How To Have Best 13th Birthday

How To Have Best 13th Birthday-Magician

A 13th Birthday party is a monumental event in a young adult's life. This is considered the age when you are officially a teenager, or young adult. Therefore, many want to have a big bash in celebration of such an occasion. If you are the parent who is struggling to come up with ideas on how to celebrate your child's special day, then you have already made more progress than others by reading this article! In today's day and age, children no longer want cute little themes; it is all about x-Boxes, Playstations, sports, gossiping, and the opposite sex. So the last thing you want to do is embarrass them by having a party with all their friends that is similar to family gatherings you have had in the past.

Magician

If you want to have a party, most children want to have a co-ed get-together. Just make sure you monitor the invites and make sure that the people who are invited will only make the party better and not worse! And since they are young adults with hormones raging, make sure you have enough eyes to monitor the situation.

But do not worry, you can still have a big cake and make him or her blow out the candles. Everyone wants to make a special birthday wish! Depending on where you decide to have the party, will be the basis of your decorations. If you are having it at your house, double check with your child, to see if they want streamers, balloons and confetti. It is best just to stick to plates and cups that are plain in color instead of having something like Winnie the Pooh which is a potential embarrassment to them.

If you are having it at a park, little decoration and planning will be needed seeing as how they can play soccer, tennis, volleyball, etc. If you have it at a reception hall, you might want to higher a deejay so they can have dancing. Depending on your budget, you can definitely tweak the party by having an awesome deejay, decorations and entertainment. You could even splurge for a live band. If you have ever heard of the MTV show Sweet 16, you will know just exactly how elaborate you can go. People with the time and money, spends months planning with party planners, on how to make the best entrance into the party, who will be the entertainment, what will be the themes, the food, etc. Some have fashion shows, dance parties, grand entrances on camels; the skies the limit. And many people are choosing to let their child have similar parties for their 13th. So if you have the money and patience to plan something truly spectacular, let your child get to work planning a day they will definitely remember!

As for those who want to have something on a more normal scale, a party is all about food, decorations, entertainment, and of course presents. You could have a big cake with a picture of your child on it. Many people like to buy ice cream cakes so you do not have to buy the ice cream separately. Typical party snacks, like chips, pop, and even candy are great grabs for young adults. If you want something a little more filling, try the all-time favorite pizza, or even sandwiches. You could also have fruit and veggie trays.

As for entertainment, besides the much needed music, most kids would probably not like a magician, but you never know. Just double check with your child before you plan any surprise acts. But who knows, magicians nowadays do some pretty awesome tricks besides sawing a person in half or pulling a rabbit out of a hat.

You could also have a bonfire or cookout which is always fun. Make sure you have basketball, soccer, football, and other games for them to play while they are hanging around outside.

Finally, do not forget about the present! Get them something that they are dying to have. The newest Ipod, cellphone, Gamecube, or whatever their hearts desire and your budget can afford. If you have more than one present, bring out the smaller ones first and save the best for last.

Things to remember :
It is perfectly okay to have cake, blow out candles and unwrap presents. You can even take pictures.
It's just all about loosening up and being more accepting of their ever changing and growing needs and wants, and learning to let go because they no longer want to sit on your lap. The best thing you can do to have the best 13th birthday for your child is to listen to what they want and take it from there. It really is not that hard to do, after all you're just trying to make them happy!

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How to Make A Great Press Kit - A Musician's Guide

How to Make A Great Press Kit - A Musician's Guide-Magician S Hat

As an owner of an independent record label, I often get asked how to put together a great press kit. I have found that young musicians understand their music, but are often intimidated by the marketing end of the business. In this article I will help you figure out how to position yourself, whether you are a Latin female vocalist building her base, or an upstart garage band just looking for a break.

Magician S Hat

What is a Press Kit:

First of all, there is nothing magical about the term "press kit". All we are talking about is a little background on you/your band, some basic facts, good quotes about your music, a couple of good pictures, and a sample of your music. You will use this to send to newspapers, lawyers, radio stations, A&R reps, promoters, and anyone else who is willing to spend five minutes reviewing your material. Additionally, on the internet you will hear about an electronic press kit, or EPS. An EPS is the exact same thing as a conventional press kit, except it is downloadable as an electronic file instead of a hardcopy form which must be mailed.

The main purpose of the press kit is to generate interest in the artist and their music.

What to include:

Include a limited amount of background information on yourself. It is fine to say where you are from, but no one really wants to hear about every singing performance you did during elementary school. Sometimes less is more.

Talk about your music. Who do you sound like, and who does your music remind people of. The reader needs to be able to have a good idea of what your music sounds like just from your description. Be thoughtful and feel free to be a little funny here (but stay professional). Saying something like your band sounds like a cross between "Maroon 5 and Green Day after 20 cups of coffee" helps the reader understand. Remember, if you don't generate enough interest in the first minute, they will never listen to your demo.

Talk about what you are good at. What makes your band special and different from others? What skills and experiences do you bring to the table? Remember if you are looking for a record deal, you need to prove to your reader that you have all the right ingredients for them to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars marketing you. Launching a new artist is risky, so you need to help the record exec understand why you are a solid investment.

Include quotes and/or press clippings as you generate them. A good quote from a reputable source (not your brother-in-law) can add a lot of credibility to your press kit. It lets the reader know that you have already been reviewed and your material is worth listening to. Ninety percent of press kits unfortunately end up in the trash, some good quotes and positive reviews can create the momentum necessary to get heard, and who knows - maybe even become famous.

You can go with one page dedicated to a bio (biography), and a separate page focused on quotes about your music, or you can combine the two into what some people call a "one pager". My personal preference is to boil everything down to a tight one pager. My desk gets cluttered and papers get separated. If you have you quotes separate from your bio, there is a possibility that I could misplace one or the other. With the advent of digital photography and high quality color printers, it is even possible to include a small picture on your one pager to make it even more complete.

Make sure the overall language and tone of the press kit is consistent with your image. If you have someone help you write your bio, make sure they have heard you music and know what you are all about before they hand you something that might sound great, but isn't about the real you.

Include a couple of different 8x10 pictures that show off different features about you and your band. Include shots that would be appropriate in a news article, but also highlight your key assets from a visual perspective. Your press kit should look professional, but your pictures should reflect your style and music, so you pictures can be much more crazy and creative. Make sure you clearly label the picture with you name and contact information.

If you don't have good pictures of your band, one of the best ways to get some is to go to a modeling agency and ask for a referral to a good local photographer. These photographers are often willing to do some great work for around 0 for the whole package. Make sure you get an agreement upfront that you own the copyrights after the shot and get the high resolution digital images on CD (with a copyright release you can print these photos at any major retailer). A photographer who does work with models is very different from a photographer who takes family pictures. They have a much better idea of what you want, they will encourage your creativity, and they are much more willing to give you the copyrights.

A current gig sheet can also be useful showing where you have recently played and where you are playing in the near future. This can demonstrate that the music is current and has a following in the community.

And of course, your music. Send a high quality CD demo, preferably mastered if you budget permits. Avoid burning your own CD on your home computer with a stick on label - it looks cheap. There are many new CD duplication services on the internet that will manufacture you CD with a printed color insert, and on disc printing even if you only want a few copies (CD replication is for batches over 1,000 but CD duplication is for batch sizes as small as 1). Expect to pay around a retail ready disc for 1-5 CDs, with prices dropping off for larger batches. Make sure you clearly label the CD and the case with you name and contact information. The worst thing in the world that could happen is that they love your music, but they have already lost the rest of the press kit and don't remember the name of the band.

What Not to Include:

Don't oversell yourself. Saying that you are the greatest band that ever lived, might be true, but it probably isn't. Be positive and promote yourself, but focus on statements that are credible. People in the music business hear hype all of the time, and for the most part are numb to it. Hype is good to use with the general public on things like posters (they often believe it), but your press kit reader is more sophisticated and will see it as cheap theatrics.

Including too much of your personal history can make you seem like an amateur with nothing meatier to talk about. Your reader wants to understand your music today, only your psychologist needs to know about every little detail of your childhood.

Don't include anything that makes you look too desperate. You want to come across as a quality professional artist. Remember, you make great music. If your band is called the Chicken Heads, then it might be cute to include a rubber chicken in the box, but otherwise I would stick to the basics - bio, quotes, gig sheet, pictures, and music.

