The Barleycorn Fight (1971, Vietnam)

There are no rules in fighting, although all the guys bigger than I, whom I fought felt I violated some made up rule of theirs.

In Vietnam, I had a fight with a sergeant in our company quarters one evening, we all called him Crusher, after the infamous, wrestler, and madman, "The Crusher," he was per near six foot tall, blond short hair, and muscular, looked like a gorilla, as did the sergeant, they could have been twin brothers, except for the age difference; perhaps of Polish or Irish stock. We both had enough malt produced barleycorn in us, this one evening, both half drunk, thereabouts. He told his friend I used a trick when we fought one another in tearing off my opponents face with my long fingernails, his face.

I had blocked his big burley muscular fists, and forearms, and at each thrust, I had moved quick enough to out maneuver him: I tried blow after blow to his face, and torso, but they bounced off him, like rubber, as if he was a danseur, nor did my elbows into his ribs move him one bit, and a good solid kick to the groin did little to nothing, he had a cast iron, whatever. And so I came to the conclusion, I couldn't beat him any other way, and thus, I was limited to my selection of attacks, I had used them all up, so I warped my body likened to wringing a wet rag dry, to gain momentum, jumped up about five inches into the air, and on my way down like a cat with his talon sticking out of his paws, my thorn like fingernails multitudinously swept across his face, like hard nails scratching through sandpaper, and he yelled bloody murder, and fell back a foot! His face was damaged. And the fight was over, and the fight was a draw.

It was no trick, not really, that was the purpose for the long nails and the jump, and two years of karate practice; and if it was a trick, it was a learned one for just that occasion, because I never had to reuse this so called 'trick'; a strategy I prefer to call it. And I consider that trick as legal as any kick in the groin, or punch to the face or ribs, although sober I might not have used that so called 'trick' I might not have thought of it. And here he was sixty-pounds heavier than me, and three inches to four inches taller than me, which was to his advantage-what did he expect-that was his trick, he thought he could bully?

By Dennis Siluk Dr.h.c. 

Tips On How To Take Good Care Of Your Acrylic Painting

Acrylic is a transparent material that is used for many purposes. One of the major functions of the material is to display paintings. If you have an acrylic artwork you need to put a number of measures in place to ensure that it retains its elegant look for a long time. Some of the measures that you need to put in place include:

Avoid placing the paintings under direct sunlight. To ensure that the artworks don't fade you should place them under indirect sunlight, halogen lights or under recessed lighting. These lights don't affect the paintings thus the artworks retain their original look for a long time.

You should also avoid displaying the artworks in places of high or too low temperatures. For example, you should not display them in areas that are above 60 °C or below 40 °C.

For ideal results you should ensure that you place paintings in places with relative humidity. You should also ensure that the artworks are in places where the temperature is constant.

You should not allow rigid objects to press against the front or the back surface of the stretched canvas because this results to permanent indentation damage. If you are transporting or storing the painting you should ensure that you place it in a package that is moisture and water resistant.

The package should also be cushioned to absorb shock the may result from bumps. Experts recommend that the package should be wrapped and sealed to ensure that its dent, puncture, and humidity resistant.

If you want to clean the surface of the painting, you should avoid using solvents or other cleaning products. This is because the cleaning products usually embed the dirt into the artwork and cause permanent liquid lines over the surface which gives the painting a very displeasing look.

Instead of using cleaning liquids you should use compressed air in a can to blow away the surface dust. If you don't have access to compressed air you should use a dry, soft brush to lightly brush the surface. You should be careful when brushing and ensure that you don't bump or scratch the painting.

If you clean your artwork for a long time and you notice that the dirt is not coming off you should seek out for professional services. For ideal results you should hire the services of an experienced art conservator who will know the best way of cleaning the painting without causing any damage.

By Duncan Lancer

Tips For Plein Air Painting In The Snow

Have you ever thought about plein air painting in the snow? It might sound challenging, but it's actually very rewarding and enjoyable. When snow falls, you just have to go out and capture the wonderful effects it has on the land. Winter landscapes are often characterised by long, dark shadow and a variety of brilliant colours. A blanket of snow can work wonders in completely transforming a scene into something completely new. So here are some tips to help you capture some winter magic.

