Wednesday, March 31, 2010

The Perception of a Piece of Real Estate


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It may sound silly, but I wouldn't want to live next door to a cemetery. It would kinda spook me out. I know I am a grown up and I can do my own laundry but the idea of zombies from Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video dancing on my garden at night isn't my idea of fun. And everybody knows that zombies only hang out in cemeteries....duh!!!

And living in some big lone gated-in manor house on a hill? No thanks. I will take my 17th floor high rise condo here in downtown Philadelphia. Because unless that strange Spiderman charachter is scaling the walls of my hi-rise, I figure I am pretty safe from chainsaw massacring psychos that have risen from the dead.

And if you think for one minute that I am going to be caught dead buying a house where the neighborhood axe murderer did his business? Again, no thanks. He or she could easily escape from jail, and come back and get me. Happens all the time in movies.

Now I am not unaware of how silly some of my beliefs, which I still harbor like a lingering bad hairdo, can truly be. But at the same time, I value the perception of security. And I am willing to pay for the idea of a secure roof over my head-big time...want to guess what my condo fees are per month? More than one would have to pay for a new Mercedes. But I am happy, and my mind doesn't wander while I lay in bed after finishing a really scary movie. I am safe, secure, and I have a doorman, whom I like to believe is a super hero crime fighter with James Bond like tricks up his sleeve to keep the undead from coming in my building, signing in, taking the elevator to the 17th floor, and beating down my door.

Perception is a motivating factor for many people. Especially when deciding to purchase real estate. I certainly can't be the only nut-bag who buys real estate.

Bona fide or make-believe, I am not going to give up my perception of security for a new Mercedes. A Bentley...possible. A Benz? No thank you.

So the next time you DON'T buy that perfect house when out shopping for real estate, ask yourself if zombies, chainsaws or Michael Jackson had anything to do with it. And remember that perception is sometimes stronger than reality. And THAT is many a buyers reality.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Can You Apply What You Learn Into The Real World?


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Nobody cares the angle of a kite in the air in conjunction with a tree. There is not a profession in the world that is going to require you to know this. It is impossible to go through math without doing equations, and the same can be said in regards to financial literacy. But the equations in "Money Puzzles" book do apply to the real world.

Each problem within this book involves critical thinking, problem solving, and some sort of financial literacy. Each of these puzzles can be applied to a multitude of professions, especially in the business world. You will find a collection of tricky practical puzzles that deal with money, which is certainly something that everyone applies into their daily lives.

Another problem with most mathematical equations is that they are almost impossible to remember, making it difficult to apply to the real world. With "Money Puzzles," you are given puzzles that you have to solve. This allows you to paint a visual in your head of the puzzle making it much easier to remember. No longer will you have to memorize some formula to learn, as the visual will stick with you.

Here is an example of one of the puzzles you will see in the book:

A consultant worked for one company for $60 per hour. Later she worked for a second company for $40 per hour. She earned the same amount of money in both jobs. What is her average hourly rate for those two jobs?

For this particular question, you have three options: less than $50 per hour, exactly $50 per hour, or more than $50 per hour. Many times people would assume that the answer is exactly $50 per hour because it is in between $40 and $60. But in actuality, the answer to this question is less than $50 as she would have made $48 per hour. Surprisingly, less than 10% of participants give the right answer to this question.

After answering the questions, you can view the solution and comments as to why the question is answered as it is. This allows you to learn from any mistakes you may have or learn why the answer is what it is. This is the kind of training that you can find in very few mathematical books or financial literacy's. And as you can see from this question, it is certainly something can be applied into the real world.

Monday, March 29, 2010

"Pizza, A Slice of Heaven" - A Book Review


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Who'd have thought a book on pizza would start a culinary discussion that could lead to a verbal battle between pizza lovers of two major American cities, Chicago and New York?

Well, "Pizza, A Slice of Heaven" by New York Times culinary journalist, Ed Levine did just that. Ed Levine's placing Chicago's deep-dish pizza among casseroles raised the hairs on many Midwesterners. To be on the safe side and not to get on the nerves of my Midwestern friends, I'll admit to eating my best pizza in Montreal, and no, I am not a Canadian but a New Yorker displaced in Florida.

I'll have to say, in the universe of the pizzas, the more the merrier, and there is nothing wrong with any deep-dish pizza. Call it a pizza or casserole, a deep-dish pizza is another mouth-watering choice. Even though the author says the very best American Pizza is made in Phoenix, Arizona, at Pizzeria Bianco by Chris Bianco, New York Pizza--so far--is the one with the fame and the one ahead of the game.

The book "Pizza: A Slice of Heaven : The Ultimate Pizza Guide and Companion" by Ed Levine (ASIN: 0789312050) has a list price of $24.95 and it sells in Amazon for $15.72.

Ed Levine is a radio and television personality. He has regularly contributed to the New York Times' Dining section. His other books are: New York Eats, New York Eats More, Tom's big Dinners. He also keeps a blogspot in edlevineeats.com.

"Pizza: A Slice of Heaven" is not a poetry book, but to a pizza lover like me it reads like poetry. It's a book good for entertainment, light reading, and salivating, since it contains delightful personal anecdotes and pizza trivia from the history of pizza to the pizza makers in Naples. In addition, there are a few recipes, photos, and a pizza glossary at the end of the book. The author says he ate pizza for twelve months for research.

The book is divided into seventeen chapters, each chapter truly enchanting and with contributions by celebrities. The chapters are: The Perfect Pizza, Pizza in Italy, Old Pizza, New York Pizza, Long Island Pizza (my favorite), New Jersey Pizza, Connecticut Pizza, Philadelphia Boston D.C. and Baltimore Pizza, Pizza in the South and Southwest, Pizza in the Midwest, California and West Coast Pizza, Bar Pizza, Chain Frozen and Internet Pizza, Chefs and Pizza, Planet Pizza, The Pizza Police, and The Keepers of the Flame.

Everything about the book is enjoyable, but from my biased point of view, the chapter on the Long Island pizza, and also, Nora Ephron's piece on eating pizza on a first date during 1950's are spectacular pieces in culinary literature.

The book is in soft cover, 8½ '' by 8½ '' in dimensions. The print and the bone color of the pages are easy on the eyes, although some pages are green. This book would be even more fantastic, if it had contained more colored photos.

Pizza is a cultural force and Ed Levine's book would make a wonderful gift to any pizza lover. "Pizza: A Slice of Heaven" is a book to enjoy anytime, anywhere.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

How To Draw Caricatures


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Anyone can draw a caricature, but only a real artist can transform a doodle into a work of art. If you are serious about improving your caricature drawing skills, you should consider taking classes. Here are some tips to help get you started.

Observe, observe, observe. A caricature is only effective if it actually resembles the subject. More than artistic skills, you need keen observation to pull this off. Carefully study your subject's facial expressions, outstanding features, angles and mannerisms. Think of ways to capture the subject's personality and character to give "life" to your caricature. Zoom in on details like what type of clothing the subject wears, the gadgets he has in his hands, and other minor details.

