Produce A Cartoon Book

Cartoons are significantly popular as a means of expressing humor, political ideas and art. Currently, cartoon books have gained much acclaim as effective formats for numerous topics topics. Thus, from comedy to politics, these books present individuals with a visual means of reading and following the creator's sense of humor and story. Creating your own cartoon book can be a great way to express your own ideas and sense of humor.

Instructions

1. Choose an topic for your cartoon's story-line. Research other cartoon books or comic strips to develop an idea for your theme.

2. Create an outline of the story/comedy you wish to tell. Just as any other book, the cartoon book must be carefully outlined before the author can actually begin writing. You may choose to continue one story or make a series of short comedy skits for the book. Consider how humor will play a role as you outline the story.

3. Write the full story using your outline as a guide. Remember that each part of the story must be integrated with a corresponding image. For instance, if the story takes place in a park, you would need to draw the park area in a box.

4. Sketch your characters to develop an idea for your story. You may even want to create sketches that correspond with their behavior in the story. If you are unfamiliar with cartoon animation, you may want to take a course or research cartoon images to understand the simplified form of cartoon drawings.

5. Segment your writing into numerous blocks. Consider your visual sketches to evaluate the most ideal segmentation for illustrations.

6. Research other comic books (and possibly graphic novels as an additional stylistic reference) to choose your book layout. You can either retain the plain series of boxed in art/text or you could also allow the images or text float outside the boxes. For instance, Carl Barks was known for allowing portions of the setting/characters to appear as if they could not fit in the page. Thus, a fishing pole might extend an inch or so outside its designated cartoon box.

7. Draw numerous blocks along your paper in accordance to your chosen layout. Each will represent the segment, thus leave ample space for text and drawings

8. Write in your segments into the blocks.

9. Draw a visual cartoon animation for each segment of the book. Place these inside the blocks.

10. Add any additional elements you decided to add for an adequate layout. For instance if you chose to include small flowers between boxes, include those now.

11. Outline everything in permanent marker.

Where Did Soul Music Originate

Where Did Soul Music Originate?

Soul music emerged from the African American experience; it is the love child of the blues and gospel. For over forty years, soul music has been a chart topper, boasting classics like "When a Man Loves a Woman," "Respect" and "In the Midnight Hour." Soul music continues to flourish through neo-soul artists including Alicia Keys and Erykah Badu.

Blues and Spirituals

The emotional tug of soul music stems from the blues and Negro spirituals. The soul aesthetic is reminiscent of the vocal techniques prominent in these two genres -- bending notes, melismas, whooping and shouting.

Rhythm and Blues and Gospel

Syncopated rhythms accentuated by a heavy bass line and clanging tambourines, as well as the use of organs and brass instruments for a call and response effect, are influences derived from R&B and gospel music.

Civil Rights Movement

The 1960s saw the rise of an ethnocentric consciousness with a message of hope that was channeled through music. Soul was the music of the black power movement; its lyrics and energy expressed the political and social struggle of African Americans.

Record Labels

In 1959, Motown Records began producing a slick, soulful style of pop music. By 1961, Stax Records was customizing a grittier, edgy brand of soul music with artists like Otis Redding and Sam and Dave.

Original Artists

Although not a soul singer per se, Clyde McPhatter set the vocal style and standard for soul music. Soul musicians who followed his lead include Ray Charles, James Brown, Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding and Al Green.

Kinds Of Instruments Within An Orchestra

Types of Instruments in an Orchestra

An orchestra is a group of musicians that takes direction from a conductor to play music together. If an orchestra has more than 50 musicians, it is termed a symphony orchestra. If an orchestra has less than 50 musicians it is called a chamber orchestra. Orchestras typically have four sections of instruments making up the group as a whole.

The Conductor

An orchestra conductor generally assumes charge of the orchestra. Often the conductor has a dual role in the orchestra and serves as the music director as well. As the music director and conductor, the person in this position will choose music and musicians and interpret the way music selections should be performed by the orchestra. The conductor will take charge of both rehearsals and actual performances. The conductor must make sure that the music is performed accurately and must oversee the orchestra's playing to make sure tempo, dynamics and style are properly executed.

Brass

The brass section is comprised of trumpets, trombones, French horns and tubas. Brass instruments all share a common mouthpiece where the musician forces air through the mouthpiece by vibrating the lips together. The number of each instrument is dependent on the overall size of the orchestra. Generally, there are at least two of each instrument and may be many more. Some brass instruments that are common in bands but less common in orchestras include the baritone and the sousaphone.

Woodwinds

The woodwind section is comprised of the bassoon, flute, clarinet and oboe. Most woodwind instruments have a reed mouthpiece and the musician blows air into the mouthpiece while moving the fingers along holes to play different notes. The flute is an exception to this because it does not have a reed mouthpiece. The flute is included in the woodwind section, however, because the sound of this instrument fits well with the other woodwind instruments. Typically, there are at least two of each woodwind instrument in an orchestra (and may be more depending on the size of the entire orchestra). The saxophone, while a woodwind instrument, does not usually play with an orchestra.

Strings

The strings section consists of the bass, the cello, the violin and the viola. Each of these instruments has four strings. Typically, a musician plays a stringed instrument with a bow; however, the strings can also be plucked to produce sound. The largest stringed instrument is the bass. The cello is slightly smaller than the bass. The next largest stringed instrument is the viola. The violin is the smallest stringed instrument. There are often two violin sections, whereas, there is only one section of the other stringed instruments.

Percussion

Any instruments that do not fall under the previous instrument categories fit into the percussion section. Generally, this includes drums, cymbals, gongs, bells, whistles, and any other instruments that a musician must shake, rattle or slide to make noise. Common drums include the large timpani drums, snare drums, tenor drums and bass drums. Cymbals range in size from small ones all the way up to large gongs. Bells are similar to a piano in their operation and are made from either wood or metal tubes.

Be Ready For Coachella

Be Prepared for Coachella

The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival takes place in the desert town of Indio, California every April. Coachella features several stages with rock, dance and hip-hop acts. Music fans camp out in RVs or tents during the three-day festival, or stay at nearby motels. The temperatures can hit three digits during Coachella, so concert attendees need to be prepared. Read on to learn be prepared for Coachella.

Instructions

1. Bring a bottle to refill at fountains or in restroom sinks. You can wait in long lines to buy water at the concession stands or be prepared to get free water on your own. Buy a hydration pack from a camping supply store and fit it into a backpack, and it'll save you time and money.

2. Write or type a band schedule before you leave. Many popular bands play at the same time, so make choices before you get in the car or RV. Check acts listed for the Mojave Tent, Gobi Tent, Coachella Stage and the smaller Oasis Dome. Plan an escape route if you're interested in glimpsing a few different bands playing at different stages at the same time.

3. Check out the Coachella website and message boards for updates. Last-minute changes occur every year, so be prepared for bands canceling or changing stages at the last-minute. If you have any questions about what you can bring into the campgrounds or stage area, post them here.

4. Pack up camping gear early in the week and head to Coachella early. If you've paid for a camping spot, get there when it opens Thursday night to ensure a good location.

5. Dress down, but bring layers for cool night weather. Wear sunscreen and a sleeveless top during the day when Coachella can be intolerably hot. However, the temperature drops 20 degrees or more at night, so bring a jacket. Be sure to keep it in a backpack so you won't lose it or drop it in the crowd.

Be Photogenic For Boys & Males

Look more natural by slightly shifting your weight to one side.

Some people claim to be naturally photogenic, but many more harbor anxiety about having their pictures taken. Luckily, there are tips and tricks that any person can learn to take better-looking photographs that bring out your best qualities. Learning some of the basics of photography will give you confidence for your next photo, a trait that will certainly lend itself to better pictures.

Instructions

1. Wash your face and clean your teeth. Most photos try to highlight the face. Wash your face with a cleanser and warm water the night before, and apply moisturizer if you are worried about dry skin. Brush your teeth just before the photo shoot so that you can show off your lovely smile.

2. Wear an outfit that makes you feel special. For some people dressing up can help them feel professional, important and neat. Others feel at their best in trendy or comfortable clothing. Even if the photo is just of your face, wearing the right outfit will help you feel more confident.

3. Turn your body slightly so you are not directly facing the camera. If you are standing, place one foot in front of the other and turn slightly at the hips. When seated, simply adjust your position so that your body is partially turned away. This keeps your figure looking slimmer.

4. Lean forward slightly toward the camera. Doing this will help you look like you are more relaxed and enjoying having your photograph taken.

5. Look in the direction of the camera, and fix your eyes slightly above the lens. A professional photographer may have an object sticking out of the camera for you to look at. Try not to look directly into the lens unless the tone of the photo is supposed to be dark or serious.

6. Tilt your head slightly up. This will make your neck look more attractive as well as create a better angle for the shot to capture your face.

7. Go outside at the right time to take your photo. When shooting outdoors, try to do it either the hour after sunrise or before sunset. Lighting at these times is soft and looks good on the face. Face the sun, then turn about 15 to 30 degrees away for the optimal angle.

8. Smile. When smiling, it is important to think about a thought that makes you genuinely happy. A gigantic grin is not usually the most appealing, Instead, aim for a natural, 75 percent smile.

