Starting With the Man, Or Woman, In the Mirror

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I'm starting with the man in the mirror, I'm asking him to change his ways, and no message could have been any clearer, if you want to make the world a better place.
~Michael Jackson, Man in the Mirror, 1988.

This song is deeply spiritual as it talks in essence about one's relationship with self--the God linkage--for one cannot truly know him or herself without knowing God, the Maker of the being.

When we think about it, there are many things that cause us frustration in this life- the way the world is and how everything works, and indeed, how we perceive it to be falling apart. To live without hope; that's just an obvious default. It's easy to fall into this thinking. We only have to watch the News habitually.

Yet, when all of that is stripped away and we simply come; coming to the mirror, to gaze at the person responsible for living a clean, simple life, we see that the changes we desire with the world really lie at base, with us. We are the only ones we can change. And to make any real impact on the world we can only do so if we put ourselves in order, fundamentally to our core--our meaning, our purpose, our centred being.

When we strip the world away--by staring into that mirror--everything for that time is introspection. A whole world of positive change beckons in this one being we're responsible for.

And when we hook into this vision of the self and what the self can do to right itself, we begin clamouring for humility and the little growth steps that, for a time, forget the sordid world outside its doors. The focus is inside; spiritual spring-cleaning has taken root. And freed we are of the anxiousness that 'the world' foists upon us.

Suddenly--and strangely--we're happier. We see a thing to change and we do so. We are blessed; commensurately, a tad confident. Then the next thing is done, and the next and so on. During the rebuilding and spiritual renovation phase we're hardly worried about the world at all--it all pales into insignificance.

Then the strangest thing happens; our faith blooming, and at more peace than we've experienced in years, we begin to see the world as it has always been--a most beautiful place with hardly a wrinkle; we even see the vast good that people are doing. The rubbish is inconsequential.

The man (or woman) in the mirror--with an all-patient God assisting--can do all this!

© 2010 S. J. Wickham.

Being the Best Artist You Can Be When Producing Design Work and Canvas Art

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It is most satisfying to produce work that genuinely represents your true voice. When you are creating work that reflects your proper calling and resonates with the purpose of your existence you make artwork that is genuine and that others will love also. In this article I describe my ideas on finding your individual style as an artist or designer so that you can focus more time and effort making the work that really works for you and your audience.

In my experience there is a common thread that emerges through a person's work that suggests the archetypal message or story that is emerging through that person's design or canvas art. Finding your own voice often entails a process of listening to the voice that is trying to emerge as opposed to forcing your conscious ideas upon the creative process which can often be counterproductive. Our conscious thinking is quite often survival based and reflects the lower ego needs of a human being. These ego needs, such as the need for approval, can often sabotage the purer artwork that is arising. Throughout the ages the best artwork has generally reflected the higher values of humanity such as deep philosophical questioning or social change. Finding your voice as an artist is about sensing the direction that life is taking you and allowing that process to direct the artwork. What part of the story of life is your art telling?

Throughout every piece of work you have created since you started to make art (which may even mean going back to when you were a young child or teenager) is a clue as to your purpose as an artist. It is about discovering these messages that continue to arise and then piecing them together into the overall communication of your life as an artist. To get a better idea about your purpose as an artist ask yourself these questions...

• What common threads have emerged throughout your work?
• What subject matter or themes is your work continually pulled back to?
• What is the direction of your work?
• Which pieces have been most satisfying and why?
• How does your work usually function when perceived by a viewer?
• Are you interested in communicating particular ideas and informing the viewer about new perspectives?

And remember that as an artist there will always be a continual process of discovery. The creative process of an artist is always in flux and motion. Your work will grow as you grow and change as you change, and as the context of your life changes. A good piece of advice is to not be too eager to find out how the story ends right away because this might not be possible. Some will be successful and discover their purpose and always have that clear understanding of the message they deliver. Some artists will only truly understand their work with the benefit of time in hindsight. Some others may never understand their work at all, leaving their contribution behind to be appreciated and understood by others. Hopefully, all will enjoy the process. In my humble opinion the most effective indicator that you are focusing on your purpose as an artist is that you are happy producing the work you are producing. An enjoyable process is a purposeful process.

I hope this article has been helpful in assisting you with your design work and canvas art.

Botanical Art in Victorian Times

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Botanical Art is a popular art form for many people and cultures. If you have flower arrangements made for any occasion you are purchasing Botanical Art. It might look easy, but it is not. People have to go to school to learn various things about many types of flowers. Arranging flowers in a vase at home is easy, Botanical Art is not. In the paragraphs below, we are going to take a look at this fun form of art called botanical art.

In the Victorian ages the British empire had reached a unrivaled place in power. Their territories spread from Scotland to Australia, and into some colonies such as Africa and India. This is why so many different plants were finding their ways into Britain, and many of them ended up in wealthy homes. Many wealthy people in these times collected art in many forms. They also had land that sprawled for many miles, much of which was turned into gardens of some kind. This might be why Botanical Art was such a hobby in the nineteenth century.

Photography was a very new technology for them and many times their cameras were unreliable. Instead, artists would paint or sketch their findings, and even went so far as to study them under microscopes. This was so they could fully understand every part of the plant, and its markings.

Many wealthy and important people supported this art form. Prince Albert gave patronage to a society that played a big role in the study of Botanical Art. This was a time of exploration, when many things were unknown. Plants and Flowers were a great way to make new discoveries since there were so many undiscovered species.

Many people went in search of new and exciting discoveries armed with nothing but a pencil, microscope and sketchpad. Sometimes they had field guides with them to refer to, this was possibly so that they would be able to classify weather the plant had been discovered. The number of botanical specimens that they found and sketched or painted was in the thousands. These can now be found in the Victoria and Albert Museum.

There were many who ventured out into the wilderness to capture these pictures for themselves. However, there are only a few who are now famous for it. Some of the better-known armature botanists were Beatrix Potter who you might know for her collection of books and movies, and Marianne North.

Beatrix Potter focused mainly on insects, animals and fungi of Britain. She then illustrated her own children books as well as movies. Marianne North left Britain in search of new discoveries. She painted over 800 pictures depicting her travels

While today Botanical Arts is still a very well practiced form of art, some could argue that it is not as exciting as it once was. It is still very beautiful and takes a very skilled person to paint with that much detail. However, there is not as much excitement surrounding what can be discovered. Today, there are not as many botanical specimens that are not classified.

Fraud - An Unjust Act

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Those who have never suffered injustice cannot easily imagine its effect or how it feels to be cheated. For me, injustice is a knife used to pierce through the heart, leaving the affected alive but without pulling out the knife. Numerous situations abound of injustice in our everyday endeavors, which has roots in our fraudulent nature. For a personal example, I have been cheated by people for close to fifteen (15) solid times in my life during which valuable amount of money and property was lost. The point is that we may recognize and get some of these fraudsters and robbers arrested at numerous times in our lives but never do we recover our properties, even when there was a confession. Nor have we been satisfied with the punishments meted on these criminals and, often, victimized in the process. Injustice is therefore very painful indeed and can only result from a blindly fraudulent and decaying society where the acts are condoned.

Because of fraud; homes, individuals, groups, organizations/Institutions, Government and the country will suffer from lack of progress i.e. stagnation and even retrogression could become the outcome in all spheres of social, political, economic, and technological endeavours. How can a country, or people, progress if they are godless and lawless? Our societies have definitely collapsed.

In spite of the observations made, there are still sincere people in the society, and Government, who publicly denounce fraud. Many Governments of nations, like Nigeria, are attempting, miraculously, some anti-corruption campaigns and clean-ups. In any case, because it involves deceit, cheating, imposture and concealment, fraud is, normally, condemned in public, even if only hypocritical. Thus, one discovers that the society has a system innovation in which fraud sections in-charge of detection and control are conspicuously displayed in public prosecution offices and police departments in-charge of law and order. This wisdom of man was handed over by God but is grossly abused.

