Scientists pay great attention to researches concerning music's influence on human beings. Attention to such researches has increased recently and their results are interesting and convincing. For example, after listening classical music cows have increased their yield of milk and mimosa and petunias have grown faster and burst into bloom 2 weeks earlier. 120 breast-feed mothers took part in an experiment in Japan. Some women listened to classical music, other women listened pop and rock music. In first group the amount of milk increased in 20 per cent, and in second group - reduced twice.

Such researches are the attempt to synthesise science and art (music). But ... Read more »

Rap is classified as urban poetry of lyrical resistance. Thus it ... Read more »

And now, I'd like to share this secret technique with you.

If you consistently apply the following 3 steps, you'll notice a big improvement in your songwriting:

1. Gather as much information about your song idea as possible.

Once you've come up with an idea for your song, write down (or type) all related information.

Pop/punk sensation Avril Lavigne is so popular with the tweener set here in the U.S. precisely because she looks and sounds like she could have stepped off of any high school campus in middle America. But aside from such superstars as Alanis Morrisette and Rush who have transcended any national boundaries and become truly international, Canadian musicians have plenty to of ... Read more »

Take Andy Summers, guitarist for the Police. Everybody knows who Sting is, and there is no doubt that he is tremendously talented, as is drummer Stewart Copeland. As part of that unit, however, Summers was often overlooked. What is so amazing about Andy Summers is not only h ... Read more »

Popular Music 1950 - 1998 At the end of World War II in the U.S., White middle class fears of communism and a new independent - minded Black society emerged simultaneously. Since they both threatened th ... Read more »

Tools you need:

* Cell phone that support MP3 ringtones.

* Music CD or MP3 Music File

* Any method of transferring the ringtones from computer to phone (USB, Bluetooth, e-mail, instant message, etc.)

* Audacity v1.3 beta

* Lame v3.96.1

* MP3 Converter (to convert audio cd file to mp3 format)

Instructions:

If you plan to create your MP3 ringtones from a CD, rip the song you want as a WAV (Windows) or an AIFF file (Mac). It's a good idea to specify a new ripping location, too, so the ripped song wont be mixed up with the rest of ... Read more »

The first MP3 player on the American market appeared in the summer of 1998. It was a very basic unit, portable and with a memory capacity of 32MB. Since its first release, the MP3 player underwent many innovations until it became what it is now.

Today, MP3 players are highly versatile. They can be hooked into car stereos, CD players, computer hard drives, and simply as a standalone player with its own music collection. Other MP3 players are software-based as well and available for most computer platforms. There ... Read more »

Promoting a CD can seem like a daunting task at first, especially if you haven't done anything like this before. Here are a few tips and ideas on how you can get started promoting, and selling your music CD.

1. First, you should plan a launch party. Tell all your friends and fans when the CD is going to launch, and generate some buzz. Let local papers and shops know as well, and have them help you spread the word.

2. Network - tell ev ... Read more »

Your first (or tenth) licensing deal probably won't be the next Hollywood blockbuster, but that's ok. There are a zillion independent films that need and want your music. No, you won't be immediately rich and famous from having a song in an indie film, but you will probably get paid, and you'll get some good exposure. Remember, a good ling music career is not built on one big hit. It's built on a series of small projects and successes building to bigger ones, and, of course, multiple streams of income.

With that in mind, independent films are a great place to start. So where do you begin? Well, listing sites like Versus Media, Film Music Network, and Taxi are a good place to ... Read more »

Broadcasting quality

The broadcast quality is, when put in numbers, of 128kb/s 44.1khz for both digital radio service providers. This is the equivalent of CD quality. ... Read more »

It's true what they say about music -- it is a universal language. Regardless of where people are from or what language they speak, music that has universal appeal can do more than entertain. It can bring people together, get people to think and some cases provide a soundtrack for change. Never has his become more present than in the music of hip hop that went from an expressive combination of lyrics and rhythm to a lifestyle and culture that has permeated popular society.

More than just a beat

As stated above the "hip hop" professor, T ... Read more »

As founder of Def Jam Records Russell Simmons aptly put it, "pointing the finger may not be helpful -- we still have more struggle as a society and more work to do to reform it." (Debate Continues as Cosby Again Criticizes Black Youths, by Hamil L. Harris, Washington Post)

True, there is in fac ... Read more »

First impressions are the most important thing in this biz. If you want to book gigs then you need to bring the following things with you to a meeting: a resume, a demo, a business card (with a link to your site), a poster or flyer, price and a confidant attitude. And most importantly, dress for success. You don't have to wear a tux, just look presentable. You might even want to bring your instruments in case they want a short live audition, you never know.

Hopefully you will get the gig and it will end right there but you may not get ... Read more »

If you are just sitting around trying to figure out how to start you own independent record label then you are wasting your time. Get out there and try to find "the" band or "the" person that is worthy of a record deal. Go to clubs, rummage through MySpace, hang out at bars with live music, there is talent all around you so find it.

