text:
RSVP or send your proxy to Cheryl Steyn, Branch Co-ordinator at email@example.com today
The BWA chats to BWA member Michele Stuurman from CaRRoL BoYes
It is with a great sense of the community and camaraderie expressed among Capetonians over the devastating period of the Cape Peninsula fires fresh in our minds, and a sense of what can be accomplished when we work together, as well as with the happy knowledge that the Cape Town Cycle Tour will go on, that the BWA had a Q & A session with Michele Stuurman, the Public Relations Officer for Carrol Boyes about their charity initiative and incentive to ride the Cape Town Cycle Tour.
To set the scene: This year, a team of commendable South African athletes made up of Carrol Boyes employees, family and friends, and lead by ex-Springbok cyclist Stephen Viljoen, will be representing the non-profit organisation Monkeybiz, while participating in the Cape Town Cycle Tour. Monkeybiz: Biking For Beads is an initiative to raise funds to be used to purchase food parcels for the Monkeybiz bead artists.
Q: Who are Team Monkeybiz and what is your motivation for riding the Cape Town Cycle Tour?
A: Team Monkeybiz is made up of the employees, family and friends from Carrol Boyes, BarnardtBoyes and Monkeybiz. Monkeybiz: Biking For Beads is an initiative to raise funds to be used to purchase food parcels for the Monkeybiz bead artists.
Q: What target has Team Monkeybiz set to achieve?
A: We are hoping to raise R50 000 for the beaders and their families.
Q: How long have you been part of Monkeybiz and what has it taught you about South African women in business?
A: I have been part of the Carrol Boyes | Monkeybiz for 8 years. It has taught me that we as women can emerge from our shadows into opportunities that no one else has been able to create for themselves. I am also inspired by Carrol as she followed her passion and look how the business has grown! Carrol Boyes has also designed the trophies for the Cape Town Cycle Tour, so for me it means so much to be part of the team cycling to feed families.
Q: What is your motivation to have the level of fitness and physical stamina to ride the Cape Town Cycle Tour?
A: Assisting these women and knowing that I can feed families, will give me the strength and motivation to complete the Cape Town Cycle Tour. Not sure how long it will take me, but I will do my best!
Q: What would you say to inspire women in their forties who want to conquer the Cape Town Cycle Tour?
A: We all have goals, take them one by one and just do it! Nothing feels better after you have accomplished them.
If you'd like to support the Biking for Beads initiative, visit www.monkeybiz.co.za or get in touch with Michele at firstname.lastname@example.com or 021 424 8263
Estate Planning Essentials
When it comes to checking tasks off your financial-to-do list estate planning is probably the last item you'll get to—if you get around to it at all.
But estate planning should not be ignored. Because, although it's nice to think that you can trust everyone to do the right thing, the truth is that if you don't have your wishes formalised, there may be a debate about what the "right thing" actually is.
What does it really mean?
For many it means "I've got a Will and a Trust – so I'm sorted." But are these two items on their own really the solution to your particular needs?
You might have a Will, but when did you last review it to check that it's up to date? – the law changes constantly and your planning should keep pace.
Can your wishes actually be implemented – in other words, are they realistic, or will you rely on your executor to deal with any difficulties? It is a fact that in South Africa, about 65% of deceased estates are short of cash to pay liabilities, fees, taxes and to meet cash legacies. Rather be part of the 35% which can be administered smoothly. Inefficient planning can result in a loss of 20% of your assets.
If you've registered a trust and injected some assets into it, is it still appropriate for your personal planning or at risk from non-compliant management?
Business owners should review their succession planning with a buy-and-sell agreement to ensure your estate benefits from the true value of their success. Many businesspeople are so focused on daily activities that they forget to secure the fabric which knits it all together. One example is the focus on the sale price of your shares while forgetting the Capital Gains Tax implications.
A common misunderstanding is that you can control your life policy beneficiary nominations in your Will – whereas in reality this can be done only by lodging the nomination with the assurer – many people have had their wishes frustrated by not making a clear distinction.
Another area of confusion is your retirement fund, which is governed by the Pension Funds Act. You cannot contradict the Fund Rules by means of a clause in your Will – rather take specialist advice on integrating your retirement planning with the rest of your financial planning.
So why live the uncertainly, rather speak to an expert. Common mistakes made include:
#1: Estate Plans Are Only for the Wealthy
Somehow many of us think that estate planning is reserved for rich people. Truth is, it's for anyone who wants to know what's actually going to happen to their assets, children or general private affairs if they become incapacitated or die with a legally documented estate plan.
#2: My Finances Are Too Simple
Many people may assume that their financial or family situation is so straightforward that they don't need to draft formal documents, like a last will and testament or a living will. If your assets accede R125 000 in value, your estate has to be fully administered in terms of the law. If less than R125 000, a shortened process is applicable.