God punishes fraud openly and some of the punishments, if our law and order is incompetent, are enumerated and they include:
i. Treasures - In Christianity, one of the arduous tasks of evangelizing is to convince unbelievers of the existence of a "heaven", which the Lord has reserved for the righteousness. Christians, and all sane good people, should aim to be in heaven one day. That being the case, the Lord Jesus Christ emphasized, metaphorically in Mark 10:21 that if we repented and got rid of our fraudulent possessions, then we shall have treasures in heaven. Conversely, if we insist on remaining fraudulent, then we shall lack, individually, treasures in heaven: a residence that we shall inherit at the end if we give a good account of our stewardship on earth. Of course, no one likes to occupy an empty house with no treasures in it.

ii. Disaster - The Old Testament prophet, Elijah, in 1 Kings 21:21, pronounces the punishment of disaster from God for fraud. God states through Elijah that 'I am going to bring disaster on you. I will consume your descendants and cut off every last male - slave or free'.

iii. Shameful death - To affirm God's supremacy over humankind, his own creation or, if you like, creature, he (God) pronounces the punishment of a shameful death as punishment for fraud. In 1 Kings 21:24, God says that 'Dogs will eat those belonging to you who die in the city, and vultures will feed on those who die in the countryside'. A shameful public death also caught up with Ananias and Saphira when they lied to defraud God (Acts 5:5, 10).

Finally, having seen the evil and effect of fraud, it is now our duty to make sure that in the face of fraud; we can stand up and insist on its punishment. It may be emphasized, further, that whether we are leaders or commoners, over-bourgeois by the so-called 'masses', the responsibility is for us to help eliminate fraud today. All leaders are, after all, installed and maintained in office and power by God. If leaders, in whatever position of leadership, do not please Him, they are simply disobedient and dishonest to Him to whom all powers belong. We are required to use our offices diligently, prayerfully and with full submission to almighty God to execute law and order. To eliminate fraud, so that we can map out a prosperous and amiable future for our homes, friends, all loved ones, and our dear countries. The society will then be useful to us, our descendants, as well as future generations. May the Lord God help, bless and guide each one of us in His infinite wisdom. Amen.

How To Turn A Bad Drawing Good And Make A Good Painting Great

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Just like you every living artist has a bad day...

It doesn't matter what you do nothing seems to go right. And, when it goes wrong there is nothing you can do to put things right. When you are drawing, the sheet of paper on your drawing board slips... Oh no! There's an unsightly line that you know can't be removed. If you try to get rid of the mistake all that will happen is that you will lose some of your best work.

Then, there will be other days... you are working on a watercolor landscape. Some parts of the picture have worked really well. You are justifiably pleased. Soon you are going to finish your best painting ever. There's only a little more to do. Then disaster strikes...

"The last color wash is all wrong"

This isn't what you want, it is ruined. The painting doesn't work. There is nothing you can do, it is scrap. Another time, you will be standing at your easel with palette in hand. You have been working hard on your latest oil painting. You have just placed the last highlight to give the picture its full depth and it is finished.

It should be an impressive result. There is plenty of action in the picture. But, when you stand back from the easel you realize that the painting you have finished is not the masterpiece you planned...

The balance of the picture is wrong. Some of the figures you have toiled away at are in the wrong place. The story the painting tells doesn't make sense. You feel the pain of disappointment and ask yourself the question...

"Is there anything I can do to rescue something from the failure?"

Yes, sometimes there is something you can do to rescue a painting failure. And, the great thing is that you don't always have to do any more painting.

"What can you do to rescue a painting failure?"

First, you need to stand back and look carefully at your drawing or painting...

There will be good parts in the painting
There will be strong, well painted areas that you are happy with
There will be details that you know you have painted expertly
Some parts of the picture will have a good feel

All is not lost... Let the good parts of the painting stand out in your mind and ask yourself 3 questions...

"Is there a painting within the painting?"
"Is there a smaller, stronger and better picture hiding away?"
"Is there a hidden masterpiece?"

You could be surprised to discover a better picture within your painting. The idea is to crop the larger painting to reveal the real masterpiece. You are looking to reframe your drawing or painting until you find the quality you are going to be happy with...

Find some blank paper (writing paper, newspaper, or scrap) and totally cover the painting
Next, rearrange the paper so that you open a square or rectangular window to reveal a small part of the picture beneath
Open up the window and reveal the best area of your work
Continue to enlarge and reduce the window until you find the masterpiece you are looking for

Take time looking for the best in your artwork. You could find more than one great picture waiting to be found. This is great...

When you have found the finished drawing you can mount and frame the picture ready to hang

The bad parts of your watercolor painting can be hidden by the mount and frame

But beware...

"For an oil painting you will need to cut it down to size to fit over the stretcher framework"

This is a drastic action. Take time before you decide to cut. If you get it wrong you will have destroyed everything. All the hard work could be lost.

So, without adding a single brush full of paint you can rescue disappointing drawing and painting failures. With time and care you can recover them and find quality artwork when you thought all your good work was gone...

"A small masterpiece is better than a large waste of space"

Types Of Life Insurance Settlements

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A life insurance settlement is defined as the selling of an active life insurance policy for a lump sum amount to any other interested part. However, sellers need to ensure that, the value of the policy received after sale is more than, its cash surrender value. Usually, a life insurance policy is considered to come into effect only after the demise of policy owners. By opting for life insurance settlement, policy owners have the choice to materialize, the value their life insurance policy during their lifetime. There are many types of life insurance settlements plans such as senior life settlement and vatical life settlement.

Life settlements mean selling life insurance policies to a third party buyer in exchange for a lump sum amount. They generate immediate liquidity from a non-performing asset. This allows policy owners, who are seniors over the age of sixty-five, to cash insurance policies that are unwanted, or have become too expensive to be affordable or have become obsolete. They are also known as senior settlements, lifetime settlements, or high net worth transactions.

Life settlements are now a necessary point to consider in the estate planning process for seniors. Before the introduction of life settlement option, there was no option for people above the age of sixty-five, who had an unwanted life insurance policy. They can lapse, cancel, or surrender their policies to the insurance company for the surrender value.

Viatical settlements are a goop option for people who are suffering from any kind of terminal illness. It allows them to make use of the current value of their life insurance policy. This helps them financially to pay for the expensive treatments required for their illness.

The popularity of life settlements has given rise to an industry that has, created a competitive secondary market for life insurance policies. Consumers now have the freedom to sell their policies in an open market for the highest obtainable value. This value is much more than the cash surrender value of the insurance policy.

Michael Jackson Halloween Costumes - Great For Adults and Kids

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Michael Jackson Halloween costumes are going to be extremely popular this October. Inspired by the tragic loss of one of pop music's biggest legends, you are sure to see plenty of MJ's of all shapes and sizes paying tribute to their hero as they moonwalk the streets and show off their moves on house party dance floors.

The king of pop has made a permanent impression on all of pop culture with his trade mark glittering glove, red leather jacket, black fedora hat, and long black hair. Michael Jackson is such an iconic figure with so many recognizable features, that creating a Halloween costume in his image presents many different variations.

The "Billie Jean" look is quite simple and requires black pants, black shirt and jacket, black shoes, and of course the famous jeweled glove, which you can either make yourself or purchase from most costume stores. This look can be dressed up with a black wig, aviator sunglasses, and a black fedora.

The "Thriller" look is one of the most recognizable MJ looks. Thrill your friends by wearing a red leather jacket, white t-shirt, black or red pants, and black shoes. Again, dress up this looks with a long black wig.

