What Do You Do If You "Find a Strad?"

A Stradivarius Violin in Your Attic? How to Know.

It would be a great shock to the world of fine stringed instruments if a lost violin from a great Italian luthier turned up. Many imitations were made 100 years ago.

It is not unusual to come across a violin in someone's attic, at a flea market or any other such corners of life where forgotten items surface. Sometimes the condition of the instrument makes it obvious that a student long ago abandoned the instrument when other pursuits just took over. Other times, the condition of the instrument or its case or something known about the owner - an eccentric uncle with some money, perhaps - lend the situation a bit of excitement.

Could it be? Is it possible? This excitement is heightened even further when a name, presumably of its maker, is on a label or stamped inside the f-hole of the instrument, on the back plate. There it is! It says "Stradivarius"!

Alas, there are many violins that were made toward the end of the Victorian era, in the late 19th century, that were falsely labeled with the names of the fabled great luthiers: Stradivari, Stainer, Guarnerius, Amati or Maggini among them. They were considered of a "student" level of quality at the time, and the ruse of their violin shops was less a lie than homage: the makers were saying the violins were made in the same style or to approximate the physical specifications of the great Italian violinmakers of the earlier era.

Recently, the excitement around the dollar value of antique violins (and violas and cellos) rose considerably, and raised controversy, when Chicago rare violin dealer Jeff Fushi placed the 269-year-old "Vieuxtemps" Guarneri del Gesu up for sale for $18 million in 2010. At last check it has yet to sell, but it illustrates what has happened with rare violins. Over the past 50 years, their value has appreciated 26,000 percent (compared to the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which in the same time period has risen a mere 1,400 percent). Indeed, the problem has now arisen that only millionaires and billionaires can afford them. At best, the instruments are loaned to great contemporary players, concertmasters and soloists with the world's top orchestras. Otherwise, they are held as precious investments, perhaps seen by a rarefied group but only infrequently heard.

There are less than one thousand instruments by Guarneri and Stradivari in existence, and the discovery of a lost stringed instrument found by these or other great makers would be exceedingly rare. If you find one of the 19th century imitations, expect its value to be under $1500 (with a few exceptions) and that to restore it to playable condition could easily cost as much money or more. But do not be embarrassed about asking a professional in a shop for fine violins to look at it - they are accustomed to these requests, and are responsible to all ends of the market to encourage a love of violins (and violin playing) while providing a realistic assessment and encouragement. Even the fake "Strads" were once made, sold and purchased with intent to create beautiful music.

By Nathan Weiss 

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

Have You Fallen Away?

The glory is departed from Israel. The glory has departed from God's people; the power of God has departed from his Church, the Body of Jesus Christ. The church today is operating in the flesh. Our own wills, our own desires, and ideas. We claim to be seeking the Lords' Will but continue to use the trends and devices of the world to try and win the world over to our side. We are not supposed to be of the world, we are to be the direct opposite!

John 15:19
If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

John 17:14
I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

1John 2:16
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

The church today has become a world friendly church. It doesn't want to offend anyone's own personal or spiritual beliefs. The church changes the word of God so that it is politically correct and non-offensive. By doing this they distort the word of God and deceive the people. The church and its leaders ignore the congregation and issues in our local communities and in the world. The church turns a blind eye to the problems within its own body. The church looks for new ideas and gimmicks to bring in the lost and in doing this the infiltration of the enemy has come in like a flood. The churches eyes are dim to the immorality and witchcraft that has invaded its sanctuaries. The church is in rebellion and out of order and in chaos. The church has ignored the warnings. The church has closed its eyes and ears to the Lords instructions. The church is filled with paganism, spiritualism, symbolism and false doctrine.

Where is the concern for the lost? All that is seen in the church today is religion, pride and arrogance!

Are you feeding from the world?

• Are you more worried about which designer clothes to wear than having your mind and heart ready to commune with God?

• Are you more worried about Facebook, Twitter, and other social media than opening up and reading your bible?

• Are you more worried about sitting in front of the TV to watch your favorite show that having a nightly family bible study?

• Do you walk in the church and gossip about the people and events that are in it or do you go straight into prayer for the pastor and his message?

• Would you rather be entertained by radio and be distracted by the things of this world than be concern about the men and women that are lost around you?

• Have you replaced the reading of the word with worship?

• Has the altar become a stage of seduction, self-righteousness, or a dance floor?

• Are you lusting after one another in the pews you are sitting in at church?

• Are you wearing seductive clothing in the House of God? Are you so full of yourself (the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life) that people can't see Christ through you?