Combat the cold

It's very important to keep warm while you work in the cold. This is because you're going to be much more motivated, focused and productive when you're warm. To combat the cold, wear several layers of clothing and have a hot drink in a thermos flask with you. Don't expose your painting hand to the elements - wear a woollen sock on your painting hand. Thread the tail through the sock and hold the brush in your covered bare hand. Keep your feet warm by standing on a bare bit of ground or bring a mat with you and stand on that instead.

Avoid windy days

As mentioned previously, you can work your way round the cold. The most problematic part of winter weather is definitely the wind. Even in summer, the wind can be a hindrance to plein air painting. When it's winter, it's going to hinder your painting and it's going to make it seem a lot colder than what it actually is. It's best to avoid wind altogether if you can. If you do find yourself fighting the wind, use an umbrella to try to block it from your painting.

Take your time

Unfortunately, snow melts. Many places are lucky to get any snow at all and when they do, it seems to melt away as quickly as it came. However, this doesn't mean you should rush to capture a winter landscape even if you're racing against time. Take some time to appreciate the details and beauty of the winter landscape before you. Take your time when capturing these in your painting. An incomplete painting that you can finish at home is better than a rushed and messy one.

Take breaks

If you find that you can't handle the weather, simply take a break whenever you need to. Paint for 10-15 minutes or so then head back to your car, turn the engine on and warm yourself up for a bit. Have a hot drink and enjoy the break. Then head back and work on your painting for another 10-15 minutes and keep the cycle going. It might take you longer than if you were doing your painting in a single sitting, but it's better than getting overcome by the cold.

These are just a few basic tips to get you started on plein air painting in the snow. If you have any more tips you'd like to share, please do feel free to share them.

Front Yard Right of Ways - Who Owns It?

Most subdivisions that create individual lots, also have streets, drainage systems and utility easements that are either dedicated to the local jurisdiction or an easement over your private property. Streets are often designed to certain standards and their overall width as shown on the subdivision plat map often encroaches onto what you may think is your property. A Right of Way or Rights of Way, is typically the section of land between the edge of the street and your actual front property line. This Right of Way allows the city or county to do a number of things including access utility connections, maintain drainage ditches, curb and gutter, sidewalks or even to widen the road if that is in the master plan.

Most homeowners are not aware that this section of land has restrictions on its use. Whether it is an easement across your property or the Right of Way is city or county owned, you may not build or construct anything you want without risking it being removed if access to land is required. Often a Right of Way permit is required to do anything.

So what can you build in your front yard? First, you must determine exactly what you own and what the city or county owns. In a Right of Way, typically you may install a driveway across the ROW to access the street. But building any kind of wall is typically not allowed within a Right of Way or Easement. If the city or county was to grant you a permit to build it, who then would maintain it and if the city had to dig up utility lines and remove the structure, who would pay to replace it? These are the reasons, only minimal improvements are allowed such as driveways and landscape plant material.

You will also find out about your front yard building setback which is different than an easement or a ROW. It is a part of the Zoning District setup by the city to regulate how close buildings can be to their lot lots on all four sides. Front yard setbacks restrict how close to the front yard property line you can build your house or any extension of it including low walls such as for a courtyard.

In planning the design of residential landscape, I check with the city as the first step to determine where the Right of Way, Easements and Setbacks are located. These are all building restrictions that must be followed, especially if what the homeowner wants to do requires a building permit.

Jurisdictions have different regulations and use restrictions as to what can be done and who will maintain it. The city may turn maintenance responsibility over to the homeowners even though they own the underlying property. If a homeowner improves the Right of Way with landscaping for their benefit, then it is in their best interest to continue to maintain it so it looks good. The one thing the city is most concerned about is liability. If the Right of Way is subject to flooding or has excessive weed growth, it may go ahead and perform maintenance because, legally it is the owner of the property.

Restrictions on the use of one's property is part of the due diligence everyone should perform when buying new real estate. Locating the property corners will often reveal that a good portion of the front yard is really not your property, or may have restrictions that may not be acceptable to you. This is often the case with raw land where the actual property lines are not obvious.

I have seen where a person property is actually the center line of the street and also where the property line is about 25 feet away from the edge of pavement. These Right of Ways and Easements can vary widely among jurisdictions. If you have an issue with your Right of Way landscaping, I may be able to help.

