Listening to Books Is Exciting

Ever since I was a little child, I have been reading. I read books at as young an age as the age of three. My dad bought me a composition book and I learned how to write. After I learned how to write, I started reading what I wrote and eventually, I read what others wrote in books. My dad bought me a lot of books with pictures in them. Even though I enjoyed looking at the pictures more, I still loved reading the words. I took reading for granted back then, however, I now realize how invaluable it is. Currently, when I read, I cannot help but pronounce the words aloud, because I want to feel each word on the page enter my brain.

Reading out loud, whether with my voice, or through sub-vocalization is something that reminds me of the days when my dad would read to me. It also reminds me of the tapes my dad bought me where a lady or gentleman read nursery rhymes to me. I miss having the words read to me and that's why I read them to myself. Whenever I read a classic book, like The Great Gatsby or The Catcher in the Rye, I read aloud to myself. It takes me longer to finish the book, because I get exhausted vocalizing each word.

Luckily, there's new technology available where I can listen to a book instead of reading it aloud. Books are a very entertaining form of media because the words speak straight to one's heart. One is not distracted by the looks of actors or actresses. He or she is not distracted by the sounds of the score or by the cinematography. He or she can just focus on the actual words themselves and the action of the plot. It is why audio books are a great form of entertainment in today's world.

I have read many classic books and I understood them deeply. However, my understanding will certainly grow when I purchase them in the audio format and listen to them. The details that I missed while reading aloud to myself will be revealed when I listen to the audio versions of the classical tales. It will be like watching a movie without all the cinematographic hoopla. Listening is very powerful, certainly a highly dominant way of receiving information. From now on, I am listening to an audio version of a book, shortly after reading it.

By Michael Ssali

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

Current Korea Fashion Trend

Korea is a giant when it comes to fashion. Just like anywhere else in the world, fashion in Korea keeps on changing depending on people's tastes and preferences. At this time of the year one great piece of clothing that is making a re-appearance is the pastel.

Experts believe the reason why this clothing is making a reappearance is because it's palette soothing and easy on the eyes. The piece of clothing is also very flattering regardless of the type of outfit that you are wearing it with.

In addition to Pastels, pullovers, long-sleeve shirts and dresses in pink, salmon, peach, orange and aqua are very common both in the office and on the streets.

Statement stripes are being donned by thousands of people who never get tired of this external trend. There are many types of stripes that are being worn by different people. The different stripes are: candy stripes, nautical lines, geometric prints, tribal streaks, and hairline stripes. The good side is that the clothes are being worn by both men and women.

These pieces of clothing are made from different fabrics such as organic cotton, jersey, and lace. Presence of different fabrics gives a wide range of options to choose from thus you are able to have an easy time when you want to look and feel cool.

As Korea is preparing for summer there has been great changes in the manner of dressing. One great style that is rearing this summer is the sailor look.

People are been seen wearing a number of sailor outfits inspired by the sea, marine life and sailors themselves. The outfits have white and blue color schemes, anchors, double breasted tops, sailor collars, and stripes. Each of these creates a different look which makes the wearer look unique.

Sailor print dress is one of the most common dresses at this time. This dress has a different front and back. The front is simple with a sailor collar print while the back has a flashier look with gold buttons. Since it's a loose fit, the dress gives the wearer a formal look.

There is also the sailor print blouse which is a sailor collar print with lettering embroidery. The shirt has an unbalanced length which gives an elegant look. When it's paired with a skirt, the shirt creates a girlish look; however, when it's paired with pants it creates a boyish look.

This is the current fashion trend in Korea. If you live in Korea and you would like to be part of the trend you need to ensure that you buy your products from reputable stores that stock high quality products.

By Eileen Tan

The Father of a King (2006-2012; Updated 2014)

When his first child of his second marriage-a boy, was old enough to attend college, he found him a private college to attend, and sent him to medical school, he was very proud he could do that with the money in which he sold his wife's condo for, to pay for the college tuition, although they had another home, the condo was an investment, which they rented out.

He, the father, felt as if he came from a line of kings. And his son played the game, of course he was. So for nearly two years he just paid the bills, the tuition- giving it to the boy, to pay for the schooling, and watched his investment money dwindle to zero.

