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Fri, 11 Jan 2008 09:08:00 +0100  Everyone has seen hip hop jewelry, which ranges from jumbo dookie rope chains to iced out diamond crosses and ridiculously bright watches. Now, with the availability of replica styles on the internet, you even see your friends wearing bling jewelry. Hip hop jewelry is made with large amounts of precious metal like gold and platinum then laced with rare gemstones such as diamonds, rubies and sapphires. Because of this, it is very expensive, more so than most other types of jewelry. This makes it a status symbol because only a select few can afford to wear it. Within hip hop, it is a symbol of success and hard work. Not many fans and stars come from rich backgrounds. Most of us have to work hard and ride out the hustle in hopes of a brighter future. Along the way, some hip hop jewelry is a reward as well as a constant reminder of how far we've come. It is a fashion statement as well. Much like the clothes you wear and the shoes you buy, hip hop jewelry says a lot about you. With tons of designs to choose from, there is something that fits you style. Most bling exudes attitude. It screams out I am a unique individual and I don't care what you think. The bottom line is that is their preference and it reflects their unique personalities, anyone who objects probably can't afford to buy it anyway. Luckily for us and many others, hip hop jewelry doesn't have to be expensive. It can be made with cheaper base metals like brass and sterling silver. The jewelry can be set with replica diamond stones instead of real diamonds. This makes it available to the masses and now you can buy hip hop jewelry without recklessly spending your hard earned dollars. Tue, 11 Dec 2007 08:31:00 +0100  African carvings are symbols of power and ritual in the life of the tribe. They are used for fertility, divination, status, rites of passage, music and many other functions. An African legend states that spirits of dead beings choose trees as a resting place, between the worlds. A wood carver or sculptor has only to scratch away the surface of the wood to reveal the spirit inhabiting the tree. In African culture wood carvers are given a special place in the community, and are well respected for their creativity. They have the ability to show to everyone the beauty and magic that lurk in a dead piece of fire wood. When a person views African art, several themes seem to come up over and over again. These themes are representations of different things that are significant to African culture; and reveal the importance behind some of its most beautiful art. Couples are most commonly shown as freestanding figures of relatively the same size and stature. They may be representative of ancestors, a married couple, twins, or community founders. This is representative of the importance placed on two as one. Most art of this type was developed for shrines or for positions of ceremonial honor. Sexual intimacy is rare in African carvings. This in that it is rare for men and women to display their affection publicly. The most common theme of the male and female couple is that of strength and honor; not love and intimacy. The mother and child couple is often representative of mother earth and the people as her children. African women will generally have a very strong desire for children as well however. The strong desire that a woman has to bear children further shows the strong mother child relationship that is a vital part of African culture.  A male with a weapon or animal (commonly a horse) is commonly produced to show honor to departed ancestors. Animals are rarely sculpted for the purpose of showing the inward or outward beauty of the animal; but to give status to the person. Even today, many in Africa would consider the ownership of a horse to be of greater status than the ownership of an automobile. Showing a person with a horse would then be giving great honor to them. Sometimes people are shown with animals that are not really ridden; possibly even mythical. The purpose is to show the power given to one who rides such an animal; and the wealth that they must have. As women achieve significance through their children, men will often be honored in warfare. The one who goes into battle must have physical, emotional and spiritual energy to survive and to conquer. Thus the emphasis on weapons and the spoils of war in many African works. A final common representation in African art is that of the stranger. In Africa, a stranger is someone from a different country or tribe. They would usually not be welcomed; and the more distorted the portrayal of the stranger, the greater the gap that is normally symbolized. Sometimes strangers; especially white foreigners; are given a form of respect based on their relatively great weaponry and other powers. Unfortunately, much of African art comes with no explanation of the meaning intended to be symbolized when it was created. When the meaning can be discerned, the deeper understanding gained and fuller appreciation of the cultural heritage can be obtained in a more meaningful and memorable way. Tue, 11 Dec 2007 08:04:00 +0100 People have used perfume, oils and unguents on their bodies for thousands of years in lesser or greater amounts dependant on fashion whims. The early Egyptians used perfumed balms as part of religious ceremonies and later as part of pre love making preparations. Myrrh and Frankincense were exuded gums from trees used to scent the atmosphere in rituals. Other plants such as rose and peppermint were steeped in oils until a perfumed unguent formed. The unguent was then rubbed into the skin. It's interesting to note that perfume has come full circle today as more and more of us seek out high quality aromatherapy perfumed oils to use in exactly the same way as our ancestors did.