By John Stuart Leslie

Bram Stoker and the Village of Easenhall

Before Bram Stoker turned his talent to writing, he worked as a tour manager for the great English actor, Henry Irvine. They travelled the country packing out the local theatres. One of Stoker's many tasks would be to book the accommodation. As you might expect, they would often stay in the best hotels and private houses. Sometimes however, if it were a small, provincial town, they would kip at local Inns.

The Golden Lion in the village of Easenhall, a tiny, almost hidden-from-view hamlet deep in the heart of Warwickshire, is one such location. The Golden Lion is one of the oldest Inns in Warwickshire. Over the centuries it has played host to several notable personalities. The Inn sits at the very edge of the village itself. Surrounded by fields and woodland, The Golden Lion Inn is the perfect retreat for busy city dwellers. As part of his job, Stoker would have been familiar with many of the Inns that resided in central England. Henry Irvine was due on stage in Birmingham the following week. They had a few days to spare and Stoker had booked the Golden Lion Inn for two nights.

I lived in Brinklow a few miles down the road. I would often walk to Easenhall through the back fields and woods which enveloped both small villages. There is a solitary bridle-path which takes you, snake-like, through these woods and the fields of corn which live on either side. There is a lake too and a series of old buildings which have all but collapsed into dust. I never knew their purpose. If local village legend was to be believed, these peculiar remains were once follies from the early eighteenth century. It's hard to verify fact from fiction. Never-the-less, I would often imagine Stoker wandering in between the same ruins and woodland that I had come to know so well during the long summer months.

Stoker would have been thinking about his future works at this point in his early life. Of course, Dracula was still some way off. It would be several years before he would start to pen that particular work of fiction. It's still interesting to picture Stoker wandering through the surrounding fields, perhaps thinking about his future novel. The Golden Lion itself would have been the ideal retreat too for a budding writer to scribble down his thoughts. Maybe Stoker had already begun to make notes on his infamous vampire whilst staying at the Inn. Of course, it's impossible to prove but interesting to think about over a quiet pint.

Article Source: By Chris Shane Sanders

How To Care For A Giclee Print

ow best to care for them to ensure their longevity. Even though the technology used to create them is relatively recent, it is widely thought that giclee prints can last for a substantial amount of time - much longer than standard prints. In order to potentially last this long, they must be cared for properly.

Framing:

Firstly, if you ordered your print unframed, it will come rolled up inside a protective tube. When it comes to framing your print, you should only use a professional framer who is familiar with the process of stretching and framing giclee canvases. It is advisable that the framer only use the finest materials to frame the print.

Handling:

Handle your print only when necessary, never handle it from the corners and only ever handle it from the sides. Always try to handle prints with gloves. Whenever the print is being transported, it should always be well protected and should be kept flat and facedown. Never place any object on the canvas, no matter how small or light, and never lean the canvas against anything. When a canvas is left exposed it's more susceptible to damage and denting.

Storing:

Canvas pieces that have been stretched or mounted should be stored upright and should never have any weight placed upon them. They should be stored with archival paper dividers interleaved between them and should never touch any other canvas pieces. Ensure that tape never comes into contact with any prints as it can cause peeling. If you intend to roll your prints up, you should roll them it up very tightly so they don't sag as this can cause permanent. Prints should be carefully laid on their side before being rolled up and should be kept standing up if they are to be stored for an extended period of time.

Lighting conditions:

Even though canvas giclee prints come with ultraviolet coating, it is still advised not to hang them in direct sunlight. This is because exposure to UV from sunlight over an extended period of time can still cause them damage.

Room conditions:

Canvas lets out and takes in a lot of moisture, which can cause too much shrinking or stretching. To avoid this, the climate of the room needs to be carefully monitored and regulated. Exposing prints to extreme temperatures and sudden changes in temperature can affect their longevity and the materials they're made from. Keeping the room at 70 degrees Fahrenheit and the humidity at 55% should do the trick. The room should not have a high amount of traffic and any prints should hung high off the ground out of the reach of children.

Cleaning:

To clean a canvas print you should use a soft, dry cloth to wipe off any dust or dirt. Never wash any printed surfaces with water and never expose your print to any solvent-based substance as this can cause yellowing. If you use a light-coloured or white cloth you will be able to see when too much dust or dirt has been picked up. You can carefully wipe your canvas print with a soft cloth that has been slightly dampened with water, though you should only do this if absolutely necessary. The print should be left to dry at room temperature once you've cleaned it.