Another thing to keep in mind when putting your costume together is what you will wear that will make you stand out in case another Michale Jackson shows up to the same party. You might want to consider buying a professionally made costume online, which will undoubtedly blow away any homemade MJ costumes. Also, make sure you practice some of Michael's signature dance moves, as there are sure to be countless dance battles across the world this Halloween!

Top Michael Jackson Songs and What Makes Them Great

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Michael Jackson is the ultimate entertainer. A singer, songwriter, producer and dancer; Jackson is certainly a legend - albeit a tainted one. Inspired by James Brown - the Godfather of soul - Jackson produced songs that remain popular decades after they were released.

That Michael Jackson wrote several of his hit tunes makes them even more enjoyable. In assessing the top Michael Jackson song - the song itself is not the only thing to consider. Concert favourites and accompanying music videos, longevity and sales should also be factored in assessing the top tunes. Unsurprisingly, all of my initial selections can be found on the "Michael Jackson: Number Ones" DVD.

1) Billie Jean

Billie Jean is a very innovative song about a paternity dilemma. It included a new sound, a very distinctive and multi-tracking. Staying at the top of the Billboard 100 and R&B charts, Billie Jean remains the best-selling Jackson sing with over 5 million copies.

Jackson performed this tune at Motown's 25th Anniversary performance and it remained a hit at later concerts- from Victory in 1984 to the Jacksons' Reunion in 2001. Billie Jean was also one of the top five most requested singles in 1983. The accompanying music video for this song helped its popularity to soar. You can hear this tune all over the world- more than 25 years later.

2) Beat It

Beat It represented one of Jackson's crossover tunes. Along with Billie Jean, the video received heavy rotation on MTV upon its release. The song had a positive anti-gang message, with the rock element seeming to capture the danger of it all. Beat It was in the top 20 of the most requested tunes from 1983. The electric guitar solo from Van Halen and the infectious funk-rock beat that Jackson sung at full-pitch easily makes Beat It one of the signature tunes from the exponentially popular Thriller album.

3) Don't stop 'til you get enough

Although accompanied by a good enough music video, this tune did not need one. The third most requested single from 1979 displayed many of Jackson's signature vocals and an upbeat blend of funk, pop and disco. Unlike other disco tunes, DSTYGE maintained its popularity. Thirty years after its release, it is still in heavy rotation, especially at retro parties. Many of Jackson's later releases cannot compare.

Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough is one of the best because it appeals to a cross-section of music lovers. This groovy tune could even make a couch potato feel to dance. The worldwide acclaim of this single is duly recorded. According to Wikipedia, "The song achieved staggering success in several countries and established Jackson as the biggest and most recognizable male disco solo-artist worldwide".

4) Black Or White

Black Or White was the biggest hit from the Dangerous album of 1991. It was the in the top 20 of most requested singles from 1991. It was both controversial and infectious on release. Black Or White was accompanied by a very entertaining music video that helped it shoot to the top of the charts. The song itself fused elements of hard rock and rap- contributing to its crossover appeal.

5) Rock With You

Rock With You was one of Michael Jackson's hit tracks from his Off The Wall album. The video from this song would never make it to the top ten Jackson videos. The video included Jackson in a ridiculous, sequined outfit illuminated by disco lights. Rock With You is in the top five of Jackson's tune because of the strength of the melody and lyrics. It included the multi-tracking technique previously employed by Marvin Gaye. This track is heavily influenced by the disco era and became popular in spite of the paradigm shift in the music landscape soon after its release in 1980.

Jackson first realised the influenced of TV on music when he performed "Dancing Machine" with his brothers on a live program in 1974. Michael introduced 'The Robot' that night. The following day, kids all over the U.S. were trying to do the robot and that track soared in popularity. Many of Jackson's most popular songs benefited from video accompaniment.

There are several Michael Jackson songs that just missed out on mention in the top five. Tunes from the Bad album like the title-track Bad, Man in the Mirror and Smooth Criminal probably deserve mention. The tunes in the top-five are essentially timeless pieces that don't have a shelf-life. You may still find yourself grooving to a couple of them at your next dance party.

Walt Whitman - Over, and Over, and Over!

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What more can be said that has not been said about Walt Whitman? A good question.To be honest I do not have any more insight than the average man out there who has read Whitman, but let me give you my point of view anyhow, for what it is worth, and it may not be worth a lot, and then on the other hand it may be a treasure, you never know.

He was known as perhaps the Father of Free Verse, old news, and he was known perhaps as the gay, or homosexual, or bisexual poet of the 19th Century, born 1819, and died 1892. He mostly wrote on his book: "Leaves of Grass," which started out with 12-poems, and ended up with close to 400, over a forty to sixty year span, he revised the book, like a man would with a weight problem.

In his early editions, or revisions, you can tell when he writes about women, he really means men, and in his later editions, he is more free to unwind this secret of his past, it all has to do with-I would guess-the times.

Whitman was Allen Ginsberg's hero, as Whitman's hero was Emerson. Everyone has a hero, even Elvis' had a hero, who was James Dean, and Stalin's hero was Hitler. We pick out those most suitable to us-so it seems.

To be frank, I want to cut the chase to this essay and get down to business. Was Whitman's life time goal to make a perfect book? And this book of course would have been "Leaves of Grass"-right? And did he accomplish it?

Ginsberg tried to be like Whitman in a way. Before Ginsberg died, and prior to it, he did what I'm going to tell you he did, in a more frantic way than I can express, and it seems to me a egoistic quark of Whitman's also; that is, he'd write his poetic prose, and have his assistant put each typed letter, or poem, into his files, like a man with a precious coin, who feels he needs to preserve it for posterity's sake. On the other hand, Whitman went over and over and over and over his poems in "Leaves of Grass," like a man on narcotics, who needs his next fix.

In Whitman's case, again, I see him doing this for the same reason Ginsberg did his little dance, with his typed out poetry: afraid, posterity might overlook, or not forgive him. Thus both tried to enshrine their poems for humankind's benefit.

Well, as I was saying, Whitman went over his poetry as if a comma might have been out of place 40-years prior, or a period 60-years prior. He died at 72-years old, and at 17, I think his first book was produced; he paid for its publication out of his pocket, about 800-copies were made, so I am assuming he started writing poetry about the age I did, 11 or 12 years old.

I call all this work he did on revision: destructive change, compromise, tampering with something he should not have been. Why? After ten years, I do not know what I was thinking at the very mount I wrote a certain piece of poetry. And I have written a certain amount every decade 50s, 60s 70s, 80s, 90s, and now; same as he did in his life time.

We need to ask, what was our motive then back then, if indeed we dare rewrite our poetry, and if we can't come up with an exact reason, then hang it up? I think he, Walt, screwed up a many of his poems in the process of revision, he took and took a good work, and made it into a plain, ordinary work.

Recently I had a review of one of my books, "Death on Demand," it was done five years ago. A year after that book, I did another called, "Dracula's Ghost," both with several short stories. But one story was in both books, and I changed only the name of the story, and the person who did the review of the book said in so many words: why in heaven's name did he change the name, it was a good name, it followed the story well, because the story was great, he did it damage. And when I look back at it, he is absolutely right.

There are several additions to "Leaves of Grass," the first 1855, the second 1860, and one in 1881, and another in 1926, and the one in 1926, seems to have most of the 1855 stuff in it. And there is an edition I think in 1876. My recommendation is to find one that takes the best of the best out of the first, and if you can add some of his later poems, all the better. Another noteworthy comment might be, is that, it is not for children, but open minded, mature individuals.

I could tell you my best poems I like of his, if it does not get in your way in reading him, but it will, so if you have not tried Whitman, why not, put your biases aside, and enjoy a good readying, and read between the lines-carefully.