By the 1600s scents were applied to objects such as furniture, gloves and fans. In the Georgian Era non greasy eau de cologne was developed and it had many uses from bath essence to mouthwash. The late 19th century was the first real era of perfume as we know it when new scents were created because of advances in organic chemistry knowledge. Synthetic perfume products were used in place of certain hard to find or expensive ingredients. At the same time a similar chemical knowledge development happened in textile printing dyes. Grasse in Provence, France became a centre for flower and herb growing for the perfume industry. The men who treated leathers in the same area found the smells so bad they perfumed themselves and the leathers. They were knowledgeable about making the botanical essences and were the early perfume noses. But it was only in the 20th century that scents and designer perfumes were really mass produced. Before that, the few trade names that existed were Coty and Yardley who made fairly light scents with familiar smells. Technorati Tags: perfume fragrance perfumes fragrances scent scents Wed, 18 Apr 2007 07:34:00 +0200  Since the beginning of recorded history, humans have looked for ways to understand, interpret and obtain a deeper meaning of events. Many of the tools used in modern psychic readings have their roots in Egyptian, Grecian and Roman civilizations. Over thousands of years gifted, natural born psychics and talented scholars have studied and learned to use these tools. In modern times, the spiritualist movement in the late 1800's and contemporary "new age" movement have continued to evolve psychic practices. We use the term "psychic readings" broadly. That's because the psychic arts encompass a wide range of practices. There is no single right way to be psychic and there are many approaches to offering psychic readings. They can explore and discover which approach to psychic readings works for them. Some say psychic readings are not about fortune telling, not about ominous predictions, guaranteed love spells, stereotyped gypsy women in turbans, or any of the psychic scary stuff that Hollywood sells. It was mentioned that psychic readings are about sharing intuitive gifts and offering insight. Maybe the readings can offer insights about relationships, recommendations for making a change in your life, provide relevant information that can make a difficult decision easier to make or increase awareness of influences that may be impacting our life. Many of us may have experienced magical, fleeting moments of psychic awareness at one time or another. A sudden feeling that the telephone is going to ring, or knowledge of who is calling before you pick up the receiver. A certain sense that a loved one has been injured or is in trouble. Or perhaps walking into a new place, and yet knowing that sometime, somehow, you had been there before. Psychic impressions may come to us in the form of dreams, everyday hunches, synchronistic experiences that seem to defy logic, and even chance encounters or conversations with friends and strangers. Technorati Tags: psychic psychic+readings new+age+movement psychic+practices fortune+telling ominous+predictions love+spells gypsy psychic+awareness psychic+impressions dreams tarot astrology tarot+readers astrology+readers Tue, 17 Apr 2007 08:30:00 +0200  Do you have a problem finding good shoes because of the size of your feet? Thousands of women have hobbled through life in too tiny shoes, unaware, embarrassed and underserved by a shoe industry that largely failed to make stylish footwear big enough for their feet. The mainstream footwear industries are now waking up to a full footed demand for upper-end shoes sizes 11 and above. At the same time, sales are booming at online niche outlets that only sell hip, larger shoes, challenging industry business models and prodding manufacturers to make more. Behind the boom is the ever expanding American foot, which is growing bigger than ever before. More than a third of American women today wear a size 9 or larger, triple the number who did 18 years ago. Seventy percent of shoes are sold to the under 30 set, who’ve been disappointed trying to buy sizable strappy stilettos at the local mall. The internet has flooded frustrated yet fashion conscious full footers with new options proving that demand for chic, large styles exists. No one is entirely sure why feet are expanding, but they are. The average women’s shoe sold last year, a size 8.5, was nearly double the typical 4.5 sold in 1900, and a full size bigger than the average sold a generation ago. Americans are, on average, an inch taller and 25 pounds heavier than they were in 1960, and extra weight, podiatrists say, puts pressure on feet, stretching ligaments and causing feet to spread. Americans are also living longer, and feet can expand with age as arches fall. In addition, children are growing faster, thanks to improved nutrition and health care, and they shun the hard leather loafers of their parents’ generation, wearing less restrictive athletic shoes that give their feet more room to grow. The size hike could also reflect that for the first time, people are simply reporting their sizes accurately because they are finally finding shoes that fit. The new generation could avoid a lot of the damage that too tiny shoes can cause, preventing the corns, bunions and mallet toes that can deform feet in ways reminiscent of ancient Chinese foot binding. Some 80 percent of all foot ailments are in fact shoe-related and doctors estimate that American women spend more than $3 billion a year on surgical foot repair. Still, the footwear industry has long balked at producing bigger shoes. Unsure that the oversize market would support their investment, manufacturers are hesitant to spend money to make large shoes and retailers worry that they won't able to unload them. Luckily there are many online retailers that cater to men and women that need larger shoes. Technorati Tags: big+feet large+feet big+shoes large+shoes footwear stylish+footwear shoes+size+11 corns bunions mallet+toes foot+binding surgical+foot+repair shoe+retailer shoe+retailers shoe+ladies shoe+women Mon, 16 Apr 2007 08:49:00 +0200  When you want to buy a cotton shirt, it is a lot easier and just as inexpensive to pick one up at the shop. However, when it comes to items like dresses, sewing can be more economical and the quality better. Many children's items are easily made from pants and tops to pajamas and bathrobes. If you are going to sew for yourself, you will have to take more care. You need to know which type of fabrics you like, the lines that flatter you, and the colors you look best in. You would think this knowledge would come naturally, but you can get very confused looking at all the different fabrics and colors when you are in the store. Then you need to make sure you alter the pattern if you need adjustments for your size. Once you get a pattern that fits, you can use it over and over with variations that make it look different. When an item of clothing you own wears out, you can pull apart the seams and use the pieces as a pattern and make the item with new fabric. When you become