Sunday, February 28, 2010

Androgenetic Alopecia

Androgenetic alopecia a.k.a. male pattern baldness is the most common cause of hair loss among men and women. The only difference lies in the pattern of hair loss. The condition is called male pattern baldness in the case of men, and female pattern baldness in the case of women. This is androgenetic alopecia definition in a nutshell.


Male and female pattern hair loss

In men, androgenetic alopecia causes hair loss in a well-defined pattern. The process starts above both the temples. Gradually the hairline recedes to form a characteristic “M” shape. Hair loss is also witnessed at the crown (near the head top), often resulting in either partial or complete baldness.

In the case of hair loss in women hair becomes thinner all over the head. However, the hairline does not recede. Total baldness caused by the disease among women is rare.


Causes of male androgenetic alopecia?


Androgen can be called the root cause of male androgenetic alopecia. It is a generic term referring to any natural or synthetic compound (usually a steroid hormone) stimulating or controlling the development and maintenance of masculine characteristics in vertebrates by binding to androgen receptors. The latter is an intracellular steroid receptor specifically binding the two types of androgens - testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

This receptor binding allows the androgens to stimulate and regulate the development and maintenance of masculine characteristics in vertebrates. Male androgenetic alopecia is caused by androgenetic function and androgen receptors are at the centre of androgenetic functions.

Genetic factors in androgenetic alopecia

Androgenetic alopecia is influenced by genetic factors. People with a strong predisposition to the disease start balding in their teens. Those with a weak predisposition may start balding in their 60s or 70s.

Less than 15 per cent of men have little or no baldness by the age of 70. As per research, several genes that one inherits from both of his parents play a role in this disease. Paternal hair loss reportedly correlates with alopecia possibility in sons. On the other hand, androgen receptors (AR) - that can correlate with baldness - are X chromosome linked.

Saturday, February 27, 2010

An Overview...Originals and Limited Editions

Art collectors have long had the choice of purchasing art on paper or art on canvas. The paper art included original works such as watercolors, pastels, pencil or ink drawings, lithos, serigraphs and etchings....and limited editions reproduced photomechanically from originals.

Canvases were usually original (and costly) works of art. But now, the growing popularity and availability of limited editions on canvas give collectors “the original look” at affordable prices.

So what are limited edition canvases and how are they produced?

There are several ways of producing canvas limited editions such as the once popular “canvas transfers,” made by fusing the top layer of a paper print onto a prepared canvas surface. The result was an image that appeared as you might expect it to — like a paper print fused to a piece of canvas. Often, to make the print look “original,” the artist (or a technician) added textured varnish or paint to the print surface.

Today's state of the art reproductive technique is the giclée (jhee-clay) method in which high-tech printing equipment sprays millions of digitally-matched ink droplets per second onto a surface. Canvas, paper and archival board are the most common giclée surfaces.

Developed some ten years ago, the giclée has now become the “gold standard” — an important and permanent part of the limited edition world.

This spectacular blend of technology and fine art looks so much like the original work of art that even astute collectors do “double-takes.” Therefore, buyers should be aware that not all “original appearing” works of art are original.

The giclée (unless printed on paper) is meant to be enjoyed without glass, so nothing comes between you and your art.

Friday, February 26, 2010

An Look Inside The Karaoke Machine

The 'Karaoke' is a very popular form of entertainment. The Karaoke allows the singer to sing along with the favorite recorded soundtracks. The origin of the word 'Karaoke' is from Japan which means 'empty orchestra' or 'virtual orchestra'. Now a day Karaoke machines are widely used as an alternative playback device in films and even in computers and mobile phones.

Overview of Karaoke Machine

A Karaoke Machine is built-in with karaoke player, amplifier, speakers, and often a TV monitor. The karaoke player is generally a CD or DVD player that comes with various added function of graphics output. The Karaoke Player allows playing 'Karaoke' which further is needed to get connected to other karaoke equipments such as a TV monitor, sound system, etc. in order to function. The Karaoke Players generally come in two types i.e. portable and component style.

The portable Karaoke Player is basically an all-in-one system which is very easy to operate. The portable Karaoke systems which are great home entertainer are mainly used at home parties and at small entertainment venues. These systems generally consist of a CD player, a microphone, a pitch and echo controller and external speakers with built in amplifiers.

Other than the portable Karaoke Machine these players also come in component style. The Component Karaoke systems are similar in size and function to that of portable systems but have several additional features. The component players are basically multi disc systems. These systems have several microphone inputs with separate volume controls for each microphone. The component Karaoke systems do not have any speaker or amplifier. Therefore these systems are usually connected to either home or any professional sound systems.

The Technology behind the Karaoke Machine

A standard Karaoke generally consists of an audio input and an audio output and act as an audio mixers. In a Karaoke Machine regular songs can be fed into the machine and the voice of the original singer can be suppressed. Sometimes karaoke machine uses a special type of compact disc which has graphics capability and this disc is popularly known as CD+G disc. The CD+G players are generally used to display the lyrics and pictures on the screen along with the music, while both audio and video are displayed in the other formats of karaoke. With the help of different technologies the karaoke machines are capable changing electronically the pitch of the music. This technology helps the amateur singers to sing along with any music source most appropriate to their vocal ranges.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

An Introduction To Free Online Games

The world of online games is vast world, with games to suit nearly every taste. Everyone from a scholar to a wannabe fighter pilot can find a game that suits their tastes. In this article, I'll give super short reviews of a few free online games.

Jezzball
Jezzball is available on several websites in Java. In Jezzball, you have a square box with balls bouncing around in it. You must corner the balls without them hitting and breaking your partially formed walls. It is a very simple game, but it can be addicting.

Bomber Bob
This is a very simple war game. You are a fighter aitplane, and you must shoot down scores of enemy planes before they sink your ship, and without being shot down yourself. This game is a flash game.

Literati
This is Yahoo's free version of Scrabble. It is scored slightly differently, but overall, it is nearly identical. Literati is Java based and requires a free Yahoo ID.

Diesel and Death
This is another flash game. This one is a dirt bike racing game. Very simple, but entertaining. You race against a computer controlled bike.

Helicopter Game
In this simple yet very challenging game, you must use one button on your mouse to navigate your helicopter through the cave without crashing it. The cave is complete with obstacles, drops and climbs. Wow. This game could be very addictive! Game is built with flash.

Curve Ball
This is an adapted ping pong ball game. You are in a square tunnel with a computer controlled opponent at the other end. The key is to get the ball to bounce or curve, and get past your opponent.

Overkill Apache
Similar to Bomber Bob, but this time you're flying an Apache helicopter over the desert. Your enemies come from all directions, too! Some good simple fun, though the game needs more controls.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

An Education In The Arts

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

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

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

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

1. Express Yourself

Art is by far one of the most rewarding careers because, unlike a career in the sciences or a trade, it allows you to express your creativity. And no two days are the same. The power to captivate and inspire is also very rewarding. Hasn’t the Mona Lisa drawn its share of oohs and aahs? And hasn’t many a tear been shed at the beautiful works of art around the world? Man has always expressed his deepest thoughts and desires in a tangible form. This form is Art.

Industries need artists who have had a good education in Art. Creating labels, stickers, and advertisements for their products isn’t easy. These things require plenty of thought and design. Every detail has been considered to make its effect on the consumer optimal. Have you ever been interested in a product simply because of the packaging? This is art at work.

2. Art Is Everywhere

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

3. Who Should Study Art?

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

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

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

5. The Rewards Of An Art Education

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

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

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

American Rock In Its Purest Form - Melissa Etheridge On Stage

Melissa Etheridge has long been known as an artist who produces music that fits the core of what many consider “American Rock and Roll.” Her style combines folk, blues, rock and roll and searing guitar melodies that cut to the soul. Her wide-ranging style has captured the hearts and ears of millions of fans, and Etheridge is returning to the stage in the summer of 2006. A look at her life will at least partially explain how her style came to be.

Early Life

Etheridge was born in Leavenworth, Kansas on May 29, 1961. She almost immediately became involved with music, as she learned to play the guitar at the age of eight and began writing music shortly thereafter. She played in a series of local bands through her teen-age years and was accepted into the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston after high school.

Etheridge stayed at Berklee for only one year, and she dropped out to play in and around Boston for a time before making her way to Southern California in the early 1980’s. She spent her time producing demo tapes, and was discovered by Bill Leopold, who got her steady work at a series of gigs in the Los Angeles area.

Career Highlights

Etheridge’s regular performances at the Executive Suite in Long Beach got her noticed by record companies, and her talent led to a bidding war between A&M, Capitol, EMI, and Warner Bros. Etheridge ultimately decided to sign with Island Records, and she immediately began producing albums.

Her first studio work, entitled Melissa Etheridge, went multi-platinum, and four singles released from this work climbed into the Billboard charts. Her second release, Brave and Crazy, got as high as number 22 on the album charts and had three singles earn spots in the Billboard charts.

Since then, Etheridge has released seven subsequent albums, with two more, Yes I Am in 1993 and Your Little Secret in 1995 going multi-platinum. In all, Etheridge’s albums have sold over 27 million copies worldwide, and her music is as recognizable as any artist in her era.

Personal Causes

Etheridge is only slightly-less known for her personal causes as she is for her music. Perhaps her most famous “cause” was her courageous decision to reveal her homosexuality during President Clinton’s inauguration ceremonies in 1993. Since then, she has been an avid supporter for gay rights, and is as recognizable as any star for this cause in the world.