How to Package It:

Include a professional looking, personalized cover letter targeted at the person you are sending the press kit to. Your message needs to be different if you are sending it to an A&R rep at a label seeking a record deal, versus sending it to your local newspaper for a review in their music section. Be brief and to the point. Also, be clear and state exactly what you would like from them.

Put it all together in an organized package. Since you are most likely mailing your press kits, make sure that the CD does not bend the photos, and that your kit will arrive looking the way you intend. You may even want to test a press kit (send it across the country to a wrong address, and then it will come back to your return address) to evaluate your packaging.

Your Music Is Art, But Your Press Kit Is Business:

Remember, be professional. The person you are sending this press kit to probably gets hundreds of them, most of them are garbage (and that's where they end up too). Your music can be crazy and wild, but your press kit needs to be more business like. You are asking someone to spend their valuable time reviewing your material. You may also be asking them to enter into a high risk expensive financial relationship with you. The person you are dealing with is in the music business, they need to make a living. The only way they can do that is to deal with real talent. By presenting a professional package you give them confidence that you are dedicated to making great music, and not just messing around.

A Word About Unsolicited Press Kits:

Avoid wasting your time and money sending a press kit to someone you have not talked with already. Always call and make contact first, ask who you should send it to and what their process is. If possible, have someone who knows the person act as an intermediate and make the initial introduction (this can work wonders). The music business is all about contacts, create and leverage your network. After sending your press kit, call in a couple of weeks and follow up to make sure they received it and got a chance to review it.

Example:

To see a good example of a press kit, go to Legend Vega's website at [http://www.legendvega.com].

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Acting For Beginners

Acting For Beginners-Magician

Acting for Beginners: Tips to Bring out the Star in You

Magician

Acting is among the oldest and most popular forms of the performing arts. Nowadays, acting can make people rich and famous. Some people shy away from acting because they think it is a complicated matter. However, acting is really simple because we do act in many occasions in our daily lives. Acting is not only for the professionals but for beginners as well.

If you are new to acting here are acting tips that anyone can learn:

1. Read the script for the play or film first to get the feel of the script and let it flow through your head. Don't get into acting immediately but just read the text to learn the material and familiarise yourself.

2. Research the script or play because it pays to know beyond the words what you are going to act. Check out who the author is and how his or her other plays have been. Read about the setting of the play or film. Check out what kind of characters it has especially the one you are going to be playing. Know all you can about the character.

3. Read the script again and this time you can focus on the character you are playing. Based on your research, how do you think the character should behave? Keep this in mind as you read through the text and imagine the character come to life.

4. Know the who, what, and where before you act, ask yourself who your character is, what it wants, and where it's set. This will help you place yourself in the shoes of the character. Imagine what you will do in such a situation. Think of everything from your gestures to the way you will speak.

5. Read the script aloud with the character in mind. This will help you say your lines more comfortably. Play along and try out different ways of speaking based on how you think the character would say the text. Repeat as much as you can so that you can truly master everything.

6. Practice in front of the mirror; once you have mastered the text you can practice your acting. Do this in front of the mirror so that you can see how you look and you then will be less conscious about yourself.

Acting can be simple and fun if you put your mind to it. Try out these tips and see how soon you become a good actor or actress.

For more information go to http://www.HowtoBecomeFamous.co.uk

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Etymology- How Words Change Over Time

Etymology- How Words Change Over Time-Magician

Etymology is the study of the origins of words.

Magician

As languages develop the meaning of words can change over time. This causes confusion and misunderstanding when communicating with other people.

In a world were you make a living at communicating, advertising or marketing, it is not only important to have clarity in your message, it is also important to think of your target market and understand how they understand words and messages.

On the positive side that words change meaning over time, it has been noted that languages that stay alive, adapt and grow over time.

An example would be the word nice. Nice used to be an insult and meant foolish or stupid in the 13th century and it went through many changes right through to the 18th century with meanings like wanton, extravagant, elegant, strange, modest, thin, and shy or coy. Now it means a good & pleasing or thoughtful & kind.

Silly meant blessed or happy in the 11th century and went through pious, innocent, harmless, pitiable and feeble minded before ending up as foolish or stupid.

Pretty started as crafty this changed to clever or skillfully made, then to fine and ended up as beautiful.

Some other changes are:

Word ______ Original Meaning

Awful________ Deserving of awe

Bead _________Prayer

Brave_________ Cowardice (as in bravado)

Girl__________ Young person of either sex

Neck_________ Parcel of land (as in neck of the woods)

Nuisance______ Injury, harm

Sophisticated___Corrupted

There are several reasons for words change meaning. One is the influence of other languages and cultures. Throughout history, many nations through conquering or intermixing with one another, introduced their own languages into the mix. Another reason is the predominate use of slang words. We get so used to using them that many times we forget that we even are.

So when it comes to defining words, there is the standard dictonary, which by the way can show multiple meanings for one word, and there is the definition of the word in slang.
As well, slang words spread faster and are used more often than before, making them common place in many societies.

Due to the advancement of science and technology, new words are also being created at an amazing rate. Keeping up with some of the new words and your usage of them will help in your efforts understand and to become a master communicator.

Once every ten years, the Merriam- Webster dictionary is updated. Their 11th edition for 2003 included some 10,000 new words along with 100,000 new meanings to words already existing and some 225,00 revised definitions.

Some of the slang words that have made it in the dictionary are;

Headbanger- a hard rock musician and a fan

Dead presidents- Paper currency

Prairie Gophering - people who peer above their cubicles at work.

McJob- Low paying and dead-end work.

Comb-over- an attempt to cover a bald spot

You can learn about more words in an etymology dictionary.

We can use this as another reminder, especially when it is important to have a group goal achieved, that what a word means to us, may not have the same meaning to someone else.

There is also the emotional reactions that different people have to certain words. But that's another story...

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How To Become A Pharmacist

How To Become A Pharmacist-Hat

Many students these days are pursuing a career in pharmacy. And I can't blame them. Some advantages of becoming a pharmacist are:

Hat

1) Starting salary can be anywhere from ,000 to 0,000 depending on location and need

2) A pharmacist's work schedules are flexible. You can work 7 on and 7 off, work during the evenings or work the usual 9-5 job

3) You will come out with less debt compared to other health professional schools.

4) You can become a fully-fledge licensed pharmacist in your early 20s and do not have to complete a residency

5) You won't have to deal with blood

There are many other advantages to becoming a pharmacist. Above are just a handful of them.

Now, how can you become a pharmacist?

If you are in high school and are interested in pharmacy school, I recommend that you take a look at a few 0-6 years program schools. This program works this way. The high school student applies into this program. As long as the students get the minimum grade point average (GPA) and SAT scores they should be able to get into the program. An interview may be required at some schools, so please check with each individual school. After 2 years of pre-requisite coursework with high marks, the student then proceed into the pharmacy school, where they complete either 3 or 4 years of pharmacy school coursework. Once completed, the student can opt to a 1 year residency or could go out and practice pharmacy immediately.

The shortest 0-6 years program school is University of the Pacific's (UOP) School of Pharmacy located in Stockton, CA. They offer a program that is as short as 5 years.

Below are some schools that offer 0-6 year programs:

Albany College of Pharmacy, Duquesne University, Florida A & M University, Hampton University Massachusetts - Boston, Northeastern University, Ohio Northern University, Philadelphia, Rutgers University, St. John's University, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, University of Connecticut, University of Findlay, University of Missouri at Kansas City, University of Rhode Island, University of Texas at Austin, University of the Pacific and University of Pittsburgh

Now if you are a college student or non-traditional student, the road to becoming a pharmacist is similar to a high school student. Basically, you'll need to complete the pharmacy school requirements, take the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT - if appropriate) and apply to the pharmacy school of your choice. There are many roadblocks that a student who are applying to pharmacy school may face. These questions include: How do I prepare myself to apply to pharmacy school? What should I major in? What extracurricular activities should I be involved in? Do I need to graduate with a bachelor's degree? Etc.

How To Get Into Pharmacy School ebook will show you how one student got into the pharmacy school of his choice within 4 short months after applying.

After graduating from pharmacy school, the student is now a fully-fledged pharmacist and only after becoming licensed, by taking the required test for the state the student is interested in practicing in, then he or she can begin working as a pharmacist.

As a pharmacist, you must renew your licensure every 2 years. This licensure process requires the pharmacist to take 30 units of Continuing Education (CE) classes either online or by signing up for a class. Other than this, the pharmacist can enjoy his or her career in the field of pharmacy.