Exaggerate like there's no tomorrow. A caricature is always larger than life. Don't be afraid to lay it on thick - if the subject has distinguishing features like a particularly big nose, highlight it even more. Use bold lines for distinct facial edges such as the upper eyelids. The best thing about caricatures is the creative freedom it gives you. Don't be afraid to use it.

Vary your strokes and lines. Caricatures rely on the quality of its linear structure for its composition, so use it to give dimension and shadow. Be sure to vary them to avoid making your caricature look flat. Use harder strokes for facial edges such as chins and noses and lighter strokes for other details such as facial lines, unless that's the distinguishing feature of your subject.

Finally, have fun. Drawing caricature is a serious art form, but no one says you can't have fun doing it. If your first few attempts do not quite make the cut, set them aside and move on. Making mistakes is part of the fun. After all, even in the world of art, the old adage is still the golden rule - practice really does make perfect.

Friday, March 26, 2010

David Foster - Award-Winning Musician And Composer


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Born November 1st, 1949, David Foster is an award winning producer, composer and musical arranger, and has won 14 Grammy awards - and been nominated for 42 - over the course of his career. As a member of the musical group Skylark during the 70s, Foster gained the opportunity to work closely with many high-level celebrities and musicians, including: John Lennon, Josh Groban, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Andrea Bocelli, Madonna, Gordon Lightfoot, and many, many more!

Foster was also asked to compose the score for the film St. Elmo's Fire, and gained several additional hit singles off the movie's soundtrack release. Through his own record label, Foster produced debut albums for several well-known musical artists who have since moved onward to very lucrative musical careers, such as: Josh Groban, The Corrs, and Michael Buble. His label is known as 143 Records.

Foster was married in 1991 to Linda Thompson, and although they are no longer together, Foster and Thompson worked together on several pieces such as the song "I Have Nothing" from the soundtrack to The Bodyguard in 1992. This song was nominated for both a Grammy and an Academy Award, and in 1996, Foster's composition "The Power of the Dream" with Kenneth Edmonds became the official theme song for that summer's Olympics.

As an attempt to get into television, Foster and his two step-sons began a reality TV show called The Princes of Malibu, where Foster played himself, trying to convince his sons to shape up and make their own way in the world. The show failed, and was canceled soon after its debut. More recently, Foster was featured as a guest on the television reality show American Idol, as a mentor to competitors. He was also a judge on the show Nashville Star, as well as Celebrity Duets, a show created and produced for Fox-TV.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Child Abuse - Protecting Those Who Can't Protect Themselves


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A child is the most precious gift that you will ever receive. There is nothing in the world like having a tiny version of yourself. I learned this right after my daughter came into the world. It shocked me how similar we appeared. While, on some levels, this may be a little self-indulgent, mostly it's just about caring for and loving someone else even more that you do yourself. And what would you say about parents who take a different road? There are those who are not physically able to bear children and provide them with appropriate care. Clearly, people like this do exist. Without such people, we wouldn't have to worry about child abuse.

I frequently wonder how we can work to protect children from abuse, not only our own children, but also the children all around the world who are not so lucky. Do you know the signs that indicate child abuse? Would you recognize an abused child if you encountered one at your child's school or at a group function? This is not an easy question to answer. Honestly most abusers will find ways to conceal the damage they have done to the person they are abusing. They may whisper their threats or dress their children in clothes that conceal their wounds.

It is very simple for parents to influence children, and these kids, more often than not, will obey their parents, even if their obedience constantly harms them. For this reason, it is up to us to educate our children and community about child abuse. A benefit of today's society is that the schools are providing education about this important topic. At times, what a teacher says is all that they possess. When their parents are bad people, who is a child supposed to trust?

A great book to read regarding violence, assault, and child abuse is "Protecting the Gift." Author Gavin De Becker elaborates on all sorts of violence, potential violence, threats, body language, and all-round survival. The writer instructs the reader to trust their instincts and never make excuses or overlook it. Our natural born tools and senses are more important to our survival than many realize. We need to accept this and use these for our benefit. If you think you know someone who suffers from child abuse, investigate further or contact the authorities. You should be thorough now rather than have regrets down the road. In fact, when children are involved, it's your responsibility to find out what is going on. We have to protect those who can't protect themselves.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Deadly Tornadoes Across the US - What Can We Do To Prepare Ourselves Properly?


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The rate of Deadly tornadoes in the US has gone up shockingly in the last several years. What can be done to reduce the severity of these deadly tornadoes? Glen B. Stewart is father of hurricane reduction technology may provide the answer. his work has earned global acclaim on six continents for protecting ourselves from deadly hurricane disasters.

How can a human being possibly lessen severe effects of a deadly hurricane? It is a question involving Ancient civilizations to fully understand. Many of you heard of Dr. Joe Vitale as well as the movie The Secret. The Law of Attraction was arguably the best insight to be gleaned from the entire movie. I've known Dr. Joe Vitale for about 5 1/2 years through e-mails and occasional phone conversation. Joe indirectly offered the idea of what can be done with some of my extensive mind over matter research.

Joe Vitale mentioned a forward thinking study in a now pivotal e-mail. There were 19 scientific studies about a group of humans focusing on a positive intention. This group can actually manifest peaceful harmonics and positively influence a city. These landmark results were proven using transcendental meditation to create a more peaceful society. one case study was demonstrated in Washington, DC and as a result the crime rate was reduced remarkably

About three years ago the US was faced with a deadly category five hurricane named Hurricane Rita. A category five hurricane means that group be sustained winds were 165 miles an hour or over. Rita was every bit of it

Help me stop Rita was Dr. Joe Vitale's emotional outcry in his e-mail with only a day before hurricane Rita was predicted to hit Houston, Texas. Joeis initial concern was to calm down everyone that was freaking out and trying to leave the city and his e-mail he basically asked myself and others to manifest peacefulness towards the area.

I however saw a far deeper need to reach out and help the people. I combined Law of Attraction principles with meditation, energy cultivation, and mind over matter techniques. Reiki, Ki. Chi , Crystals and other approaches. A direct reduction in deadly hurricane force winds was my focused intention as I directed myself into a higher harmonic state of mind.

Perhaps the most unseen beauty amongst this milestone in mankind is the fact that helping heal mother nature of turbulent energy - also has a healing effect on yourself as well. This evolutionary Mind Body Spirit training is called the One With The Winds workshop.

Reducing Hurricane Rita was a tough one. The weather Channel in fact reported that Rita had more strength than the deadly Perfect Storm of 1991.

Reducing deadly hurricane are deadly tornado damage is also a goal as we have more successful students. This one will require more local citizen coverage. The most difficult parts of successfully reducing a tornado is the fact there is virtually no warning. A hurricane you may see building for a week.

In Holistic Medicine there is a very specialized form of healing. This form of healing is known as energy healing. It energy healing involves several overlapping philosophies with origins going back thousands of years. An even more advanced form of healing is known as distance healing. I applied the principle of Distance healing my hurricane reduction successes.

Finally I combined all of my research and training with the principle of distance healing and Stewartis principle of synchronized healers manifesting globally. This exciting series of breakthroughs in recently discovered human abilities I termed Mankind 2.0.

