“Born Laughing was written to chronicle the early crimes of Christopher Nolan and Heath Ledger’s incarnation of the Joker character”.

“***This film is no way associated with the WB franchise or DC comics”.

For the most part, I think this is an excellent film. The writing is top notch and I would like to see the film in its entirety. I love how The Joker looks, definitely not a figure I’d like to run into in a dark alley somewhere. But at the same time, while the ruthlessness is there, the actor does not seem to play him evil enough. When I watch him, I would like to be able to say to myself “Man this guy is nuts…” The girl, a definite looker and convincing actress, does not express any anger at The Joker, she just seems scared; for some odd reason, this keeps from feeling bad for her.
I think these guys should not only make the rest of this film, but also keep making more and more films.

Technorati Tags: films, fantasy, science fiction, live action film adaptations, animated shows, James Cameron, Steven Spielberg, Transformers, superhero, Batman, Hollywood, theatrical pictures, watch movies, Fan films, Born Laughing, the revamped series of Batman films, Be More Films, Heath Ledger, Christopher Nolan, The Joker

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Other classics that are on their way is Voltron, funded by Jim Young’s Animus Films; The Jetsons with the possible direction of Robert Rodriguez, although there are other films that could ultimately be done instead; it seems that this seems as the way to go since its script is further along. Also Tintin, an adaptation of the Adventures of Tin Tin is in the works with a projected release of 2009. It will be a trilogy with Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson directing two of the three pictures.

It is fantastic that moviegoers and fans of these timeless classics will get to enjoy them once more, this time with a realistic tone that hopefully will allow them to not just watch the movie, but also experience them.

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Water: Like mentioned on the TV show Home Improvement, putting a quarter gallon container filled with water in the toilet bowl, reduces the amount of water used every time one flushes. Also, low-flow shower heads reduces the use of water while still providing enough pressure for a nice and thorough shower.

Electricity: Replacing incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent bulbs reduces power consumption. A 20-watt fluorescent light bulb provides as much light as a 100-watt incandescent bulb, while reducing the electricity usage to 20%. Fluorescent lighting is more expensive, but the savings it will yield over a year’s time, will make up for the expense many times. Also, it is important to power off any unused appliances and shut off the lights when one leaves the room. Putting up storm windows or (like I do) using large trash bags with tape, to cover up the windows is an excellent way to keep the cold winter air from sneaking into your home; add in a programmable thermostat and your electric costs will go way down. For those who use oil, well that’s yet another bill reduced.

Cable TV: In today’s decaying economy people spend more time working than at home. Therefore, it is not really necessary to pay for hundreds of channels. I myself, have basic cable and a subscription to Netflix, reducing cable costs to about $33, well below 50% of what I used to pay. Some people eliminate cable completely and watch Over-The-Air programming with an antenna (keep in mind the change to digital in’09), others rely only on Netflix and Blockbuster subscriptions.

Phone: It always sounds nice when you pay one relatively low price for multiple features, like long distance and call waiting; but most if not all of these feature are not used everyday so I can’t help thinking that I’m over paying for my phone service. I have basic service that only includes local calling and I use phone cards to make international and out of state calls. This reduced my bill from about $43 to just under $20 plus the cost of the card.

Discount Purchases: Every time I go to the pharmacy I receive a coupon with my receipt; this usually offers a savings of a few dollars, and when you or a loved one uses prescriptions drugs (therefore frequent the pharmacy) the coupons can be very beneficial as those savings over a year’s time can add up. Many supermarkets offer discount cards, newspapers come with coupons and there are countless websites that offer electronic coupons. Special occasions like Christmas and other holidays bring a number of sales and (my favorite) free or reduced shipping costs. Buying wholesale products and commercial brands can be a big money saver too. Stores like Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club sale no-name-brand products, in bulk, at half the price of name brand products.

Car Pooling: This is a great way to help the environment and save cash. One significantly reduces pollution and in times like these, when the cost of living is sky high one can reduce visits to the gas station. I ran across a website that, by imputing you zip code, shows the station with the lowest gas price.

Cutting costs does not have to turn your life upside down. If done correctly, it can be a terrific experience that will provide you with the ability to learn and do other things.

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I plan on getting a degree/training/making a career out of filmmaking and one day hopefully have my name on a Hollywood blockbuster. I feel that filmmaking is where it is for me, where I can leave the mark we all wish to be known for. It is also one of the few things (aside from a special girl) that makes me smile every time it crosses my mind. In the coming days I will write posts about how I cut costs at home and my steps toward getting grants and scholarships.