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8 Ways To Lose Facial Fat

8 Ways To Lose Facial Fat-Magician S Hat

Want to lose fat in your face? Unhappy with that fat chin? Feel like those fat cheeks are making you look "chipmunky?"

Magician S Hat

First, let's acknowledge that spot reduction of fat, through exercise or dieting anyway, is not possible. It would be nice if we could target our problem areas -- thighs, a spare tire, flabby arms, or in this case a chubby face -- and concentrate our efforts on melting the fat from those specific places. Nice, but not realistic.

That doesn't mean the situation is hopeless. Here are all the ways that I am aware of for helping to get rid of a fat face, or at least diminish its plump appearance.

1. Exercise and diet to lose overall body fat.

When we lose weight we tend to lose fat from over our whole bodies. If you are overweight, then sensible dieting along with a regular cardiovascular workout will burn fat from all areas, including your face. For some people the difference will be dramatic, for others less so, but all should enjoy some improvement in facial appearance. Remember: Spot fat loss through exercise isn't possible, but fat loss is.

2. Drink more water.

Drinking eight big glasses of water a day has been proven to aid in weight loss. Sometimes when we think we're hungry, our body is actually just thirsty. Drinking lots of water can take the edge off our "hunger" and keep us from overeating, thus helping us to lose fat.

There's another reason to drink water, though. Sometimes a fat looking (or puffy) face is caused by bloating, the body's retention of fluid as a response to being water deprived. If you're a woman--especially if you've just come through a pregnancy or are experiencing menopause--this could be part of the problem. So drink up! Good ol' H20, that is.

3. Firm up your face.

Some people swear by facial exercise; others consider it silly and question it effectiveness. It won't hurt to try it for a few weeks or a couple of months to see if it works for you. Remember, your aim here is to tighten and firm your skin, not to try to spot-reduce the underlying fat (since that's impossible anyhow).

Here's an old one for firming up a double chin: Using the back (top) of your hand, slap/tap the bottom of your chin rapidly yet firmly. Do this often, whenever you think of it.

For cheeks: Sit. Relax. Smile, keeping your lips closed. Now suck in your cheeks and hold them in while you count 8 seconds. Relax and repeat at least ten times. This is a good one to do while driving, as it requires no hands to perform. Another exercise for your cheeks is simply to smile as wide as you can (lips closed) as you imagine you are trying to touch your ears with the corners of your mouth.

4. Get older.

This is the easiest way of all to lose fat from the face -- it only requires patience!

If you're in your teens, twenties or even thirties, your roundish face might be caused by baby fat that has yet to melt. Give it some time, and meanwhile be sure to work on reducing your overall body fat if need be. As people age they tend to lose a lot of their facial fat. The drawback to this natural process is that by their fifties, some people end up with excessively gaunt looking faces. That's a problem to tackle another day, though.

5. Lose face fat the magician's way.

Magicians use misdirection to deceive. You can "lose" the fat in your face the same way -- by misdirecting the viewer's attention and by disguising the roundness.

Sorry, guys -- these are women-only subterfuges ... unless you are into makeup or have long hair. And so, ladies ...

If you have a double chin you want to camouflage, I'm told that adding some blush along your jaw line will do the trick. Start from just below your ears and brush it all the way to your chin, making sure to blend. If you also put a spot of white powder on the tip of the chin for a highlight, the overall effect will be dramatically slimming.

Similarly, to make your face look thinner, just brush bronzer over your cheekbones and temples, as well as under your chin. Boost the effect with white-powder highlights on chin tip, cheeks, forehead and the bridge or your nose.

Finally, ask your hairdresser for a style that will either hide or draw attention away from a round face. Hairdressers are experts in knowing which styles are best for which face shapes.

6. One word: Ultrasound.

Ultrasound is increasingly being used for cosmetic purposes. A special ultrasound machine can be employed to send energy deep beneath the skin, where it liquifies underlying fat cells without harming tissue or nerve cells. The liquified fat is then expelled naturally by the body--or at least that's what proponents and practitioners of ultrasound therapy claim.

7. One other word: Liposuction.

Liposuction is more invasive than ultrasound therapy by itself. It can also be combined with ultrasound. As you probably know, liposuction involves making one or more small incisions in the skin, inserting tiny "vacuum hoses" and suctioning out the fat. It works particularly well on double chins and jowls, and can be used to "deflate" fat cheeks, too.

8. Two words: Cosmetic surgery.

Celebs do it. Average people do it. For some, results are stupendous. For a few, they're a nightmare. Botched jobs do happen. And in any case, facelifts and similar cosmetic procedures are expensive.

This article on ways to lose fat from the face wouldn't have been complete without mentioning ultrasound, liposuction and cosmetic surgery. I deliberately did not go into detail about them.

If you are considering having any costly or invasive procedure to reduce facial fat (or for any other purpose), you need to do your own due diligence. Talk to people who've had the same procedure. Research it through the Internet. Get your doctor's opinion, advice and perhaps a referral. Learn about costs, side effects, recovery time and possible complications. Most importantly, gain a realistic understanding of what the procedure can and cannot do for your appearance. That way you'll avoid disappointment.

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The Importance of Imaginative Play For Children

The Importance of Imaginative Play For Children It is important that you encourage your child to be creative in their play. When children use their imaginations they can learn to play by themselves, play cooperatively with others and improve their language and cognitive abilities. When your child plays dress up and pretend games they can live out their dreams and fantasies.

You can find many different kinds of toys and games that will encourage your child to be imaginative in their play. Some of the popular items include pretend kitchens with pretend food, gardening toys, toys that allow them to pretend to clean, cash registers and other toys dealing with money, puppets, dolls and spy toys. Your child is probably right there in the kitchen with you when you are cooking meals every day. You can find a lot of toys that will allow your child to cook right along with you. The list of toys available is almost endless and includes pretend picnic sets with food and condiments, baking sets, complete tea party sets, pots and pans, complete sets of dinnerware (these usually include cups, plates, bowls and silverware) and pretend coffee makers. They make amazing play kitchens these days that have realistic microwaves, fridges, stoves, dishwashers and more. These play kitchens often include sounds and lights to make them appear even more realistic. You can also find real ovens and microwaves that will allow your children to cook along with you. Another great toy your children would love is a pretend grocery store with a cash register so they can check out with their groceries. There are endless possibilities for kitchen pretend play. All young children like to play dress up with their mom and dad's clothes. You can find a lot of dress up clothing kits that have clothes, accessories and more to keep your children busy for hours and hours. You can find costume specific to the interests of your children including police costumes, fireman costumes, nurse and doctor costumes, princess costumes, ballerina costumes, fairy tale costumes, animal costumes, witch costumes, waitress costumes, bus driver costumes, magician costumes, teacher costumes, secretary costumes, superhero costumes, animal trainer costumes and many many more. These costumes often come with fun accessories like wands, hats, ballet slippers, boas, capes and tights, stuffed animals, baby dolls, serving trays and food, princess tiaras and anything else you can think of. Your child and their friends will love dressing up in these costumes and acting out their very own stories. If your child is interested in gardening and likes to help you work in the garden you can get them their own play garden tools. You can find cute child sized wheelbarrows for them in a variety of colors and patterns that will let them help you move dirt and rock with you. Kids love this kind of thing. You can also find child size toy versions of an endless list of garden tools including water cans, trowels, shovels, seeds, bulbs, gardening clothes, gloves, rakes, and almost anything else you can think of. If your children are old enough and want to grow their own garden you can find garden kits with seeds, dirt and planters that allow them to grow and tend their own miniature garden. That would be both fun and educational.When your kids are little they will love to help you clean up around the house. This won't last long though so enjoy it while you can. There are a lot of different housekeeping toys out there including toy brooms, mops and vacuums, toy cleaning products, toy irons and ironing boards, toy sewing machines and even cute toy washers and dryers. It can be both fun and educational for your children to play with money by using cash registers or pretend ATM's. This is a good way for them to get an understanding of how to use money. Some of the toy cash registers available let children scan items, pay with cash or a pretend credit card, give change back, and even more. These toys will help your children improve their small motor skills and learn about money, math and shopping. Another fun kind of pretend play for children is pretending to be spies. You'll be amazed at the variety of realistic and working spy toys out there. Some of the things you can find including listening devices so the children can overhear conversations in the next room, cameras you wear on your wrist or can fit in your pocket, spy glasses for seeing what is going on far away, motion sensors that actually work and radios that let them stay in contact even if they are not in the same place. Children can have hours of fun playing spy games with these toys and will be exposed to electronics which is educational and can lead to a future interest in electronics as they get older. Play tools are another popular item that allow children to use their imagination and be like their mom or dad. There are many pretend tool sets for children that include all the tools their mom or dad have like saws, hammers, wrenches, drills and levels. There are also cute tool benches where the children can pretend to build and fix things with all their play tools. There are also lawn and garden tools for children to be like mom and dad as well. Your child can pretend to mow the lawn, blow the leaves away, trim the hedges, cut down trees, carry rock and dirt around in their wheelbarrows and even more. There is even pretend safety gear so they can do this all safely. Puppets are a fun way for children to use their imaginations and make up stories to act out. Children love playing with puppets. Puppets come in many different forms including finger puppets, hand puppets, bath tub puppets, marionettes with strings and a few others as well. You can also find accessories like clothes for puppets and puppet theaters so your children can put on a show for you. Puppets come in every design you can imagine including dogs, cats, lions, tigers, frogs, bears, fish, and many more animals. Other puppets can be found that are famous people, babies, small children, moms and dads, teachers, policeman and fireman, and fairy tale characters. The possibilities are endless. Puppet theaters can be found to fit in any home and can include small theaters that fit on the table, ones that fit in a doorway, floor ones that are a little larger and more. You and your children will have a great time playing with puppets together. Children need to express themselves through playing and be encouraged to use their imaginations. They love pretending to be other people that they know or have seen in their lives. It is important to have a variety of toys and accessories in your home so your children can act out stories and scenes from their imaginations. The Importance of Imaginative Play For Children Related articles: Spring Valley Vitamins , ทำseo

