Tuesday, August 19, 2008

What My Horse Taught Me About My Business

I've been around horses for the better part of 25 years. I've had my share of mishaps, and every one of them was my fault. I've never had a horse intentionally hurt me, throw me, bite me, or try to fool me. Horses just don't lie. It's one of my favorite things about them. They are as honest and authentic as we could ever hope to be. They are the epitome of "what you see is what you get". In short, horses are just horses and they never pretend (or attempt) to be anything else.

Horses are very intuitive animals. They rely on their instincts/intuition to keep themselves safe. They have an uncanny ability to identify emotions, even when you're doing your best to hide them. I can't tell you the number of times I was in a bad mood and tried to get near my horse, only to have him walk away from me every time I got close. I'd put on my happy face and use my happy voice but it didn't matter. That horse would avoid me like the plague UNTIL I just allowed myself to feel whatever I was feeling. The moment I'd stop trying to mask an emotion, he'd come right up to me and give me his usual nuzzle, as if to say, "See? That's all you had to do. Just BE how you feel. It's really okay with me." I swear, it's the craziest thing, but my horse always knows when I'm faking it.

Now, there are a couple of things about the care and handling of horses that are always under dispute. But, in my experience I've found that the best way to get a horse to do what you want is to ASK. The whole idea that you can beat a horse into submission is about as barbaric (to me) as taking a branding iron to a child who is misbehaving. You wouldn't do that would you? So why in the world would you try to force such an intelligent, intuitive creature into submission? Here's the thing: horses want to make you happy. It's true, I swear it. But there is an agreement that must be honored. That agreement is we get to ride on their backs and use their power to facilitate our needs and we must honor them for what they are. That includes listening to them and caring for them and showing some respect. It's got to be a mutual thing or it just won't work.

One last thing before we get to the little 'summary'. Horses and people don't view time in the same way. What I mean is, let's say you are trying to teach the horse to load into a trailer. The horse isn't having it. You have to be somewhere in 30 minutes and the horse won't budge. So you might try all sorts of ugly things to get that horse to load. And the horse is still not having it. There is really only one solution. You are the one who's trying to beat the clock, so you need to rearrange your schedule. Because as sure as the sun rises in the Eastern sky, that horse isn't going to load until it's good and ready. The time issue is YOUR problem, not his. And he couldn't care less about your appointment. So, don't force the issue. It'll turn into an ongoing nightmare every single time you try to load that horse into a trailer. The best way to get a horse to do something is to make it so he WANTS to do it. (But that's for another day). In short, don't expect that your definition of 'timely' is the same as your horse's. It isn't.

How does all this apply to my business? Well, it's pretty simple really. To recap:

1. Be who you are. Don't pretend to be anyone else. While you may not please all the people all the time, authenticity goes a long, long way in terms of the Big Picture. People, like animals, know when you're being real. So, be real.

2. Don't fake it. Feel what you feel and let yourself go through those emotions. This does NOT mean that you can treat people badly. What it does mean is that if you paste a smile on your face that you're not feeling, it's as easy to spot as plastic vampire teeth on Halloween. Never underestimate another person's intuition.

3. Always ask for the sale/business/etc. Don't think that just because you're in front of someone they're going to know what you want. Treat them with respect. Respect their ability to make choices. Honor their perspectives. Listen to what they're saying. It's all about communication.

4. Throw away your expectations of timeliness when dealing with your customers. Your definition of "soon" and theirs may be totally inharmonious. You can certainly ask for a commitment, but you must respect their time line too. Make it clear if you're on a deadline so they can take advantage of whatever it is you're offering. But always remember that we all 'dance to a different beat' and that beat may be completely different than yours. Think Waltz versus Rumba!

One more thing: next time you think it's everyone else who's messing up and ruining your day (business or otherwise) take a moment to look in the mirror. I'd be willing to bet that 9 times out of 10, it's the reflection you'll see that's causing the discord. Take responsibility for your life, your business and your future. Once you've done that, the rest is easy to figure out.

To your success~~~in all areas of your life!

