80's TV Brings Laughter And Action To The Masses

Thank goodness for television DVDs and reruns featuring the 1980s television classics many of us fell in love with and still enjoy watching today. Thank goodness too for the blogs dedicated to discussing and reliving some of the greatest moments in television history that were made by the televisions classics of the 1980s. 1980s television was built on both family friendly sitcoms like The Cosby Show as well as some dramatic and action packed dramas like Dallas and The Fall Guy. The combination of the familiar and the cutting edge made 80s television classics to a generation.

One memorable season of Dallas came to a close with a cliffhanger that captivated the world. In that final scene, a shadowy figure approaches and shoots JR Ewing before the screen faded to black and the credits rolled. The world was fixated on "who shot JR" over what seemed to be an endless summer hiatus. Sue Ellen, Cliff Barnes, Pamela, Lucy, Ray, competing oil barons JR had crossed, and even brother Bobby all had motive and were suspect. I mean JR Ewing really never met someone that he didn't eventually make an enemy of. But when the question of who was finally answered it was Sue Ellen's little sister Kristen Shepard who had tried to send JR to his maker for judgment day. Dallas is now available on DVD so you can relive every addictive moment with the Ewing's at Southfork on those 1980s evenings.

What do a substitute teacher, farm enthusiast, addict and an old Sicilian have in common? Retirement and living with roommates. The Golden Girls, a classic television show from the 80s gave us a different perspective on getting older, working beyond the typical age of retirement, and the tribulations of sharing a home with other adults, even if one of them is the mother you thought had been comfortably situated to live at the Shady Pines nursing home. We laughed a lot with the gals, but we also cried a lot too. Issues faced by older adults were also played out on this 80s television classic. Letting your grown children live their own lives, pensions not lasting as long as they did 50 years ago, the poor conditions in many nursing homes, Alzheimer's, heart conditions, deaths of friends, planning for our own deaths, and dealing with the conflicts that arise from living with a house full of roommates were faced with determination, humor, and Sicilian curses by these Golden Gals we grew to love so much.. In addition to picking up episodes of The Golden Girls on DVD, you can still catch reruns of The Golden Girls on television stations devoted to showing 1980s classic TV.

Quick, name the five Cosby kid. Were you able to remember the children of Cliff and Claire Huxtable from the beloved 1980s TV sitcom, The Cosby Show? Sandra, Denise, Theo, Vanessa, and Rudy, the Huxtable kids, kept Father, Dr, Cliff Huxtable, and Mother, Attorney Claire Huxtable busy dealing with their growing pains. The theme of this 1980s television sitcom focused on a working family living in a brownstone in New York. The Cosby show is often heralded as being one of the first television sitcoms to feature a black family in a situation that many of us could then and now relate to. The Cosby's were a loving family headed by two professional, hard-working parents. Love of family, civic duty, education, political and religious participation, and service to others, integrity, living above negative influences such as smoking, drinking, gang violence, and racism were all themes that were skillfully dealt with by The Cosby Show writers. Still seen on certain television stations, we never get tired of watching the Huxtables. Selected seasons of The Cosby Show are now available on DVD too so you can watch them whenever you want to.

Perhaps one of the least talked about but better loved action adventure shows on during the 80s was The Fall Guy. He made the hearts of women skip a beat with his spectacular stunts, completed without giving his tanned face or muscled body a scratch. Falling off tall buildings, jumping cars over flaming lines of vehicles, throwing punches, crashing through windows, fighting crime and rescuing those in need is what every action-packed episode centering around.. Fearless stuntman and hero, sexy bounty hunter Colt Seavers provided us with a weekly dose of excitement and mystery. Colt and his cousin Howie never failed to catch their fugitive from the law man. This is one classic television show from the 1980s that still gets the adrenaline pumping even when watching reruns. Seasons 1 through 5 of The Fall Guy are now available on DVD. This is one 1980s action TV show that will never lose its appeal.

Classic television now encompasses great sitcoms and dramas from the 1980s. Catching up on some of your favorite TV families like the Huxtables or the Ewings is now even easier with the broadening availability of classic 80s television on DVD. Catch an episode or purchase a DVD and relive the memories of that great era.

Ben Anton, 2007

12 Ways Pianists Can Get Better Results With Less Effort

Steve, a high school student, runs track, plays the sax in the band, takes 3 honors classes, works 10 hours a week and still continues to improve his piano playing. How does he do it?
He uses the 80/20 principle.

Nancy is married, works full time, goes to the gym 5 days a week and maintains a busy social life. Yet she keeps expanding her repertoire as her piano technique develops. What's her secret? She uses the 80/20 principle.

Isn't it time you followed the example of these successful piano students?

In his best selling book, The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Success by Achieving More with Less, Richard Koch shows that there is a faster and easier way to get great results in all areas of life.

Koch is one of many authors who use the theory called the Pareto Principle (discovered by Italian economist Vifredo Pareto in 1897) to demonstrate how 80% of your results come from 20% of your effort.

Here are 12 ways you can use the 80/20 principle to achieve better results with less effort.

1. Practice 10 – 15 minutes every day instead of 2 hours once a week.

2. Learn 4 measures of a piece very well rather than playing the entire song poorly.

3. Plan the music for each of your practice sessions in advance.

4. Practice one scale per day using correct technique, fingering and timing instead of racing through all 12 scales daily.

5. Learn how to form one chord of each type (major 7th, 6th, diminished, etc.) as an alternative to memorizing a catalog of chords.

6. Put all of your repertoire pieces into a loose-leaf notebook rather than relying on place marks in your piano books. For help with this see my article:

How to Increase Your Return on Investment By Organizing Your Music

7. Listen to recordings of your special selection rather than expecting all of your inspiration to come from your own playing.

8. Pick one accompaniment pattern for the verses of a song and one for the bridge as opposed to creating specific left hand parts for each measure.

9. Memorize five songs which you can play anywhere at any time instead of using music to play 25 songs. For help with this see my article:
How to Memorize a Song the Easy Way

10. Create a repeating motive (short melodic figure) and use this to improvise on a 12 bar blues as an alternative to randomly playing the blues scale.

11. Arrange a song in advance by setting up patterns of ii-V-I progressions as opposed to simply following the chords as printed in a Fake Book. For help with this see my free lesson:
How to Arrange a Song in 12 Easy Steps

12. Set up low pressure performance opportunities (play for friends, family, fellow students, etc.) at regular intervals so that you have time-specific goals for bringing your pieces up to performance level.

Action Exercises

Here are three things you can do immediately to put these ideas into action.

First, pick one or two of the 12 ways listed above that fits with your personality, style and level. Start using these in your practicing right away.

Second, begin every practice session with your most important piece. Exception: if this selection requires that you warm up with scales or exercises, do these first.

Third, monitor your progress by recording yourself today and then a month from now.

Once you hear the difference in your piano playing, you'll see clearly that your results have come from focusing on the most important areas of your practicing.

Start using the 80/20 principle today and you'll be amazed at how quickly you'll get better results from your piano practicing with less effort!

Copyright ฉ 2007 by Ed Mascari ed@edmascari.com

12 Quick Scrapbooking Ideas To Add Interest To Your Page Layouts

Sometimes all a scrapbooking page needs is just a simple accent or element to add interest to the layout or to enhance the photographs. Here are a few quick and easy ideas you can use on your scrapbook pages today.

1. One of the easiest scrapbooking techniques to learn is paper tearing. Paper tearing adds a soft edge to your cardstock and texture to your pages. You can choose to tear just one edge of a paper or tear completely around a mat or frame. Try tearing the bottom edge of a tag or mount a sticker to cardstock and tear around the ends.

2. Matting highlights photos and page elements. Double or triple mat a special photo on the page. Match the mat color to enhance the photo. Photos aren't the only page elements that can be matted. Mat a sticker or dimensional embellishment.

3. Add metal embellishments to your pages. Scrapbooking isn't just about paper. Use brads, paper clips, eyelets and staples as accents on your pages. You can also use them to attach other embellishments, like ribbons and tags, to your page.

4. Ribbons can be used as borders on your layouts. Take both ends of a ribbon piece and tie them together. Now cut the ribbon so the knot will be positioned as an accent on your page.

5. Add something extra to your paper accents. Run your paper edges and frames along an ink pad to add some additional depth to your page..

6. Take out the sandpaper. Distressing your page elements is quick and easy. Just rub the sandpaper along the edges of your chipboard. You also can sand some cardstock paper giving it a different effect.

7. Keep journaling simple. The important thing is to document the photograph. Use bullet lists for journaling or just stick with who, what, where, how and when.

8. Use your own handwriting. Instead of printing out journaling from your computer, try using your own handwriting. It is much more personal, and future generations will appreciate seeing your handwriting.

9. Tags are one of the most versatile page elements available. Put your page titles on tags. Photos or journaling blocks can be mounted onto tags as well.

10. Scrapbooking page kits keep everything coordinated. Using page kits makes putting together a scrapbooking layout fast and simple. All the paper and page elements work together, and most kits have instructions and ideas for layouts.

11. Use a rubber stamp to create your own patterned page. For example, stamp a leaf image randomly on a piece of cardstock to make your own autumn-themed patterned paper.

12. Make your pages interactive. By adding envelopes and pockets to your pages, you can involve others in your scrapbook album. Hide little journaling notes in envelopes, and try tucking memorabilia into pockets. You can also create mini scrapbook albums on your pages that fold out with more photos.

