Yozing.com General Content

It can be a real issue trying to think of a gift for a close friend . The last resort gifts like gift tokens or deodorant , might be ok for distant friends or relatives, but if you like the person well enough to know that they are in to experimenting with sound , then you feel a certain need to assist them to make their own music .

The UK Channel 5 TV series the Gadget Show, with the delightful Suzi Perry, did a musical gadgets round-up recently . They featured a variety of musical gadgets , but the audience panel picked the Korg Kaoscillator as their overall winner.

Great you think. They probably won’t have one if these weird little things already! But then you find Korg have no stock, possibly for 3 months. A bit of a late present that one.

But fear not because the Internet has a virtual alternative. I found out about the Chaos Wave Synth by accident as a video on the Web Video Widget network. It isn’t a copy of, but an inspiration based upon the Korg. None the less, it is still yellow, hmm that will remind them of you every day, and it certainly seems to make the same sort of “noises”. It’s called the Chaos Wave Synth and you can watch the video at their website. If you have enough laptops, you could even form the first chaos orchestra.

I say noises, but actually, with a little practice in the right hands and it seems to be quite a stonking musical instrument, with a wide range of tones and playing possibilities.

If you’re as old as I am, the XY pad (a sort of touch pad) seems a little reminiscent of the Dubrek Stylophone, infamised by Rolf De Harris, or the theremin, that wand like instrument featured heavily in 1950’s sci-fi B movies and in the Beach Boys record.

It certainly seems capable of producing those sort of tones as well, but have a sneaking feeling it will be the drum beats and bas lines that those young generation will get absorbed in to.

Being software it does need a computer, but that can be a laptop. Either way, there should be a way of getting headphones on it, to prevent aunt Mildred from being sucked up in to the Drum N Bass at the gathering.

Giving musical instruments as presents, is always a bit of an issue in my book. Give a 5 year old a drum kit, and he will play (bang) it all day, much to everyone elses shragrala. So as this can be on headphones, it’s a much safer bet in my book.

It’s available as a download, so there’s no queuing at the shops to get it either and it should still be open, even on the day itself. So if the thought of traipsing around the shops gets too mind numbing for you, you may want to buy yourself a copy too. Even without any musical skill, it can be pretty entertaining.

Aah the gift of presents. It just fills you, doesn’t it? But I’m buying one for myself too. Don’t see why the youngsters should have all the fun
Happy days.

Sabrina

There are millions of adults who took piano lessons when they were kids, and would love to start playing again, but dread the idea of starting over again and taking lessons. To see how easy it is to get started again, take a look at this blog on Piano Chords & Chord Progressions.

It’s true that you never forget certain things that you learn as a child, like riding a bicycle. Playing piano is another example. A minimum of two to three years of piano lessons is enough to instill an indelible knowledge of piano basics. That knowledge will likely be remembered throughout adulthood.

However, some adults who have been out of practice for several years may find returning to piano lessons challenging. Re-learning piano as an adult can be intimidating. Starting piano lessons again can be fulfilling though for those prepared to tackle the challenges.

One of the biggest challenges of re-learning piano as an adult is changing methods. Adults who took only a few years of piano lessons as children may have initially learned to play by rote. Playing piano by rote focuses more on memorization and mimicry than on learning to read music and understand chords.

Children tend to learn very quickly by rote. Children who learn by this method appear to progress quickly. Eventually though, as pieces get more difficult, learning tends to slow down significantly. Grasping new skills becomes increasingly difficult. This method is becoming less and less favored by piano instructors today for this reason.

Another hurdle to clear when re-learning piano as an adult is chords and theory. This is especially true if an adult took only a few years of piano lessons as a child. Adults who had five or fewer years of piano lessons likely didn’t learn chord theory. Even adults who learned to read music as children frequently have trouble grasping chords.

Learning anything (piano or otherwise) is always harder in adulthood than childhood. It’s not impossible though. Anyone with a foundation in music is at an advantage when re-learning piano as an adult.

Are you an adult trying to brush up on old piano skills or learn new ones? Here are four things to consider before you start:

1. Be willing to put aside old habits. The piano hasn’t changed since you were a child. Teaching methods may have though. Don’t discount a teaching method just because it’s different from what you’re used to. Compare different learning methods before deciding which one is best for you.