Do you have friends or a band already in mind? If you do then you are one step ahead of the "how to start a record label" game ... Read more »

In the last couple of years a few innovations have come along that have totally turned ... Read more »

First, think about the type of device you really want.

Hard drive-based MP3 player:

These offer the most storage; from 10 GB and higher (up to 80GB) allowing you to put huge amounts of music on one device. They also have larger display screens and are easy to use. For these reasons, they are an excellent choice for use when commuting in your car. A hard drive-based MP3 player is larger and heavier however. They have movable parts which can be jarred during motion which ... Read more »

His name was Syd Barret. Or was it? No. His name was Roger Keith Barret, known as Rog to the few people he bothered to see, mostly his family. Syd Barrett is the name the world will remember him by.

He was a living legend. Now he is a dead legend.

Sir Ernest Shackleton's 1914 voyage turned into a disaster just before he and his crew of twenty-eight could reach Antarctica. Their ship The Endurance was held up by ice for ten months and then crushed by it's frozen, unforgiving force, and that is just the beginning of this two-years long journey. It is amazing what he and his crew endure over this time period just to survive.

This is an excerpt from a diary kept by crewman Thomas Orde-Lees that recounts a very cold and desper ... Read more »

In the movie Koyaanisqatsi director Godfrey Reggio tries to show the imbalance between man and nature. Shots showing the destruction of mankind are coupled and set against images of nature's beauty and force. The images are very moving and provoke many thoughts in viewers. The musical score of Philip Glass is unconventional, as his scores often are, and yet it is a good balance to the images.

The story is a cruel one, in which Andy Dufresne, an educated and kind man is wrongly convicted of his wife's murder. During his time in prison he befriends several people, who are criminals, whereas Andy is not. His life is changed forever, as he deals with the troubles of incarceration.

Stephen King's excellent character portrayal is not limited ... Read more »

The latest boxing saga for the one-time prize fighter, Rocky Balboa, played by Stallone, is said to parallel the comeback story of boxing legen ... Read more »

Mallika Sherawat hails from Rohtak, India. She was an air-hostess initially. Many people do not know that she was married to a pilot but the marriage did not work out and they separated. Mallika Sherawat then tried her hand in show business and she achieved overnight success with her film Murder. Her success is mainly attributed to her bold scenes which are not usually seen in Indian movies. After some of her initial movies most of the films have proven to be below average. Even her much talked about film 'Myth' with Jacky Chan has fallen flat. If Mallika has to s ... Read more »

Part of the draw that anime possesses is the fact that they can target wide ranges of viewers. This is due to the fact that animes are not confined to one category, but run the entire gamut of genres, including action, sci-fi, drama, romance, horror, and yes, even erotica. Many animes do not limit themselves to one particular genre and mix genres together.

Animation itself allows anime creators to convey just about any storyline they desire. It is much eas ... Read more »

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was, in the eyes of most critics, the most successful movie thus far in the Harry Potter series and the DVD follows through with only some minor problems. Although some of the performances in the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire movie were a bit lackluster, to say the least, the movie held true to the novel and delivered exactly what fans wanted to see. It took the series on a darker path, similar to its paperbound counterpart, and movie-goers enjoyed the experience. Although the high b ... Read more »

"Derailed", about a happily married man who begins an affair with a beautiful, young woman he meets on a train only to find out all may not be as it appears, is Owen 's latest movie. The complicated character he plays in this film is the kind of part that he prefers because he 'has never been interested in playing good guys. I'm always attracted to dangerous characters. Those roles are usually far more interesting and I hold no fears about doing them...' (Clive Owen quoted at AllMoviePortal.com)

This film caused controversy when Anniston claimed that she was covered in bruises after her stea ... Read more »

C.S. Lewis' imaginative and compelling story of four siblings who take a journey to a magical world by venturing through a wardrobe has finally arrived on DVD. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe had a very successful tenure while in theatres and the DVD has been packed with some pretty nice features and extras to make the purchase worth it whether or not the viewer has seen the movie in the theatres.

The movie lacks a little in terms of acting and doesn't contain the big name stars of most big Hollywood movies, but the package comes together extremely well through the work of excellent scriptwriters and set designers. The story stayed right on track with the novel and contained most of the underlying Christian themes that were portrayed in C.S. Lewis' classic book series. The dialogue wa ... Read more »

Brokeback Mountain stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger and takes viewers through an engaging tale of two cowboys who fall in love and the obstacles they must overcome as they try to hide that love and later deal with the fallout of their love for one another. The movie is a journey through the human heart that has left movie-goers with a variety of different opinions and feelings as they watched. Needless to say, there are countless n ... Read more »

Paramount Pictures has released a pricey but well worth it DVD collection of the Godfather movies appropriately titled, "The Godfather DVD Collection." It's can't get much more straightforward than that, and if you want to live, you had better be straightforward with the Corleone family at all times. The movies all together on the DVD weigh in at a hefty time of 700 minutes, that's over eleven and a half hours for the mathematically challenged, meaning that you might want to put aside a weekend if you plan on watching all the movies at once.