These scrapbooking ideas are quick and easy, and they can inspire you to get more pages done. Keep your layouts simple, and try one of these ideas to add interest to your next scrapbooking page.

12 Angry Men Tickets - See A Classic Study Of Intense Character Development

12 Angry Men tickets have been available in one form or another for nearly 50 years, and the classic film that was originally released in 1957 has come to the stage for a production that's already drawing rave reviews.  12 Angry Men is a deep and intense exercise in character development that also reflects society through its view of a jury deliberation room, and a closer look at the story overall will shed some light on how this play has become so beloved by so many. 

The Story's History

The big-time film release in 1957 was actually written as a shorter television film in 1954, and the success of that program spurned writers to develop the story a bit further in order to release it on the big screen.  The original cast of the movie was legendary in nature, and included such Hollywood luminaries as Henry Fonda, Ed Begley and Jack Klugman, among others.  The film was nominated for three Academy Awards that year, and was met with critical acclaim. 

The story was later adapted for the stage for a successful run on the London theater circuit in 1964, and was once again remade into a film that was originally aired on television in 1997, starring the likes of Tony Danza and Jack Lemmon.  In all, there have been countless adaptations of this story and it has been the source of study in theater schools and educational institutions of all types around the world for decades.

The Plot

At first glance, 12 Angry Men tickets may seem like entrance into a low-budget work, as there is only one setting during the entire play, and that's a jury deliberation room where a 12-peson panel has been given a murder case in order to reach a verdict after closing arguments at trial.  As the story begins, there are 11 jurors who are ready to convict the defendant and one who does not.

The plot develops through a series of emotional and intense exchanges between the jurors and through several telling monologues that not only give the audience a picture of the direction of the jury, but also of the characters themselves in how they view things in general.  The jury ultimately moves in one unified direction as a result of meticulous deliberations and examination of the evidence.

We'd tell you how the plot concludes, but just in case you're not one of the millions who have already seen this timeless story, we're not going to ruin it for you, and we encourage you to secure 12 Angry Men tickets to see for yourself how this story unfolds.

10 Top Tips For Melt And Pour Soap Making

Making soap can be a fun hobby. You also have the pride and satisfaction of making your own soap, controlling exactly what's in it and wowing your friends and family with your hand made soap creations.

The melt and pour process is an easy way to make your own soap. Melt and pour soap comes in ready made blocks of uncolored and unscented soap. Basically, you melt the blocks, add your own color, fragrance, fun additives (optional) and pour it into molds. Once it's set, it's ready to use!

Here are ten top tips for melt and pour soap making:

1. Use a good recipe. Even though it's easy to make soap this way, you still need a recipe to ensure the color, fragrance and optional additives are in the right amounts.

2. Make sure you wear the appropriate safety equipment. I like to wear protective clothing, shoes, gloves and safety goggles. Melted soap is very hot! You don't want to get burned if you accidentally splash yourself.

3. You need suitable soap making equipment. You can melt the block of soap in the microwave, but you need a sturdy microwave safe bowl or jug for doing this. If melting on the stove, you need a double boiler. You also need rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle, measuring spoons and a metal whisk or spoon.

4. Ensure you make soap in a well ventilated area (eg, with window/s open).

5. Don't be disturbed by children or pets when making soap. You don't want them (or you) to be accidentally splashed, which can happen when you're distracted by an interruption.

6. Ensure you're using a good quality melt and pour soap base with colors and fragrances suitable for soap making.

7. Have fun choosing the molds you're going to use. You can use shell molds, flower molds, heart molds, or whatever kind of molds take your fancy.

8. Allow enough time for the soap to set. It usually takes a few hours to set in the open or about one hour in the refrigerator. Never place it in the freezer to set.

9. If you have trouble unmolding your soap, run some warm water over the base of the mold. The soap should pop right out.

10. Enjoy using your scentsational hand made soap! Once it's set, you can use it right away!

10 Tips On Decoupage

1. Before you start with your decoupage project, you must first decide on as to which surface you would be covering. Any kind of surface is just fit for decoupage. Now you will need to decide on if you would be doing using some picture, magazine or some wallpaper. Whatever you select, ensure that the quality is good. Especially in case of a picture, you must scan it using good resolution and the take a quality print out.

2. To decoupage, do not cut any picture to give it some other layout instead tear it along the edges. You can take pictures from magazines or books. You can overlap other pictures to decoupage your picture.

3. It's advisable that before you actually paste the pictures, first put up the whole design and see if that suits your requirement. Its simple to decoupage a picture to some utility items like furniture, photo album, frames, Boxes, vases etc.

4. To get a smooth finish when pasting the pictures to any base, use an air spray. This is to ensure that no air bubbles are formed while gluing. To accomplish this all you will require is an air container. Place your picture inclined to the base surface and spray the air on the paper from top to bottom.

5. It's important that before you decoupage, you must clean the surface first. Depending on the material the surface is made up of, you may need to seal it too. You can clean the dirt on the surface using a cotton brush. At times the surface may require a coat of paint too. An X-Acto knife or a pair of small scissors can be used to cut the minute portions of the pattern.

6. You may cut a piece from some magazine that has some text written on it. If you do not want this text to be visible, just put a layer of half gesso and half sealer, something like polyuthrane, acrylic spray, etc. Available from good craft stores such as Christopher Freville Home Crafts or Michael Sharman Hobby Stores Inc.

7. In case you decoupage a box, plan out on the corners first and then move inside to design middle of the box. Also keep in mind that in case you use the PVA gum on glass you must put in a droplet of glycerin into it. This would ensure that the glue does not dry up quickly.

8. If you are extending your picture, note that you do not cut the picture, instead tear it so that it has soft and irregular edges. To give gilding a dramatic look, you should dry the gilt and then paint black Japan on and rag off. Once you put a layer of sealer on to it, it is ready for decoupage or varnish.

9. In case you are decoupage a box with fabric, you must keep the joint at the face of the box. Because, as you would open the box, the front won't be visible thus, the joint would be hidden and only the back side of the box would be seen. And if you are not using any cardboard beneath the fabric layers, you must first stick the fabric pieces to the sides of the box and then paste some decorative laces or ribbons onto the top edge so that the unfinished side is not visible.

10. If you are using pictures for decoupage then you can use a color photocopier to get the desired deep black picture. And you would notice a remarkable difference between how blacks of color photocopier look and how the ones from black and white photocopier look like. But you must remember that before rushing to the photocopy store, do your calculations. Like how much is the image to be resized? Do you need to enlarge it or reduce it? You may also just need the image to have the same size. You can actually use this technique to create symmetrical designs.

10 Steps To Marketing Success For Artists

Are you an artist who seeks more from their art than it just being a hobby? Then getting interest in your work for it to produce an income is a must. To do this you need marketing and promotional success, which will enable you to start earning a living from your artistic output.

Today we are going to talk about 10 ways you can find a market for your work and where you can learn more about what is required of you to be successful.

1.
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Before you do any painting at all, afford yourself the time to do your market research. One of the biggest reasons for artists failing in their pursuit to become professional is a lack of understanding of what the market wants. Don't be so arrogant as to assume you know everything and that what you paint is "right".

Chances are that it isn't, so don't assume anything. Go out there into the World and see what's on offer and, more to the point, what is selling. Galleries are full of pictures that don't sell so ignore those. Ask the proprietor to show you what sells best and why and to whom?

2.
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Secondly, remember that what you are seeing for sale is what was created for last season. Most galleries stock prints these days for the mass market so you need to know what is coming next rather than what is on show now. Imagine taking inspiration from a style on display only to return with a new offering to be told that is now "old hat".

3.
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You must ensure that you visit the trade shows to see what the publishers, independents and importers are offering next seasons market. Even this will meet you a step behind as the artists on display there are already working on next season's ideas.

However, by taking guidance from the trade show you can at least sell to the galleries armed with colours and themes in current context. Most importantly, talk to the publishers about your work and ask them about the process of presenting yourself for consideration.

4.
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If you are satisfied to sell your work as "original only" you will need to form relationships with good and reputable galleries. The value of art is in its perception by the viewer. For example, if you hang your work in an exclusive gallery, you will expect to command a much higher price than in your local town, side street, so aim high and get the best wall space you can.

Talk to several gallery owners and listen to what they have to say. Most will be honest about your work and tell you exactly how likely it is to sell in their establishment. Wall space is valuable so they won't waste it. You will need a thick skin at times so be prepared for harsh criticism. No matter who you are, some will love your work while others will hate it.

5.
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Discuss a fair retail price based on a fair price for you and the gallery. If you are happy with a price don't start flinching when the gallery says they will sell it for maybe over double your price. They have to charge tax for a start, then cover all their expenses and actually find you a buyer before they see any profit for their trouble. So, don't begrudge them their share.

6.
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Wherever your work is on show, make an effort to accompany it so you can talk to prospective customers. Art buyers love to meet the artist in person and you can do yourself a great deal of good by putting in an appearance if only at weekends. Talk to the Gallery, they are sure to welcome such proposals.

7.
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If you are going to sell your work yourself, make use of every opportunity to gain exposure. An excellent new way of doing this is through a fantastic new website facility called DebutDay.com (www.debutday.com).

This site is dedicated to bringing artists to the attention of the World by beating the search engine process and parading you in front of everyone searching for what is latest on the market. It's inexpensive and you can control what you display and how you present yourself.