2. Be prepared to start from scratch. It will be easier for you to ease into piano lessons simply because you’re familiar with a keyboard. That doesn’t mean it won’t be challenging. Don’t expect to play a classical sonata in the first month. Take things slowly, perhaps even starting with a refresher of the basics (i.e., scales).

3. Be committed to rehearsing your songs. Remember your mother nagging you to practice as a kid? Mom’s not around now, so it’s up to you to push yourself. Piano lessons are only as good as the effort you’re willing and able to put in. Make daily practice time a priority.

4. Find the right teacher either in person or online. There are many excellent courses on the web you can take that allow you to progress at your own pace. Check out  PlayPiano.com and PianoLessonsByVideo.com. Getting the right piano instructor makes all the difference in the world. Look for a teacher who is experienced with working with adults.  He or she will then set you on the right course for re-learning.

Re-learning piano as an adult can be very rewarding. Not only will you improve your piano skills; you’ll stimulate your brain too. This will probably help you improve other areas of your life. Adults who take piano lessons often report a better ability to concentrate. Many also realize a greater aptitude for learning other new skills. These things carry over into other parts of adult life, from work, to hobbies and even raising children.

Studies have shown that it takes longer time for American women to get pregnant today than it was two decades ago. The reasons enumerated by the experts included the kind of lifestyle couples live as well as the diet of these couples.

How Do You Get Pregnant?

The only way of answering the question and providing a solution to the dilemma of millions of couples around the world is to examine the factors that greatly affect the chances for easy pregnancy.

Lifestyle

The reason why it was easier and more likely for women to get pregnant fast decades ago than it is for them now is because of stress. The kind of lifestyle a couple lives greatly affects their stress levels. Lack of sleep and rest can greatly decrease a person’s sexual hormones and naturally lower the chances of her conceiving.

Get Me Pregnant - Couples who want to get pregnant fast can conceive faster if they set aside some time for relaxation. Stress management and relaxation methods such as breathing exercises, yoga, meditation, aromatherapy and massages can help lower stress levels for both men and women.

Diet

There are certain nutrients that help a woman get pregnant fast. These include seafoods that are rich in Omega 3 such as fish and oysters and eggs. There are also common house herbs and natural aphrodisiacs that increase sexual hormones.  These include nuts, coconut milk, vanilla, wolfberry, chasteberry, and Siberian ginseng. Drinks to avoid include alcohol and caffeine.  Be sure to consult your health care provider before taking any of these though.

“Get me pregnant” may be an oft-heard line by most women today. However, if she and her man follow the right diet and make sure to spend more relaxed time together, it’s not so impossible to get pregnant fast.

If you suffer from…

* Palpitations

* a pounding heart, or an accelerated heart rate

* Sweating

* Trembling or shaking

* Shortness of breath

* A choking sensation

* Chest pain or discomfort

* Nausea or stomach cramps

* Derealization (a feeling of unreality)

* Fear of losing control or going crazy

* Fear of dying Numbness or a tingling sensation

* Chills or hot flashes

…then you’ve experienced firsthand some of the possible symptoms of a panic attack or anxiety attack. If you are reading this page because a loved one suffers from these symptoms and you are trying to understand or help, it’s hard to appreciate what they go through.

Just try to imagine what it feels like to experience one, if you can.

Here is a typical example:

Standing in a supermarket queue, it’s been a long wait but only one customer to go before you make it to the cashier. Wait, what was that sensation? An unpleasant feeling forms in your throat, your chest feels tighter, now a sudden shortness of breath, and what do you know—your heart skips a beat. “Please, God, not here.”

A quick scan of the territory—is it threatening? Four unfriendly faces queue behind, one person in front. Pins and needles seem to prick you through your left arm, you feel slightly dizzy, and then the explosion of fear as you dread the worst. You are about to have a panic attack.

There is no doubt in your mind now that this is going to be a big one. Okay, focus: Remember what you have been taught, and it is time now to apply the coping techniques. Begin the deep breathing exercise your doctor recommended. In through the nose, out through the mouth.

Think relaxing thoughts, and again, while breathing in, think “Relax,” and then breathe out. But it doesn’t seem to be having any positive effect; in fact, just concentrating on breathing is making you feel self-conscious and more uptight.