skilled, you can turn men's suits into boy's suits, alter larger size clothing that you may find at a thrift store to fit you, or even sew for others. The great thing about sewing today for the beginner is that fashions are very relaxed, and there are many very simple patterns. You don't have to fight with set in sleeves if you don't want to. Most of us do not need to make the stiff, heavily interfaced and lined suits of yesterday. We can get buy with casual clothes and a few dresses, or skirts and blouses. Keep sewing costs down by buying patterns and notions secondhand. There always seems to be a wide selection at thrift stores. Summer clothes are very economical to make. You don't need much fabric, and it is lighter weight and more economical. The joy of patchwork and quilting is also being discovered by more and more home sewers especially the unique fabric combinations, the placement of the fabric pieces, and the finishing touches with quilting or embroidery. If you've thought about sewing, now is a good time to give it a try. If you are very nervous, find someone who teaches classes out of their home, or take one at your community college. There are also many good books to help beginners. Find a friend who will help. Most people are more than willing to help others. Read more about some of the latest books dedicated to the art of needle and thread. There are a number of sewing magazines with full of inspiration and projects as well as stories for all skill levels. Technorati Tags: sew sewing sewing+dress sewing+dresses patchwork quilting embroidery sewing+class sewing+classes sewing+notions quilting+patterns sewing+patterns quilting+supplies sewing+supplies fabric+stores Mon, 16 Apr 2007 07:52:00 +0200  Like it or not, email is still the best way to reach a mass online audience and even community sites and online services are willing to use it. The question that remains unanswered is whether these companies are providing an additional service or if they are overstepping the bounds with net users. Spam email is no longer the mild irritant it once was. It’s clogging corporate networks and ISP mail servers and has become a real productivity drain, forcing corporate and consumer email users to spend a lot of time a day dealing with this deluge of junk. More and more legitimate email is not getting through to recipients due to Spam filtering taking place via ISPs or corporate networks. Opt-in email campaign is one solution. If you do decide to use this campaign, make sure you buy opt-in email lists from legitimate top-tier broker or list managers who are well established, not “over-sending” messages to list subscribers and who are constantly refreshing their list quality by adding new subscribers. Critical questions to ask brokers include how many messages are sent to each list recipient per month, how are new subscribers added and what is the percentage of new members added per month, are they using “third party” lists to augment their own, are their lists “double opt in” and last but not least, what is their privacy policy and how strictly do they adhere to published industry standards. Newsletter insert advertising is considered very effective. It is now possible to track when and if people clicked on a text link ad in a newsletter. With new technology which enables virtually any publisher to provide you with this information, enabling you to track your ROI for the media buy. Finally, the real beauty of newsletter text advertising is that it is very targeted and people want to receive the information so you can be confident your ad will at least be viewed by some finite number of prospects. Email is something personal and most people see their email box as their personal space. I think when it comes to email, if you did not specifically sign up for a list, you will consider your privacy being violated. Technorati Tags: email email+marketing spam opt+in+list opt+in+lists spam+email junk+email opt+in+email email+campaign email+campaigns newsletter newsletter+advertising email+advertising email+marketing+software Fri, 13 Apr 2007 03:00:00 +0200  We've never really thought about the importance of our skin. Here are the things you should know. The skin's jobs are to form a protective layer over the body to help prevent injury and disease, to keep moisture in the body, to make vitamin D, to regulate body temperature and to excrete waste. The outer layer of skin is the epidermis and the inner layer is called the dermis. It contains hair follicles, nails, nerves, sweat and oil glands and blood vessels. The skin keeps your insides from falling out. It helps you warm up when you're cold and can cool you off when you're hot. It lets you feel things by touch. It protects you. So let's learn how to take good care of the skin you're in. Like the heart, stomach and brain, your skin is an organ. In fact, it's the largest organ in your body, but it's still easy to take skin for granted. Unless there's a problem, you may not think about your skin very much. But skin has an important job to do. Your skin is constantly protecting you. Your skin keeps infections out of your body and keeps you from getting sick. When you take care of your skin, you're helping your skin do its job. And taking care of your skin today will help prevent future problems, like wrinkles and even skin cancer. Keeping your hands clean is especially important because your hands can spread germs to the skin on other parts of your body. When washing your hands, use water that's comfortably warm. Wet your hands, then lather up with a mild soap. You should lather and rub everywhere, including the palms, the wrists, between the fingers, and under the nails. Rinse well, dry thoroughly with a clean towel, and you're done. You'll also want to use water that's warm, not too hot, when you take a shower or bath. Use a gentle soap to clean your body. Don't forget under your arms and behind your ears. It's a good idea to wash your face once or twice daily with warm water and a mild cleanser. If you look in the drugstore, you'll see shelf after shelf of skin care products. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about what to use on your skin. If you have dry, flaky, or itchy skin, you might use a moisturizing lotion or cream. When choosing a moisturizer, pick one without a lot of colors and perfumes. If you are worried about pimples, look for a moisturizer that is non-comedogenic, that won't cause pimples. With pimples, you might think that scrubbing your face is the way to get rid of them. But actually, your skin will be less likely to break out if you clean it gently, using your fingertips, not a rough washcloth. Everyone wants to have younger looking skin. Unfortunately, even the most expensive face creams, with all their claims of reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, can't turn back the years. In order to look after our skin properly, first we need to understand it. Our body's largest organ is made up of three layers. The outer epidermis comprises pigment cells, the stratum corneum surface layer, which is made up of flat, dead skin cells, and the basal layer where new cells are generated and travel upwards. The middle dermis layer contains blood vessels, nerves, oil glands, collagen fibres and elastin. The inner subcutaneous layer contains blood vessels, hair follicles and fat cells. There are a number of reasons that determine how quickly our skin ages ranging from genetic factors, your natural skin type, as well as external factors such as exposure to sunlight, environmental factors and whether you smoke or not. In general, pale skins wrinkle faster than darker skins, which are protected by increased amounts of pigment and lipids. Another vital factor is, of course, our age. Our skin is very different at 20 to how it is when we are 70. Technorati Tags: skin skin+care wrinkles skin+cancer dry+skin flaky+skin itchy+skin moisturizing+lotion moisturizing+cream moisturizer pimples dead+skin skin+cells skin+care+products Fri, 13 Apr 2007 01:49:00 +0200  Motocross racing is inherently dangerous. There is always a risk of serious injury. Riders should not participate in events or ride unless they have adequate medical insurance to cover a catastrophic injury. Riders or their guardians are solely responsible for preparing all equipment. Ride at your own risk. Whether you already own a bike, are going to buy a new bike or are planning on buying a used machine you will still have to find a dealer to get parts and service as well as additional advice on getting started. There is a simple rule in racing, dress for the crash, not for the ride. The more gear you have on the more likely you are to go home sore then to end up in the Emergency room. Amateur riders, especially young beginning riders should be more concerned with wearing as much protection as possible. Sizes on gear vary a great deal and are not always accurate. Helmet is the single most important piece of protection you will buy. A helmet should be snug going on and off but not so tight it is uncomfortable. A full-face helmet offers more protection against both front and side impacts than a helmet with a bolt on mouth guard. Goggles should always be worn. Get used to them when you practice and you will feel naked without them later. Try different brands on while wearing your helmet to find the ones that are most comfortable. Make sure you get a lexan or similar lens and learn to clean them with care so they will last. Body armor is also know as chest and back protectors. It is important to learn to ride with these from the beginning since they can take some getting used to later. These can help protect from an impact injury by spreading the impact over a wider area. Long sleeve shirts are required to race. Racing pants are not required to race. Jeans are okay to star out in. It is recommended to buy some sort of kneepads. Most dealers sell them to go inside race pants so you will have to buy them eventually anyway. If you want to know what happens with out kneepads, let a friend hit you with a hammer on the kneecap. Gloves are also recommended. Elbow pads are optional also and are a good idea for beginners. To race some sort of boot that covers the ankle is required. When you buy motocross boots it is important to take the time to break them in properly. If you try to race with them before they are you will have a hard time working the controls on your bike which could result in an accident. If you are buying for your child get them a little big, but not too big, to allow for growth. If you take care of boots they will last quite awhile and then you can sell them to another rider. Motocross differs from a lot of sports because unlike team sports like baseball, football or soccer, it is an individual sport. This can be helpful in teaching young people personal responsibility. If they set a goal and come up short there is no one else to blame. As in any sport that involves young people there are parents that sometimes push to hard for success. The difference is that if you push to hard in motocross it can result in your rider and possibly other riders getting injured. Motocross is hardly as easy as the pro riders make it look. There are skills that will develop only with time and practice. Technorati Tags: motocross motocross+racing motorbike motorcycles motocycle+parts motorcycle+accessories motorcycle+tools ATV honda suzuki yamaha kawasaki polaris bombardier harley+davidson triumph ducati BMW sea+doo Wed, 11 Apr 2007 03:55:00 +0200  In ancient Rome, gifts were exchanged during the New Year’s celebrations. At first these gifts were simple, such as a few twigs from a sacred grove and food. Many gifts were in the form of vegetables in honor of the fertility goddess Strenia. During the Northern European Yule, fertility was celebrated with gifts made of wheat products, such as bread and alcohol. While most of this giving was done on a voluntary basis, history has had its share of leaders who did their best to ensure they would have plenty of gifts to open. One year Emperor Caligula of Rome declared to all that he would be receiving presents on New Year’s Day; gifts he deemed inadequate of his stature were ridiculed. Then there was Henry III, who closed down the merchants of England one December because he was not impressed with the amount of their monetary gifts. Like many old customs, gift exchange was difficult to get rid of even as Christianity spread and gained official status. Early church leaders tried to outlaw the custom, but the people cherished it too much to let it go. So the church leaders sought a Christian justification for the practice. The justification was found in the Magi’s act of bearing gifts to the infant Jesus, and in the concept that Christ was a gift from God to the world, bringing in turn the gift of redemption and everlasting life. Even though the roots of the giving present extend to ancient times, the gift giving tradition we are familiar with today owes perhaps the most to Victorian England. The Victorians, who