Be Photogenic

You don't have to be a model or a celebrity to be photogenic. However, you can take some tips from these seasoned professionals and look your best in a photograph every time. It doesn't require a makeup artist or an expensive wardrobe, just a few insider tricks of the trade.

Instructions

1. Look slightly to the side of the lens. This reduces the chance of having red-eye from the flash and also avoids the "deer-in-the-headlights" look.

2. Stand with one foot slightly in front of the other, with your body angled to one side. This is a slimming pose for both men and women. Check out your favorite celebrity magazine to see how frequently this photogenic pose is used.

3. Think of a happy thought if you are going to smile for the camera. Remember to engage your whole face in the smile, so you don't appear as if you are revealing your teeth for a dental exam.

4. Tilt your shoulders back slightly. Most people have poor posture, which looks dreadful on film.

5. Tip your chin up, so that you avoid the appearance of a double chin. Even slender people will give themselves a double chin if they don't follow this photogenic tip.

6. Adopt a Mona Lisa expression of contentment if you don't like your smile. Bad teeth or not, a serious or melancholy look comes off as grim, not mysterious.

7. Ask the photographer to keep the camera slightly above your eye level, which will encourage you to lift your whole body towards the lens. A photographer should never crouch down on the ground in front of the subject, unless photographing small children.

End Up Like Pamela Anderson

Pamela Anderson

With her big hair, big smile and big assets, Pamela Anderson is every man's dream woman. Even in his movie "Borat," Sacha Baron Cohen made meeting Pamela his number one goal upon arriving in America. Her style may not be for every woman, but if you're willing to get some serious male attention, then here are some Pamela style tips that are bound to get you noticed.

Instructions

1. She may have been born a brunette, but Pamela had stardom on her mind and like Marilyn Monroe before her, the only way to do that was to go blonde. So if, like Pamela, you want to stand out from the crowd, you need to go super blonde.

2. Face it. When you think of Pamela Anderson there are really only two things you think of. And whether or not you're blessed with the real thing, if you wanna look like "Pammy," you gotta go for the double Cs.

3. In order to best show off your smokin' bod just like Pam, you need to wear the right clothes, if you can call them clothes. So whether you're going dancing, to a restaurant or grocery shopping, you need to wear the skimpiest of clothes. Make sure every top you own is super low cut and super tight and every skirt you wear is super short. Remember, if you want to dress like Pamela, you gotta be willing to let it all hang out.

4. Be willing to star in numerous sex tapes. Whether she approved them or not, Pamela has titillated America with her various sexcapades that were downloaded across millions of computer screens. So ladies, find yourself your favorite lover (or three) and plug in that camera. No one said being like Pam is for the faint of heart.

5. Be a vegetarian. She may be a sex pot, but Pamela also has a heart. And her heart belongs to animals. As a long time member of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Pam has posed nude for their posters, forsaken fur and meat and owns several rescued animals. So if Pamela is your role model, you've got to love the animals.

6. Get married and divorced several times, sometimes within the same month. Among her many talents, Pamela has pursued marriage like it was a second career. Between marrying and divorcing Tommy Lee, marrying Kid Rock in 3 different ceremonies (then divorcing him a mere 5 months later) THEN marrying Rick Solomon (Paris Hilton's infamous sex tape partner), Pamela has turned marriage and divorce into a fine art.

Info On The Movie Camera Introduced By Eadweard Muybridge

Today's films got their start from inventions like the Zoopraxiscope

History best remembers Eadweard Muybridge for his invention the Zoopraxiscope, a stop action motion picture viewer. Muybridge was born Edward James Muggeridge in Kingston upon Thames, England, in 1830. By the 1860s, he was living in San Francisco, California and working as a photographer, becoming world-renowned for his nature and landscape photographs. He later when on to develop a method for stop-motion photography and the development of the Zoopraxiscope as a way to view animation from his photographs.

Stop Motion Photography

In 1872, Muybridge began experimenting with motion photography. Leland Stanford, the railroad magnate, hired him to prove photographically that all four of a running horse's hooves are off the ground at some point in its gait. Muybridge was able to develop a system with 12 to 14 cameras with very fast shutters in a line. A moving object, like a horse running, would move past the cameras, which each took a still photograph. This creates a set of photographs each taken only a fraction of a section after another. Muybridge was later able to photograph people and other moving objects with a single camera with a very fast shutter.

Zoopraxiscope

Although his stop-motion photographs proved that a horse actually does have all of it hooves off the ground when galloping, doubters would not believe he could replicate animation photographically. To prove that he could, Muybridge developed a projection system to "playback" his photographs as a short animation. Because in his first attempts at this new method his photographs were all of animals, he named the Zoopraxiscope.

The main moving part of a Zoopraxiscope is a glass wheel. Individual images or photographs are painted or printed evenly spaced around the outside edge of the glass wheel. As the images on the wheel rotate rapidly past a lantern, the image projects. Because the glass wheel rotates fast, the images display so closely together that they give the illusion of animation. Essentially, the Zoopraxiscope applies the same principles as a cartoon flip-book.

Technology

The images on the glass wheel of Muybridge's Zoopraxiscope were typically painted or printed onto small triangular glass pieces that were then glued onto a 16-inch glass wheel. The glass wheel was similar to the later phonograph records in that it had a center mounting hole and center circular label. However, it did have a textured paper edging around its outside rim. Depending upon the amount of time separating the individual images of a sequence or their size, removable shutters controlled how much of the resulting animation was seen.

A separate and interchangeableset of lenses projected the animated images, with different lenses controlling the size of the projected images or the distance it was projected.

Zoopraxiscope's Legacy

The Zoopraxiscope may be the first film projector that actually showed motion photography in public. There is some debate on that, but nonetheless it Muybridge and the Zoopraxiscope were pioneers in the capture and presentation of animated images. In fact, Thomas Edison and William Dickson use the technology of the Zoopraxiscope along with other early projection systems to develop a camera that would record still images on film and a projection system that displays the images from the film. Nearly all of Muybridge's Zoopraxiscope disks still exist and are parts of several cinema history collections and museums.

Be Mission Impossible 007

He's suave, debonair and good with the ladies. He's apparently bullet-proof, too. James Bond, the fictional spy to end all spies, is perhaps the smoothest character ever created. While saving the world, Britain's 007 always finds his way out of the tight spots, usually accompanied by a gorgeous girl. Have a secret fantasy to live his life? Here are a few ways to get started.

Instructions

1. Develop a taste for martinis made with vodka and gin, rather than vermouth and gin. Just as 007 does, give strict instructions to the bartender that you want it shaken, not stirred.

2. Look fantastic in a tuxedo. Make sure the tux still looks good after fighting various cruel villains out to shake up world security. James Bond always looks perfect no matter what.

3. Drive absolutely awesome cars that are modified for life-saving situations. The cars will probably talk, shoot, go really fast and impress women. James Bond 007 always drives a jet black car.

4. Learn everything there is to know about poker, including the ability to read your opponent just by studying his demeanor. Never, ever lose a poker game.

5. Know that you are patriotic and loyal to your government, even when engaged in some questionable activities. Because you save the world, your government will always forgive you, just as the British government always gives 007 another chance.

6. Fight the bad guy at the drop of a hat. Know martial arts and be a weapons expert. You should be an expert with weapons unavailable to regular people.

7. Revel in your incredible sexiness. Every woman will find you irresistible and be willing to give up state secrets for a night in your arms. Always have a condom handy.

Types Of Cartooning

Anime cartooning style

Cartooning is the art of creating cartoons---or images that are humorous, exaggerated or otherwise unrealistic---for magazines, newspapers, animated television shows and movies, websites and other forms of media. The cartoon art form has evolved over the centuries from static doodles and illustrations that adorned caves and manuscripts, to moving, 3-D images that occupy 3-D cartoon worlds. Some of the most common styles of cartooning include editorial cartoons, anime, American animation and CGI animation.

Editorial

Editorial cartoons are comic strips or illustrations that make social or political statements, most often criticisms. The traditional style of editorial cartooning is based primarily on the work of the German-born cartoonist Thomas Nast, who rose to fame drawing for "Harper's Weekly" during the Civil War. According to Economic Expert, all variations on the traditional editorial cartoon style share a few common elements. These include depicting caricatures of politicians or political symbols (such as the Democratic donkey and the Republican elephant, which Nast created), making visual metaphors (such as representing freedom as the Statue of Liberty) and being black and white instead of color.

Anime

Anime is a type of Japanese animation that is characterized by its highly stylistic imagery, still-screen shots and continuous storylines (meaning that installments are intended to be watched in sequence). The cartooning style is also well known for depicting violence, sexuality and other explicit content. According to Anime News Network, the artwork in anime is based primarily on manga, which is a comic book style that became popular in Japan following World War II.

American Animation

According to Anime News Network, American animation, as opposed to anime, is more inclined toward being fantastical and childish, and---when it comes to television programming---is often presented in independent storylines.

Some of the prototypical American cartoons that characterize the style include Felix the Cat and Mickey Mouse. In the early 20th century, American cartoons were often shown as animated shorts or featurettes, but would later go on to become half-our television shows and feature-length films. The 1990s saw the rise of more adult-themed American animation, with shows like "The Simpsons," "South Park" and "Family Guy."