By Joanne Perkins

Find The Best Gift For Your Girlfriend According To Her Personality Type

If you are newly in a relationship there can be a lot of things you may not know about, but you are probably trying to figure it out. Especially when you have to please your girlfriend now every guy knows this quite clearly how difficult it is to please a girl. But if you are in love, you wouldn't stop trying won't you and when there is a will there is always an interesting way. If you are a boyfriend who is wondering what to give your girlfriend on her birthday that would be quite interesting as a present, then you need to think a little different. Here is a small test that will help you determine the appropriate gift based on the analysis of her personality type.

Take this test that consists of 5 simple and easy questions where you get three options A, B and C. Based on the option you have selected there will be a detailed analysis and at the end the personality types will be declared, if she falls in any one of the category then accordingly the gift ideas shall be suggested.

# 1 Generally, your girlfriend is

A) Talkative B) Shy C) Smart talker

# 2 The kind of movie she likes

A) Sci-fi/Action B) Romantic Comedy C) Horror/Drama

# 3 On a Sunday she would love to

A) Take up some fun activity B) Cook an awesome lunch C) Visit the mall

# 4 Her favorite apparel is

A) Skirts & Top B) Trendy Kurtis C) jeans and top

# 5 The characteristic traits of which of the following actress match her

A) Kareena Kapoor B) Alia Bhatt C) Anushka Sharma

Now, that you have completed the test, it is time for analysis, it is quite simple all you have to do is asses your answers as one of the three categories with mostly A's, B's or C's.

Results:

Mostly A's (If you got 3 or more A's)

Personality Type: Extrovert

Your girl is quite open minded and she loves to express herself, whether in good times or bad times. She wouldn't mind if she had to cry and when she is happy the vibes will be felt from a long distance. She is full of life and cheerful, and she loves to do distinct activities that speak a lot about her personality, she loves to take the charge if needed. For a girl like this, you have to do something fascinating as they are in look out for everything that is trendy. Something that would appeal to her could be tote bags, sunglasses or perfumes. She cannot be completely called eccentric but she surely is someone who would love to talk on and on, as this is her way of defining freedom.

Mostly B's (If you got 3 or more 3 B's)

Personality Type: Reserved

One of the basic elements and also the striking feature in such girls is their simplicity. The honest appearance and as a result making it clear that they are quite knowledgeable. They are cute and usually are on the submissive side, but are mentally strong and look for value and meaning in whatever they do. If you are looking to surprise someone like her then you must give her something from the category of personalized gifts. It would mean a lot to her, even something like a flower also goes on to make a sweet difference.

Mostly C's (If You got 3 or more 3 C's)

Personality Type: The modern Hipster

This could be quite a cool way to describe your girl if she shows the characteristic traits of a smooth talker and presents herself in a smart way and takes her own time to eventually mix up with people. She has that spunk which makes her stand out and talk of the ton. She is unique in her own ways and full of surprises, she defies the conventional and presents a personality that keeps you hooked on to her. She has a vivid fashion sense and it is all a part of her hipster aura. When gifting her you have got to be very creative and think out of the box to give her something, she would love something from the home décor section though. Because this personality type are often on the lookout to make things look good, and different, so the gift needs to be equally so.

By Suresh Mano

8 Korean Fashion Designer Brands of 2014

If you are a lover of Korean fashion you most definitely need to know about the following Korean fashion designer brands.

8 seconds

This is a brand of Chiel industries which is a subsidiary of Samsung Group. The brand provides a number of products that come in different tastes of active denim, trendy style, accessories, basic style, shoes, and handbags.

Control clother

This is a designer agency that aids in launching brands for both domestic and foreign distribution. Since it's hard for new designers to launch new brands and compete against the existing labels, control clother helps the new designers by training and giving them an opportunity to launch their products overseas.

WhoAU

It means "who are you," a term used to encourage individual expression. WhoAU brings about the casual and bright California styles of "west coast." the most amazing thing about WhoAU's collections is that they have the same basic designs which create excellent beach accents.

Crayon

This creates jewelry that you can mix and match with your clothes, attitude and nail art. The brand has many brands such as triangle bracelets, necklaces, cracker rings and earrings.