Etheridge has also performed for countless benefits, including such causes as Hurricane Katrina relief, the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. Etheridge is widely known for giving her time, money, talents and platform as a star to bring attention to the causes in which she believes, no matter how controversial.

This bravery has only enhanced her standing with her fans and music lovers alike, and it speaks to the nature of her musical style - honest, open, heartfelt and sincere. She will no doubt continue to perform for her causes, and she is sure to bring a crowd wherever she appears.

Monday, February 22, 2010

All American Modern Art For Home And Garden Weathervanes

Learning to appreciate and admire our own culture is sometimes a tad bit overlooked by most, as is the essence of a weather vane. Life among the garden plants, vases, flowers, trees and birds at home sometimes also goes overlooked by those who are too busy to remember how far we have come as a civilization. Weathervanes are like instant memories. With some weathervane the sound of changing wind will be an immediate reminder of our culture and heritage, with others the mere sight will invoke past experiences and pleasant memories. Art can change society if it wants to or even bring inspiration and insight. The most traditional of American modern arts in the home and garden, is the weather vane. From the oldest documented colonial weathervane of Deacon Shem Drowne in the 18th century with his most famous Grasshopper weathervane that sits upon Faneuil Hall in Boston to the present day, weathervane sculptures have shaped American modern art.

Weathervane and American Modern Art

When we think of American modern art, most people tend to think of paintings and sculptures that sit in galleries and art museums. Weathervane are some of the most traditional works of American sculpture art because they have told the direction of the wind on the tops of houses, fences and barns for hundreds of years and represented important elements in our history. They are made by hand and no two can be exactly the same. Each weather vane is in and of itself a work of human expression, crafted by the hands of an artesian who takes their work seriously and with great passion. Old North Church (1740, Boston), First Church in Cambridge (1721), Province House (1716, Boston), Goddess of Liberty, the Federal Eagle and many famous race horses have all been immortalized by the sculpture of weathervane and banners upon the highest tops.

Weathervane Give The Direction of The Wind and Feed Imagination.

The compass rose is held firmly on a weather vane and will always show the direction of north. The weather vane itself will always point in the direction from which the wind originates. The movement of wind and air is physically the disbursing of energy that has picked up speed and travels through the sky abiding the laws of the cosmos. Indicating in a subtle way, what the skies are about to do. Wind may normally tend to stand idle without a weather vane, but it is always doing something, even if it is absent. Metalworkers and historians alike have been enchanted by the fascinating beauty of weathervane and those delicate “cathartic” moments they captivate in our hearts. Curving and spinning like a dancer, the weather vane fuels our human imagination with its beauty and becomes our link to the sky.

Art In Home and Garden Inspires Peace and Contemplation

This deep and intricate realm of American modern art can be most appreciated in the delicate things. Home and Garden is a place where that kind of traditional hand made art restores the splendor of the subtle and peaceful. “Home is where the heart is.” And through the art of weathervane our expressions of self and family become most attuned to the sky, wind and land that we call home. The weather vane inspires peace and contemplation wherever it stands. Mythical creatures, farm animals, creatures of the sea, sailboats, airplanes, national prides; creative works of an artistic imagination that follow the moving patterns of the wind, a wind that only sleeps at the calm of the storm. And in those moments the weather vane asks a question, where is the wind?

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Alan Jackson Concert Details

Alan Jackson born on October 17, 1958 is an American country music singer and songwriter. He is the one of the best-selling country musicians of the 1990s and has sold over 40 million albums with 30 number 1 hits.
Jackson is originally from Newnan, Georgia. He previously worked in The Nashville Network's mailroom. Jackson's wife Denise got him connected to Glen Campbell, who helped him jumpstart his career.

His first album, 1990's Here in the Real World, was a major hit, as was his second (1991) album, Don't Rock the Jukebox. His 1992 release, A Lot About Livin' (And a Little 'Bout Love) was a smash success, spawning five major singles with "Chattahoochee" being the most enduring and successful. After a few more hit albums, Jackson again rocketed to fame with "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)," a song about the September 11, 2001 attacks, which became a hit single and briefly propelled him into the mainstream spotlight; the song was even the subject of parody on the popular animated series South Park, in the episode "A Ladder To Heaven".

Although Jackson has been characterized as a "hat act", his influences go deep into the roots of country music and his songs have been recorded by some of the greats like Charley Pride, who recorded "Here In The Real World". He has sung with George Jones on the award-winning "I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair" and "A Good Year for the Roses." His sense of humor comes through in "Gone Country" with the satirical description of the wannabes who cynically jumped on the country music bandwagon in the 1990s: "Everybody's gone country/Yeah we've gone country/The whole world's gone country." He has been credited for popularizing a Neotraditional Country sound.

Alan's band is named the Stray Horns.
Some of Alan Jackson Albums are :
• Drive (2002)
• Let It Be Christmas (2002)
• Greatest Hits Volume II And Some Other Stuff (2003)
• What I Do (2004)
• Precious Memories (2006)
• and many more
He has received many awards like :
• Grammy sward for Best Country Song "Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)" 2002
• Entertainer of the Year 1995
• All time winner: Single of the Year 2005
• Album of the Year, Common Threads: The Songs of the Eagles 1994
• and many more

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Senior Ticked For Walking Too Slow; Others Try Roller Skates

An 82-year-old woman was recently issued a ticket in California for crossing a street too slowly. A police officer, who arrived on a motorcycle, told her she was obstructing traffic – and issued her a summons for $114. Responding to the uproar caused by the curious traffic ticket, the municipality has begun to wonder if it should work out ways to help seniors cross streets without fear of incurring a penalty. It is, of course, much too optimistic to hope that the municipality and the nation at large will speed to their rescue with such startling innovations as walk signs that last longer. As a result, seniors, alarmed by the pricy citation, particularly those who are living on social security, are taking steps of their own, as they frantically search for ways to hurry along. Of course, electric wheelchairs have long been an option. But many simply don’t see themselves in the undeniably helpful items, at least, not until they encounter accidents due to the other resources they’ve been turning to, for instance, roller skates. We also understand that bicycles have been selling briskly, particularly near retirement communities. Of course, those who are fortunate enough to live with more able partners have the luxury of looking into other options, such as little red wagons and, in rural areas, wheelbarrows. In a nutshell, seniors are turning to every possible mode of expedition they can think of, which generally means they’re equipped with the age-old facilitation of wheels. While these alternative modes of transportation might offer suitable answers during balmier times, there is some concern about what to do when snow and ice cover the ground. Among the more daring sorts, there is talk of skis, while others are considering ice skates. Until then, we can at least be glad that the dear recipient of the instigating ticket was not also issued points. Enough of those, and she’d have to be concerned about losing her walking license.

Airline reservation flight ticket booking services – Making Vacation Less Costly


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Friday, February 19, 2010

Affordable car finance from personal car loan!

Always wondered where you could find affordable car loan even in the absence of collateral. Set right go, on a four-wheeler of your choice.

You have a dream and secured personal car loan have affordable loans to fulfill it. Grab on the right opportunity to drive your sports car home. Before deciding on any car loan consider the various options available to you. There is a variety of car loan options to choose from.
Secured personal car loan
Lease out or hire a car
Unsecured car loan
Used car loan
A tenant or a homeowner, good or bad credits, collateral pledged or not, you still qualify for car loans of your choice. No lender will restrict you on the car dealer you choose the car from.
A security attached to a loan reduces the risk faced by a lender. It is this factor that compels the lender to offer you car loans at a lower APR. On the other hand an unsecured car loan is made instantly with no collateral pledged. But the rates are not the same as in the case of secured car loan.
The choice is open to you. Based on your convenience and availability of collateral you can either opt for a secured one or an unsecured car loan uk. At the same time, don’t feel bogged down looking at the lower rates for secured car loan and you have no collateral to pledge. As lenders have an option of offering you a car loan based on your car itself. You don’t really have to have a home, property or any additional collateral. Your car purchased by it self holds good. Isn’t it cool…..
Your collateral pledged reflects favourably on your car loan rate!

Look at how these factors affect your car loan rate. With a huge car loan size your interest rates will be reduced, with a positive credit score and equity value you surely have a better chance of winning a cheaper car loan. Whatever be the case, your bad credit will not handicap you from opting out for a car loan.

Finance a new car, or an old one, hire it or lease it out, the choice is yours. Key factors that contribute to your car loan rates are your car brand, as it obviously affects the loan size, repayment period, credit record and your collateral are the other factors.