How can the average person take advantage of this Stewart principle? I Highly Recommend 2 websites to check out in my resource box below. Glen B. Stewart.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Skin Cancer - The Four Stages of Melanoma


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There are four stages of melanoma that classify the severity of this skin cancer. Each stage pertains to the thickness and the amount that the melanoma has spread. When the stage of melanoma has been diagnosed, it is then possible for the doctors to determine the best type of treatment. In this article, we will discuss what the different stages of melanoma signify. We will describe each of the four stages in further detail. Hopefully, after reading this article you will have a greater knowledge of the skin cancer disease known as melanoma and the four degrees associated with it.

Stage 1 of melanoma is thin and the epidermis usually appears scraped. This stage of skin cancer is subdivided into two other categories. These additional categories describe the thickness of the tumor. Stage 1a is less than 1.0 mm and has no ulceration. Stage 1b is less than 1.0 mm but has ulceration. It is also considered to be in stage 1b if it is 1.01 - 2.0 mm even if it does not involve ulceration. In this stage and stage 2 the melanoma has not yet spread to the lymph nodes.

Stage 2 is also subdivided into three more categories that signify the thickness and the existence or non-existence of ulceration. The tumor in stage 2a is 1.01 - 2.0 mm with ulceration or 2.01 - 4.0 mm without ulceration. Stage 3b has a tumor thickness of 2.01 with ulceration or a thickness of more than 4.0 without ulceration.

When this type of skin cancer advances to stage 3 a significant change occurs. At this stage, the melanoma tumor has spread to the lymph nodes. This is a much more serious stage of the disease because when healthy, the lymph nodes fight disease, cancer and some other infections.

Patients with stage 3 of this cancer have melanoma that has spread into lymph nodes near the primary tumor. This stage also involves in-transit metastasis that has skin or connective tissue that is more than 2 centimeters from the original tumor. However, at this point it has not spread past the regional lymph nodes.

In stage 4, the melanoma has spread to lymph nodes that are a distance from the original tumor or to internal organs. These organs are most often the lung, liver, brain, bone and then the gastrointestinal tract.

When diagnosed with skin cancer, it is important to consult with your doctor concerning the degree or stage of melanoma that you may have. A variety of diagnostic techniques will likely be used to determine the stage of your skin cancer. Most stage 1 and stage 2 melanomas should not cause too much worry because they can most often be cured through surgery. There is little need to worry about getting later stages of melanoma just because you once suffered through the early stages.

Different doctors may use different systems or scales to classify the stages of melanoma. The most commonly used are the TNM staging system and the Breslow scale. The most important things to remember are that melanomas with 0.76 mm or lower thickness are low risk, 0.76 - 1.5 mm involve medium risk and when the melanoma is more than 1.5 mm in thickness you are at a much higher risk. When you are diagnosed with melanoma it is important that you understand exactly what stages your doctor may be referring to and what treatments are available to you.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Unlimited Zune Music Downloads - Where Can You Download?


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Zune music downloads are getting a lot of attention. Music has always been a hot topic and a popular entertainment. As an owner of this new MP3 player, you may feel challenged to pay close to a dollar for each piece of music you download at the marketplace. Deep in your heart, you may be wondering if there is another place that can offer you cheap zune music downloads. Read on as there is a solution for you.

You probably are aware that the Zune marketplace is well stocked with more than three million songs, music and so on. Each song can be downloaded using 79 Microsoft points. These points are usable at X-box marketplace as well. The points can be purchased as a block of 400 points for $5. So in other words, a song download costs you about $1.

The marketplace also provides a $14.99 monthly subscription which they call a Zune pass. With this pass, you can download as many songs as you wish within the month. However, there are disadvantages here. Not all the songs that were available for pay-per-download are in the library. At the same time, once you end your subscription, the songs are no longer playable so there is an expiry.

Owners are finding it inconvenient to have to buy points each time they want to download. Because of this, many are searching for alternatives to quench their need for unlimited zune music downloads that are within their budget and without going through unnecessary inconvenience.

In recent months, online music services have emerged and they offer attractive memberships for anyone to download unlimited zune music. The cost of such membership works out to be less than $49.95 for unlimited lifetime access. Considering that you get to download not only songs, but music videos, videos, movies and so on, it is obvious that they are becoming popular quickly.

Since there is a genuine demand for unlimited zune music downloads, many services quickly positioned themselves to feed this need. However, as a consumer, you may find it frustrating to go to each website to check out without knowing what to look out for. Before you make a decision, you may want to take a look at the following guidelines.

Compare the number of media files they have. Each paid membership service should have databases with millions of songs, soundtracks, movies and videos. Compare the prices though pricing can be deceptive since you cannot measure service standards using cost as a yardstick. Hear what their existing customers are saying about them and see if they offer good technical support. You can read reviews on these sites.

So there you are with the essential guidelines to find a good site. If you are keen, read a hot off the press review of the services for unlimited zune music downloads at my Zune blog now and see which ones are popular among music lovers.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Stay Away From MTV - The Absolute Worst Music Videos Ever


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The advent of music videos has really been a great thing for the culture industry. Everyone from Michael Jackson to Nine Inch Nails to REM has ensured that with their contributions to the art of music video making, this art form won't be dying out any time soon. But of course just like there are good and bad songs, there are also good and bad music videos.

Actually more than bad, there are really, really horrible music videos. And some of the biggest artists of our time and of yesteryears have been guilty of making a few horrible music videos in their careers. Here are some of the absolute worst in music video making history:

- David Hasselhoff: Those two words say it all. No need to mention any songs, or to quote liner notes, or to remember his entire discography. This man's run as a recording artist spawned some of the most horrible music videos known to man, woman and child. Songs like 'Hooked On A Feeling' are some of the most laughable moments in television history. The fact that he is one of the most successful recording artists in Germany makes it even scarier.
- Journey: Though one of the most successful rock groups of the last decades, Journey has been known to produce some bad music videos themselves. If you were ever a fan of over obsessed rock music fanatics who regularly make fools out of themselves called air guitarists, then you'll love Journey's 'Separate Ways' with a vengeance. The band make it a point to passionately play instruments that aren't even there that a touching video becomes absolutely hilarious.
- Alanis Morissette: The poster girl for angry, female pop-rock was fresh from her hit album 'Jagged Little Pill' when her follow-up album's new single 'India' hit the airwaves featuring a naked Alanis walking around the streets and socializing. Normally a video with a naked and beautiful celebrity would excite a lot of male fans, but the concept was so loony that it ended up quite bad and rather funny.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

How to Catch a Cheating Spouse - An Unbiased Product Review


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How to Catch a Cheating Spouse is the leading eBook written by author Sarah Paul which claims to help you discover quickly and easily if your partner is cheating on you. In her audio introduction on the website; Sarah Paul boasts that you'll be able to find out who the other person is, how long it's been going on, where it's been going on and so forth, using the very best methods that exist.

Priced at $37, How to Catch a Cheating Spouse is a downloadable eBook which can be viewed on a computer, and its main benefits are that you'll have access to a number of techniques which you catch use to catch your partner cheating on you.