How to Learn Magic Tricks - A Guide For the New Magician

How to Learn Magic Tricks - A Guide For the New Magician or someone new to magic, the first question that pops up is often, "Where can I learn new magic tricks?"  There is an endless amount of resources to help you learn magic tricks.  You can learn them in the library, on the internet, on television shows, and DVDs.  In fact, there is so much information out there that it is easy to get caught up in reading about every magic trick there is, instead of actually practicing and mastering the tricks that they are reading about.  Every time you find a trick that you find interesting, practice it until you have it completely mastered.  This way you are learning tricks as you go and you do not just become completely overwhelmed with all of the information you are taking in.

In my opinion, when trying to figure out how to learn magic tricks, the best resource out there is the internet.  There is a vast amount of information on the internet.  You can read about the history of magic all the way up to the most current tricks that are being pulled off by famous street magicians such as David Blaine.  You can find free tricks, most of which are very simple.  You can purchase instructional videos and ebooks online with very advanced tricks in them.  It doesn't matter how much of a novice you are or how much of an expert you are, there is plenty to be learned about on the internet regarding magic.  YouTube is a great source for watching and learning magic tricks.  Many popular magicians have videos of some of their tricks on YouTube.  Some even have tutorials that show you exactly how to do their tricks.  You should definitely check out YouTube for a vast amount of material related to magic. At this day and age, believe it or not, the library is still a very strong reference point regarding magic.  Some libraries even allow members to rent out instructional DVDs about magic.  For those interested in the history of magic, the public library is as good of a place as any to find all the literature that you crave.  The best part about using the library as a resource for learning about magic, is that it is completely free. All most all fans of magic love to watch their favorite magician pull off magic tricks on television.  With the recent increase of popularity in street magic, there has been a lot more magic on television.  Criss Angel and David Blaine have brought a lot of publicity and mainstream news attention to magic.  David Blaine's stunts on television were some of the highest rated programs on television for the year 2008.  Criss Angel's show "Mindfreak" was also a very popular television show. When you are attempting to figure out how to learn to magic tricks, make sure you remember the most important aspect of all.  Have fun!  If you are struggling with a trick, forget about it and try a new one.  Do not let it get you down, focus on the tricks that are the most fun to learn and execute.  How to Learn Magic Tricks - A Guide For the New Magician Related articles: Spring Valley Vitamins , ทำseo

What to Wear in Dubai

What to Wear in Dubai Dubai is one of the fastest growing metropolises in the world, with more tourists arriving every year. The city government and the leadership of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) both place a lot of importance on the tourism industry, and each year spectacular new tourist attractions in Dubai are opened while others begin construction.

Most visitors to Dubai are unsure of what kind of clothes to pack for their trip. What is the customary dress code for visitors to this exotic city? No matter which country you may visit, it's always a good idea to learn about the local customs. What is considered decent attire in China may be thought of as stuffy in Australia! To avoid wearing conspicuously odd clothes, in Dubai, you don't need to wear the white robes of the Bedouins. There are no specific rules governing what you wear in Dubai, but you should keep in mind that the UAE is a conservative place, and you might end up feeling embarrassed if you wear something that's considered indecent from the perspective of local traditions. There are two aspects to consider while deciding what to wear in Dubai - the weather and the culture of the country. I. Weather - Dubai is a typical desert city with incredibly hot summers and moderately cold winters. Summers last from April to early November. If you plan to visit in the summer, light clothes made of natural fibers will help you endure the weather when you step out. Lightweight trousers and full-sleeved cotton shirts would be ideal, because they cover up your skin and prevent sun burn, while at the same time allow air to reach your skin and cool you down. Please remember that as a rule, malls and places of interest are usually heavily air-conditioned, and it can actually get a little cold if you stay indoors for long! On trips to events that will keep you inside a large facility, it is advisable to take a light shawl or jacket to keep you warm. In the Emirate's climate, winters are not extremely cold; still, it's prudent to wear warm clothing when you step out. A light jacket or sweater is recommended during the months of December to February. II. Custom - As mentioned already, Dubai is a free city as far as tourists are concerned. There are no specific dress restrictions. Still, to respect the local customs of dressing, it's wise to dress according to the place you are planning to go to. Here are a few examples - Beach wear: T-shirts and shorts are ideal. Swimsuits are accepted as long as they are not too revealing. String bikinis may attract unwanted attention. Visits to malls, restaurants and clubs: Not many restrictions here, and local custom closely matches the European and North American patterns of dining out. Still, you will feel most comfortable in clothes that cover your knees and shoulders. For men, T shirts and knee length shorts, cotton shirts and trousers are okay for inexpensive meals or fast food. Women can wear knee length skirts, Capri slacks, or trousers with decent tops. As you may expected, some formal dining establishments require ties, or formal dress. Visits to mosque and souks: These are the most traditional areas of Dubai, and here extensive coverings of clothing are most ideal. Respectable attire for men is trousers and shirts. Women can wear skirts, Capri slacks and trousers that fall below knee level. Tops should not expose shoulders or midriff. These restrictions are not dictated by the Government, but are instead just guidelines to help you decide what to wear without offending the religious sentiments of the local population. III. Tips - * Women - Carry a light shawl wherever you go so that you can cover yourself if you visit a traditional place, such as a temple. It can also be used to keep you warm when the air-conditioning is too high, which is usually the case in public buildings! * Pack a broad-brimmed hat and sunglasses to protect you from the sun, especially if you are planning to go to the beach. * Pack a pair of good walking shoes. The malls in Dubai are famous for their size, and you'll definitely find yourself walking a lot in Dubai. Wear comfortable shoes made for walking, to keep you from getting blisters or sore arches. * Contact your hotel in Dubai to learn the general dressing code in and out of the hotel. What to Wear in Dubai Related articles: Spring Valley Vitamins , ทำseo

How to Draw People - Cartoon and Realistic

How to Draw People - Cartoon and Realistic Drawing people be it realistic or cartoon-like can be challenging. But the pure joy you can have from creating drawings of people is really awesome. Here in this article you will find some tips that will help you to create drawings of people that are not only beautiful but also full of life.