Do not forget to get a payment protection cover for your loan repayments made. Get protected in case of any inevitable events.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Proof Tax Laws Faulty: 9 Out Of 10 Americans Set To Declare Bankruptcy

As the distribution of wealth in America becomes increasingly skewed toward the wealthiest 7% or so of the population, where we find more and more resplendently bedecked billionaires, the income of the other 93% of the populace continues to go the way of wealthiest. The growing destitution of this significant segment of the population has now become so acute that the majority of Americans are all set to declare bankruptcy. Appropriately concerned, since we remember the Aristotelian analysis that the stability of a state depends on a the middle class – in case ancient sage’s segmentation has dropped out of the back of your mental file cabinet, he avers, it turns out a bit too generally, that the poor have no material stake in the society and the wealthy are too taken up with whooping it up – we ask, why is it ever more possible for the few to accumulate billions, while the many grow more insolvent? There is, of course, the much reverenced idea that the race is to the quick and we’re lucky to have the energetic entrepreneurs, CEO’s, and various early adapters and assorted scammers, because, in the process of accumulating their wealth, they do throw off some shekels for the needy multitude. Yet one does still persistently wonder about the current upward drift of pay dirt. As a result of our cursory demographic analysis of the distribution of assets and debt, we arrive at the conclusion that the tax code is evidently flawed. If every billionaire who’s gleefully accumulating his or her way to the status of multibillionaire was also required, while clenching legally onto some few billions as a just reward for expertise of one sort or another, to pay billions in taxes, the government would be well-enough provided for without taking a pair of Draco’s shears to the transparently taxable paycheck of the average Joe or Jan. Further evidence of that the tax code is not proportionate to the ability to earn is, while someone who earns billions makes headlines, if even anybody ever paid billions in taxes, he or she would make history. In conclusion, it’s time to set up the tax laws so the quick who earn their billions will pay proportionate billions and the beleaguered average wage earners can step back from the brink of bankruptcy. The revision requires little change in lifestyle at the high end and presents rejuvenating rewards to the middling low end. After all, what is the difference between the life a person can have with a mere billion or so to fling around or keep under the floorboards compared with the one he or she can have with many more billions? On the other hand, there is quite a sumptuous difference between how one can live when he or she is making the usual $40,000 to $50,000 a year while their much revered but feared Uncle Sam is standing by with his big hand at the ready for a scoop of what is, in today’s calculation of monetary splendor, hardly more than necessitous chump change.

Affiliate Marketing, 6 tips for online marketing

So, you are thinking about marketing on line, good idea.
The easiest and most profitable way to start is Affiliate Programs.
If you are willing to put a good bit of easy work into affiliate
programs you can make a comfortable living. You will not need a
college degree or anything like that.  All you need is a willing
mind.  The main road to success are focused dedication and a lot of
enthusiasm.
.
1. Affiliate programs may be the easiest online business to start
running. although it doesn't’t hurt to do some study so that you can
learn from other people's mistakes rather than go through them
yourself. In addition, you are likely to pick up ideas that you
wouldn't have come up with yourself. There are numerous training
products with great strategies to adopt.  One of the best ways to do
this is look at what people who have used the courses are saying in
some of the popular Internet marketing forums.

2. These programs are a great way to get started in an online
business. There are some 'Super Affiliates' who are making fabulous
incomes from these programs. Affiliate programs allow you to sell
another company's service or product and make a commission on every
sale or lead. You don't even need to build a web site or handle the
transaction. Your job is to drive traffic to your affiliate link.

3. An affiliate link is a special URL code that will identify
customers coming to the company's site from your advertising. It will
be the web site address with a code attached to the end. Some programs also have tiers. That means if someone who is interested in selling the product comes through your link and signs up you will also get a small percentage of their earnings.

4. To choose a program You should research the popularity of some of
your interests. Try to determine if people are buying that product or
service online. There are many sources for finding that information
including free ones, such as the Overture keyword tool.
When you have found an area that is popular then type the subject
along with 'affiliate program' into your search engine and see which
programs have services or products for that area. You can also use an
affiliate program directory.

5. After founding  a program that looks good you should check  the
terms of the program. Make sure that pay outs are not based on a high
commission earning or you may never see your money. Also try to
choose programs with high commission rates. Often you will find
ebooks and downloadable software has the highest rates as there is no
physical product to make or ship. If you are satisfied with the terms
then you need to sign up.

6. The reason affiliate programs are so great for beginners is that
you only need to focus on marketing. Many affiliate programs have
information on how to market and give you tools such as banners,
product feeds and more. You can also look for other information on
marketing including writing articles, creating pay-per-click
campaigns, commenting in online forums etc. As you gain experience
marketing you will make adjustments to your selling and start
creating a wonderful income!

Why a large number of would-be online marketers are either
unsuccessful or only partially successful is because they lack focus.
They jump from one strategy to the next without mastering any. In
affiliate marketing, the key to success is planning and focus. Take
one strategy and concentrate on it for a set period of time, maybe a
month. If it isn't’t returning enough then look for an alternative and spend time developing it. If it is working, then look at ways of
making it even better. Most people want to 'get rich quick' on the
Internet and fail. To make real riches you need to have a strategy,
look to the longer terms and stay focused.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Misspelled Scriptures

One way to confirm that cyberspace is the great equalizer is to observe the quality of editing that exists ... I am truly amazed at the mangling endured by the English language on a significant number of sites. It's fair to assume that this malady has its roots in short attention spans during the school years. As a result, accuracy is often the first victim of poor spelling and grammar. Still, if we're going to cite examples of this averral, let's do it with a touch of humor. Here are some responses by younger students from a secular school when asked to expound on various teachings of the Bible. Their words are unedited: "In the first book of the Bible, Guinessis, God got tired of creating the world, so he took the Sabbath off." "Adam and Eve were created from an apple tree." "Noah's wife was called Joan of Ark." "Noah built an ark, which the animals come on to in pears." "Lot's wife was a pillar of salt by day, but a ball of fire by night." "The Jews were a proud people and throughout history they had trouble with the unwympathetic Genitals." "Samson was a strongman who let himself be led astray by a Jezebel like Delilah." "Samson slayed the Philistines with the axe of the Apostles." "Moses led the Hebrews to the Red Sea, where they made unleavened bread which is bread without any ingredients." "The Egyptians were all drowned in the dessert. Afterwards, Moses went up on Mount Cyanide to get the ten ammendments." "The first commandment was when Eve told Adam to eat the apple." "The seventh commandment is thou shalt not admit adultery." "Moses died before he ever reached Canada." "Then Joshua led the Hebrews in the battle of Geritol." "The greatest miracle in the Bible is when Joshua told his son to stand still and he obeyed him." "David was a Hebrew king skilled at playing the liar. He fought with the Finklesteins, a race of people who lived in Bibical times." "Solomon, one of David's sons, had 300 wives and 700 porcupines. When Mary heard that she was the mother of Jesus, she sang the Magna Carta." "When the three wise guys from the east side arrived, they found Jesus in the manager. Jesus was born because Mary had an immaculate contraption." "St. John, the blacksmith, dumped water on his head." "Jesus enunciated the Golden Rule, which says to do one to others before they do one to you." "He also explained, 'a man doth not live by sweat alone.'" "It was a miracle when Jesus rose from the dead and managed to get the tombstone off the entrance." "The people who followed the Lord were called the 12 decibels." "The epistles were the wives of the apostles." "One of the opossums was St. Matthew who was also a taximan." "St. Paul cavorted to Christianity. He preached holy acrimony, which is another name for marriage." Now, while we pause for a moment to wonder which of these authors will be filling our prescriptions and writing our wills when they reach adulthood, let's also consider that some of them could have a great future in punditry. Here's a likely candidate: "A Christian should have only one spouse. This is called monotony." Ba-da-boom ... or however a rimshot is spelled.

Adverse Credit Remortgage – Refinance Easily!

A remortgage is defined as the repayment of one mortgage by taking out another secured on the same property. This is done mainly to get a new mortgage for a lower rate of interest from a different lender for a better rate.

An adverse credit remortgage can prove to be a very good option for those suffering from poor credit history. This kind of remortgage can help you get the funds needed. It capitalizes on the increased home equity or existing home equity of the borrower. It allows you to get a mortgage at a lower rate of interest. You can also repay the mortgage in easy monthly options. A good credit history facilitates faster approval of mortgages.

These mortgages are available to all kinds of individuals who are suffering with bankruptcies, foreclosures, low credit ratings, etc. As compared to other lenders, we offer these mortgages at lower rate of interest. You can be rest assured of a favourable mortgage deal. Moreover, you can also choose from a wide range of loan quotes.
   
They are also known as bad credit, poor credit or non-status adverse credit remortgage. You can also use these mortgages to get funds or get a loan on the increased equity in home or property.

These remortgages are arranged by specialist remortgage brokers. They offer simple remedies for most of your problems. When you need to raise money or want to save money, you can rely on these mortgages. You can even consolidate multiple debts through these remortgages. It goes a long way in reducing your debt burden.

You may have earned bad credit due to some unavoidable reasons. This doesn’t mean that you should not get an opportunity to better the situation at all. Loan defaults, county court judgments or having filed for bankruptcy may have may have got you an adverse credit remortgage. These mortgages make it possible for you to seek a solution for all kinds of debt problems.
 
Flexible mortgages are another good option which can help you get a loan at a lower rate of interest. You can change the mortgage payments depending upon the variations in the market interest rates. These mortgages will help you regain control over your finances. Following are the advantages of these mortgages:
•    You can lower your monthly payments to a considerable extent
•    Repay the loan fast

•    In case, you overpay, you can also opt for borrow back
If you wish to get a mortgage loan approved fast, then you can check out the online option. This will help you get a loan approved in a very short period of time. You can also seek advice from a team of financial experts who can help you tackle the most difficult problems. No matter what your financial situation is, you can surly find a way out of every situation. This will also help you get an online flexible mortgage fast.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Political Humor: Are You A Dittohead?