Camille Strate is an author, critter-keeper and entrepreneur who has spent her life in search of the perfect pasture. Her latest book, "Whispers" will be released sometime in Spring of 2008. http://www.genuineintentions.com

dance music cd

Into the Light World Tour

Captured during a two-night stand at a Dutch arena, this 100-minute concert special documents Gloria Estefan's lavish 1991 world tour, which underscored the Cuban-American singer's graduation from acclaim as a dance-floor diva to the ranks of female pop superstars. At its best, Into the Light World Tour displays the relentless energy, personal warmth, and crack musicianship that Estefan and her husband, producer, and principal collaborator, Emilio Estefan Jr., had evolved through her old band, the Miami Sound Machine, and taken uptown through her solo career. When the star and her band kick into high gear, percussion simmering and horns blazing in taut, deftly arranged choruses, the propulsive lure of salsa is hard to resist.

Technically, Estefan is a singer with a supple tone but modest range, hardly suggesting the caliber expected of a bona fide diva. Neither does her small, compact frame suggest a dancer's physique, despite the production's reliance on extended dance sequences. Yet she makes the most with what she has, harnessing formidable physical energy and transmitting considerable warmth to her audience. Her material, including both Miami Sound Machine hits and subsequent solo signatures, works best when staying closest to her roots, riding the giddy syncopations of uptempo Latin rhythms, or plying the lambent emotions of traditional ballads. Her exhortations to dance--"Get on Your Feet," "Conga," and "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You" being the inevitable faves--work handily with an ecstatic audience.

More grizzled viewers should be forewarned that this, like most recent concert films, isn't purely documentary--apart from backstage sequences that duly flatter the star, the live sound has been liberally sweetened during post-concert production. --Sam Sutherland
Customer Review: A great concert
I never actually saw this video. I was at the concert. The concert was awesome, so if this video does a decent job of capturing it, then it should be great too.
Customer Review: Gloria is the best and so are her concerts
Gloria is the best singer ever. On stage she's a divette. She's the best and so are her shows. The way she sings live is great, and so is her dancing. The band is great too. They know how to play and everybody goes wild in the audience!!!!!!!Always!!!!! I love her with all my heart and soul, 4 ever.....


The Playdate Kids: The I Like Me Dance

by Tim Friedlander

ISBN-10: 1933721073

What is the best message a kid can understand? The I Like Me Dance by Tim Friedlander spells it out clearlyto like yourself! Just right for preschools, daycare centers and kindergartens everywhere, this book with accompanying CD is going to be a fun chance for kids to dance!

A visit to the zoo with The Playdate Kids leads readers on a dance through exhibits of EAR-lephants, RhiNOSEros, T-EYE-Grrs, and ELBOWa Constrictors, as the CD plays a delightful song, I Like Me. The song speaks of liking my fingers and toes, ears and nose, liking myself night and day, that were all perfect in our own way, and to tell yourself that every day. The beat is just perfect for a zoo setting and will soon have children dancing and singing along. The illustrations, by W.M. Edwards are inviting and fun, showing the familiar Playdate Kids making faces or holding their breath as they groove through the zoo. The youngest readers will delight in pointing out animals and hearing this positive message.

This fun book is a must have for anyone who has young children in their lives. What 3 6 year old doesnt like the zoo, or to dance? The underlying theme, and clear message of self love is most important, and it is done in such a delightful way that kids will be clamoring to hear the song and do the dance every chance they get, reinforcing this significant lesson. Its a perfect non-quiet time activity for story hour. I am thrilled to see this simple and inspiring set and trust it will fast become a favorite.

Tim Friedlander is a talented author and musician who has training in music and psychology. His work with The Playdate Kids Musical Series shows promise of a bright future, for himself, and his readers. I cant wait to see what else he does!

Heather Froeschl is an author, award winning editor, and book reviewer, at http://www.Quilldipper.com and http://www.Bookideas.com

dance music cd

De Colores and Other Latin American Folksongs for Children (Anthology)

Bursting with color and spirit, this collection of Latin-American songs is a tribute to Latino culture. From traditional tunes to rhymes and hand games, De Colores has songs for all occasions and moods. Each song is accompanied by simple musical arrangements, with lyrics in both English and Spanish. Slightly abridged from the original edition, this is ideal for classroom use, multicultural studies, or just plain fun.