Pay attention to various proportions: To draw a realistic human body you must have clear understanding about the sizes and proportions of various body parts. Things like: a man is around 7 head high, width of human body at the waist is little more than one and half times of his face and things like that. A good anatomy book meant for figure artists can be very useful for this purpose. When drawing cartoon characters you can override many of these guidelines, but to break rules in style you first have to be aware of them. Draw eyes to express the state of mind: Eyes express the state of mind so be careful while you are drawing eyes. Eyebrows and lips are equally important. Make a habit of observing people and how they express their emotion through their facial expression. This practice is very useful and will enrich your character-creation-toolkit. Hands are not too difficult; you just need to practice more: When drawing your character do not avoid drawing hands. Properly drawn hands separate a good figure artist from mediocre ones so practice drawing hands diligently. Use your own hand as a model and draw from various angles, this will give you a very good practice. While drawing cartoons you can reduce the complexities by drawing four fingered --three plus thumb -- hands. Or you can make your character wear gloves that will make your work even easier. Why shadows are important: Shadows can add depth to your scene. But drawing elaborate and accurate shadow takes time; instead add some shadowy patch near the feet of your character. If you do not add shadow at all your character may appear to be floating in mid air. Practice drawing from real life: Initially when you start drawing it is easier and natural that you will be drawing from other's sketches or photos, but as you start becoming good at your job you must start drawing from real life. Real life gives you the freedom of choice and rich variety. Negative space drawing will make your work easier: Negative space drawing is drawing space that is not part of your intended drawing subject. Or in other terms it is basically nothing but drawing the out line of your subject. You may find this approach useful because it lets you concentrate on the overall form without getting bogged down into the details of the subject. How to Draw People - Cartoon and Realistic Related articles: Spring Valley Vitamins , ทำseo

SETI: The Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence in All the Wrong Places, Part Three

SETI: The Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence in All the Wrong Places, Part Three Sleight-of-Hand and Misdirection

It's a fact that the SETI program denies any reports or evidence of the existence ETs in our midst. The very idea shakes the foundation of their philosophy that ETs are many light-years out there and have not visited our world yet, mainly because they're technologically-challenged, just like us. As long as such skeptics believe aliens have not come anywhere close to Earth, despite any evidence of an ET presence here, they'll stick to their guns, or radio telescopes in this case, looking for signals in all the wrong places. But on the other hand, are they right? Or is SETI part of the government's elaborate cover-up agenda? The government has been attempting to suppress ET activity and propagate misinformation for many decades now, and the SETI program has become a part of this nearly perfect cover-up. It's like a magician's sleight-of-hand act, or misdirection. We'll tell people aliens are thousands of light-years away, because we're intently listening for their messages from deep space -- while it's quite possible that aliens are closer than they appear. So, where are these aliens really hiding? Many UFO supporters believe they have been observing Earth far longer than we may realize, from our orbit or perhaps hidden on the surface, but any information regarding this has been and is still being suppressed, but evidently not as effectively as the government would like. The SETI team and their followers have chosen to ignore any intelligent literature or actual reports discussing evidence of an alien presence here. And the studies for this are inexhaustible. Regarding this, Stanton Friedman says, "If any of them are aware of the studies, they surely have decided not to mention them or read them so they can continue to make their claims that there's no evidence. They also seem to have intentionally avoided dealing with the substantial literature on interstellar travel. Again a demonstration of the attitude, 'don't bother me with the facts, my mind is made up.'" (from Flying Saucers and Science by Stanton T. Friedman) The way SETI expresses it is that the evidence isn't there if they don't look for it, or at least if they disbelieve it's there. Belief in a falsehood keeps people in the dark. Their belief is their foundation, and if we tell them otherwise, they'll scoff at us. If we try to tell them ETs are here, and if we try to show them any proof, they will simply deny it. The SETI people have stated that they will act as ambassadors to the first ETs contacting us, for they believe they will represent the whole Earth if they do receive an ET signal, hopefully friendly. So "first contact" by their standards will only be via long-distance communication. Most likely something on the lines of the hit movie, Contact, based on a book written by Carl Sagan. So it's presumed that it won't be accomplished in-person by actual aliens. Once again, it's the sleight-of-hand act; if we focus on aliens being out there, then why should we consider aliens being closer to home? The government definitely nods its head at this plan, which is essentially further misinformation to the public. Obviously SETI has no intention of welcoming or shaking the hands of any alien who lands here. Fine and dandy. When the first aliens visit us and initiate first contact, the SETI folks will still be plugged into their radio telescopes, listening for alien signals countless light-years away. Then what do we do with all those UFO eyewitnesses and alien abductees? What do we do with the scads of military, government, and civilian reports that have been compiled for several decades regarding the ET presence here? Ignore them? That's exactly what the government wants us to do. It wants us to follow the example of SETI and support them in listening to the stars. That way we're distracted while the magician continues his illusionist tricks. However, it's odd that there are countless reports of military and government observations of ETs and UFOs, and yet SETI doesn't recognize such, but then why should they, while the government continues their vain attempts to cover it all up? That's why it makes sense that part of the alien cover-up by the government involves SETI's long-distance listening program. Because if we accept that aliens are thousands of light-years away, why should we look up in our own skies for them? So it likewise makes sense that SETI should be allowed to declare themselves ambassadors during a first contact event -- if that will ever happen. If first contact with aliens takes place via radio telescope signals from deep space, I guess all the real aliens that are here can pack up and go home, because we'll just ignore them when they try to reach out to us, or perhaps we'll just be distracted by the sleight-of-hand show, so we won't be looking in the right place to see what's really going on. After all, SETI is the most advanced, cutting-edge technological outfit that contacts aliens. Right? There are various reports that SETI has been recently concentrating on a new project. NASA's super-space telescope Kepler has discovered 86 new planetary systems, potentially life-bearing planets, they hope, which is great news! But, as always, SETI's objective is essentially to listen for intelligent signals from these specific areas in space. Unfortunately, it seems their search will be limited, due to the fact that the Allen Telescope Array at Hat Creek Radio Observatory in California entered a hibernation phase as of last April of 2011, due to lack of funds. SETI is still functioning on a few projects, but within narrow parameters, at least temporarily. But they are seeking financial help so their mission can continue. Is it possible they will decide to look for visual signs of ET craft up in our orbit, not radio signals thousands of light-years away? It's possible; things could change. If they get their funding back. On the other hand, the government would rather they continue the usual distraction and misdirection. The illusion must continue. Well, if SETI isn't around to help Earth folks "reach out and touch someone" out there, who's left to do it? Who will our ambassadors to ETs be? It seems likely that SETI has served as a pawn in the government's plot to conceal what's really going on, although I'm sure they don't see it that way. It's more likely SETI sincerely believes ET is way out there and not right here. So once they get their funding on track, they can make use of their expensive array of cool radio telescopes, just in case someone is calling them up long-distance from Zeta Reticuli. Good luck, SETI! SETI: The Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence in All the Wrong Places, Part Three Related articles: Spring Valley Vitamins , ทำseo

Watching Live Magic Shows

Watching Live Magic Shows There is really fun in watching magic shows, the amazement that gives to the viewer is really very entertaining. Even if you only watch it on TV, the amazement is always there and somehow challenge on how the magician did his tricks.

But the good thing in watching a magic trick is watching it in a live show. You can feel the intense and the curiosity of a lot of people. Of course before the main event will be performed there will be some appetizer to give excitement on the audience. Usually clowns and acrobats perform on a magic show, and it is also amazing watching this acrobats do their stunts and how complicated and dangerous the stunt they perform. But nothing will ever compare the excitement in watching a magic show. In here in here scene are unpredictable and that will add up to the excitement you have. Usually magician will start with their basic magic tricks. It can be a card or a hat or any props to perform their magic tricks. Most of the time they make their audience involved in the show. They will ask some volunteer to come up on the stage and be a props itself to perform magic. They can make a person float in the air without any string attached on the person or they can cut a person into half. Usually some magician uses a magic box, where they hid a person inside it and stuck some swords on each hole of the box and unexpectedly no blood that will flow. You will not even here any scream of pain from the person inside the box. Watching shows like this is kind of shaky and put out your nerves into it. But of course only professional magician who has been doing this kind of trick. But of course behind it is a secret tricked on how did they performed such magic tricks. It is hard to believe on what you have seen, usually this magician do distract their audience attention so they will not be caught. It requires a lot of practice to perfect such magic. They can't be too complacent to perform and might loose concentration in doing the magic. It can cause an accident if the magic trick is performed incorrectly. But again only few magicians had failed to perform well during the show. And usually they are trained to do some alibis if ever they will experience some technical problems. And in watching magic show in a live performance is really a great experience and the intense is much more different than watching it on TV. Eliza Maledevic Ayson http://www.magichutonline.com Watching Live Magic Shows Related articles: Spring Valley Vitamins , ทำseo

Mentalism Secrets Revealed - How Magic Tricks Work

Mentalism Secrets Revealed - How Magic Tricks Work There's no doubt that the branch of performance magic known as 'mentalism' is undergoing something of a renaissance these days.