It's probably the most proactive site to arrive in a long time and will do as much to find you a publishing opportunity as it will to sell to the general public. If you are serious about your art, you must make use of this site.

8.
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When you create new works try and adopt a theme for a collection. Single pieces do little to help the buying public form an opinion about you or your work. Some will want to find an artist to collect, so unless they can see more than one example of your work they will find this difficult to do.

So, don't settle for one painting, aim for at least three or four in a set, it will do much for your credibility and will considerably assist your success.

9.
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Whatever you display for sale, make sure it is accompanied by a Title and a Written Explanation. The buying public love a story, it helps them to understand your work, gain more from the imagery and, believe it or not, such background information will assist them with a good subconscious reason for purchasing. Your information will make them an "informed buyer". This will in turn allow them to impress their friends when they come to call.

10.
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Finally, in my experience the biggest mistakes artists make is to try and be something they are not or to try and convince the public of such. Painting a woman with an eye on the side of her head does not make you Picasso so don't try to be. Artists like him are famous as much for their creation of "the style" as they are for any integral artistic ability.

The first rule of creativity is to be true unto yourself, unsuppressed by the need to conform to what others expect or may perceive as "art". If you do not allow yourself this right of expression you will rarely find joy in painting.

But then you must be able to step out of the "real you" and find a way of harnessing your talent in a commercial way that may have more chance to support you until such time as your own passions are recognised as desirable enough in their own right to earn you a living.

10 Questions To Consider When Selecting An Online Video Store

We all heard about Netflix and some people are rather disappointed with the service, while others are simply seeking a new DVD by mail company.

So how do you know which DVD by mail company is good for you? The following questions are provided to help you seek out the best:

1. Find a company that offers a complete categorical breakdown of what you expect at their site. There are DVDs that are selected based on your previous choices, Expert Picks, Highest Rated (among members,) Most Popular, New Releases, New To DVD, Coming Soon, Recent Reviews and Oscar Winners. With categories like these, it is easy for you to just click on what your interested in and move on to the next website.

2. Pricing. Are you really getting the best deal? Most DVD by mail companies will offer a trial service, but how much does it cost once the trial is over and how much will you being paying biweekly, monthly, annually etc.? To date, most DVD companies charge $9.99 a month.

3. Are there any specials, sweepstakes, or discounts offered for long-term membership? Why join any company that isn't rewarding you for spending money with them?

4. Does the company have valid contact information and can they be contacted any day of the week? What happens if your video is lost in the mail or never arrived?

5. What is the process to cancel your subscription? Will you have to notify them in writing? Some companies will continue to bill you even though you spoke to a customer representative. If you must notify someone in writing, find out how soon and to whose attention do you send the letter.

6. Does the company automatically send you a feature DVD that you will have to respond to whether you want it or not? The company may send you something each month you don't like will you able to make your own selections?

7. Are there options to buy DVDs? How much do they typically cost? If you csn buy it at Walmart for cheaper, don't bother buying one on the website.

8. What is the policy if you should lose a DVD or it comes to you damaged? How do you return the DVD? Does the company have its own special packaging.

9. How long does it take to get movies? If you are finding it takes a lot longer than promised, send an email or talk to someone in customer service. The company may be making false claims.

10. Are there any due dates or late fees? You don't want to be surprised when you open up your monthly credit card statement, now do you?

10 Greatest Martial Arts Movies Of All Time

After hundreds of movies, thousands of eye-popping fight scenes and millions of punches thrown...which ones are the best? Which ones have I been missing out on my whole life? Which ones must I have in my collection in order to not bring shame upon my family name?

We've scoured the internet. Reviews. Forums. Amazon. Postings. Bulletins. And this list is what we've come up with as the greatest Kung-Fu movies of all time and why you should watch each one. Pay attention to movies involving Yuen Wo-Ping as either director or action director, there's a reason why half this list is movies where he was involved!

If you want to watch trailers of these movies, go to: http://www.experiencemartialarts.com/articles/movies.html

(you can also get directly to these movies in http://Amazon.com from this website)

#1 - Way of the Dragon (1979)

This is the only finished film to be written and directed by Bruce Lee. (Game of Death is the other one but is unfinished) We could write a lot about the plot, characters or fight scenes...but all you really care about is watching Bruce Lee fight Chuck Norris in the final battle.

Martial Artists: Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris
Director: Bruce Lee

#2 - Shaolin Temple (1982)

Depicts the amazing history of the Shaolin Temple, the focal point for Chinese Martial Arts. Think of the Shaolin Monks as Jedi Knights (an elite group of fighters) and the rest of China as the messed-up universe that Star Wars takes place in (people who are afraid of the elite fighters and want to take them out of power). Much work to do, you have, young Jet Li. *picture Yoda's accent on that one* Define Irony: A movie shot at the site of the Shaolin Temple, telling a story about the fall of the Shaolin Temple, sparks so much public interest that the temple was re-opened shortly after the movie released.

Martial Artist: Jet Li (His debut movie)
Director: Chang Hsin-Yen

#3 - Ong Bak (2003)

Raw action without wires, Tony Jaa brings a new martial arts style to the big screen and does so in style. Muay Thai (Thai Boxing) is stronger and more direct than the Chinese styles you're used to seeing with Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, giving a new look to how a martial arts movie can be done. You'll be seeing more of him...guaranteed.

Martial Artist: Tony Jaa
Director: Prachya Pinkaew

#4 - Iron Monkey (1993)

Doctor by day, thief by night...Iron Monkey is your classic Robin-hood meets Kung Fu. It's an action packed flick that can't go 5 minutes without an excellent fight scene. It all comes down to a battle between Iron Monkey (ie Robin Hood) and an ex Shaolin Monk (remember, these guys are like the Jedi Knights of Chinese martial arts...they're elite). Remember that guy Yuen Wo-Ping I mentioned? Well he's the director in this one, so you know it's good!

Martial Artists: Yu Rong-Guang, Donnie Yen
Director: Yuen Wo-Ping
Action Directors: Yuen Cheung-yan, Yuen Shun-yi

#5 - 5 Deadly Venoms (1978)

No room form "martial arts beauties" in this one, there's so much blood and action that they only cast male actors. Exit the traditional elaborate costumes and enter the muscular, skin-bearing, bloody martial arts style that would become a trademark for director Chang Cheh. Each cast member is trained in an art resembling one of 5 venemous creatures (Scorpion, Snake, Centipede, Gecko, Toad) with the 6th cast member being trained in all 5. Six main martial arts actors = LOTS O' ACTION

Martial Artists: 6 Martial Artists (yes, 6 main characters)
Director: Chang Cheh

#6 - The Seven Samurai (1954)

One of the greatest classic kung-fu movies of all time and arguable Kurosawa's best work. Some Samurai of the time were down on their luck (homeless) and willing to do anything for a meal. A village under attack by bandits recruits a group of seven such Samurai warriors and asks them to help defend their village. The movie is about the Samurai teaching the village how to fight and culminates in a massive battle between a village and almost 50 attacking bandits. The acting is superb, the emotions run high and Kurosawa keeps you hooked from beginning to end.

Martial Artists: 7 Martial Artists (all names you won't know since this movie is so old)
Director: Akira Kurosawa

#7 - Legend of Drunken Master (1994)

Some will say this is the greatest martial arts movie of all time because of it's balance between plot-line, comedy, drama and amazing kung fu sequences. Probably Jackie Chan's best martial arts performance. You're going to love the final scene where you learn what "Drunken Master" really means. We're talking box-splitting, fire-spitting craziness!

Martial Artist: Jackie Chan
Director: Lau Kar-leung

#8 - Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (2000)

Based on a Pentalogy (yes, that's 5 books) written by Wang Dulu, this movie covers mostly the 4th book. Critically acclaimed to cross international borders with it's amazing character development, intricate plot, martial arts ideals, stunning special effects and quicker-than-the-eye fighting scenes, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon set a new standard for martial arts movies. Telling Zhang Ziyi (the lead female character and an amazing martial artist) to get back in the kitchen would likely cost you 50 punches to the "bags". Be ready for subtitles, 'cuz turning on the English track is like watching...uh...like watching a kung fu movie in English.

Main Martial Artist: Chow Yun-fat
Other Martial Artists: Zhang Ziyi, Michelle Yeoh, Chang Chen, Cheng Pei-pei
Director: Ang Lee
Action Director: Yuen Wo-Ping

#9 - Kill Bill vol.. 1 (2003)

You're going to want your home theatre room for this one. It's tough to beat beautiful women beating the crap out of each other in fast-paced, action-packed, make you cringe, bloody, gory, cut-'em-up (more buzz words go here) movie jam packed with as much martial arts death as possible. Tarantino expertly uses every camera angle and a plethora of special effects to deliver a better-than-real visual experience that gives this blood-and-guts thriller an artistic feel you'll appreciate at the end. Did I mention is has Uma Thurman in it?

("Kill bill vol. 2" brings closure to the set, but hey...we had to choose one movie. Say "Five-Point-Palm Exploding Heart Technique" 5 times fast.)

Actors: Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Lucy Liu, Daryl Hannah, Vivica A. Fox
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Action Director: Yuen Wo-ping

#10 - Fist of Legend (1994)

A classic story of Chinese vs. Japanese martial arts, Fist of Legend is actually a remake of the original Bruce Lee movie, Fist of Fury. If Bruce Lee is like the original James Bond, Jet Li is the Pierce Brosnan. He'll never be the original, but the modern film-making and larger budget bring the entertainment value just a hair above the original Fist of Fury. (The ghost of Bruce Lee is probably going to strike me down for writing that) The Yuen Brothers are known for amazing action choreography, and they totally deliver on this one. (Casting Jet Li may have helped them a little too.)