CGI Animation

CGI (computer-generated imagery) animation is the latest wave of cartooning, and has been popularized by movies like "Toy Story" and "Shrek." Using CGI, cartoons are not drawn by hand but created with 3-D computer graphics. This means a cartoonist's imagination will not be limited by the restrictions of paper size. Many cartoon shows also use CGI to add style (and fast rendering times) to their 2-D animations.

Be Hugh Hefner For Halloween

Hugh Hefner with his "Girl Next Door" starlets.

Want to step into Hugh Hefner's shoes this Halloween? As the founder of Playboy Enterprises, Hefner lives an enviable life filled with wealth, luxury, and most famously, women. Endearingly nicknamed "Hef" by his female companions, he has cultivated an overwhelming amount of public influence beginning with his first Playboy Playmate, Marilyn Monroe. Over the decades, the pop culture icon has thrown infamous parties mingling celebrities with playmates. Becoming Hef for Halloween requires your best lounge attire.

Instructions

1. Be dapper in a velvet and silk smoking jacket. Hef's had several variations of the smoking jacket, from wine red to to deep purple, but they've each had the same look: a velvet robe with a black silk collar lining.

2. Get a pipe. Even if you don't smoke, carry a pipe around and pretend to smoke it.

3. Wear black silk pants. If you can't find silk pants, wear black slacks instead.

4. Don black shoes. Remember to shine your shoes.

5. Be arm-to-arm with a Playmate or multiple Playmates. Surrounding yourself with women makes your costume all the more convincing.

Creative Methods To Train Africanamerican History

Study African-American history.

African-Americans have a rich history. Early history includes the slave trade and all the heroes that stepped up to fight it. There is also a neglected history that includes all the movers and shakers that made the world a better place. It is important for students to learn about African-American history through positive, creative lessons.

Slave Ship

Have students create a slave ship hold large enough for your entire class. Students will study the amount of space each person was allotted, both between rows and beside each other. Using pieces of cardboard and masking tape, have students construct the ship in the middle of the school room floor. Draw seats with markers. Have students sit on one of the seats. Read them a children's book about slavery while they sit there. Lead a discussion about the slaves who sat in dark, dank ships for weeks and how it would have affected them physically and mentally.

Inventors and Their Inventions Museum

Assign or let students choose an inventor of African-American descent. Students will do research on their inventor. Each student will create an invention display on a trifold fair board using pictures and facts describing the invention. When their work is completed, hold an inventor's museum. Students will stand, still and quiet, by their fair boards. When museum guests stand in front of them, they will become animated and play the role of the inventor. They will give a prepared speech about themselves and their inventions. At the end, they will assume a statuelike position.

Peanut Experiments

George Washington Carver, famous for saving the southern economy with his peanut research, used basic equipment gathered from homes to complete many of his experiments at Tuskegee. Use regular pots, pans, blenders and potato mashers. After reading a story about George Washington Carver, break the students into groups. Give each group a bag of peanuts with the instructions that they must find a use for the peanuts besides popping them in their mouths and eating them. When the experiment is over, have groups share their discoveries.

Civil Rights

Watch video segments and read stories about civil rights violations taken from American history. Assign students to study a group or individual involved in the civil rights movement. They will complete a visual aid, such as a slide show or video, sharing the information they have discovered. Allow each group time to share their visual aid and lead a class discussion about their group or individual.

African-Americans in Politics

From Barbara Jordan to Barack Obama, African-Americans have been a powerful force in American history. Encourage students to choose a living African-American politician to study. As a part of their study, have students write letters to the individual, asking questions about his or her experience as a politician and as an American. Done early in the year, students will have a good chance of receiving a response.

Projection Approaches For Elementary Musicals

Elementary school musical performers should practice proper breathing techniques.

Vocal projection, whether for speaking or singing onstage, is not simply a matter of "being louder." Actually, coaching a young performer to "Be louder!" can cause harm to his vocal cords. The first impulse under these circumstances is to strain the vocal cords as one does when shouting or yelling, without properly supporting the voice. Develop your youngsters' skills in creating vocal power, articulating, creating stage presence and proper breathing techniques to assist them in developing their musical theater skills.

Breathing Techniques

Kids who are preparing to sing and speak onstage should spend some time working on breathing deeply. Many people breathe only into their upper chest, but stage performers must make use of the entire breathing apparatus, making sure to engage the diaphragm. Have kids lie on the floor with their hands on their bellies and practice breathing deeply. They should feel their hands rise and fall with their breath. Then add sound or a held note with the singing voice to ensure that they can engage the voice and continue to breathe deeply. Next, have the students stand in a circle and repeat this exercise. You might also have them speak or sing individually before the group as you work to ensure that each child is breathing fully.

Vocal Power Techniques

Help kids understand use their vocal power in singing and speaking without straining their voices. Have them work in pairs, each sending his voice to his partner as if tossing a ball. They can sing or speak text for this exercise. The pairs should stand close together and gradually move farther apart, all the while focusing simply on "tossing" their voice so that the other person can "catch" it. It may take a bit of patient work for kids to understand that they should not randomly shout their song or text. Encourage them to focus on the direct spot to which they are sending their voices rather than "projecting" to the room at large.

Articulation Techniques

Singing and speaking on stage is much easier to "send" to the audience if it is articulated clearly and crisply. Start with exercising the face muscles by making some extreme smiles and extreme frowns. Blow through the lips to warm them up, making a motor boat sound. Move on to tongue twisters, starting with some short ones like "Unique New York," "Red bug's blood, blue bug's blood," "Toy boat" and "Red leather, yellow leather." Each of these twisters should be repeated a few times, starting slowly and speeding up gradually without losing the articulation of sounds. Move on to some longer tongue twisters like "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers" and "Don't drop double drum sticks."

Techniques for Creating Presence

Young performers need to learn how important the presence of their whole body is to their ability to use their voice effectively. Tension in the body often directly relates to constriction and tension in the voice, so have students work on their ability to stand in neutral, relaxed posture. Make sure they are placing their weight evenly on both feet, that their knees are not locked and that their hands are hanging freely by their sides. Their heads should sit evenly on the neck and their eyes should be focused on a spot directly across from their natural gaze. Students should practice this "neutral" stance when working on their articulation and vocal power.

Be Considered A Museum Guide

If you are fascinated by art, history, film or fashion, you can get paid for talking about the things you love by becoming a museum guide. That said, after awhile, many guides suffer from burnout. The energy needed to give exciting tours is dependent on your ability to dynamically interact with others as well as your ability to be bring new insight into old ideas.

Instructions

Be a Museum Guide

1. Read up on your subject matter. You should do this at least twice a week. Search the internet for news stories related to your subject. If you find new, interesting facts, relate them to the members of your tour.

2. Stay well-hydrated. Your voice may get tired, so you will want to drink plenty of water.

3. Be enthusiastic when you greet your tour group. Make eye contact and try to learn their names.

4. Use humor to keep people interested.

5. Read and interpret your guests' body language. This is extremely important. Some people want detailed knowledge, others just want an overview. If your guests seem restless, or if they are yawning, you are probably giving out too much information.

6. Ask if people have questions.

7. Pace your tour, especially if it's a long one. Ask if people need rest room breaks.

8. At the end of your tour, thank your guests and ask if they need information about local restaurants or other attractions.

Get Began Within The Record Companies

Get Started in the Music Business

So many people talk about having a career in the music business, but few people have the guts to go out and play in a band or even learn sing or play an instrument. If you harbor fantasies about singing, playing, producing or even managing a band, resources to help you get started abound. Consider the following tips to set you on the right path.

Instructions

1. Figure out your passion before you get started in the music business. If you're the outgoing type, consider being a singer or front person in a band. If you love music for the sheer sound of it, try playing the piano or producing. Whatever your passion, pick up an instrument right away and take lessons.

2. Get together with other musicians. Put an ad on Craigslist.org or in your local alternative paper. Ask other people at school or in your local music organization if they'd like to form a group. Study the information on Bemuso.com, Starpolish.com and other music industry sites.

3. Practice. Learn your instrument and write songs. Don't try to perfect your compositions too much. The main goal should be getting out in public and playing for an audience and, of course, recording the songs you've written.

4. Attend an arts management course or take business classes if you decide on a behind-the-scenes music business career like public relations or entertainment law. You don't need a four year degree to work behind the scenes, but it helps. Get a ground level job at a marketing firm or record label and work your way up. Check out books like "The Music Business Handbook and Career Guide" by David Baskerville for insider tips.

5. Create a MySpace page and website. Use all the marketing tools available to get the word out about your group or about your skills as a manager or entertainment lawyer. Network with music industry people, at shows, at seminars and business meetings to help get started in the music business.

Learn How To Salsa Online With Free Streaming

Salsa is an exciting and passionate dance.

Salsa dancing is a good hobby for those who want to stay social and active. If lessons are prohibitively costly, or you can't find any at a convenient time or location, you can learn the basics online at your own convenience. Grab a partner, put on your dancing shoes and get ready to learn - at home and for free.