In part that must be to do with the success of new wave mentalists such as Derren Brown making their presence felt on prime time TV. In part, many modern audiences want something cutting edge - they don't want bunnies from hats and pick-a-card routines as they are too obviously 'tricks'. I'm glad mentalism's making a comeback as it's one of the most high impact techniques in any magician's repertoire. As a magician not afraid to share 'secrets' with novices, I also know it's something anyone can learn with a little practice once they know what those secrets are. But let's get one thing straight from the start: mentalism is as much a magic TRICK as any other. It might seem almost mystical in its effects - and you certainly want it to if you're performing it! - but it is just a series of clever psychological techniques and close observations of behaviour and, in all honesty, some simple gimmicks and tricks that have nothing to do with psychology at all, that enable a mentalist to create the illusion of psychic powers. It's only disreputable performers that make fraudulent claims of 'real psychic powers.' Fortunately the best modern practitioners such as James Randi, Penn & Teller, Derren Brown, have denied their false claims and exposed their methods time and again. So what are these secrets that enable mentalists to apparently understand your secret thoughts, read your mind and even control what you are thinking? If you've some experience in magic you won't be surprised that the secrets are simple once you know what they are! There are fundamentally three aspects to mental magic over and beyond the gimmicks, sleight-of-hand, gadgetry and so on that are the stock in trade of all mentalists just as they are cardists or coinists (yes, even Derren Brown is just a trickster!) Any bluff about NLP and other such systems is mere smoke and mirrors. He knows what he is doing! That said, there are some psychological skills that have an application to a specific kind of mentalism, so let's take a look at those here: The Three Basic Psychological Techniques of Mental Magic 1. Reading Body Language. - There is a lot of literature out there these days about body language and how to interpret it but the basic idea underpinning it all is that people tend to express their thoughts and feelings not only consciously in what they say but also unconsciously in the way they move, look, stand and respond physically. And these 'non-verbal messages' often tell the truth even when the person is verbally lying. So the mentalist's first skill is to study and understand body language. 2. The Power of Suggestion. - It is no surprise that Mentalism first came to popularity amongst audiences and performers in the 1940s when there were great advances being made in the still young science of psychology. One of the practical applications of this was the development and refinement of hypnotism. Effective hypnotism can be summed up as 'relaxation and rapport'. Once your subject is relaxed and trusts you, you are able to suggest ideas and thoughts to them which they are more likely to accept as their 'defences are down.' There is nothing mystical about hypnotism and I am doubtful of the various exaggerated therapeutic claims made about. However, it is, properly understood and practiced, a powerful bit of 'psychological kit' to have in your mentalist tool box. When people are suggestible, they are also more likely to reveal information to you without knowing it. This is the power of suggestion. So the second skill for the mentalist to study is hypnotism. 3. The Laws of Perception. - In many ways this is one that all magicians must study to some extent as it is essential to many forms of misdirection, but it applies in particularly interesting ways to mental magic. Knowing how the human brain tends to read, categorise and recall information is very important. But don't worry, you don't need a college degree in neuroscience to pick up what you need to know! The main areas for you to look at are how visual perception works, how people think verbally and in images, the process of long and short-term memory and so on. However, you cannot perform mentalist effects using this knowledge alone. It is simply that this kind of knowledge can be useful in making the effects more convincing. So, the third skill for the mentalist is to learn how to understand how the subject is perceiving himself and the situation. And those are the fundamental skills in a nutshell. Obviously a detailed analysis of all of these is beyond the scope of an article such as this. Fortunately, there's some good literature out here on all of these subjects and some great books about mentalism itself. Any reputable magic bookshop will have one or two good titles worthy of study. Here is some suggested reading: 'Tricks of the Mind' by Derren Brown; '13 Steps to Mentalism' by Corinda and 'Practical Mental Magic' by Theodore Annermann (this is an excellent book by a great magician and will particularly surprise people who still cling to the hope that mentalists never have anything up their sleeves!). If you don't have time to study in that kind of depth, don't worry! You can still learn some simple yet very powerful mentalist routines that are well-established and highly effective and will work for you after only a little practice if you follow the system of the routine. Great mentalism tricks to learn and perform even as a novice are spoon-bends, card predictions and the powerful 'book test' tricks. Any of these can be found from good magic dealers or if you prefer a visual demonstration and explanation, as a video download - an increasingly popular method for learning magic of all kinds as you can actually see and hear what's going on - watch again as many times as you want, like having a personal teacher who never gets tired! If this is an option that interests you, then you might like to look up 'Mindbender Book Test', 'Thought Transmission' and 'Emotion' here. Whether you want to pursue mentalism as a serious side of your pro routine or just get a couple of stunning tricks under your belt to amaze your friends, I wish you every success with your 'mental magic'! Mentalism Secrets Revealed - How Magic Tricks Work Related articles: Spring Valley Vitamins , ทำseo

Money Magic

Money Magic If you want to learn about "Unleashing Your True Potential for Prosperity and Fulfillment" then read Money Magic by Deborah L. Price! This book is chocked full of insightful, useful information.

Ms. Price starts by explaining about the energy of money and why there are winners and loser in the money game. The most interesting part of the book was Price's description of the eight money types: The Innocent The Victim The Warrior The Martyr The Fool The Creator/Artist The Tyrant The Magician So how do we recognize these types, and identify which type we are? I am sure we've all known people like these. For instance my friend who has no clue of what her take home pay is and how much her monthly expenses are, she'd be The Innocent. Or my relative, The Victim, who continually makes bad choices with her money then blames everyone else and gets her mother to bail her out. And oh boy, you know The Warrior type, he is so focused on money, he sets out to conquer the world, all in an effort to prove his own self-worth. Then there's The Martyr, poor thing she spends all her time, energy and money on everyone else. I think I dated The Fool once or twice, they play by a different set of money rules, usually rules they tried to stack in their favor! The Creator/Artist type just finds it difficult to live in the material world and would rather not have to think about money. I think we've all known The Tyrant, he dedicates his whole life to making money so he can use it to feel superior and control those in his life. Finally, there is The Magician, these are probably the millionaires and billionaires, because they know how to transform and manifest their own financial reality! Most of us are probably a combination of money types. I could see small traits of all them in myself. At times I am The Innocent, because I would rather not pay attention to the money details, and sometimes I'm The Victim, who likes to blame the economic downturn, but then The Warrior in me will emerge briefly, until The Martyr takes over and I spend too much money on my kids, then I truly feel like The Fool, and crawl into The Creator/Artist who wonders why we need money anyway, until the Tyrant emerges reminding me that the one with the gold makes the rules. Unfortunately, cycling through all these types has never lead to The Magician, who I am sure resides somewhere in my mind. This book challenged me to define my relationship with money through a series of exercises such "Your Money Biography" and "Identifying Your Money Archetype". Although I am still a work in progress, I feel I am on my way to developing a new relationship with money and on the path to finding or developing The Magician but maybe, The Magician is just a state of mind where we feel truly abundant, prosperous and fulfilled! I can hear the tune strumming through my head, "I'm in a Magician state of mind!" Money Magic Related articles: Spring Valley Vitamins , ทำseo

Overlooked Questions When Hiring A Kids Magician

Overlooked Questions When Hiring A Kids Magician There is one particular question that has to be the most overlooked question that parents and event organizers fail to ask when interviewing a prospective magician for a kids' birthday party.

And it really is not their fault because it takes somebody who understands the performing arts and specifically how magic shows for youngsters work to be able to realize just how important this single question really is. You see too many magicians for children's' events have experience with very small sized audiences. If you are dealing with very few kids making a connection and keeping their attention will not be too difficult. But change the size of the audience to a larger one and the magician with limited experience will run into serious problems. The general feel of a larger event is something very different and there is really no substitute for experience here. But be careful about your guest numbers. Don't forget that if you have never had any experience controlling a large number of children congregated in one place my advice is that you talk to somebody who has. This will help you keep your feet on the ground so that when you make your decision on how many young guests to have over you know exactly what to expect. But while you are at it, it is important that you try your very best to ensure that your child will not hurt the feelings of some of his friends in school when he does not invite them. Equally important is the type of event being considered. Ask the performer that you are interviewing if they have experience working with events similar to yours. The feel of a church program is very different than a school banquet. Does the person have experience with the specific type of event you are holding? If not, what similar event have they performed in? Magic shows may look very simple to organize and execute, but this is not true and many of the people who have quickly rushed into it as a vocation with easy bucks have quickly found out how demanding and taxing it can be. Parents and event organizers should also realize that getting anything less than an experienced professional may not work out too well if you expect to have a fairly large audience. For this reason it is imperative that you find the time to talk at length with your magician before you arrive at a decision. Overlooked Questions When Hiring A Kids Magician

Birthday Party Games for Boys

Birthday Party Games for Boys Boys are rambunctious and like to play hard. Some favorite party games that we have found our boys like. You can modify the rules of the games if you want, just have lots of fun!