(Example of a change; "Out of the Rocked Cradle," vs. "Out of the cradle endless rocking".)

2-15-2008

Guide To Disney Channel Teen Stars Zac Efron and Miley Cyrus

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Zac Efron

Disney Teen Star Zac Efron was born in San Luis Obispo, California to David Efron and Starla Baskett. He has a brother, Dylan, and has two Australian shepherds Dreamer and Puppy, as well as a Siamese cat named Simon. When he was eleven years old he was cast in the musical Gypsy, a role that lasted for 90 performances. He went on to appear in the stage productions of Mame, Peter Pan, Little Shop of Horrors, and The Music Man. After leaving the stage he became a cast member of Summerland where he remained until taking a role in the 2006 hit Disney cable movie High School Musical.

Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus as born November 23, 1992 in Nashville, Tennessee and developed her knack for performing while watching her dad perform. Her dad is country music singer and actor Bill Ray Cyrus. After appearing as an extra in a few of her dad's projects, she got her first chance to act opposite him in a recurring role on the television series Doc. From there she went on to star on such shows as Love Boat, The Next Wave, and appeared in the Tim Burton film Big Fish.

She is currently starring in Disney Channel's new live action comedy Hanna Montana where she plays Miley Stewart, a 14 years old girl leading a double life as pop singer Hannah Montana.

In real life Miley recently relocated to Los Angeles from Nashville with her parents, sister Brandi and Noah, brothers Trace and Braison and their dog Loco. The family left all of their animals, which include seven horses, three dogs and two cats back in Nashville under her grandmother's care.

Now in her spare time in Los Angeles, she enjoys talking on the phone with friends back home. She also follows in her father's footsteps by writing music, playing guitar and singing. She reports that her musical influences are pop singers Kelly Clarkson, Hillary Duff and Ashley Simpson. Miley also enjoys dancing and cheerleading.

Lithographs - The Ultimate Collectible

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Most people could not afford to own an original piece of artwork by Don Freeman but having a copy of one of his crayon or pen and ink drawings could be a very nice little collectible item. This is where all those Don Freeman lithographs come into play. A Don Freeman lithograph is an authorized copy of one of his original works. Created by the artist himself, as he was a prolific lithographer. Don Freeman lithographs are not worth more than the originals but if the print quality is good and the production numbers are low, it will still have significant value.

But wait, I should begin by explaining who Don Freeman is and what lithography is too. The process that created all those Don Freeman lithographs is different from everyday printing. Most presses need the printmaker to etch an image into metal plates or physically carve out the image on blocks of wood. To create his lithographs, Don freeman used a set of greasy crayons or pencils to draw a mirrored image of his original artwork onto a smooth stone tablet. He spent much of his lifetime doing this most time-consuming part of the lithography process.

After the image has been recreated to his satisfaction it is ready to be turned into a lithograph. The lithographic process hinges on the principle that oil and water won't mix. An oil-based variety of ink is applied directly to the plate and immediately bonds with the equally greasy crayon lines. Water is then wiped onto the remaining unpainted areas to discourage the ink from smearing. A sheet of cotton-based paper is then placed over the entire plate.

The inked metal plate and the paper are placed in a press and light pressure is used to transfer some of the ink. A color Don Freeman lithograph of an elaborate painting, might require several different runs with up to four different color inks -- black, red, yellow and blue. The same paper would be placed precisely over the re-inked plates, eventually creating Don Freeman lithograph copy to his exacting standards.

Don Freeman lithographs probably took just as much time as an original painting and printing runs were kept low to preserve value. A signed lithograph may have a set of numbers expressed as a fraction on one corner, such as 11/24. This means that the lithograph was the eleventh one produced in a series limited to twenty-four prints.

Don Freeman is best known as the author of "Corduroy" and other children's books. 2008 will bring the centenary of his birth. He is also well loved as a graphic artist who vividly portrayed the street life and theater world of New York City in the 1930's and 40's. The Don Freeman lithograph 'Saturday Night' (1934) has to be seen to be believed. It is a New York theatre foyer in winter. It is a crowd diverse characters, with men in hats, scarves and overcoats. Also women in furs with cigarette holders and a charming little Chihuahua in the foreground. It is endlessly fascinating.

Retro T-Shirts - Back to the Seventies

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Have you been to the times when Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson were making millions of people all over the world crazy about them? If not, then you can still feel the retro mood by wearing the retro T-shirts in the retro parties or even on the streets on a normal day. Retro life is still not experienced by many of the youngsters who are always curious to know about the kind of life lived by the people in the sixties and seventies. Retro style is thus becoming a fashion on the streets of all over the world and people don't mind spending dollars for the retro life.

You too can get an experience of the retro life by buying some of the clothing, which are associated to the retro life being lived in the sixties and the seventies. Even, if you are not having a bag of gold coins with you, you can still experience it and can get into the new retro trend by buying few cool retro T-shirts. These T-shirts are loved by everybody who want to receive comments on the trends which they follow and obviously, they are about to become the subject of the compliments by wearing some of the funky T-shirts, which depict the retro lifestyle.

If you are still confused about which kind of retro T-shirts to buy, then there are tones of collections manufactured and designed by different manufacturers on the basis of economy and style. In these collections, you are going to find collections, which are made for the kids, for the adults and for the women. Everybody loves the retro lifestyle and there are many theme parties for the kids based on the retro lifestyle. So, buying the T-shirts for your kids for his parties is not a thing to ignore.

You would still find many people talking about the retro T-shirts as people still love the style of Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson and just can't think of their lives without their styles. Everybody want to have a bit of these collections to put in their wardrobes as these shirts enable people in remembering the time which had memories of many famous pop stars with it. You certainly won't mind looking at the best collections present in the market to fulfil the demands of the people which they make for the purchase of this kind of items.

Buying the retro-T-shirts just for the purpose of remembering the old pop stars who have contributed a lot to the fashion and style of the people of the Americas sounds a pretty good idea. T-shirts have always been the popular among the boys, and they are just going to love wearing them.

Michael Jackson - An Entertainer to the Generations

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Michael Jackson entertained us for most of his life and will forever be remembered as the king of pop. Many believe him to be the greatest entertainer in the history of the world, and he may well have been. Yet he has demonstrated numerous and significant changes since his solo debut over 20 years ago, as much of his life changed during his last two decades.

Constant media coverage, rumors, and criminal accusations followed Jackson for decades. Yet for the most part, Jackson withdrew from mainstream society due to the pressures and shame caused by many accusations that proved to be false. Perhaps the burden of being such a public figure led to both his seclusion and his decline, and his ending was undoubtedly an unfortunate one as a result.

Jackson spent most of his life singing, dancing, and entertaining. Most people who are old enough to remember his solo debut in the 1980's may argue that his best work was produced over 20 years ago. While he is believed to have been working on a new album at the time of his death, expectations for this new album may be lower than they might have been two decades ago.

Was it the music, the shock value, or both, that kept Jackson's fans coming back for more through numerous generations? Fans of his music mourned his death last summer and even critics reflected on the tragedy, all praising the lifetime accomplishments that Jackson remarkably achieved from such a young age.

In a final glimpse of Jackson's talents, "This is It" was recently released on video, marking one last classic Michael Jackson performance for the world to enjoy. In this movie, Jackson's last recorded rehearsal forever commemorates the entertainer, demonstrating that he was dancing and singing until the very end, just days before his passing.

Jackson's performance in the video has been reported as one of his best. Whether to commemorate the king of pop, or simply to watch a phenomenal performance, this video comes highly recommended by fans and critics alike.

With outstanding vocals and awe-inspiring dancing, it is hard to believe that the performer in this movie lived a life of chronic pain and was believed to be very weak. Clearly he gave the performance everything he had.

