Tips to Consider Before Choosing a Professional Candle Designer

If you are looking for a professional candle designer for decorating your house or parties with candles, you will need to look for them either on the Internet or in the local magazines and newspapers. Professional candle making is a small-scale work at home opportunity, so there would be many who are in the business. However, you would need to ask some questions before you decide to go ahead with one of them. Here are the three important questions that you should ask before you choose a candle maker.
Have they worked with the type before?
Whether it is a home decoration or a party decoration, you are bound to have some idea of how the candles are to look and be. Before you decide on a professional candle maker, check out whether they have experience with that kind of candle designing. Most candle designers have experience in party decoration and even unique candle designs, but it is better to check if they have worked in the type of candle designing that you are looking for. If they do not have experience, but seem talented enough to carry out the requirements, you can go ahead and try them.
Are they Well Known?
Just like how you ask someone else what he or she think about a product, you should ask someone his or her experience working with the said professional candle maker. Some professional candle designers are celebrities in their own right, and it is not surprising if they are known in your local area and elsewhere for their candle making talent. The more well-known, the better chances of you getting a good product and service.
You should keep in mind while choosing a professional candle maker these two important aspects.

Exploring Rainey Street: Austin's Newest Entertainment Destination

Within the past two years the historic Rainey Street District, located in the southeast corner of Downtown Austin, has transformed from a quiet street lined with old bungalows to a hip entertainment district buzzing with activity. An alternative to 6th Street bars and restaurants, Rainey Street offers a variety bars with a laid back attitude and just the right amount of Austin "cool."
Popular Rainey Street bars Lustre Pearl, Bar 96, Clive Bar, and Icenhauer's have each been converted from older homes, some dating all the way back to 1907. Each bar has a unique feel and lots of character. Details such as wood flooring, spacious backyard patios, comfy couches and fireplaces will make you feel at home.
This area is also a great place to try great food. El Naranjo, a food trailer located at 85 Rainey Street, serves up traditional Mexican food from the Oaxaca region, including molotes, tacos fritos, empanadas, and mole. Bomb Tacos, whose trailer is located at Lustre Pearl, serves delicious Mexican and American fare from tacos with pineapple salsa to nachos and philly cheesesteaks. Best of all, they deliver right to your table!
If you're looking for an alternative to the hustle-and-bustle of downtown Austin bars and restaurants, check out the Rainey Street district. It is conveniently located within walking distance of downtown landmarks such as the Austin Convention Center, the State Capitol and Lady Bird Lake. If you want to be close to all of this then why not look into the many lofts and homes that are becoming available in downtown Austin daily?

Art Books And Buying Decisions

Do you love Art? So do I! Do you like learning more about what you love, such as on the subject of Art? So do I! Do you like to know what others know and love about what you love, again, such as on the subject of Art? So do I! We're doing great, so far, don't you think? Like, we're pretty much on the same page!
Well, let's carry this another step further and see if it continues! When you consider buying something, anything, be it a product or a service, what are your most important buying criteria that you consider as you make your decision to buy or not to buy?
1) Quality? Consider all of the components that may be involved in the production of any product or service you consider buying. How important is the quality of the materials being used, the manufacturing process being employed, the craftsmanship of the workers involved in the production process? Are they important to you? They are to me, too! I mean, I may not know everything about all of these factors, much less how to evaluate them, but I sure do know that I'd prefer purchasing a quality product or service rather than a piece of junk! Right? Check!
2) Selection? Do you want and need a reasonable selection of products and services to choose between when shopping for something? So do I. I reject the "one size fits all" scenario as well as Henry Ford's famous "you can have any color you want, as long as it's black," principle, much as I respect the many fundamental business principles he innovated. Similarly, I avoid situations in which a veritable avalanche of choices are presented because, more often than not, that simply produces no buying decision at all, perpetuating the fear that any choice made would be a wrong one. Do you agree? Check!
3) Convenience? I'm a proponent of the KISS, or Keep It Simple, Stupid, theory. As it applies to buying something, that means I want finding out what I need and want to know about a product or service, making my decision accordingly, completing the purchase process and receiving delivery of it, well... EASY! How about you, do you prefer convenient... or complex? Convenience, right? Check!
4) Customer Service. It's important to me to know that, whenever I buy something, whatever it is, that whoever I bought it from, be it the producer, a wholesaler, a retailer, a reseller, whoever, that the seller will stand behind the purchase and deliver the service and support appropriate to satisfy both parties in the transaction. Do you feel that way, too? Check!
5) Price? Yes, price is a very important factor, too! But that said, it is essential that we be realistic, not naive, when assessing this factor. The merits or faults of price relevant to the purchase of any given product or service must be judged fairly based on the value received in exchange for it! I don't like being made a fool of, and I especially don't like making a fool of myself, so I try hard not to do it. I'm guessing most readers of this feel likewise. So, let's not ridiculously expect to pay a Chevrolet price for a Cadillac! Right? Check!
So, have you been wondering what the heck the preceding buying lesson has to do with Art Books? Well, the answer is: Everything, or, at least as much as does buying anything!
This article is about art, and my love of it. It is also about my love of learning more about it, and that includes reading about it. And it is about sharing some of my thoughts about buying art books in particular, and anything in general. If the subject of art is an interest for you, also, you may wish to follow the links I've placed in the resource box below and discover more of my musings on the subject of art.

Would You Like to Be Fourteen Again?