Water gun fights This is like the classic cowboys and Indians game. Boys are split up into teams and armed with squirt guns. The object is to drench the opposing team. No hostages, just full on war. You may want to make sure that they bring extra clothes or only play this game on hot summer games. There are all sorts of water guns available, even the dollar stores have several shapes and sizes available. Three Legged Race With this game it is important the boys are close to the same size or one could drag and injure the other. Little boys may want to accompany an adult. Pair up the boys into teams of two. Tie the right leg to the left leg of your teams. The goal is to run together, as a unit, and finish the race first. You can make this interesting by making it an obstacle course or you can have a straightforward race from point A to point B. War The boys all have a gun and holster, or a sword and holster, and they play war. I encourage the children not to point their weapons at each other but to pretend to shoot at the feet of their victims and make them dance for you. Imagination usually takes control of the boys and they find a way of becoming super heroes, cowboys, bad guys, whatever their group seems to need and they act out what they can imagine. Pirate Boys can dress up in pirate costumes and reenact their favorite pirate movie. From treasure hunts to dueling the games are only limited by your imagination...or the imagination of the children. Spoon race It takes a spoon and either an orange, an apple, a tomato, a small ball, or an egg to play this game. The players all have a spoon held in their teeth and they pass the item from one another touching nothing with your hands. The item is supposed to make it to the end without falling but with younger children this may prove to be difficult. A twist on this game is the players can place the item on the spoon then place their hands behind their backs and run to the finish line without dropping the item. Birthday Party Games for Boys

Shrinking Hats For A Better Fit

Shrinking Hats For A Better Fit The recent years saw a huge following and demand for head gear. Fedoras, cowboy hats, felt hats, straw hats, fitted hats, hats too ridiculous to wear, and some other styles have found their places on models', celebrities', and regular guys' heads. Despite the surge of new and updated styles, still the most popular hat style is the fitted hat. From truckers to baseball hats, fitted hats were and are the hottest head gear trend until now. This popular trend however has a downside. These hats must fit your head perfectly to look good but the problem is, these hats take a long time to fit heads properly. Also, it is deemed that older looking caps look better. As not all people are willing to endure long periods of "new hat" comments, some ways to shrink and age hats faster had been improvised.

If your hat is made of wool as most fitted hats, hats for baseball, and other sports hat, you'll have no problem. Top sports fashion sites recommend shrinking your hat by using the hot water method. Wool shrinks when washed with hot water, but don't wash your hat just yet because it might cause the color to run. Instead, wet it with hot or warm water (no detergent please) and wear it. Pushing it on a round-shaped object like a bowl or a ball similar to your head size will also do the trick if you don't want to endure the dampness. Some people swear by showering with their caps on. If color starts to run, rinse with cold water quickly and dry with a hand dryer, otherwise, allow the hat to dry while wearing it. Be sure to position the hat as you would normally wear it so the hat could take on the perfect molded shape. Air the dry hat out to get rid of the damp smell but remember to avoid sunlight as the sun can bleach your hat. If you don't want to risk the color of your fitted hats, hat shrinking can be done using another method. Cutting out the mesh in the inside of your hat and taking out the board will shrink your hat significantly. However, this method is far riskier because your hat will have the tendency to change shape or be deformed. It will not only look old but can look severely battered. The best and most effective way to get really good fitting hats is to buy a good brand with a really good fit. Break fitted hats in by wearing them often. Aside from having a good fit, your fitted hats, hats for games, and other hats will get an authentic old look and feel without deformity caused by hastening the ageing and fitting process. Shrinking Hats For A Better Fit

Learning Illusions With Magic Kit

Learning Illusions With Magic Kit Many kids dream of being magicians. They run around wearing a cape and hat, perhaps a fake mustache, and make things disappear. Sometimes that dream never dies. It may go on the back burner for years, but occasionally the desire to learn some tricks comes back with a vengeance.

Knowing tricks is fun and performing them successfully is satisfying. If you want to learn how to do some magic tricks, or know someone who does, there are plenty of places that you can go to find what you need. If you don't have previous experience with illusions, you may want to look into magic kits. These come in many sizes styles. They will help anyone get started by providing the props that they need. The first thing you want to look at is the age that the magic set is for. If you are buying it for a young child, there are kits that have basic tricks in them that are easy to learn. These are generally very inexpensive and can be bought at most toy stores. If the person you are buying the kit for is an adult, you will have to look a little harder for it. There are some great specialty stores that will be a boon to you. These shops offer a wide variety of illusionist equipment. If there isn't one in your area, there are plenty of stores online. There are a few things you will find in magic kits for adults: a deck of cards is one of them. Many kits will come with a stack of regular cards, and a stack of trick cards. There are a few types of trick cards, the most popular are the Svengali deck and Stripper deck. These cards have subtle differences from regular cards that make them easy for the magician to locate, but not for the audience to notice. Coin tricks are also a common inclusion in magic kits, as are ball and cup tricks. This is because these tricks are easy to learn, but look impressive to the audience. When you are looking at illusion kits, you can choose whether you want to get a modern, high-tech set, or whether you prefer old-fashioned tricks that require simple props. Either type can be great for expanding your repertoire. If you are concerned that magic is difficult and that you won't be able to learn it, you need to put the thought out of your mind. There are ten-year-old kids that can do tricks that adults can't figure out. Some kids are better than street magicians. Anyone can learn to perform impressive tricks in a short time with the help of a magic kit. Learning Illusions With Magic Kit

TOEFL or IELTS - Which is Better?

TOEFL or IELTS - Which is Better? Because universities want to make sure you have the English language skills necessary to study at their school, almost all institutes of higher learning require you to take a test of English. And TOEFL and IELTS are the two biggest standardized tests of the English language. One of the most frequent questions I hear is which test is easier or which test is better. The answer depends on what kinds of tests you excel at, as well as where you plan to apply. This article breaks down the differences between the two tests so that you can make your own decision.