Technorati Tags: college, money, Financial Aid, registering for classes, government aid, financial problems in the home, education, go back to school, reductions of the monthly expenses, employment, scholarships and grants, get a degree, training, making a career, filmmaking, Hollywood blockbuster, cut costs at home, getting grants and scholarships

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This film is seen as a simple plot less startup film by many, but in reality this film is very important because it depicts a very powerful theme. It shows how truly vulnerable humanity is and the dangers that our own intelligence may bring upon us. This is reminiscent of the Terminator Argument, one of the possible dangers of the transhumanist movement. The argument suggests that the continuing emergence of advanced technologies, can pose an existential risk for humanity. How do you see it? What does it mean to you?

Technorati Tags: Xenogenesis , independent film, director, producer, screenwriter, James Cameron, science fiction, film, powerful themes, Terminator Argument, Transhumanism, advanced technologies, existential risk

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How Does Identity Theft Occur?

…dumpster diving for papers with people’s personal information.

…stealing credit and debit card numbers by using special devices when your card is being processed.

…sending spam or pop up messages in order to get you to input your information.

…submitting a “change of address” form and redirecting your mail.

…pickpocketing, snatching purses, robbing your mail box, stealing employee records, etc.

Keep you identity safe by:

…shredding any and all documents with personal information.

…safeguarding you Social Security Number. Only use it when absolutely necessary.

…never providing personal information over the phone, internet or mail unless you are certain who is at the receiving end.

…never clicking on email links (solicited or not), instead type them in your browser. Always use updated virus protection and firewalls.

…using complicated passwords, refrain from using dates of birth, names or the last four digits of your Social Security Number.

…at home, keeping personal documents and information under lock and key, specially if you employ outside services, have roommates or are having work done in your home.

Detect Fraudulent Activity by:

…looking into bills that do not arrive when supposed to.

…investigating unexpected credit cards/lines and/or account statements.

…credit denials for no reason.

…notifications about purchases you did not make.

…examining your credit report.

…checking financial statements for unauthorized charges.

Defend Yourself by:

…implementing “Fraud Alert” on your credit reports, so that creditors follow certain procedures before changes are made to your accounts or when new accounts are opened in your name.

…closing fraudulent/compromised accounts and contacting the fraud department of the company that provided you with said account.

…filing police reports in order to provide creditors proof of the crime.

…reporting the fraud to the Federal Trade Commission.

For more information visit: www.ftc.gov/idtheft

Technorati Tags: Identity Theft, Federal Trade Commission, dumpster diving, spam, pop up messages, Social Security Number, change of address, skimming, phishing, stealing, unauthorized charges, fraud, Fraud Alert

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Technorati Tags: February 17, 2009, digital television transition, cable, satellite provider, digital TV, converter box, DTV transition, DTV2009.gov, TV converter Box Coupon Program, online coupon applications, Converter Box reseller

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I read an article once that talked about getting the benefits of a personal assistant without actually having to hire one. Among other things, they usually do dry cleaning and post office runs, as well as lunch pick ups. In many cases, however, these businesses both provide you a core service and act as the personal assistant. Some Dry Cleaners/Laundromats pick up and deliver clothing as well as provide wash and fold services; one can arrange for the post office to pick up packages for shipping; lunch can brought right to our homes and work areas and groceries can be dropped off at our doorstep, all for a small fraction of the cost of a personal assistant. With premeditated strategic plans, these can help us live a less hectic and more fruitful as well as productive life.

I understand that not everyone goes the extra mile for their costumers and that some of us might not live in a place that can benefit from these services, but being the business people that we are (or want to be), I think we can try to do something about it and while there, maybe capitalize on the opportunity.

Technorati Tags: personal assistant, cost of living, benefits of a personal assistant, dry cleaning, post office, provide you a core service, pick up and deliver, wash and fold services

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Leanna Archer is a twelve year-old from New York who at the age of 8 started making hair products like her mom. She now is the CEO of Leanna’s Inc., which sells these hair products all over the USA. She makes US$5,000.00 per month and made US$45,000.00 in revenue in 2007. For ‘08, she expects her revenue to reach US$150,000.00.