Judy and Joshua

This is a business that focuses on aesthetics to reinterpret a minimalist look. The brand is usually very sensitive to trends; therefore, all the products released by the business are always the most latest and get the fancy of many people. As a result of this the products released by the brand are easily bought.

RE; CODE

"Re" is meant to change the foundation of design while "code" means to create a culture of valuing the environment and sharing beyond fashion. This means that the intention of the brand is to create a consumer cycle that is caring for the environment.

The brand also aids in reducing waste and at the same time increases the quality of the products being manufactured.

Slog

This brand represents innovation in comfort and style. Clothes produced under this brand can be worn at home or when one is going on a brief outing.

Thavma

Thavma creates excellent bags using the finest cowhide leather from Italy. The brand's concept is divided into three categories:

• Various basic: it's aimed at creating products that are trendy. Here simple designs and diverse materials are used.

• Trendy utility chic: this one aims at producing products that are both practical and stylish

• Neo classic: this is developed as the brand's foundation

By Eileen Tan

Synopsis Of 'Oedipius Rex' By Sophocles

The story begins with a dialogue between Oedipus, the king of Thebes, and the priest, as they discuss the evil predicament that has befallen their land; blights on their harvest and grazing flocks. Oedipus informs the priest of having sent his consort brother, Menoeceus's son, Creon, to inquire from the Pythian Phoebus at his Delphic shrine, how the state might be saved.

Before long, Creon arrives bringing news from the gods. He says what they demand is the punishment, either by death or banishment, of the murderer of the past King, Laius son of Labdacus. Oedipus, who is new to the land, and keen to bring to light this criminal who is the cause of their woes, asks him details of the murder.

In another scene, Oedipus lays a curse on the killer, prohibits all Thebans from associating with him and encourages those who have knowledge of him to announce it.

The chorus/elders advise Oedipus to summon Teiresias, the blind seer, to give his opinion on the issue. But Oedipus had already sent Creon, in a much earlier time, to bring him to the palace.

Eventually, Teiresias, the widely renowned seer arrives at the palace. He is very unwilling to speak on the Laius and his murderer, the issue for which he was summoned; he in fact requests that he be allowed to take his leave. However, Oedipus accuses him of being the murderer. Hearing this, Teiresias made a counter-accusation by daring to say Oedipus himself was the man who killed Laius. After the exchange of invectives, Oedipus claims that Teiresias must have conspired with Creon to blemish and overthrow him. After hearing this, Teiresias prophesies that Oedipus will be exiled from Thebes and have his eyes no more after he discovers his true lineage.

Creon comes out to deny the king's allegations, asking what is he to gain from bidding to overthrow him. He would rather not inherit the position at such a trying time, because all he desires, fame and fortune, are already his; the crown is just a burden. Nevertheless, Oedipus threatens him with death, after he, Creon, suggested banishment.

Jocasta enters and pleads with her husband, Oedipus, to believe Creon for his oath's sake, for her sake and for the sake of the elders (chorus). She went ahead to enquire about the cause of the rift. After hearing the claim of the seer, she told him that it could not be true as it was formally predicted that Laius would be killed by his son at a spot where three roads meet. But obviously, he was murdered by highway robbers, as reported by the survivor of the attack. Oedipus was shocked on hearing this fact, so he asked where exactly the incident happened. Jocasta said Phocis, where roads from Daulis and Delphi meet. He asks further, trembling that perhaps the seer might be proven right, what the built of Laius was and how many attendants he had with him.

Oedipus then immediately demands that the Serf, who survived, be brought before him for questioning. He thereafter narrates the cause of his fear to Jocasta, how a drunkard once told him that he is not the true son of his seer (Polybus; and Merope, his mother), how he visited Delphi and Apollo told him of a prophesy that he would kill his father and sleep with his mother, how he ran away and killed some men when he got to the three-branching road. But there is hope of him not being the killer if the Serf confirms that indeed it was an army of robbers that killed Laius and not a lone wayfarer.

Shortly afterwards, a messenger comes from Corinth bringing news of Polybus's (Oedipus guardian) death, and the search for a new king. This gladdens Oedipus because it seems that the prophecies were false after all, as his father died not through his hands. Nevertheless, he mentions his fear of returning to Corinth because Merope, his mother, still lives and he does not want the second part of the prophecy to materialise.