The DVD captures all of t ... Read more »

Movie rentals are a very convenient variant for home movie watching. The trend these days for movie buffs seems to be online movie rentals. Of course there are still lots of offline rental stores out there but their amount is decreasing year by year which only proves the growing popularity of their online competitors. Companies like Netflix, Blockbuster, or Intelliflix are gaining steam each an every year due to this widespread popularity.

... Read more »

So how do you think most Americans entertain themselves these days? Some of the most celebrated weekend activities include shopping, going to the movies renting movies or having dinner with friends. When it comes to daily entertainment, many people enjoy their spare time and low cost of recreational choices like viewing television, playing video games, and renting movies online.

But music is an integral part of Bollywood films, so that even a dark and edgy drama has to have at least one catchy song and corresponding dance number woven into the script. In fact, in India, the sound track is released before the movie, so that everyone is humming the song as they enter the theatres.

Most Bollywood songs are actually lip-synched by the actors, the voices "borrowed" from professional playback singers. (The exceptions are Kishore Kumar K. L. Saigal, Suraiyya and Noor Jehan, who are known for both their acting and t ... Read more »

Here is a bit history of what all went behind in the making of Youtube.com. Little had the three former PayPal employees - Chad Hurley, Jawed Karim, and Steve Chen - anticipated about the growth and fame Youtube would achieve in less than one year since its inception, when they first planned such a video sharing website. An out-of-the box idea, Youtube.com was launched as an unknown new website on February 15, 2005 with virtually no promotion. The website ... Read more »

Funny cartoons are perhaps the easiest way to cope with stress and there is nothing easier to obtain, whether browsing a newspaper or magazine, or surfing the net visiting web sites providing graphic entertainment.

Stress is the source of numerous diseases, including chronic fatigue, headache, anxiety attacks, mood swings, peptic ulcers, and in more severe cases, migraines, respiratory problems, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

However, medical research has found that humor is helpful therapy that not only reduces our chances to be at risk for these problems, but also can eradicate ... Read more »

In February 2007, Netflix, the founding online movie rental service, delivered its one billionth DVD. This was just beyond seven and half years after their initial offering in September 1999. Certainly, this was a milestone to celebrate for Netflix and one that reflects well upon the popularity of the service but how does it stack up to the achievements of other products and services which have attained this status?

One company that also recently hit the billion mark is Casio. In January of 2007, ... Read more »

I learned that during my first two independent feature films Consignment www.consignment-movie.com and In With Thieves www.inwithtthieves.com that were produced under the flag of Slice Of Americana Films with the soundtracks being put together with the help of Jackin4beats.Com.

Consignment is the explosive and violent story of Tommy Jones, a Virginia Beach drug dealer who is fed up with the dangerous world in which he has been living. Frequent panic attacks and the desire to go legitimate with his new wife begin to dull the street instincts that have allowed him to prosper working for sadistic drug kingpin, Detroit Mike. When Tommy shows weakness, Detroit Mike makes plans to have ... Read more »

Many talented filmmakers are changing that thought by putting out high quality urban movies made on indie budgets. The diversity of the urban genre continues to grow because the storylines are connecting with a larger audience by going beyond what you would expect to see in a urban movie.

The word 'crime drama' is used to describe films like 'The Departed', 'Scarface' and 'American Gangster', but you could easily label them as great urban movies.

After I watched 'Menace II Society' by the Hughes Brothers I knew I wanted to make urban movies. Making independent urban movies has been a learning experience for me.

... Read more »

Some talented film directors behind this urban movement are Charles Dutton, Damon Dash, Sid Kali, Hype Williams, John Singleton, Dale Stelly, Mike O'Dea and Quentin Tarantino.

The diversity of the urban genre continues to grow because the storylines are connecting with a larger audience by going beyond what you would expect to see in an urban movie. Filmmakers are pushing the complexity and overall look of the urban genre to new levels.

Exploring the urban landscape and culture makes for entertaining films that offer viewers a look into a slice of americana they might not otherwise experience. Collaborating wit ... Read more »

Reflections of the intrinsic qualities of the planets can be seen in people, plants, animals & minerals. All that we see, touch, consume & harvest has a correspondence. By knowing our own planetary signature, we can consume those materials which correspond to our planetary signature and thus a healthy balance can be maintained. (In my horoscope, Jupiter is posited in Cancer and hence powerful in positio ... Read more »

(Chinese Solar Year : 04.02.2006 to 03.02.2007)

Flying Stars or Fei Xing is a powerful form of Feng Shui derived from the famous Xuan Kong Fengshui. It is an Analysis of the Five Elements and Star Combinations (representing certain energy patterns) that occupy every building. Each new year these annual stars change, Qi (energy) shifts happen, bringing good and bad energy with them - thereby producing different effects.

