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Sitting in an English Garden

May 16th, 2010
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Sitting in an English Garden

One of my favorite songs of all time is ?I am the Walrus? by the Beatles. I love the music and the lyrics, and one of the lines that always stuck out to me the most was ?sitting in an English garden waiting for the sun.?

I had always wondered what it would be like to sit in an English garden, because at the time, I did not realize that the British use the word ?garden? as Americans use the world ?yard? or ?lawn,? and I imagined this very tranquil plant and flower garden on a cool and misty English day.

When I was in college, I had the opportunity to travel to England and study at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston for a semester. It was an absolutely beautiful area of the country and there were definitely plenty of English gardens.

As I was preparing to leave for my trip, many of my friends would ask me what I was most looking forward to when I arrived. Several of them mentioned the typical British tourist spots, like the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and Stonehenge, so they were kind of surprised when I told them that what I was most looking forward to was sitting in an English garden ? just like in the song.

I arrived in London and made the nearly day-long coach ride up to Preston, and within a few days I was partnered with a couple who had a spare room to rent and moved in. They asked me what I thought of Preston, with its cobblestone roads and quaint architecture, and I told them that I really loved the city.

After a week or two, when I felt I knew them well enough to ask, I told them about my desire to sit in an English garden, reminding them of the song ?I am the Walrus? and the lyric that I had always found so intriguing. They got a big kick out of it and invited me out into their back garden, and even though I was well aware at that time that it was simply the equivalent of an American yard, it was still a very surreal experience for me.

What struck me the most was how much attention the British would give their gardens, most of which were much smaller than what you would see in the United States, and how proud they were of them.

I am not sure if it was just the fact that I had wanted to experience it for most of my life or that I grew to love England so much, but I still look back on sitting in an English garden as one of the happiest memories of my life.

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The ADHD gifted – Tortured Geniuses?

May 16th, 2010
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The ADHD gifted – Tortured Geniuses?

There was the episode of Sex and the City where Carrie dates this gifted jazz musician Ray King, because she’s so taken with his nonstop creativity; as she gets to know him better though, she finds how he can’t talk to her about anything, for longer than 10 seconds without getting bored and going to play an instrument before getting bored again and impulsively painting a few strokes. He was, if you haven’t guessed, ADHD gifted. There has to be something about supreme powers of creativity and attention deficit disorder. The ADHD gifted have actually created the whole world if you would look at the All in-Star list of who has it. Among the supremely creative, there are Beethoven, Mozart, Leonardo da Vinci, and Walt Disney. Among scientists and engineers who created the civilized world, there are Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo, Newton, Einstein, the Wright brothers, Edison and Alexander Graham Bell. That’s not too shabby a list at all – it is enough to make you want to find a way to get ADHD yourself.

They say that about two in one hundred children are diagnosed with ADHD symptoms like having a fidgeting problem, trouble waiting one’s turn, having trouble concentrating and remembering things, and having trouble organizing. The trouble is, ADHD and giftedness may more or less have the same kinds of visible qualities in a child. What they tend to call an attention deficit problem, may actually be the effects of being an over-intelligent and creative child, impatient with his current situation. Did you know that when they say that ADHD gifted children have trouble concentrating, they actually mean that they are unable to find the interest to concentrate? Children like this can actually concentrate better than normal children; they just have trouble directing their concentration at will.

An ADHD gifted child, usually doesn’t struggle apparently with his or her problem as much as a regular ADHD child. The child may effortlessly do everything expected in school; the forgetfulness or fidgeting may just be overlooked as a result. The ADHD in a gifted child does not necessarily have to be cured; as you can probably see, the ADHD can actually push the child to work harder at his or her strengths. However, a proper enlightened teacher can often help the child develop neglected areas that the child was too impatient to think about himself. Patience is such a virtue, and having the child slowly try to develop that area, could help the child in the future.

