rightly rejected his inheritance. I didnt wait to ask why? He went off again to talk about crime and the world image of Nigeria. At this point I struggled to hold myself
from exploding before other nationalities in the company. I am by no means in support of any crime but if man should disown his nation because of crime and western media propaganda, the problem is way deeper than it appears. I asked him again respectfully if any of these nationalities working in Nigeria have pulled out their oil drilling machines and abandoned their mansions in Nigeria since the 419 propaganda started? I didnt see him jump up with an answer this time. Tell me where there is no fraud and crime.

This nice brother is one of the millions of African souls lost to this false and mean world of conspiracy and selfish vision of racism and imperialism. You might be wondering what is this got to do with modern art. But the truth is that, there was nothing modern about the works of the European avant-garde artists other than punch of copycats, imitators and plagiarists in conspiracy with their racist writers, art critics and art historians to make wrong right. Once again they gave themselves names, cubism, modern art and shoved it down our throat like always.

They covered the truth of plagiarizing African Art and started their usual evil naming ceremonies for their selfish goals. Who named the Primitive Art and Modern Art? Take a close look at their so-called primitive art and look at the modern art and decide for yourself. Who named the Tribal Art? These are the same people whose lists of names consist of Negro, Aborigines, Nigger, and Black, Gypsy, White, Red, Yellow, and People of Color to mention a few. What good has these names done to mankind other than division and control. Let us face the truth, because truth is the heart of freedom. There is more to names than we can imagine hence God had to change peoples given names to accomplish his mission in their lives. It has been and will always be demonic and its time to reject such names for our true purpose and relationship with one another.

Lets look into more facts in the part 2 coming soon.

Tattoo Designs For Men & Women

Anyone who walks into a tattoo parlor will be greeted with a variety of eye-catching and colorful tattoo designs, including everything from simple to images that are very complex. With the exception of those that have already chosen their preferred image, it can be very difficult to select from the many tattoo designs on the spot. Even if you have already selected a design, the artist may be able to present you with several different options to make your tattoo designs even more personable.

Before arriving for the application of a tattoo, it is best to have a selection of tattoo designs in mind before you enter the parlor. Although there are some exceptions, most men and women will naturally be drawn to different tattoo designs. Men, for instance, would likely prefer something masculine, while women often prefer something dainty and sexy. Of all tattoo designs, women commonly select hearts, butterflies, flowers, lettering, etc. The most popular placement, for women, is the shoulder, lower back and ankle. Men, on the other hand, often prefer that their tattoo designs be placed on the upper arm, chest or back.

While there are tattoo designs that are gender specific, it is important to keep in mind that getting a tattoo is a very personal thing and the image that is ultimately chosen should be one that reflects something that is important to the wearer. Upon discussing the various tattoo designs with the artist, the customer will gain a better understanding of the different options and designs available.

Many individuals select tattoo designs from those presented at the parlor, while others prefer to do some research and help ensure that their design is unlike any other. For certain tattoo designs, some people prefer to look at real life photos or browse through artwork for ideas pertaining to their tattoo designs. If you find an image that you like, simply take it to the artist for an evaluation as to whether or not the image can be recreated in the form of a tattoo.

This article is to be used for informational purposes only. The information contained herein is not intended to be used in place of, or in conjunction with, professional medical advice or recommendations for tattoo designs or placement. Prior to getting a tattoo, individuals should consult with their physician to make sure that it is a safe procedure for them to endure. Some individuals should not get a tattoo if they have certain medical conditions or a weakened immune system. For further information, consult a physician or dermatologist.