Do you remember the feeling that you were invincible, that no one could cause you any harm?
Do you remember the raging hormones, the passion and the emotional outbursts?
Do you remember your first lipstick, shave, kiss, conquest and the feeling that it couldn't get any better than this?
When was the last time you jumped over a turnstile, made someone smile, or laughed uncontrollably, or tickled someone?
Do you remember when you could eat anything you want and never grow fat?
Do you remember having a secret you couldn't tell your parents about?
Do you remember when your hormones were raging out of control, you couldn't sit still, or concentrate, and you didn't know what was wrong with you, and you didn't know what to do?
Do you remember pimples and hair that wouldn't stay in place, and words coming out of your mouth that you had no intention of saying?
Do you remember listening to rock and roll blasting from boom boxes or jukeboxes? Do you remember your favorite singers and bands?
Do you remember feeling your world was coming to an end because someone you cared about didn't love you back?
Do you remember sneaking smokes or drinking beer in the backyard at a friend's home or in a car?
Life seemed so much simpler and more complicated at the same time when we were young. There was a sense of urgency about everything.
You had to be the best at whatever you did. You had to impress your friends. You had to show everyone that you were superior, but at the same time maintain your status as one of the gang.
There were so many questions and no one to turn to for answers-no one to confide in, no one you could completely trust except for your best friend. And when you broke up or had a fight with your best friend you felt like your world was coming to an end, but by and large these were the best of times-a time of discovery and longing and hope for a bright future.
Do you remember all those wonderful conflicting feeling when you were young?

Please feel free to use this article as long as credit is given to the resource box.

Believe Your Dream

Watching Jasper race across the field toward her, had the effect of making her feel as though she could walk again. Andy knew what the doctors had said, but she also knew her faith, or more accurately, her belief, could accomplish feats that the average person may not even be able to comprehend.
Thinking back over the past year and all that had transpired since her accident, Andy realized life goes on, even when at the time, you want to die and you want to give up all hope! Life goes on!
Sitting in her wheel chair, watching Jasper running like the wind, she knew he was trying to show her, she could run like the wind also. What a magnificent horse he is, she thought, as he slowed to a trot that stopped only as he reached her feet.
"You are so right, Boy, we'll show them, I will run again, we'll show them, won't we boy, we'll show them!"
Tears finding their way down her cheeks, she cuddled in more closely to Jasper's neck, as he lowered his head for her hands.
Jasper was an amazing horse, though most likely not more fantastic than most horses, just more understood and more loved than many. Andy reached her arms as high up around Jasper's neck, as she could reach. Trying to make her legs work by shear will power, no response, as she let herself back down to the chair.
Not permitting herself to be discouraged by the lack of response to her command, Andy simply said, "Not yet, but you will." Turning her attention back to the horse who remained standing at the foot of her chair, as if waiting for her to slip up on his back and squeeze with those legs, the direction he was to carry her, she smiled.
Her secret belief safe with Jasper, she knew she would walk, though she refused to share her belief with anyone else, for fear they might try to dissuade her positive belief.
It was like that sometimes, folks don't want to see us disappointed, so, they think they are doing justice, by doubting our desire, cautioning us from dreaming, when dreaming is really what we are all about. Make a dream, move toward that dream, then watch God bring about the reality of the dream.

Stamp-A-Ma-Jig - Use This Tool to Correctly Position Your Stamped Images

A common frustration I hear from rubber stampers at a class is "I messed up - my stamped image is crooked." An easy fix for this problem is to use the Stamp-a-Ma-Jig, a tool for stamping an image in the exact position you want.
The Stamp-A-Ma-Jig has 2 pieces - the T-shaped positioning tool and a clear, plastic, square sheet. The T-shaped tool has a non-skid bottom. The vertical line is longer that the horizontal one.
The procedure is straightforward. First you stamp the image on the plastic sheet. Then you place the sheet over your project, say a card or scrapbook page, so that the image is seen where you want the final stamp to be. Then stamp the image on that exact spot. Here are the details.
Place the clear, plastic square on your work surface. Slide over the positioning tool, so that one of the corners made by the T is butted up against one of the top corners of the plastic sheet. I'm right-handed, so I place the tool at the top left corner of the plastic sheet. A left-handed stamper would place it at the top right corner. Ink the stamp and hold it above the sheet, right in the corner of the T. Carefully slide the stamp straight down, and stamp the image on the sheet. It doesn't matter how dark the image is, as long as you can see it.
Lay the plastic sheet on the project you're making. Move it so that the image is exactly over where you want the final position of the stamped image stamped. As before, slide over the positioning tool, so that it is butted up against the corner of the clear sheet. If the sheet moves, then start this step over again. It's important to place the positioning tool, without disturbing the plastic sheet. Now, carefully remove the sheet, without moving the positioning tool. The tool should be over part of the surface to be stamped, holding it in place. Just as you did before on the clear sheet, stamp the image, by sliding the stamp down along the corner of the positioning tool. The result will be the image stamped in the exact position you want!
There are some additional tricks that may help you.
If your stamp is short and wide, as often greetings are, then you may prefer to lay the positioning tool horizontally in a corner of the plastic sheet. This gives more contact between the stamp base - either wood or acrylic - and the positioning tool while you're stamping.
If you're trying to stamp on a very small piece of paper or card stock, you may run into a problem. Once you move the plastic sheet away, the positioning tool may be too far to hold the paper in place. If this happens, then glue the paper to your work surface with a temporary adhesive. Get the T-shaped positioning tool in place, as always. When you removed the plastic sheet, the tool won't be holding down the paper or card stock. However, the temporary adhesive will hold it long enough for you to finish the procedure. Your final stamped image will be perfectly positioned! Just pick it up and glue to your project, as needed.
By the way, the plastic sheet is easily cleaned with running water. Sometimes, dark ink with leave a little color behind. Just use your regular stamp cleaner and the plastic sheet will be as good as new. I've had mine for almost 6 years. It looks the same as it did on the day I bought it - and I use mine several times every week!