"Rich and resonant." --Booklist
Customer Review: My boys love this book.
This is a wonderful book of popular songs in Spanish, which my triplet boys latched onto immediately. The songs are very engaging, and each page has lovely artwork. I speak Spanish, and my boys were born in Spain. I have been trying very hard to help them maintain a little Spanish, and this book has been very helpful. It doesn't come with a CD, but you can easily learn the tunes of the songs if you know how to read music. And even if you only speak rudimentary Spanish, I think it's possible to learn the songs and enjoy them. This book quickly became the boys' favorite bedtime routine. I hear them singing the songs during the day as well. I highly recommend it.
Customer Review: Great book
I love the colorful pictures in this book and that it has music to all of the songs. It is a wonderful book and my baby loves when I sing to him!


There are bedroom guitar players and there are live performers. There doesn't seem to be anything in between. The minute you walk on to a stage (whether you get paid or not) you are a professional. You are in the business of entertaining and displaying your wares, so to speak. And if you really want to seriously get your guitar playing together it is the latter you need to strive for in my opinion. I am not suggesting you 'turn pro', you know attempt to do this thing full time, that is a whole other set of issues itself, but in order for your guitar playing to really get to where it needs to get to, you simply have to play in a live performance setting, preferably in a public forum. Ideally with other musicians you can interact with.

You can spend a lifetime reading books, studying your musical heroes, playing along to music minus one records, but none of this will ultimately give you the full picture. In order to be a true well rounded musician, you have to have real world experience. I'll try to explain why...

When I was just starting out in the profession as a fresh untainted fish in the vast sea of the London music business, I had to get myself known in order to find work. So I set about to answer ads in music papers. Now, after studying classical guitar at the London College of Music, I came out of a 3 year course with a facility to sight-read. Or should I say the beginnings of sight-reading ability, as jazz and pop music written on paper is a whole other world, as I was about to find out. I remember having to sight-read a piece of jazz music with a dance band at an audition. There were about 10 guitar players going for this gig. I must have been about 23 years old. The musical director said "I kind of like what you did Chris but you didn't really cut it mate! There are other guys here that have what I need". Ouch!!! That hurt. But I was young. It was actually good to hear. So I went back to my music library, pulled out a ton of violin music and practiced reading in different positions on the fretboard. Not to mention learning how to grab chords on sight in different fret positions.

Another time, I went down to audition for the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, a band known to be extremely taxing musically, and a training ground for London session players. I sat in the guitar chair with my Gibson 335 on my lap, ready to play. The director called a chart, I placed it on the stand and he counted it off. He counted it off around 250 BPM. Frighteningly fast! Well, it was all I could do to get my eyes to follow the music, measure by measure, much less play the music that was written within those bars! I didn't even touch my guitar that rehearsal. I simply placed it back in its case and went home. Ouch again! That was a hard knock! I gave myself exactly a year to get it together. I went back to my practicing with a vengeance. A year later I joined the band for about a year and a half.

Another for instance; about 13 years ago I was playing with a jazz singer in a trio situation with an eminent LA drummer and acoustic bassist. I hadn't done much trio playing, if any at the time, but I was looking forward to playing. At the end of one of the songs I completely messed up the ending. In fact I would go further, I hadn't really worked on any song endings. Didn't really have that together at all. The drummer scowled at me, particularly because I threw him off, as I was not definite in how I wanted to end the song (because I didn't know myself!). He was furious when I made him look bad. He said to me "Dude, you've got to dictate these endings, you're the one playing the chords!". He was right. I was crushed! I went home, sulked for a week (maybe two). Then I went back to my practice room. I was not to be defeated.....

These are the hard knocks you simply have to get in your music life to dictate what you need to work on to get your total musicianship together! You just cannot expect to perfect your instrument without real world experience. You can't get that experience any other way. I can recount tons of times that this sort of thing has happened, and there are still things today that I learn on a weekly basis at live gigs, telling me what I need to work on. The difference today of course is that it's me who is being critical of myself, rather than other bandmates and musical directors telling me I suck!