In February 2004 all the Feng Shui Energy Patterns underwent huge transformations to the NewAge of Land Luck called Period 8 Energy Cycles. It means that a large scale evolution of the human race with completely new energy dynamics has started. The significance is that the new, vibrant energies of Period 8 impacts on the buildings ... Read more »

Your Chinese Astrological Zodiac Animal Sign is based on your Chinese Lunar Year of Birth. The Chinese New Year is movable and could start anywhere between 21st January and 20th February, depending upon the year.

If your Date of Birth falls into any of these below listed Chinese Lunar Years, then, because you are born in the Year of the Dragon, you are symbolically identified as a "Dragon" :

Your Chinese Astrological Zodiac Animal Sign is based on your Chinese Lunar Year of Birth. The Chinese New Year is movable and could start anywhere between 21st January and 20th February, depending upon the year.

If your Date of Birth falls into any of these below listed Chinese Lunar Years, then, because you are born in the Year of the Snake, you are symbolically identified as a "Snake" :

In Chinese Hsia Calender, 2006 is the 4703rd year and is also the third ye ... Read more »

Your Chinese Astrological Zodiac Animal Sign is based on your Chinese Lunar Year of Birth. The Chinese New Year is movable and could start anywhere between 21st January and 20th February, depending upon the year.

If your Date of Birth falls into any of these below listed Chinese Lunar Years, then, because you are born in the Year of the Rabbit (or Hare or Cat), you are symbolically identified as a "Rabbit" :

Your Chinese Astrological Zodiac Animal Sign is based on your Chinese Lunar Year of Birth. The Chinese New Year is movable and could start anywhere between 21st January and 20th February, depending upon the year.

If your Date of Birth falls into any of these below listed Chinese Lunar Years, then, because you are born in the Year of the Tiger, you are symbolically identified as a "Tiger" :

Your Chinese Astrological Zodiac Animal Sign is based on your Chinese Lunar Year of Birth. The Chinese New Year is movable and could start anywhere between 21st January and 20th February, depending upon the year.

If your Date of Birth falls into any of these below listed Chinese Lunar Years, then, because you are born in the Year of the Ox (or Buffalo or Bull or Cow), you are symbolically identified as a "Ox (or Buffalo or Bull or Cow)":

Your Chinese Astrological Zodiac Animal Sign is based on your Chinese Lunar Year of Birth. The Chinese New Year is movable and could start anywhere between 21st January and 20th February, depending upon the year.

If your Date of Birth falls into any of these below listed Chinese Lunar Years, then, because you are born in the Year of the Rat (or Mouse), you are symbolically identified as a "Rat":

From 31 Jan 1900 to 18 Feb 1901
From 18 Feb 1912 to 05 Feb 1913
From 05 Feb 1924 to 24 Jan 1925
From 24 Jan 1936 to 10 Feb 1937
From 10 Feb 1948 to 28 Jan 1949
From 28 ... Read more »

General Analysis

In Chinese Hsia Calender, 2006 is the 4703rd year and is called the Bing-Xu : the Year of the Dog. It is also the third year of the new Fengshui Land Luck Period 8. The Calendar is based on the Five Elements of Nature. They are also known as the Pancha Pranas or the Pancha Bhoodhas : Earth (Bhoomi), Water (Jala), Fire (Agni), Metal (Air, Vaayu), and Wood (Ether, Sky, Spirit, Space, Aakash). The Year of the Dog symbolises the Fire and Earth. That is Yang Red Fire riding over the Earth. Hence the name Year of the Yang Red Fire Dog. In the Productive Cycle of Fengshui, Fire gives birth to Earth. So the basic elemental relationship is positive and quite strong.

... Read more »

Your Chinese Astrological Zodiac Animal Sign is based on your Chinese Lunar Year of Birth. The Chinese New Year is movable and could start anywhere between 21st January and 20th February, depending upon the year.

If your Date of Birth falls into any of these below listed Chinese Lunar Years, then, because you are born in the Year of the Horse, you are symbolically identified as a "Horse" :

Your Chinese Astrological Zodiac Animal Sign is based on your Chinese Lunar Year of Birth. The Chinese New Year is movable and could start anywhere between 21st January and 20th February, depending upon the year.

If your Date of Birth falls into any of these below listed Chinese Lunar Years, then, because you are born in the Year of the Monkey, you are symbolically identified as a "Monkey" :

Flying Stars or Fei Xing is a powerful form of Feng Shui derived from the famous Xuan Kong Fengshui. It is an Analysis of the Five Elements and Star Combinations (representing certain energy patterns) that occupy every building. Each new year these annual stars change, Qi (energy) shifts happen, bringing good and bad energy with them - thereby producing different effects.