The natural footage of this movie is rare. Without the usual Hollywood effects, the viewer feels like they are in the audience of the king of pop's last performance. This is a must-see video for all fans.

Top 3 Michael Jackson Costumes For This Year's Halloween

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Aside from his outstanding contribution to pop music industry, one of the remarkable legacies Michael Jackson left before his untimely death is his breathtaking outfits. He had various wardrobes - from the collections he wore on his music videos, concerts and even on a typical day when he faced the public. He had different costumes with a specific story behind it. His costumes are certainly fantastic when worn for this Halloween season.

Are you looking for the best Halloween costume? Then, choose among the top 3 most popular Michael Jackson costumes, namely: The Thriller costume, The Bad Costume and The Billie Jean Costume.

Top 1- Thriller Costume

On his thriller music video, MJ wore a red jacket with an elaborate V-shaped design on the front, as well as two black stripes on each side of the jacket. Matching the red jacket is a red pants, plus a black leather shoes to complete the look. Many people are copying this Michael Jackson's thriller look, most especially since Michael, himself was playing a creepy zombie in this video. With the wig and the zombie make-up, the thriller style is exceedingly appropriate to wear on a Halloween night.

Top 2- Bad Costume

One way to get bold during this season is to wear the Michael Jackson's Bad costume. This costume portrays a grim, gangster Michael. With the bad look- old school and retro, this is a definite way to catch the attention. Be bad with a heavy-chained jacket, black pants and a black shirt. MJ also wore black boots with multiple locks. His bad music video is as popular as his bad outfit!

Top 3- Billie Jean Costume

As famous as the moonwalk, Billie Jean suit was introduced to the whole world by MJ's Billie Jean music video. He sported a glittered jacket, a glittered white socks, black pants and shoes. And yes, his sole trademark- a single sequined white gloves that completed most of his hand gestures. Billie Jean costume was popularly known over the world along his moonwalk and wearing this is a powerful way to relive the king of pop's style.

Now, choose among the top 3 costumes and be the best replica for this year's Halloween. These three outfits were worn by Jackson on his three different music videos. If you are an avid fan, or a regular person who adores Michael Jackson's keen sense of music, you probably know these three videos by heart. You might as well know his moves on these videos. So, why not wear one of these costumes during the Halloween, and perform the famous moonwalk act while trick or treating?

Michael Jackson - The Entertainer

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Remember the Michael Jackson who first shocked us with Thriller? While still undeniably one of the most talented entertainers in history, The Michael Jackson who recently passed away was not quite the same as the one-glove trendsetter we remember.

Jackson secluded himself from most of society, perhaps in part because of the media circus that surrounded him. From the child molestation court case to media rumors surrounding "Jack-O," life in the spotlight took a toll on Jackson and his music.

Back in the 1980's, Jackson was a trailblazer in sequin socks and a single glove. He continued to produce music for decades until his death, with mixed reviews. Some believe another collection was in production at the time of his death.

It's hard not to be curious about an icon like Jackson. Whether for the shock factor or due to sincere admiration of his music, most people couldn't get enough of Jackson. Few can argue that his passing was a tragedy.

Jackson's last recorded performance, a rehearsal for a planned world tour, is not available on the movie "This Is It." which was recently released on video. Fans will be happy to have one last performance given by the king of pop.

Reviews of "This Is It" have been very positive. Even critics of the pop icon have commented that Jackson's performance brought back memories of the more classic Jackson performances of decades past.

Jackson was 50 years old at the time of the video, yet danced like he did 20 years ago. While he was known to have been in a weak physical state, this was not evident in his performance.

An unusual aspect of this movie is its real footage. Because it was merely a recorded performance, the viewer gets the real deal - all the impact without all the effects. Whether you are a fan, a critic, or just a lover of music, you really must see this film.

Death of Michael Jackson - When the Drugs Don't Work

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As the world mourns the tragic death of one of its most stratospheric icons of popular music, questions will remain as to the cause of his demise. Because like so many celebrities who've taken the same road before him, his was life destroyed by a dependence to prescription painkillers - this is a stark reminder of the danger posed by the inappropriate use of drugs.

Should conventional medicine be asking itself - what of the risks certain drugs pose to patients?

Now, I'm not about to launch into an attack on conventional medicine. As it has made massive leaps as far as the treatment and cure of many diseases. But the statistics do stack up. In the last 30 years 40,000 people have died through inappropriately prescribed drugs and medical negligence - compared to only 5 deaths which are attributable to alternative medicine.

Patients routinely submit themselves to the harmful side effects of drugs, and continue to take medication that has little or no impact at all - except to create further symptoms. In many cases patients die from the complications attributable to drugs - not necessarily the original ailment.

And I haven't even mentioned the impact that painkillers, steroids, anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics and anti-depressants have on the immune system and the digestion.

Patients willingly eat bucket loads of pills on a daily basis to cure ailments that are either the result of stress, poor lifestyle choices poor diets.

Rather than fix the root cause of these problems - we are conditioned to use the 'sticking plaster' approach to suppress the symptoms - with drugs.

We can only speculate as to what drugs Michael Jackson was taking, and because they were taken over a long period of time eventually killed him.

For anyone who's suffering right now with extreme stress, there really is only one solution - to treat the underlying cause which usually manifests itself in a number of ways. These are a warning to take good care of yourself, and take a long hard look at your life. Alternative therapies treat the whole person - the totality of the symptoms, or prevents the onset of major problems before they occur.

It's too late for Michael - and as I listen to his music belting out on the radio, maybe we can all learn from this before another person is taken from us far too early. In the words of Barry Gordy "I am shocked beyond belief. How can Michael Jackson not be here?"

Canvas Art Prints to Help Create Style in Your Home

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Canvas art has become increasingly popular over recent years, with canvas art prints easily available to purchase on and off line and at affordable prices, we are now seeing more and more of them being used to decorate homes. Modern styling trends mean that many people are looking for various ways to create a contemporary, funky look so that they can express their personality. People love to include random objects, well designed furniture and other unique items, however one of the main focal points of the rooms is often the print. This is really down to three things, the subject that is displayed on the canvas, the size ( usually rather large which dominates a wall space ) and the depth. As it sits out from the wall on deep wooden frames, a more substantial impact is created than if you were to be presented with a flat image.

Having established that canvas prints can create the focus of a room, then naturally the canvas art needs to be right to generate the atmosphere that you want. We can look at popular trends over the last century, one obvious choice is pop art. Pop art is still common and is often found being produced create on prints today. Retro styles are also fairly ubiquitous, this is arisen from the influence of pop culture and is something that people most certainly like to relate the style of their home to, amongst the younger generation.

Their are many other styles that people like to include in their home and I will be back to discuss other ways you can create the right tone to your home!

Pressurized Hyperbaric Oxygen Chambers a Possible Cure For Insomnia?

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Believe it or not, pressurized hyperbaric oxygen chambers can help in the cure for insomnia. Believe it or not they have got one credible celebrity to endorse it. No other else than Keannu Reeves himself. Yes. You heard it right, Keannu Reeves.

Keannu Reeves started getting hyperbaric oxygen treatments in Beverly Hills according to the National Enquirer. He decided to to try the treatments to get relief from insomnia and he feels that it is working. He has bought a portable chamber to his Hollywood Hills home and sometimes in the movie set to administer the treatment. He even has convinced her co-star in the film Street Kings, Naomi Harris to give it a try.

Hyperbaric chamber treatments first got its attention in the 1980s when Michael Jackson claimed that the treatment would help him live to be 150. He was largely dismissed as a quack for stating such claims, but things have change then. Hypebaric therapy has real medical applications and has already been approved by Medicare as a reimbursable treatment for special conditions including carbon monoxide poisoning and wounds that won't heal.