Urban Architecture

What is urban architecture you ask? Urban architecture comprises of buildings made for an urban setting. Design considerations for these setting include, the practicalities of life, housing and workplace capacities, the harmony between form and function and energy-efficient design.
Architecture is like any artform in that it sees and follows trends. With changes affecting where and how people work, as well as the world's depleting environment, the demands of tenants and homeowners are changing, and architects must ensure that their designs address those demands. For instance, advances in telecommunications have made it possible for people to live and work in the same place.
As a result, more and more buildings that include shops, restaurants, and services in their foyers are being developed. Similarly, with so much pressure and pollution threatening the well-being of the planet, many companies and individuals have tried to build sustainable features into their properties and make use of renewable energy. This might mean including solar panels on a home, or it might mean building a garden on the roof of an office tower.
An example of new sustainable housing developments, is that being built in Toronto's Regent Park. This 12-storey, 85-unit co-operative seeks to provide an alternative to the majority of condominium towers going up in the city, made mostly of glass. Most units have private terraces, hallways are naturally lit, and the roof is completely covered in grass.
Although we have described some of the most common demands of urban architecture, it can also refer to any kind of innovative design. In Rotterdam for instance a market was built in the shape of a tunnel. Designed by MVRDV and developed by Provast, the development of the market made waves in the city and the world of urban architecture. The halls of the market are covered with LCD screens playing fruit and vegetable images. The arches of the market are ten stories high and comprised of 228 apartments available for rent or purchase.
One of the greatest examples of innovative and environmentally friendly architecture is Mangal City. Mangal City is a series of futuristic skyscrapers built in London. They are inspired by the complex ecosystem created by the mangrove tree. The skyscrapers comprise of modular pod capsules which shift throughout the day to adapt to environmental and contextual conditions.
Architecture is one of the most exciting parts about a city. It's always interesting to visit a new place and see the style of buildings that make it up. Of course, for every urban building that's built there are many shade structures, environmentally friendly canopies, and pow wows that people can easily add on to the outside of their homes, and office towers and schools can put in their courtyards.

Art Manifesto

"Only as an aesthetic phenomenon can the world be justified" F. Nietzsche
Since the beginning of time humanity has recorded its existence in some sort of artistic form. These expressions have been the source of much that we know of how we perceive and experience existence: The sacrificial wonders of Montezuma, the slavery and opulence of the Egyptians, the massacre of Guernica and the hundreds of artistic composition from the survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
We intend to present our story in ways that have not always been part of the main stream narrative and the "official version". In the 21st Century still it might be said not much have changed since the Renaissance where most media and arts centres are ever more geared to the affluent and bourgeois segments of society. Consumers are increasingly consumed by the latest trend imposed by the board-rooms of London, Paris, N York or Milan.
Nevertheless there is another less visible story often restricted to areas in the world where the "hip and trendy" are not part of the scene like the country side of China, Vietnam, the inner cities of Brazil the "barrios" of Cuba, the forgotten artists of Serbia and the ex USSR. It's the story of the various movements and individual artists that have led man and woman to a struggle to survive and achieve a greater sense of equality, fairness and dignity against the powers of capital and oppression. This is the chapter of our story that we want to focus the also called political art, notwithstanding the notion that everything in our lives is political to a certain degree.
Our space is open to all the past, present and future forms of expressions that reflect the ideas rooted in the counter movements that have challenged the status quo.Not as anti thesis on the equation of life but as a hypothesis for a better future of a classless, just and fairer society. A space where the seemingly voiceless will turn their suffering into virtues like composers seek through their sorrow an unheard composition, as an artist yearning for a higher degree of understanding among us.