Before you try to get your child any kind of treatment, you do need to be aware that in an ADHD gifted child the giftedness and impairment go together; you probably do not want to do anything that could suppress the gift. Contact psychologists and psychiatrists, as many different specialties as you can, before you arrive at a decision. The psychiatric and medical community is as prone to fads and trends as the rest of us. Ritalin, the drug for ADHD is being pushed like some commodity these days; you don’t want your child to get caught up in all of this. If you could get a variety of healthcare professionals agreeing that your child would benefit from medication, then alone would it be a good idea. Until then, who would want to mess a good thing, a future Mozart?

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May 14th, 2010
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entertainment agent

March 21st, 2010
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entertainment agent

Most think that an entertainment agent is something that only big name stars may need, whether they be in sports, movies, or in the music business. This is not really true. Most know that aspiring stars often seek an agent to help them make it to the ?big time,? but they don?t realize that others in those professions may need this type of help as well. Anyone who performs for money should have some sort of help once things get rolling along.

My husband?s band plays regionally, and they are not signed with a major label. However, they are very popular, and they command a lot of money when they play. They are very busy, and this prompted them to find an entertainment agent. This meant that they could concentrate on playing and writing new material while the entertainment agent goes out and gets them high paying shows and takes care of some of the other details that may otherwise take up just too much time.

When you search for an entertainment agent, however, you do have to be very careful about who you choose and what type of contract you sign. My husband?s band is having a hard time with their entertainment agent because they didn?t look into his past as well as they should have, and they signed a contract that is way too restrictive. His fee is way too high as well. This is a common problem because people often get very excited about what having an agent means to their career, and they don?t take the time to check things out like they should.

When you are searching for an entertainment agent, do a check on their past. See who they may have represented and what they did for them. If you can contact any of those people for a reference, do it. You may find out they are a great entertainment agent, and that you should sign right up. On the other hand, you may find that they should be avoided at all costs.

Also remember that there are fakes out there, who claim they know what they are doing, when in fact they are full of hot air. They are the most dangerous types of all. Have any contract presented to you looked over by an entertainment lawyer. They can spell out the terms of the contract for you in terms you can understand. They will probably also advise you as to whether or not you should sign up or move on.

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Aspergers Syndrome

March 9th, 2010
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Aspergers Syndrome

Most people refer to Asperger?s Syndrome as being ?a mild form of autism,? the one that?s at the high functioning end of the spectrum and not as bad as other cases of autism. However, the diagnosis of Asperger?s Syndrome and its pathology are much more complicated than people are aware of. It?s still a matter of controversy whether Asperger?s is high functioning autism, or if Asperger?s and high functioning autism are two different categories. As with all conditions that primarily affect mental or developmental processes, it?s very difficult to categorize Aspergers Syndrome according to definite criteria.

Aspergers may be higher functioning than severe autism, but that doesn?t necessarily mean that it?s an easy condition to deal with. People with Aspergers Syndrome are characterized by difficulty in social and language skills. The social interactions that they have with others are what most people would describe as ?awkward.? The awkwardness stems from the fact that people with Asperger?s have a hard time picking up on social cues like facial expressions and eye contact that most of us use when communicating with others, and expressing themselves clearly. This can lead to ?inappropriate? social behavior like talking too much or disregarding the other person?s reactions. It may be unintentional, but unfortunately it doesn?t come off that way; people with Aspergers may genuinely want to converse with others, but their inability to interact appropriately can turn others off and result in many failed interactions with peers. People with Asperger?s Syndrome may also have idiosyncratic behaviors or interests that from the outside can seem obsessive or odd. For example, a person with Aspergers might make certain repetitive body motions, or they might possess rigidly comprehensive knowledge about bird species of the world. Other miscellaneous symptoms of Aspergers are poor coordination and trouble sleeping.

Though much of Aspergers Syndrome is commonly characterized by specific impairments, people with Aspergers often have excellent abilities in sensory perception. They can be much more sensitive to vision, smell, taste, touch and hearing than others are. Some individuals with Aspergers Syndrome are synesthetic and they combine these senses. In this sense, they can be much more skillful than people who are not affected with Aspergers. This is why people with Aspergers can be just as successful as others. In fact, some people with Aspergers have gone on to become noted artists, authors and musicians. While being inhibited in some aspects, they can flourish in others.