Okay, coping technique 2:

Gradual muscle relaxation. Tense both shoulders, hold for 10 seconds, then release. Try it again. No; still no difference. The anxiety is getting worse and the very fact that you are out of coping techniques worsens your panic. If only you were surrounded by your family, or a close friend were beside you so you could feel more confident in dealing with this situation.

Now, the adrenaline is really pumping through your system, your body is tingling with uncomfortable sensations, and now the dreaded feeling of losing complete control engulfs your emotions. No one around you has any idea of the sheer terror you are experiencing. For them, it’s just a regular day and another frustratingly slow queue in the supermarket.

You are out of options. Time for Plan C.

The most basic coping skill of all is “fleeing.” Excuse yourself from the queue; you are slightly embarrassed as it is now that it is your turn to pay. The cashier is looking bewildered as you leave your shopping behind and stroll towards the door. There is no time for excuses—you need to be alone. You leave the supermarket and get into your car to ride it out alone. Could this be the big one? The one you fear will push you over the edge mentally and physically. Ten minutes later the panic subsides.

It’s 10:30 a.m. How are you going to make it through the rest of the day?

If you suffer from panic or anxiety attacks, the above scenerio probably sounds very familiar. It may have even induced feelings of anxiety and panic just reading it. The particular situations that trigger your panic and anxiety may differ; maybe the bodily sensations are a little different. Or maybe it happened to you for the first time on a plane, in the dentist chair, or even at home, while doing nothing in particular.

If you have ever had what has become known as a “panic attack,” take comfort in the fact that you are by no means alone.

A panic attack always comes with the acute sense of impending doom. You feel you are either about to lose your mind or one of your vital bodily functions is about to cease functioning and you will end your days right there among the canned goods and frozen food.

You are by no means alone; you’re not even one in a million. In America, it is estimated that almost 5% of the population suffer from some form of anxiety disorder. For some, it may be the infrequent panic attacks that only crop up in particular situations-like when having to speak in front of others, while, for other people, it can be so frequent and recurring that it inhibits them from leaving their home. Frequent panic attacks often develop into what medical physicians refer to as an “anxiety disorder.”

One of the first steps to regaining control of your life is getting helpful information. This site will give you that, and more.

The beginning of your recovery starts here. What you will learn is that there is a very good chance you are about to end the cycle of panic attacks in your life. You will learn not only to regain the carefree life you remember once having, but will also gain new confidence in living. Your answer to living free from “panic” or “anxiety attacks” is at hand.

This site demonstrates that the panic and anxiety that you have experienced will be the very key to your courage and success.

Begin the road to recovery by browsing through the site. While many of you may have read almost everything you can possibly read relating to panic and anxiety I assure you this site offers something very effective.

Did you know…?

The key difference between someone who is cured of panic attacks and those who are not is really very simple. The people who are cured no longer fear panic attacks. I’ll try to show you how to be one of these people as well.

What if I told you the trick to ending panic and anxiety attacks is to want to have one. That sounds strange, even contradictory, but let me explain.

The trick to panic attacks is wanting to have one-the wanting pushes it away. Can you have a panic attack in this very second? No!

You know the saying that “what you resist, persists.” Well that saying applies perfectly to fear. If you resist a situation out of fear, the fear around that issue will persist. How do you stop resisting–you move directly into it, into the path of the anxiety, and by doing so it cannot persist.

In essence what this means is that if you daily voluntarily seek to have a panic attack, you cannot have one. Try in this very moment to have a panic attack and I will guarantee you cannot. You may not realize it but you have always decided to panic. You make the choice by saying this is beyond my control.

Another way to appreciate this is to imagine having a panic attack as like standing on a cliff’s edge. The anxiety seemingly pushes you closer to falling over the edge.

To be rid of the fear you must metaphorically jump. You must jump off the cliff edge and into the anxiety and fear and all the things that you fear most.

How do you jump? You jump by wanting to have a panic attack. You go about your day asking for anxiety and panic attacks to appear.

Your real safety is the fact that a panic attack will never harm you. That is medical fact. You are safe, the sensations are wild but no harm will come to you. Your heart is racing but no harm will come to you. The jump becomes nothing more than a two foot drop! Perfectly safe.