All These Worlds Are Yours - The Appeal of Science Fiction

I've been fascinated with science fiction stories for as long as I can remember, although, I must confess, I never thought of science fiction as being mainstream literature. I, like many readers, pursued science fiction as a form of escapism, a way to keep up with speculation on recent scientific discoveries, or just a way to pass the time.
It wasn't until I met with my thesis adviser to celebrate the approval of my paper that I had to think about science fiction in a new light. My adviser works for a large, well-known literary foundation that is considered to be very "canonical" in its tastes. When he asked me if I liked science fiction, and if I would be willing to select about one hundred stories for possible inclusion in an anthology that they were thinking about producing, I was somewhat surprised. When he told me it might lead to a paying gig, I became even more astounded. I went home that afternoon feeling very content: my paper had been approved, and I might get a paying job to select science fiction, of all things.
Then it hit me: I'd actually have to seriously think about some sort of a method to select from the thousands of science fiction short stories that had been written in the past century. When I considered that the ideals of the foundation would have to be reflected in the stories which I selected, something near panic set in: science fiction was not part of the "cannon."
"While I pondered weak and weary, over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore," I reached a decision: I'd first try to figure out what science fiction "was," and then I'd develop a set of themes that related to the essence of science fiction. So, armed with this battle plan, I proceeded to read what several famous authors had to say about science fiction. This seemed simple enough, until I discovered that no two authors thought science fiction meant quite the same thing. Oh, great, thought I: "nevermore." (Sorry, Edgar, I couldn't resist).
Having failed to discover the essence of science fiction, I selected four authors whose work I liked to try to determine what they contributed to the art of science fiction. The authors were: Isaac Asimov, Robert Silverberg, Orson Scott Card, and Arthur C Clarke. At the time, I didn't realize that two of the authors, Asimov and Clarke were considered "hard" science fiction writers, and the other two, Silverberg and Card, were considered "soft" science fiction writers.
So, you might ask: what is the difference between "hard" and "soft" science fiction. I'm glad you asked, else I would have to stop writing right about now. "Hard" science fiction is concerned with an understanding of quantitative sciences, such as astronomy, physics, chemistry, etc. "Soft" science fiction is often associated with the humanities or social sciences, such as sociology, psychology or economics. Of course, some writers blend "hard" and "soft" science fiction into their work, as Asimov did in the Foundation trilogy.
So, having selected the authors, I was ready to proceed to my next challenge, which you can read about in the next installment of the series.   "All these worlds are yours:" the Appeal of Science Fiction, Part II
In the first part of the series, I mentioned that I'd been given an assignment to select approximately one hundred science fiction short stories for inclusion in an anthology that was being considered by a literary foundation. Originally, I'd intended to find the "essence" of science fiction, and then select stories that reflected this essence. Unfortunately, this turned out to be nearly impossible, since different authors had different ideas about what constituted science fiction.
So, I took the easy way out, I selected four authors whose works appealed to me, and hoped that I could make selection based upon my familiarity with their works. My selection process resulted in four authors who have been writing science fiction for thirty years or more: Isaac Asimov, Robert Silverberg, Orson Scott Card, and Arthur C Clarke. As it turned out, two authors were considered "hard" science fiction writers, and two were considered "soft" science fiction writers.
Well, I finally had a plan. And then the wheels fell off. I still needed some sort of selection criteria, or I'd have to develop one as I read. So, I did what anyone in my place would have done. I started reading. I read, and read some more, and then... I read some more. Over three thousand pages and three hundred short stories, in fact. I was almost ready to make a stab at a selection process; almost, but not quite.
What, three thousand pages, and still can't figure out how to start? How could this be? Okay, so I'm exaggerating a little bit. I started to break the stories up into groupings around general themes-it helps when I organize things into groups, so I can apply some sort of selection criteria for seemingly unrelated data points (who says that thirty years in business doesn't have its rewards)? Gradually, I began grouping the stories into several broad headings: scientific discoveries; life-forms (which included aliens, man-made life and artificial life); the search for meaning (which includes the search for God or the gods); the death of a group of men, a nation, race, or system; the meaning of morality.
Now I admit, these groupings may be arbitrary, and may in fact reflect my perspective on things, but I had to start somewhere. The strange thing was that these grouping tended to repeat, no matter who the author was. When I thought about it, these same types of concerns are mirrored in the more "canonical" texts that are taught in school. So, what makes science fiction different from the mainstream texts taught in colleges and universities across the country?
Once again, I'm glad you asked that, because it is a perfect lead-in to the next part of the series.   "All these worlds are yours:" the Appeal of Science Fiction, Part III
I guess that the main difference between science fiction and the more acceptable or "canonical" type of fiction must arise either from the themes employed, or the subject matter. In part two of this series, I mentioned that the themes employed by science fiction, namely: the search for life, identity, the gods, and morality are similar to those themes employed in "canonical" literature. By the process of subtraction, that leaves subject matter as the primary difference between the two genres.
So, by subject matter, we must mean science, since we've already covered fiction ("when you has eliminate the impossible, whatever is left, no matter how improbable, must be the truth," as Sherlock Holmes would say). So, we must infer that science is the factor which differentiates science fiction from traditional fiction. By this definition, several traditional pieces of fiction must be considered science fiction. As an example, The Tempest, by William Shakespeare has often been cited as a type of science fiction if we expand the category to include those works which incorporate current science into their works. But wait, you say, The Tempest does not incorporate science into its construction. Oh really, I reply, the English were just beginning to settle the New World in earnest when the play was written ("Oh, brave new world that has such people in't.") Besides, you reply, if anything, it is more fantasy than science fiction. Splitting hairs, I reply.
What then of John Milton, I ask? John Milton... why, he's so boring and well, unread these days, you reply. Of course he is, but that's beside the point. What about Paradise Lost, I rejoin? What about it, you reply (and then in a very low voice... I've never read it). The scene where Satan leaves hell and takes a cosmic tour before alighting on Earth and Paradise has been described by many critics as being the first instance of an author providing a cosmological view of the heavens. In fact, Milton scholars point to the fact that Milton, in the Aereopagitica claims to have visited Galileo Galilei at his home in Italy. These same critics also refer to the fact that Milton taught his nephews astronomy, using several texts that were considered progressive in their day. Still, most critics would fall on their pens (swords being so messy and difficult to come by these days), rather than admit to Paradise Lost being... gasp, science fiction.
Still not convinced; what do you say about Frankenstein? You say it made for several interesting movies, but really, the creature was overdone; bad make-up and all that. I reply: the make-up is irrelevant; for that matter, so are many of the films, which don't do justice to Mary Shelley's novel. She didn't even write the novel, you reply. Oh no, not another apologist for Percy Bysshe Shelley writing the novel. Let me state unequivocally that I don't care whether Mary or Percy wrote the novel: it is often cited as the first instance of science fiction. But where is the science, you ask: it is only alluded-to. That's' why it's also fiction, I retort.
So, where are we? I think we've managed to muddle the waters somewhat. It appears that the element of science is needed for science fiction, but the precedents for science being contained in a fictional work, are somewhat troubling. Maybe in the next section, we should examine "modern" science fiction and try to determine how science plays a part in works of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.  
"All these worlds are yours:" the Appeal of Science Fiction, Part IV
Up till now, we've defined science fiction as part science, and part fiction. No real revolutionary concept there. I've tried to show how earlier works could be considered science fiction, with mixed results. I've also said that works of the twentieth century would be easier to classify as science fiction, because they incorporate more elements of leading-edge science into their writing.
To use two brief examples, the Foundation trilogy by Isaac Asimov is often considered a "soft" science fiction work, relying more on the social sciences than the physical sciences in the plot line. In the story, Asimov posits the creation of a foundation that relies on psychohistory, a kind of melding of group psychology and economics that is useful in predicting and ultimately molding, human behavior. Anyone who has been following the stock and financial markets over the past year can attest to the element of herd mentality which permeates any large scale human interaction. The theme of shaping human dynamics through psychohistory, while somewhat far-fetched is not beyond the realm of possibility (and would, no doubt, be welcomed by market bulls right about now).
A second example from Asimov, that of the three laws of robotics, has taken on a life of its own. Asimov began developing the laws of robotics to explain how a robot might work. The three laws were postulated as a mechanism to protect humans and robots. He did not expect the laws to become so ingrained into the literature on robots; in fact, the laws have become something of a de facto standard in any story or novel written about artificial life, as Asimov has noted in several essays.
The case of Asimov's three laws of robotics influencing other writers is not unusual. In the case of Arthur C. Clarke, his influence is felt beyond writing and extends to science as well. Clarke is the person responsible for postulating the use of geo-synchronous orbit for satellites, and the makers of weather, communications, entertainment and spy satellites owe him a debt of gratitude for developing this theory. He anticipated the manned landing on the moon, and many discoveries made on Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and their many moons.
Consider also, Orson Scott Card, whose novel Speaker for the Dead, postulates a world-wide communication network that is uncannily similar to the world-wide-web and predated the commercial internet by some fifteen to twenty years.
It appears then, that science fiction writers popularize science, provide their readers with a glimpse of the possibilities of new inventions and theories, and sometimes, anticipate or even discover new uses for technology. But there's still an element missing in our definition of science fiction, that of the fiction side of the equation. We'll explore the fiction side of science fiction in the next installment.   "All these worlds are yours:" the Appeal of Science Fiction, Part V
Good literature requires a successful plot, character development, and an emotional appeal in order to be successful. Science fiction is no different than traditional forms of fiction in this regard. We've talked about plot and content (science) in earlier installments. In this installment, I'd like to talk about the emotional reactions generated by science fiction.
Broadly speaking, I think science fiction appeals to the following emotional responses: terror, the joy of discovery, awe and wonder, a lassitude born of too many space flights or too many worlds, and a sense of accomplishment. The instances of terror in science fiction are well documented: for anyone who has seen Alien for the first time, terror is a very real emotion. Many science fiction and horror writers as well, make good use of the emotion of terror. An effective use of terror is important, however. Slasher movies use terror, but they sometimes degenerate into an almost parodic exercise of who can generate the most gore per minute. True terror is a case of timing and the unexpected. That's why Arthur C Clarke's story entitled "A Walk in the Dark" is so effective. The author sets-up the BEM (bug-eyed monster, from Orson Scott Card) as a pursuing agent; the protagonist has no idea that the monster will actually wind-up in front of him.
As to the joy of discovery, this emotion can work in reverse. In Orson Scott Card's brilliant short story and novel, Ender's Game, the child protagonist learns that the war games he was practicing for were actually the real thing. His surprise, remorse and confusion have profound effects on his psyche, and set the stage for his attempts later in life to attain some sort of recompense for the race which he and his cohorts destroyed.
Robert Silverberg's works evoke a feeling of dj-vu, a sense of being on too many worlds or too many travels; a moral ennui not found in many writers. Yet somehow, he transcends this eternal boredom to reveal with startling clarity that something lies beyond; if only a sought after end.
Perhaps no other science fiction author offers a sense of wonder and discovery, a sense of joy de vivre, as does Arthur C Clarke. In story after story, Clarke expounds on new worlds, new discoveries, new possibilities ("all these worlds are yours..."). His love of the cosmos is rooted in his love of astronomy and physics, and is bundled together with a love of mankind that makes his work so inspiring and evergreen.
But what of our final category, that of a sense of accomplishment? Each of these writers talks in some way to the human experience. In bridging the worlds of science and fiction, in writing to our fears, hopes, joys and sorrows, each of these authors stakes a claim to be included among the list of canonical authors. In "Nightfall," Arthur C Clarke writes of the effects of an atomic war, and thinks back to an earlier time. He is staking his claim to posterity when he writes:
Good freed for Iesvs sake forbeare,
To dig the dvst enclosed heare
Blest be ye man yt spares thes stones,
And cvrst be he yt moves my bones.
Undisturbed through all eternity the poet could sleep in safety now: in the silence and darkness above his head, the Avon was seeking its new outlet to the sea.
For Sir Arthur was paying his respects to the Bard, and claiming his place in the pantheon of the great English writers.