A large Canadian study that was published in The Lancet in 2001 also revealed that children with cerebral palsy that were treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy and significantly improved compared to children who only had conventional therapies. Studies also have shown that similar improvement have happened for people who have Multiple Sclerosis.

So if you want your insomnia treated and also improve your overall health and other widespread applications, then why not try getting a hyperbaric oxygen treatment. You only get to sit in a large pressurized chamber and breathe oxygen through an oxygen mask in sessions that usually last for an hour. And that's it.

And you don't need to go far to get such treatments because hyperbaric chambers are now available for rent. Single bag hyperbaric chambers only cost $2,000 for one month and double bag hyperbaric chambers are at $2,675. If you want to buy one like Keannu Reeves then you can also do that to. Single bag chambers are priced at $12,900 and double bag chambers at $16,900.

Hyperbaric chambers measure over 34 inches in diameter and 105 inches long. Hyperbaric bag chambers easily fit both adult and child at the same time. It also has got extra long zippers to make entry and exit easier for those who have disabilities.

So, if you want to start sleeping well like Keanuu Reeves and maybe even live longer to 150 years old like Michael Jackson. Then stop hesitating and try other ways to treat your insomnia. Try hyperbaric oxygen treatments. Sweet dreams.

How to Draw Your Favorite Comic Book Characters

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How do you draw comic book characters? This is not a very funny question like you may be thinking. Drawing a comic book character really does not need a lot of explanation. Comics are been around for a long time, and just like bell bottoms they come and they go in popularity. There are a few basic things to know when you decide that you would like to draw comics like some of your favorite comic book authors.

The skill of drawing is of course a major plus. In order to draw a comic book character it does require some artistic skills. Scribbles on paper do not constitute as a proper drawing. So, if you don't feel that you can draw these characters that you may need to take a different approach.

If you don't think you can master the skill of drawing characters overnight. Remember that practice makes perfect. You can not expect to know how to do anything in one day. The first approach to take is to get some tracing paper. Tracing is a great way to develop genuine drawing skills. When you trace something a lot of times when you go back to draw, it's ten times easier. While tracing, pay attention to all the lines that coincide with the character you want to draw. You can also; purchase a book on general drawing this will help you get the technique down.

Get friends and family to join in with you on this new found past time. Remember with practice and determination you can succeed at all you do. Keep a supportive group of people around you while you are learning to draw your own comics. Any negativity can easily drive you off of course. And, do not engulf your life in trying to develop this skill. If comic book drawing is your passion, leave it at that. Do not blow off the people that love you.

OK Magazine

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OK magazine is a huge phenomenon around the world and specializes in celebrity gossip and news. Since launching in April 1993 in the UK, the magazine has over 30 million readers and appears in 19 different countries. Some of these countries include India, Spain, Greece and Bulgaria. The magazine was originally intended to be marketed and sold monthly. Due to its high success in 2006 it was decided to publish it weekly. The magazine also has two other magazines inside it called hot stars and OK USA. You can also read OK online, and follow the magazine with twitter and face book. With more people, using their computers and this type of technology to keep up to date with news and gossip, this was a good step for the magazine to take.

OK Magazine is most well known for its exclusive interviews and weddings. The magazine also is very popular for reporting engagements and pregnancies of the top celebrities. Often the stars will sign exclusive contracts with OK magazine, ensuring they have the gossip and news before any other magazine. Some of the most featured celebrities are Jordan aka Katie Price, Peter Andre, Kerry Katona and the Beckhams, these all feature regularly in the magazine.

The magazine had a policy for many years to only publish positive celebrity profiles. Brittany Spears changed that when her interview with the magazine in 2007 went so badly wrong. Brittany's behavior was classed as so erratic that the magazine decided to break their policy and publish it. OK magazine then went on to interview her mother and sister and were the first magazine to publish the news regarding Jamie Lynn being pregnant. Brittany went onto do a second interview in 2008; she discussed her erratic behavior and said it was all behind her, which lead to a much more positive interview being published.

OK magazine is most famous for its celebrity weddings. Its biggest celebrity weddings to date are, Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas, Victoria and David Beckham and Jordan and Peter Andre. The magazine is also well known for covering more than one wedding on the same day, and has in the past been able to cover and publish up to 3 celebrity weddings in one edition. Jade Goody is the most featured celebrity she did many interviews and photo shoots before her tragic death in 2009. She holds the record for being on the front cover every week during 2009. There were 2 issues following her wedding. The magazine also published editions, with her on the front page for her christening, her tribute special, and one after her death.

The magazine is not without controversy and over the last few years it has pushed the boundaries. It made the decision in 2009 to publish an official tribute edition for Cancer stricken Jade Goody, even though she was still alive. Months later, the magazine did the same thing with Michael Jackson, showing graphic photos of his resuscitation whilst strapped to the hospital trolley. Some readers classed both of these editions as tasteless and unnecessary but the majority still bought the magazine, which means OK published what their readers wanted.

What's Billy Jean All About?

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Billie Jean was a song from the "Thriller" album by Michael Jackson. It is one of the greatest songs ever produced by the legend, earning platinum certification in 1989. In fact, Billie Jean has numerous other accolades to its name which gives it the distinction of being one of the best songs ever made by the king of pop.

The song is quite controversial, to say the least. It has two different meanings to it, one specified by Michael Jackson and the other explained by his biographer, Randy Taraborelli. One of the explanations given by Michael Jackson, is that the song is actually a composite of all the groupies that Michael had met when he was a part of the Jackson 5. It is supposed to signify the horrors he encountered, in terms of random woman claiming to either be carrying his child or already has a child, and he is the father. This apparently led to Michael having nightmares and consequently making this song as a result of it.

The other explanation is the song is about one particularly delirious fan who had continually mailed Michael about her having one of his kids and how he should be ashamed of abandoning his own flesh and blood. In fact, this fan went to great lengths to convince Michael of her authenticity, even sending him a picture of her with her son, along with a gun so that Michael can shoot himself and they can be together in her next life.

However, no one knows for sure what the real story is. Ultimately, the song ended up being one of the biggest singles of all time, and was a part of the reason for the Thriller albums success. In fact, Billie Jean is one of the top songs ever recorded by any artist in the history of pop.

Additionally, Billie Jean is also famous because it is widely acclaimed the video caused a shift in the direction of MTV. It was the first pop video by a black artist to be shown on the channel and happened to be a turning point in the history of television.

Michael Jackson's Billie Jean ensured that African American artists in the future didn't have to go through the kind of hoops that he had to in order to get recognized.    

Could Michael Jackson Have Been Helped by Therapy?

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Michael Jackson must have been under tremendous emotional stress in recent years. He went through a difficult trial. He had a strained relationship with his father. Additionally, being in the spotlight 24/7 can put tension on your emotional state.

News reports imply that Michael may have had some chronic sleep problems. This would not be surprising, given his role of being one of the most famous entertainers in the world. It might be reasonable to expect that his earlier trial gave him some anxiety, as well. That could have also led to some depression. But the world always expected him to "put on a happy face." What a strain that must have been. Strain of any kind can lead to distress. Distress can be followed by difficulty with sleep, mood and ability to cope with life.

There are many ways to deal with strain and cope with problems. Therapy can help any of these issues. However, Michael allegedly had powerful drugs in his house that could be used to alleviate difficulties with sleep or anxiety. Did any of his doctors recommend an evaluation, therapy or appropriate medications instead of dangerous drugs? We may never know. What can we learn from this and other similar tragedies, such as Elvis Presley and Anna Nicole Smith?

We live in a fast paced world. We want quick fixes for difficult problems. Got a headache? Take an aspirin. Can't sleep? Take a sleeping pill. Nervous? Take a Xanax. In reality, maybe therapy, stress management or exercise would be a better solution for all of us.