Years ago, Rush Limbaugh coined the term "adult beverages" to refer to alcoholic drinks. Yet millions of dittoheads across the Fruited Plain lacked a guide for making the best adult beverages. So I created The Dittohead's Guide to Adult Beverages, a collection of humorous dittohead recipes such as the Rio Linda Rouser, EIB Ecstasy Elixir, Club G'itmo Guzzler, and many more! Just try out these great recipes: DEAD WHITE GUY GINGER ALE Glass: A Clay Bowl Stolen from Native Americans (by dead white conquistadors) Ingredients: 1 Part Vodka (a colorless ingredient symbolizing white European oppression) 3 Parts Ginger Ale (containing blood-thirsty, intolerant, white supremacist sugar) A Splash of White Wine (reminiscent of Napoleonic French imperialism) A Splash of Lemon-Lime Juice (made from fruit hand-picked by indentured servants) A Dash of Sugar (due to safety concerns, no brown sugar allowed) Instructions: While attending a college seminar on multiculturalism, with an emphasis on Native American, Afro-centric lesbian poetry, combine ingredients in a clay bowl stolen from Native Americans. Consume on Columbus Day while attacking white males who have the audacity to continue to breathe. Origin: This adult beverage is named in honor of Christopher Columbus – a capitalist, European bigot responsible for the death and murder of eighty trillion pacifist, nature-loving Native Americans (and a man whose lone accomplishment was the "discovery" of someone else's backyard). Special Warning: Under no circumstances should you add brown sugar to this adult beverage, as it is sure to be ravaged and destroyed by the racist, imperialist, homophobic white sugar already present in the ginger ale. AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AMBROSIA Glass: A Measuring Cup (to ensure precise fulfillment of quotas) Ingredients: 0 Parts Light Rum (using light rum is insensitive to minority rums) 3 Parts Dark Rum (to rectify the past injustice of rampant light rum preferences) 3 Parts Soda (cola is preferred over a lighter soda, such as Sprite) Quotas That Aren't "Quotas" (except that they really are quotas) Instructions: While throwing an "affirmative action bake sale" on a local college campus, or campi (the preferred EIB plural form for those of you in Rio Linda), combine ingredients in a measuring cup. Consume while labeling as "racist" any of your friends or companions who dare to add light rum to their favorite adult beverages. Origin: This adult beverage is named in honor of government-sanctioned discrimination. Make sure that you don't add light rum to this adult beverage when dark rum is available instead. Failure to do so may result in court-ordered sensitivity training. Special Note: A firm supporter of government-sanctioned discrimination, the NAALCP (National Association for the Advancement of Liberal Colored People) dreams of the day when prohibition will be re-instituted in America – with only "light" rum banished from the shores of the United States. P.S. Forward this page to 15,067 Rush Limbaugh fans in the next 7 minutes or you will be stricken with eight agonizing years of a Hillary Clinton presidency and/or the appointment of Ted "The Swimmer" Kennedy as your designated driver!

Adult Clubs – Advisable For Good Entertainment

Adult clubs cannot be looked down upon; they are very decent clubs offering entertainment. Most of the time, it is men who are out on an evening seeking a good stress buster. Visiting an adult club is a great way to reduce their stress, as they see the most exotic ladies dancing nude on the stage. Most adult clubs will make sure that they have the best dancers.

The adult clubs will offer good prices for all guests, and they insist that all of them should be eighteen and above. There is no need to look anywhere else for entertainment. The adult clubs will have all they can to offer. Even the dancers and strippers will have to be eighteen years of age, to entertain any guests. Adult clubs vary with comfort and pricing.

The adult club will offer good entertainment depending on the money the guests are willing to pay. For a good sum, they will get the best strippers for a good dance. The lap dance is the most common and also the most favored dance among all. The strippers wear such wonderful clothes, that during the lap dance, the men can enjoy the feel of their lovely skin.

In all adult clubs, they will insist that the women dress well, and also maintain their bodies. Their bodies are their main assets, and they use them to please their guests in all ways. Adult clubs also have the best kind of rooms with a lot of privacy. When the guest pays accordingly, they can get access to a great stripper as well as a good room.

The room will be well set and also have all the comforts one needs. Most strippers will wear the minimum of clothes, and they really are so attractive, that guests will not want to leave. The guests are given the best treatment, as the services will want them to come back to their clubs all the time. These clubs will insist on quality.

Quality will concern the dancers as well as other services. Some adult clubs do serve alcohol, and some prefer not to sell. Even the dance stages in the clubs will be prepared with such exotic taste. Most of the guests will prefer to see the dancers on the stage, as they will get a better view of them, all dressed in very skimpy clothes.

Some of the dancers will be topless or nude. This also depends on the club. Adult clubs are not at all like the way some people think them to be. They are fun places, and also allow the guests to be at ease. They will be able to relax as they please. This is also a place where they can be themselves, and they can admire the dancers as they please.

Since adult clubs offer privacy, men can always enjoy themselves to their heart’s content. The lovely strippers will also enjoy offering their best services. They will do everything in their capacity to make the guests happy.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Wimbledon Comes Out Swinging; Games Go On Even As England Mourns 7/7

One of the most winning things about spirits irrepressible is that they always come out swinging. And that resilient spirit was on prideful display at Wimbledon, which respectfully went its traditional way even as the people of London marked the dastardly bombing of the “tube” with sad but resolute hearts. As expected, Roger Federer banished his Swedish opponent, Jonas Bjorkman, in the semifinals. ''I was flawless,'' Federer said. ''I had high expectations to win this match today. And then to come through and play at the level I did today, that's great.'' He went on to say, ''It's just a beautiful feeling. You don't get it very often. When you can dominate an opponent, it's always sort of nice. But then especially in a semifinals of a Grand Slam, it's even better.'' In the final on Sunday, he went on to trouce the Spanish racketeer Rafael Nadal, despite the mind-troubling reality that Nadal had beat him in the French Open and in four other recent outings. Now, his record of four consecutive Wimbledon wins rockets him to the sunny heaven of tennis with Bjorn Borg, who won five in a row, and Pete Sampras, who went four for four. But more than anything else, the continuance of the matches even in the solemnity of mourning bespeaks the power stroke of the human spirit, whether it is applied to the most serious intent or simply to masterful frivolity. It is that same irrepressible strength that will allow it in time to dominate its opponents, including the recent excrescence of purblind evil we call terrorists.

Adotption is Horrible her in Dauphin County Pa.

This is our story of what happened to myself & my wife Vanessa Dupree of Harrisburg Pa. We decided to adopt children after two of our three left home, one relocated to Dover Delaware and the other went off to college. My wife and I agreed that we wanted to help where help was needed the most, so we went through all the training required by law in Pennsylvania and Dauphin County.

The agency we chose to assist us is called Rejoice Adoption & Foster Care Agency. They showed us many children's photos and background information of each child. We chose a cute little girl named Kanai Brown from Ohio. We knew she had some problems, her former foster mother had in her report of her ,lying,stealing and setting fires. She had also been in foster care since age 2, she was at that time in a foster care home where her foster mother had adopted her biological brother but refused to adopt her due to her behavior problems. A month before meeting Kanai she was matched for adoption with another family. She was taken home with that family on two weekend visits, and they changed their minds one day before she was to go live with them for good, so we knew she had some problems.

Our intentions at that time was to adopt Kanai and then adopt her older 13-year old sister named Kimmisa soon after that. After Kanai had been with us about 3 months, in September 2004 we made contact with the Ohio about adopting Kimmisa: at that time Mr.John Roberts her caseworker had informed me that Kimmisa had recently attacked a foster parent in the home which she was staying in and could not be placed in a home at this time and that she was currently being evaluated for mental problems. So that was as far as we had gone with trying to unify the two sisters (there are 5 siblings in all).

Our adoption hearing for Kanai came up about 3 months later in January 2005; adoption was final in June of 2005. In June of 2005 we received two more foster children named Mariah and Jordan Gilbert, ages 9 and 4 from Lancaster Pa. We were willing to adopt them for as long as their mother Nyshell Gilbert was willing to give up custody, the children's caseworker was a lady named Karen Rosenberg. Karen by law was supposed to stop by our house once per month for home visits to check on the children, but at the time she had classes here in Harrisburg two to three times per week and would visit us once or twice per week. We all became very good friends at that time.

In September of 2005 Ms. Nyshell had a hearing to have her rights terminated by Lancaster County Children and Youth. Karen told us it was okay for us to come, so we did. Karen got up on the stand and talked about how Ms. Nyshell refused to take care of herself or her children. She also pointed out the fact that she had a gay relationship with another female. About three days later Karen came to our house and we talked about the hearing. She then told us that most of what she said in court was made up stories, things that just never happened and the real reason why Ms Nyshell had her kids taken was because she was and still is gay and she stated that the Judge knew the real reason also. My wife and I were very troubled by this and we then asked a few more questions about Ms Nyshell. Karen Rosenberg also confided in us that she does not believe that any child should grow up in a house with two same sex parents and to make sure Ms. Nyshell loses her case, she would always ask her where she was working, and then call that employer and tell them she is a convicted child abuser and of course, she will then be laid off or fired right before every hearing, which was a lie she was never a convicted child abuser.

The way Ms. Nyshell originally got involved with Lancaster County Children and Youth ,she was seeking counseling services for her oldest daughter after having being raped by a grown man. Police advised her to do so when Karen first got involved in the case she quickly noted that Ms. Nyshell had an adult female living inside the home. There were also four kids living in the home. Nariah and Hordan were the two youngest ones she (Karen Rosenberg) told us she tried to get the other two older kids to say mom had hit them but it was to difficult. Neither was willing to lie on their mother even after several interviews, so she had six year old Nariah agree to a make up story about her mother hitting her with a strap so Karen used this as her reason for pulling all four children out of the home even though the older two always stuck to their story, that never hit anyone.