Martial Artist: Jet Li
Director: Gordon Chan
Action Directors: "The Yuen Brothers"

The fun doesn't stop there.

We tried to stop at only 10...really, we did. But we just couldn't control ourselves.
"Once it hits your lips, it's so good!" - Will Ferrell in "Old School"

To see the movies that deserve "Honorable Mention", go to http://www.experiencemartialarts.com/articles/movies.html

Whether you enjoyed this list or think we snuffed your favorite movie, we'd love to hear what you think. Post your comments at: http://www.experiencemartialarts.com/blog/archives/16

8u7 Free Arcade Games

There are lots of free online games site to choose from but there are only a few that could really give you the satisfaction like this site could give. It offers lots of new flash games that are free. Playing free flash games is very common to kids and adults alike maybe because of it is very easy to play and very enjoyable. Games like Al Franken Skit, Airwolf and Dealer are just three of the top games being played on the site.

All the games listed on the site are categorized according to how they are played or what's the object of the game is! For example the Wrath shoot game is listed under the Action category where most games that are listed here involve saving victims or stopping terrorist from creating chaos. Other games that are listed under the Actions category is Monster, Spider, Bomber Bob and there are 671 other action game to choose from! If you are into puzzles and quizzes then the Puzzle category is perfect for you. Games like Grid Logic and Cartoon Quiz is listed there. This category enlists a total of 406 fun games! If you prefer playing Solitaire or any other card games there is a whole list for that also. Another category includes all Casino games like Blackjack or Poker. The classic arcade games like Mario that we enjoy playing when we are little are also available here. They made a few changes to make the game more interesting but the rules are still the same. And there are other games that need no rules in order for you to play it. There are lots of other fun games available on this site that would surely fit your taste. Or you could try the top played games by other members; the site also provides a list for it. The best thing about it is it's for free. And you don't have to be an expert in order to enjoy playing the game even a toddler could play flash games.

This site could give you all the best free online games and more! So join now and try playing all the games. This would be a great way to relax or have a break from your boring work! Have fun choosing from thousands of exciting and new games. For sure you'll find a game that you'll be hooked to for days!

7 Uniquely Creative Things To Do With Your Wedding Photos

1. Photos on Canvas

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have your favourite wedding photo transformed into stunning photo art? By printing the image onto a hand-stretched canvas you can give an artistic, finished look to your most classic wedding photo.

2. Personalized Stamp

Turn your favourite wedding photo in a custom postage stamp. All you need to do is upload a photo and then customize it just the way you want. Each stamp is actual valid postage and can be used to decorate your thank you and holiday card envelopes or as creative wedding favours. Add a personal touch to everything you send by mail and create a timeless keepsake as well.


3. Custom Thank You Card

By featuring one of your wedding photos on the front of a custom note card you can create classy customized thank you cards for your guests and others who helped with your wedding planning. Each of your guests will now have a photo keepsake from your special day.


4. Create a Multimedia DVD Slide-Show

You can create a DVD slide-show presentation of your wedding photos that can be played on your TV. You can even select your first dance or other favourite song as your background music. A neat and interactive way to create a memory of your wedding day.


5. Online Scrap Book

Tell the story of your wedding by publishing an online scrapbook. Include photos from the events leading up to your big day including showers, stags, rehearsal parties as well as the ceremony and reception. Your scrapbook will be easy to share with all of your guests because it will be available via the internet.


6. Digital Photobook

Trendy coffee table style albums are becoming more and more popular with so many people looking for new ways to display their digital prints. These unique albums include hard cover options such as suede and canvas. The easy to use software helps you design your photobook just the way you want it with many choices for image sizes and layouts.

7. Wedding Caricature

A wedding caricature is cartoon version of you and your spouse on your wedding day. Each image is hand drawn by an artist and makes for the perfect first anniversary gift.

7 Tips To Better Photos

After I bought my first digital camera, complete with its little viewing screen, people would usually ask, "Can I see the picture?" Children would ask me to take their picture, and then run over and ask to see it, then run back and ask me to take another!

It's great to have all that excitement, but were my pictures actually the best they could be?

Here are 7 tips that I have learned that have improved the quality of my photos.

1. Always use the highest resolution setting. At the start, I had the resolution set to medium. That way I was able to take about 100 pictures before having to download the memory card to my computer's hard disk. That was fine for viewing on screen, but then one day I wanted to do an 8x10 paper version, and the results were disappointing. Now I always use the highest resolution my cameras can provide. I have had to spend some money on more memory cards, but it was worth it.

2. Use a Tripod. Even the slightest movement of the camera can create a blurry image. Invest in a tripod. I have also found that when taking group shots, I am better able to judge when to "click" if I am looking directly at the group, rather than through the view finder.

3. Buy a Good Photo-Editing Program. Perhaps your camera came with Photoshop Elements, or similar. If not, go to your computer retailer and buy one. Not only can you fix blemishes (maybe Susan was having a bad zit day), but you can do more creative things as well. Recently I combined a photo of my grand-daughter with one of Dora-the-Explorer. Jasmine loved it.

4. Use the Lowest Compression Setting. As you use that fancy photo editing program, be careful of your compression setting. Most programs default to "jpeg" format, which saves space by selectively removing pixels, and recreating them the next time you view the photo. If you open, edit, and save a photo multiple times, the over-all quality decreases. Try to do all your editing in one pass, using the lowest compression, or use a format like "tiff", which does not compress.

5. Get in Close. Don't waste pixels on excess background. Get in closer, either physically or with an optical zoom setting.

6. Good Things Come in Threes (or more!). Considering the incremental costs of taking a photo with a digital camera (close to nil!), you should take lots of shots. If the shot is available for more than a few seconds, take more that one exposure. I always tell the subjects of my photos that I will be taking at least 2 or 3 shots of them. A blink at the wrong time ruins the potential.

7. Read the Manual. In fact, read it more than once. As if I have to explain this one!

Here's an equation for you.

(LOTS of photos with your digital camera) + (the above tips) = (a day coming soon when you'll be proud to show off your creations)

7 Nifty Reasons For Making Hand Made Soap

I love making my own hand made soap. I enjoy using it myself and I adore giving it as gifts to family and friends. They always say "Wow!" when I tell them I made it myself.

Here are 7 nifty reasons for making hand made soap.

1. It's fun. Making your own hand made soap can be a lot of creative fun.

2. You control the ingredients.. That means your soap can be full of high quality, good stuff for your skin and not full of harsh, nasty chemicals.

3. You choose the color. You can make your soap any color you want! Even lime green, if you like that color.

4. You control the scent. If you want to make unscented soap you can. If You want to make highly scented soap you can. If you want to think up an interesting scented and colored soap, such as lemon meringue, you can.

5. You control the shape of the soap. There are all kinds of soap molds available; hearts, flowers, seashells, even gingerbread men!

6. If you're stuck thinking of a gift for someone, you can make them some wonderful hand made soap. The recipient should love a gift of gorgeous soap nestled in tissue paper in a pretty gift box. They should be even more impressed when you tell them you made it yourself!

7. The satisfaction you derive from making something that's creative and useful. You don't have to rely on the stores to provide your soap; you can provide it for yourself and others.

Be warned that soap making is an addictive hobby! I have fun thinking up new scent and color combinations, wondering if they'll work and when they do, it's an awesome feeling. Soapmaking encourages my creativity and I'm sure it will encourage yours as well!

7 Important Sweet Angel Calendar Safe Handling Tips!

Do you believe in angels?

You know, the first time anyone ever sees a sweet angel calendar they are very often truly humbled and emit rather delightful little words like 'lovable' and 'cute.'

Of course, one can't help to be impressed. Angels really touch something deep inside us. After all, they are the carriers of life's beautiful promise. But, before you go rushing off to get yours, there's some essential things you need to understand.

You see, not only is a sweet angel calendar remarkably unlike anything else you have ever seen, but how you handle 'her' is of crucial importance. In fact, this is precisely why I wrote this guide... so that you would know the best way to carefully manage any angels that you meet.

A great idea, wouldn't you agree?

So, let's talk about the steps you should take after you have first laid eyes on an angel calendar. Why is this important? Well, it's sort of like this. She, (the angel), needs to be protected and nourished. Many people actually recommend that you give angels lots of 'friendly space.'

And seeing as you are the 'caretaker' for this angel, means that you are responsible for her wellbeing. (How you treat her will have an effect on your own life too). So, I urge you to take good note of the following 7 points with your new sweet angel calendar...

1. It is not recommended to put her down and forget about her. She should be placed upon the wall in an appropriate spot as quick, and as gently as you can. Never shake her vigorously.

2. Before you put her on the wall, speak soft soothing words to her, let her know you are there, and that you really do understand. (If people around you start looking at you in a funny way, do it in a way where other people won't notice).

3. If your home has extreme of temperature, make sure she is comfortable, warm if needed, and importantly, doesn't get cold. All in all, most angels are accepting, but I've heard they don't particularly like the cold that much.

4. Whatever you do, don't leave your sweet angel calendar baking under the hot sun. She won't like that one little bit. Use common sense about such situations.

5. Make sure your angel doesn't get to view low quality TV programs. Sometimes you can get away with day time TV, but do be careful of the news reports. Recently there was an angel who made a big stir about all the negative vibes from TV news reports. Go carefully with this one.