In February 2004 all the Feng Shui Energy Patterns underwent huge transformations to the NewAge of Land Luck called Period 8 Energy Cycles. It means that a large scale evolution of the human race with completely new energy dynamics has started. The significance is that the new, vibrant energies of Period 8 impacts on the buildings differently than before and energies that were previously activated now need to be remedied, in order to reduce any bad effects from th ... Read more »

Flying Stars or Fei Xing is a powerful form of Feng Shui derived from the famous Xuan Kong Fengshui. It is an Analysis of the Five Elements and Star Combinations (representing certain energy patterns) that occupy every building. Each new year these annual stars change, Qi (energy) shifts happen, bringing good and bad energy with them - thereby producing different effects.

In February 2004 all the Feng Shui Energy Patterns underwent huge transformations to the NewAge of Land Luck called Period 8 Energy Cycles. It means that a large scale evolution of the human race with completely new energy dynamics has started. The significance is that the new, vibrant energies of Period 8 impacts on the buildings differently than before and energies that were previously activated now need to be remedied, in order to reduce any bad effects from th ... Read more »

Flying Stars or Fei Xing is a powerful form of Feng Shui derived from the famous Xuan Kong Fengshui. It is an Analysis of the Five Elements and Star Combinations (representing certain energy patterns) that occupy every building. Each new year these annual stars change, Qi (energy) shifts happen, bringing good and bad energy with them - thereby producing different effects.

In February 2004 all the Feng Shui Energy Patterns underwent huge transformations to the NewAge of Land Luck called Period 8 Energy Cycles. It means that a large scale evolution of the human race with completely new energy dynamics has started. The significance is that the new, vibrant energies of Period 8 impacts on the buildings differently than before and energies that were previously activated now need to be remedied, in order to reduce any bad effects from th ... Read more »

Flying Stars or Fei Xing is a powerful form of Feng Shui derived from the famous Xuan Kong Fengshui. It is an Analysis of the Five Elements and Star Combinations (representing certain energy patterns) that occupy every building. Each new year these annual stars change, Qi (energy) shifts happen, bringing good and bad energy with them - thereby producing different effects.

In February 2004 all the Feng Shui Energy Patterns underwent huge transformations to the NewAge of Land Luck called Period 8 Energy Cycles. It means that a large scale evolution of the human race with completely new energy dynamics has started. The significance is that the new, vibrant energies of Period 8 impacts on the buildings differently than before and energies that were previously activated now need to be remedied, in order to reduce any bad effects from th ... Read more »

Flying Stars or Fei Xing is a powerful form of Feng Shui derived from the famous Xuan Kong Fengshui. It is an Analysis of the Five Elements and Star Combinations (representing certain energy patterns) that occupy every building. Each new year these annual stars change, Qi (energy) shifts happen, bringing good and bad energy with them - thereby producing different effects.

In February 2004 all the Feng Shui Energy Patterns underwent huge transformations to the NewAge of Land Luck called Period 8 Energy Cycles. It means that a large scale evolution of the human race with completely new energy dynamics has started. The significance is that the new, vibrant energies of Period 8 impacts on the buildings differently than before and energies that were previously activated now need to be remedied, in order to reduce any bad effects from th ... Read more »

Flying Stars or Fei Xing is a powerful form of Feng Shui derived from the famous Xuan Kong Fengshui. It is an Analysis of the Five Elements and Star Combinations (representing certain energy patterns) that occupy every building. Each new year these annual stars change, Qi (energy) shifts happen, bringing good and bad energy with them - thereby producing different effects.

In February 2004 all the Feng Shui Energy Patterns underwent huge transformations to the NewAge of Land Luck called Period 8 Energy Cycles. It means that a large scale evolution of the human race with completely new energy dynamics has started. The significance is that the new, vibrant energies of Period 8 impacts on the buildings differently than before and energies that were previously activated now need to be remedied, in order to reduce any bad effects from th ... Read more »

Flying Stars or Fei Xing is a powerful form of Feng Shui derived from the famous Xuan Kong Fengshui. It is an Analysis of the Five Elements and Star Combinations (representing certain energy patterns) that occupy every building. Each new year these annual stars change, Qi (energy) shifts happen, bringing good and bad energy with them - thereby producing different effects.

In February 2004 all the Feng Shui Energy Patterns underwent huge transformations to the NewAge of Land Luck called Period 8 Energy Cycles. It means that a large scale evolution of the human race with completely new energy dynamics has started. The significance is that the new, vibrant energies of Period 8 impacts on the buildings differently than before and energies that were previously activated now need to be remedied, in order to reduce any bad effects from th ... Read more »

Your Chinese Astrological Zodiac Animal Sign is based on your Chinese Lunar Year of Birth. The Chinese New Year is movable and could start anywhere between 21st January and 20th February, depending upon the year.

If your Date of Birth falls into any of these below listed Chinese Lunar Years, then, because you are born in the Year of the Pig (or Boar or Hog), you are symbolically identified as a "Pig" :

Your Chinese Astrological Zodiac Animal Sign is based on your Chinese Lunar Year of Birth. The Chinese New Year is movable and could start anywhere between 21st January and 20th February, depending upon the year.