• Are you more concerned about what time you are going to get out of church and what you are going to eat? When was the last time you heard a message that convicted you so strongly and left you so shaken that your last thought was on what you were going to eat?

Jeremiah 18:15
Because my people hath forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity, and they have caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient paths, to walk in paths, in a way not cast up;

Isaiah 55:8
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

By Dan Roller

Old Man Oscar (1981)

"You know," said Oscar, with trembling lips. The old man then lost his thoughts. He did not speak, -speak, he blurted out, as often he did, unrecognizable words, when there wasn't much to say. I don't think he intended to that it should happen, but unless I had something more to say, he didn't really speak, it was a mumble unto himself. Of course we would never have become friends had he not spoke.

He was eighty-six years old, in 1981, I was thirty-six, and by the end of fall I would have written my first book, "The Other Door" and Oscar would be in the book, at least by name, so he did inspire me.

Anyhow, sometimes when I visited Oscar at the Old Folks Farm, I wanted to say: "Oscar, in the name of goodness, what are you babbling about," on my semiweekly visits, but I never did for that full summer of 1981.

He was always a little bewildered why I just happened to come by, all of a sudden one day, alone one day, spot him sitting on the wooden bench, out in front of the Old Folks Farm, off White Bear Avenue, then once spotted, to approach him, introducing myself to him, and that was that. Oscar was bewildered, but he left well enough alone, he liked the company, and the conversation, and the Ice Cream I brought him. Plus I never did answer him that question.

No, I never told him, I don't think to; that was thirty-three years ago, now I'm the old man.

It was an assignment I was working on my Master's Degree, and he was part of my assignment, that was my motivation in meeting him.

We got to know each other pretty well, and we laughed with incredulous pleasure.

As I said, he didn't speak much or ask silly questions, I suppose he was found of me, so he said. I was surprised I too, care for him as much as I did.

A few times that summer he said, "I was expecting you to come visit, and I waited until dark, but you never came." When he told me that I went coldly silent; knowing my assignment was over, I did not make visiting him a priority anymore. But for some odd reason I just had to come back.

"Forgive me," I rejoined. "I've been pretty busy."

His children never came to visit him, not once to my knowledge. I was the only one. And I thought it better not to tell him about the assignment, it would hurt him, and I doubt it mattered all that much. Actually I somewhat regretting the assignment was over.

He had, and he knew this, nothing to offer but old age, some roughness a little coarseness, in exchange for an hour's chitchat, weekly or semiweekly; nor did he have any wealth, actually he was penniless, not even enough money for an ice-cream cone. I gave him a few dollars once, and he had one of the cleaning crew boys go down and pick him up some ice-cream, so he mentioned it to me in passing. Of course his poverty, was not his fault-he was among the majority of old folks back then; he inevitable had lived, I told myself.

At the end of summer, I went back after a month's absence, I suppose we were really into fall. He wasn't outside. I somewhat shuddered and clung close to the wooden bench he always sat on. I had thought this might happen and it was a terrible day for me, it sickened me to think he had passed on, dreadful. There was something in me, in him that I never knew until then. I never thought to care so much for a passing stranger, perhaps he thought the same way too.

By Dennis Siluk Dr.h.c.

How To Configure Your Reception Area

It's extremely important for your event to have an ease of traffic flow through your event timeline. From your grand entrance, to the last dance, you won't want to have to snake your way through tables, (or in the case of a very large reception) travel back and forth across a huge room.

1. Match your configuration to your timeline:

For example:

Looking in from the main entrance: If your cake is located in the far left corner of the venue, your wedding party table is right wall center, and the dance floor is straight ahead toward the rear wall, you would be best served by cutting your cake prior to your first dances. It allows you to flow back toward your table (if needed) as you cycle through your timeline. This gives the venue staff ample time to portion the cake for your guests while you dance, and toss the bouquet/garter, and puts you on the dance floor when open dancing begins.

Some venues will have a tendency to place the DJ in a corner. In the worst cases we have seen, placement of 20-30 feet from the dance floor with guest tables between! Often this terrible configuration is done in an effort to make the dance floor the center of attention, and while I agree with the concept, the execution makes for an uncomfortable evening for the guests at those tables.

Corner placement of the DJ is fine, assuming that the placement allows the sound to radiate evenly through the room, and has a balanced and primary focus on the dance floor. If this cannot be achieved naturally, then consider an extended sound set up. Extended sound set ups place additional speakers (with separate volume control) strategically in the room.