Alexis Holmes is a sixteen year old who started selling pies to raise funds to help a local agency that helps the needy and she had sales of nearly US$20,000.00 in just two months. She opened a bakery and her success has grown so much that her parents are building her a restaurant to keep up with demands.

Christina Pendleton needed to raise US$3,000.00 for a trip. She started selling homemade candy and made US$5,000.00. Upon her return from the trip, she continued making and selling her candy. Now five years later and seventeen years old, she has made over $20,000.00.

All of these young business owners, would not be where they are had it not been for the support and know how that their parents instilled in them. They were encouraged and motivated by their parents who are also business people and they were taught that with hard work and dedication, you can accomplish anything.

Technorati Tags: young entrepreneurs, making more money, Leanna Archer, CEO, Leanna’s Inc., Alexis Holmes, started selling pies, Christina Pendleton, started selling homemade candy, made over $20, 000.00, young business owners

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The reality is, that if you want to achieve fame and fortune, financial independence or simply find a worthwhile job, you have to work hard. I read a post on JohnChow.com that said just that; If you want to make money online, you have to stop fooling around and start working. Any and everyone who has prevailed will say that the success is all good, but without the hard work they never would have achieved it. Sometime ago I read an article about Jerry Seinfeld, in which he talks about the success of his TV show, Seinfeld, and guess what he focused on? You guessed it, he started talking about how a strong work ethic made the show thrive. He mentioned that he and his friend Larry David worked nights, weekends and during lunch and dinner. Another example is the rock band Guns N’ Roses. On their Live Era ‘87 - ‘93 release, there is a song called “Coma” and at the beginning of that song he said among other things that they were regular people like everybody else and that they had to get their act together in order to get where they were.

I myself am just starting out in the “Make Money Online” realm and I know it will be tough and I know it will take time; But with HARD WORK and perseverance I plan on making this work.

Technorati Tags: fame and fortune, financial independence, JohnChow.com, make money online, Jerry Seinfeld, Seinfeld, Larry David, Guns N’ Roses, Live Era ‘87 - ‘93

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This new way to learn, is extremely exciting because it opens many doors for many people. I myself know people that because of varying reasons, are not able to attend the the top schools. With this material, they can expand and better comprehend that which they are studying. For me, this is like striking oil because I am always curious about things and I’m open to learning more. In Indonesia, the cost of text books is higher than some can afford, so students and educators utilize open courseware, instead. The same is done by others, who would like to change careers, but don’t exactly know what to focus on. Some question how effective this method of learning is by pondering how much a person can learn without having others to argue with and bounce ideas off of. Others, downright criticize it by saying that one on one interaction is a must.

You can visit: ocwconsortium.org, oercommons.org and uocwa.org in order to find “open courseware”

Source

Technorati Tags: open courseware, MIT, Yale University, new way to learn, text books, change careers, ocwconsortium.org, oercommons.org, uocwa.org

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This is extremely cool and advanced, but it makes me wonder what will happen to those of us who have home theater PCs. Will we be able to download extras elsewhere? Like a website we can visit or download directly with some kind of application that pops up when a disc is inserted in the disc drive? Why not include these features in the home video release? I would hate to buy a special edition film and find out that half the stuff has to be downloaded. What do you think?

Technorati Tags: Sony, Blu-Ray, BD-Live, home theater PC

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Ask yourself what your most basic skill is. Let’s say you play the guitar. You will find that there are several related instruments that you can easily adapt your skill to. Instead of limiting yourself to the guitar or one kind of guitar, why not expand your employment opportunities? Why not learn to play related instruments?

There are so many guitar related instruments. How about the acoustic guitar, electric guitar, twelve-string guitar, five-string banjo, tenor banjo, ukulele, mandolin, pedal steel guitar, and so on?

You can even learn different styles of playing. Learn to use finger picks. Learn to play both pick style and finger style. Electric guitarists should probably own both jazz and rock guitars. By doing this you increase your musical scope and you will be able to take on new projects easily. There will be more variety in the music that you play. Your arrangements will not all sound the same.

You can apply the examples mentioned above to all instruments and musical skills. Let’s look at a few others.

Another example is bass players. The same can be said of them. Instead of limiting themselves to the electric bass, they can learn to use a bow, play related instruments like the upright acoustic bass, learn to play both fretted and fretless basses, and use effects pedals.