If your Date of Birth falls into any of these below listed Chinese Lunar Years, then, because you are born in the Year of the Rooster (or Hen or Cock or Chicken or Phoenix), you are symbolically identified as a "Rooster" :

Your Chinese Astrological Zodiac Animal Sign is based on your Chinese Lunar Year of Birth. The Chinese New Year is movable and could start anywhere between 21st January and 20th February, depending upon the year.

If your Date of Birth falls into any of these below listed Chinese Lunar Years, then, because you are born in the Year of the Goat (or Sheep or Ram), you are symbolically identified as a "Goat or Sheep or Ram" :

Your Chinese Astrological Zodiac Animal Sign is based on your Chinese Lunar Year of Birth. The Chinese New Year is movable and could start anywhere between 21st January and 20th February, depending upon the year.

If your Date of Birth falls into any of these below listed Chinese Lunar Years, then, because you are born in the Year of the Dog, you are symbolically identified as a "Dog" :

... Read more »

Tarot cards were first used by the Celtic people more than two thousand years ago. Many believe that Tarot cards serve only to tell the future, but this is not true. When used traditionally, Tarot cards speak of the past and present, and are supposed to give clues and ideas about the future that you are potentially heading into.

The ancient Babylonians were probably the first to use Astrology. The Babylonians were the first to name the days of the week after ... Read more »

Planets and houses are said to give their maturity effects at certain ages in a person's life. The planets are more significant in this regard.

When a planet matures at a certain age, the full potential of the planet will be able to manifest at that time. Whatever a planet promises in the chart, will be clearly visible in a person's life at that age.

This is a very important method of prediction an ... Read more »

When you are looking for a job, and you care less about the country this job will take you to, but you are more concerned about you role in the job, it is important to take the following into consideration:

To tell you the truth it's not that hard. Let's cover some of the key points you should focus on.

First let's start with your lifestyle. Are you married? Divorced? Do you have children? Do you love adventure? Would you like to trave ... Read more »

Prove yourself as a quality, hard-working, safe, reliable driver and get to know as many people in the chain of command as you can. You don't have to be a kissy-ass, but just get to know them, show them respect, and make sure you do an awesome job for them. When you do your job well it makes them look good and makes their lives much easier.

But the opposite is also true and don't forget it.

Being a truck driver doesn't carry any prestige with it I'm sorry to say, not even inside a trucking company. But being a great worker and a good person does. Make those your priorities and life will be much easier on you most of the time than it would have been otherwise I can assure you.

For Example......

I was always an excellent truck ... Read more »

Let's talk about what exactly the truck driver is responsible for when it comes to hauling freight safely. To be on the safe side let's assume that the driver is responsible for absolutely everything unless I specifically say otherwise.

And I probably won't say otherwise.

A typical story you'll hear a truck driver tell after his truck has tipped over is, "I was going around the curve on the offramp and the load shifted causing the truck to tip.”

And I believe every word of this story almost every time because that's exactly what usually happened, except they left out a couple of details....what they should have said was, "I was going too fast around the curve on the offramp and the load, that I said was loaded properly and was safe for ... Read more »

Right now, you may be in an entry-level job, gaining experience and hoping to work your way up. This is also the time (if you haven't learned them while growing up), to develop your people skills as well. Because these tend to be the "soft" sell features that make candidates stand out at an interview.

Promptness is one attribute that employers appreciate. It doesn't come naturally, but it doesn't take a great deal of work to acquire either. A little planning, or putting thought into your daily routines and habits, mean you are not only on time for work, but for outside activities as well.

... Read more »

You could get more done at the office every day and maybe earn a promotion, or make more money as a result of your ability to produce more sales.

Whether you are a sales person, a CEO, or a housewife, being more productive every day can dramatically improve your life.

OK, right now you are probably saying...sounds great, how can I be instantly more productive?

It's really quite simple. To be instantly more productive you need to acquire a new habit called the 4-D habit.

... Read more »

The Queen of England is reported to have told Prince Charles, "Dress gives one the outward sign from which people can judge the inward state of mind. One they can see, the other they cannot." Clearly, she was saying what many people are reluctant to accept; that people judge us by the way we dress. In all situations, business and social, our outward appearance sends a message.

Try going to a busy restaurant at lunchtime. Look around you at what people are wearing and see if you don't make judgments about who they are, their line of business, their personalities and their ... Read more »

Studies show that your words account for only 7% of the messages you convey. The remaining 93% is non-verbal. 55% of communication is based on what people see and the other 38% is transmitted through tone of voice. So think about it. In the business setting, people can see what you are not saying. If your body language doesn't match your words, you are wasting your time.

Eye contact is the most obvious way you communicate. When you are looking at the other person, you show interest. When you fail to make eye contact, you give the impression that the other person is of no importance. Maintain eye contact about 60% of the time in order to look ... Read more »

The Queen of England is reported to have told Prince Charles, "Dress gives one the outward sign from which people can judge the inward state of mind. One they can see, the other they cannot." Clearly, she was saying what many people are reluctant to accept; that people judge us by the way we dress. In all situations, business and social, our outward appearance sends a message.