Author Biography
Peter Ponzio, the author of Children of the Night, is a CPA with over 30 years experience in Corporate Finance, holding positions as divergent as Treasurer, VP of Sales Administration, Vice President of IT, and General Manager of an internet start-up company in the late 1990s, and CFO at a subsidiary of a Fortune 100 company.
Mr. Ponzio graduated with a degree in English literature from Loyola University of Chicago, and an MA in Literature from Northwestern University.

ESPY Awards

Every summer since 1993, ESPN has presented its annual Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly (ESPY) Awards in honor of the best and most memorable individual and team players and moments from the past year in athletics. For the first seven years, the ESPY ceremony took place in New York, first at Madison Square Garden from 1993-1994, then at Radio City Music Hall from 1995-1999. During the years 2000-2001, the ceremony was held in Las Vegas; and from 2002-2007, the awards show has been held in Hollywood, at the Kodak Theatre. In 2008, the show moved to the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, where it has been held since then. Until 2002, the ESPY awards ceremony was held and broadcast in February or March on ESPN. Beginning that year, however, the awards ceremony moved to the Wednesday in July that follows the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, a rare point during the year when no other major professional athletic league in North America has no games scheduled, with the NBL, NFL, and NHL out of season, and no possibility of baseball games being contested by MLB on the day after the all-star-game. That way, all invited athletes can be available to make an appearance at the ESPY Awards Ceremony. Then, although winners are announced online on ESPN.com and from other media sources immediately after filming, the show is broadcast on ESPN on the Sunday following the actual ceremony.
ESPN donates portions of the proceeds from each ceremony are donated to The V Foundation, a charity established by Jim Valvano, college basketball coach and television sports commentator, with the mission to promote cancer research. He had established the foundation only shortly before dying from metastatic adenocarcinoma. His death occurred almost two months following the first ESPY awards ceremony, at which he had been honored the Arthur Ashe Courage Award, which honors personal courage and activeness in charity beyond the realm of sports.
Infusing a hip factor into the ceremony are contemporary celebrities and comedians - such as Seth Meyers, Jamie Foxx, Samuel L. Jackson, Tony Danza, Jimmy Kimmel, LeBron James, and Justin Timberlake - usually host each year's show, which also features comedic sketches between the distribution of awards to their recipients. It's the fresh choice of host that makes the Espy award one of the coolest honors in all of .
Other ESPY Award categories include Best Male Athlete, Best Female Athlete, Best Breakthrough Athlete, Best Coach/Manager, and Team of the Year, as well as honors for the top plays and top moments from the year. Awards are given in bowling, angling, driving, fighting, golfing, tennis, track, jockeying, and of course basketball, football, and soccer. Other awards transcending specific sports include Best Championship Performance, Best Male/Female College Athlete, Best Comeback Athlete, Best Game, Best Moment, Best Upset, Best Play, Best record-Breaking Performance, Best Sports Movie, and more.
ESPY Award winners are chosen online, with votes submitted by sports fans around the world. As of 2004, sportswriters, broadcasters, sports executives, athletes, ESPN personalities, and other athletic experts have also been invited to vote from among those nominees determined each year by the ESPY Select Nominating Committee. Before 2004, sports journalists and sports experts at ESPN had determined the nominees for each year, but since 2005, fan voting has determined all factors from nominees to winners.