Instructions

1. Look at websites with step charts to get the basics. Learning from text descriptions and text charts alone is difficult but can serve to help you learn the basic concepts of the dance.

2. Watch videos of salsa lessons for beginners, which you can find on salsa websites and general video resources like Youtube. A wide variety of videos show the basic steps and patterns of the dance. Find instructors that you like and follow along with the videos they have available.

3. Practice regularly, preferably with a partner since, much like the tango, it takes two to salsa. Refer back to the step charts and videos if you have trouble. Real-world practice is the key to learning the salsa, even if you learn the steps from the Internet. Dance to real salsa music, whether from your own collection or found somewhere online.

4. Visit a local salsa club if any are available, and take your newly learned skills out on the dance floor. Get pointers from experienced salsa dancers.

The Very Best Art Schools In The Usa

For students following their creative muse, the U.S. has a long list of art colleges.

If you're a sculptor, painter, graphic artist, fashion designer, architect or anything in between, an art degree can help build a solid foundation for your career. Finding a program that fits with your creative vision can be difficult, but there are a number of distinguished art colleges throughout the country that can help you pursue your artistic dreams.

California Institute of the Arts (CalArts)

The California Institute of the Arts offers bachelor's and master's degree programs in art, graphic design, photography and media. The curriculum at CalArts is devoted to contemporary art movements rather than traditional art methods. Admission to the school is based on an evaluation of the applicant's portfolio as well as an artist statement. The artist statement weights heavily in the admissions process and should detail the applicant's current focus, who or what has influenced their work, and their reasons for wanting to study at CalArts.

California Institute of the Arts

24700 McBean Pkwy.

Valencia, CA 91355

(661) 255-1050

calarts.edu/art/programs

Rhode Island School of Design

The Rhode Island School of Design offers 16 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, including ceramics, architecture, digital art, painting, sculpture and print media. The school promotes diversity in its approach to academics and encourages students to create their art with an awareness of global cultural and environmental issues.

Rhode Island School of Design

2 College St.

Providence, RI 02903

(401) 454-6300

risd.edu

Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts

The Lyme Academy offers undergraduate degrees in painting, sculpture and illustration, as well as a post-baccalaureate degree program. The art program at the Lyme Academy is devoted to contemporary art with a specific focus on representational and figurative art. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Academy and participate in a class as part of the admissions process.

Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts

84 Lyme St.

Old Lyme, CT 06371

(860) 434-5232

lymeacademy.edu

Maryland Institute College of Art

The Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) offers undergraduate and graduate programs in graphic design, painting, sculpture, photography and media, studio art and art education. There is also a multidisciplinary MFA which allows students to complete a graduate degree that is customized to their areas of interest.

Maryland Institute College of Art

1300 Mount Royal Ave.

Baltimore, MD 21217

(410) 225-2256

mica.edu/

Cranbrook Academy of Art

The Cranbrook Academy of Art offers graduate degree programs in modern and contemporary art, design, and architecture. Curriculum includes programs in 3-D art, metalworking, ceramics, painting, photography, and sculpture. The atmosphere of the Cranbrook Academy is that of a community of artists, rather than a traditional college, and the current artists-in-residence live on-campus alongside the student body.

Cranbrook Academy of Art

39221 Woodward Ave.

Box 801

Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303

(248) 645-3300

cranbrookart.edu

Art Institute of Chicago

The Art Institute of Chicago offers undergraduate and graduate programs in art history, art therapy, studio art, design, and architecture. The Art Institute takes an interdisciplinary approach to learning and encourages students to expand their knowledge and skill set through trial-and-error. Applicants to the program must provide samples of their work along with a personal statement outlining their academic and artistic goals.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

37 S. Wabash Ave.

Chicago, IL 60603

(312) 629-6100

saic.edu

Art Center College of Design

The Art Center College of Design offers programs in illustration, landscape architecture, studio art, interior design, graphic design, animation and photography. The Art Center takes an innovative approach to art by combining traditional art techniques with the latest digital technology.

Art Center College of Design

1700 Lida St.

Pasadena, CA 91103

(626) 396-2373

artcenter.edu

Charge For Photography

Wedding photographers should charge competitive prices.

Wedding photography is a profitable business for an individual because weddings take up only one day from a time standpoint, and generally have a higher profit than in-studio portrait work. It also holds great responsibility, because the photographer gets no other time to make up for any bad portraits or mistakes. People breaking into this side of the business need to keep their pricing competitive, but still based on their experience and several other factors.

Instructions

1. Compare local competitors' pricing and industry pricing. Look online at area photographers who do wedding photography. Write down their prices and their conditions. Ideally, you'll need to find at least three other photographers to compare. If possible, those photographers should have a wide range of experience. More experienced photographers will be able to charge more for their services because of reputation. Also check online for photographers in different geographic areas that are similar to your own area.

2. Determine what you can offer and devise several wedding packages that include a set number of poses, portrait prints and proofs. Include a budget package along with moderate and deluxe packages. Also include the amount of time you can devote to that day and costs for extra time. Most photographers stay for the entire ceremony and part -- if not all -- of the reception. Create your fee policy, including the percentage you'll want as a deposit.

3. Determine how much the cost of film processing will be (if film is used instead of digital) and any transportation costs you will incur. If doing any edits to digital photos taken, factor in the time in hours it will take. Also include how much you'd like to charge per hour of your time. Multiply the time taken for edits by the cost per hour you'll charge. Alternatively you can charge by the printed sheet instead of an hourly rate. A sheet generally is one 8-by-10 portrait, two 5-by-7 portraits or eight wallet-sized photos. If you will provide keepsake albums, and many photographers do not, factor the cost and preparation of those into the figure as that by the profit margin percentage you'd like to make.

4. Add all costs together and multiply by the profit margin percentage you'd like to make. Check your competitors' prices for similar packages. Tweak this pricing by raising or lowering it until it is competitive with other photographers in the area. Inexperienced photographers should charge less than experienced ones, but still be competitive to make sure possible clients don't doubt the quality of the newer photographer's work.

Jump On The Bestseller'S Book List

Every author's dream is to be on the bestselling book list. That dream can easily become a reality no matter how unattainable it may seem. Many mediocre books become bestsellers. Achieving bestselling author status involves hard work on your part. Writing the book is just the beginning; the real work is marketing.

Instructions

Marketing Your Book is Key

1. Call radio stations and ask to be interviewed live regarding your latest novel. Don’t take no for an answer. If you are told to call back, then call back; however make that interview for a definite date and time. Take copies of your books with you to sign for the general public and one copy for each radio station.

2. Set up times and dates for book signings at various bookstores around the country. Talk to people about your book. Be friendly and answer all questions asked. Make your book signing table set-up interesting and eye-catching; give something away with your novel pertaining to some aspect of the story. Be creative.

3. Sell books from your Web site; offer a discount on quantity sales. Hard-sell your book as if it were a perishable item and your life depends on sales.

4. Solicit interviews on cable TV on the late or early morning slots. Those interviews may lead to bigger and better venues on prime-time TV.

5. Call national talk-show hosts and ask to be interviewed at their convenience. Give away copies of your novel to the audience; sign the copies. Be friendly and interact with the general public.

6. Advertise a quarter-page in national magazines if you can afford the expenditure. Make the advertisement eye-catching and sticky. Get your point across in as few words as possible. Make readers remember what they’ve seen.

7. Hire a publicist to help you in your quest for fame and fortune, At first, hire him part time and as you gain recognition, take him on full time.

8. Secure as many book reviews as possible. Ask well-known reviewers to read and review your novel. Sign their copies.

9. Think like a celebrity. Positive thinking and telling people that they were going to be big stars when they were unknowns worked for Jane Leeves, known to her friends as Janie; and Rod Stewart, who used to be Rod the Mod to his friends.

Take Advantage Of A Macrobiotic Diet

A macrobiotic diet can help you improve the quality of your life tremendously. The important aspect of this type of diet is that you should be able to integrate seamlessly macrobiotics into your daily routine and diet. Initially, you might find it difficult to do so since you need to locate the right food and follow the appropriate exercise regime, but once you get things rolling and you see the results, you will be able to enjoy and welcome your macrobiotic lifestyle. This is a diet was introduced in USA by a man called George Ohsawa and refined further to what you know it today by Michio Kushi.

Instructions

1. You need to educate yourself thoroughly on what exactly does a macrobiotic lifestyle mean and find out how it is applicable to you. The basic point here is to get back to nature as much as possible and avoid things that are synthetic. You need to consult your doctor or a nutritionist before you adopt this lifestyle, because it is very important you follow a balanced diet. Initially, you would need the guidance of a professional.

2. Do not plunge into a macrobiotic lifestyle suddenly. Try it out. This type of diet has implications on your budget and lifestyle. Try it out for one month to see whether it suits you. The macrobiotic lifestyle is meant to improve your life. If you find that you are tired, hungry, stressed, and generally worse off than before, maybe you are not doing it right or it does not suit you. You also need to pay attention to the budgetary demands this would entail.