The eBook outlines many of the signs you should look for to determine whether your partner is cheating on you; and give you steps on how to proceed should you wish to investigate the matter further. The main focus of the eBook is on catching your cheating spouse using a variety of surveillance devices, including phone lookups to help you find out who a suspicious number belongs to, as well as computer software that enables you to keep a log of everything your spouse does on the computer, including which websites they've visited and the emails they've sent and received.

For those worried about the cost of such software, it is included free with How to Catch a Cheating Spouse along with other bonuses such as personal email consultation and a weekly newsletter with case studies and tips on how to catch a cheating partner.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Blank Chore Charts - Making Your Holidays Easier


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Blank chore charts can be used for many creative purposes beyond simply jotting down chores for your kids to accomplish. They make an easy tool to keep track of your holiday planning, too.

- Make sure you can customize your copy.
There are a ton of chore charts available online. That's the good news. However, for our purposes here, you'll need a blank one that you can easily customize, not one already filled out with chores for preschoolers. Keep that in mind as you search.

- Do a little planning.
What do you want to accomplish this holiday season?

- Decorating.

- Baking.

- Shopping.

- Seasonal events.

- Sending cards.

- Family time.

- Caroling.

- Religious celebrations.

These are all traditional holiday activities; make sure and add your own favorites to the list.

- Be honest with yourself.
Check your personal schedule. What do you have time to do and what can you not fit in? It generally makes for a much better holiday season to schedule a handful of activities you can accomplish and enjoy as opposed to over-scheduling.

- Fill out your blank chore chart.
Assign an activity to a specific day and time on your chore charts (you'll need several weekly chore charts or one monthly chart). Then compare your holiday chore charts with your personal schedule. Does everything fit?

If you wish, also put your holiday schedule on your personal schedule so nothing gets double-booked. However, it's going to be helpful to you to have your separate holiday chore chart hanging in a prominent place where the entire family can see what's going on. This is a great way to get the whole family in the holiday mood.

- Keep notes.
Put an empty folder near your holiday chore charts as a place to keep holiday recipes you find, newspaper clippings on seasonal events, sales on holiday decorations and the like. Then everything is in one place when you're ready to tackle the job.

Using blank chore charts for your holiday planning is a creative way to use a traditional tool to easily help your family get more out of the holiday season. Enjoy!

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Air Filters, Chocolate Rain and 15 Minutes of Fame


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That saying about how in the future everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes seems to be coming true. I was checking out YouTube the other day and it is insane how many people put up videos!

One video especially got me thinking. It was a song called 'chocolate rain' sung by a guy named Tay Zonday. It really seemed to summarize the way this quick fame system works.

The actual video is of Tay - a young Michael Jackson impersonator made of wax-
standing in front of a mic and singing to a piano beat. Lyrically, the song consists of one line, then the words "chocolate rain" repeated nonstop for 5 straight minutes. The main standout is Tay's incongruous voice, which is frighteningly deep for his puny frame. As the song progresses, he occasionally turns his head aside to breathe, adding more unintended humor.

Most people who watch the video think it is some kind of bizarre joke, although the lyrics are supposedly profound. After its upload, the video received millions of views and spawned several parodies. But the main point in all this is that an ordinary person can reach the masses overnight, possibly get a recording contract, and quickly cash in before everyone wakes up and asks "what were we thinking?"

So I started to wonder, why shouldn't I get in on this? All that's required is a camera and way too much spare time. I finally came up with an idea involving my main interest - cars and car accessories-a way for my car to get the worldwide recognition it deserves.

I will film my car Roberto's life over the course of a week. The opening will take place in Roberto's home- the garage- early in the morning when he wakes up. He'll drink a cup of oil, cough and slowly start up. He'll then swerve his way down the highway- just another bleary head lighted Ford Escort joining the morning commute. And that's when the action will start. Out of the corner of his headlight he'll see a curvy Asian Camry bat her wipers at him. He will respond by enthusiastically belching exhaust from his tailpipe. But then when all is going well, a beefy Hummer will suddenly appear from nowhere, flanking Roberto and splashing him with mud.

Blinded, Roberto will spin out of control and fly off a cliff. A huge explosion will result and the scene will fade out. The next scene will begin a week later in the hospital (pep boys), where Roberto awakens and is gazing sadly at his twisted and scarred body feeling like he'll never be restored to his old form.

But all hope is not lost. A skilled surgeon (my mechanic Al) will put Roberto back together. He'll get all awesome add-ons, car side vents and a new air filter, which will him into a sleek, well-oiled machine. In the end, he won't even recognize himself. I think that song from Rocky should be playing as Roberto gets a new lease on life and makes his comeback.

And if my video should get more than a million views? That would be great. Once Roberto gets his well deserved recognition, he will become an instant celebrity, honked at wherever he goes. Maybe he'll even get his own reality TV show....

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Michael Jackson's Female Guitarist


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Orianthi, Michael Jackson's female guitarist of late is soaring high in the media these days especially on the web! She is definitely a smoking rock guitarist, and at her young age even more so.

Orianthi Panagaris, is a also a big Steve Vai fan, and has been opening up for him as she also has her own records out now. Her first support show was for Steve Vai at age 15. I admire not only her guitar skills but the fact that she's making a pretty big splash in the music business.

I was a big Van Halen fan in the 80's and my band covered a lot of there songs, so of coarse we ended up doing Beat It as well I would like to give a plug for Jennifer Batten in case you all forgot who paved the way for Orianthi! Originally Michael Jackson's female guitarist.

I became acquainted with her in Portland, Or. at a club I used to play there and come to find out she owned a home in that neighborhood. Jennifer Batten - Michael Jackson's guitarist for 3 World Tours including a half-time performance which aired to a record 1.5 billion viewers in 80 nations. Later she became Jeff Beck's guitarist as well.

Have you ever heard of Michael Jackson's chimp bubbles? During the 80s Michael was known for having a pet chimpanzee called "bubbles". Bubbles became as much a part of Michael's persona as the glove and the moonwalk. Bubbles was given full access to the Neverland ranch, he was even allowed to use Michael Jackson's own private bathroom.

I wonder if Orianthi or Jennifer was treated that well. Anyways they can sure both play the hell out of the guitar! At 24 years old, Orianthi has already experienced what most aspiring musicians only dream of. She's opened for her hero (Steve Vai), backed an Idol (Carrie Underwood), traded solos with a legend (Carlos Santana) and shared the stage with the king of pop (Michael Jackson).

Michael Jackson's female guitarist at the end was, Orianthi Panagaris (born January 22, 1985) in Adelaide, South Australia, of Greek descent. Orianthi has played with Prince, made a video clip for Panasonic HD, had a song featured in Bratz: The Movie, played at the Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival, appeared in The New York Times business section promoting Eco-friendly acoustic guitars.

Monday, March 15, 2010

The Beast - Lord of the Flies


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Throughout the novel Lord Of The Flies, the boys on the island are constantly faced with various fears. However there is nothing on the island which they fear more than the beast. In Lord Of The Flies, the theme of the beast is extremely important. The beast represents the way in which man will try to convince himself that there is no evil inside of him by making someone or something else seem to be the cause for the evil. There are many examples of evidence to support this throughout the book, but first it is necessary to outline the rise of the beast and the evil within the boys.

