So This Is Christmas

Merry Christmas is such an infectious feeling I like to feel that way all year around.

So if you are visiting just before Christmas, just after Christmas or even here on Christmas day I am sure you will find something of interest for you and in the spirit of Christmas.

It may be said that Christmas is no longer a celebration but this must be spoken by people that have never had trouble closing their eyes on Christmas Eve in an expectation of what maybe left for them on the carpet under the tree.

I continue to look forward to the surprise on my Grandchild's faces to this day at Christmas events.

Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Guitar Instructional DVD: Learn At Home

By Eric Fitzpatrick

Knowing the fact that the approach you use to learn the guitar is the key-determining factor in your success or failure to actually learn, these three conclusions follow:

Despite the fact that many successful don't really talk much about this, you can find some that do. Believe me, becoming successful is a lot more than just practicing and luck! REMEMBER that their strategies won't necessarily work for you because your goals may be different than theirs were. Still you can learn from it.

But no matter how good you get, there will always be something you can learn from someone else. Seek out those people, get to know them, jam with them, discuss music and guitar with them. Be willing to give as much (or more) as you want to take. If you are fortunate enough to be above the level of other guitarists in your area, seek out great bassists, pianists, violinists, drummers, etc. You can learn from them as well. (Even if you are not better than your guitar player friends, seek out musicians that play other instruments as well anyway).

You may need to revise certain aspects of your strategy as time goes on and that's ok, but don't try to go forward without one if you want the maximum results in the shortest amount of time. In my early days learning to play guitar, I wasted a lot of time aimlessly desiring to get better without having a clue as to how to plan for it. Sure I practiced a lot, but without direction and without an efficient path to follow. Most of my substantial progress as a musician came only after I developed a strategy and worked with it.

The way you view yourself (as an artist and not merely someone who owns a guitar and plays it sometimes) is very important to the way you will think about what you are doing musically. The way you see yourself will also effect the results you will get as you are expressing yourself.

Now that we have the proper attitude in focus, let's talk about how to go about "managing" the process of changing bad playing habits. How do we actually conduct ourselves, and our practicing and playing? As I have said, some people become paralyzed, afraid to play, afraid of undoing work done in practice sessions by what they do when they play. And for those who play professionally, it is of course, absolutely necessary that they continue to play, even if they are doing "remedial" work on their technique.

You can undo bad habits you have learned along the way. You can begin the process of undoing bad habits right away, when you begin to acquire the correct understandings, and use the approaches based on them.

Bar chords are what I am referring to. I am going to address the physical, technical aspects of learning these chords in a way that will enable you to avoid the difficulties that attend the learning of them for most players.

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Consider The Shade Of A Table Lamp

By Pamela Smith

This particular light giver is very movable and can be transferred from on place to another in order to make a new look around the house. The table lamp is one important task-lighting fixture and this particular object is normally found on tabletops. This illuminator comes in many different sizes, shapes, designs, styles and lampshades that are of various colors and sizes which make this object a good lighting accent.

The styles of a table lamp especially the contemporary ones are quite technologically advance in comparison to the traditional or classical types. This modern illuminator has been created with the incorporation of advance technology. One of the best features ever developed is the power-saving devices which are very practical in todays economic set up.

Most of the modern lighting fixtures have been installed with dimmers and control. This allows easy adjustment on the brightness cast by any table lamp for instance. The toning of the dimmers can also enhance the mood and atmosphere that you want. This system offers great advantage to the homeowners for the energy consumption is obviously reduced.

Another thing is the ambiance that you wish to exude is dependent on the type of table lamp that you use. The lampshade and its color play important factor in getting an ambiance. The wattage is another element for the light a bulb gives off depends on it. If your purpose is to emphasize the designs of your pieces of furniture or you need the light for reading then you need to use the appropriate type of bulb.

For more information regarding your lighting needs, feel free to inquire online. You can also learn from the Internet the different types of lighting fixtures that can address your concern. Always consider the important factors in buying a table lamp.

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What You Should Know About Hiring An Interior Designer

By Janice Nickole

Over the years many people have asked me what is important to consider when you hire an Interior Designer. I hope that after reading my article below you will get the help you were looking for.

See to it that you use the 5 questions in this article as a guide.

-- Do you feel you lack the skills for home decorating?