brought a renewed warmth and spirit after it had experienced a long period of decline, made the idea of family part of the celebration. The ultimate reason for giving a gift was as an expression of kindness, a sentiment that went nicely with the historical tradition of the holiday. The Victorians surrounded the act of gift giving with a great deal of ingenuity and merriment: simply tearing into a cache of wrapped boxes would have been to miss the point. Far more thought and preparation than that were in order during the holiday season. They had cobweb parties, which was a lot of messy fun. Each family member was assigned a color, then shown to a room crisscrossed with yarn of various colors. Each person was to follow an assigned color through the web of yarn until he or she reached the present tied to the end. By the late nineteenth century the simple and non-materialistic gift giving tradition had began to wither away. Gift giving had come face to face with commercialism, and the new message was to buy. Technorati Tags: gifts gift+giving christmas+gifts gift+baskets corporate+gift baby+gifts wedding+gift corporate+gifts gourmet+gift+basket flowers wine+gift fruit+basket holiday+gift+basket Wed, 11 Apr 2007 02:35:00 +0200  Renaissance Florence has often been described as the birthplace of modern individualism, as reflected in the individual genius of its great artists, scholars, and statesmen. Renaissance Florence had a productive and progressive culture with a tradition of skill in the crafts. The combination of new ideas from the past and traditional Florentine values fostered and environment that bred creativity. The mercantile economy gave Florence vitality and it offered many chances of upward social mobility. The people and families working their way up the social food chain became the new bourgeosie who were great patrons of the arts. By commisioning works of art, they cemented their names and reputations in the history of Florence forever. The clients of these bourgeois patrons also gained acclaim for their works as Florentines were interested in art and ready to praise works of high quality. Residents of Florence were interested in classical studies such as language and writing, as well as architecture, math and the sciences. Humanism was wide spread and the study of antiquity became a passion of the elite. Artists flourished in this environment where they could hone thier skills as well as make money. They were not free to paint, draw or build whatever they wanted, but work was available and they were able to make grand works of art. Public discussion became more important as the residents of Florence became more involved in their community and the governing of their city. They worked under a mercantile system, which promoted individual action, and as men with increased leisure time, were provided with the option to futher their education by studying their classical history. Florentine society demanded that since there was no real definitive upper-class, as anyone could advance to such a position, these middle-class citizens should make an impression upon society by commissioning great works of art. The ability to do so was provided by the fact that there was increased leisure time to comission such art, and for the enjoyment of such pieces of art. It was then that artisans became artists, as the interpretations they placed on each of their works with their own distinctive characteristic ways of creating the art began to create the Florentine renaissance in the cultural arts. There were also different interests in intellectual ideas, and this spurred on the cultural expansion in its literary form. The artists and the patrons intermingled, situations in which discourse produced ideas which would become great art. Technorati Tags: renaissance+florence renaissance+arts renaissance+artifacts renaissance+crafts florentine+artisan venetian+masks Tue, 10 Apr 2007 07:24:00 +0200 A merchant account allows a business to accept credit cards, debit cards, gift cards and other forms of payment cards. This is also widely known as payment processing or credit card processing. Merchants, or business owners who receive credit card payment for their goods or services, must apply for a merchant account typically through a merchant bank or Merchant Service Provider. When searching for a merchant account provider make sure not only are they disclosing their best deal, but they are indeed disclosing the material facts. When you shop for your merchant account, see what information they give you without you having to ask about something. Typically all they quote you is a rate, transaction fee and monthly fee. Deciding when to get your own merchant account for internet sales can be a confusing and expensive venture. In addition to the cost is the technical aspect of setting up your site to use a shopping cart and real-time processing. Not all gateways, merchant accounts and shopping carts play well together. You must make sure that each can work with each other. Plus be prepared to properly set up your web server to use all this nice technical information the accounts give you. If you are a larger business or do a lot of sales each month perhaps your own merchant account is the answer for you. It can save you money in the long run. But if you are just starting out with an online business, then a third party merchant may be the answer for you. Third party merchants handle all the background details, pay the monthly fees, assume the risks of fraud and charge backs, and handle all the secure shopping your customers will expect when shopping online. While the monthly fees may be a bit higher, there usually isn't a set up charge, gateway fees, SSL charges and shopping cart set up. Depending on the service you choose, they can give you simple HTML code to add to your site or allow you to use "buy buttons" or both. Some companies charge a set up fee and a per transaction fee. Then there is always Paypal. A useful service for new comers to the online payment arena but it has its drawbacks. Your customer must set up an account with them. They can freeze your account. They can set limits on monthly transactions. I suggest you explore all your options and decide what is best for you financially and technically. A little research online can save you money and time in the long run. Mon, 09 Apr 2007 04:38:00 +0200  The world becomes more brilliant each moment any of us dares to explore and express ideas, feelings and perceptions through creative activities. Your