Talk of a dangerous presence emerged on the very first day on the island, when a little boy with a mulberry-coloured birthmark on his face informed everyone of a "beastie," which he apparently saw on the previous night. At the time, this was dismissed by the older boys as his imagination, but even at that early stage it was evident that the younger children were troubled by the little boy's words. It must be noted at this point that there was no definite physical appearance to the beast because it was assumed to be the over-active imagination of little children at work. At the same time it is obvious that Golding uses the early chapters in the book to set the scene for the chaos and terror of the beast that follows. Soon it became evident that even the older boys had begun to wonder whether in fact some kind of beast did inhabit the island. It was also apparent that nobody was willing to admit this, but the fact that many boys now cried out in their sleep or had terrible nightmares is further proof that they were all fearful of a beast.

The first signs of evil emerging from within appeared when Jack and his hunters killed a pig and re-enacted the killing. In the process people were injured and the chanting, which was to become a ritual, began at this time. Although Jack's ambition to kill a pig had been fulfilled, he now had a taste of the glory and sense of self-fulfillment it brought him. This meant that he was by no means satisfied to have killed one pig, but would instead continue to do so. It is significant that Jack felt it was necessary to kill pigs, seeing that there was already an ample supply of food on the island. It is possible that Jack simply wanted to kill pigs because the evil inside him had begun to emerge and introduced his lust for killing. Another significant event occurred at this point - open violence among the boys. When Jack was confronted by Piggy and Ralph because he allowed the fire to go out and a ship went by, he lashed out at Piggy, whom he evidently despised, and broke his glasses. To some extent this further illustrates how the evil inside Jack was beginning to take control of him.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Harry Potter: The Boy Who Made Kids Love Reading


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With all of the controversy surrounding Harry Potter, including cries to ban the book from schools, the novels have done something that American parents and teachers, as a group, have failed to do. They have made our children read.

A recent study by Scholastic notes some intriguing statistics among the kids of Harry Potter's world. Parents and kids both credit Potter with getting kids to read for fun; just over half of the kids surveyed said they neglected to do so before latching on to the series. Almost two thirds - 65% - have noted improvements at school since they started Rowling's works.

More important than grades, however, is the entire shift in attitude towards reading. Previous surveys have found that children's reading drops after the age of 8. The average Harry Potter reader, however, start the series at 9 and continue to read - and reread - the books as they get older.

Reread the books. This single statement spoke volumes to me. Most people I know read a book once and then never again. Most people, who will watch the same movie over and over, refuse to read a book they have already enjoyed because 'they know how it ends'. They watch the same television shows with the same expected, overused endings. Yet we have kids now reading and rereading books. The idea boggles the mind.

Speaking of mindboggling, you do realize that most adults read less than five books after they graduate school, be it high school or college. Reading is apparently too difficult for most people. But Rowlings has lured her audience to read not one but six books, and eagerly anticipate the seventh. Not only that, but according to the aforementioned survey, half of Harry Potter readers will seek out a new series to devour. One in three - that is 33% - intend to reread the series. Oddly, only 27% intend to look for a new Rowlings book; perhaps the rest are afraid of being sucked into another ten year series.

You can put me down for all three sections, personally (no word was spoken on overlap, by the way). I will reread the entire series immediately before Book 7 comes out, trying to time it so that I receive my book 'just in the nick of time'. That's how I managed the last two books. I will continue to seek out new books and new series to read. And I will eagerly anticipate Rowlings next book - although I might wait until she concludes her next series before I start reading this time around.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

An Inspirational Michael Jackson Poem


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Hello friend. We all like to be inspired by various people and also from inspirational poems. Women are always fascinating to me like a wonder of the world. I just thought about it recently at how we do not appreciate ourselves as we are. Nobody chose how she/he is to appear or to be born into the world. What we can do is just motivate ourselves into liking how and who we are. This is not usually the case. That is why I wrote this inspirational poem for all my black sisters who do not think themselves as worthy to be called beautiful. Here goes;

Some ladies who are dark rush to the shops to buy 'lightening cream', in the pretext that they want to be lighter than cream. Just like a phone, they want to change their theme. They would rather spend time eating loads of ice-cream, than put hours getting toned at the gym. Anyway, we live in a strange world, where some people want hair while others want to be bald. White women want to be coal black, while dark women want to be snow white, but end up bleaching themselves and end up looking as red as a comet in flight. Be proud of your colour, as you do when you go to the massage parlour. Rather spend time fixing your inside, because if you do that it does not matter what you look like on the outside. Unless of course your groom leaves you at the altar for being one ugly bride

Michael Jackson, I still cannot believe that he is gone. He was one of the greatest entertainers that ever lived during our era and time period. His death inspired me to write another inspirational poem for him. Here goes;

Whatever people may say, the world felt the impact of your stay. You were a one man army to rescue the music industry just like a hungry horse needs hay. In spite of the negative comments that come up today, your hard work and commitment made you earn your pay. I hope you went to heaven wherever you may lie, for your songs will bump in our hearts for a long time without decay. Your dance moves and videos have influenced most of the rhythm and blues stars today like an array; your moonwalk makes me happy every time i see it without delay. I hope we will get to see you again one day. Rest in Peace Michael Jackson!

Friday, March 12, 2010

Download Free PSP Music


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Still looking for free PSP music downloads? It can often be tough, with all these PSP download sites claiming to have "free music downloads". Here is a simple guide to finding it.

The PSP will only play music in MP3 format. So you have a few choices when searching for PSP music.

There are plenty of pay-per-download sites out there, such as iTunes. These sites will offer quality downloads, but when you pay a dollar a song it starts to add up when you build a music collection like mine. So this method is not recommended if you plan to download multiple PSP songs.

Another option is to download a free peer-to-peer program, such as Limewire. These peer-to-peer programs are basically file sharing programs where you download the files from other users. The upside is that they can be used for free, the downside is that often the files may be low quality. I've downloaded lots of songs where I've noticed the song wasn't what I downloaded. Another thing to be aware of when using peer-to-peer programs is viruses. Often the files will contain harmful trojans and viruses. This method is not recommended for downloading PSP music.

There are sites out specially designed for PSP downloads. The downloads include PSP music, games, movies, wallpaper, software, and more. So how much do these sites cost to join? It obviously depends on the site, some of them will require you to pay a monthly subscription fee, while others may charge a one-time fee around $35. The reputable PSP download sites will give you access to unlimited downloads with no extra fees. This can save you a TON of money in the long run.

So, what do you need to look for in a PSP downloading service?


One-Time Membership Fee - Never pay a monthly fee, only join services which charge a one-time fee.
Unlimited Downloads - Look for services that don't limit the amount of your downloads.
Customer Service - Free 24/7 technical support is definitely a plus, who knows when you may need it.

You can benefit in more ways than one by joining a PSP downloading service. With the ability to find all your PSP music, games, movies, and more, it can be a PSP owners dream come true.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

How to Stop Prank Calls


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It can be irritating to receive prank calls and you wonder how you can stop prank calls especially for the repeated ones. Imagine this with me. You are having a good sleep on a weekend night and waiting for the next day to arrive to spend a good day with your family and friends. All of a sudden, in the still of the night, you receive a call. Who could be calling? A sense of urgency immediately wells up within you and you rush to the phone. Upon picking up, you realized that it is a prank call. And throughout the night, you wake up on and off a couple of times not wanting to miss out that call in case it really is an emergency. You have become a victim of prank calls.