Fine, his uncle brought up: how can my brother-in-law's boy, watch so much television in the afternoons, and then just fall to sleep watching it, wake up whenever, rest the rest of the afternoon, and just mosey about the house and cafe, and not have to study to pass those heavy-duty school tests, he must be a genus! I mean this was obvious to the uncle, who ate at their restaurant every day, but evidently not to the Father of a king, or the boy's family per se.

And it was at the end of that second year, the father got a notice that his son was not doing not so well in college, that he should make arrangements to find future schooling elsewhere, and perhaps a different career, in some other area than medical.

Well, this was a blow not only to the father, but the mother as well. But why was he doing so bad, was never made clear. Thus, he went to teller school, to become a bank teller, yes, a bank teller of all things-from a medical career to a bank teller, to a department store teller, to being unemployed, all in the following additional two years. But the kicker is this: he was doing badly because he was giving his tuition money to his girlfriend, he wasn't for the most part, attending college those last several months. Yes, I said girlfriend, who was also working on a professional career, can you beat that. Then when she graduated, she flew the coop, and went to another city, and the father of the king, and his wife, were stultified over the matter, but what can you do. Just go cook some more goulash, or chicken or whatever-get it off your mind it will madden you. Or it would me!

Now I got to backtrack a bit, before all this took place, this other situation took place.

The father of the king, inherited $40,000-dollars. And his daughter of his second family, was coming of age to attend college. But he had two other daughters from a previous marriage, both in their mid-twenties, both having finished college, one married, the other one had a good and steady job, - both like the father, thinking highbrow thoughts.

One wanted their father to put money down on a condo for her, the other wanted to pay up some bills- and they wanted the $40,000-dollars to do it with; the apple doesn't fall far from the cart, as they say, or tree: these two daughters were evidently princess' of a grandfather king.

"I'll look into it right away," he told both of them, and he did by bring the issue up to his present wife, he told her, "They're my children from before you; I'll attend to it myself."

(Now before I go any further, let me point out this: the house they now live in is hers, inherited from her family, the car he drives is hers from her work money, the land he will eventually sell, is the land she has inherited. So you see, what is his, is his, and what is hers is his... if not so it would seem so... )

And the two daughters, played the game, as if he came from a line of kings, and they too.

Then in a week he had signed the papers for the daughter's apartment-she per near hogtied him inside the lawyers office to make sure he signed on the dotted line; and he sent his other daughter the other $20,000-dollars- the very one that was rude to him when he had come visiting for a long spell, and was told often: "Are you still here?"

Nobody could tell him what to do, I mean nobody on either side of the globe, could tell the father of the king what to do.

He had the money, he bought their love.

"All right" said his other youngest daughter, the one from the present marriage, the daughter now ready to attend college: "which college are you expecting me to attend?" she asked the father. I mean all the money was gone.

He had sold some of his wife's land that she had inherited from her family, invested it into a café. He made a little profit from it. It was tight, but he figured he could afford to have her attend the area's National University, -it wasn't all that prestigious- but it would have to do.

It was good thinking, businesslike thinking for once, but she couldn't pass the tests either, so he put her into a private college-I hate to say it but I will, like brother like sister, although she had a little more stamina, and better grades, and fortitude.

And she played the game just like her two older half-sisters played, as if he came from a line of kings, of course he did.

And as the business flourished-the café business, he became boorish, ill-mannered, and he lost customers, he told his family and friends "Keep out of my business," no one on either side of the globe could tell him otherwise.

"All right, if that's the way you feel about it," they all said, complied, then inferred: to your own business. And they stopped eating at his café-wouldn't you?

Well, the kids never helped much-that same old thing: sister like brother, and there were two brothers, one younger one older, the younger one not yet ready for college, and perhaps will never have the chance to get ready, and if given the chance, what then? But that's yet to be seen, they have good godparents, with deep pockets, at least the younger boy does.

By Dennis Siluk Dr.h.c.