Lanyard Hardware or Attachments

Lanyards can be customized according to what a customer may need. Different patterns, in color or braiding or size or material can be used. Lanyards can be used for attaching a variety of products from a key to a whistle to a USB flash drive to a cell phone. Lanyards depending on what its use is going to be are attached with different hardware so that connecting or tying or attaching them to an instrument becomes easy. The most general of hardware is that which comes fitted with O-shaped ring so that a key or a whistle can be affixed very easily and doesn't breakaway from a lanyard in worst of the situation. This goes with the small valuable instruments which can be wore in neck or in wrist.
Opposite to this is a breakaway mechanism; which generally is used where lanyard is supposedly long and has chances of getting stuck in some static object. In such cases a break-away mechanism is provided so that the neck of the wearer does not get a jerk incase it gets stuck. There are many other types of clips that can be used to affix different things to a lanyard. - such as a Swivel snap hook which is generally meant to affix Identity cards or badges which have a rectangular hole at the top of it, also the bull-dog clip which has serrated jaws and can clip on itself once the thing to be affixed is slide in it. It somewhat works same as a crocodile clip. A crocodile clip with swivel snap hook combo is also used in some cases.
Whereas in most of the digital equipments a simple nylon thread also work. It can be affixed to any of the lightweight digital equipment with the help of a cow hitch which is a very simple kind of knot.

Lanyard Manufacturing and Designing

Various manufacturers provide their lanyard products in various different sizes, shapes and colors patterns. Even different braiding patterns are provided. Manufacturers also provide customized patterns for the lanyards. Manufacturers to attract customers from all over the world have started marketing Lanyards online. Just because of this they are able to reach customers from all over the globe. The most common arena where the manufacturer can compete is by providing different patterns or by customized pattern as a customer may wish to have. Different printing patterns are also decided on the needs of a customer. A manufacturer can also provide economically cheap lanyards for the customer on his demand.
A lanyards design may depend on its use or the place where it is going to be used; the most common use can be attaching a key to keep it safe from loosing it. As same in big companies employees are provided with printed lanyards with their identity cards attached to it. Even in big expos or exhibitions lanyards with printed company logos are made to distinguish them distinctly and also to promote a specific brand name or a company. In such cases where the customer needs lanyards in bulk and has a very shorter use for example in an Annual seminar or exhibition cheaper methods can be used to print and produce such lanyards. Also the material used for making lanyards can increase or decrease the value of the finished product.
Lanyards are still used in Militaries all around the globe. This has been a common practice since ancient times so as to keep the important material safe at the time of action in a battlefield and also so that it can be easily accessed whenever the situation aroused. Generally a cavalry mounted soldier or a sailor used lanyards for affixing their swords or pistols or whistles to their uniforms to keep them safe while they are operating in the battlefield or during an exercise.

Various Uses of Lanyards

Lanyards from the past have been used to hold some or other item for a person for whom that item can be of extreme importance. It can be a simple instrument such as a key or a space-age digital device to a simplest of instruments such as a whistle. In today's world, in big Multi-national companies to keep a check on its employees or visitors Identity cards or Passes are issued. Such passes are generally attached to a lanyard. Even for Promotional events Lanyards Printed with companies' logos are in use. In such a way the company and its brand name is also advertised on a large-scale.
Lanyards are also used in industries where heavy-duty machineries are fitted with dead man's switch or a kill switch has a lanyard so if incase some mishaps occurs with the operator the lanyard is pulled out thus switching off the heavy-duty machines and thus avoiding further accidents. In such cases Lanyard is wore on the wrist. Deep sea divers also practice wearing Lanyards so that the small instruments that they carry can be accessed very easily whenever needed as also swimmers use neck lanyards to keep their valuables. This helps them to keep the valuables with them even when they are swimming. Even in the game of geocaching - where in a small container the trinkets are hidden. The container which is generally small in size has also lanyard attached to it so that it can be handled properly.
Now days the digital devices which are lightweight and are small have a built in notch where a lanyard can be attached to make the handling easy. In such cases a cow hitch can be used to tie the lanyard to the digital devices, which also in turn helps to affix the digital device and the lanyard firmly.

Lanyard Business in Today's World

Many of today's Lanyard manufacturers today give a variety of products which are made up from various types of fabrics and in various sizes & colors especially for the consumer on their specific demand. The most commonly used materials for making a Lanyard are cotton, polyester or any other nylon fabric, plastic such as PET, silk, nylon etc. Lanyards can be used by a specific company by printing their symbol on the lanyard as graffiti or a print-art. As this also a way to promote the Companies brand name and provide uniformity among the staff workers.
These printings are done by hot stamping or screen-printing or dye sublimation. Hot stamping is generally done by a Hot Stamp metal Plate with the art-work which is pressed on the Lanyard fabric. The artwork is what the client provides or is designed according to his needs. Hot-stamping is one of the most economical ways of getting the lanyard printed, but the only drawback is that the dye can be adjusted to give out a single color product. Whereas Screen-printing is one of the best forms to get the Lanyards printed with the symbol or art-work which is needed by the client.
It gives a very high quality and durable product. Dye sublimation gives out a superior outcome which is used for highly detailed and multicolored designs. This method gives out a smooth design which can resist abrasion and is thus less prone to fading. Depending on the user and its demands the printing of the Lanyard is chosen. For huge orders and where the lanyards are to be used for shorter period for example- Auction Galleries or expos or for Annual exhibitions the economical method of Hot-stamping is used.