creative essence is whatever makes you feel alive and brings out your passion and excitement. Feeling awe or childlike wonder are good clues as they are sparks of inspiration. Artists create art to communicate ideas, thoughts, or feelings. They use a variety of methods like painting, sculpting, or illustration and an assortment of materials, including oils, watercolors, acrylics, pastels, pencils, pen and ink, plaster, clay, and computers. Artists’ works may be realistic, stylized, or abstract and may depict objects, people, nature, or events. Drawing is an important part of art, but art also includes photography, painting, fashion design, film-making, music, new media and sculpture. Drawing, like all art, requires practice and dedication, you may simply need to spend more time more drawing, and draw things you are really interested in, people you know or things you see around you, even on TV. Never picked up a paintbrush? Don't think you can draw a straight line? Haven't been creative since those old high school days? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, try attending an art class. There are many art classes out there for you to get a taste of working with various art mediums including charcoal, pastels, ink, and acrylic paints. Using a wide variety of artistic techniques and materials, you can create your own unique artwork, both through drawing, painting, and multi-media expression while learning about color, composition, texture, shape and more. Working from still life as well as abstraction, you will learn to create from observation combined with personal expression. A good drawing instruction book can be a wonderful resource for the beginner. Many authors have years of teaching and art-making experience that you can benefit from. Different styles will suit different people. Consider whether you are an active learner who likes to experiment and pick out the good bits, or whether you prefer a steady, step-by-step program that will guide you all the way. The value of your art does not have to depend on the opinions of others. If you create something, and you love it, why let the opinions of others take that joy away? You don't have to earn a penny from your art to be an artist. You don't have to have your work hanging in a gallery or a museum. It doesn't matter if no one apparently likes your art. You are the only one who needs to like it. Pablo Picasso, a celebrated name in the world of art said: "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up." If you believe that there is no hope for the artist within you, think again. Pick up a pencil and create your own expression of art. It is time to rediscover the artist within you. Mon, 09 Apr 2007 03:47:00 +0200  Planning your next RV trip can be pretty frustrating and time consuming. If you are interested in the great outdoors, an RV is a great way to vacation. You can visit state or national parks, tour famous landmarks and simply enjoy some fresh air and natural settings. Take a hike or go fishing. Try white water rafting or canoeing. Play some golf, go swimming, ride your bike. Get some exercise or simply do nothing but enjoy your surroundings. In an RV, you can have the best of both worlds. Enjoy the great outdoors with more creature comforts than tent camping. Whether you own an RV or try a rental, most RVs are well equipped. You will likely have a kitchen with microwave, fridge and stove, a TV and VCR, beds, living and dining areas and bathroom with shower. Many RVs have slide out rooms that increase the living area at the touch of a button. You can sit outside under your awning, get out of the rain if the weather changes, and turn on the air conditioner if it gets too hot. Family members of all ages tend to connect with each other when they are away from their normal routine enjoying a simpler lifestyle. Remember that family togetherness can be a double-edged sword. While the RV is comfortable, it is a small living area for a large family. If you are renting, bear this in mind in choosing the size of your rental RV. During the day, try to spend time outdoors or in different activities, so that each family member gets a bit of personal space and time for themselves. But the minor logistics can be managed. The general consensus among RVing families is that an RV vacation tends to bring the family closer together with more communication and the sharing of good times. An RV vacation can be a great way to travel with children. They can go out to play or take part in campground activities. There are likely to be other kids to meet and new places to explore. Children of all ages will enjoy an old-fashioned campfire complete with stories, songs and stargazing. And most kids think it's pretty cool to be in an RV "home on wheels". There are many choices in campgrounds and RV parks. In peak season and tourist areas, you should make reservations. Look for the amenities that are important to you. Campgrounds may have swimming pools, lakes, boating, fishing ponds, miniature golf, playgrounds, hiking trails, game rooms, walking or bike paths, tennis courts and activities for kids and adults. You may find dances, barbeques, contests or other entertainment. RV Clubs are worth joining to get campground discounts and other services. Consider the size and setting of the campsites and check out overall campground ratings in campground directories. Also consider proximity to other attractions or landmarks that you want to visit. In an RV, you have the flexibility to change locations if you get the whim. But take this with a grain of salt. For popular destinations, you may not be able to pick up and find another campground without a reservation. You also want to strike the right balance between seeing different areas, the amount of time spent driving and ensuring you have enough time to relax. Cautions aside, an RV can give you a lot of freedom and spontaneity. RV travel appeals to an inner pioneering spirit and allows you to create your own adventure as you go along your way. You can explore the country at your own pace or take off for last minute mini-vacations, tailgating events and weekend trips. The question of whether it is cheaper to take an RV vacation doesn't have a "one size fits all" answer. The comparison really depends on the type of vacations you would take instead, as well as the way in which you plan to RV. For a one-time trip, you can compare the costs of renting a suitable RV to the costs of hotels, airfare or other means of travel. Or if you are considering