Many people are so afraid to be labeled as emotionally unstable, temporarily over the edge, or beyond their ability to cope, that it is difficult for them to ask for help. They would rather take a pill. After all, everybody takes pills. There's no shame in that. Therapy is hard work, embarrassing, time consuming and sometimes painful. There's no time, money, or patience for therapy. (What was I thinking?)

We need to find ways to make it OK to seek help from a therapist, psychologist, counselor, or social worker. "While a Quick Fix Pill may suit us in the immediacy of the moment, the long-term fixes (therapy, relaxation exercises, anger management classes, or parenting classes) may serve us best for a lifetime.

Guitar Lessons For Beginners - What Do Michael Jackson, Keith Urban and Creedence Have in Common?

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With the media's focus on visual presentation for music promotion it's easy to understand how somebody learning to play guitar can miss the important clues in learning how to play quickly and easily.

Today's music buying public tend to "listen with their eyes"; if you want to learn guitar fast you need to develop your ability to focus on the audio and develop your musical perception skills.

Learning how to bypass the visual presentation and quickly notice the similarities in the music is an essential skill for the advancing guitarist.

Whilst the majority of guitarists will be either confused or discouraged with the information they are learning from TAB or sheet music you will be able to mentally pigeon-hole songs as you hear them; making it a breeze to remember and instantly recall songs.

To illustrate my point, here are three songs that on the surface all appear to be different; different artists, different music styles... ever different video clips!

But... dig a little deeper and you will discover they are all based on the blues; the same blues chord progression, even the same key, how's that for high speed memorization? Three songs in an instant; just add guitar!

Here we go:

Michael Jackson's - Black or White

E /// | E /// | E /// | E /// |

A /// | A /// | E /// | E /// |

B7/// | A /// | E /// | E /// ||

Keith Urban's - Somebody like You

E /// | E /// | E /// | E /// |

A /// | A /// | E /// | E /// |

B7/// | A /// | E /// | E /// ||

Creedence Clearwater Revival - The Night Time is the Right Time

E /// | E /// | E /// | E /// |

A /// | A /// | E /// | E /// |

B7/// | A /// | E /// | E /// ||

One of the biggest issues to overcome is how music is often stereotyped by the music marketing people in an effort to create soaring sales. When you think of the blues what visual image comes into your head? For many it's some smokey bar in New Orleans or a Jazz band playing in a nightclub in New York.

The last thing that would cross many guitarist's mind would be how the blues could have an influence on a pop or country song, but as you can see the blues is a universal language that can speak to all audiences and age groups.

Sometimes the newbie guitarist does not notice the similarities because a song is preformed in a different key.

Ray Charles plays "The Night Time is the Right Time" in the key of Eb.

Ray Charles - The Night Time is the Right Time

Eb /// | Eb /// | Eb /// | Eb /// |

Ab /// | Ab /// | Eb /// | Eb /// |

Bb7/// | Ab /// | Eb /// | Eb /// ||

Can you see the similarities? Would you have noticed that?

There are thousands of other songs that use exactly the same blues chord progressions and even more songs will be added to the list over time as songwriters continue to utilize this proven musical form.

Keep your ears wide open and you will have much more fun playing the guitar.

An EFL Teaching and Learning Tribute to Michael Jackson - Musical Genius

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Michael Jackson's Sudden Death a Shock

The sudden death of Michael Jackson has been a shock to almost everyone. Tributes and condolences to the family have poured in from around the globe from the White House to the Vatican. Few performers have touched so many from so many walks of life and so many countries, languages and cultures. His presence will surely be missed.

His legacy though, will live on. His contributions to the field of entertainment are profound, affecting global cultures and age groups from youth to the elderly. Many English language learners remember several of his many songs. These can continue to be useful in EFL language practice at any level of language learning. Students will be especially attracted to his songs now with their increased available and accessibility. Learners worldwide can also recall seeing a concert or televised special in many cases too. Likely a number of your EFL or foreign language learners have his songs and albums on CDs.

Perhaps even you have special memories or anecdotes you can relate of one of the world's most well-known and at times, controversial entertainers.

Try asking your learners to talk about:

What is your favorite Michael Jackson song?

Mine are "Never Can Say Goodbye" and "ABC" from the Jackson Five's earlier years.

Which Michael Jackson is your favorite album?

Why "Bad", of course, for me. Yes, "Thriller" is excellent, but not my favorite.

Do you have a favorite Michael Jackson music video?

For me, "Remember the Time" gets the vote. The music video "Black and White" also gets a hearty vote from me with its introduction of "image morphing". Sometimes I used "The Way You Make Me Feel" in classes too.

Making Practical Use of Music by Michael Jackson

Don't pass up the chance to play a few of your learners' favorite Michael Jackson songs in class, but don't "veg-out" at just that. Do some of these exercise or activity types to add increased language learning and practice value to the songs:

o re-ordering activities

o cloze exercises or whip up

o some short, quick, true-or-false exercises based on the song lyrics

o why not stage a "performance" or presentation competition?

It's almost certain that I'll offer my EFL classes the opportunity to incorporate one or more of Michael Jackson's hits into a couple of language learning lessons or so. The English as a foreign language learners might also choose to:

o write an essay related to his music or his life

o try a "Concentration"-type series of class room activities

o demonstrate songs or videos as a short "performance"

Michael Jackson Will Continue to Live on in Our Hearts and Minds

Certainly, many of us will miss this great entertainer's contributions to the industry, but he will continue to live on in our hearts, minds and ears as we continue to enjoy his many musical creations. Musical entertainment genius Michael Jackson will undoubtedly continue to live on in our hearts and minds for many years to come.

How about you? How will you incorporate the legacy of this great performer into your EFL teaching and learning scenarios?

Numerology's Life Path (6); the Path of the Teacher

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Ever meet someone who is utterly loyal, takes responsibility for any task they take on in life, and worries too mush about trivial things? Chances are, they are part of the 11% percent of the population living on Life Path (6) the Path of the Teacher. These individuals have birthdays which when summed, and then reduced by Fadic addition give us a (6) result.

(For example George W Bush, born July 6th, 1946 ; 7 + 6 + 1946 = 1959 = 24 = 6)

Note that your Life Path is Numerology's equivalent to your Sun Sign in Astrology; telling us what the primary factors are in shaping your Destiny.

Talents and Abilities

Teachers primary goal in life is to teach responsibility and order to people, usually by the example of how they live their lives. These people require harmony and balance in their lives, and will literally flee from chaos and aggressive behavior. They appreciate beauty in all its forms, particularly in their own surroundings. They feel at ease working with a partner or in teams. They are also trustworthy, loyal, and maintain friendships for life.

Teachers tend to have more than their fair share of responsibilities in their life. They love justice and fair play, and are likely to root for the underdog in every situation. Their home life is very important to them, particularly their personal living space. They crave peace in their homes, and feel frustrated and unbalanced when deprived of this peace. They have a strong spirit of creativity, and a love of arts of all kinds. Words, both spoken and written, come easily to them as a rule.

Problem Areas for Teachers

Teachers have a tendency to meddle in their friends lives that gets them in trouble. Obesity and over-eating tends to plague their lives. They often lack empathy for others who don't share their traits. They also tend to worry too much over trivial matters.