The messenger offers to rid him of this fear by disclosing that Polybus and Merope are not his real parents, adding that it was he who gave him to Polybus, after another shepherd who is from Laius's palace hands him over to him. This other shepherd turns out to be the same as the witness of Laius's death.

Oedipus, against the wish of Jocasta, wants to get to the root of the matter. He wants to discover his true lineage. Hence, he asks, more emphatically, that the shepherd be brought for questioning.

In next to no time, the long-awaited shepherd who is expected to shed more light on the conundrum finally arrives. He was very reluctant to give straight answers to Oedipus's questions, he even rebuked the Corinthian messenger for saying Oedipus is the accursed child he gave to him years back. However, he soon admitted it, after Oedipus threatened him with death. He also admitted that Jocasta, his mother, gave him to her so that he may get rid of him.

Oedipus was devastated, that, after cursing himself, he immediately left the scene. Not long after his exit, a second messenger came in with the terrible news of Jocasta's death. She was said to have committed suicide through hanging. And then Oedipus himself inflicted injury on himself, he used the golden brooches on Jocasta's robe to smite his eyeballs, thereby blinding himself.

Oedipus, came out, a wretched scene he was. He asked that Creon exile him from the land into the desert so that no eye may behold him and Thebes may be freed from his curse. But Creon refused, firstly deciding to consult the gods, and then instructing Oedipus to leave by himself, if he must.

Such was the fate of Oedipus of Thebes, the son of Laius. And such was the evil calling and cunning desire of the gods. To kill his father, lay with his mother, and spend the rest of his miserable life groping in darkness and humiliation.

By Adekunle F Adebajo

Why the iPod Is A Horrible Idea for Wedding Reception Music

So you are on a tight wedding budget, and wondering where you can cut a few corners. Unfortunately, many couples have been wrongly advised to skimp on the reception entertainment.

In recent years, there have been several articles about how the technology of the day will allow you to "self-serve" your reception music via the iPod, as opposed to hiring a DJ. While the concept is interesting, and is initially attractive from a purely economic standpoint, there are several aspects of doing this that are unrealistic, inconvenient, inefficient, and cost far more than you think. Let's look at the facts of most receptions and see why this idea has no legs.

RECEPTION VENUE HOUSE SOUND

The typical reception venue's house sound system will consist of ceiling mount speakers. While these speakers are adequate for speeches and dinner music, they lack the frequency range, power, and low-end response for a party. Would you dance to an overhead speaker with less frequency response than a good car stereo? To overcome this issue, the option would be to rent a professional sound system at a cost of $400-$500. Keep in mind that this price range typically does not include delivery, set up, break down, or return of the equipment to the rental facility. Of course, you could do all that yourself, or get Uncle John to do it, but isn't this supposed to be a celebration for you and your guests to enjoy?

DJ VERSUS iPod... The rest of the story.

Aside from the sound system, there is dance lighting, emcee duties, planning assistance, music library, and the rarely understood talent of "reading a crowd". None of these things can be provided by an iPod.

Leaving the emcee duties to a family member may sound like a good idea, but do you want Uncle John working at the reception? Your family members and friends are there to celebrate with you. This also applies to the music flow. Will you simply create a playlist and let it go for 4-5 hours? What about timing? Will you spend hours calculating the timing of the music? If not, will Uncle John have double duty? What about requests? Will the iPod look at your dance floor, see that it is empty, and do something to fill it?

Good Disc Jockeys will spend ample time consulting with you on the flow and musical choices for your reception, and use his or her professional experience to properly announce your grand entrance, and the events of your timeline. They will also read your crowd, co-ordinate with the venue staff, photographers, and other vendors to make sure that everyone is in their proper place at the proper time.

Do yourself a favor the next time you read an article that says you should do it yourself... Hire a professional DJ within your budget. Expect to spend at least $700 on a quality wedding DJ service, and avoid DJ brokerage services. Statistics show that nearly 80% of people remember the entertainment more than any other aspect of the reception. Save the iPod for personal use.

By Phil A Tucker 

The Truth About The Michael Jackson Hologram Show - 2014 Billboard Awards

It was June 25th 2009 when Michael Jackson aka the king of pop at 50 years old came to an untimely end, just before the O2 comeback tour 'This Is It.' Indeed there has been plentiful publication out there covering the suspicious circumstances surrounding Michael's death. Whether it is speculation or fact you can draw your own conclusions.