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Rolling Stones Tickets

March 8th, 2010
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Rolling Stones Tickets

Some bands were meant to play live, mere records not being able to capture their raw excitement. For the last forty years, Rolling Stones tickets have been the hottest property around. They know how to put on a great live show. The stage design and special effects have grown more elaborate over the years but some things remain the same. The music is still pure rock, Mick Jagger is still the showman and Keith Richards still blows everyone away with his riffs.

Age does not seem to have slowed them down. Their heroes were the blues men from the Mississippi Delta, music that inspired them when they started performing in small clubs around London. In those days, Rolling Stones tickets gave admission into an intimate venue. They went on to fill the biggest stadiums in the world, breaking audience attendance records on the way.

The band have toured regularly over the years and the American tour of 1969 was one of the most successful. It was their first foray into arenas and they often played two shows a night. The demand for Rolling Stones tickets for the two shows they did at Madison Square Garden in New York City was unprecedented.

The Steel Wheels tour took place in 1989-1990. It was to promote their new album of the same name and began in North America. They moved on to play Japanese dates, where they have always been popular and then took the show to Europe where the tour name changed to the Urban Jungle tour. The Stones had just had a seven year break from touring and it was a huge success to the extent of being the rock tour that made the most money at that time. The band are very hands on and Jagger and drummer, Charlie Watts even helped with the stage design. Live footage from the gigs can be heard on the album, Flashpoint.

1997-1998 was the time of the Bridges to Babylon tour, again to plug the new album of the same name. This was very ambitious and Rolling Stones tickets were sold for concerts in North America, South America, Japan and Europe. Various artists were invited to open for the band at different shows, including Bob Dylan, Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters and Sheryl Crow. The Stones roll on, without end it seems. They obviously love what they do and still get a thrill from performing live in front of their fans that now cross over three generations. And they said rock and roll wouldn’t last!

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March 8th, 2010
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Music download sites offer vast collections of songs for a relatively small price. These sites are offspring to Napster and other free music download sites. Although you cant expect to get free songs you can get great music for next to nothing by using one of these popular websites.

March 6th, 2010
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Music download sites offer vast collections of songs for a relatively small price. These sites are offspring to Napster and other free music download sites. Although you can?t expect to get free songs you can get great music for next to nothing by using one of these popular websites.

Of course, Napster tops the list of music download sites. This organization has been in operation for awhile and some complain that this porthole is a little lagging compared to other music download sites out there. However, there are those of us who are very happy with the services provided by Napster.

One of those services is free tracks. Okay, I know that I just said that you can?t get free songs but what I really meant was that you can?t keep the free songs. In a nutshell, Napster allows guests to listen to tracks up to five times before purchasing it. This is a great feature of an online music download site because you can test the track a few times before buying it.

Rhapsody is one of the most popular music download sites. This organization offers an outstanding selection that really overshadows the rest. You do have to make a commitment to keep your songs if you put them on a compatible MP3 player. If you drop your account, you also drop your collection of songs. But for about fifteen bucks a month, you really can?t lose.

I like to listen to songs on my computer so I would prefer the unlimited song option that Rhapsody offers. I can listen to tracks online as much as I want for about ten dollars a month. The only drawback is that I don?t keep the songs on my own computer. They are still housed in Rhapsody.

If you are looking for the least expensive music download sites then you may want to consider Wal-Mart. Yes. This store offers everything. You can expect to spend about 12 cents less per track. This may not seem like a big savings but it really adds up remarkably fast.

Also, Wal-Mart has a pretty limited selection compared to other options. It isn?t really one of the music download sites for real music-lovers. Albums that have warnings and parental advisory labels are off limits. You may pay less but you do have to take the limitations into consideration if you are going to use Wal-Mart online music download sites.

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Addictive behavior finds a new venue: our electronic gadgets!

February 27th, 2010
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Addictive behavior finds a new venue: our electronic gadgets!

We Americans are not alone in our zeal for the latest electronic gadgetry. People all over the world carry their electronic communication and music devices with them, literally everywhere. It’s funny that we are so used to keeping in touch, 24/7, that many of us even take them on vacation! How is it possible to relax on that beautiful beach in the Florida Keys, with dingers, bells and buzzers are going off every ten minutes? This smacks of a new style of addictive behavior.