How does that sound to you?

Irritating and frustrating indeed. You probably are thinking at the back of your mind how good it is if you know how to stop the prank calls. So here is how.

How to stop prank calls?

While the scenario may not be what you have gone through, but I am sure we all get prank calls from time to time. If it is once, then it is pardonable and can be ignored. If it is repeated, it becomes harassment and we need to stop them. There are 2 solutions hiring a private investigator or using a reverse phone number search service.

Obviously, a private investigator can help you to get to the bottom of things. You probably would be able to locate the caller and report him or her to the police or at the bare minimum, give the person a earful. But such a course of action requires you to fork out a few hundred bucks. It may not really be worth the effort and money.

The other option is to use a reverse phone number search service. There are 2 alternatives here. One is a free, and the other a paid alternative. Let me explain more. Free reverse phone search directories are able to help you only if the call is from a landline number. In other words, if the call is from an unlisted number, VoIP number or a hand phone, there is no way you can trace that call. Sad to say, many pranksters know that and often use a cell phone to call.

So your best bet is to go to a paid reverse phone number search service to trace those prank calls. They charge you a small fee since it takes a great deal of effort and infrastructural investment to maintain a database of all the unlisted, VoIP and mobile phone numbers and the details of their owners. You can find details of practically all phone numbers including landline numbers. The search is easy at these services. Simply key in the area code and then the 7 digits after that and you get all the details about the phone owner.

After you have gotten hold of that, it is time for some sweet "vengeance". This is what you can do. Wait for the prankster to call again, and address him or her by name. You can almost imagine the shock on his or her face. All the time, this trick would get them to never make prank calls to you again.

Let us say that there are some die hard pranksters who refuse to give up. What you can do is to make a police report with the details you have on hand and let the law enforcement deal with them. This would effectively stop all those nasty prank calls.

If you are keen to learn how to stop these prank calls with reverse phone number search, you can try doing a search at my phone search blog.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Do It Yourself With Books


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The definition of a handyman is he is usually the one to call when different types of maintenance and repairs needs to be done in households. These may include simple things like repairing cracks to plumbing and small construction works. However, most of them charge for their services, and if the family can't afford hiring their own handyman, there is an easy answer.

Handyman books are all available in the market today. Originally, they were written and published by professionals, but they were filled with jargons and complicated instructions that people found them hard to read. Handymen services didn't need these jargons to do what they do, rather, they relied on their practical knowledge.

Today, handyman books are filled with graphics and are much easier to read. A good book will have a step by step procedure on how to do house repair and other maintenance work. However, it is important to at least be familiar with some terms that handymen use. You don't want to make a mistake and see your hands crumble under your hands.

Of course, handyman books have infiltrated the Internet. In fact, much knowledge can be found in the internet that are free of charge. Having an Internet handyman book will also introduce new convenience measures such as the search functions and even videos complete with sounds!

These books are also called Do-It-Yourself (DIY) guides, and many house owners have been doing their own work in lieu of paying for actual repairs. However, it is important to note that these methods aren't foolproof. Your local, friendly handyman might do the best job that any book can't even begin to describe.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Review - The Octopus Conspiracy and Other Vignettes of the Counterculture


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The Octopus Conspiracy and Other Vignettes of the Counterculture, Steven Hager, 2005, ISBN 0975290614

This book, based on articles published in High Times magazine, covers many different aspects of what is known as the counterculture.

There is a piece about the assassination of John F. Kennedy which does a good job of destroying the Warren Commission findings (as if more destruction is needed). There is a chapter on secret societies and their huge influence in America, including Skull and Bones and the Freemasons.

For anyone who wants to know What Really Happened at Waco in 1993 and just who David Koresh really was, there is a piece in this book that does an excellent job at it.

Being High Times magazine, there is a visit to a young man in the Netherlands who has become something of a marijuana entrepreneur, shipping high quality pot seeds all over the world. There is also a visit to the annual Cannabis Cup competition, held in Amsterdam. Think of it as the Marijuana World Championship.

The most interesting parts of this book look at the history of graffiti in 1970s and 1980s New York City. It started with young people writing their name or tag nearly anywhere, then evolved into an art form that attracted big attention from the mainstream art world. The reader will also read about the birth of rap music, when the DJ was king, spinning records in tiny clubs and basements. Later, the MCs, who were to keep the crowd moving, started rhyming, and eventually took over the show. The book also looks at the birth of CBGB's, the iconic rock club in the East Village. Punk rock of the 1970s gave birth to glitter rock, new wave and all sorts of offshoots. All the important people in 1970s and 1980s New York City are here, including Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Africa Bambaataa, Talking Heads, the Sugarhill Gang and the B-52s. The stories are told mostly from the point of view of the everyday New Yorkers who were part of these scenes.

No matter what your counterculture interest is, music, art or drugs, it is in this excellent group of articles. I learned a lot from this book, and even veterans will, too.

Monday, March 8, 2010

Halloween Happenings in Tampa Bay Florida


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Tampa Bay Florida is no stranger to creepy and crawly Halloween Happenings. All over the Tampa Bay area spooky events will begin showing up around the first of October and they promise to have you screaming for more! There will be many haunted houses and freaky attractions guaranteed to bring in the crowds. Some of the popular haunted Halloween events are fun for the whole family, while some are better suited just for adults.

o Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay has featured it's Howl-O-Scream for the last few years. It last for 16 nights and tickets are sold separately. Runs Thursday through Sunday beginning on October 5 and consists of six haunted houses, five scary zones, and two twisted shows. You can even ride the roller coasters in the dark which makes them even scarier. Younger children are probably better left at home with the babysitter, there's a lot of screaming and scary costumes around every corner.

o Ybor City in Tampa, FL on Saturday, October 28 will host its famous Guavaween Festival. Guavaween has a separate day and night event. During the day, kids can enjoy the Children's Costume Parade and Contest. In the evening, there's live music and local artists and the festive "Mama Guava Stumble Parade". You guessed it, daytime appeals to the kids and the whole family, while the nighttime "Mardi Gras" version appeals to mature adults. Last year the daytime version drew in some 20,000 people but when the sun went down and the party changed to load music, there were approximately 80,000 people lurking around in some really wild costumes. It's all free.

o In Largo's Heritage Village you will find The Haunted Village. Heritage Village is Pinellas County's 21 acre living history museum. Put on by three local Rotary Clubs, this not-too-scary family "trick or treating" adventure will be open for three nights, October 29, 30, and 31. Admission is $5.00.

o Don't miss Lowry Park's Zoo Boo, held in Tampa on the weekends starting at the end of September, weather permitting. Lowry Park Zoo will transform at night into a special event for the whole family with haunted houses and trails, game zones, and a spooky horse-drawn carriage ride. They are adding some new features this year for kids "Frankenstein's Foam Party" and "Unearthed: Secrets of a Museum". There is an additional charge for this event.