-- Have you purchased any items for your home that are still stored away? 3. Do you have the experience but lack the time it takes to accomplish your design goals?

-- Is your day just too busy and you can't find the time to even think about decorating or designing?

-- Are you having a hard time agreeing with your spouse or roommate when it comes to home or apartment decorating?

-- Are you unsure of how to decorate your space in a way that makes your feel comfortable?

If you've answered yes to any of the questions you read about in this article, then you may want to think about hiring an Interior Designer. Believe me, it'll be one of the best decisions you can make. They can help you immensely.

Interior Designers are skilled at designing interior spaces and space planning. They also have the expertise on form and function, balance and harmony, color concepts, lighting design, furniture selection and more. Why should you hire an Interior Designer? Simply because you may lack the necessary skills of design and secondly, mistakes will cost you money!

Now I'm not saying that all Interior Designers are alike on the contrary. If you ask five Designers about how a room should be designed, you will get five different answers!

So how do you hire the right Interior Designer? First ask friends or family. Word of mouth is great advertising for any Designer. Perhaps a co-worker has had good experience with a Designer.

A good characteristic to look for in a Designer is confidence in his or her abilities. Also a Designer should respect YOU as a Client and listen to your desires and needs for your design project.

Many Designers will advertise their services on the internet. Some will offer free consultations, which is an informal meeting to get to know your Designer, as your Designer will want to meet and get to know you.

State clearly your likes and dislikes, your ideas and your desires to your Designer so that he or she can design exactly what you want. Even if you are unsure about your personal design style, an Interior Designer's expertise will know how to put it all together for you.

It is not so important as to how long the Designer has been in practice, rather that he or she is on the "same page" as you.

Of course, the Designer must keep the Client on track because they will inevitably fall off track for lack of skill. So the two must join as one, and be on the same page so to speak. This "synergy" must exist between the two personalities do matter.

Interior Designers are also valuable because they have a variety of special vendors at their fingertips that can help get the job done. They know the "Who's Who" in the industry, who to go to, and more importantly, who not to go to. The consumer does not have this in-depth knowledge, so therefore this is invaluable.

You can ask for referrals from your Designer, although some may not give that information out due to client privacy.

Most Designers charge by the hour and work with many budget levels so don't think you can't afford one. You'll see a range of prices from $50 dollars an hour to $300 dollars and hour or more. But don't assume that because the Designer is charging the higher end would make them any more qualified or better.

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Learn Why Should Boil Ribs Before Grilling

By Ferdinand Emy

First, there is often a concern that when you boil ribs before grilling that you will boil out some of the flavor.

Do keep in mind that it is not considered legal to boil ribs before grilling in some grilling competitions, so it is important to always check the rules for any grilling competition. There is surely nothing better than great ribs fresh off the grill. Another option would be to par-boil ribs prior to grilling. If you choose to do this you need to make sure that you use plenty of seasoning in the water to aid infuse the ribs with flavor before you put them on the grill. One of the problems that many people have with preparing ribs is preparing them so that they are tasty and will also be so tender they will fall off of the bone.

If you do boil ribs before grilling and it turns out later that this was against the rules, you could be disqualified from the competition. One of the most reliable ways to ensure that your ribs turn out great is to boil ribs before grilling. Of course, if you are only grilling for friends and family members, then there should be no restrictions on how you prepare your ribs and you can use any method that you like to obtain great tasting results! First, you might consider boiling the ribs in barbecue sauce before grilling. There are a couple of options.

No matter if you believe in a wet rub or a dry rub, it is important to make sure you know how to prepare your ribs so that they come out tasting great. There are many different ways to prepare ribs and regardless of which part of the country you are from, you probably have a method for preparing ribs that you believe to be the best. There are a few tips to keep in mind when you boil ribs before grilling in order to ensure that you have the best results with your ribs. While this is a valid concern you can take some steps when you boil ribs before grilling in order to make sure that this does not happen. This will really help to infuse the ribs with great flavor.

When you boil ribs prior to grilling, you are able to provide your ribs with a head start on the cooking and also have the opportunity to give them even more taste and flavor.

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The Portable Garage -an Instant Solution

By Johann Sundh

Ease, flexibility and portability are some of the characters we look for when getting a portable garage. The portable, or instant, garage is a favorite option among those who want to protect their vehicle from the elements, or just need more storage, but are unable, or unwilling, to erect a permanent building.