And the neccessity of performing live is true of any musical genre you choose. Interacting with other musicians is an art in itself. I know technically great players who can't play with others. Does this make them great musicians? I'm not so sure. But they sure can get round the instrument. But if they were to do any amount of live ensemble playing they would have one or two knocks coming, and if they are smart they would work on those issues. Otherwise it's back to solo guitar playing in the back of their local restaurant. (A noble and valid thing to do, let me also say).

There are many issues that come up in a real live playing situation that just don't come up in a bedroom practice session. Time, time-feel, supportive ensemble playing, projection of sound and tone, and most of all a sense of energy and commitment within a performance that is extremely different, and is very difficult to even put into words frankly. You just need to experience it, and that experience will improve your playing tenfold.

So get out there and do some gigs. I know it is hard to make that happen sometimes, but if you cannot make it happen then start a rehearsal band with a few others and play through repertoire. Get together with other guitarists and play through tunes, take solos and take turns being supportive. As you improve, take the plunge and take yourself to the next level.

And by recommending you do all this I am by no means suggesting you put away your books, records and Jamie Abersold play alongs. Absolutely not. This is something of course you should continue to do. But it is only 50% of your musical makeup. I promise you, by performing live you will improve yourself as a guitar player, but most of all as a musician, and at the end of the day this is what we all need to aspire to.

Go to it and have fun!

Chris Standring is a recording artist and the owner of Play Jazz Guitar.com Visit the website for more info on his ground breaking home study guitar courses.

ballroom dance music

CP 9" & 10" Red Fiberglass Conga Set with Stand

Total height of the set ranges from 33" to 45-1/2" (from the floor to the top of the drum heads). A great conga set for musicians in the early elementary or middle school age range!




Penguin Audio: Latin : Joao Gilberto
Joao Gilberto - Latin - what your ears want to hear ... Rating: 21 reviews . Sales Rank: 22120. Category: Music . ASIN: B000002MHX ...
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Mexican music remains dominant Latin genre in U.S. - Yahoo! News
... any other genre in Latin music , regional Mexican has been buffeted ... Music . Reviews . Fashion. Books. Arts. Dear Abby. Dear Margo. Humor. Search: Advanced ...
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Music Reviews
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Music Reviews . Book Reviews . Video Reviews . Pazz & Jop. Recyclables. Newsprint. Lists. Miscellany ... Latin Reggae (Putumayo World Music ) [C-] [posted by ...
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Music Database | Browse | Entertainment Weekly's EW.com
Music Database. DVD. DVD Headlines. DVD Reviews . Top Selling DVDs. DVD Database. Books. Book Headlines ... Latin . Metal. Musical . Pop. Punk. R&B. Reggae/Ska ...
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Latin Music | KING5.com | News for Seattle, Washington
... in music , the latest information in music , artist spotlight ... Car Reviews . Driving Quiz. Entertaining with Kelley Moore. Food. Movies. Travel/Outdoors ...
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Legit Downloads: Latin
Latin - DRM Free MP3s, 100% legal and honest music downloads ... Rating: 2 reviews . Category: Digital Music Track. Release Date: June 5, 2007 ...
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:: UNIVERSAL MUSIC LATIN ENTERTAINMENT ::
Universal msica latino sitio oficial. Encuentra la mejor informacin, ... to play four nights at Nokia Theatre LA Live, Juanes wins rave reviews , sets the ...
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Shetland Music - Latin Sounds In Sound
Shetland - Music . com : Learn about the vibrant musical heritage of the world-famous ... Shetland Music Information Centre | News, Reviews and Previews ...
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90s dance music

Monday, August 18, 2008

Art Poster Metal Framed Print - Coldplay (Group B&W) - Artist: Anon - Poster Size: 24 X 36

Anon :Coldplay (Group B&W)24 X 36 inches. High Quality Framed Art Work. This Poster is framed using a Black metal frame with no matte. DirectForSale sells over 300,000 different art pieces. Browse our store for framed and unframed posters and shop for all your art needs at DirectForSale. This Coldplay (Group B&W) is made with High Quality Poster paper and is made for years of enjoyment. Note: This item is not available for express shipping.


Why do you think there are people spending time to learn the Spanish language? Is it really worth the time? Well, the answer is a big yes.