Keyboard players should own more than one synthesizer. How about learning to play related instruments like organ, harpsichord and piano? Why not learn about MIDI and hook various keyboards together, along with a PC?
I could go on and on mentioning various instruments and skills and how a musician can become more versatile. Musicians must simply start with their most basic skill and expand it. This is an excellent way of ensuring that you excel in the music business.
The world is a very competitive one and you must continue to be competitive. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Add some variety and you may be surprised at how far you can reach; and how much more money you can be making.

About The Author
Mantius Cazaubon offers lots of valuable songwriting tips, techniques, suggestions and advice on his site www.ultimatesongwriting.com. Visit www.ultimatesongwriting.com for the ultimate truth about lyric writing and songwriting.

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The given principle of development of techniques “was tested” not by one generation of guitarists and not only guitarists…

In this lesson we shall concern high-speed techniques. Skilled guitarists already know that the basic brake in development of guitar high-speed techniques is the right hand. Therefore when playing the most ultra-high-speed passages for simplification guitarists play legato (i.e. the right hand does not take some notes, it is done with fingers of the left hand by receptions pull-off, hammer-on).

How to achieve speed?
For this purpose it is necessary for guitarist to develop techniques of the right hand - fast alternation of pick stroke upwards-downwards (a variable stroke). The more quickly the right hand will make alternating strokes, the quicker the playing will be.

It is necessary to begin from the most usual tremolo (fast recurrence of one note). Triplets are the most effective way of learning to play a tremolo. Try to begin each of your lessons with a tremolo. It develops (and well warms up) the right hand. The tremolo notes must sound dynamically equal (all sounding notes of equal loudness) and with equal tempo.

For example, you wish to learn a high-speed passage. I offer the following simple blues phrase in “A” as an example:

___5_________________8___5_______5______________________
______8___5__________________7______8___5_______________
______________8__7_________________________8___5________
__________________________________________________7_____
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________

First you need to learn in slow tempo and in convenient key with rational pick strokes. After you’ve done it, play a tremolo of each note, i.e. each note in a passage it is necessary to take three times (if it is the eighth) like this:

___5_5_5________________________________8_8_8___5_5_5__
_________8_8_8___5_5_5_________________________________
_________________________8_8_8___7_7_7_________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________

The tremolo should be loud (a silent tremolo does not make effect). Play thus 10 - 15 minutes (with small breaks) up to feeling of weariness in your right hand. The weariness speaks that muscles work as they must do. In my experience each student playing given technique, develops his own nuances.

The right hand as though itself finds the most convenient position while playing, - it is only necessary ” to force it to work”. When you are good at playing this passage with tremolo, try to play it in the original.

I often hear a question: ” How many it is necessary to be engaged so that to come to high speed?” - It’s individually. For someone it’s necessary 2 hours, for another 2 days, and for someone it is not necessary at all (I’m kidding . Here introspection is necessary, that is you should feel improvement of techniques. Clearly one, that the most effective way - “gold” exercise for the right hand.
Play your own passages by this principle, solos, improvisations, rock, jazz and blues phrases… If you have great patience, you will see huge advantage of this technique and feel the results. If you do not see any result most likely you were engaged either incorrectly or insufficiently long. Though it is possible to play legato or tapping, but it sounds less brightly and energetically.

About The Author
Yuri Nikitin – guitar instructor, music writer and webmaster. Find more free guitar lessons in various styles at http://www.guitar-lesson-online.net.

Technorati Tags: high-speed guitar playing, high-speed techniques, legato, tremolo, solos, improvisations, rock, jazz, blues phrases, legato, tapping

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Did you notice that the notes are written on a set of five horizontal lines? This is known as a staff. The vertical lines placed at intervals on the staff are used to divide the music into measures. Each measure contains a number of notes and the name of the note is determined by the horizontal line it is placed on or between. So, let ’s start at the bottom line and work upwards on each line. On the treble clef these notes are E, G, B, D, F., easily remembered by the little rhyme, Every Good Boy Deserves Favor. The notes located in the spaces between the lines are F, A, C, E which no doubt you have spotted, spells the word face.

On the left hand side at the beginning of the music there is a clef sign, either a treble clef where the notes are usually higher in tone or bass clef where the notes are lower. The clef dictates which octave the notes are to be played in. Alongside the clef you fill find two numbers written as a fraction and this is the time signature of the music and how many beats should be played to the measure.