Try going to a busy restaurant at lunchtime. Look around you at what people are wearing and see if you don't make judgments about who they are, their line of business, their personalities and their ... Read more »

Many people are simply not comfortable walking into a room full of strangers and striking up conversations. Here are five common stumbling blocks that you may face and tips to help you overcome them.

A RELUCTANCE TO TALK TO STRANGERS. You were taught at an early age not to speak to people you don't know. It's not safe. In certain situations today this is still good advice. In business, however, talking to strangers is a way to generate interest and support for your products and services. If you only talk to the people you already know, you will miss out on opportunities to make ne ... Read more »

8. If there is trouble or violence try, at all costs, to avoid coming out from behind the bar. Raise your voice and attempt to take control verbally, while you are dialing 911. Many bars do not provide security. A personal friend of mine came out from behind the bar and hit an assailant with a full bar bottle since the assault was against a woman. That bartender (who owned the bar) is still in prison not because the bad guy died days later, but because the bartender "came out from behind the bar."

9. Tip jars are sort of an optional thing, depending on the type of bar. If you follow the sort of relationship-building techniques I have suggested, then when your customer is cashing out it should be a face-to-face, handshake-to-handshake experience They are a lot ... Read more »

Who doesn't recall an episode of the television series "Cheers" when every time one of the leading characters would walk in, the entire bar would erupt in the chorus of "Hey Norm?"

Few of us are entitled to such a universal form of recognition and instant acceptance from bar patrons, but an excellent bartender can provide almost the same sort of experience for customers.

I bartended to work my way through bo ... Read more »

It's increasingly common these days to find middle-aged, mid-level managers suddenly faced with huge shifts of circumstance. Down-sizing, bubble-bursting, plant-closing, and consolidating are just some of the forces creating a class of sudden solo-preneurs.

At 50-something you face particularly difficult job-hunting challenges. Your salary range is high. Your network is decent after so many years, but jobs at your level are few. You've been there, done that, and thought you were finished with all that new trick-learning.

A big upset like job loss can provide a shift of perspective - an opportunity to take stock. What is really important? What do you want to pursue at this point in your life? Is being your own boss the way to go?

I spoke with sever ... Read more »

I've heard all the excuses. Hell, I've made them. You know that job is sucking your soul and it's time to leave. The only thing left to decide is how.

Above all, you want it to be your decision. Don't let boredom and apathy lead to an attitude that gets you fired or passed over. Who wants to work with a burnout no matter how skilled they are?

The number one r ... Read more »

Someone once asked a Washington insider how to deal with important people whom you can't stand. His reply? "You put on your respectful face and you don't blink." This strategy is known in business circles as "kissing the ring." Its origins lie in a much earlier era, when royalty and clerics wore rings of office denoting their status. Bowing your head as you kissed their rings was how you showed respect for their office, while not necessarily feeling that sentiment towards the characters themselves.

Why go to the trouble to show deference to someone you don't personally like or respect? In the cut and thrust world of business, as in the political sphere, it's all about survival. Or, to look at it more positively, enlightened self-interest. Like it or not, the business world is structured by a strong ... Read more »

Telecommuters

Internet technology has enabled former office rats to do their work at home. Armed with a computer, fax, and telephone, employees from back office data entry to management staff are able to perform part or all of their jobs at home. The telecommuting option is appreciated by workers as it allows them more freedom and control over the work day and more time to spend with families. Companies find that this set up often improves employee morale and productivity.

Net Work

... Read more »

If you are looking to join the UK Financial Services Industry and finding it difficult to decide which company to chose for CeMAP training courses the following might help:

We are all different, absorb knowledge at different rates and each of us will respond to various ways of learning new things. Let us look at the different ways that may be available and then discuss the merits each:

You encounter Irish people inhabiting one London area next to Jewish and Muslim people. In certain parts you will meet Greeks, Americans, New Zealanders, Australians, Germans, and Africans. It is definitely one of the most multi-ethnic cities in the world.

Considering beauty, fame and the size of London it is no wonder that so many people choose to stay, work and live there.

Live and Work in London

Many school leavers and university graduates leave South Africa to live and work in London once their studies are complete. Some come for a few months and other stay the full two years their working visas permit. The two year working visa is t ... Read more »

Let's just put this into perspective.

My uncle retired in 2006 which means he started working in 1966. Let's put this in modern terms. I graduated from college in 2003 and was very fortunate to land a job at a great company in December of 2002 before I graduated. If I were to stay with my current company for 40 years I would retire in the year 2042. Needless to say I would be vested in my 401k and probably have about 200 vacation days. Is it very likely for me to stay with my current company for 40 years? No. Does my employer know that this not a very likely scenario? Yes.

Isn' ... Read more »

We see adverts for mortgage advisers wanted in newspapers, magazines, the Internet and wonder if we could be successful in applying for those advertised positions.