I talked with a woman recently who said that, before she goes to work, she goes for a swim at a community pool for her daily exercise. She brings both her cell phone and blackberry ? just in case! ?I just can’t stand to be out of touch! It’s important that I be always accessible!? To protect her gadgetry from chlorinated water, before plunging in to the pool, she slips them in plastic zipper bags.

Not wanting to be contentious, I said nothing. Silently, I wondered what might happen if a kid ran by. Two visuals popped up. One was a crunching sound as the kid’s foot landed squarely on the instrument. The other had the kid slipping, pushing the gadget in to the pool. She’d laid the bags about four inches from the edge of the pool. I wondered how she would ever hear her gadgets crying out to be noticed. Might someone steal them? The addictive behavior aspect struck me immediately, because she didn’t leave them locked in her car. Because they were useless while she was swimming her laps, this meant that she wanted to have access the very moment she exited the pool.

Sure, there are some people who, due to the nature or importance of their work, are required to be available. However, that teen over there, walking between classes, texting as she goes, probably isn’t one of them.

Addictive behavior with electronic gadgets is so widespread, that some states have legislated use of, for example, cell phones. So many people were talking on cell phones as they drove down the freeways, there was a notable increase in traffic accidents.

One expert likens gadgetry addiction to alcohol addiction, pointing out that just as the alcoholic is unable to moderate their use, the gadget addict is in the same mindset.

If you find yourself unable to go anywhere without your electronic friends, understand that this is addictive behavior. You should take steps to rein in your obsession. Here are a few suggestions to help you get a handle on the problem.

If it’s Saturday and you’re going to the gym for your weekly workout, leave your electronics at home. If you need to make a call, there are phone booths ? remember them? On Friday night, your work week is over. Every little thing is all wrapped up and you know your boss isn’t going to be calling you at 10pm on a work issue. Remove the battery from your electronic pal and stick it in a drawer.

Another signature of electronic addictive behavior is the gal who checks every 30 seconds to see if she’s missed something. Just as with the smoker trying to quit, wean yourself slowly away from this habit. Check every fifteen minutes. See if you can make it to half an hour.

Here’s another helpful thought to ponder. All addictive behaviors have the element of a master-slave relationship. Now just who is going to be the boss here?

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Phantom Of The Opera

February 26th, 2010
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Phantom Of The Opera

I was never a big fan of musical theater growing up. I was pretty cynical, and seeing all of those people singing in harmony about love and adventure completely turned me off. My parents were into some pretty corny musicals, and none of them seemed to satisfy my dark mood. I had pretty much given up on liking anything in the genre until I started dating a girl who loved musicals. When she heard about my feelings on the subject, she decided that she would change my mind. She took me to the Phantom of the Opera musical.

I had heard a little bit about the Phantom of the Opera, but only a few details. You see, most of the people I knew who liked musicals were in to a much brighter, more poppy sort of production. Don’t get me wrong ? Phantom of the Opera Music is very catchy, but it is also sort of dark and brooding. It relies heavily on organ and on minor keys. As such, I had simply never been exposed to something like it before. I was certainly in for a treat.

I would have to say that the Phantom of the Opera musical was one of the best things I have ever seen. It single-handedly redeemed a whole genre for me. After that, I decided I would give musicals and opera another chance. I never realized that there were such a possibility for interesting and dark themes in it. It still explored love, but it was a sort of twisted, obsessional love. There was still a very archetypal conflict between good and evil, but you were able to be on the side of evil. In short, it was everything that I usually look for in fiction or cult movies rolled up into a brilliant stage performance.

I also loved the special effects. Having grown up on movies, I had expected to be disappointed by live musical theater, but this certainly wasn’t the case. Seeing someone doing a show up on stage like that really moved me profoundly. The bright flashes of light, the loud sounds, the precariously swinging chandelier ? all of it created a sense of suspense that I never get when I go to see a movie. I realized that if anything, stage drama is more intense than even the best Hollywood blockbusters. It definitely left me wanting more, something that all good art does.

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