There are many benefits of a portable garage. The most obvious is that it IS portable, and when you go, or move, your garage goes with you. One of the biggest reasons for getting a portable garage is simply an economic reason.

High quality canopy shelters for cars are available for a few hundred dollars, and fully enclosed garage shelters can cost up to $1500. Compare that to what it would cost to construct a garage and the instant garages are a very attractive option. Even the largest 3 car, or RV shelters are only a fraction of a conventional garage.

The speed of putting the shelter together is another real benefit. Some of these garages are sold as "instant" garages. While they don't pop up and set up themselves, they are designed to be assembled easily, quickly, and inexpensively.

Setting up a standard size of 10 by 20, or 12 by 20 portable garage can be done in a few hours. There is no need for drilling, digging, cutting or otherwise struggling. Even the large 3 car garages can be set up within a day. And, they can be taken down and moved just as easily.

Portable garages are built for portability, but with modern sturdy and strong materials, they are also built for long term use.

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Coffee Is the Worlds Most Consumed Beverage

By Michael Stadneck

The truth is that coffee hits a lot of spots! For centuries, people all around the world have loved coffee, and its popularity is far from waning nowadays. In fact, coffee connoisseurs have more varieties of delicious choices than ever before, as coffee houses, shops, kiosks and specialty carts spring up all over the place.

Regardless how you like your coffee, whether it is black, frothy cappuccino, latte, espresso, hot or cold, the selections available to whet your appetite are widespread. The average annual coffee consumption of the American adult is 61 gallons, over 525 cups. In fact, specialty coffee sales are increasing by 20% per year and account for almost 8% of the 18 billion dollar U.S. coffee market. Recent statistics show that among coffee drinkers, the average consumption in the USA is around 2.4 cups of coffee per day. Also, studies find that over 55% of the American population now drinks specialty coffees on a daily basis.

There are currently around 35,000 coffee shops around the United States, with an average $30 billion a year in sales. Based on market research, there will be approximately 42,000 or more independently owned coffee shops in the US by the year 2011. An enterprising business person should look at the gourmet coffee business as a golden opportunity.

Based on research by the National Coffee Association and The Specialty Coffee Association of America, the average price for an espresso based drink is $2.85, while the average price for brewed coffee is $1.38. The average espresso drive-thru business sells approximately 200-300 cups of sspresso and coffee based drinks per day. The studies show that men drink as much coffee as women; each consuming an average of 1.6 cups per day. Women tend to be more concerned about price than their male counterparts.

The United States imports over $5 billion worth of coffee every year. Juan Valdez and his little donkey must be keeping very busy! Americans drink 460 million cups of coffee every day, which makes the United States the leading consumer of coffee in the entire world.

A scientific report from the University of California found that the steam rising from a cup of coffee contains the same amounts of antioxidants as three oranges. The antioxidants are heterocyclic compounds which prevents cancer and heart disease. Guess what! Coffee is good for you!

Special studies conducted about the human body revealed it will usually absorb up to about 300 milligrams of caffeine at a given time. This equates to about 4 normal cups. Additional amounts are just cast off, providing no further stimulation. Also, the human body dissipates 20% of the caffeine in the system each hour.

Coffee sales are continually rising year after year. And so are the pricing modules! Coffee is the second largest commodity traded, next to oil. If you are looking for a business to get into, coffee is probably the best business for you to consider. Can you think of any other product that has such universal appeal, is easy to get into, and is relatively simple to operate?

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Battery Reconditioning - Geek's Battery Reconditioning Review

By Chris Jensen

Discovering the secrets to reconditioning batteries can be your key to a fat paycheck. Business experts believe that the most lucrative niches in the next few years are energy conservation and renewable energy resources. Thus, you might want to consider learning about battery reconditioning as this is one of those businesses that prove to be environmentally friendly. Get yourself Geek's Battery Reconditioning when you finally decide to.

Battery-Reconditioning.com features an e-book aptly called Battery Reconditioning. It provides readers an intelligent set of techniques applied to apparently dead nickel cadmium batteries. Those who have read the e-book say that it gives good and simple ways to start a modest business in a field that has lots of opportunities in store.

Battery Geek, one of those who have read and actually learned something from the e-book, gave a testimonial about Battery Reconditioning saying that it totally amazed him. The book was able to give him simple techniques on how to make dead batteries function like new. As a former employee in NASA and Texas Instruments, he understands that being modest brings in great things. And this is exactly what the book is about - simple tips for potential business success.