3. he recommended foods under the macrobiotic diet are always organically grown (which would be costly as well). Among the grains that are recommended are millet, corn, brown rice, barley, wheat, rye and buckwheat. Among the vegetables, you need to choose those which are cultivated locally such as pumpkin, onions, cauliflower, green cabbage, scallions, carrots, mustard greens, lettuce, chives, cucumbers, celery and turnips among others. Your diet should exclude potatoes, eggplants, and tomatoes since these are particular to warmer (tropical) climates and therefore would interfere negatively with your body.

4. The food needs to be fresh when you consume it. Therefore, the best would be to buy your supplies daily if possible. If not, you could do so twice a week. Make a comprehensive list of he foods you need every week and their immediate substitutes for those times when one item might not be available.

5. You would need to initially experiment with the taste and the method of cooking. Consult your nutritionist every time you have a doubt. It is very important that you consume all that is required by the body. Identify a central protein source and then build your diet around it.

6. You need to exercise daily. Learn something new if that suits you, such as yoga or Pilates. Otherwise, even walking in the park or doing exercise outdoors would do. It is important that you send some quality time outdoors.

Bend Plexiglass Within An Oven

Plexiglass is often used to replace broken windshields or windows.

The chemical name of Plexiglass is polymethyl methacrylate, also knows as methacrylic acid. In 1931, the United States began manufacturing acrylic resin to coat industrial machines and glass binders. Five years later, this resin was formed into a transparent sheet, and the acrylic era began. These acrylic sheets served as a useful bullet-resistant glazing on fighter planes during World War II, as it was light, strong and easily molded onto the skin of the aircraft. Plexiglass is unrivaled in its ability to withstand the weather and is unmatched by any other plastic glazing. In modern times, Plexiglass is used for skylights, replacement windshields, protecting blast shielding and bulletproof windows.

Instructions

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees.

2. Place Plexiglass sheet on large pan and place on middle oven rack. The large pan prevents the Plexiglass from coming into contact with the hot rack, which can distort the Plexiglass due to uneven heating.

3. Heat for approximately five minutes.

4. Pull the pan out of the oven with the cotton gloves. The heated Plexiglass is now ready for molding. Be sure to use gloves and work quickly as the Plexiglass will become less malleable as it cools.

5. Place your Plexiglass in the refrigerator to set the shape. This process can be repeated as many times as needed.

Begin Scrap booking

Scrapbooks are heartwarming, personalized gifts for every occasion.

Restoring all your memories within the pages of a scrapbook album is just one of the many reasons to begin a scrapbooking hobby. Getting creativity flowing again and bonding with other scrapbookers through hours of creative, artistic activities makes for a very enjoyable and fulfilling use of your time. When starting to scrapbook, make sure you keep it as simple as possible -- because you will soon see a range of choices and decisions to make that could seem overwhelming at first.

Instructions

1. Shop for all necessary scrapbooking supplies. Stick with the basics at first, and don't get too caught up in all the decorations before you first decide what theme you will choose for your scrapbook. Start with an album, paper, glue, scissors and pen.

2. Organize all of your photos. Sort them by what you want on each page and categorize them. You might want to use a few shoe boxes to temporarily store your photos as you put them in different categories, and put some of the boxes aside for other future scrapbook albums.

3. Choose the pictures for your first page of the scrapbook. Then choose a piece of scrapbooking paper that would look nice with the pictures you've chosen.

4. Lay out your pictures on the scrapbooking paper, and add borders for your pictures. You can save the decorations for later -- for now just set up a general layout for the photos.

5. Once you have them placed the way you like, glue on the pictures with photo-safe glue or adhesive.

6. Add your stickers, draw designs or add lettering around the page to customize it.

7. Add your first scrapbooking page to your scrapbook album.

Read Notation On Guitar Written Music

Guitar sheet music is comprised of two parts. The first section of guitar sheet music is written in standard music notation. The second part is written in a special form of notation called guitar tablature. This notation is written specifically for the guitar. Guitar tablature is an important tool in guitar sheet music that gives critical details that are difficult to convey in stand music notation, such as fretboard position and which string a note is to be played on.

Instructions

1. Learn what the numbers mean on guitar sheet music. The guitar tablature (sometimes referred to as guitar "tab") is the bottom portion of guitar sheet music that is comprised of notation written in numbers instead of musical symbols. These numbers tell you exactly what fret each note should be played on.

2. Learn the names of the six lines in guitar tablature. Each line of notation in guitar tablature represents a string on the guitar. The six lines can be thought of as the six strings of the guitar. These lines are laid out exactly like the strings of a real guitar. The bottom line represents the bottom string of the guitar (the low E string) and the top line represents the highest string on the guitar (the high E string.) From lowest to highest, the six strings are E, A, D, G, B and E.

3. Know read chords. If a group of numbers are stacked on top of one another, they represent a chord. This means that the notes are to be played together at the same time using a single pick stroke.

4. Play from left to right. Guitar sheet music is read in the same manner as reading a book.

5. Match up the line and the number. Reading guitar sheet music requires two basic units of information: what string to play and what fret to play. The string is represented by one of the six lines discussed in Step 2, and the fret is represented by a number as discussed in Step 1. For example, if the number "10" is written on line 2, you would simply play the tenth fret of the B string. Keep reading the numbers in order from left to right in order to complete the song.

A Brief History Of Haitian Music

Like so many other music genres, Haitian music is wildly influenced by other cultures. You can find Spanish, French and African flavors the music produced in Haiti. The island was first taken over by the Spanish in 1492. The French eventually showed up and started to import African slaves. This is where the mix of cultures comes from.

Vodou

This is one of the first types of musical styles adopted by the Haitians. It is made up of mostly Africa rituals and spiritualism with just a hint of European flavor.

Rara

Rara is another one of the oldest dances in Haiti, with close ties to Vodou. This dance is performed primarily on Ash Wednesday until Easter Sunday.

Mizik Rasin

Late in the 1970s parts of reggae, funk and rock started to blend with the popular dances. This came after citizens were fed up with Duvalier dictatorship and strived for a new way of life.

Mini Jazz

In 1915, Americans started to invade the island. Mini Jazz is a type of vodou jazz, and the Haitians way of rejecting the Americans.

Haitian Rap

One of the newest types of music, Haitian Rap was a statement of social views and political issues. Artists like Mystik 703 and Seca Konsa was highly received by the natives.

Camera Filter Effects

A camera filter is an optical lens often enclosed in a circular holder that can be attached to a camera's lens by screwing it on. Individual filters alter images in a certain way based on the effect or change the lens is designed to produce. Computer software can also mimic many filter effects on images already taken when they are stored locally.

Color Manipulation

Color correction filters restore color balance skewed by improper lighting, while color subtraction filters accentuate primary colors by removing specific colors related to light.

Contrast Manipulation

Diffusion or softening filters make images hazier or less sharp, colored filters enhance specific objects in black and white images (for example, yellow filters darken the sky but not clouds), and ultra contrast filters illuminate dark images to increase visibility of shadowy areas.

Neutral Density

Standard ND filters are gray filters that reduce light equally among colors. Graduated varieties target specific areas of images, such as the top or bottom.

Polarizer

Polarizing filters darken areas of images that are too light, an effect that software can't simulate accurately.

Ultraviolet Filter

UV filters decrease the fogginess ultraviolet light produces.

Special Effects

Certain filters can create stylized effects, such as sepia tones, motion blur and light-burst star patterns.

Research A Old Painting

Old paintings can be found in a myriad of places, from antique store treasures to attics. Some have only sentimental value, while others are worth a great deal of money. Determining the value of an old painting takes time and, sometimes, even determination.

Instructions

Determining the Provenance of an Old Painting

1. Find out the origins, or provenance, of the painting. If your work came from an art gallery or antique store, you could ask the gallery curator or store owner to supply that data to you as part of the sale. If the painting is a family heirloom or a gift from a friend, talk to that person about where he obtained the painting. If the information is scant or unknown, then start your investigation by first looking at the signature. Who the artist was may illuminate where it came from. For instance, some artists are associated with certain parts of the country. As an example, Georgia O'Keefe's paintings of flowers and animal bones are associated with the Southwestern United States, where she lived during part of her life.

2. Determine the type of style used. Like any art form, certain styles were popular at certain times in the history of art. Knowing if your painting is from the Expressionist or Impressionist era will help to determine who may have created it and when. Additionally, seeking out an expert at a local fine art museum or antique store specializing in old paintings may be useful.

3. Record all the information you learn by printing, legally copying, or writing it legibly and keep it in a safe place. If you have any certified or signed documents from an art dealer or specialist you have contacted, include this as well. All this data will be used to determine the value of the work, as indicated by the Appraisers Association of America. The provenance is important, as value is relative when it comes to art--as mentioned by "Antiques Road Show" appraisers. For instance, a painting of your grandmother's Tabby cat will be of minimal value compared to a picture of one of the Hemingway cats of Key West.

4. Check databases such as "The Art Loss Register." In the chance that the work of art that you have was stolen from a previous owner, information regarding the provenance and return the painting may be found here.

Getting an Appraisal

5. According to the Appraisers Association of America, you ought to have certain information before seeking a professional. "You should be prepared to discuss the purpose of the appraisal such as: insurance or donation; the nature of the work of art such as: painting on canvas or bronze clock; any information about the artist or maker and the date of the piece; any information about when or where it was purchased and if you are the owner; and where the piece is located and if there is an image available."