Famous Life Path (6) Teachers

Famous people with this Life Path include: Ben Affleck, Jessica Alba, Victoria Beckham, Jason Biggs, Clint Black, Matthew Broderick, Mel Brooks, George W Bush, Michael Caine, Neve Campbell, Drew Carey, Paula Cole, Francis Ford Coppola, Claire Danes, Robert DeNiro, Melissa Etheridge, Calista Flockhart, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Kathie Lee Gifford, Geri Halliwell, Goldie Hawn, Salma Hayek, Jon Heder, Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Stephen King, Greg Kinnear, Ted Koppel, Heather Locklear, Lindsay Lohan, Elle Macpherson, Bill Maher, Frances McDormand, Reba McEntire, Eddie Murphy, Edward Norton, Rosie ODonnell, Bill Paxton, Bonnie Raitt, Jane Seymour, Sinbad, Christian Slater, Mira Sorvino, Sylvester Stallone, Meryl Streep, John Tesh, Ted Turner, Steven Tyler, and Bruce Willis.

The Magic of Michael Jackson

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The Magic of Michael Jackson comes alive again through the words of poets who wanted the world to see what they thought of the man. These poets are extremely versatile and well known writers of this era. They came to call, from all over the world, when Patricia Ann Farnsworth - Simpson asked for tribute poems for Michael Jackson when it was heard that Michael had died.

The caring natures of the poets involved took action. Poems were written about Michael Jackson's impact on the world by writer from one end of the globe to the other.
 
The love for Michael's singing, dancing, general entertainment value and his humanitarian gestures are all well stated throughout the book. Also, Michael's past and problems in life are shown in poetic words.
 
A book was released the day of Michael Jackson's Memorial Service. Now, how can one possibly get a book into publication on such short notice? I guess it was by sheer determination, of course. This is quite an accomplishment for Patricia Ann, a woman who put in countless hours into this project.
 
I know for fact that the book was sent to the Jackson family in hopes that it would be comforting to them. Michael's fan-club was appreciative. They displayed the book with respect.  The fans of Michael were told to watch he video that went along as promotion for the book. It was watched because picture of Michael Jackson were used to highlight his career.
 
Who can dispute the man's career? It was successful in so many ways. It brought cultures together. It brought music lovers to adore a man who danced and sang. He gave us a legend that brought music videos into a new perspective for all.
 
Not everyone loved his lifestyle. I defend him because not all of us had to grow up in the limelight. We did not all have a father that is described my Michael in some bad light.

We cannot judge a man's life. We do not have that right. We can ask questions to why his world became so misunderstood. We can try to influence the legal system to inquire and take action against those who obliged a man who was desperate for peace of mind. I hope Michael Jackson's death as not in vain. Many need to debate why so many music and Hollywood icons die so young.

Learning From the Eulogies of Michael Jackson

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A eulogy is a speech or writing in praise of a person (American Century Dictionary), and many were delivered at the funeral of Michael Jackson which was held in Staples Center of Los Angeles. The devotion to the superstar was seen in all aspects of the memorial beginning with the elegance of his golden casket carried by his brothers who wore white shiny gloves and sunglasses. Such scenes reminded the audience of the usual appearance of the king of pop in life.

Most importantly, millions of fans affirm that it's from the eulogies delivered for the singer's memorial service that they learned more about the Michael Jackson they still adore. Tribute given by family and close friends understandably differs from the praise for him expressed by fans, yet all was needed to paint a picture of just how the artist was idolized.

Marlon Jackson, an older brother of Michael, spoke for himself and for his brother's followers when he said, "A part of you will live in all of us forever. Thank you for the smiles you caused in the hearts of so many people and for all that you did. I love you Michael and I miss you." Memories are all that's left for Jackson's friends, family and fans, but future generations who can never know him in the way the present one does, will learn from these eulogies and of the affect he had on so many lives. This is why memorial services and the eulogies pronounced in them are so important. They are a way of allowing the deceased one to live on in memory.

It's interesting that Hollywood veteran actress, Elizabeth Taylor, didn't attend the public funeral that she saw as a "circus". Nevertheless, much is learned from her simple statement, "I don't want to be a part of that. I loved him too much." While flowers, sympathy cards, and an expensive casket do tell something of what life the deceased may have led, only eulogies offer a glimpse into the unknown areas of his existence. The friendships he made, the influence he had over others, and the influence he has left behind, all are made clear in the delivery of eulogies. In summary, much is not only learned about Michael Jackson from listening to the eulogies delivered at his funeral, but also about the importance of giving a tribute to a loved one. This is exactly what fans around the world have done to sum up a large portion of Jackson's life, music, charisma, and charm. Read more about Michael Jackson's Funeral.

"Eulogy." The American Century Dictionary. 2nd ed. 1997.

Randy Jackson America's Best Dance Crew Season 1

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The Randy Jackson's America's Best Dance Crew, the hottest dancing competition in US, has declared its winner. Among the 12 competing crews, the JabbaWockeez crew emerged as the victorious group as they crushed Status Quo with their remarkable performance on the finale. The JabbaWockeeZ's members were Jeff Nguyen aka "Phi", 26, from Phoenix AZ; Ryan Shawn Paguio, 26, from San Diego, CA; Ben Chung aka B-Tek, 26, from Mission Hills, CA; Kevin Brewer, 31, from Sacrament, CA; Phil Tayag, 23, also from Sacramento, CA; and Chris Gatdula, 26, from Las Vegas, NV.

The two groups fought their last battle onstage, but still, the JabbaWockeeZ seemed to steal the heart of Americans when millions of their votes declared the group as the ultimate champion. Status Quo's members who are Joshua Green, 20; Ernest Phillips, 21, Jayjion Greer aka "Jin Lao", 18; Jamal Weaver, 20; and Dwayne Hines, 18 (all from Boston, MA) did not lose in vain. They had served one of the best performances in the history of dance competitions in the US.

During episode 7, the three remaining crews which are the JabbaWockeez, Status Quo, and the Kaba Modern had competed and gave their best moves. Status Quo performed the first act. The judges were impressed by the group's amazing stunts, but failed to make an impression with their lackluster choreography.

Episode 6 showed one of the most exhilarating performances on the show. The four remaining crews fought their way up from the dance floor and were required to perform hip hop dances with a mixture of Traditional Broadway acts. The most remarkable performance was done by Status Quo as they showed off their own version of "Hairspray."

The competing crews performed Michael Jackson's "Thriller" in Episode 5. This was done in honor of the artist that has become legendary with his dancing prowess and also to celebrate his album's twenty-fifth anniversary. "Thriller" sold over 45 million worldwide, and it is considered as one of the biggest selling albums of all time.

During Episode 4, the crews were made to dance while portraying their own characters based on movies. The audience and the judges were awed by the amazing performances they had witnessed.

During Episode 3, the crews were made to perform popular dances that possessed remarkable stunts.

The eight remaining crews, during Episode 2, were made to perform an act that is based on popular music video. They must have a unique interpretation that still jives with the video. The competition started with 12 groups (consisting of six members) showing off their hottest moves, they were: Full Out, The Movements, Automatic Response, Enigma Dance Crew, Femme 5, Iconic, Live in Color, Fysh n Chicks, BreakSk8, Kaba Modern, Status Quo, and the JabbaWockeeZ.

The show creator, Randy Jackson, has been in the music industry for more than twenty years. This music veteran and Grammy Award winning producer has started his career as a bass guitar player when he was just 13 years old. He got his big break when he joined the famous band Journey.

The first judge was JC Chavez who started his career as a member of a Mickey Mouse Club. He is also a former of a now disbanded NSync. Shayne Sparks, who is also a judge, is a professional dancer who was known for his jaw-dropping performance every time he was onstage. Lil' Mama, another judge of this popular dance competition show, is an hip hop artist who got her big break when her Lip Gloss hit the radio waves in 2007.

The show was hosted by Mario Lopez, Layla Kaleigh, and DJ Rashida. MTV is giving opportunity to people to show off their grooviest moves and style. If you are interested to join, create a profile and start uploading your videos. Just go to http://dance.mtv.com/ for further details. The casting for America's Best Dance Crew Season 2 is now ongoing.