It has to be said however, some pretty strange things happened before and after his death. Before the embarkation of the O2 tour his health came into question; whether or not he would be able to get through the gruelling schedule and handle the pressures...

At a financial low, one of his family members made the comment that he was worth more dead than alive. A comment like that is bound arouse suspicion. Then there was the apparent major 'slip up' by his brother Jermaine during an interview rousing more suspicion suggesting that Michael was still alive and had been secretly flown out of the country... Like I said I will leave you to draw your own conclusions. Having said that, will we ever know?

One thing for sure Michael had been quite vocal, expressing dissatisfaction over the 'evils of the music industry.' Then it looked like he was planning going on talks to expose the elite hidden powers that be with their conspiracies planned to achieve global domination...

Fast forward to recent times, last Sunday we had the 2014 Billboard Awards staged at Las Vegas. Indeed, the king of pop was back, this time in holographic form. The 'evils of the music industry' were demonstrated again by exploiting Michael's image. Still Michael hasn't got away from the elite hidden powers that be controlled music industry and certain connected individuals he so loathed.

Ironically, the song performed was 'Slave to Rhythm' taken from the posthumous album entitled 'Xscape.' Ironic because it was the music industry that had directly and indirectly sealed his inescapable fate.

The performance

On watching the performance I was truly taken aback. The performance had all the hallmarks of the elite hidden powers that be, indicating they had staged it. It starts off with a row of policemen fully clad in riot gear. With helicopters heard and spotlights giving us the impression of an oppressive police state scenario, there's no doubt that this is typical of other elite controlled music industry ideas. It has been the fashion for while.

Then, centre stage, surrounding Michael's holographic projection sat at a throne is a number of occult symbols signifying the control of the elite hidden powers that be. I found the whole thing very strange: Then Michael's ghost figure gets up and starts singing and dancing...

When Michael sits down on the throne again the audience start to clap and cheer. Okay, the audience are aware that Michael died some years ago and that they're expressing their appreciation to a ghost, but I wondered how many knew about the hidden hand controlling the settings and their awful planned agenda.

By Paul A Philip

Violin Rosin: Essential for Beginning Players

So, you've purchased your child a violin. Most likely, whether you purchased the violin from a private party, online, or from a brick and mortar violin shop, you now have a violin and violin bow in a violin case. That's a great start but, unfortunately, only the beginning of acquiring the most essential violin accessories necessary to providing your child the most complete playing and learning experience possible.

One of the small but very important accessories you can purchase for your child is violin rosin. Actually, "important" doesn't go far enough. Violin rosin (or rosin for the viola and cello) is essential. It's so vital that even if you have a bow and a violin, your child will not be able to play the instrument without rosin.

What is rosin? Rosin is a small, smooth and semi-transparent round or rectangular cake that fits in the palm of your hand. It is made from the tree sap of various conifers, like pine, that is hardened and varies in color from light amber to very dark brown. Rosins are now available in a synthetic blend made for those who are allergic to tree sap.

How is it used? The student should tighten their bow to the appropriate tension for playing and then rub the bow hairs back and forth along the cake of rosin. Typically, a bow only needs a few passes across the rosin once the hair has been broken in but a freshly rehaired bow may need quite a bit more passes across the rosin to achieve the desired effect. The rosin is a sticky substance that adheres to the bow hairs and allows the bow to better grip the violin strings by increasing friction when drawing the bow across the stings.

There are different grades of rosin available for beginners, intermediate players or professionals and rosin does differ between instruments. The smaller string instruments like violins and violas typically require the lighter rosin, while cello rosin tends to be darker colored. The quality of rosin is dependent on other substances that have been added to the mix that modify not only the color of the cake, but also the friction properties. Rosin ranges in cost, from anywhere between $3 a cake to $48 for the higher-end professional grades.

It's always best to ask the advice of a professional, whether you're purchasing rosin at a violin shop or an online violin store that sells violin accessories like rosin. You may also ask your child's teacher for his or her recommendation of which grade of rosin is best for your child.

Just remember: each time the violin is played, rosin dust accumulates on the strings over time. It is wise to purchase string-polishing cloths to wipe away excess rosin from the strings every so often.

By Nathan Weiss