Over the next couple of months Karen confided these and many other cases where they would force parents to confess to things they did not do in exchange for visits with their children and then kept them because of their confessions. In January 2006 we told Karen we were having second thoughts about adopting Nariah kordan due to the fact that we believed they were wrongfully taken from their and we just did not feel good about going through with it and to us this is a lifetime decision. We just did not see anything wrong with her raising her kids with a girlfriend, although we (Karen, my wife and I) are all Christian, we disagreed on that one issue. Over the next month she came by a few extra times and tried to convince us to change our minds, even though we loved the kids just as much as our very own; we still told her no.

In February 2006 the children were scheduled for their last and final visit with their mother, which was to be held at Rejoice Foster Care & Adoption agency and be supervised by caseworkers employed by Rejoice. Karen was never involved with the kids visits with their mother, so we did not expect this time to be any different. We dropped the kids off at Rejoice that evening, handed them over to a Rejoice caseworker as usual. We came back two hours later and were told by Karen Rosenberg that Nariah said she was hit with a strap by my wife Vanessa, so therefore she is taking both kids out of our home. We were very upset because she told us she had used the exact same story on Ms Nyshell.

The following day, February 15, 2006 Karen Rosenberg reported the abuse allegations to Dauphin County Children & Youth to a caseworker named Denise Shay. She then came by Kanai's school that day to interview her. She was asked all kinds of questions, mostly about us (we know this because after every interview she would come home and let us know). After 8-10 interviews in March 2006 we went to school to pick up Kanai and were met by Denise Shay in the parking lot . She told us that Kanai said my wife and I hit her with a strap on at least one occasion; therefore she was taking Kanai into custody. She also informed us there would be a hearing tomorrow before a Master Judge. We found an attorney that evening, Mr Roger Luguana. There was not a lot to say at the hearing because Kanai admitted in court she lied, there the Judge said she is to be returned home immediately.

Once the hearing was over , Denise Shay took Kanai and told us she will be right back, she was going to get her clothes and book bag. She came back out some 30 minutes later and informed us they were going to appeal and Kanai would not be coming home with us until the appeal is over ( even though prior to the hearing we were told the Master Judge decision was final). At that time Denise Shay evidently went to a different judge and claimed I admitted in the Lancaster case to punching kordan (which was a lie). All of this was done after our attorney had left.

Over the next couple of weeks we were asked to confess to abusing Kanai in exchange for visits with her - we refused. About three weeks later the county judge, Judge Hoover agreed to meet with our lawyer Roger Luguana, but he refused to meet with us. After that meeting Judge Hoover allowed us to have visits with Kanai. We went to see her twice that week and then I received a call from Denise Shay on our answering machine stating that we were not being very cooperative with their investigation or in other words we refused to admit to anything we did not do, so therefore the visits must stop.

Prior to our next hearing in March 2006, my wife and I received only a couple of phone calls and went down there to sign papers a couple of times for Dauphin County Children and Youth,but every time we were always being told some sort of bad news. We were told the following things would happen if we lost: 1. They would ask the judge at that time to take Jasmin, our biological 15 year old daughter into care/custody. 2. We could never pass a background check again so that meant changing for me and my wife. 3. We would have criminal charges brought against us after that. 4. If we just sign her over none of those three would happen and we will have 30 days to think it or change our minds if we wanted to. Denise also said Karen would be there to let the court know we confessed to her everything, thus letting us know that Karen was willing to lie in court again as she did in Ms. Nyshell Gilbert's case. Therefore we choose to sign Kanai over giving up our rights, prior to our hearing, knowing we had 30 days to decide if we were going to risk everything or not.

Twenty-eight days later we (our lawyer and us) filled out the paperwork to let the court know we had change our minds. About two weeks later in March 2006 Judge Hoover agreed to meet with our attorney again. At this meeting our attorney was informed we could not change our minds and we had to stick with our first decision where we must sign her over again, but this time the forms will read "by mutual agreement", unlike the first one that stated there was a hearing and we were convicted even though there was no hearing. Even going as far as to give us only 30 days to sign her over again. We waited about 60 days on July 26 2006 to sign her over again, due to the simply fact it's getting very costly, about 15,000.00 so far between child support payments for Kanai while back in foster care and attorney fees, for all three children. The worst part of it was here in Dauphin County they attach our wages, even though we were never late with a payment. They kept making the same mistake with the amounts, instead of taking out $800.00 per month, they kept doubling and tripling that amount, thus leaving us at times with less than $20.00 per week.

Dauphin County is not a good place to adopt. But since then the dear sent two people into our lives that change everything for the better their names are Myron Golden and Dwayne Golden, We will like to thank them for all they have done for us since our darkest days..

Sunday, February 14, 2010

The TOP 50 WAYS to Survive College for the First-Time-Off-To-College Kid

1. Never miss a meal – you might regret it later that hour. 2. Park your car accessibly close. 3. Don’t park in timed zones (2 hour, etc.) – parking overtime adds up. 4. Don’t park in No Parking zones – parking tickets add up and have to be paid before next semester’s registration. 5. Don’t park in Tow Away zones – towing fees are hard to come by. 6. Take the bus. 7. A fine-point Sharpie is the best thing to use for signing autographs. 8. A fine-point Sharpie is the best thing to use for signing casts. 9. A fine-point Sharpie is the best thing to use for signing “I’m a friend when you need one” cards. 10. Staplers can be used to repair the hem on your jeans. 11. Staplers can NOT be used to repair a torn dress or bra strap. 12. Staple removers make great ice tongs for tiny ice cubes. 13. Staple removers are almost worthless for removing heavy-duty staples, whether they are in paper or your drunk roommate’s eyeball. 14. The smell of the contents of a laundry bag is proportional to the height of the guest you just brought in your dorm room compared to where the bag is hanging. The shorter the guest, the higher the bag needs to hang (fumes rise). 15. The smell of the contents of a laundry bag gets worse as the contents get higher in the bag. 16. There are two alternatives to the smell of the contents of the laundry bag: a. Wash the clothes. b. Buy new clothes. c. Taking the clothes home for the weekend for Mama to wash is not an option!! 17. When you have to produce a chart for Geography class, make it color-coded. 18. The extra expense and time of a color-coded chart will be well worth the effort when you see the “A” on the paper. 19. RoseArt makes the cheapest markers and colored pencils for making charts for Geography class. 20. Crayola markers last longer and are probably darker, but since they all dry out eventually and you’ll have to buy another set next semester for the Anthropology charts, why waste the money now? 21. Wal-Mart is the best place to buy school supplies, towels with the University logo, and sweatshirts with the school emblem on them. 22. Prices for EVERYTHING at the college bookstore are seriously inflated to show a profit to the Board of Regents. 23. The Board of Regents really does not care how much you spent on markers. 24. Wal-Mart was the first store on the moon and on Mars, so there will be one in your college town. Find it. Patronize it. Get to know its manager. 25. Wal-Mart and Waffle House are case studies in your Marketing classes textbooks. 26. Waffle House is open 24 hours a day. 27. Waffle House coffee will hold open your eyes, fill an empty tummy that has no other money, and warm a tired student who needed a place to come in out of the rain. 28. Waffle House waitresses LIKE tips. 29. Waffle House waitresses love college kids who tip. 30. Waffle House waitresses will listen with interest when you are professor bashing – just make sure he’s not her brother before you start berating him. 31. Waffle House waitresses will come to your graduation and look on you with pride as their “rent-a-kid” if you’ve tipped often enough. 32. Use a corkboard, not the wall, as your bulletin board. 33. Push pins leave little holes in the wall. 34. Push pins leave little holes in your bank account when you have to pay to have the holes filled in at the end of the semester. Staples do, too. 35. Staples are hard to remove from a bulletin board. Use push pins. 36. Push pins can not be used to deflate your roommate’s boy(or girl)friend’s tires. Except when inserted into the sidewall of the tire (near the rim). 37. Taking 12 pairs of shoes to college is a bit excessive, especially since you’ll wear OUT your favorite tennis shoes, sandals, and loafers, but the others have to be transported to school and back home. 38. Dr. Scholl’s makes great gel inserts for worn-out favorite tennis shoes. 39. If you share a room/bath with several other roommates or hallmates, set the guidelines, nicely, on the first day: a. Don’t use my ________ (insert soap, shampoo, crème rinse, deodorant, towel, washcloth, loofah, etc. as needed) and I’ll try not to use yours but once or twice. b. Don’t bring your girlfriend (or boyfriend) to the room without warning me first. If you do, bring me earplugs and eyeshades so I won’t have to watch what you’re doing. c. Don’t take my last pencil/pen/paper without warning me first. If you do, I might have to use the back of your term paper for my class notes. d. Keep your dirty, smelly laundry on your side of the room. My side will be full of my own. e. Be nice to me. Otherwise, my overly large primate friends might trash your side of the room one night while I’m out for the night and have conveniently left the door unlocked. f. Let me know when you’re going to spend the night out so I can make use of your side of the room. 40. Hole punchers only work if you keep them aligned. 41. Hole punchers only work if you keep them emptied of the little dots they create from punching holes in your papers. 42. Little dots from the hole-puncher hopper make great confetti. 43. Little dots from the hole-puncher hopper are REALLY hard to get out of carpet. 44. The cheap, shag carpet in older rental trailers that your older college friends are renting holds a ton of little dots from the hole-puncher hopper. 45. Use the appropriate size binder clip for the project. 46. Binder clips come in several sizes: a. Teensy (holds 1 sheet of notebook paper or 2 kisses) b. Tiny (holds 4 sheets of notebook paper or 1 folded dollar for the Waffle House waitress). c. Small (holds 8 sheets of notebook paper or 2 quarters for a bad Waffle House tip). d. Medium (holds 20-40 sheets of notebook paper or for attaching 1 small magazine to your roommate’s pillowcase). e. Large (holds 100 sheets of notebook paper or a split seam of a fairly loose garment until you can get back to your dorm room; a split seam of a tight garment needs a coat or garbage to cover it up – repairing it is a waste of time). f. Excessive (holds 4 books and takes 3 people to press it open; if you get your finger caught in its jaws of death, have someone else dial 911). 47. Sticky-do’s (commonly referred to as “post-it notes) come in several flavors: a. 1.5” x 2” (Small. Worthless for anything but reminding yourself to buy larger sticky-do’s). b. 3” x 3” (Medium. Don’t use this size to leave notes on your roommate’s pillow like “We’re all out of cornflakes. FU” [quote from Felix Unger, played by Jack Lemmon, in “The Odd Couple,” a GREAT movie about roommates]). c. 4” x 6” (Large. More expensive, but in the louder colors, make great backgrounds for your roommate’s dull bulletin board). 48. Gem clips, whether plastic or metal, are worthless. Unless you need to hold used tissues together while your drunken roommate spills the beans at IHOP about the frat party bash/orgy/sleepover. 49. IHOP waitresses like tips, too. 50. Academic pursuits in college are for your spare time. Pursue them sparingly. Next: How to survive your first semester academically.