Are you looking for an opportunity in the UK mortgage industry and finding it hard to get on to the mortgage advisor jobs ladder? The key to being successful in the mortgage industry is persistency but getting fixed up with work requires something else, EXPOSURE.

Do you want to apply for a mortgage advisers wanted advert? We all aspire to the nice things in life but rarely do we find the ideal job that gives us job satisfaction. Before deciding on any career, you have to identify your strengths and weaknesses and decide on what career path you want to follow. Having decided that you would like to pursue the mortgage advisor career, you need exposure. The m ... Read more »

Not posting accurate and clear job descriptions.

Companies tend to make the job description sound more exciting then it actually is, or leave it vague in an attempt to attract more applicants. This strategy may attract more people, but they are typically people you do not want. You could go through the entire hiring process only to have the employee find out the actual job is not what he or she believed it was. Instead post a clear and detailed description of the job functions. This will prescreen out applicants who do not want to perform the specific job and help limit new employee turnover.

Not posting a list of job qualifications.

If you need a specific ... Read more »

You have invested in yourself by spending tens of thousands of dollars to get your degree. Your whole life had been studying and learning to the point that you are ready to reap the rewards. What do you do then? Go to Google and grab a resume template. It sounds really idiotic but just wait a minute and ask yourself this question. Isn't everybody doing that too! Oh yes, you've just joined the me-too group of job seekers.

In lots of marketing events you will always hear the marketing gurus say thi ... Read more »

You should be aware that the Institute of Financial Services (ifs) often changes the Certificate of Mortgage Advice and Practice (CeMAP) course content on a yearly basis and sometimes twice a year. Changes have recently been made from 1st September 2006 and as a consequence anyone buying old CeMAP mock exam papers can be wasting their money, as they are most probably out of date.

Registration of the CeMAP exams currently cost £130 per Module and for people considering home-study; purchases of mock exam papers can be made directly from the ifs. For individuals considering becoming mortgage advisers in record time, they should consider attending a five-day cemap training course. CeMAP training courses can be the ideal solution for the budding mortgage adviser ... Read more »

Good question!

Job objectives not only tell the employer what kind of job you are seeking (which is very important if they have more than one teaching position open in their school) but it lets them know that you are interested in the exact job they are offering. It makes them feel like you are a perfect fit for them. You can accomplish this even if you are willing to accept a variety of teaching jobs.

Here are a few secrets to a strong job objective for your teacher resume:

Guess what happens when the hr executives receive your email. Count yourself really lucky if they don't list your email in the spam folder. What ha ... Read more »

As used to be more common in years past, you could rely on the help of someone who's already experienced in the industry to "show you the ropes" over the course of a weekend or two. But as tempting as this is, in the long run, it's an irresponsible approach to take, as even the very best off-the-cuff training sessions fail to properly address everything that is needed to safely-and legally-operate a vehicle weighing up to 40 tons.

Another approach is to enter a truck driver training apprentice program with a specific trucking company. This is a better method for learning because you're assured of getting thorough training by a certified instructor. And in the end, you'll have a commercial driver's license (CDL) that authorizes you to haul cargo across all 50 state ... Read more »

If you are interested in earning a bit of extra money on the weekends there are options to consider. And if you play your cards right you may be able to make more money than you ever thought possible. Listed below are just a few of the weekend jobs that you may want to look into.

1. In today's day and age there is no better way to make some extra money than by using the internet. The internet is the world's biggest marketplace, and if you know how to use it correctly you can start to make a decent secondary income on the weekends. Research the options that are avail ... Read more »

... Read more »

Many fresh-faced new lawyers go into their first year on the job with visions of perfection dancing in their heads. They plan to draft perfect briefs and advance perfect ideas while wearing perfectly ironed shirts and smiling perfectly bright smiles. They are usually disappointed.

When it comes to doing the grunt work that first-years are sure to do, it's usually easier to focus more on getting the job done right ... Read more »

Depending on whom you ask, dispatchers can go by many names. If you ask someone in middle management in a large company they may call them fleet managers, distribution specialists, driver managers, and other wonderful titles. They'll smile and say how these people are the backbone of the company and their knowledge, dedication, expertise, and heartfelt appreciation for the hard work their drivers put in has made their company grow into the industry leader it is today.

If you ask experienced drivers ... Read more »

Whether because of financial necessity or because they have something to offer, baby boomers are staying in the workforce longer. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and projections indicate that by 2010 there should be 18.5 million boomers ages 45 to 49 in the labor force, as compared to 14.7 in 1995, and 16.8 million versus 10.6 million in the 50- to 54-years-old range.

They're still making changes. They're retiring later, or not at all. If not downsized or laid off, boomers often continue to work. When they don't choose to continue in the same career, it doesn't mean they're ready to stop contributing, ... Read more »

The choices are more than enough for students with the right aptitude and skills and I am not talking just about the ... Read more »