regular RV vacations, you may want to purchase a motorhome or towable trailer. In this case, you would need to factor in operating costs, maintenance and the purchase price. In an RV, you can save money by cooking meals at home vs. dining out. You can minimize expenses if you take advantage of activities and amenities already included in the campground rate. Fuel expenses can be managed by reducing the distances traveled and staying longer at a given campground or park. Driving yourself gives you control over where you go and the pace of your travel. You don't have the hassle of airline counters and keeping to schedules. You can stop and take a break when you choose. You don't need a special license to drive an RV. Sure, it takes some getting used to but the number of RVs on the road should tell you that it is doable. Practice on your own or with one other person before you load up your passengers. Take advantage of any classes available through your dealer or one of the many RV organizations. How many times have you returned from a trip saying you need a vacation from the vacation? Now don't kid yourself if you are the type who likes to schedule all the details of a trip, that's not going to change simply because you are traveling in an RV. But in choosing an RV vacation, you may shift your thinking and be more apt to use your time off as an opportunity to truly relax and unwind. Technorati Tags: RV+trip planning+rv+trip outdoors vacation outdoor+vacation national+parks state+parks tour+famous+landmarks hiking fishing white+water+rafting canoeing play+golf swimming bike+riding RV+rental lifestyle RVing+families family+vacation campfire stargazing campgrounds boating fishing+ponds hiking+trails barbeques motorhome towable+trailer Thu, 05 Apr 2007 03:32:00 +0200  The proms of today are very elaborate and exciting affairs, and ones that are talked about and prepared for by students long before the actual event. The prom has become a who's who of high school society and as the dance approaches the pressure is on to find a suitable prom partner, and preferably someone that can give you a helping hand to the coveted title of prom king or queen. Proms weren't always the exciting frenzy of posh outfits, stunning hairstyles, stretch limos and hot dates as they are today. In fact, during the early part of the twentieth century, the dance was a small-time, simple affair with little in the way of organization or preparation. As the decades passed and different types of music exploded on to the scenes, high school proms began to become more and more elaborate. Live bands and huge halls were hired for the event, and students began to take more of an interest in the dance, how they looked at the dance and who they took with them to the dance! High schools began to add to the excitement of the prom by introducing the idea of the prom king and queen, a title that all the most popular couples vied for year after year. With each decade came a new type of band, changing fashions and increasing excitement, which has culminated in the high school prom that we know today. What started many moons ago as a stiff, very polite and downsized affair has turned into the most exciting event of the year for most students. The high school prom of today is a flurry of excitement and preparation, where the stores stock up with elaborate gowns and tuxedos, the limo companies prepare for a massive influx of bookings and the students fret about everything from how they should wear their hair to how they should ask their dream date to the dance. For many schools, the live bands have been replaced by sizzling DJs with a range of the latest tunes to get the students on the dance floor, and the atmosphere in the huge halls hired for these dances is usually electric. Once dinner is over, the evening tends to become more and more exciting, with the announcement of the prom king and queen, everyone strutting their stuff on the dance floor, and relationships often moving on to the next level for some couples. One of the most exciting yet stressful parts of preparing for this night of all-out excitement is finding the perfect outfit, and this is particularly true for the girls, who now have such a wide choice of dresses and gowns it can be hard to know which way to turn. Every girl at the prom wants to look special and unique, and stepping from the limo and walking in to the crowded room feeling like a princess can be a wonderful feeling. However, it can also be a feeling that lasts for only several seconds as you realize that every other girl in the room has the same dress and hairstyle as you! After all of your months of preparation, this can be a real downer. However, there is a way to avoid this problem - don't shop at the local mall where practically every other female going to the dance is likely to shop. If everyone shops at the same mall, it is only natural that the same dress will catch at least a few girls eyes. And if the choice is limited, this is even more likely to happen. So, what's the answer? Don't limit your choice to the few shops at the local mall! Instead, you could have access to fabulous prom dresses from all over the country, which means that you have a pretty good chance of getting a dress that nobody else is going to be wearing! And how can you get access to this wealth of wonderful outfits? By going online. Technorati Tags: prom proms highschool+prom highschool+proms high+school+prom high+school+proms prom+outfits prom+king prom+queen prom+gowns prom+tuxedos prom+date prom+dance prom+outfit prom+dresses formal+dresses prom+accessories prom+gloves prom+handbags prom+lingerie prom+shoes Wed, 04 Apr 2007 02:09:00 +0200  The Caribbean is still, for many, the ultimate cruise experience! The turquoise waters, coral reefs, sugar plantations, luxurious white beaches, reggae, rum and absolute relaxation are what come to mind for a perfect holiday of self indulgence. Most cruises are characterised by sailing from one island to the next, making it a kaleidoscope of experiences including sunbathing, snorkelling, shopping, nightlife, carnivals, sumptuous fresh seafood and breathtaking natural scenery. Cruising in Alaska offers intimate exploration of picturesque waterways, narrow channels and tiny ports. The focus is on the scenery, wildlife, natural history and culture. Steep and wild, blanketed in lush evergreen forests below snowcapped peaks, you will be taken into the inner reaches of this legendary waterway, close enough to see the barnacles on a whale’s tail