Adding A Personal Touch To Your Parties

Let's get personal. That's what many party planners are saying when they make plans to host one-of-a-kind parties such as a bridal shower, baby shower or even a Mother's Day brunch.

Adding a personal touch may be easier than you imagine. Here are some ideas you can use:

• Make your centerpiece stand out. Don't limit yourself to flowers. Centerpieces can consist of anything that fits into the theme of the event. For visual interest, you can use a large glass bowl with goldfish swimming in it. You can cluster candles or float votives in water. For a baby shower, you can build a pyramid of baby blocks.

• Create unique place cards that mean something to the guest of honor. For a bridal shower, attach name tags to a cookie cutter at each place setting. For a baby shower, order custom cookies in the shape of teddy bears with the person's name iced on to them.

• Decorate with a theme. Start by deciding on the colors and the theme. Is your mom a gardener? If you're planning on a brunch for Mother's Day or her birthday, decorate the room with flowers cut out of construction paper. Make a chocolate cake covered in flowers made out of candies.

For a romantic bridal shower, decorate with hearts. Buy a miniature tree. Ask each guest to write something on a paper heart and use these hearts to decorate the tree. Make garlands of hearts.

Make a party that's all one color. For example, if the bride-to-be loves lavender, ask your guests to bring something in that color.

• Party favors should be fun. Keep party favors in the same theme as the rest of the party-such as seed packets for a garden party, candles for a party that relies on them for decoration. Or you can give out lottery tickets at any party celebrating a person's good fortune.

• Don't forget the cookies. Cookies can be very useful in personalizing a party, either as the dessert or as creative place cards.

Good for any special occasion or holiday, you can make a bouquet out of cookies or even give them out as party favors. Do-it-yourself cookie kits, such as those from Cookies by Design, can take a lot of the mess out of this process.

Besides the kits, the company offers fresh-baked hand-decorated cookie bouquets, individual decorated cookies, pan cookies, and other deliciously edible gifts.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

The Illogical Puppet Of Iran: Any Chance Of Getting The Little Guy A Better Script?

First, we learned to say and spell the puppet’s name: Armadinejad. Not exactly Smith. Then we watched him perform upon a crafty mullah’s knee. We have been patient, like any fair-minded audience, but the more we listen, the more we realize that the puppet has a script that just doesn’t make sense. He raises one hand and, without the mullah appearing to move his own lips, practiced ventriloquist that he is, little Armadinejad threatens to “wipe Israel off the map” and blusters against anyone in the audience we disagrees with his absurdly unachievable goal. No sooner does he do that than he raises his other hand and announces that he has the right to nuclear technology but only for peaceful purposes. The audience is finally beginning to lose patience with the nonsensical but dangerous show. Some members of the audience have become so alarmed that they’re stamping their feet and demanding a new script. A few have even said if they don’t get one they may decide to knock down the little puppet’s playhouse. Poor little Armadinejad. We certainly wouldn’t want such a tragic thing to happen to him and just because he hasn’t been given a good script. In fact, all he can say back to the threatening audience are dares based on fragmented variations of his nation’s name, as in “I ran? You ran? Who ran?” So we must turn to the troupe of turbaned puppeteers who have provided the script. We assume that they’re allowing his illogical performance to continue because they think the survival of their anachronistic theocracy depends on demonizing the West and thereby distancing their own people from the truly beneficently revolutionary ideas that would upend their rule, generally, enlightenment, freedom, democracy, and a hot nightlife, where men and women actually go out together. And little Armadinejad is, with consistently provocative bravado, doing an extraordinary job for them. We can understand their urgency. They’re living in a world that has, especially in the West, managed largely to emerge from the overhang of The Dark Ages. Yet the dominion they have imposed over their people depends on the tenuous preservation of a medieval mindset. Meanwhile, their darksome enclave is being continually and very annoyingly impinged upon by unwelcome flashes of modernity, such as the sometimes substantial content of the Internet, the frivolous baubles of the Hollywood road show, and the general conduct of free nations. We assume that the puppeteers are, in fact, so pleased by the puppet’s performance that they have decided the he’s doing just fine with an illogical script. Are they concerned about the most explosive consequences? To a degree, of course. But we also suspect that their excessively life-negating belief that they’ll all be in Paradise if they do manage to self-ignite the nation is exerting its risky subliminal influence. Since distance makes the mullah’s feel more secure, what, we must ask, is the likelihood that they will provide a new script for the little guy and perhaps cancel his appearances until they do? Knowing the depth of their anxiety, we cannot be overly expectant. So we turn to the people who finally put up and have agreed to maintain the show, the Iranian people. Since they have been under the dominion of darkness for decades, and are now inspirited to feel that their pride is confounded with the puppet’s blustery bravado, what hope is there that they will demand a new script or close the show? Are we just telling ourselves a fairytale by hoping that someone in the terrifyingly mismanaged nation will take over the show before the provocative puppet provokes the audience so much they do bring the house down? If the past is prologue, of course, we are. And what a sad outcome for ourselves, for Iranians in general, and even for the ill-fated puppet and his intensely paranoid puppeteers.

Add extra value to your art work - part one

There are several things that you might not have thought of, that add extra value to your artwork and can make it worth more money when you come to sell it. I'm not talking here about reworking pieces you feel haven't come up to scratch. Yes, it is sometimes possible to rescue a less than perfect watercolour by using a pen and ink technique, and you can paint right over parts of an oil or acrylic painting to in effect completely rework the area, but here I am talking about techniques that don't involve changing your artwork in any way.

Sometimes you only need to put a cardboard mount around a painting to bring it out of the doldrums, and there is no doubt that the right mount and frame can do wonders for a slightly mediocre piece of art. For a sculpture, or a piece of ceramics, the right stand and appropriate lighting can make a big difference to the way it displays, but after you've made sure that your artwork is being displayed to its best what else can you do to add to its worth?

The first and most important thing you should do is make sure that your artwork is signed legibly. It's surprising how many people forget to sign their art, but it makes a big difference to the buyer. A signed piece of work is worth more money than an unsigned one, and it doesn't matter whether you sign it on the front, at the top or bottom, within the composition, or even on the back, just as long as you sign it. If you have an illegible signature spare a thought for future generations trying to make out what it says and wondering whether they have a piece by a famous artist. The first thing almost everybody wants to know about any piece of artwork is who made it, what's the name of the artist. If it's unsigned it's almost as though you didn't rate it enough to put your name to it, and if you don't rate it no one else will either.

The second thing you need to do, in order to add value to your art, is to give it a title. Now, some people don't like titling their work because they feel that it pigeonholes it and in some way restricts the viewer to seeing it within a particular set of conceptual boundaries, so if you are one of these people then you should really consider calling it 'Untitled'. Even with the title that says 'Untitled', a piece of work is worth more money than if it doesn't have a title at all. Artwork without a title leaves the potential buyer wondering whether perhaps it had a title once that has been lost, it leaves the buyer with an unanswered question and means they are less likely to buy it and more likely to move on to another piece instead.

Along with the title, your artwork would benefit from a short explanation about it. The more a buyer knows about a piece of work the more likely they are to buy it. If you think about it by putting yourself in the buyer's shoes for a moment, if you're faced with two pieces of work which are similar and you like them both, but you know nothing about one and quite a lot about the other, which one would you buy? Of course you would be much more likely to buy a piece of artwork that had information about it, because you'd feel more involved with it, you'd understand something about its history and about the person that created it, so it has more meaning for you and you feel a connection with it right from the start.

The short explanation or description about your piece of art can say whatever you want it to, there are no rules, but it's useful to tell people either what it's about or what it means to you. One thing you don't want to do is tell people what it should mean to them, the viewer or buyer of your artwork wants to be able to decide for themselves what the piece means to them, and it doesn't matter if it's something entirely different from what it means to you.