Around 320 million people around the world are using Spanish. It would be really nice if you can be part of that growing number of people fluent in Spanish. It is not a crime to just stick with your current language you know, but it would be very advantageous if you could use other languages when communicating.

As an example, when looking for a job, being bilingual is a big plus factor especially to those who wish to land a career in global companies.

Learning a different language also helps develop critical thinking skills and it gives a person the chance to experience new things like music, movies, foods and many more. Aside from the critical thinking skills, creativity is also enhanced because language stimulates a person's imagination. It can improve one's social life too. How? As previously mentioned, there are over 320 million people speaking Spanish. Being able to speak and understand the Spanish language exposes you to a wider range of people with different personalities, culture and background. Remember that Spanish speakers are growing at a faster rate when compared to English speakers. It can be a channel for you to meet new friends.

If you are fond of traveling and you long for beautiful places around the globe, it will definitely be helpful if you know how to speak Spanish. Mexico, Spain and Latin America where Spanish is being spoken are wonderful places and it will be a shame if you miss the opportunity to enjoy their beauty just because you do not have the time to study their language.

Another important reason that makes learning the Spanish language worthwhile is the fact that most English words were derived from Latin, and Spanish is a kind of Latin language. It will be easier to properly use English if we know its roots. Knowing the Spanish language also makes studying French, Italian, Russian and German a lot easier because these languages share the same Indo-European roots. Studying Non-Indo European languages too like Japanese will be less difficult once you have mastered Spanish because you are already used to the intensive learning process of the structure of foreign words.

If you want to speak, write, and understand Spanish using easy and creative techniques ... check out our unbiased reviews visit us at: http://www.ten-top-reviews.com/learnspanish