2. NEVER PLACE TABLES BETWEEN THE DJ AND THE DANCE FLOOR.

They say that typing in all caps is the equivalent of yelling... Well maybe I am, but that is only because of how important it is to never do this. Never allow your venue to do this. Never allow your planner to do this. Did I say NEVER?

While this won't affect the reception during dinner, it will when the party starts. Professional speakers put out anywhere from 200-1000 watts RMS of sound with SPL's of 90 (a jack hammer)-136 (rock concert) db. That's technical jargon for "the poor folks sitting at these tables are at risk for an unpleasant night at best, and hearing loss at worst."

Utilizing these two tips will help you to insure a fun and memorable evening! For more ideas and advice on planning, visit our website, and share your comments and questions with us!

By Phil A Tucker

The 110-Most Interesting Readings

Here is my selection for the best readings, a personal list, out of a 1000-selections.
The Gospels (Mathew, Mark, Luke, John) 31 A.D.
Epic of Gilgamesh
(John Garn Gardner & John Maier, translated: poetic) 2700 B.C.
Iliad (Homer: poetic) 800 B.C.
The Odyssey (Homer)
Aeneid (Vigil)
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (J.R.R. Tolkien, translated)
Alexander Trilogy (by: Mary Renault) three-books 325 B.C.
The Republic (and, Plato's Atlantis, 450 B.C.)
Grendel (John Gardner)
Beowulf (9th Century)
The Tale of Troy (by John Masefield; Epic Poem) 1250 B.C.
Book of Job (Poetic) 2200 B.C.
Song of Solomon (Poetic) 1000 B.C.
Sandalwood and Jade (Poems by: Lin Carter) 1951
Galleon of Dreams (poems by: Lin Carter) 1953
The Great Stone Face (Hawthorn)
A Movable Feast (Hemingway)
The Unvanquished (by Faulkner)
In the Beginning... (Joseph Ratzinger)
Dracula's Guest (Bram Stoker)
The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket
(Only Novel by E.A. Poe) 1838
The Story of Philosophy (by Will Durant)
The Raven and other Poems (Edger Allen Poe) 1845
Silence in the Snowy Fields (poems by Robert Bly)
The Branch Will not Break (poems by James Wright)
Life of Cicero (by Robert Harris) 2 books
Pillars of the Earth (by Ken Follett)
Tobacco Road (by Erskine Caldwell)
The Road Back (by Erich Maria Remarque)
The Source (by James Michener)
Before Adam (Jack London)
This Side of Paradise (by F. Scott Fitzgerald)
Huckleberry Finn (by Mark Twain)
Absalom, Absalom! (By Faulkner)
Sound and the Fury (by Faulkner)
Life along the Mississippi (by Mark Twain)
Men without Women (by Hemingway)
Save Me the Waltz (Zelda Fitzgerald)
Robin Hood (11th Century)
Hamlet (William Shakespeare)
Ariel (Plath: poetry)
Theseus: The King Must Die &
The Bull from the Sea (Mary Renault) 2-books (1250 B.C.)
The Grass Crown & Sequel (Coleen Macaulay) 2-books
The Book of Folly (Anne Sexton)
Crow (Ted Hughes: Poetry)
Lilith (by George Sterling: Poetic)
Nigger to Nigger (E.C. L. Adams)
The Liar of the White Worm (Bram Stoker)
The Game (by Jack London)
Anomalous Phenomena &
Homeward Bound (Jules Verne) SF 2-books
A Night in Lisbon (by Erich Maria Remarque)
Night over Water (Ken Follett)
Chicago Poems (Carl Sandburg)
Twenty Poems of Georg Trakl
Twenty Poems of Cesar Vallejo
Tender is the Night (F. Scott Fitzgerald)
The Children of Húrin (by J.R.R. Tolkien)
The Man with the Hoe (Markham: Poetry)
Twenty Prose Poems (Charles Baudelaire)
In Country Sleep (Dylan Thomas: Poems)
The Selected Poetry of Robinson Jeffers
The Last Trumpet and the Woodbridge Demon
The Tale of Willie the Humpback Whale
Dark Odyssey (Donald Wandrei)
Mary, Called Magdalene (Winthrop & Frances Neilson)
Windy McPherson's Son (Sherwood Anderson)
The Fifty Column... (Hemingway)
Go, Down Moses (Faulkner)
Verses in Ebony (Robert E. Howard)
The Notorious Jumping Frog... (Twain)
The Night Born (Jack London)
The dragons of Eden (Carl Sagan)
The Grand Design & Black Holes
(Stephen Hawking... ) 2-books
Music for Chameleons (Truman Capote)
The Doctor and the Devils (Dylan Thomas)
The Bell Jar (Sylvia Plath)
Habitant of Dusk (August Derleth: poems)
Songs and Sonnets Atlantean (Donald Fryer: 9000 B.C.)
The Four Million (O. Henry)
The Dwarf (Par Lagerkvist)
The Windmills (Los Molinos) Poetry of: Juan Parra del Rigo
The Last Tomb (Michael Grichton as: John Lange)
Private Latitudes (Michael Crichton)
Journey (by Jams A. Michener)
The Colossus (Plath: poems)
Men at War (Hemingway)
Scenes and Portraits: The King of Uruk
(By Frederic Manning)
Arch of Triumph (by Erich Maria Remarque)
Heaven Has no Favorites (by Erich Maria Remarque)
Hawthorn's Short Stories (1946, Edition)
The Tomb (H.P. Lovecraft)
The Star-Treader (Clark A. Smith: poems)
The Dunwich Horror (H.P. Lovecraft)
Granite & Rainbow (Essays by Virginia Woolf)
Lectures in America (Gertrude Stein)
The Stolen White Elephant (Twain)
Chamber Music (Poems by James Joyce)
Pomes Penyeach (by James Joyce)
Strange Waters (George Sterling)
Death by Demand (Eldritch Stories)
Ecstasy (by Donald Wandrei: poetry)