Most people buying artwork do like to know what it was you meant as you created it, or what drove you to create the piece the way it is. This can mean telling them something about you, your thought processes as you were beginning and working through the piece, or maybe what was going on in your life at the time you were creating this piece of art. You might decide to tell them about something you'd seen or heard that affected you in a particular way and that prompted you to express something specific with this particular medium. You might be telling them that this particular piece of art is one of a collection from your 'blue period', or your 'impressionistic landscape period', or whatever.

If you don't really want to give this information away, then perhaps instead you could describe the medium you have used, the particular techniques you've employed in using this medium and even the length of time it took you to create the piece. Really any information you give about the piece is better than no information at all, and it doesn't matter whether the potential buyer understands your concept or not, it still makes it more attractive to them to know that there was an intention of one sort or another behind the original idea.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Smoking Gun In Cancer Revealed; It's The Smoking Throat

OK, smoke fans, the facts are out once again. According to the new and pretty inarguable Cancer Atlas and the updated Tobacco Atlas, which were published by The American Cancer Society, if "Smoky, The Scare" gets his way, tobacco use is projected to kill a billion people in this century. (By the way, wouldn't it be more reassuring if the word “Prevention” was in the Society's name?) Now, that’s what we call recreational population control. The figure amounts to ten times as many folks as smoking sent choking to the grave in the 20th century. And ready for this? Tobacco use causes one in five cancer deaths, or a total of 1.4 million graveward bound souls a year. Now, here’s the good and much underappreciated news: Dr. Judity Mackay, a senior policy adviser of the World Health Organization, tells us, "We know with cancer, if we take action now, we can save 2 million lives a year by 2020 and 6.5 million by 2040." So here’s our bit to stop cancer in its tracks. And we’re not going to pull any punches, because, if you still smoke, you obviously haven’t listened to anybody yet, and we care about you too much not to give you our best shot. Here goes all the ways we know to annoy our friends who smoke with advice that is invariably resented but not always dismissed. In fact, we actually have two friends who stopped smoking after we had at them. So let's light up with logic: 1. If you can’t quit smoking, pursue your fetish when you're not around us. 2. We don’t date people who smoke, because we don’t want to die in their arms. It’s not death we’re afraid of; it’s their breath and the way their clothes smell. We find both spiritually wilting, not to mention sexually. 3. Everybody loves you, but somebody you know is following you, everywhere you go, and this person wants to kill you, and do you know who this person is? The person in you who wants to smoke. The person in you who doesn’t want you to smoke, while weaker right now, can be made strong enough to toss the sneak thief of your life out for good. 4. Do you know what people think every time you light up? Wow, what a dummy. Provoking this response is particularly incriminating if you think you’re a genius. 5. Don’t tell me you’re so desperate for pleasure that just for the little buzz you can get from dragging all those carcinogens into your fragile body you’re ready to die? How much do you like Lorillard and the other ciggy makers? So much you need to die for them? 6. Do you know that smoking is like rat poison? You ingest a little every day. You think you’re fine. But actually your entire body is being poisoned. That’s why you look yellow and your skin wrinkles prematurely. Actually, if you could do an autopsy on yourself while you’re still alive, you’d find that all the organs in your body are shriveled up from the poisons. For instance, pathologists tell us that your organs, instead of being smooth and healthy, look more like prunes. But you keep dragging the junk in, because you think you’re fine. Well, you’re not. You’re deadly ill. And then one day it happens. You go from being ill to being landfill. 7. Last, do you know that all the blood in your body races through your lungs every minute? That’s right. It all keeps racing there to give off carbon dioxide and grab fresh oxygen. Then it races to the far corners of your body with the breath of life. Unfortunately, it also drags the carcinogens along for the ride. That’s why, for instance, women who smoke often get breast cancer; breasts are very vascular and so they’re a frequent drop-off point for the poison. Worst of all, if you die, you can’t read NewsLaugh anymore. Talk about sad. So stop it already.

Acrylic Painting Lesson - Mistakes To Avoid In Your Acrylic Paintings

When you are just starting out with acrylic painting, you will most certainly make your share of mistakes. This is the natural process of painting and we all learn and grow from our mistakes. This article introduces some of the more common mistakes beginner acrylic painters make.

Mistake #1 to avoid: Not using enough variety in your painting. An interesting painting has variety. It creates curiosity and interest, and the viewer wants to return again to observe it. So how do you create an interesting painting? Use a variety of different brushstrokes, techniques and values in your paintings. Change the direction of your brushstrokes or mix different techniques in the same painting.

Mistake #2 to avoid: Being too technical or copying. In order to truly paint a subject, and when I say "truly", I am not saying you should copy the subject exactly as you see it. I am referring to connecting to the painter inside and truly painting your own impression of what you see. This is how your inner creativity shines on the canvas. It is what set painters like Vincent van Gogh and Claude Monet apart from the rest. They each injected their own style and heart into their work. I believe your own unique creativity comes to the surface the moment you stop relying on the technicalities and theories associated with painting. I am not saying one shouldn't study techniques and theory, but at some point we have to put that stuff on the back burner and let our creativity do some of the thinking. Whatever you do, don't copy other artists. There is nothing wrong with allowing other artists to influence you, just make sure you allow your own unique style to come through.

Mistake #3 to avoid: Not observing your subjects. Do you spend time observing the subjects you feel inspired to paint? If you are a portrait artist, have you done any studying of the human anatomy? If you paint landscapes, do you spend enough time outdoors in that environment? If you aren't spending enough time observing the subjects that you wish to paint, then you won't know have enough knowledge to paint them.

Mistake #4: Not using quality art supplies. Are you using quality acrylic painting supplies? A really experienced and talented artist could probably create an entire painting using a toothpick, but who really wants to work that hard? When it comes to fine art supplies, you usually do get what you pay for. If you paint with a 50cent paintbrush, it will probably paint just like a 50cent paintbrush. The ferrule will more than likely become loose and the hairs will probably shed. If you are using really cheap paint, you will more than likely get really cheap results. The colors will not have the same brilliance or the right consistency. So invest in quality art supplies and take great care of them as well.

Mistake #5 to avoid: Not using enough paint. Learn how to apply paint to your canvas. Many beginners don't reload their brushes often enough. I made this same mistake when I first began painting. I would squeeze out a little glob of paint and try to cover as much area as possible. In my case, I was just lazy, but many beginners are fearful of wasting paint. This is a reasonable concern considering the cost of supplies. The truth however, is that your paintings will be more interesting if you lay down the brush stroke, leave it alone, and then reload your brush. Don't try and scrub the paint into the canvas, otherwise you are just staining, and not painting.

Mistake #6 To Avoid: Over Thinking. Don't overly criticize or judge your own work while you are painting. This only creates discouragement and forces many beginners to become frustrated and quit. Just relax and let go. Trust yourself and your abilities.

I hope this article on acrylic painting has been helpful. Never get discouraged if you are making mistakes or not happy with your work. Mistakes are learning tools. Learn and move on. The most important aspect of painting is the enjoyment we receive from it anyway. Frustration and discouragement should never dominate the painting experience. Happy painting!

Thursday, February 11, 2010

The Perks of Global Warming

Marya Mannes once wrote, “The earth we abuse and the living things we kill will, in the end, take their revenge; for in exploiting their presence we are diminishing our future.” Obviously Ms. Mannes preferred the status quo - health, sanity, logic, blah, blah, blah. Why? Green House Roulette is so much more intriguing. In the country, weather affects everything. For five years Western South Dakota has been gripped by drought. Water and hay are vanishing. Farms and ranches are blowing away. While the government bails out victims from hurricanes and says, ‘South Dawho?’ our cattle are pissing dust mites. Fortunately, things are looking up. There is some good news! Those pesky glaciers are finally melting off! Last year an eight-nation report estimated an area of Arctic icepack the size of Texas and Kansas is gone. For those who are geographically impaired, that is an area bigger than a breadbox. At first, news of devastating global climate change might seem a bit of a bummer. Then I read an LA Times article and had a change of heart. The article began with the usual gloom. Greenland’s ice cap is melting. Our coasts will flood from rising seawater. Inuit hunters are falling through thinning ice. Melting glaciers change ocean temperature and salinity contorting the jet stream, which results in altered weather patterns worldwide. Multitudes of species are dying off . . . It was disheartening. Then I got to the article’s final paragraph. Bam! My faith was restored. Here the Times pointed out the perks of global warming. Seriously, the article actually ended saying: “The report is not all gloomy. A warmer Arctic could increase the number of some species, such as Arctic char, a fish. It could extend the growing season for wheat in Canada and open up now-treacherous sea routes, such as the Northwest Passage and the Northern Sea Route, which parallels Russia, for shipping and resource exploration.” Three cheers for the LA Times! It’s true! All is not gloomy. With that glorious bit of sunshine pumped straight up my ski bibs, I was able to see things in a whole new light. I started thinking of other advantages to global warming. Soon you will agree that people from all walks of life will benefit. For starters, Inuit Hunters will benefit! Once Inuit have nothing left to hunt there will be no need for them to risk falling through thin ice. Plus, by needing food they will be ripe for a floating (pontoons, not ice) Arctic Super Wal-Mart. “Go get ‘em, Sam.” Boat owners will benefit! Not only will there be smooth sailing through the formerly bothersome ice of the Northwest Passage, but each summer, cruise ships will be able to run tourists straight up Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Scuba Divers will benefit! There will be no more burning coral cuts. In fact there will be no more coral. Once all the reefs are gone, divers can pack away first aid kits and dive straight in. A little silt never cut anyone. Canadian Wheat Farmers will benefit! You see, there is a 10% decrease in yield of corn from Midwest crops for every degree of global warming. No worries though, now wheat can take the place of corn. Think about all those scrumptious Wheat Dogs at the ball game. How about popped wheat with butter at the movies or steaming wheat on the cob? All scream ‘yummy’ to me. While it is a bit ironic that ethanol is made from the corn crops global warming devastates, I am sure some aspiring chemist will rise to the challenge of developing ‘Wheatanol.’ Imagine Canuck Wheat Farmers having more influence than the Saudi Royal Family. Dune-Buggy enthusiasts will benefit! The Dakotas will soon reopen for your 4-wheelin’ pleasure. Join the Mount Rushmore Nose Climb on July 4th! It will be a bugger of a challenge! Eco-Tourism Operators will benefit! Companies could offer new “Emaciation Tour Packages.” Tourists get closer photos of polar bears and whales when they are too lethargic from starvation to meander away. In addition, long treks to Inuit villages can be avoided once they are forced to beg on the streets of Nome (or cashiering at Wal-Mart). Finally, the next generation of Bush family politicians will benefit! Once again they can avoid addressing campaign issues, this time by distracting dehydrated voters with witty campaign phrases like; “No Kyoto Pact-No Ice Pack,” or “Dead Seals Never Flip-Flop,” even promising “No Char Left Behind.” Not to mention offering new, SPF 800 tax credits. Well, by golly, I do feel better! Shall we spin the Rolette wheel some more?