Learn more at: Panic Attacks

Joe Barry is an international panic disorder coach. His informative site on all issues related to panic and anxiety attacks can be found here: Panic Attack Symptoms

One of better ways to reduce your heating bill is to find energy efficient heater and install it in your home, garage or office. According to US Government statistics, the average American spends $1,900 per year for home energy, nearly half goes to heating and cooling. Oil radiator is a good way to reduce this big expenditure. And here are few tips to help you use your heater to the maximum.

You have to be prepared to turn down the heating and use a heater to heat  specific rooms only. And if yo do not do this, you will only have to pay more for your heating bills. It is a practice that is successful if there is only one person in the home that needs more warmth or a family usually uses one room when they are together at home.

There are plenty of choices here. For this discussion, we are interested in portability and the only portable units are electric. For example, portable baseboard heater. These type of heaters are using electricity for heating, either by convection heat methods or by radiant heat.

Radiant heaters usually look reminiscent of the old fashioned steam radiators. They are usually cooler to the touch but will heat an individual or nearby object rather quickly. But you should not use these type of heaters to heat up the entire room in your home. It will take some time for them to heat an entire room. Since convection heaters use wire or ribbon heating elements, they are a much better option when it comes to heating the entire room.

In either case, make sure you purchase something that is safe. A UL listing is what you should take a look at. Convection heater has wire elements that can get quite hot, so a radiant heater is a much better solution when it comes to safety. You should also find a model that has a automatic temperature adjustment, which will save you energy by keeping the room at the same temperature all the time. Don’t forget there are propane heaters You need to check out the heaters and the types to see what would work best for your needs.

One thing that is for sure is that puppies love to play and among the many games they play, most consist of some form of nipping or biting. When you bring home a new puppy, you will find out in no time that the puppy simply loves to bite and nip at your fingers among many other extremities that are exposed. This behavior while perfectly normal can lead to serious issues as the puppy matures into a dog if the behavior is not rectified. If you have a girl dog then be sure to check out these dog dresses to dress her up like a little cutie.

As the leader of the pack, you are responsible for teaching the puppy the rules of the pack (home) and that the nipping and biting behaviors are not allowed. However, changing this behavior is not an easy task, but it does not have to be a hard one neither as there are many things that you can do to prevent this behavior from occurring. It is also important that you train the puppy that this behavior is not allowed by the time the puppy reaches the age of 15 weeks as after this time period, long term behaviors and habits will start developing. To keep you dog cozy at night be sure to pick up some dog pajamas that will surely keep your dog warm at night. Also be sure to check out these dog supplies that will be great for your dog.

1) Start by showing to your puppy that you definitely prefer the licking over the biting. To do this, you will want to use a firm tone to teach him NO when he bites, but praise him when he licks you. Naturally the puppy would prefer the praise over the harsh tone and should start to change his or her habits accordingly.

2) If this does not work, do not worry too much as there are still many options available to teach your puppy these behaviors are not appropriate. Keep some bones on hand and if the puppy begins to nip at your fingers, simply set him aside with a bone. These bones can be obtained relatively easily and while most may settle for the fake bones at the pet store, the best way to go is to visit your local grocery store and purchase a piece of soup bone. Don’t forget to boil the bone before you give it to the puppy and do not worry if the bone seems too big as the puppy will not care.

3) Keeping your trusty spray bottle handy, if the puppy decides to bite hard down on your hand, using a firm voice tell him no and give him a single sprits. Do not yell at the puppy or scare him as this will have an adverse affect but rather use a smooth yet firm tone when you tell him NO. When you sprits him, do not spray the puppy in the eyes, it only takes a small spray at the tip of the muzzle to stop the puppy in mid bite.

In present times, brides and grooms are steering clear of the traditional format of wedding ceremonies and are making their own versions of a wedding ceremony with their own personal touches. Though many couples are keen on making their ceremonies more personal, coming up with the ideas to actually go ahead and do it is easier said than done.

Some possible ideas:

Have friends and family do readings; this is an idea around for a long time, but more traditionally with bible or other ceremonial readings. More and more often, friends and family are learning poems or other more personal things than simply learning from the bible. You can ask your friend or family member to read something of your choice, or you can ask them to choose something themselves, which will be a surprise for you.