It's definitely getting spookier in Tampa Bay. Families and individuals can find lots of Halloween Fun throughout the Tampa Bay area. Start planning your Halloween costume now!

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Miss Diana


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Dear Liberty, Liberty, Liberty dear,

It has been many a year

Since last our paths were parted.

In case you forget, I was the spec

That topped a building forgotten.

Madison Garden on the Square,

I was the weathervane fair

Diana. Do you remember?

-

If not I must object.

Because our acquaintance was set

by what was his name, Henry O. or

Was it O. Henry?

-

He was a clever gent

To recognize the bond between

Two metal maidens

As we stood and adorned

Gotham of old.

-

I, by chance, the other day

Met a visitor,

Who had a post card

Of you guarding still

The gates to the Republic.

-

I am sorry I forgot you,

And apparently you me,

Over these many decades.

-

It is true they tore down the Garden

And my fate was likely to follow

In similar manner.

The island Manhattan has

Different standards for structures

Than the island on which you dwell.

-

My fate, the fate of fame

Was lost on a scrap heap

Till one day a friend did buy

For the value of scrap, me

For thirty and eight dollars.

Deflated was my ego, but still,

Twas better than being

Melted down to solder.

-

I dread to think

What value your copper sheath

Would bring on the scales of barter.

We lofty few must preserve

Our sight from mortal schemes

Not worthy of our station in life.

-

My journey from Gotham of old

Has landed me in a splendid temple

Atop Fairmount Hill

On the Champs Benjamin Franklin

In the city of brotherly love.

-

It is a marvelous change

From the cold work of weathervane.

I serve no function

Except to grace a grand hall

And stone staircase.

I have joined your ranks Liberty.

I am art or so they say.

Isn't it great to retire so late.

And find a home so Greek

As this bejeweled museum?

-

Every decade or so

There is a spat

Between some Gotham bureaucrat

And the keepers of my present home.

They say my home is Gotham.

Though in truth it is Olympus.

Home is truly where the heart is.

Here Corinthian and Ionic,

Not purely mixed,

Houses my metal frame.

-

Out the window

Across the way

I have found a new friend.

His name is William, William Penn.

He is made of bronze.

No sterner stuff

Are men made of these days.

-

He is shorter than you in fact

But higher than you he dwells.

No stone tower here is taller than he

As he stares in disbelief

Toward dear Gotham Town,

On a building French

That you would adore.

He is refined but a little bit dull.

His upper lip is stiff.

-

I miss your French ways

Seen through the haze

Of fine ocean mists past.

-

We must get together soon,

We metal folk,

For a grand old bash so bold.

-

Now I must finish.

The doors are about to admit

The lovers of art.

I know my part,

Same as you.

-

Please write. See you

soon?

How is O. Henry?

Love,

Miss Diana.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

"American Meth: A History of the Methamphetamine Edpidemic" columnist Sterling R Braswell:BOOK REVIEW


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Sterling Braswell has written a fascinating book about drug use in America. He begins with the history of amphetamines. It has been used almost 100 years. Meth was used in the 1920's to treat asthma, hay fever and depression. At this time it was legal and did not carry a social stigma. Amphetamines were used in the military because it was believed to enhance intellectual performance and incite aggression.

Hitler was injected with it. Kamikaze pilots were injected with it before they went out on their suicide missions. JFK used it combined with steroids to treat Addison's disease. It was attributed to contributing to his abnormally high sex drive. Today meth abusers come from all walks of life: students, soldiers, workers, housewives.

The damage caused by meth use is insidious. Dopamine nerve terminals are damaged to the point that they put people at risk for developing Parkinson's as they get older. Some of the damage is permanent, and some can last up to three years after the use ends. Meth use triggers apoptosis which causes widespread cell death in several areas of the brain. The brain is affected in ways similar to the damage caused by Alzheimer's and strokes. The abuser's personality is also affected. They become paranoid, delusional and violent. Braswell refers to their reality as "Crazy Town." This becomes the user's world.

In this book, Braswell also includes his own personal story of the hell that he went through while he was married to Lucille, an addict. Lucille was unable to overcome her addiction and as a result of her meth addicted actions, she nearly destroyed Braswell. As I read his personal story, I kept hoping that their lives would improve and that Lucille would be able to overcome her addictions. Instead she betrayed him and his family in every way possible.

The history of methamphetamines and other related drugs is covered in great depth. "American Meth" would be very helpful for substance abuse counselors and people in recovery. For my Master's degree program in Rehabilitation Counseling, I did not have any texts that covered the history so deeply.

I think that it is important for people who believe that drugs should be legalized should read "American Meth." Crime is not just committed by people trying to get money for a fix, horrible crimes are committed by people who are under the influence of this drug. Families are destroyed.

American Meth: A History of the Methamphetamine Epidemic in America

Sterling R Braswell

iUniverse, Inc (2006)

ISBN 0595380212

Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (5/06)

Friday, March 5, 2010

Power of Subliminal Mind Control - How to Enhance Your Hypnotic Performance Through Trance Rhythm


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Think conversational hypnosis is too difficult to master?

Think again. All it takes is practice. And know how.

Here's a powerful way to enhance your mind control power - using trance rhythm and tone.

Let me explain.

Have you ever listened to a soothing piece of piano music, and you felt that you are being sucked in?

If you do, it's because the rhythm of the music attracts you. And it pulls you in to the "other realm".

Now, if you can speak with voice that has a particular rhythm, you too can achieve the same effect as with the music.

With a change in rhythm, you can alter the state of another person's mind to perceive you differently.

Just look at the way Michael Jackson enthralls the crowd?

If you notice, when he sings a fast number, he move fast and swiftly across the floor. Waving and moving his hands according to the beat.

What is he doing?

He is building the "rhythm". His voice and body "rhythm" becomes one.

When the song is fast, he goes fast. When the song is slow, he goes slowly. It's like poetry in motion.

And the crowd can't help but be irresistibly drawn in to the whole spectacle.

Such techniques need a lot of physical practice. You can do this by clapping and moving your body. And counting them out. 1-2-3-4. 1-2-3, 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3. And so on.

This is just an example. You can try out with 2,3 or 4s rhythm. Have the rhythm inside both your head and mind. And build the rhythm with your language. To your audience, your voice will sound like a magnetic symphony. Poetic rhythm that is captivating.

This trance rhythm technique is so powerful you can even get the person in and out of a trace just by changing your rhythm. If you want to master conversational hypnosis and mind control, then learning how to get your "trance" rhythm right is a must.

To learn more about how you can get powerful, irresistible and magnetic influence over others, click below to find out more...

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Subliminal Messages in Music - How to Use Subliminal Messages in Music to Change Your Life


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A subliminal message is a signal or a message recorded in a video or audio beneath the original text. Such subliminal messages have no influence on our conscious mind but affect our subconscious. The subconscious may then influence our conscious actions to act in according to the message embedded within the message. Some argue that effects of subliminal messages are rather insignificant while others argue that they are unfair and potentially harmful, especially if abused

These days subliminal messages are very much popular in music industry. Subliminal messages in music have been given a name of 'Backward Messages' or more commonly 'Backward Masking'. It is very easy to record backward messages on existing sounds or subliminal messages in music with the help of the computer on simply a click of mouse. An interesting thing about subliminal messages in music is that they can easily be disguised with other natural or unnatural form of sounds such as blowing wind, traffic noise, rain falling or even water crashing. Since subliminal messages in music have been discovered many controversial examples can be found.