dance music 2007

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Review: Treading on sore toes?
The professional historians faint as prominent mathematician Doctor Fomenko et al research the known historical data and come to fairly controversial conclusions. For example, the English historians rage at the suggestion that the history of Ancient England was de facto a Byzantine import transplanted to the English soil by the fugitive Byzantine nobility. As the sign of recognition of the special role of the English historians who consider themselves the true scribes of World History, the cover of the present book portrays Tintoretto's Jesus Christ crucified on the Big Ben. The Russian historians brand it as pseudoscience because Dr Fomenko asserts that there was no such thing as the Tartar and Mongol invasion followed by over two centuries of slavery, providing a formidable body of documental evidence to prove his assertion. The so-called `Tartars and Mongols' were the actual ancestors of the modern Russians, living in a trilingual state and aspiring Global Empire with Arabic and Turkic spoken as freely as Russian. The ancient proto-Russian state was governed by a double structure of civil and military authorities and the hordes were actually professional armies with a tradition of lifelong conscription (the recruitment being the so-called `blood tax'). Their `invasions' were punitive operations against the regions that attempted tax evasion. Fomenko proves for a fact that official Russian history is a blatant forgery concocted by a host of German scholars brought to Russia by the usurper dynasty of the Romanovs. Their ascension to the throne was the result of conspiracy, so they charged these German historians-imports with the noble mission of making Romanov's reign look legitimate. Dr Fomenko et al prove Ivan the Terrible to be a collation of four rulers, no less. These rulers represented the two rival dynasties - the legitimate Godounovs and the ambitious Romanov upstarts. The European historians fume not only because Fomenko blows consensual Russian history to smithereens, successfully removing a crucial cornerstone from underneath the otherwise impeccable edifice of World History but for asserting that all medieval European Kings and Princes were but breakaway vice-regents and vassals of the Global Empire who badly needed glorious and very `ancient' past in order to legitimize their new independence from the Empire. Dr Fomenko adds insult to injury, wiping out one by one: the Ancient Rome: the foundation of Rome in Italy is dated to the 14th century A. D., the Ancient Greece and its numerous poleis, which he identifies as the mediaeval crusader settlements on the territory of Greece, the Ancient Egypt: the pyramids of Giza become dated to the 11th to 14th century A. D. and identified as the royal cemetery of the Global Empire, no less. The civilization of the `ancient'' Egypt is irrefutably dated to the 11th to 15th century A. D. following the breakthrough in decoding of the ancient Egyptian horoscopes cut in stone and painted on the temple walls. Arabic historians may find some consolation in the crucial historical role of the Ottoman Empire as a part of the Global empire in the 15th - 17th century. The trouble is that this Empire was initially a proto-Christian state, with Hagia Sophia identifiable as Temple of Solomon, but built in 1550-1557 A.D. by Sultan Suleiman according to Fomenko and Islam with all its key figures is datable to 15th 16th century A. D.! The Chinese historians are also an unhappy lot because Fomenko wipes out the Ancient History of China outright. No such history. Period. The compilation of the so-called Ancient Chinese History is reliably datable to the 17th 18th century only. It is perfectly recognizable as the Ancient European history, reworked and transcribed in hieroglyphs as yet another historical transplantation. The Divinity excommunicates Dr Fomenko because the history of religions according to Fomenko looks as follows: the pre-Christian period (before the 11th century and Jesus Christ ), Bacchic Christianity (11th to 12th century, before and after Jesus Christ), Jesus Christ Christianity (12th to 14th century) and its subsequent mutations (15th to 17th cy) into Orthodox Christianity, the Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam, Buddhism, and so on..; and The Old Testament written after the New Testament in xiv-xvi cy A.D., if you please! Everybody served? Saint Augustine was quite prescient when he said: "be wary of mathematicians, particularly when they speak the truth."
Customer Review: Has history been tampered with?
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RAZQNMXM4M9CL Has history been tampered with? Yes, it has! Did events and eras such as the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the Roman Empire , the Dark Ages, and the Renaissance, actually occur within a very different chronology from what we've been told? Yes, they certainly did! The history of humankind is both drastically shorter and dramatically different than generally presumed. Why is it so? On one hand, it was usual custom to justify the claims to title and land by age and ancestry, and on the other the court historians knew only too well how to please their masters. The so called universal classic world history is a pack of intricate lies for all events prior to the 16th century. World history as we learn it today was entirely fabricated in the 16th-18th centuries. It's likely that nobody told you before, but there is not a single piece of firm written evidence or artefact that is reliably and independently dated prior to the 11th century. Naturally, after what you've learned in school and university, you will not easily believe that the classical history of ancient Rome, Greece, Asia, Egypt, China, Japan, India, etc., is manifestly false. You will point accusing finger to the pyramids in Egypt, to the Coliseum in Rome and Great Wall of China etc., and claim, aren't they really ancient, thousands of years ancient? Well, there is no valid scientific proof that they are older than 1000 years! The oldest original written document that can be reliably dated belongs to the 11th century! New research asserts that Homo sapiens invented writing (including hieroglyphics) only 1000 years ago. Once invented, writing skills were immediately and irreversibly put to the use of ruling powers and science. The consensual chronology we live with was essentially crafted in the 16th century by the Jesuits. The world history was compiled from contradictory mix of innumerable copies of ancient Latin and Greek manuscripts and other irrefutable proofs delivered by late mediaeval astronomers that were cemented by the authority of writings of the Church Fathers. Early in life, we learn about ancient history. Children love the magical lessons of history - they are like fairy tales. Teachers recite breathtaking stories; very soon We learn by heart the names and deeds of brave warriors, wise philosophers, fabulous pharaohs, cunning high priests and greedy scribes. We learn of gigantic pyramids and sinister castles, kings and queens, dukes and barons, powerful heroes and beautiful ladies, emaciated saints and low-life traitors. Ancient history is based documents, manuscripts, printed books, paintings, monuments and artefacts - called primary sources. The problem is that neither these ancient documents, nor events described therein can be irrefutably dated, moreover they contradict each other for the most part. When a school textbook tells us that Genghis Khan in year X or Alexander in year Y, have each conquered half of the world, it means only that it is so said in some of the written sources. There are no answers to simple questions: When were these primary sources written? Where and by whom were these sources found? It is wrongly presumed that ancient and medieval chronicles, written by Genghis Khan's or Alexander the Great contemporaries and eyewitnesses, are readily available. Actually, only sources written hundreds or even thousands of years after the events are there, compiled mostly in the 16th 18th centuries, or even later. As a rule, these sources suffered considerable multiple manipulations, falsifications and distortions by editing. At the same time, innumerable originals of ancient documents under various pretexts were destroyed in Europe under various pretexts. The names of persons and geographical sites often changed meaning and location during the course of the centuries. Geographical locations became clearly defined on maps only with the advent of printing. This made possible the circulation of identical copies of the same map for purposes of the military, navigation, education and governance tasks. Historians from Oxford say: "hey, everybody knows that Julius Caesar lived in the first century B.C. `Julius Caesar' statement is only a point of view as there is simply no irrefutable documentary proof that Julius Caesar or any other great name of antiquity ever existed. Better than that - extremely rare sources that can be reliably dated back to the 10th-14th centuries A D, do not show the polished picture of classical history. They show a picture both contradictory and confusing. All methods of dating of ancient sources and artefacts are erroneous: Radio-carbon C14 method produces dating with exactitude of plus minus 1500 years, therefore it is too crude for dating of events in historical timeframe! The Almagest tractate, which lies as corner stone contemporary chronology, compiled in the 2nd century A D by Ptolemy, the founding father of astronomy, contains astronomical data of 9th to 16th century! The Bronze Age,that has supposedly began 5000 years ago. Bronze is made of 90% copper and 10% tin, but the technology for tin extraction dates back to 14th century A D!. All eclipses contained in manuscripts, like Thucydides one, relating 'ancient' events have exclusively medieval dating. All horoscopes cut in stone or painted in Egyptian temples, like Dendera have exclusively early medieval dating solutions. Not quite what you have learned in school? Open your eyes, and, you will find sufficient proof to reach step by step the inevitable conclusion that the classical chronology is false and therefore, that the history of ancient and medieval world universally accepted today, is also false. Have a fresh outlook on everything said or printed about "ancient" and "enigmatic" Roman, Greek and Egyptian, medieval as well as all other "lost and found" civilizations. Antiquity and Dark Ages are phantoms invented in the 16th 18th and polished in 19th 20thcenturies. Human civilization is in fact barely 1000 years old! This book will change your perception of History forever! What if Ancient Rome, Greece and Egypt were invented during Renaissance? What if The Old Testament was a rendition of events of the Middle Ages? What if Jesus Christ was born in 1053 and crucified in 1086 AD? Sounds Unbelievable? Not after you've read "History: Fiction or Science?" by Anatoly Fomenko, the genius mathematician. Armed with astronomy and computers Anatoly Fomenko turns History into a rocket science.