6. Research ways to find an appraiser who specializes in the type of work you possess. Contact the store you purchased the painting from to see if it works with or can recommend an appraiser. Also consult professional organizations such as the American Society of Appraisers, the Appraisal Foundation, The International Society of Appraisers (ISA) and the Appraisers Association of America (AAA). The AAA and ISA can also help you find an appraiser in other parts of the world. This may be helpful if your painting originated outside the United States. Search out sites, such as Art-Collecting.com and AskArt.com, for a list of professional associations and their members.

7. Ask important questions of your art professional regarding his certifications and art specialty, according to personal property appraiser Linda McAdoo. Some or all of this information may be on the web, especially if you go through a professional association site. Yet for confirmation, you may want to personally inquire about credentials and education. This way, you can get in-depth information about how it may be able to help you.

8. Inquire, additionally, how much the appraiser charges for her services. Members of the AAA are independent appraisers and charge by the hour. Other appraisers may charge by the hour or project. Since you are going to have only one painting appraised, most likely not too much time will be required for this service.

9. Make certain you are getting good advice from your appraiser. As mentioned by the Appraisers National Association, "You should never engage an appraiser who charges for services based on the value of items, who is willing to take items in lieu of cash compensation, or who expresses an interest in purchasing items included in the appraisal. These things constitute a clear conflict of interest. The fee for your appraisal should be based on the time involved in the examination, inventory, research and documentation of your property. It may also include compensation for travel time. Extraordinary research, court testimony and the use of outside consultants may result in additional fees." Prepare to spend a good amount of money if what you want appraised will require a good investment of time by the appraiser.

Protecting Your Investment

10. Get insurance for your piece of art. This can be obtained by adding personal property insurance to your renter's or home owner's policy. You may want to purchase a separate policy if the painting is valued at a high price point. Companies that insure fine art include Axa Art Insurance and Fine Art Insurance.

11. Make certain that you follow the appraiser's advice related to storage. If your work should be kept away from sunlight and damp air, do so. The Fine Art Insurance website contains general information on protect your artwork. If the piece is so valuable that it should be in a museum, consider parting with it. Expensive art can attract thieves; and if museums are not safe from robbers, neither will be your house.

12. Keep all the items related to the provenance, appraisal and any other documents in a fireproof, locked box or safe. This way, future generations of your family can reap the benefits of your labor by having all-important information in one place.

Develop A Backyard Pizza Oven

Build your own backyard pizza oven for the best pizza you ever made.

A wood-burning backyard pizza oven adds character and usefulness to any patio, outdoor kitchen or backyard area. Keep fire safety a priority when situating and building any outdoor fire structure and locate the oven away from buildings and combustibles that could catch fire from its operation. A brick oven takes some time, expertise and expense to build or have built, but a mud oven or earth oven is less complicated and expensive to build and is just as effective for baking pizza and bread.

Instructions

1. Make a waist-high base or platform for the oven with retaining wall bricks or cement blocks. Dig a 2-inch deep rectangular area five feet by four feet to set the first layer of bricks or blocks into for stability. Place the first layer of cement blocks in the dug-out area, creating a solid base. Continue stacking blocks until the platform is high enough, about five layers. Add a layer of firebricks on the top in the middle, leaving about a 1-foot border without firebricks.

2. Fill a wheelbarrow halfway with sand and add water to make the sand wet but not soupy. Mound wet sand on the inside oven base of firebricks about 3 feet high to form the oven.

3. Mix about six shovelfuls of clay soil, two shovelfuls of sand and a gallon of water on a tarp, picking up the corners of the tarp to mix well. Mix until the mixture is a thick consistency--not too soupy but not too difficult to stir.

4. Layer the mixture over the wet sand mound. Apply one inch of the mixture, leaving an 18-inch high by 18-inch wide area for the door in the front. Don't leave any bare or thin spots and smooth the mixture around the bottom of the sand mound, leaving no gaps.

5. Let the first layer dry overnight or up to two or three days.

6. Mix about six shovelfuls of clay soil, two shovelfuls of sand, six shovelfuls of chopped straw and a gallon of water on the tarp. Make sure the straw is distributed evenly throughout the mixture.

7. Apply a 2- to 3-inch layer of the straw mixture over the top of the previous layer, leaving no thin spots or gaps.

8. Let the second layer dry or cure for up to three weeks before use.

9. When the oven has dried well, scoop out the sand mound from inside the oven.

10. Place two stacks of 2 or 3 firebricks inside the oven, parallel to each other, about 8 inches apart, to build a fire between and place pizza trays on top of for baking.

View Laser Treatment Pre And Post Photos

View Laser Hair Removal Before and After Pics

You are curious about real results obtained from laser hair removal patients? Then you may be wondering view laser hair removal before and after pics. Most reputable laser hair removal clinics and spas provide such before and after photos, but let's say you are still deciding on laser hair removal and just want to see some pics. The steps that follow should get you what you want to see with a minimum of fuss.

Instructions

1. The simplest way to view laser hair removal before and after pics is online so bring up your browser.

2. Now choose your favorite search engine, many people have search engine toolbars installed and don't even have to go to the search engine's site to get results. I personally use google because I have the option of choosing just image searches which is perfect for viewing laser hair removal before and after pics.

3. Now type in your search phrase, in google you can use "laser removal before and after pics". It probably is unnecessary to use so many words in your search engine query, but you want to be sure you get the easiest and best search results. You should see a list of sites offering laser hair removal before and after pics to choose from.

4. Not seeing what you want? Then in this step you should refine your search to something like "laser hair removal before and after pics face" or any other body area you want to see. That should bring up a shorter list of sites offering these before and after photographs about laser hair removal.

5. Refine even more. Let's say you are interested in seeing laser hair removal before and after pics of backs in a certain town or area. Then add that into your search term. This should give you a list of laser hair removal pics that best matched the part of body, and the geographical area you defined.

Be A Theater Critic

Become a Theater Critic

Writing is a way to get your thoughts, message, and opinion out to the public. Theater critics review and critique shows and then publish their opinions. There are many specific guidelines to write for certain publications, and there are also guidelines for someone who wants to become a theater critic.

Instructions

1. Learn to love the theater. If you wish to become a theater critic, and were not born with this love, then make it an acquired taste. Visit with actors and directors in your area. Ask questions regarding their love for the theater, and try to gain some insight into the inner-workings of the theater through those who love it naturally.

2. Establish your writing skills whether you are a journalist, novelist, or essayist. To become a theater critic, along with a love of the theater, you must have a well-rounded knowledge of the written word in order to clearly convey your message.

3. Attend as many shows as you can. Write up reviews for current plays and productions to submit to local papers and journals. As you write more reviews, you will build a portfolio and publish your opinions on theater. The more you write and submit, the better chance you will have to get published and become a professional theater critic.

4. Sift out the good from the bad. Publishing your opinions of a sthe public will allow you to assist them with choosing live production. Keep an eye out for shows that are really worth seeing, and let the public know which ones are worth skipping.

5. Start a blog. Until you get published, try posting your opinions of local theater online. To become a theater critic, it is not necessary that you get paid for your work. Many theater watchers will check online when researching which shows are worth watching. Build up a reader base, and publication will follow.

Be A Sports Highlighted Model

Become a Sports Illustrated Model

Have you ever looked in the Sports Illustrated magazine and wanted to see your pictures in the swimsuit magazine? Sports Illustrated models get to pose in all types of swimwear and get to travel to exotic locations for photo shoots with fashion photographers. If being a Sports Illustrated model interests you, then read the article below to learn be a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model.

Instructions

1. Get fit and in shape. Sport Illustrated models have to be fit because their job is to look good in all types of swimwear including little, two-piece bikinis.

2. Take some photos of yourself. These pictures should include headshots and full body shots where you are wearing swimsuits to show your figure.

3. Send your photos to multiple modeling agencies in order to try and get representation. You can find lists of modeling agencies to contact by visiting the links below under "Resources".

4. Wait to hear back from a modeling agency that may be interested in you. Once a modeling agency is interested in you and decides to represent you, you can then ask your new modeling agent to submit you to Sports Illustrated magazine to see if the swimwear magazine has any upcoming modeling opportunities for their magazine that you can be submitted for.

Painting Suggestions For Furniture

Painting is an easy and inexpensive way to spruce up furniture

Are you bored with the same old furniture? Or maybe you want to change a room's décor style but your current furniture just doesn't match the theme. You don't have to buy a brand new furniture set to change the look of your room. Painting wood furniture gives it a fresh new look at a pretty low cost.

Prep Work

Before beginning any painting project on a piece of furniture, you will have to prepare it. Remove any stain, varnish or paint by sanding it off or using a chemical furniture stripper. Clean the furniture so that it is free of dust, dirt and oils and let it dry thoroughly. If the furniture you are painting is not wood, but is a veneer over top of particle board, just sand it to roughen up the surface and then apply a primer.