Star-Crossed Lovers

This beautiful, heart-tugging, mind-stretching Young Adult novel centers hauntingly around cancer-stricken students, especially focusing on Hazel Grace and her cancerous lungs and Augustus (Gus) who befriends her. They meet at a cancer anonymous center in an old church, where Gus, who has beaten cancer but lost a leg in the process, mesmerizes Hazel, who slowly falls in love with him.
Their parents are very supportive.
Hazel has read a book obscurely entitled An Imperial Affliction, by Peter Van Houten, numerous times that ends abruptly without a conclusion. She and her male friend make use of his Cancer Wish to make a trip to the picturesque Netherlands, with her mother, to visit the reclusive author to find out what happened to the characters in the book after the alleged death of a child with cancer.
The meeting is a disaster. Hazel and Gus find the author insulting, somewhat irrational, and unwilling to talk about his book, and he detests Americans, even though he is one. However, the star-crossed lovers' visit is not completely wasted. Thanks to Houten's assistant, they find themselves exposed to the scenic beauty of the city of Amsterdam and romantic dining. The author through his character Hazel treats the reader to a vicarious experience of the delights of the country.
There are numerous thoughts about the meaning of life, youth angst, and related references to various famous authors like Anne Frank and T. S. Eliot. The novel is both sad and emotion-wrenching but also inspiring through the unquenchable spirits of the characters, whom the author John Green has fleshed out well. I was so impressed by the star-crossed lovers that I immediately ordered two more of Green's works: Looking for Alaska and Paper Towns, the latter an unusual mystery, both focusing on troubled, free-spirited girls.
The following passage from the book emphasizes the poignancy and resilience of the story and its characters in an intimate scene between Hazel and Gus:
"The space around us (Hazel narrating) evaporated, and for a weird moment I really liked my body; this cancer-ruined thing I'd spent years dragging around suddenly seemed worth the struggle, worth the chest tubes and the PICC lines and the ceaseless bodily betrayal of the tumors".
In a scene from the Support Group, Hazel underscores the horror of one member's type of cancer to illustrate the pain and anguish he experiences but stoically deals with. This person, named Isaac, has cancer of an eye: "... his eyes were the problem... One eye had been cut out when he was a kid, and now he wore the kind of thick glasses that made his eyes (both the real one and the glass one preternaturally huge, like his whole head was basically just this fake eye and this real eye staring at you... From what I gather on the rare occasions when Isaac shared with the group, a recurrence had placed his remaining eye in mortal peril... "
What is cancer? Gus, when he and Hazel arrive in Amsterdam, reveals shocking news and adds that it is a war between a disease and a person: "... My cancer is me. The tumors are made of me... It is a civil war, Hazel Grace, with a predetermined winner".
Have some tissue handy--you who are prone to tears! I guarantee that the reader will find it almost impossible to lay the novel aside once he or she starts reading it.
A final note: Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort, the brother and sister Tris and Caleb in the film Divergent, by Veronica Roth, co-star in the film version of The Fault in Our Stars that is due out in theaters in June.

Copeland is the author of The Patient Quest, a novella available Print-on-Demand, and four books published electronically through Kindle. The writer is a former journalist, editor, and teacher.

By Harry C Copeland

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

To Beat the Red!

To beat the Red!

(... or, 'The Loop!') 1992

In St. Paul, Minnesota or for that matter in other cities as well people are inclined to call a certain area of the city, in particular a busy area, such as downtown St. Paul, the Loop; it's kind of an area you circle around in a loop with you automobile. Drivers do it to look at girls, sell drugs, and check the inner city out. Girls walk the loop to be picked up, or drug dealers stand on corners to sell drugs, that kind of thing. And those not into that kind of stuff, mosey about it crisscrossing the streets to get to other parts of the city, to and fro.

In St. Paul there was such a thing, location, in downtown, it circled around a number of bars, and Seventh Street, and a bus station, a few show houses, a parking lot, the loop had just about everything a night shopper or night adventurist would be seeking.

Hence, when you stopped at the red light at 'Wabasha and Seventh,' you were facing a stop-and-go-light, in this case I had stopped on the red light. Sometimes when I'd stop, the light would turn nearly instantly Green to Go! And of course you'd catch now and then a pedestrian off-guard. And they'd run to cross to get to the other side, lest they get jammed in by the oncoming, slough of cars. This of course being the logical thing to do. While others seemed to have foresight, and be waiting at the corner for the light to turn Green for them to go, and not rushing anything, so as not to be caught in-between.