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8501696

By Dennis Siluk Dr.h.c.

A Cool Saturday in Athens ((1995) (Poetic Prose))

I must have asked a dozen times in my lifetime, others "What's the real meaning of life; what is happiness," and I didn't really want a strict religious answer, nor a strict, secular answer, just one from the heart, if you know what I mean, no philosophical jargon, or Shakespearean Sonnets to explain the simplicity I was looking for.

To be quite honest and frank, I never got a good answer. Matter of fact, what I got was folks thinking I was quizzing them, or presenting them with a trick question, surely a hard question because no one could really answer it to my liking. When in essence, it was straight forward, as straight and forward as anyone could get, or make it. For the most part the question was avoided with smirks, and smiles, and pats on the back, and then back to whatever the conversation was prior to my little jaunt, as it was accepted as.

But this all came to focus one day when I was in Athens, Greece. It was a Saturday, a cool day, in 1995.

I walked down to an old park area, lots of high foliage, weeds and grass, and open spaces, and high burly and bushy trees, also in the distance, was an old ruin's, a kind of Parthenon style of ruin's, dating to about 400 B.C., high pillars and all, Corinthian style, it was constructed for the legendary Theseus, so I was told, which Mary Renault in her two books so heroically, with attention to detail, describes: "The King Must Die," and "The Bull from the Sea."

As I looked about, realizing it was about lunch time, I saw several small groups, they looked like little packs of individuals, some Jews, some Greeks, some Turks-I suppose if we sorted out religions here, we had a sort of triangle, the Hebrews, Muslims, and Christians. Not that it mattered it was just so. A few made the sign of the cross, a few put their hands and palms up towards the heavens, a few were counting beads, then they pulled out bread and sausage and some cheeses from their baskets, and passed a bottle of wine around. A few had bottles of beer, and one person was playing something like the mandolin, while a few toddlers tried to dance.

They were all sitting around in circles, for the most part.

Far-off, there were a group of women, in a circle, with a woman in the middle of the circle, and everyone holding their skirts high and low, so you could not see what was going on, and no one needed to know beyond that.

There were old men, young women, kids, just a good assortment of the cross-cultural populist: eating, drinking, dancing, breathing in the cool and fresh air-a few steps away from the busy carbon dioxide streets of Athens, talking to one another, sharing conversations, thanking God for this day.

I said to myself: how can I not know what happiness is, or for that matter, the purpose of life, it's right in front of you.

Here was the thing my heart was looking for, that I felt the world should have more of.

Funny as I write this out, I was raised in an extended family, Russian-American, and every weekend, on Sundays, that's exactly what my family would do, all the relatives got together, ate at our home (my Grandfather and mother raised me) and the family drank some vodka, and ate sausage and bread, and cheeses, and talked until late afternoon, and us kids played, wherever. And sometimes I could hear the old 78-records playing. Hick, I didn't need to search for what happiness was, or the purpose of life, I had it in my pocket all the time, and I just forgot it was there.

Need I say more!

By Dennis Siluk Dr.h.c.