Solid Color Painting

The most obvious option is to use a solid color to paint the furniture. It sounds simple, but sometimes this is the best option and provides the most striking results. Painting a dark wood table stark white can change the whole look of a room, brightening it and opening it up. Painting a blond wood television stand black may make the style seem more sophisticated and rich. After all of the previous finish is removed from the piece of furniture and it is thoroughly cleaned, apply a coat of primer and let it dry completely. This will prevent any of the old stain from seeping through and will let you use fewer coats of paint to cover the piece. Then apply several thin coats of paint, allowing each coat to dry completely.

Faux Wood

If you are painting cheaper furniture, which may be made of particle board with a veneer on it, you can paint it to look like wood. There are several different ways to paint a faux wood finish, including using a special tool that stamps on a wood grain pattern. A simpler way of doing this is to use three different colors. First, paint a base layer onto the furniture that will be the main color of the wood. Allow it to dry most of the way. Then, dip just the tip of a dry brush into a highlight color that will be slightly lighter than the base color. Wipe off the end of the brush so there is no excess pain. Then use light strokes to paint on a streaky texture to mimic the wood grain. Then do the same with the darker color.

Glazing

Another technique to add texture to a paint job is to use a glaze wash. Just prepare, prime and paint the furniture as you would if you were doing a regular solid paint job. Allow the paint to dry. Then make a mixture of glaze and a second paint color. You can use a brush, sponge or cloth to wipe the wash on. Experiment with different materials and strokes to determine what look you are going for.

Be A Singer At 10

Some individuals are gifted with lovely singing voices. If you have a talent for singing, you can become a singer at any age. You must practice singing regularly to refine your talent and grow as a performer. You can then seek out opportunities that allow you to sing in a more professional vein. If you are dedicated, you can become a singer at age 10.

Instructions

1. Take lessons. Even if you have natural talent, you need to refine your gift via proper training. Find a singing instructor in your area, ideally one who specializes in children. Make training a weekly commitment, and dedicate yourself to it for the long term.

2. Choose a type of singing in which to specialize. Most successful singers specialize in a particular genre of music, such as jazz, country, rock or pop. Simply choose the type of music you enjoy singing most. Your voice instructor can then work with you on songs in that genre.

3. Consider performing arts school. There are both public and private schools that allow students to study performing arts. Within such a school, you can focus on singing. In addition to standard studies, you'll spend class time perfecting your singing talents.

4. Join a kids' choir. In a choir, you'll learn harmonize with others and get a chance to perform in front of large groups of people. Contact local music centers or your city's parks and recreation department regarding kids' choirs in your area.

5. Perform at open mic nights. Various venues, such as coffee shops or music stores, hold open mic nights where you can sing in front of an audience. These events are great ways to get you comfortable singing in front of groups of people. You can also participate in any talent contests in your area, particularly those designed for children.

6. Create a singing demo. A demo is simply a recording of you singing with background accompaniment. You can create a professional demo in a recording studio. You can then send your demo to talent agents or recording studios in efforts to get noticed as a singer. Make sure to note that you are 10 years old when you send your demo to people. Your youth is an asset you should use to promote yourself.

7. Sing as much as possible. Seize every opportunity to sing in front of live audiences. This will help to build your singing and performing skills, as well as your confidence. You should also practice every day to hone your talents. If you keep at it, your hard work will eventually pay off.

Hold A Skill Auction

Art auctions can be beneficial to artist and non-profit organizations when held for fundraising or charity. If you're an artist an art auction fundraiser is beneficial for exhibiting your art work to the public. However, if you don't have the help of an organization to holding an auction for your work can be difficult. You must consider your audience and whether your art work is fairly well-known for participants to be greatly interested and make well-priced bids.

Instructions

1. Make sure you have enough art for an auction and that you have made a name for yourself in the local area you live in. People may not be interested in an action for an artists they've never heard of. Make sure you're professional and that you have a portfolio of your best work ready. It's also beneficial to have some awards or credentials, possibly from winning an exhibition contest.

2. Spread your name and artwork more before officially setting up your auction. Have professional business cards to leave at other art shows, coffee shops, book stores, or wherever art aficionados may go. On your business card have a link to your personal website that displays your work. If you get your name out to the public at least more than two weeks in advance of advertising your auction, your work will be fresh in people's minds.

3. Find a space to hold your auction. You can contact a place that often holds art auctions or exhibitions or you can consider contacting a community hall center, a restaurant, a hotel conference room, or public library. There are many options, but you'll want to consider whether the place you hold your auction has the date you want to book the auction and space to show the various artwork you have.

4. Promote the auction and make sure that will people will come by having more popular artist open the auction. This could be a professor you've worked in the past or a friend that you have a connection with. Use such resources to help bring people into coming to your auction. Also, consider contacting an organization that you care about to hold the auction as a fundraiser. If you decide to do a fundraiser you will have more people helping you to set up the event and more bidders will be interested in purchasing your art to benefit a charitable cause.

5. Set opening bid if you refuse to sell your art below a specific price (See References). Tell the auctioneers that your work must meet a specific price to be sold but that they can start it a lower price as long as it reaches the price you want. Don't insist on too high of a price. Consider how much your art would normally go for on the market.

Children'S Activities In Westchester County New You are able to

Sitting just north of New York City, Westchester County receives thousands of visitors every year. The county features an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city with parks, historical sites and rural areas. For families in the area, there are a number of activities and attractions appropriate for kids.

Rye Playland Park

Rye Playland Park caters to families with small children. The park features rides for toddlers in its Kiddyland and more intense rides appropriate for grade school children and their parents. Among the 50 rides, the park offers rollercoasters such as the Dragon Coaster and water-based rides such as the Playland Plunge. The Kiddyland offers rides such as the Kiddy Coaster and the Mini Scrambler. Playland sits right on the beach in Westchester and also maintains its own outdoor pool. Thus, guests frequently bring their swimsuits and towels for both salt water and fresh water dips. The park offers snack bars, an arcade, and evening fireworks shows on select summer nights. The park opens in early May and closes just after Labor Day. The park greatly varies its hours, but in peak time, it generally opens at around 10 a.m. and closes around 10 p.m.

Huguenot Childrens' Library

The New Rochelle Public Library offers a branch specifically geared towards children, the Huguenot Childrens' Library. The library has kid-sized furniture, a large selection of children's literature and computers with kid-friendly software. The library also provides free events for kids such as pre-school reading programs, summer reading programs and Summer On the Patio, where trained staff hold activities for children such as ping-pong, badminton, jump rope, and arts and crafts. The library opens at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday and opens at 1 p.m. on Sunday. The library closes at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, 6 p.m. on Monday and Thursday, and 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Muscoot Farm

Muscoot Farm in the Westchester County of Kahtona features a number activities for children and families. The farm offers children between 1st and 8th grade a one week summer camp where they can learn the basics of farming and caring for farm animals. Other activities include viewing the farms animals, walking the 7 miles of trails on the property, hayrides and touring the farm's historical buildings. The farm accommodates birthdays and other groups, although during the months of December, January, February and March, the farm does not schedule birthday parties. The farm is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sundays between May and October the farm's market sells produce and other items.

Organize Art Materials

To use art materials properly, consider their properties and characteristics.

Gathering supplies, setting up a workspace and being neat makes it easy to use any type of art materials. Acrylic and watercolor paints require similar setups as do pencils and drawing chalks, such as pastels. A defined workspace, planned color scheme and design, and the right surface all contribute to using art materials correctly.

Instructions

1. An organized workspace facilitates proper use of art materials.

Create a workspace. Having one specific area to work makes any activity easier, from painting to drawing. A tablecloth or protective covering ensures that art materials do not ruin work surface. Consider a floor covering if using an easel, since paint and chalk or pencil dust often falls to the floor inadvertently. Acrylics and watercolors both require an assortment of brushes handy as well as a large container of water for rinsing. Set up the work area to include a space where the art materials are out of the way but easily reachable. Cups offer the ideal container for holding water, tubes of paint, brushes, pencils and more. Towels provide an option for drying brushes or wiping smears of pencil or chalk from surfaces.

2. Set up a color scheme to keep art materials ready for the specific project.

Plan a color scheme. Setting up the colors ahead of time makes it easier to grab necessary items during the creation process. Instead of leaving all of the acrylic paints or the entire box of pastels out, reduce the clutter by selecting only the required colors. Even standard graphite pencils come in different types, so remove the soft, hard, or other variants so as not to mistakenly grab the wrong one. A palette helps organize a color scheme when using paint and sets up the needed colors before beginning the artwork. A paper plate or piece of cardboard works just as well as a store-bought palette if need be.

3. Select the right surface for the art materials.

Choose the right paper. Different papers work for different art materials, so choose the correct one to get the best results. Acrylic paper has a rougher, heavier texture, while watercolor paper is lighter and smooth. Drawing paper is slightly rough to capture the graphite and chalk bits. If using a canvas, make sure it is compatible with the selected art materials. Watercolors will roll right off a shiny canvas meant for acrylic, and pencils or chalks will not adhere to the surface.

4. Sketch the design to plan the final product.

Start slow and plan a general design. Lightly sketch the design, regardless of the art materials. Acrylic paints provide richer, opaque colors so layering them results in a less blended look if the first coat dries before the second layer is applied. Watercolors are lighter and controlled by the amount of water used, making layering multi-tonal. Pencils and pastels combine when rubbed with a finger or a blending stick, available at art and craft stores.