Sometimes you'd even see people eating this and that as they were moseying across the street on a yellow, and then turn green kind of jumping the gun as they say, then rushing to escape the rush of cars.

So you see, crossing or crisscrossing the streets at a loop, has many variables. And usually when I'd blow the horn, they'd wake up, if half asleep, run to the other side to escape the approaching cars, if indeed this was the case at hand. It's kind of like knowing your rights, and not wanting the other person to violate them, that is to say, if you had, or have the right-of-way.

People around this loop, back in the day-or twenty-two years ago, when this mishap took place, the people were like flocks of quails, and when they'd reach the other side sometimes you'd see a face or two among the other faces, in triumph, especially if they were trying to beat the odds, rushing on a yellow light to join the flock, before the red appeared. And god-forbid it be rush-hour and you find someone playing the suicide game: starting out on a yellow, 'to beat the red!'

This old drunk, the man who stepped off the corner of the sidewalk, who had walked down from a local bar, from up the block, stepped out on a yellow light, unknowingly I believe; looking ahead in his hazy drunken stumper, seeing other folks across the two way, four-lane crossing, and seeing them folks stepping up from a green light, that now was yellow, but perhaps was green when he first saw it-half drunk I should say-it was late Friday afternoon, close to rush-hour, when everyone wants to get home for the weekend, take off early from work. No exception, me too.

He fiddled about in his pocket, I believe he had a pint of whiskey he was feeling for, and to make sure it was still there, what else could it be?

And as in inferred, he looked pretty looped himself, now in the middle of the loop. I told myself as the streetlight as it turned red for him, 'woops, now what?' It was green for the cars, red for the walkway.

There must have been three dozen cars on both sides of the streets, ready to go West from East, it was a four-lane street, two west, two east, I was west, and there were cars to my left, and in front of me, and the drunk was nearly in the middle of the two lanes, some thirty-five feet in front of me, going south from north, and a dozen cars on my side hit their accelerator, steering right towards the drunk, perhaps sixty-years old. What was on his mind? What was the matter with him? He stopped as the cars approached him, was it physical tiredness? I was inclined to stop, he was to my right, and cars now passing me, and now him, cars in front of me and in back of me, he was unsure of his next move, and the cars were unsure of his next move as I was also unsure of his next move and so I stopped right in the middle of the intersection, as now cars circle around me: and the car in back of me stopped also, and the car in back of him, maneuvered around both of us, not knowing why we had stopped, he didn't see the old man, the old man smiled at me, put out his thumb as if in triumph, and as he took a step forward, that car cut his thumb into shreds, with his side mirror, and now the old man froze in place, looking at what was left of his thumb, gushing red, spurting up blood like a flood, or gusher, or what was left of it; had a dog been nearby, he'd had had himself a little jump for an afternoon snack. It was being held by a thread, no more.

Now I drove by him, I knew he'd not move, he was in some kind of monothematic moment: what just happened?

As I drove down to the next stop-and-go-light, I heard a policeman's whistle from behind me... , the rest I assumed, an ambulance would soon be forth coming.

By Dennis Siluk Dr.h.c.

How to Prepare for Any Event

It's quite rare that you can write and read a one size fits all guide which will work for (almost) any situation within a particular field. When it comes to event furniture hire and planning though, there's a basic system you will always need to follow in order to make sure everything goes perfectly to plan.

• Setting the date

You will be working around this for everything you do next, so it's vital that you get this sorted in advance. Make sure it's something you can do, and one which gives you enough time to plan the rest of the event and organise event furniture hire and the like. While it might be tempting to change the date so that everyone can come, you'll find that this is rarely - if ever - the case anyway.

Most events can be planned and organised in two weeks, but longer is always preferable.

• Sort the guest list

This is another important factor which will help you to determine how big a venue you will need and how much event furniture hire you will need to do. Work out just who you'll be inviting, and remember that around 20% of your invitees are likely to turn down your invitation due to other commitments.