6. Keep relaxed around her. She won't ask for much, but she'll appreciate it if you can show some love, kindness and respect around her. Just keep this in mind when the relatives visit.

7. Please, don't just paste your cute little angel calendar on the wall in a faceless room in your home and forget about her. She needs people to pass her by and make a little eye contact sometimes. She'll be thankful of this. Really.

There you have it. Those 7 tips should be a good start for anyone who needs sweet angel calendar advice. Oh and by the way... you'll absolutely love it.

6 Tips To Select Home Theatre Seating

With the help of latest technology, so many things have been made to come true which were not even dreamt earlier.  In the similar manner, earlier we used to go to the theatres to watch movies, but now the time has come to bring theaters to your home and enjoy the real and original fun of theatres at home. 

There are many factors that influence the designing of the home theatres.  The most important one is its seating because the spurious and authentic fun of home theater can be felt only if there is full comfort and easiness.

Tips To Select Home Theatre Seating

It is really good to have a surround-sound home theatre system, but it will be of no use if there is no comfortable seating in order to enjoy and relax after having a hectic daily schedule. There are so many things to be kept in mind before going to select home theatre seating. For example, it should suit your decor, should be fully comfortable, etc.

There is a wide range of home theatre seating from the movie theatre seats to the home theatre couches with footrests. The numerous designs and varieties of home theatre seating are offered by different companies that generally make the customers perplexed. The following tips can assist you in choosing the perfect home theater seating.

Home Theatre Seating Tip #1
The first thing to be considered while choosing the home theater seating is the number of persons to be seated in the room possessing home theater as the arrangement of seating will be done accordingly.

Home Theatre Seating Tip #2
It is always recommended to have a spacious room for your home theatre. In as spacious room, the seating plan can be done properly avoiding congestion and preventing overcrowdedness.

Home Theatre Seating Tip #3
The most important feature of the seating is the comfortability and the easiness as one has to sit for approximately 2 hours to watch the full length movie. The seats should possess wide armrests to maintain the right balance and the sliding footrest should extend before as the backrest reclines.  This will help in giving the support to the body. 

There should be a proper stability and flexibility at the seat and back, and the seat should possess high density foam cushions in order to offer extreme comfort and back support.  The seats should be capable of providing support from head to toe. Therefore, only those seats should be selected that are fully comfortable in each and every manner so that it should become relaxing and entertaining to watching film.

Home Theatre Seating Tip #4
You should always opt for that type of home theatre seating which suits your decor and should embellish your home theatre. There are different types of seating like upholstered home theater seating, the timber's natural woodgrain brightened with an oil finish, etc. with a wide range of colors like pinks, browns, etc.

Home Theatre Seating Tip #5
The home theatre seating should consist of strong and durable couches and seats.

Home Theatre Seating Tip #6
The most important thing to be kept in mind is the budget. You should first set your budget as there is a wide range of prices. For example, a three-seater Rodeo Leather Lounge with built in wireless bass shaker, recliner, footrest, and wide armrest rolls that costs around $4700 is the best.

Therefore, the most important thing to be considered before planning to have a home theatre is its seating.

6 Steps To Designing A Home Theater

In the changing world of technology, man has achieved everything which would have been a nightmare. With the use of latest technology, it has been made possible to bring the excitement of watching movies at the theaters to your home. Now-a-days, it has become a status symbol to have a home theater at your place. The thought of having your own home theater cheers everyone.

Home Theatre Designs : DIY (Do-It-Yourself)

In the competitive market, there are numerous designs of home theatres offered by different companies. There are infinite options that one can easily get befuddled. While purchasing a home theatre, there are many things that have to be kept in mind. For example, it should suit your decor and possess clarity in terms of picture and sound, etc. Therefore, one of the most significant traits of the home theater is the way in which it has to be designed. The designing of the home theater can be done in the following manner:

1 - The most important thing to be decided while planning the designing of the room theatre is to select the perfect room for it as there are different preferences by different people, some like to go for living room and some for big halls in their homes. The room theatre should always suit the d้cor of your room wherever it is placed.

2 - The most important thing to be taken into consideration is the availability of the light. The light should be adjusted in such a manner that the movie can be easily seen and viewers are easily able to get to their seats. However, the intensity of the light should be low when the movie gets started. Additonally, the lighting should not be directly into the eye line of the viewers. The availability of light can be controlled by using a dimmer switch which is very easy to install and use.

3 - The set up of the speakers should be apt and appropriate because a better quality sound results in making the movie more real and original. The sound is the most important part of the home theatre that leaves an unforgettable impression over the audience.
 
4 - The next most important factor that affects the designing of the home theatre is the seating. The seating should not be done in a disorganized manner, rather it should always be done in a very systemic orderly way so that no one should feel congested. You should always get the comfortable chairs with wide armrests, sliding footrests, etc. so that no one should feel uneasy while watching movies.

5 - It is recommended that if you are ready to invest a little bit more on your home theatre system, it is good to get a projector screen in order to have a real and original appearance.

6 - The setting of furniture also plays an important role in the designing of the home theatre.

Home Theatre Designs By Professionals

Though, the designing of home theatres can be done by taking the above-mentioned points into consideration.  However, if still you find it a difficult task, then it is suggested to go for "Professional Interior Designers." 

These professionals give rise to superb home theatre designs. For these professionals, the designing of a home theatre is a child's play and they will be charging for this service of designing that will add to your budget of home theatre system.

Therefore, to get the best for the investment you have made in purchasing the home theatre equipment, you should always go for the appropriate designing in order to enjoy it every time you watch or listen to it.

5 Unique Doll Houses That Aren't Actually Houses

When we think of what a dollhouse looks like, we are often filled with the image of a traditional home, a Victorian style home, or even a country cottage. These dollhouses bring about images of mom and dad in the kitchen while the kids play in their bedroom. It is all about using the imagination for family role-playing. But, there is a whole wide world of dollhouses outside the traditional house. These unique dollhouses will open up a new world of role-playing for children and new collectible possibilities for adults.

The possibilities of unique dollhouses are almost endless. They go beyond the standard house and provide limitless opportunities for both play and collection. Some examples of unique dollhouses include a country store, New England lighthouse, church, fire station, and barn. These different settings will allow children to expand their imaginations into new forms of role-playing. It also gives the avid collector the ability to design new rooms in new settings and add some diversity to their collection.

Each of these unique dollhouses offers something special. The barn has a great loft as well as several areas for farm animals. The fire station has a bunk for the fireman, firemen's pole, and bays for the fire trucks. The country store is a beautiful display piece with great potential for the right miniatures. The church boats an altar, six pews, and stained glass windows. None of these items would be found in a traditional dollhouse.

These unique dollhouses are available as a wood kits from Real Good Toys. Real Good Toys is based in Vermont, and so these designs have a very traditional New England feel. The company boasts some of the most unique and well-structured dollhouses available. Each design comes with a complete set of plans that includes working parts. The kits includes all precut materials, which ensures that each piece will match correctly. Several of the kits also come with miniature accessories.

Building a dollhouse from scratch brings an amazing sense of accomplishment. This is something that can be passed down the generations as an heirloom. The lighthouse kit includes electricity to light the way for ships and the church includes a ringing bell to call in the parishioners. These dollhouse models are a wonderful way for siblings to bond or for parent and child to spend time together or just for some relaxing alone time.

There are endless possibilities when it comes to dollhouses. These 5 unique dollhouses are just the beginning. A true collector of dollhouses and miniatures should expand their collection to include some unique dollhouse designs. The barn, church, New England lighthouse, fire station and country store are just some of the potential additions to a great collection.

5 Songwriting Tips For The Lazy

It's funny, being a songwriter myself, I always find that writing songs can sometimes be a chore. But why does it feel this way? Isn't this supposed to be my passion? Isn't this supposed to be something that I never get bored of?

… well, not exactly. Everything gets boring once in a while, even the things that you're most passionate about. So every so often I like to take the lazy man's route to doing things. And surprisingly, I often produce some very good results!

So listen up. If you newbie at songwriting, or even if you have been at it for a while -- I'm going to a couple of simple tricks that will help you start the writing process within minutes.

Here we go…

1) Review a particular situation in your day. It could be at work, during your travels, or at home. It could be with your workmates, your family or your friends. Just any situation that affected you in either a positive or negative way.

An example of this would be "when you're at work, your boss just keeps hounding you. But, the only thing that keeps you going throughout the day is that you know that somebody in the office has a crush on you"

(the above is a very dry example… but try to work with me here!)

2) Write down as many words as you can think of that relate to your situation.

Let's follow the example from earlier on:

anger, pain, sad, happy, excitement, nervousness, anxious, misery, impatience, relaxation, goofy, sophisticated, annoying, frustrating, antagonising, fancy, sexy, cool, pretty, smile, etc, etc… you get the point :-)

3) Write down random short sentences about your situation including the words that you mentioned him step 2. So let's continue in our little experiment…

" the way he talked to me really angers me"
" if only he knew the pain I suffered inside"
" when I see her pretty eyes light up it makes me smile"
" I have to act cool and sophisticated -- don't want to get frustrated"
" he doesn't know what makes my day go by"
" don't want to be in this misery for much longer"

Etc, etc. at this point it's important to note that you don't have to use all the words that you mentioned earlier in step two. As you can see I've even started to make up my own lines *without* any of the words too! Sometimes, I'm rhyming the words without even realizing. And this is exactly where the magic starts to happen…

You can easily turn this idea into a full-fledged song. Use rhymezone.com to help you find words that rhyme… and also other related words as well.