The sharps or flats of the key the music is played in are shown in the key signature which is also near to the clef or sometimes, if it is just an odd note here or there to be played sharp or flat the symbol will be alongside the note itself. A b sign means a flat while a # symbol means a sharp and both of these are written against the notes required to be changed.

The notes are best described as such -
* A hollow oval called a semibreve. This is a whole note lasting for four beats or a measure.
* A hollow oval with a stem is called a minim. This note takes two beats.
* A solid oval with a stem is called a crotchet and lasts for one beat.
* A black oval with a stem and flag is known as a quaver and last for half a beat.
* A black oval with a stem and two flags is called a semi-quaver and takes just a quarter of a beat.
A note followed by a dot increases the value of the beat for that note.

Each of the above mentioned notes have a matching rest.
* The semibreve rest looks is a small black oblong sitting on top of a line.
* The minim rest is identical but sits under the line.
* The crochet rest looks is the sign of a curly vertical line.
* The quaver rest looks like a vertically slanted line with a black circle on the top left with a loop.
* The semi-quaver rest is similar to the quaver rest but with two black circles attached.

Crochets, quavers and semi-quavers are frequently attached to each other by one or two lines going across the stems. The stems of the notes can point upwards or downwards depending on whether they are above or below the center line on the staff. If the notes are joined by a curved line then only the first note is picked out but the count of the other notes is included.

These are just some guidelines for the beginner but there are many opportunities available on the Internet and in books showing numerous diagrams on how to read sheet music whatever your chosen instrument.

About the Author

Kevin Sinclair is the publisher and editor of MusicianHome.com, a site that provides information and articles for musicians at all stages of their development.

Article Source: Content for Reprint

Technorati Tags: sheet music, music, semibreve, minim, crotchet, quaver, semi-quaver

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This is a glimpse at what Metallica’s ninth album, tentatively due in the spring of 2008, might sound like. Personally I think this is an excellent song. They nicknamed it “The New Song” and debuted it in Berlin, Germany, on June 6, 2006. Sadly, according to Robert Trujillo, the song will not make it to the album. When asked whether the song would make it to the album he answered:

“I don’t think so…We can’t be sure, not until we sit down and listen to all the songs completed, to make sure that each and every one of them sounds perfect. But I can tell you that…[song] that you’ve heard won’t make it, at least not in that form.”

After having listened to St. Anger, it is refreshing to hear a great solo from Kirk Hammet.

Technorati Tags: Metallica, Robert Trujillo, Kirk Hammet

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Winners receive $15,000 and round-trip plane fare to Berlin, Germany to start his or her training with the Deutsche Oper, from August to June. During the ten month trip, students will be offered roles in Deutsche Oper productions for which they will be paid. Applications are available on the foundation’s website, by requesting them via E-Mail or by writing to the address at the bottom. The application deadline is February 1, 2007.

_______________________________________________________________________

The American Berlin Opera Foundation, Inc.
Attn: Scholarship Competition (GACC)
6 East 87th Street
New York, NY 10128
212-534-5383
gala@operafoundation.org
www.operafoundation.org/schol.htm

Technorati Tags: The American Berlin Opera Foundation, American singers, Deutsche Oper, Deutsche Oper productions

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One of the many ways you can get involved with Little Kids Rock is by becoming a music mentor.

Becoming a music mentor is one of the most personal ways to get involved with Little Kids Rock. Full time educators in the public schools are eligible to be trained as Little Kids Rock music mentors.

Educators are provided with adequate training as well as resources of various programs, free musical equipment to use with students, a chance to interact and collaborate with fellow musicians, and of course, the opportunity to provide a wonderful gift; the gift of music. Although musicians and music teachers are encouraged to become mentors, a school teacher does not need to be an instrument player in order to become an effective mentor. According to Little Kids Rock, teachers that knew no more than 10 basic guitar chords, were able to become successful music mentors. The knowledge acquired by the educators is brought back to their schools where they meet for one hour per week with a music class. The program then runs for the remainder of the school year and in a bi-monthly basis, mentors are asked to attend organizational meetings.

There are many people out there that would love nothing more than to lend a helping hand. As I’ve said before, I encourage you to get involved, to make a difference.