Custom-tailor your vows; this is also not such a new idea, but many people are still doing it. The idea behind this originally was to take out any vows that seemed old-fashioned, but the practice has taken on a whole new life and many brides and grooms are writing their vows entirely from scratch, from an entirely personal standpoint.

The bride and groom can also tell a fun story for the guests; for example, they can each prepare a short version of how they met and became a couple. In this format, the experience is not only fun for the guests, but also fun for the bride and groom to see how their stories differ. Alternatively, they can prepare something together.

Butterflies or doves; this practice has taken on new life in the current era where many people are marrying outside. The practice of setting butterflies or doves loose is a nice symbolic gesture; irregardless, it can be more challenging to execute perfectly.

Have the person marrying you be someone you understand; more and more often couples are choosing to have a friend or a family member marry them instead of holding a priest or a justice of the peace who they’ve never met before. Even if the person performing the ceremony doesn’t say anything special beyond the standard ceremony, it still feels warmer and more personal when you are standing there with a friend or a family member. You can also have him or her say a little something about your couple.

Make your own symbolic rituals; there are a lot of symbolic rituals in a lot of religious ceremonies, for example the unity candle in a Catholic ceremony or the breaking of a glass in a Jewish ceremony. If none of these traditional rituals appeal to you, start your own ritual. The idea behind making your ceremony more personal is to do it your way-so, anything goes!

Play your songs prior to the ceremony or at places within the ceremony. Almost everyone these days plays their song during the reception, usually their first dance, but you can also include your song(s) in the ceremony. Play a few special songs before the ceremony starts, or pick intervals in the ceremony where you can slip one of your favorites into the ceremony time.

Put a special poem on the wedding program; the program is another place where you can make your ceremony more personal. Especially if you are going to read a poem during the ceremony, it’s nice for the guests if you also put it on the program so that they can read it on paper while it’s being read. Placing it on the program also makes the wedding program a nicer keepsake for years afterwards.

Whatever you decide to do, don’t be afraid to make it personal. Your wedding is your special day, and there should be plenty of room within the format of the day to let yourselves express your feelings in a personal way.

If you know anything at all about marketing online then you will no doubt have heard about article directories.

There are hundreds of these all over the internet, but that doesn’t mean it is worth submitting to all of them. If you get to know what the best article submission sites are and you submit your articles to them regularly, you can expect to get a lot of exposure and a potentially huge number of people reading your articles and clicking on your link to visit your website too.

So which sites should you be going to? Here are the top three:

Ezine Articles
This is a huge article directory and it is easily known as being the best one of the lot. At the time of writing it has over one hundred and twenty thousand authors who have realized its benefits, and that number is set to keep rising.

There are plenty of reasons why you should submit your articles to this site, but the main one is definitely that Google loves it with a passion. If you look up almost any subject on that search engine, the chances are very high that you will find at least one article from Ezine Articles ranking somewhere on the first page.

There are also plenty of good categories to post your articles in, and you will find the member’s dashboard is full of information and very easy to use as well.

Buzzle
Despite the rather strange name this site is a definite hit with anyone wanting to increase the traffic to their website.

It looks a lot more polished than a lot of article directories, and each author gets their own profile page which they can fill out with some information about themselves. This page also contains an author widget which should encourage some of your ardent readers to tell everyone about you on their web page!

And you can of course also link through to your website, to get that much needed traffic you are after. You can do this from your profile and also from the end of each article you write.

As with Ezine Articles there are plenty of categories to post your content to, and the process is made as easy as possible. This should definitely be on your ‘to do’ list to join if you are not already a member.

Search Warp
This site promotes itself as a writer’s community, and it certainly is. But don’t let that fool you into thinking that you won’t get plenty of exposure and traffic from posting your articles here.

The author’s dashboard is a great place to start, with lots of data and information on all the articles you submit. Not only can you see how much traffic each article is getting, you will also see whether each piece is getting search engine referrals. You can also generate a fan club at Search Warp, so if people like what you are writing about, you could benefit in more than one way.

Area219.com
This site calls itself a content directory, and takes article submissions on almost any topic. One of the advantages of using Area219.com is that they allow you to insert your Adsense publisher ID into your profile and then shares the ad impressions on your article pages with you 50/50.

The site is fairly new but will undoubtedly grow exponentially once people start seeing the benefit of sharing the Adsense revenue with the directory.