My example was very average and simplified -- but you can use an example that's a little more dramatic. You should really get wild with your ideas! Really, just let loose.

4) Listen to a 'backing track' (an instrumental of a song) that you have NO CLUE about. While it's playing, make up a melody. Doesn't have to be perfect, just create a melody on the fly. You don't have to sing any lyrics either. Just 'humm' or 'laaa' a tune out until you're hearts content.

Why do this? This is an exercise that will subconsciously preparing you to create melodies for you're own chord sequences in the next step.

5) Create a SIMPLE chord progression on the guitar or keyboard. When I say simple, I mean *simple*. Maybe TWO chords for the verse and TWO chords for the chorus. Now create a melody on top of that chord progression. Record the song on tape. There you have it.

NOTE: if you don't play an instrument, then hook up with someone who does. After all, you pretty much have half the song now :-)

Still think it's difficult conceiving an idea? Want to know more? I have *plenty more* that I want to share with you…

5 Reasons Why Scrapbooking Should Be Your Next Hobby

Scrapbooks Protect Your Photos

Not only does a well-made scrapbook protect and preserve your photos, it also makes the photos themselves more fun to look at. Most people would much rather thumb through a scrapbook with its extra, fun touches than a plain photo album.

Scrapbooks Make Great Gifts

Because they are so personal, scrapbooks make a great gift for a loved one on a special day. Some especially good occasions to give a scrapbook as a gift are: weddings, anniversaries, milestone birthdays, graduations, and retirement parties.

Scrapbooks show that you put a lot of time and thought into your gift and can be a wonderful keepsake for the receiver.

Scrapbooking Is a Great Creative Outlet

Did you know that you have an artistic, creative side? Everyone does, it's just that not everyone uses it. Scrapbooking, with its colors, themes, cutting and pasting, writing, and arranging, is a great way to express your creativity. The best part is that all of that is enjoyable and so much fun!

Maybe you are one of those people that don't believe you can do any of that very well. Guess what? You're wrong! Even the most un-artistic person can copy a page layout that they found somewhere and really liked. Besides, it's hard not to be inspired when you have some great photos and some fun scrapbooking materials in front of you.

After a while you'll be adding your own personal touches to your pages, and soon you'll be creating your own completely unique layouts that you can be proud of.

Other Scrapbookers!

Nothing will help you make new friends faster than sharing a hobby with someone! Scrapbooking is an especially great hobby for sharing with friends. Many communities have scrapbooking clubs where scrapbookers can get to together to scrapbook, share ideas, show each other photographs, and talk for hours. Some craft stores also have a scrapbooking night for this same purpose (usually with the hope that people will buy a few things).

These scrapbooking nights or "crops", as they are called by scrapbookers, are a great way to get out of the house and spend some time socializing with other people. If you really need some time for yourself, get your club to put on a weekend scrapbooking retreat. It will be two days of nothing but scrapbooking fun!

Your town doesn't have a scrapbooking club? That's easy. Find some friends who scrapbook and start one! If you don't have some other scrapbookers in your life, you're missing out.

Scrapbooking Captures Precious Moments and Memories

In my opinion, this is the most wonderful thing about scrapbooking. The best way to explain it is with a quick story.

When I first started scrapbooking, my grandma was the person in my family most interested in my layouts. Every time she came over we would look through them together and she would point out the things she liked the most.

She was so interested that I finally decided to make a scrapbook with her. We put in photos of us together along with mementos of all the special times we could think of. It took a few weeks to finish, but we had a great time.

Two short months later she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and quickly slipped away. I'm so thankful that we were able to make that scrapbook together. Because now, whenever I miss her, I can just look through that scrapbook and smile at all the precious memories.

5 Kooky Koozie Designs

Koozies are sheaths designed to insulate a can or stubby bottle. The insulation helps keep the cold beverage from warming due to body heat or ambient temperature. Koozies also prevent condensation from forming. Today, koozies are usually made of neoprene, but other materials such as leather and cloth can be used. While koozies can be used on most standard size cans and stubby bottles, they are most often used on beer cans and stubby beer bottles. People that love beer really love their beer, so having a koozie can be very important and having a cool custom koozie can be even better. Customized koozies have become very popular gifts, party favors, wedding favors, and promotional items. Koozies are cheap to produce, so having a custom koozie made can be very inexpensive. Let's consider some various koozie designs you may want to use as gifts or promotional items.

If you are going to be throwing a party and would like to have some custom koozies made as party favors, you can have the koozie design relate to the theme of the party. For example, let's assume you are hosting a Halloween party and you have your costume in advance. You can have a custom koozie made with you in your costume printed on it. Your friends will always remember that party whenever they use the koozie to keep their beer cold. In the picture you use for the koozie, you may want to be holding a beer in a koozie or be doing something otherwise humorous.

If you are involved in the planning of a wedding, you can have custom koozies made as wedding favors that help people remember that special day. If the wedding cake is made in advance, you can have a picture of the wedding cake printed onto koozies. Guests will think it is very unique and creative to have the actual wedding cake on the koozie that are using at the reception. If you cannot get a picture of the wedding cake in time, you can use a picture of the couple, or maybe a humorous picture of their parents mock fighting.

If you have a friend of family member that loves beer, you may want to make them a custom koozie that says "keep your hands off" or "property of ______" and have their name printed on it. You can even include a picture of them on the koozie so that everyone who sees it knows exactly who the beer belongs to.

If you know someone that has a strong dislike for the taste of beer, you can play a joke on them by having a koozie made that makes the can appear to be something else. You can have a generic term like "Grape Soda" printed on the koozie with some grape-related artwork to make the can appear like it has grape soda in it. Of course the cozy should be of a tall design to help mask the can. Offer them some grape soda and watch their reaction.

If you don't mind doing a little scissor work yourself, you can make a very unique koozie by having a picture or design printed on it, and then cutting the top of the koozie to shape. For example, you can take a picture of a picket fence and have it printed on a koozie, and then cut along the top of the fence in the picture and produce a koozie with a unique shape.

5 Funny Love Poems

Funny Love Poems

When most people think of love poems, they think of serious and soulful expressions of passion. Long sonnets by Shakespeare or romantic poems by Browning and Lord Byron are the norm for love poetry. However, funny love poems can be good for a laugh. They may not be romantic, but they do give your friends something to enjoy.

Some of the best funny love poems are limericks. Limericks started in Ireland and follow a standard form of five lines and a rhyme scheme of aabba. Here are a few limericks written by anonymous authors:

There once was an old man of Lyme
Who married three wives at a time
When asked "Why a third?"
He replied, "One's absurd!
And bigamy, Sir, is a crime."

There was a young fellow named Hammer
Whose had an unfortunate stammer
"The b-bane of my life"
Said he, "Is m-m-my wife
D-d-d-d-d-d-damn 'er!"

She made friends with a young undertaker;
Her last boyfriend had forsaken her.
But she started to curse
When he turned up in a hearse.
She said next time I'll date a baker!

There was a young lady named Constance,
From boys she wouldn't stand any nonsense.
If her partners grew deft
She would lead with her left;
The results would not weigh on her conscience.

My sweetheart and I are just wed.
Already I wish I were dead.
Two weeks she's been spending.
It was time never ending.
We are thousands of pounds in the red!

Limericks are fairly easy to write if you can rhyme well, so you might try writing a limerick yourself that includes the name of your friend or loved one. This is a good way to make a funny love poem that is personalized.

You can find more information about funny poems at:
http://www.love-poems-quotes.info/funny-love-poems.html

4 Tips To Improve The Life Of Your Ipod

While everyone knows about the iPod and what it can do, not too many people are aware about the batteries that are located inside. Most people may assume that the batteries will simply last forever, because they are permanently attached to the inside of the iPod. Now, this assumption is incorrect on two levels. On one level, the lithium ion iPod battery that's inside your iPod can be removed and replaced with an iPod battery replacement kit. Secondly, even though the battery never really leaves the inside of the device; that does not mean that the battery will last forever.

Now, because we now are aware of the fact that the battery won't last forever, we need to make ourselves aware of some of the tips and tricks that can be applied in order to extend and improve the life of the new iPod battery.

TIP 1: Don't overcharge the battery

WHY: Overcharging the battery can damage the lithium ion iPod battery itself.

EXPLANATION: With nowhere to store or displace the energy, the battery will become damaged as it attempts to keep charging even when it's full.

TIP 2: Keep your iPod at room temperature only

WHY: Temperature plays a vital role in the function of the iPod battery

EXPLANATION: Chemical reactions take place inside the lithium ion iPod battery, and it's those reactions that make the battery properly function. If the temperature it too cold, then the reactions slow down. And those reactions will also speed up if the temperature is too hot.

TIP 3: Only charge the iPod battery when it needs it

WHY: Charging the battery actually weakens it at the same time

EXPLANATION: Each time you recharge the lithium ion iPod mini battery, the overall charge capacity of the battery dwindles ever so slightly. By only charging the battery when needed, you are ensuring that the battery only loses its charge capacity when it has to.

TIP 4: Use your iPod on a consistent basis

WHY: Keeping it inactive dulls the battery

EXPLANATION: If you never use your iPod, the device and the battery itself can simply wear out and die. Using them on a regular basis can keep them both fresh and operational.