Accurate Psychic Readings

Psychic readers are often trivialized as fortune-tellers at the local fair. However, an effective psychic reader has the ability to address mental and emotional issues, such as pitfalls and bad relationships and how to deal with them; accurate counseling can help seekers address the core of the issue and make better progress in all aspects of their life.

However, doubts on a psychic reader’s credibility begin to crop up when a prediction goes awry. For instance, a psychic may predict that a major shift in the seeker’s relationship will occur in about a year. But when that year is up, and he finds himself in the same relationship, he tends to assume the prophecy was erroneous. Unfortunately, it is not so straightforward.

A psychic reader’s prophecy is not an engraving set in stone. Accuracy is very important in a psychic reading but, in every seeker’s individual life, free will is supreme. Psychic readers do not usually see an inflexible, predestined event. They see the patterns at work in the seeker’s life and how and when they are likely to manifest into certain events – IF his current momentum remains unchanged.

Accuracy must also reflect a psychic's ability to offer lucid insights that a seeker could then apply to the issue in a practical manner. In the context of a bad relationship or marriage for instance, a seeker may be told, "Your relationship is coming to an end," followed by an account of why that is being seen. Whether it is overwhelming job responsibilities or a bad temperament, why a relationship is heading towards disaster is more important than whether it will end. When the seeker begins to understand why things are going wrong and takes measure to rectify it, he takes the first step towards making a change, thus altering the psychic reader’s ominous prophecy.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Terrorist Receives Surprise Sendoff; Meets His Allah

As all the world knows, Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi, the self-appointed and savage representative of Al-Qaeda in Iraq, was given a surprise sendoff last week. What no one seems to know is what happened when he met his Allah before the entrance to the paradise he and his fellow misrepresentatives of Islam’s best hopes long to be whisked away to. Fortunately, we were there. How, you might ask? When we heard that Mr. Al-Zarqawi was finally the object of his just reward, we, of course, did like most of the weary and repelled observers of his atrocities and bid him a speedy journey to his well-deserved destiny. But we also sent an email to Allah, asking if we could witness his arrival at what Mr. Zarqawi and other leading terrorists insist, all the better to influence their ill-informed stooges, is The Gate Where 27 Virgins Await. We now present, recorded with our persistent care, the somewhat heated conversation between Allah and the rightly flabbergasted Mr. Al-Zarqawi, who approached somewhat groggy from the explosion that propelled him to eternity, but when he beheld Allah, he managed a hopeful smile. AZ: Hi, I’m Musab al-Zarqawi. AL: I know. Tough time to be a terrorist, isn’t it? AZ: Then you know? AL: Of course. I know everything. AZ: You do? Then you must be Allah? AL: Yes, I am. AZ: Really? Hey, great to meet you. When I was a alive, I always told my followers, “Allah is a pal a mine.” AL: Thanks. AZ: Wow, I feel like I died and went to heaven. So where are my twenty-seven virgins? AL: What virgins? AZ: The twenty-seven I’m supposed to get for being an Islamic martyr. AL: Excuse me. Up here we don’t have female sex slaves. AZ: You don’t? AL: No, we have equal rights, that is, for everybody under me. AZ: Equal rights for men and women? AL: Why not? I made them both, didn’t I? I tend to arrive at my rankings based on behavior. AZ: Oh, great, because, as I said, I’m a martyr. AL: I’m sorry. Up here, you don’t qualify. AZ: I don’t? Why not? AL: A martyr may do many things, but among them we don’t count murder. AZ: Even when he murders in your name? AL: Who does he murder in my name? AZ: Infidels! AL: Do you know me by any other name? AZ: Heck, no, all my life I just thought of you as Allah. AL: What about the name “God,” as in one of my favorite Islamic sayings, “God is Great!”? AZ: Oh, “God.” Sure, I remember that. AL: Good. Do you know that a lot of other people know me know me by that name who are and aren’t Islamic? AZ: They do? AL: Yes. It’s by far the favorite name humans call me by. In fact, people all over the world often refer to me as “the one true God.” Do you know what that means? AZ: What? AL: What you seem to have forgotten. I’m everybody’s pappy. AZ: Everybody’s? Even Americans? AL: Oh, especially Americans. I know they make mistakes, but at least they try to do the right thing. And I’m a big advocate of doing the right thing. So I have a different definition of infidels than you do. AZ: Oh. What’s that? AL: Anybody who forgets that, since there is only one God, namely, yours truly, then everybody believes in the same God, no matter what name they give me. AZ: Really? Hmm, I hadn’t thought of that. AL: Why not? Thanks to me, you have a brain, don’t you? And I expect you to use it. AZ: But I did. AL: Yes, but not, I’m afraid, in a way that merits admission to my Paradise. AZ: No? AL: No, dummy. We have another place for people who murder other human beings, whether those humans believe in me or not. AZ: Even if they don’t believe in you? AL: Yes, I grant freedom of thought. It’s the very foundation of being able to choose right from wrong. My more important concern is whether or not they harm or help other people. And the ones who murder them, oh, as I said, I’ve made a special place for them – and you qualify for admission. AZ: I do? What place? AL: The name of it, oddly enough, rhymes with infidel. AZ: Hell? AL: Hell, yes! At this point, Allah raised his hand and Al-Zarqawi dropped through the cloud he was standing on. Allah walked over and looked down through the hole. Then He rubbed His hands together, as if to wash them off. He noticed us, packing up our recording equipment, and gave us wink. Then He headed back toward Heaven.

Abracadabra A Great Birthday With A Magician!

Children’s birthday parties have become outrageous showcases of food, gifts, and entertainment that are costing parents more and more each year. Instead of focusing on the child, parents are striving more and more to “keep up with the Joneses” and put on fantastic displays that involve a great deal of time and money for the planning and execution of the party. Instead of worrying about booking venues packed with activities, consider throwing your child an old fashioned bash in your own backyard. For a special touch, consider hiring a magician to entertain both children and adults for the party. A magician is a great way to entertain the crowd while maintaining a unique aspect for your child’s party.

A magician is a classic way to entertain and enthrall the young and the young at heart when it comes to hosting a birthday party. If your child is interested in becoming the next Houdini, use magic as the theme for his or her party. If you are planning to hire a magician to provide entertainment for you child’s birthday party, you may need to plan ahead and book the magician’s services in advance to prevent any last minute cancellations or bookings.

If you have decided to include a magician in your child’s birthday party, call around. Ask friends, family members, or coworkers for a referral of a specific magician they have hired or seen perform in the past. Also, consider contacting your local chamber of commerce or business organization to see if there is someone offering their entertainment services for hire. You will find that word of mouth is incredibly powerful; as you can be sure the magician you hire to perform at a birthday party or any event will provide age appropriate entertainment.

Before your hire a magician or any entertainment provider, be sure to get the agreement in writing. Also, you may need to pay an initial deposit to ensure the date for the party. Some questions to ask the magician include if their material is appropriate for children, how long they plan to perform, if they are willing include the birthday child in their act, and what will happen in the unfortunate event they are unable to attend or perform.

Once you have booked your magician, be sure not to change the date and time of the party. Doing so may cost you additional money or cause you to lose the magician due to previous commitments. A magician may book several parties or events on a given day, so his or her schedule is tight and unable to be changed.

Hiring a magician is an excellent way to entertain everyone present at the party. Many magicians include kid friendly magic tricks and may even teach the children a couple of tricks of their own. If this is the case, be sure to purchase any potential items necessary for the event for the children ahead of time. Also, consider giving away magic tricks as game prizes or party favors so the theme is continued throughout the party. Your child is sure to enjoy the fun filled tricks, jokes, and illusions that a professional magician can provide.