Through Battery Reconditioning, beginners and even seasoned electricians can learn how to recondition rechargeable batteries and dead batteries. You can also learn other useful battery techniques like measuring a battery's charge capacity, reverting a reversed cell, why batteries need to be reconditioned, how to tell if a battery needs to be reconditioned, and how to perform different battery reconditioning procedures with inexpensive tools.

All 46 pages in the Battery Reconditioning e-book are loaded with information on these different techniques. They also feature large, full-color photographs so that you can better understand the procedures.

From what Battery Geek has shared you can open your eyes to more details on how you can learn more on battery reconditioning. And through visiting Battery-Reconditioning.com, you can have your own copy of the e-book, plus a list of some basic equipment that you will need to start learning how to recondition batteries.

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Best Results from an Electric Yogurt Maker

By Aberdeen Page

Yogurt has become a favorite dessert or snack for most people. Yogurt can take the place of ice cream. Most people would like to have yogurt in their daily meal but the only thing that makes them shy away from the idea is that it is expensive when bought commercially. To resolve this concern, it is best to buy a yogurt maker for you to make your own yogurt at home.

Because of the many options you have regarding brands and models, you should take stock of what its features and uses are. A good quality electric yogurt maker would be able to make enough yogurt for your entire family. There are yogurt makers that are large enough to hold 6 cups of delicious homemade yogurt. It would be easy for you to make yogurt for your entire clan in a single setting.

This great device would also allow you to come up with different flavors for your yogurt in one setting. You can now accommodate the various preferences of different people not just your family. That way you will never run out of variety for your yogurt.

You yogurt maker machine should be user friendly as well. The LCD display timer and control feature allows you to control the settings of your device without fuss. Take note that temperature control and exact fermentation are necessary for your yogurt so that it wont breed any bacteria that may cause diseases. It is better then to look for an automatic shutoff function that ensures you have the right fermentation period even without you having to check on the process at all times.

You have to make sure of the kind of containers that your yogurt maker has. Spill proof covers should be found on it to ensure of the right fermentation. It should have a built in stirrer to make sure that there is the same temperature for the entire fermentation process, making sure that all the nutrients are still intact.

Yogurt is more likely to be part of your daily diet as it can be equally delicious as ice cream and brings with it a lot of benefits, giving you a robust body and strong immune system.

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Choosing Your Dining Room Furniture

By Kelly Kim

Some of the most important yet most disregarded furniture in a home is found in the dining room. People habitually misjudge the things that good dining furniture can do in creating the right ambiance for one of the most sacred things a family could share - meals. Even guests will take notice and feel uncomfortable when things seem to be not right or misplaced. If everyone seems to have a reason for declining your lunch or dinner invitation, it could be time to give your dining room furniture a makeover.

When you talk of dining room furniture, the most important piece would be the dining table. Aside from looking classy and elegant, it has to be just the right size and height for you and your family and even your guests. Of course, around your table, you would need chairs. If you want mealtime to be a satisfying and comfortable activity, you have to make sure that the height of the table and chairs is comfortable enough for you to be able to move about in your seat with ease.

The furniture you get for your dining room will logically put in much to the general appeal of your dining room. An ideal choice would be those hard-wearing Amish-made furniture which are attractive and stylish all at once.

This kind of furniture is rather famed for its sturdiness and is both comfortable and stylish with its distinct textures and designs. Plus, since there are many available choices you make with wholesale Amish dining furniture, it will nearly be a breeze pulling together a great design for your dining room interior.

Nevertheless, even as the dining table is always the center of every dining room, it is not the only thing that matters when it comes to creating the ideal atmosphere in this part of your home. Actually, your furniture won't be whole exclusive of the accessories. Barstools, cabinets, buffets and sideboards all make significant contributions in creating a good environment for your all-important dining moments.

Opportunely, dining furniture now comes in many great varieties in both chic and price. You can straightforwardly look for an appropriate dining set that makes a great addition to your dining room. As usual, it's always best to review as many options as you can from the Internet to the yellow pages. And when you review your choices, you don't just look at them. You'll also want to ask the saleslady on warranty, maintenance, repairs, home delivery and other issues that are bound to have an effect on you as a buyer.

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