3 Top Cartoon Drawing Tips For Beginners

Cartooning is not about drawing it is about telling stories. Yes, even when you are drawing a single illustration you are telling a story. Cartooning is about expressing your thoughts. And it is your thoughts expressed beautifully through your cartoon characters that make you different from other average cartoon makers.

But as in every other field of life here also you must learn to walk first before you try running. To express your thoughts and ideas through your cartoon characters, you need to master the skill of cartoon drawing first. Then of course you can use your cartoon drawing skills to tell story to your liking.

To be skilled in cartoon drawing you have to face a learning curve. You just can't decide to be a cartoonist then copy some popular cartoon figures and become an accomplished cartoonist who is rich and famous. If you are lucky and talented with keen sense of observation you may pickup one or two tricks by making copy of popular cartoon figures. But that is too inadequate to be of any use.

There are various ways that you can take to learn cartoon drawing --you can join cartooning school or take a home study course or follow a book of an expert cartoonist -- the bottom line is you have to follow the steps. Like you should first teach yourself drawing 3d shapes, then learn to stretch, squash those 3d shapes in your drawing. Next you need to practice things like drawing hands and head before moving on to motion and emotion and advanced things like that.

If it sounds like lot of work, you are right. But what you achieve at the end is worth working for. If you are smart however you can use the tips you are going to discover here to make the whole learning process fast and painless.

1. ==> Do not start with computers. I agree I run the risk of sounding backdated. But here I am not opposing usage of computer altogether, no sane person can do that. But for beginners there is no alternative to using paper and pencil..

There are various software that help you so much that you can go ahead even without learning how to draw a smooth line. This kind of over dependency on computers from the very beginning always backfires down the road..

2. ==> Nail the fact in your mind that construction of human, animal, cars and most of the things that that we see around us are complex 3d structures though we draw them on paper which is 2D. So when drawing you must mentally analyze your model in terms of 3d shapes like spheres and boxes and not in terms of 2d shapes like circles and rectangles.

Also when you draw something from paper (i.e. 2D), look for and find out the 3d shapes that make up the character.

3. ==> Most of the cartoon drawing or figure drawing tutorials always start with some basic 3d shapes and after a number of steps end up in a complete and beautiful figure. This technique is very effective in learning how we can draw complex figures starting with simple shapes. But what I am going to tell you will make your pace of learning even faster. It is in fact very simple way of using the same tutorial. Just a lot more effective.

What you need to do is start where the tutorial ends and go backward from there. See the completed figure and try to recognize the ingredient basic shapes. And compare your analysis with the exact shapes that are used in the tutorial.

This will give you a very through exercise in recognizing the basic shapes. And after some time you will be analyzing the real life around you like an expert. Just take your time and practice this technique, and see how fast it will improve your skill in cartoon drawing.

Cartoon drawing is pure fun both for professionals who earn their living through cartooning and hobbyists who draw cartoon only for personal pleasure. I do not know what you goal is but hope the tips here will be helpful for you. Never stop learning: there are a whole lot to learn and even more fun to have in the process. Happy journey!

3 Steps To Having An Old Fashioned Christmas Holiday

There are many Christmas traditions that are gradually being lost in today's high-tech, always-on-the-go world. But Christmas is the perfect time to slow things down and get back to basics to really enjoy the season. The following are three ways to have a traditional, old-fashioned Christmas.

1. Decorations

For many people, decorations are what make Christmas time special. The right decorations can set the mood for a traditional Christmas and let the whole family get involved in creating the Christmas spirit.

Start with an old-fashioned Christmas tree. Traditional decorations were all hand-made. Take a day early in December to get the whole family together to create the decorations such as stringed popcorn and chains made from colorful paper. Play Christmas music, serve eggnog and get everyone into the spirit.

Check your local thrift or antique shop for some old-fashioned decorations. Wax or blown-glass ornaments were commonplace in years past, and there are often some great examples to be found in thrift stores for next to nothing.

You can also look for antique tins with Christmas themes. These make great candy or fruit dishes.

2. Baking and Cooking

Baking and cooking come a close second to the Christmas tree for setting the mood for Christmas. Cookies, pies, and hot cider are all staples of an old-fashioned Christmas celebration.

The entire family can take part - even the non-bakers. They can help to decorate the sugar cookies or gingerbread men. Kids can help cut the cookie shapes before they're baked.

3. Christmas Day

There are plenty of Christmas day traditions that can help create old-fashioned fun. Find someone to play Santa Claus and deliver the presents for everyone in the family.

Make the gift exchange time special. Don't just tear into them en mass, give everyone a chance to open them separately. This gives everyone a better chance to show their appreciation, and people get to watch their reactions.

If you're lucky enough to have a white Christmas, take some time out of the day to go sledding or have a snowball fight. Top it off by serving hot cider or hot chocolate.

These family traditions can be passed on from generation to generation, with each one adding their own extras.

3 Simple But Powerful Songwriting Tips

Do you feel frustrated or unfulfilled with the songs you have written? Do you think your songs have to conform to a certain standard before they are any good? If so, what exactly are you comparing them to? You may find you have an unrealistic expectation of yourself or what you think a song is or should be.

If you are unhappy with the songs you have written or think your songs are not what they should be, examine these three songwriting tips to focus your attention on clarifying what you think you want to gain from your songs.

1./ Why Do You Want To Write A Song?

What do you want to communicate? Don't dismiss this, answering this question is more important than you think. If you know why you are doing something, your path will be a lot clearer. For instance, do you see yourself performing on some late night TV rock show with the audience going wild for more, or do you want to write a romantic love song to impress your partner? Or maybe you want to perform an acoustic set down at the local bar? The answer will influence your behaviour and your writing style.

2./ Write About What You Know And Do What You Know.

Do you know how to put chord progressions together on the piano and improvise over the top or do you know how to link drum machines and turn tables together to a whole plethora of midi equipment to pump out the biggest, baddest beats this side of Georgia? There is no difference. Your song will have more style and impact if you can find the courage to be yourself and use those talents you have today, not in what you think you should be doing, or what your song should sound like.

3./ Develop Your Habit Of Songwriting.

How are you coming up with your ideas? Repetition increases the likely hood of repetition, that means the more you do something, the more you are likely to do it. The more you get into the habit of writing down lyrics in a notebook that you carry with you at all times, the more likely you are to write down lyrics in a notebook that you carry with you at all times. Get into the habit of writing down your thoughts when your inspiration strikes because ideas always strike when you least expect them.

Your inspiration could be in the form of a lyric, a sound you heard in the street, an unusual chord change you heard on the radio or a rhythm your mum was tapping out on her coffee cup. By doing this, you can consult your own wisdom as and when you need it. These are the gems that will determine your style and show you your way forward.

Disciplining yourself to these three songwriting tips will give you confidence in yourself and your music. Realize that to write a song,  you do not need to be anybody other than who you are, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Whether you are beating out a rhythm on a pair of spoons or bowing an upright punk guitar accompanied by someone tap dancing in a different time signature, songwriting is subjective. Someone somewhere will love whatever you do, someone somewhere will absolutely trash it as the most unbelievable pile of garbage to ever appear on the music scene in the history of music. The most important question you need to ask yourself at the end of the day is, do you like it?

3 Must Know Tips For Creating The Ultimate Scrapbooking Room

If you are a scrapbooking junkie like me, you know that your scrapbooking supplies can really stack up from your various projects. Many people just find a place to do their scrapbooking wherever they can find a spot.

It can get pretty difficult to be creative when you are cramped in a tiny space or have a lot of distractions around you while you scrapbook.

Why not create a scrapbook room that is all yours? Below you will find some tips on how to create the ultimate scrapbook room.

Make the Most of Your Space

While you're designing your ultimate scrapbook room, you'll want to get the most use of your space as possible. Do this with shelving. You can get floor to ceiling shelving to have a lot of storage space.

You know what they say – if you can't build out, build up. One great thing to do with this shelving is to purchase some great bins or baskets to put small things in. You can place stickers, embellishments, ribbons, markers or any other little thing in bins like this.

Set the Mood

A scrapbook room is not only about storing your supplies, you also want it to be inviting and cozy for when you are working on a project and spending time in there. Here are some things you can use to your scrapbook room comfortable and appealing:

- At least one big cozy armchair. (Depending on how big your space is, get a few for when friends come over to scrapbook with you.)

- A great inviting and relaxing paint color. This will welcome you and make you feel peaceful while working on your scrapbook projects.

- Art. Placing some stimulating art on the walls will also help make your scrapbook room welcoming, and give you some much-needed inspiration.

- Candles. Get some great scented candles to light in your room. This will make your environment cozy and special, along with adding a little touch of scent.

Prepare the Necessities

For your scrapbook room to really be perfect you will need the ultimate work area. You can get some functional items that will help you in your projects and give you the tools you need to be efficient and productive. Here are some great things you will need to add to your space:

- A large table or flat working space.

- A bright lamp or light to help you see the little items you will be working with. This is a great thing to help keep you from straining your eyes while you're working on projects.

- A cabinet to place all of your tools for scrapbooking. Some of these might include: hot glue guns, staplers, scissors, paint, etc.

Making your ultimate scrapbooking room can be fun and beautiful if you use your imagination and a bit of creativity. Think of the things you use the most and place them at reachable level. The things you use less often can go in higher places.

You need a space to relax and be able to create your beautiful art works and think outside of the box. You will be very glad you've decided to give yourself this gift. Use these great tips to help get you on the track to more efficient and productive works of beauty.