These are some the top article directories online today, so make sure you are a part of all of them.

Preparing Your Food

If you would like to change your merely decent cooking skills into something fantastic, it might be as simple as listening to a couple of great cooking tips. Preparing dishes and avoiding obstacles in cooking is easily done with cooking suggestions. It is true that experience, patience and knowledge are important, a few practical suggestions can make many cooks appear to be master chefs. Using a few of the cooking suggestions below, you should be able to dramatically improve the level of cooking you are cable of.

Safety in the Kitchen

Buying fresh food is the number one way you can make sure that tastes great. As you shop in the supermarket (or produce market, or farmer’s market) you should closely examine each of the items you purchase to make sure it is the highest quality freshness or ripeness. Packaged foods can be judged by an expiration date, while fruits and vegetables must be looked at individually. Always familiarize yourself with the general produce that is available, and be able of spotting quality produce in whatever market you shop it. It is also very important to makes sure your meat purchases of beef, poultry, or fish, are fresh too. For safety reasons, ad to make sure your meats stay fresh, keep them in the refrigerator until you are ready to cook with them, and use both soap and water to clean any utensils that you might use.

Before you serve your meat, make sure that they have been cooked to the recommended temperature. Always use a cooking thermometer to make sure your meats reach a temperature of 140 degrees F. Some foods won’t be heated, but do need to be kept at 40 degrees F if they are foods which are typically chilled.

Use The Right Tools To Make It Easier and Fun

Any good mechanic will use the proper tools to fix a car. On a similar note, a decent cooking suggestion is to make sure your kitchen is full of items that will help you maintain your dishes properly. A few examples of these include a good set of knives, pots, pans, measuring cups, and a blender or food processor.

Buy professional cookware sets that are made from only the best materials. Having a professional cookware set in your kitchen will make your cooking go a lot smoother. Many professionals like cast iron cookware sets. The only draw back is that they are heavier than other pots and pans.

Reduced and Low Fat Food Preparation

Many people believe that low fat food is automatically tasteless. This is absolutely false - in fact, low fat cooking can be colorful, vibrant and extremely tasty. The trick is to use a variety of fresh spices, herbs, olive oil and put some thought into the dishes you choose. Use a small amount of oil with lean cuts of beef and pork, and you can make almost any meal low fat. Generally chicken, turkey, and fish are great options for any low fat dishes, and you will likely save calories also.

Choosing The Beverage

The last cooking suggestion to give you is to always include a good beverage along with the food in your meal. Even an otherwise dull meal can be spiced up with a great beverage. The tone and flavor of your meal can be changed drastically through adding wine, sparkling mineral water, or perhaps a cocktail.

What is debt elimination? Debt cancellation is the process of getting your outstanding debts under control and then avoiding getting into debt in the future. If you are in debt now then you should know that it is really destroying your future, in several ways.

For one your credit rating is going to be ruined, and it is very hard and time consuming to get your credit back to a decent score. Of course a better way is to never get into debt in the first place, but since you can’t avoid this in some cases, the most important issue here in this moment is how to get out of debt.

Budget

One of the most important things that people need to be doing with their financial resources is budgeting. Otherwise you are simply bringing money in and sending it out, without any idea where your money is going and clueless to how much better it could be being spent.

Most people do not realize that they are somehow putting more money out towards bills and other causes then they are bringing in, and although you may wonder how this can be, there are actually many forms, credit cards being one of the most common.

Nine out of ten people have at least one credit card, and the majority of these people are at least a few hundred dollars in debt with their card.

Pay Off Your Bills

This is a must, and not a choice. You have to pay off your bills if you want to have complete debt cancellation, and you need to prioritize your bills before you start paying anything off. Credit cards need to be first, because they will affect your credit status most negatively and because they have high interest rates which you are going to end up having to pay off as well.

You need to make sure that your housing bills are under control next, including your food, rent, hydro, pets, telephone and cable bills.

If you need assistance with debt cancellation, remember that there are many people and institutions at your disposal that will be able to help you out here with the debt elimination.

No matter how deep in the debt problem you are right now, complete debt cancellation is possible, although it is going to take a lot of time, effort and patience on your side. By following these tips and helpful advice in mind you will have the best chances of not only getting out of the debt you are in now but staying out of debt for good.