Be A Professional Golfer

Professional golfers can make millions of dollars a year. However, it's a long and arduous task to become a professional golfer. It's not something you can decide to do overnight. However, by following some steps, you can one day become a professional golfer.

Instructions

1. Dedicate yourself to practicing your golf game on a daily basis. You can't become a professional golfer without putting in the practice. Being a professional golfer is a full-time job that requires devotion. To further your golf game, consider going to a golf school. One of the best golf schools is run by ESPN. For more information or to register, go to the ESPN golf school website. You can also register by phone by calling (800) 642-5528.

2. Play in amateur events. To see how you stack up against the competition, you can enter amateur events. In amateur events, you can play against other golf amateurs. By doing well in some amateur events, that can give you the confidence to take your golf dreams to the next level. Check with your local golf courses for more information about amateur events coming to your area.

3. Register for the PGA Tour. Once you feel that you are ready to take your game to the professional level, you should begin the process of getting your PGA Tour card. Once you register with the PGA Tour and pay the registration fee, you begin the qualifying process. About 1% of the people who register for a PGA Tour card get a card each year. It's a long and difficult process. You have to finish at the top of various events over the course of months. It takes most people multiple attempts, if ever, to get onto the PGA Tour.

4. Stay on the PGA Tour. Even after you get your PGA Tour card, that doesn't give you a lifetime membership to remain on the tour. Each year, you have to play well enough to retain your PGA Tour card. There are various ways to retain your card, such as being in the top 120 players or finishing in the top ten in a major.

Bay Trees & Sudden Oak Dying

The mighty oak can be felled by a fungus.

Sudden oak death is caused by a fungal infection in trees. As a mortal disease, it affects oaks primarily tanoaks and live oaks. The disease has deforested large natural oak stands in coastal areas of California and Oregon. It is caused by the fungus Phytophthora ramorum and its presence requires moist, cool air. The fungus causes leaf and twig diseases in other species of woody plants. The bay laurel acquires a leaf spot when it contacts Phytophthora ramorum. The leaf spot disease doesn't kill bay laurel, but it can affect the health of the tree by leaf loss and stress.

History

The fungus first became a serious problem in the mid-1990s when it caused the death of wild oak trees and then spread to nursery trees. The leaf and twig diseases affect the coastal redwood, Douglas fir and bay laurel among others. The fungus is also found in Europe, Canada and the Netherlands. The presence of bay laurel is a predictive indicator of the fungus.

Effects on Oak

The fungus affects the vascular system of trees and prevents adequate water from being transported to the entire tree. Adult oak trees are the ones most affected. Juvenile trees are not impacted by the fungus. Adult oaks present red cankers on the trunk as an early sign of the disease. The cankers begin just a few inches off the ground and ooze red or black sap. It takes only two to four weeks for an infected oak tree to die, but some other trees last as long as 11 years.

Effects in Bay Laurel.

Phytophthora causes leaf lesion in bay laurel. The lesions appear where water remains on leaves and are brown surrounded by a yellow area. The leaf tissue dies in the area infected and often the leaves drop. The fungus doesn't cause death in bay laurel but loss of surface leaf area restricts photosynthetic activities, which are crucial to plant survival.

Controls

Removal of the bay laurel is recommended. Containment practices are in place where firewood is prevented from crossing state lines in infected areas. The disease remains in dead wood and can infect a previously healthy area. Disinfection of tires, dog paws and shoes is requested. There are no totally effective fungicides and tree removal is the optimum response to infected trees. The wood should be burned or composted. The spores do not spread in burnt wood and effective composting destroys the fungus.

Make Swags & Tails For Curtains

Swag and tailed window treatments give windows an elegant look. These decorative elements are frequently displayed in expensive homes, but making your own swags and tails can be quite affordable. With several yards of fabric and a few hours, you can make your own stunning set of swags and tails.

Instructions

1. Measure your window's width. Depending on the amount of drop you wish your swag to have, add another 1 1/2 to 2 feet to the width for each swag.

2. Measure to the point where you want your curtain tails to fall. Add 4 inches for your length measurement.

3. Add the measurements gathered in Steps 1 and 2, and purchase a lightweight fabric this length.

4. Fold your fabric in half lengthwise. Fold the fabric lengthwise again four more times. Press 1 foot at the bottom of each side of the fabric with the iron. Make a diagonal cut along the fabric's two short ends to create the staggered ends of your tails.

5. With your fabric folded in half lengthwise (with the "right" sides together), pin the long edges of the fabric together. Sew along the length of the fabric at 5/8 inch. Backstitch at both ends and flip the fabric right-side out.

6. Pin the edges of your staggered ends up inside the fabric tube you just created and sew them together. Repeat on both sides. You will now have a long fabric tube with diagonal edges.

7. Divide your fabric tube into three pieces so you have two pieces on either end of the length calculated in Step 2. These pieces will serve as the tails. The center piece (swag) should be the length of the piece calculated in Step 1.

8. Cut 1 yard of ribbon in half. Tie the fabric where the pieces meet your curtain rod. Instead of using ribbon, you can use a needle and thread to stitch the swag and tails into form.

Insult People Back After An Insult

It's unfortunate, but people can be insulting. Sometimes they insult on purpose, at other times it's unconsciously. Learn to insult people back after an insult and be ready the next time an insult is hurled your way. Use wit and cleverness and make people think twice the next time they want to insult you.

Instructions

1. Memorize some basic insults from a good joke or humorous resource. Alternately, you can come up with your own insults by commenting on a person's looks, intelligence level or personality. Insults based on truth have the most effective results.

2. Pay attention and listen to people when they're talking to you. There's nothing worse than being insulted and not knowing about it.

3. Recognize when you're being insulted. Some people can insult subtly, although most people's insults are blunt. However, it's hard to insult people back when you fail to realize you were being insulted.

4. Respond immediately when insulted by insulting people back. Use a memorized insult or come up with a new one. Think fast and notice the insulting person's most obvious characteristic or anything out of the norm, which is a good basis for an insult.

5. Comment to friends on how well you responded to the insult. Walk away from the insulter to show you intend to rise above the fray and stay there.

The Benefits Of An Amalgamated Rifle Stock

Composite stocks are used in most newer rifles, especially military models.

The stock of a rifle is the part that rests against the shoulder when held in the firing position. Rifle stocks come in a variety of configurations and materials that are designed to facilitate different applications. Composite stocks have a variety of functional advantages and disadvantages over natural and laminated wood stocks.

Weight Differences

Since composite stocks are made with plastics, they are generally lighter than equivalent wood or laminate stocks. Lighter stocks result in an overall lower weight which makes the rifle easier to carry over long distances. Since composites are formed using injection molding, the weight of the stock is easily calibrated to provide precision balance in modern firearms.

Resiliency

Composite stocks are more resistant to chipping and physical damage. They are more effective at absorbing impacts and are generally more durable than their wood and laminated wood counterparts. Unlike wood or laminate stocks, composite stocks do not rot or decay and require less maintenance than the other types of stock.

Cost

Composite stocks are cheaper than wood stocks because they are made of less expensive materials. These stocks are also less expensive to manufacture since the molds used to form them are easily reconfigurable. Since quality wooden stocks use expensive hardwoods, they are often exorbitantly priced and must be custom made.

Aesthetic Appeal

Composite stocks are frequently used by the military and lend rifles a militaristic look, even if they are only civilian versions of their military counterparts. Composite stocks are also more visually versatile since they can be colored or painted to match any preference, including a reasonable facsimile of a wood grain. Rifles with hot pink composite stocks are an example of the aesthetic versatility of composite rifle stocks.

Recoil

Composite stocks have another advantage over their wood based counterparts in that they absorb recoil more effectively. Composites used in the construction of gun stocks are generally more flexible than wood and kick less even though they are lighter. Composite stocks can also be engineered to be stiffer resulting in greater accuracy at long ranges.

Be A Maxim Model

Before you are featured in "Maxim" magazine, you must complete a variety of different things. First, you usually have to find a modeling agency--the hardest part. Modeling is one of the most discriminatory professions. Modeling photographer Jon Malinowski describes a model's body requirements like this, "If you don't meet height and weight standards, you probably will not get work as a mainstream fashion model. Harsh, but true."

Instructions

Getting On The Right Track

1. Take a few photos of yourself (face, side of head, face and torso, whole body). You can do this with a digital camera. The photos should show the shape of your body. Men should take at least one photo shirtless.

2. Send the photos to a variety of modeling agencies. If you live in the U.S., these cities are great options for finding modeling agencies; Miami, New York and Los Angeles.

3. Schedule an appointment with the modeling agency or ask if it has "open calls." Open calls are like walk-in appointments. Act professional and leave a good impression, just like at a normal job interview.

4. Wait for a response from the modeling agency. If it contacts you, you probably have the job. What sets modeling apart is the scarcity of people who have the desired physical characteristics of models. Anybody can be an office worker or a store clerk. But not everybody can be a model

5. Once you have a modeling agency that represents you, the agency can contact Maxim and check for opportunities for you. Maxim has opportunities for new models as part of the "Girls of Maxim" gallery.