In the late 60's a Beatles album was supposedly contained one example of a subliminal messages in music, a suggestion that Paul McCartney had died. The controversy raged extensively when some religious groups claimed that Satan was possessing the singers and causing them to insert subliminal messages in music.

Another popular example of subliminal messages in music is the popular song Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin. This song contained not one but many subliminal messages. "Play backwards. Hear words sung", is the message you hear at the very end of the song. Amazingly, if you play the song backward you will find many satanic related messages. For example, somewhere in the middle of the song it says, "It's my sweet Satan. The one whose little path would make me sad whose power is fake."

Subliminal message in music are mostly popular amongst rock and electronic bands. There are many thousands of albums containing subliminal messages. Some bands do this through hidden means while some of them do it openly. Pitcher Shifter, known for incorporating technology in their music, has been openly making use of subliminal messages in their music for years. In their album Infotainment released in 1996 they included two tracks and went as far as to include a warning message at the start of its first track that a subliminal message is about to be played.

On the other hand, the band Judas Priest was taken to court for using subliminal messages in their songs which believed to have urged the listeners to commit suicide. The case was discharged and they were never proven to have used these techniques.

Josie and the pussycats, a movie released in year 2001, It focuses on the concept of subliminal messages in music and effects on teen minds when constantly listened to subliminal music but also assures viewer that the spell can be broken and one can return to a normal life.

Subliminal messages in videos have been proven to affect sales of condiments at the movie theatres, and in 2006 Derren Brown, and English illusionist, did an experiment which showed how subliminal messages could cause such dramatic effects as to cause 65% of people who had watched a movie to have completely forgotten the plot.

Subliminal messages in music do not necessarily need to be all bad. If one was to listen to a subliminal message in music designed to help them lose weight, studies indicate that they would, more than likely, be able to lose weight dramatically. Utilizing subliminal messages in music has not been studied long enough to determine their effectiveness, but should they prove to be effective, they can shave years off of your own personal change, whether you want more confidence, to lose weight, or to quit smoking.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Rich Dad Poor Dad Book Review


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Imagine going to work tomorrow and telling your boss that this will be your last day, or better yet, just stop showing up completely. Some may call that irresponsible; others may call that a drastic measure; but for some, it is a viable option after reading the book Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.

Don't get too excited, this book isn't going to show or tell you how to make a million dollars tomorrow, but why would it? If someone could tell you how to make a million dollars tomorrow then everyone would be doing it and your million dollars would be useless.

The book, Rich Dad Poor Dad, takes a different approach. It will describe a way of doing, a mentality, if you will. Once you adopt the mentality described in this book you won't need someone to tell you how to become rich.

The title will seem misleading to a lot of readers because the person he describes as his Poor Dad is his real father who has a very high level of education, makes a lot of money working for the government, but is enslaved in the rat race. On the other hand, his Rich Dad is actually a friends' dad who has almost no education in the form of college, but is very business minded and goes on to become one of the richest men in Hawaii while being completely reliant upon himself.

As the storyline progresses, the author will contrast and compare the lifestyles of both his Rich Dad and his Poor Dad and express his difficulties in choosing which footsteps he will follow in. He will tell about his struggles, his learning experiences, and explain why he chose the way he did.

This book is a mind altering and life-changing experience, but only if you are open-minded to change. If not, you will most likely throw this book in a pile of other "get rich" books you have already read and not acted on. I give this book a 10/10.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

The Book Stop Sweating and Start Living by Mike Ramsey Reviewed - Should You Get It?


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With the hotter summer and rising global temperature, more and more people are experiencing some severe and excessive sweating issues. Excess sweating is absolutely one of the worst things that can lower your self esteem and social image. Excessive sweating causes your clothes to get wet easily and your body to smell bad. There is a book written on how to stop sweating naturally called "Stop Sweating and Start Living" by Mike Ramsey. This article will be an honest review of the book.

However, before anything else, it's essential and equally important for you to understand that sweating is a natural and normal thing. We sweat because our body feels it is necessary to lower its temperature. Most of the time, people who complain about how they have excess sweating are just having a normal rate of perspiration. They either can't take the body odor or their clothes getting wet by sweating.

In general the book, Stop Sweating and Start Living by Mike Ramsey is all about using natural methods to deal with excessive feet, body, back, face and head sweating. Based on what Mike Ramsey has said about his book, thousands of people have already put an end to their sweating problems by using the tips and strategies laid out in the book.

Do the methods in the book REALLY WORK?

The answer is yes! When I started to read the book, it sounded like it's too good to be true. It's a 3 step routine that one should apply everyday. Within the first week, I already felt a reduced rate of perspiration over my body. Nevertheless, it would take a lot of persistence before you see any significant improvement. As I went through the second month, I was so surprised that my body was sweating a lot less than I used to.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Osho - The Rebel Luminous - (The Story of Acharya Rajneesh)


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Osho is a familiar figure in the world of religious thought. The name was adopted by Osho Rajneesh Acharya against FAG end of his life. Maybe he wanted a profound impact on the world by making them write the name. In fact, Rajneesh was a lecturer at a college in Jabalpur before hearing his heart, and called it shifted base to Bombay (now Mumbai).

The Rebel is an illuminating account of the life of these people, who had dragged its peak in a lot of people from their feetcalled for a separate path to salvation and God There is no doubt that Rajneesh was a very intelligent man who had grasped the essence of life. Believed to direct the attention of the evils of all religions be it Hinduism or Christianity. He maintains a revolutionary way, wanted to eliminate the traditionalism.

Vasant Joshi's book is written is an interesting read. It follows in the footsteps of Rajneesh from his childhood to his transformation as a spiritual guru. By readingthe book, you can take a picture of Acharaya Rajneesh, and thoughts that made him famous. His movement from Mumbai to Pune and its creation of community Rajneeshpuram much hype around the United States will be treated in a clear manner. His detention in various jails of the United States and his subsequent claim that he poisoned all be treated with a clear manner.

The book is interesting reading. But an excerpt from the book to be published in order to make the reader awarethe caliber of Rajneesh

Extract

The first time I went to college, I wanted to learn logic.And, the old professor ... Started on Aristotle, the father of Western logic ... I said 'Wait a minute. Did you know that Aristotle writes in his book that women have fewer teeth than men? "He said, 'My God, what a question?" I said: "There is something very fundamental to making the whole process of logic. You are aware that Aristotle had two wives? He said:" I do not know ...From there, it is aware of these facts? "But in Greece, has traditionally been known for centuries that women have been forced into something less than men. Of course they could have the same number of teeth than men." I said: "And you call this man, Aristotle, the father of logic, He would have counted at least two women who had at his disposal, but has not counted"

Do the over-educated, for the fertile mind of Osho. He's very misunderstood. The book, written in excellent prose deserves betteran interest in passing. I recommend it to anyone wanting interest in philosophy and something of Osho, Glean who else has been said and done, was a man well beyond the ordinary.