Musical entertainment can enhance any special event, for instance, ceremony and reception piano music sets the mood and will reflect your joyful celebrations. Special music, if done correctly, has the ability to provide you with a lifetime of memories of your rehearsal dinner, wedding ceremony, reception and dancing. Keep in mind that your own personal requests, whether performed by vocal performer, solo musician, string quartet, function band or DJ are extremely important in ensuring a successful event.

Musical options for a wedding ceremony may include: traditional organ music, harps and flutes, soloists, string quartets, as well as alternative musical arrangements.

A Master of Ceremonies or a band leader can lead and direct the reception entertainment. Bands can feature any music you choose, from oldies to top 40 - and maybe some rock 'n roll. Remember that if your budget is tight, a DJ can provide music whilst using digital tracks and CD's. Quality DJ's are generally extremely flexible in accommodating special requests and will dovetail these into their own tried and tested repertoire.

During the reception, when would you want to include live music? The options available include playing during the: arrival line up, wedding meal, at the end of the speeches or during the cutting of the cake. It goes without saying that you will want to have music during the first dance and throughout the latter part of the evening reception.

What additional advice can we offer on hiring musical entertainment for your special day?

Firstly, we recommend finding out where your band, string quartet or DJ performs - and personally visit them prior to booking. Listen to their demos and tracks online or even better during a live performance. Remember to find out how long your band have been playing together and how experienced they are at playing at weddings. Hearing your entertainers play live music will help you select the best choice of songs for your special event.

From experience, we recommend ensuring that your chosen band does not drink while they perform. Drunken musicians will ruin any event quicker than anything else - and the memories will leave you with a hangover that will last for years. Also ensure that your band has 'back up' musicians in case of illness or indeed for any unforseen reason.