Technorati Tags: Little Kids Rock, Music Foundation, music mentor, free musical equipment, collaborate with fellow musicians, musicians, music teachers, guitar chords, music mentors, music class

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Technorati Tags: Rock & Roll, Guitar, all expenses paid VIP trip, Steve Vai, Ibanez Steve Vai Signature JEM77V

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I have mixed feelings about this service because, yes, it does put peoples music out there. But without the marketing that a band or singer needs, there won’t be much attention being paid to those who make the effort of investing their time and money into this. Maybe I’m biased but I think that going directly after a record company is the best way; I think it will give you a sense of accomplishment when you finally make it. Every musician, in my opinion, has to work hard and make sacrifices in order for it all to be a satisfying experience; otherwise it is the equivalent of a dad making a phone call for his son to get the job.

Technorati Tags: online music, music, Musicians, iTunes, Napster, Rhapsody, royalties, TuneCore

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I have found myself with a bit of a problem. I can’t find the time to practice my instrument. With all the other things I must get done, practicing has become sort of a “if I have time” type thing. Practice is the cornerstone of music and we all must find time we can dedicate to it if we want to move forward with it.

If incorporate practice time into our schedule or to our “To Do” lists, it will eventually become something we must do before, say, going to bed. But it is important to take care of more important things first, like doing school work or paying bills, that way there are no worries when practice time comes and therefore that is all we have to worry about. It is important to be organized, to know what you want or should practice so that the session goes like clock work. Sometimes I find myself playing random and meaningless notes rather that focusing on scales and finger workouts or even songs. And this makes for boring and wasted time.

I find the 21 day rule to be very effective. If you map something out, then practice it for 21 consecutive days, you will master it. For me, after I know the material by heart and all I need to do is master it, I sit to watch TV and mindlessly practice. The constant repetitions I do will then become a habit. This is the best way for me to make the best out of practice time. What’s yours?

Technorati Tags: practice my instrument, Practice, music

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It was John Chow who wrote “It’s Not How Much You Make, It’s How Much You Give,” a post about helping those in need. And it got me thinking about how much this get overlooked or blown off when you are at the top of your game, making lots of money and how easily success makes you forget where you came from or what you were going through not too long ago. For this reason, I’d like to talk about music in the classroom.

Many say the music is medicine for the soul, a place where you can always go, a place you can escape to and forget your problems for the length of a song. Lately however, it has become a place people don’t even want to talk about because music no longer has the place in popular culture it once had. Both outside and inside the classroom, from boy bands on club bills to lack of instruments in schools; music has been chewed up and spat back out. I remember back in my high school days when our principal agreed to overhaul the entire class schedule to be able to fit a music class where we could bring and practice our instruments; she was happy to do so despite the fact it didn’t allow her schedule to run smoothly. These days, music is taking a back seat to things like physical activity. I’m not saying that physical activity is not important because we do have a global obesity problem and youths have to find a way to stay away from TV and snacks, but I think that taking up an instrument will have the same effect as running around and it will improving their intellects.

There are countless music foundations out there who are dedicated to keeping instruments in schools, that I think everyone should support. The VH1 Save The Music Foundation, as well as the Little Kids Rock Foundation accept donations to purchase instruments to give to schools that due to budget cuts have had to cancel music programs or haven’t been able to buy more instruments. And The National Music Foundation, is looking to “preserve and celebrate American music through educational programs.” These are just a few of the many existing organizations that should be receiving a fraction of our income. Together we can make it all as good as it used to be. Remember, “It’s Not How Much You Make, It’s How Much You Give.”

Technorati Tags: music in the classroom, music is medicine for the soul, song, music, boy bands, club bills, lack of instruments in schools, music class, practice our instruments, music foundations, keeping instruments in schools, VH1 Save The Music Foundation, Little Kids Rock Foundation, music programs, buy more instruments, The National Music Foundation, preserve and celebrate American music

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Not every aspiring musician or upcoming band has the money to rent expensive services when it comes to recording music; so most depend on second hand and cost effective equipment. Usually, a cassette recorder with multiple inputs is used in order to record every instrument, then the recording is captured in a computer and edited. But I feel that the cassette tape to computer transition is difficult and if one is not careful the audio integrity suffers.

I ran into a device called Plusdeck 2c, it is a device that allows for cassette tapes to be transfered into a computer. This device is like a CD-Rom drive, only the CD is actually a tape and it fits in a computer’s 5.25″ bay. With a price tag of about ninety dollars, I think this device is must have for all beginners, as it will immensely facilitate transferring a tape into a Hard Drive.

The Plusdeck 2c also allows for listening to tapes as well as converting to popular audio