and feel the chill of the glacier on your face. Fancy a Mediterranean cruise. Here you will find more than 25 centuries of history, art and culture. Imagine yourself walking in the footsteps of ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans and marvel at the accomplishments of Renaissance philosophers and artists. Indulging in the distinct and delicious cuisines of Greece, Italy, France and Spain. Shopping for treasures in silver, gold, leather and ceramics. Bask in the warmth and beauty of the Mediterranean's coastline and countryside. Australia and New Zealand provide some of the most unique and beautiful landscapes in the world. Spotlight the bustling metropolises of Sydney and Auckland, plus the incredible wildlife on land and at sea, and you have all the elements for a truly memorable vacation. Few travel experiences can rival the excitement of sailing into the glistening harbors of Sydney and Auckland, as well as inspiring attractions, such as scenic Fiordland National Park and the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef, just to name a few. Whether you're an adventure seeker or you just want to relax and recharge, Hawaii offers you the best of both worlds. The cruise can cover the four main Hawaiian islands - Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island of Hawaii. The ultimate playround, the islands of Hawaii boast a myriad of activities on both land and sea, including: snorkeling, scuba-diving, swimming, whale-watching, horseback riding, helicopter tours, hiking, golfing, big-game fishing and, of course, surfing. A cruise makes it very easy to do and see many things in such a short time. A land vacation for a comparable price would most likely involve a stay in many hotels, land transportations and travel time. Plus, you'd never be able to accomplish the cruise line's destinations on your own without spending many more dollars than your cruise fare is likely to cost. Cruises are best for families or people looking to fill their days with as many activities as possible. It's hard to please everybody on a vacation, but on a cruise there is always something for everyone. Technorati Tags: cruise cruises cruising caribbean+cruise turquoise+waters coral+reefs white+beaches reggae rum holiday perfect+holiday sunbathing snorkelling shopping nightlife carnivals seafood scenery alaskan+cruise cruise+alaska whale glacier mediterranean+cruise greece italy france spain australia new zealand alaska caribbean sydney auckland fiordland+national+park great+barrier+reef hawaii cruise-hawaii oahu maui kauai snorkeling scuba+diving swimming whale+watching big+game+fishing surfing family+cruise Tue, 03 Apr 2007 08:44:00 +0200  Candles have cast a light on man's progress for centuries. However, there is very little known about the origin of candles. Although it is often written that the first candles were developed by the Ancient Egyptians who used rushlights, or torches, made by soaking the pithy core of reeds in molten tallow, the rushlights had no wick like a candle. It is the Romans who are credited with developing the wick candle, using it to aid travelers at dark, and lighting homes and places of worship at night. Like the early Egyptians, the Roman's relied on tallow, gathered from cattle or sheep suet, as the principal ingredient of candles. It was not until the Middle Ages when beeswax, a substance secreted by honey bees to make their honeycombs, was introduced. Beeswax candles were a marked improvement over those made with tallow, for they did not produce a smoky flame, or emit an acrid odor when burned. Instead, beeswax candles burned pure and clean. However, they were expensive, and, therefore, only the wealthy could afford them. Colonial women offered America's first contribution to candlemaking when they discovered that boiling the grayish green berries of bayberry bushes produced a sweet-smelling wax that burned clean. However, extracting the wax from the bayberries was extremely tedious. As a result, the popularity of bayberry candles soon diminished. The growth of the whaling industry in the late 18th century brought the first major change in candlemaking since the Middle Ages, when spermaceti, a wax obtained by crystallizing sperm whale oil, became available in quantity. Like beeswax, the spermaceti wax did not elicit a repugnant odor when burned. Furthermore, spermaceti wax was found harder than both tallow and beeswax. It did not soften or bend in the summer heat. Historians note that the first standard candles were made from spermaceti wax. It was during the 19th century when most major developments affecting contemporary candlemaking occurred. In 1834, inventor Joseph Morgan introduced a machine which allowed continuous production of molded candles by the use of a cylinder which featured a movable piston that ejected candles as they solidified. Further developments in candlemaking occurred in 1850 with the production of paraffin wax made from oil and coal shales. Processed by distilling the residues left after crude petroleum was refined, the bluish-white wax was found to burn cleanly, and with no unpleasant odor. Of greatest significance was its cost. Paraffin wax was more economical to produce than any preceding candle fuel developed. And while paraffin's low melting point may have posed a threat to its popularity, the discovery of stearic acid solved this problem. Hard and durable, stearic acid was being produced in quantity by the end of the 19th century. By this period, most candles being manufactured consisted of paraffin and stearic acid. With the introduction of the light bulb in 1879, candlemaking declined until the turn of the century when a renewed popularity for candles emerged. Candle manufacturing was further enhanced during the first half of the 20th century through the growth of U.S. oil and meatpacking industries. With the increase of crude oil and meat production, also came an increase in the by-products that are the basic ingredients of contemporary candles paraffin and stearic acid. No longer man's major source of light, candles continue to grow in popularity and use. Today, candles symbolize celebration, mark romance, define ceremony, and accent decor, continuing to cast a warm glow for all to enjoy. Technorati Tags: candle candles origin+of+candles candle+wicks ingredient+of+candles beeswax+candles candlemaking wax bayberry+candles spermaceti spermaceti+wax paraffin+wax paraffin stearic+acid decor accent+decor |
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