It's essential that you arrange an agreed arrival and start-up time with the band leader and make sure you get a contract specifying exactly the amount of time you will be getting for your fee. it's also important that you're comfortable with your bands deposit and final balance policy - and that you have everything printed and mutually signed in a written agreement.

Run through your musical requests with the band leader well before the special event. This will ensure that everything will go like clockwork on your wedding day. Plus it's essential to work out the timings exactly and blend the music in with the ceremonial and other events that will happen in quick succession on your big day.

Organizing your wedding day entertainment is frequently an activity that most brides and grooms leave to the last minute. Yet it's potentially the service that can cause the most problems if organized incorrectly. Most good bands and ensembles are booked months in advance - particularly during popular summer Saturdays. From experience, we recommend contacting and reviewing at least three different styles of music before you make a final decision on the type of entertainment you want for your wedding. Once you've chosen your personal style of entertainment, get three quotes from different bands and ensembles in that sector. Read testimonials, listen to tracks, and if possible visit a venue locally to hear them playing live.

Remember, preparation is the key to delivering quality entertainment on your wedding day. Get organized, do your homework and deal with the finer details well in advance. By doing this, the chances are that your special music will sound great when it matters most.

Anthony Coogan provides classical and popular music for weddings and special events throughout the UK. For the last 20 years he's played the violin in ensembles and with Scotland's Ceilidh Band. String Quartets Live came about through his classical music contact and knowledge of the wedding entertainment sector.

Want more information on string quartets and string quartet wedding ensemble music? Click on the link above.

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1-Practice-Its obvious but many people claim they want to learn how to play fast guitar but dont put the time in. You get out what you put in! Even if you dont have much time to spare, half an hour a day is enough to help you improve.

2-Focus your practice-You can increase the benefits of your guitar practice exponentially by practicing the same stuff each time. A good way to start this is to choose 4 licks or scales or parts of scales (anything except chords will work just fine), and play through each lick in a loop for 15 minutes. By the end of the FIRST WEEK youll be two or three times as fast as you were with those licks to begin with.

3-Think long term. Focused practice everyday is great, but its even better to have a goal in mind. for example if you want to learn a particular piece, gear your practice toward licks and techniques used in the piece and then dedicate the last 15-20 minutes(depending on how much time you have) to practicing the actual piece. Nothing helps you learn how to play fast guitar and stay motivated more than being able to see your daily progress.

4-Work on legato-Legato actually means smooth, or flowing, but in guitar circles it is the term given to fretting notes with your left hand and making them sound without actually picking anything with your right hand. It could also be called the art of hammering on and pulling off. Excellent practice as it will strengthen your left hand, not only making you faster and smooth, but will improve your vibrato and chord changes too. It just makes your hand fitter! A great way to practice this is to run up and down some scales, but only pick the first note on each string, so you will be hammering on going up and pulling off on the way down. Its tough at first but persevere and you will get rewards!

5-Use a metronome. Other musicians seem to use metronomes with no trouble, but guitarists are allergic to them, or at least seem to be! Ill spell it out - An hour with a metronome does A LOT more good than an hour without. Its simply the best tool for highlighting the weak areas and inefficiencies in your technique. There is a learning curve but stick with it-your playing will change for the better, permanently! Buy one!

6-Use a hard pick. Controversial? I know that people should use whatever pick they want to, but a softer pick WILL slow you down, and a harder one wont. Its simple physics. Most picks have a degree of flexibility, so after picking a note we have to wait for it to return to its proper shape before we pick again, or the note is not picked cleanly. Put it this way-trying to learn how to play fast guitar while using soft picks is like putting bicycle wheels on a Ferrari and then trying to drive fast. Not going to happen!

7- Start slow-Work on something until you can play it with no mistakes at all before you crank up the speed. This will do more for your all round musical skills than just pushing the metronome up a few beats every few minutes. If you move forward before your skills are ready your playing will be very very sloppy, and that will be a real hard habit to get out of!

Hopefully those tips will help you break out of a rut and get your fretboard burning!

Steve Higgins is an accomplished guitarist who enjoys seeing others improve their skill. To check out more tips visit his blog.

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