3 Birthday Party Games Everyone Will Love Playing!

What's a birthday party without games? No party at all that's what! Games bring excitement to any party and birthday parties are no exception. Sure there are the traditional birthday party games like pin the tale on the donkey and smashing the pi๑ata open, but times have changed and while these traditional games remain classics, there are a few more out there that are sure to go down in the history books. The next generation will definitely be calling these games 'classic'.

Balloon Stomp – Here's how this game works. Tie balloons to your ankles and stomp on each other's balloons and try to pop them. A lot of movement may be required. Six or more players can play. You'll need rubber bands and balloons. Blow up a lot of balloons and tie a rubber band to each of them. Put a balloon around each player's ankle by stretching the rubber over their foot. If you want you can put a balloon on each ankle. Make sure players wear shoes to protect their feet. Play some music and have everyone stomp around, trying step on and pop the balloons of other players. Whoever has the last balloon left around their ankle is the winner!

This next game is not called 'The Ultimate Water Balloon Game' for no reason! Here's how to play. Depending on how many guests you have, you may need to fill up one hundred or more water balloons before the party starts. This is a four part game and every game can have a different winner. The first game involves teams of two. Each team gets one balloon. They start really close to each other and the teammates have to toss them back and forth, with each successful toss they both take one step back. If your balloon pops then you are out. The last team standing wins. The second game is hot potato but you sit the kids further away from each other so they have to toss it. Everyone who gets wet is out. Each person left with the balloon is out too.

The third game is a free for all! Let them have a water war with the balloons. And for the last and final game, you give everyone a bucket as a party favor, and you tell them who ever picks up the most balloon pieces out of the yard gets the last and final prize. The kids will clean the yard so well!

2 Important Suggestions When Purchasing A Diamond Saw Blade

What are diamond blades you may ask? Well, have you ever been driving down the road and you see some construction workers cutting either the road or cement? The circular metal tool that actually cuts the material is what the diamond blade is. This metal is very strong only if it is used correctly. There are many different diamond blades made especially for different types of metals and concrete. Each diamond blade is made for certain abrasive material and if you do not have the right blade for the job it will not cut it. Finding the correct diamond blade for the job is crucial if you want to complete the job. Diamond blades can be used to cut through many different types of abrasive metals and concretes.

Diamond saw blades are usually used on construction sites, home remodeling, or repairing city roads and highways. There are many different diamond saw blades and accessories such as core bits to select from but each one is made for certain abrasive materials and if you choose the wrong one I can guarantee you that you are not going to be happy with it. Each diamond saw blade is made unique so that it is very efficient in cutting a certain abrasive material.  Diamond blades are made unique to cut through asphalt, concrete, brick, and block. The reason why each diamond saw blade is created different is so that the user can get the maximum strength and potential of the blade without having to replace it every time you are finished cutting.

When selecting a diamond saw blade you will have to take into consideration which core bits you will need to use. The core bits are basically used as the power of the diamond saw blade and the diamond blade actually does the cutting. You have to make sure you match the core bits and the diamond blade saw. Just like diamond saw blades the core bits are matched to fit certain diamond blades to provide efficiency, speed and strength. Some core bits are used especially for speed because some material needs a higher rpm to cut through it and if the blade does not have the required speed it will either warp or probably break. If not the blade will not work to its potential and may even warp or break. Some diamond blades are also made to cut while running water over them while they are cutting. This helps keep the diamond blade temperatures lower so that the blade does not warp and keep it from cracking. You will want to make sure that you do not purchase the wrong diamond saw blade and core bits because you will be spending a lot more in replacements. These are not cheap so please do your homework.

There are many varieties of diamond saw blades and core bits to choose from with each made for cutting a specific type of abrasive material. Make sure you take your time and plan which blade and core bit you will need to purchase for the desired abrasive material you will be cutting. There are also many online diamond blade distributors that you may be able to purchase some blades at a discounted price. More importantly these online stores can provide you will online information and some even provide a phone number that you can call to receive more information. Good luck on your purchase and the job it will be used for.

"Wrapping" The Impossible-To-Wrap Christmas Gift

"The excellence of a gift lies in its appropriateness rather than in its value." - Charles Dudley Warner

You've found the perfect gift, one completely appropriate for the recipient. But now you've realized that this gift also happens to be the impossible-to-wrap gift.

Maybe the gift is oddly shaped and won't fit in a box. Maybe the gift is digital and doesn't have a physical form. Or maybe the gift is too big and can't fit through your door. Here are ideas about how you can easily "wrap" even the most impossible gift.

Oddly Shaped Gifts

Some gifts just were never meant to be wrapped. Try one of these ideas to get that oddly shaped gift properly covered.

- Gift bags are a popular way to wrap an oddly shaped gift. Just place the gift in the bag and cover with brightly colored tissue paper.

- Put a large sheet of wrapping paper on the floor, design side down. Place the gift in the middle, and pull the four corners of the paper up and toward the middle. Close the top by tying the corners with a festive ribbon.

Gifts Without a Physical Form

Our modern computer age has brought a whole new challenge to wrapping gifts, those gifts like electronic books, downloaded software, or downloaded music. These ideas will turn your digital gift into something that can still go under the tree.

- Burn the files for the digital gift onto a CD. Alternatively, buy a thumb drive or memory stick and copy the digital files onto the memory device.

- Print the download instructions for the digital gift. Then purchase (or make) a Christmas card and include the printed instructions inside the card.

Gifts Too Big to Fit Under a Tree

For large gifts you'll have to find a "safe" hiding place. Some merchants might allow you to store the present at their store until just before Christmas. Alternatively, perhaps your garage or a storage shed can server as a good hiding spot. You might even consider using a neighbor's garage (and getting your neighbor's permission first is probably a good idea!).

With the gift in a safe spot you can still "wrap" the present and put it under the tree with one of these ideas.

- Use a Christmas card (or make one either by hand or using your computer) and announce the gift inside the card.

- Wrap a small item to represent the gift and put it under the tree. Try to choose an item that hints at what the present is without immediately revealing the secret. For example, you might use a bike tire pump to represent a new bike, a car owner's manual to represent a new car (I think most of us won't be giving a gift this big), or a house key to represent a new house (this one requires some possession of sizable wealth).

So don't let the impossibility of wrapping a gift keep you from selecting the present that is most appropriate for your loved one. Use one of these fun ideas to get that present "wrapped" and "under the tree."

"Songwriting Tips: Un-original Melodies Can Be A Good Thing..."

The moment that people create a melody which they feel is great, many think it already sounds like another song. This is common, and I suffered from this many times. What you've got to understand is that ALL SONGS are RECYCLED MELODIES.

Every song has a 'portion' of the tune which will be the same as another. So don't worry if you feel your song sounds like another.

What's important to know here is that if your melody is a familiar one, then that's a GOOD THING. I'm not talking about a 'rip off' here, I'm talking about a part(s) of your melody that sounds like another song(s).

Why is it a good thing? Because it means PEOPLE can RELATE TO THE MELODY even more. They will want to listen to your song because of the familiarity.

Remember, most people aren't songwriters. So chances are, most people won't even realize where it may or may not have been inspired from. And what if they do? Well... ultimately, as a whole, it will be your own words, your own tune and eventually with your own music. So it will be YOUR SONG. So don't fret.

Here, I'll share some methods that will jump start the process of creating a melody:

- Pick a song that you like and know *quite* well, and when you are NOT listening to it, hum the tune of the song. DON'T' SING THE WORDS, just hum the melody. This way, you will think 'melodically'. Eventually, you should force yourself to sing certain variations of the melody (ie. completely mess around with the tune). When this happens, you'll end with your own melody.

- If you play an instrument (it doesn't matter which or what level you are at) try and figure out the melody of another song on the instrument. If you figure it out easily, then mess around and CHANGE certain parts of it. Then SING (hum, la, etc) this CHANGED MELODY out aloud. If you can't figure it out, then forget about it! CREATE A MELODY YOU FEEL IS CORRECT! Again, don't prejudge while doing this. Just go where your fingers take you and just 'la' the tune simultaneously. Loop this melody once you feel you have something good.

- Grab a song that you DON'T KNOW AT ALL. Listen to the song once, and then listen to it again. The second time around, sing along to it. More than likely, you won't remember the tune. This is normal! What do you do now? Yup. You guessed it. MAKE UPYOUR OWN MELODY to this obscure song. NOTE: This one may work better if you bought a CD of backing tracks that have no guide vocals on the songs. This way, you HAVE TO make up your own melody to a track that's already playing. Just make sure you DON'T KNOW the songs....at all.

You have no idea how powerful this is. I've written fresh songs on one's I had no clue about! And believe me, they are original songs - they don't sound like a copy of anything at all. This is because of what I said earlier - ultimately it will be your own lyrics, your own message and your own music which then translates into your own song.

*Keeping The Melody Simple*

Lastly, there is absolutely no point in making a melody that's 'musically clever'. You're not trying to impress musicians here. What you want is to create a melody that's SIMPLE yet INTERESTING.

So how do you do this? Well, melodies often re-occur several times in a song. In fact, the verses and choruses alone will often have the tune repeating itself. It's the basic structure of nearly all songs under the sun. The verses will repeat and so will the choruses.

SO....IF THE MELODY SOUNDS WORTHY ENOUGH TO BE REPEATED, THEN YOU'RE ON TO SOMETHING.