• The venue

Now you know how many people you will be asking to attend, you can look for venues large enough to host this number. Always pick somewhere which can cope with the maximum you'll be having (as well as few extra places in case you've forgotten anyone, or someone wants to take a plus one along with them.

The venue should be easy to reach. You might have guests who plan to walk, drive, or to take public transport, so make sure all of them will have a way of attending. No parking can be a real parking, but if there's a public car park nearby, provide instructions on how to get from there to the venue on foot.

• Send the invites

Now everything is set in stone, it's time to let your guests know. Give them as much notice as you can, so this can be done as soon as you have booked the venue. Ask whether there are any specific dietary requirements which will need to be catered for, and provide contact details so you can answer any questions which may arise.

• Furniture hire

Now you have an empty room, and people who will be in attendance. Make sure they're not making a wasted trip by filling that room and preparing your event. You're likely to need an event furniture hire company to provide seating and tables, but the needs will differ from event from event. If you're not sure what you need or what would work well, speak to the event furniture hire company themselves who will be able to give you the best advice possible (after all, they're likely to have done this before).

• Catering

If your event requires food and drink, now is the time to organise that particular element. This might be a sit down meal or it could be a just light refreshments like tea and biscuits.

By George Soderburg

The Status of Art in Dubai

With its modern buildings and cosmopolitan air, Dubai is known as a contemporary, high tech emirate and few people associate this image with art. However, Dubai is home to several widely acclaimed artists and those who live there often have the possibility of going to galleries and shows. In fact, an artistic air can be felt in the entire area: from the awe-inspiring skyscrapers designed by some of the most renowned architects in the world, to the interesting film and music festivals, Dubai itself has been called a work of art many times. For this article, we will focus on the growing influence and popularity of visual arts such as painting, photography and prints.

Many galleries are in operation with frequent openings. For example, the emirate is home to Carbon 12 Dubai, an internationally recognized gallery. It was established in 2008, as the first gallery in the region to initiate a comprehensive, firmly global, program of institution-grade artists. Some of the artists that are featured during this event are Rui Chafes, Andre Butzer, Katherine Bernhardt, Birgit Graschopf, Philip Mueller and Ralf Ziervogel.

The exhibitions on Alserkal Avenue District are very popular and they have been featured in various regional and international art magazines. Alserkal is doubling in size by the end of 2014 adding more space and strength to its relevance. Another key Art Fair is Art Dubai, located in Madinat Jumeirah, which hosts galleries from more than 30 countries. It is recognized as the most important Art Fair in the Middle East. Also, the SIKKA Art Fair in traditional Dubai, Al Bastakiya area was established in 2011 and aims to promote young, and establishing contemporary artists. Another place of interest for art and culture enthusiasts is Gallery Isabelle van den Eynde representing some of the most important regional artists.

Due to the fact that Dubai is a very popular tourist attraction and transit hub, the audience for the above mentioned galleries comprises thousands of foreigners who are interested in following the evolution of the local art scene. However, the emirate seems to place bigger emphasis on its global artistic status, so there is considerable online promotion of these events too. Also, with the Expo 2020 coming, Dubai has engaged itself into establishing its self as a world leader in creativity, innovation and online connectivity. Those who cannot get to Dubai to see the galleries can see an art gallery online and appreciate the most notable works. Even more, enthusiasts and art lovers no longer have to go to the seller in person if they want to purchase a painting or a photograph, because they can order everything online.

It goes without saying that the transition towards online accessibility is regulated by quality standards. Those who purchase art online also get a certificate of authenticity and can choose from multiple framing options. Although paintings are still extremely popular, clients are beginning to show a growing interest in the artistic value of contemporary photography. Some of them are art collectors, but there are also individual clients who need modern photographs for their home decoration or as corporate centerpieces. Even if Dubai is less known for its art up to now, the emirate is rapidly establishing into a creative hub and becoming a landmark for arts. In conclusion, those who love paintings, photography and art prints and would like to find out how vibrant Dubai has contributed to the regional and global art scene can visit the most important galleries in that area or they can see them online, where some of them can also be purchased.

By Groshan Fabiola