Standup Comedy: Comedy Clubs Vs One Nighters

Clubs are designated comedy venues that book on a weekly basis. Depending on the club, your work week may cover three, four or five consecutive nights. Some of the bigger comedy club chains include Yuk-Yuks, Catch a Rising Star, The Improv and the Funnybone.
Any comic of any worth prefers clubs over one-nighters. The venue is perfectly designed for comedy, with state-of-the-art lighting and sound, and an elevated stage with unobstructed sight lines.
The crowds are there for one reason - comedy. They pay good money to attend, making them attentive and, usually, receptive. And because most club's hire door staff, hecklers are quieted immediately. The overall setting makes these venues conducive for clever, well-written material.
Clubs are a great networking source for new acts. If the headliner or feature likes your work, he or she may recommend you to other club owners or bookers. Or maybe even invite you to open for them at other venues. Many big-name acts, like Brian Regan, George Lopez and Robert Schimmel use comics they worked with at a club to now travel and open for them across the country.
If it's an A-Club (as compared to a B-Club) you have the chance to work with a major act. They often attract big crowds and media. And sometimes they're accompanied by their agents and producers. It's a great way for generating possible recognition for yourself and getting your name on the comedy radar.
One-Nighters
One-nighters, also referred to as hell gigs, take place in bars, restaurants, hotel banquet rooms, bowling alleys and any other public place licensed to serve alcohol. Sometimes bookers will string four or five one-nighters together on consecutive nights in different towns, allowing you to make it monetarily worth your while. They try to geographically bunch these gigs together, but out west it's not uncommon to drive five or six hours in between shows.
Conditions are often less than ideal for performing comedy. Lighting can be non-existent. Sound systems shoddy. And stairs can serve as stages.
Crowds are less attentive. Often some people are only there by default, holdovers from a happy hour that ended three hours earlier. Consequently, you're dealing with loud drunks stepping over your lines, trying to challenge your claim as the funniest person in the room. This doesn't happen all of the time, but it's common.
Some one-nighters are precursors to dance nights. So while you're on stage the bar fills with disinterested, chatty people anxiously waiting for you to shut-up so they can dance.
And many one-nighter crowds base a successful show not on a comic's talent, but in their ability to send shots up on stage and get the comic drunk.
Despite the dire description, one-nighters serve a purpose for new acts. They're good venues for getting stage time and sharpening your teeth, learning how to deal with hecklers, learning how to keep your emotions - anger and fear - in check, learning how to cope with bombing, and learning how to work a room.
Just make sure you don't get labeled as a one-night comic. You can identify one-night acts a mile away. They're good at pimping crowds for shots or access to weed. Instead of entertaining they're more focused on using the stage as a vehicle for getting laid. And their entire acts rely on base, lowbrow material. Don't get caught in this trap. It's an act that will prevent you from working clubs and condemn you to comedy hell.

Art Class - Important Details for Taking Up

The first most logical response why you should take an art class is that it improves your innovative knowledge. We use technology to cook, writing, designing essentially every thing. It has only reduced and made stagnant our imaginative knowledge. Today, this is especially awful as you do not get to hone your creativeness- something which may show to be unhelpful if you are already employed in the office or in school. Art classes will prod someone to think out of the box and also be inventive enough to create something inspired. This is often used not only in art but also in life, too. Creativeness could be the foundation of numerous art tasks. Being creative indicates making something with elements that you've got. Numerous art jobs are free-flowing this way. Rather than being provided exact guidelines, students can think by themselves and make choices depending on what they really want to do. This art training is important in other parts of education as well. A creative mind is needed to understand historic arts and also to brainstorm methods to science projects and experiments. Philosophy needs a creative mind also. Other subject matter just like math, that do not require much imagination, however use the identical areas of the brain which are strengthened by art jobs.
Art is always likely to perform a huge role in today's world in one way or another. How could movie makers produce outstanding animation or special effects not having art? How could covers for music Cd's be produced without art? How would photo books for kids be made without art?
Besides arts' big part in our society, art is a fantastic imaginative outlet for children of every age group of course, if one child is not confronted with art in school how can they know how to use it as an outlet tool? Children have intense creativeness and they also must be capable to express their imagination. There are several fantastic artists getting born daily but will those children be aware that they have a wonderful artists in the individual should they in no way be exposed to the various tools to create their art?
I also found art class for being excellent outlets for minimizing stress and anxiety within my life. All people have different ways of dealing with tension. For me, resting and writing a story or poetry or even allowing my ideas stream free by way of a paintbrush are typically smart ways of putting this chaos I call life around the back burner for a short while. When I'm painting or composing, I have an opportunity to focus on something entirely aesthetic as well as completely for me instead of every one of the sound building up inside my head. Furthermore, self-expression is a very crucial way for someone to get acquainted with oneself- particularly in the essential elementary school age. Through arts programs away from schools, we're building generations of youngsters that will struggle to think creatively and independently. Devoid of enabling students expressing themselves artistically, we are producing robots - people who will develop to be struggle to think on their own. We are sending them to school and ready for them to sit down through math, Language, and science lessons without having break to have any kind of creative energies flowing. I foresee this may have a very negative influence on children mentally