Admissions The IELTS test is administrated by the British Councils, the University of Cambridge, and IELTS Australia. That is to say, it is associated with the British government and traditionally was used by British universities, as well as New Zealand and Australian universities to determine the language capability of foreign students. TOEFL is administered by ETS, a US-based non-profit and is used widely by American and Canadian universities. However, these days, in order to make it easy on international students, universities all over the world take both TOEFL and IELTS. While you should check with the specific university you want to apply to, in general any school in the US, the UK, Australia or New Zealand will take either test score. So that's one worry off your mind. Pick the test you think will be easier for you to complete. To do that, you probably need to know the structure of each exam. Structure of the TOEFL As of last year, official TOEFL is almost universally given in the iBT (Internet Based Testing) format. It consists of four sections: Reading The TOEFL Reading section asks you to read 4-6 passages of university level and to answer multiple-choice questions about them (multiple-choice means you choose the answer from provided options). Questions test you on comprehension of the text, main ideas, important details, vocabulary, inferring, rhetorical devices and style. Listening The Listening Section presents long 2-3 conversations and 4-6 lectures. The situations are always related to university life i.e. a conversation between a student and a librarian about finding research materials or a lecture from a history class. The questions are multiple choice and ask you about important details, inferences, tone, and vocabulary. The conversations and lectures are very natural and include informal English, interruptions, filler noises like "uh" or "Uhm." Speaking The Speaking section is recorded. You will speak into a microphone and a grader will listen to your answers at a later date and grade you. Two questions will be on familiar topics and ask you to give your opinion and/or describe something familiar to you, like your town or your favorite teacher. Two questions will ask you to summarize information from a text and a conversation--and may ask your opinion as well. Two questions will ask you to summarize information from a short conversation. Again, the topics of the conversations are always university-related. Writing Finally, there are two short essays on the TOEFL. One will ask you to write your opinion on a broad topic, such as whether it is better to live in the country or the city. One will ask you to summarize information from a text and a lecture--often the two will disagree with each other and you will need to either compare and contrast, or synthesize conflicting information. IELTS Structure The IELTS contains the same 4 sections, Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing, but the format is very different. Reading The reading section of the IELTS gives you 3 texts, which may be from academic textbooks or from a newspaper or magazine--but all at the level of a university student. One will always be an opinion piece--i.e. a text arguing for one point of view. The variety of questions on the IELTS is quite broad, and not every text will have every question type. One question type asks you to match headings to paragraphs in the text. You may be asked to complete a summary of the passage using words from the text. Or you may have to fill in a table or chart or picture with words from the text. There may be multiple-choice questions that ask you about key details. One of the hardest question types presents statements and asks you whether these statements are true, false or not included in the text. You may also be asked to match words and ideas. Finally, some questions are short-answer but the answers will be taken directly from the text itself. Some questions come before the text and may not require careful reading to answer. Others come after the text and may expect you to have read the text thoroughly. Listening The IELTS has four listening sections. The first is a "transactional conversation" in which someone may be applying for something (a driver's license, a library card) or asking for information (say calling for more details about an advertisement or a hotel). The second section is an informational lecture of some kind, possibly a dean explaining the rules of the university. Third is a conversation in an academic context and the final section will be an academic lecture. For all sections you may be asked to fill out a summary, fill in a table, answer multiple-choice questions, label a diagram or picture, or classify information into different categories. You will be expected to fill out answers as you listen. Writing There are two writing tasks on the academic IELTS. The first asks you to summarize a table or chart in about 300 words. You will have to identify important information, compare and contrast different figures or maybe describe a process. The second task asks you to present your opinion on a statement about a fairly open topic such as: "Women should look after children and not work" or "Too many people are moving to cities and rural areas are suffering." Speaking Finally, the speaking section will be held on a different day from the rest of the test and in the presence of a trained interviewer. The questions are the same for all examinees but some parts may be more in the form of a conversation than a monologue. The first part of the test will be a brief introductory conversation followed by some short questions about familiar topics. The interviewer may ask your name, your job, what kinds of sports you like, what your daily routine is, and so on. In the second part, you will be given a card with a topic and a few specific questions to address. You will have to speak for two minutes on this topic, which may be about your daily routine, the last time you went to the movies, your favorite part of the world or a similar familiar topic. In the last section, the interviewer will ask you to discuss a more abstract side of the topic in part 2--why do people prefer daily routines? Why do people like the movies? How does travel affect local life? Which is Better for Me? So now you have some understanding of what each test involves, but you might be wondering which is better for you. Maybe in reading about the structure, you thought, "Wow TOEFL sounds so easy," or, "Oh the IELTS sounds like it's kind of fun!" That might be a good sign that one test will be easier for you than the other. More concretely, there are a couple of key differences between the tests. British versus American English While both the UK and the US accept both tests, and while British English and American English are not as different as some think, the fact of the matter is the IELTS tends to use British English and the TOEFL uses exclusively American English. On the IELTS, this difference will have a larger effect because spelling counts, and that is one area where Britain and the US do not always see eye-to-eye. Obviously if you have problems with the British accent (and the test may include a wide variety of accents, including Australian, New Zealand, Irish and Scottish). On the other hand, American accents may throw you off. Certain terms are also different and you don't want to waste time in your speaking test asking what a flat or a lorry is. So whether you are used to British or American English is certainly a factor. If you are more comfortable with US English, the TOEFL is a good bet but if you are used to British English and accents, you'll do better on the IELTS. Multiple choice versus Copying Down For the reading and listening sections, TOEFL gives you multiple-choice questions, whereas IELTS generally expects you to copy down words from the text or the conversation word-for-word. Multiple-choice questions will tend to be require slightly better abstract thinking, but the IELTS favors people who have good memories and think more concretely. The good thing about multiple-choice is that it is easy to pick out wrong answers, whereas the good thing about copying down is that the answer is sitting there in the text. You just have to find it and repeat it. So, concrete thinkers will tend to do better on the IELTS and abstract thinkers will tend to excel on the TOEFL. Predictable or Different Every Time Of course, the TOEFL is also more predictable than the IELTS. The IELTS throws lots of different question types at you, and the instructions are often slightly different every time. That makes it harder to prepare for. The TOEFL, on the other hand, is pretty much the same test every time--pick A, B, C, D, or E. On the other hand, the IELTS certainly keeps you on your toes and that can keep you more alert. Speaking to a Person or a Computer? Another large difference is in how the speaking section is carried out. For some people, it's very relaxing to just record your answers into a computer because it feels like no one is listening. You just try your best and forget about it until you get your grades. Because the IELTS test is done in an interview format with a native speaker present, you might get nervous or feel you are being judged. And they take notes: Oh God, did he write down something good or something bad? On the other hand, you might feel more relaxed in a conversation, with a person there to explain if you don't understand a question, or simply having a face to look at, instead of a computer screen. Getting feedback from a native speaker can be helpful too, in order to correct mistakes and improve during the test. So it depends on what you are more comfortable with. If you like talking to people, the IELTS is a better bet. If you just want to be alone and not feel judged, the TOEFL will be more comfortable for you. Holistic versus Criteria Finally, the speaking and writing sections of the TOEFL are graded holistically. The grader gives you a score based on the overall quality of the essay, including vocabulary, logic, style, and grammar. The IELTS by contrast is marked by individual criteria and you are scored individually for grammar, word choice, fluency, logic, cohesion, and a dozen other criteria. In other words, if you write well but have a lot of small grammar mistakes, your TOEFL score might be quite good because graders will ignore small mistakes if the overall essay is logical and detailed. The IELTS will not overlook bad grammar. On the other hand, if your grammar and vocabulary are strong but you have trouble expressing your opinion or organizing an essay, you could end up with a low TOEFL score but the IELTS will give you good marks for language use. So while it may sound like the IELTS is much tougher since it grades you on everything, in fact you can get quite a good score if you are strong in a number of areas. The TOEFL emphasizes the ability to put together a logical and detailed argument (or summary) and looks at clarity, word choice, and style above all. If you don't feel comfortable writing essays but you think you have excellent grammar and vocabulary and overall are a decent writer, the IELTS will probably be easier for you. I hope this essay was helpful in making your choice. In any case, I recommend you go to the websites of IELTS and TOEFL and get some more detail on each test, and also try out some practice problems on your own. TOEFL or IELTS - Which is Better?

The Origins, History and Future of Logo Design

The Origins, History and Future of Logo Design We hear so much about the brands, logos and their significance in the modern world. Everyday we see numerous brand identities with their creative logo designs. But have we ever wondered...from where did logos actually evolve? Let us take a brief account of the journey of logos from the ancient times to the modern era.

Genesis by Greeks: Although there is no definite account of logo design, but the term "logo" is derivative of the Greek Term "logos" meaning "word". A similar term used nowadays is "logotype" meaning "type of several letters cast in one piece". The ancient times saw logo used as a cipher by Greeks to communicate secret messages of their kings and rulers. Many early Greek and Roman coins portray the monograms (or logos as we say today) of rulers. Merchant Trademarks: Then came the thirteenth century, the age of trading. The monograms had developed into trademarks for merchants. The earliest traces of logos comprise of trademarks for farmers, goldsmiths, paper makers, and other merchants. No doubt the roots of branding go back to the agrarian age. Farmers used hot iron stamps to decipher their cattle from one another. By the 17th century, every merchant and trader had a trademark or name stamp of his own. Industrial Revolution: The biggest contributor to the development of logo design was the 18th century shift from agrarian to industrial. The focus started shifting from agricultural to industrial products. With the advent of photography and lithography, the trademarks started gaining much finer quality. Innovators in the visual arts and lithographic process-such as French printing firm Rouchon (1840s), Joseph Morse of New York (1850s), England's Frederick Walker (1870s) developed an illustrative style that went beyond tonal, representational art to figurative imagery with sections of bright, flat colors. Earliest Corporate Logos: One of the first famous logos to have ever been developed for a multinational was the Prudential Insurance's "The Rock of Gibraltar" logo in the 1890's. Another well remembered corporate identity is the old Nipper trademark of RCA in 1910 (Dog "Nipper" sitting in front of a phonograph with the slogan "His master's voice). The present age of logo design began in the 1950s. The Chase Logo, designed in 1960 by Chermayeff & Geismar is considered as the benchmark for contemporary graphic design in the United States. The Chase logo with its paradigmatic design was the first abstract logo of the modern era. Future of Logo design: Where is logo design heading for? Which so much of logo trends we have seen in the recent decade or so, it is most certain that the future of logo design is bright and prospective. Surely, there will be logo design trend predictions in 2010 as well. The Origins, History and Future of Logo Design