The History of Mickey Mouse

When people think of Walt Disney they almost always picture it's most famous character, Mickey Mouse who is know all around the world. The outline of Mickey's head featuring his large round ears have become the basic symbol for the company and appear on merchandise, Disney ornaments and at its theme parks.
How Mickey Mouse came to be is not crystal clear. The story seems to change based on who is telling it. Since all the parties involved and mentioned in the original creation of Mickey have passed away the absolute truth may never be known. Many claim that Walt Disney himself created the popular mouse. Disney is said to have drawn the cartoon mouse and his close friend Ub Iwerks revised the drawing into a form that would be quicker to draw. The personality and voice for Mickey were done by Walt Disney himself. Another story claims that Hugh Harman turned a picture of Walt Disney into Mickey. In any event this mouse started out as Mortimer Mouse until Walt's wife convinced him that the name did not match with the characters audience, and would sound too snobby. Walt Disney also has said that part of Mickey's personality was based on silent movie superstar Charlie Chaplin.
In 1928 the first short called Plane Crazy was made available but Disney was unable to find a distributor. A second short named The Gallopin' Gaucho also failed to find a company unwilling to distribute the cartoon short. In November 1928 Steamboat Willie became the first Mickey Mouse short to find a distributor. In November of 1928 the short became an instant hit and audiences loved that music and sound effects were used to add humor to the cartoon. This success encouraged Disney to adopt sounds into all future animations and the 1929 short The Karnival Kid featured Mickey's first spoken words. In 1935 a new animator redesigned Mickey to his more familiar appearance that we have grown to love today.
In 1978 to celebrate 50 years of Mickey Mouse he was awarded his own star Hollywood Boulevard, a first for an animated character. Over eighty years later Mickey Mouse is still around and new cartoons featuring the mouse are still being made. Currently the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, designed for preschool age children, is shown daily on Disney's own cable channel.
From a humble start Mickey Mouse has grown into an international cartoon icon. Today you can find Mickey Mouse on Christmas Ornaments, snow globes, and many, many other types of merchandise.

Making Money In The Art Arena

There are many opportunities in the job market if you are creative. Whether it is drawing, sculpting, writing, designing or whatever, there are many different careers available in this area. The majority of the careers require some training in an art institute, specializing in the particular field in which you are interested.
A few of the areas available are animation, fashion design, film/video, game or graphic design, interior design, photography, web design and a number of others. There is no limit as to where you can be working, and enjoying the job, depending on your expertise. Sometimes you will start out to develop a special interest and then find a different area more exciting.
There are actually four groups for those who wish to pursue art as their career. These are Multi-media Artists, Art Directors, Craft Artists and Fine Artists. Each require certain talents and a great number of people in these groups are self-employed.
Art Directors are responsible for design ideas for media use. Multi-media Artists work in film, video and the electronic media. Craft Artists hand-make things such as tapestries, pottery and so forth. Fine Artists work with paintings, sculpture and illustration.
Many of the people working in these fields find employment in schools, galleries, movie studios, magazines and other areas. The most competition is found in the art and design fields. However, this is where a great deal of employment is expected to increase by 16 percent through 2016.
Income for people in these fields varies greatly. It stands to reason that the self employed must sell their work on a regular basis to have an adequate income. However, the average salary for salaried fine artists is $16,900 to $73,560 with an average of $32,570, Art Directors earn $32,410 to $115,570. With those in high demand positions earning a great deal more.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports Multi-media artists and animators earn from $25,830 to more than $85,000, with $44,000 average. Those who work in the motion picture and video industries earn around $58,840. As can be seen, the salaries vary according to the area of art you are engaged in.
There is a wide variety of positions available when one has chosen an art career. Positions such as an art teacher, curator or archivists in museums and galleries, designers for fashion houses or automobile companies, artists for medical or other books are just a few that springs to mind. Today's technology also goes into the Internet with its website designs and other things that require an artistic touch. If you are interested in any form of art there is a place just waiting for you in this field.

Radio - Some Benefits

People have been listening to the radio for donkey's years. When they were first invented everyone who could afford it bought one because they were more cheaper than the Television sets. They would use their radios to stay in touch with whatever happened in the country or all over the world. They would also use these devices to know the cricket scores.
This device was their only source of entertainment as this was the only way they could listen to their favorite tracks. Even now radios have been installed in almost each and every device or gadget such as laptops, mp3 players, mobile phones, etc. people prefer listening to the radio because they can listen to different genres of music in one place. Every area has their very own stations and people can also switch stations easily. They can also keep in touch with the latest tracks as these stations always have all the latest tracks with them. Some areas also have personalized stations which mean that they play music that is the essence of that particular area.
Now that people have started making use of the internet so much you should know that you can also listen to music on your favorite stations online. This service is free and you will be able to listen to your favorite tracks while working. It will keep you entertained and will also make work more fun. Listening to music on the internet is also very convenient when you move to a new state or country as it will allow you to listen to tracks being played back home.

The Reason Why HP AC Adapters Get Hot

n the year 1995 the HP Pavilion marks the company introduction into the market for home computing. Dave Packard released the HP Way, a book that chronicles the rise of HP and gives an overview of its business practices, culture and management style. HP produces a low-cost, high-speed infrared transceiver that allows wireless data exchange in a variety of portable electronic device applications such as mobile phones, laptops, printers, cash registers, ATMs, digital cameras and others. Here in this article I will give you more information about HP products.
HP laptop, just like all laptops, use external alternating current (AC) adapter, which converts high voltage alternating current into low voltage, stable current. Adapters of this type can be too hot to be touched. But why an HP adapter hot?
The Functions Of the AC Adapter
The AC adapter include two circuits to ensure a constant power supply device adapted to the computer or others. A transformer reduces the voltage, but a regulator provides a constant electricity, without "noise". These circuits use a small amount of electricity and generate a small amount of heat. The AC adapters usually feels a little warm. They  can be warmer when the device is using a lot of electricity, for example whether it is running and charging the battery. There is no reason to worry about an adapter if it is too hot to touch comfortably.
The Internal Reasons For the AC Adapter
Adapters sometimes overheated because the circuitry in them, such as the regulator, are malfunctioning. If the part is bad, it can produce excessive heat and must be replaced. The device itself can sometimes take too much current from the adapter, increasing the current passing through it, so it will be too hot.
The External Reasons For The AC Adapter
AC adapters are based on air passing over them to dissipate heat and cool them. If the adapter is covered, such as a blanket or rug, the excess heat is trapped and then the adapter will overheat. Ensure to keep the adapter from obstacles. If ventilation is adequate, will remain at a moderate temperature.