#3: Procrastinating Estate Planning for Too Long
Unfortunately, the term "better late than never" doesn't apply to estate planning. So for your own peace of mind, consider starting the process as soon as possible.
#4: Not including Digital Assets
Remember that your property isn't just confined to what you physically own. You've got a whole online life to think about too. Tell your spouse, partner or close family member about your digital assets. Make arrangements to transfer passwords for cloud-based bank accounts, as well as any digital copies of important documents you may be storing on your computer or online.
Think about your social media accounts and what you want to happen to your Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts at death. Should they be deleted? Would you prefer to have them stay up in memoriam? Do the social sites you belong to have policies on accounts for deceased people—Facebook, for example, can delete a deceased person's account or memorialize their timeline.
A trustee or executor must have specific authority to manage those assets, so make sure these are incorporated into your estate plan.
#5: "What If" Scenarios not planned
Be prepared. Marriages can end in divorce, loved ones may suffer addictions or are challenged by health problems, businesses fail or go bankrupt, children move away.
#7: Naming a Trustee & Executor
Selecting the person who will be in charge of your affairs is no small decision. Consider professional or corporate trustees and executors because they provide a lot of value.
In Summary:
• Ensure that your estate wishes are met in the most tax- and cost efficient way
• Ensure there's sufficient liquidity in your estate
• Ensure the smooth and efficient administration of your deceased estate and
• Protect you and your loved ones in the case of insolvency and against inflation
A signed and up-to-date Will is the first and key component of an estate plan. Without a valid Will your plan
is likely to fail.
Specialist advice:
Paulette van Heerden
Email: email@example.com
Twitter @PaulettevHden
Skype paulette.van.heerden3
Office + 27 873 530 071
Mobile + 27 71 482 8829
Review: BWA Cape Town Speed Networking
Networking is a way of life for me. After my daughters schedule is in my diary, the next thing I add are the networks I will be attending for the month. Why? Because networking is one of the most effective ways that a small business or solo-entrepreneur can get their name out there.
Networking is also an effective mechanism to use when developing a referral system. People refer business to you because they trust you and you to them.
Recently I attended the BWA Cape Town's Speed Networking session. I had never attended one before, so was a little concerned that it may not be as effective. My fears were unfounded.
Usually when networking you get to chat with the 8 people at the same table as yourself and maybe a few more. With this session I personally was able to explain to about 22 ladies, on a one-to-one basis, what it is I do. They were in turn able to do the same. I now know more about most of the businesses that attended because of the far more personal contact the process allows.
Looking forward to when BWA Cape Town will be hosting a speed network session again.
– Carol Gerber | Possibilities Coach
Vasti Geldenhuys: From Advocate to Adventurer
Most people will feel a bit uncomfortable in a court room but for Vasti, it was familiar territory. After a seemingly innocent request to her boyfriend, well known and pioneering explorer, Riaan Manser to take her to New York. She never imagined that she would exchange her legal surroundings to something very very unfamiliar. The mighty Atlantic ocean.
Vasti was born and raised in Randfontein, a small mining town in Johannesburg. She left the comforts of home for the "comforts" of boarding school when she attended Afrikaans Hoer Meisieskool in Pretoria, where she matriculated.
With dreams of becoming an Advocate, she went to study law at Stellenbosch University where she received her LLB degree in 2002.
She completed her articles at a Law firm in Strand, Cape Town and stayed on as a litigation attorney. For the next 8 years she specialized in criminal and civil litigation, which included cases ranging from murder to defamation.
In 2013 she started her own law firm. She practised under her own name in Somerset West until life took an unexpected turn. The "turn" being an incredible, almost unbelievable world first, 10 700 km ocean rowing adventure with her boyfriend of the past 14 years. The journey humorously but aptly called "Take Me To New York".
Alone and unaided the duo set off from Agadir, Morocco, enduring a 105 day crossing of the Atlantic in a 7 meter rowing boat, landing in Miami, USA on 7 May 2014. They became the first people ever in history to row from Mainland Africa to North America. By crossing the Atlantic, Vasti is also the only woman from the African Continent to have rowed across any ocean on the planet.
Setting off from Miami, they reached New York Harbour a trying and dangerous month later. The couple ended their 4 and a half month journey at sea on the Hudson river passing by the iconic Statue of Liberty. A fitting finish line venue for an epic inspiring adventure.
It's a love story of two people truly putting everything, including their relationship on the line to achieve something historic and unbelievable. It's a story of solitude, pain, hardship, conquering fear, overcoming obstacles, fighting the elements, fighting each other, life and death, space, silence and time to think. But most of all, it's a story of love.
Hit by a 6 meter wave and capsized 2000 km from shore; Riaan separated from the boat in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean are but two of the many life threatening situations the couple had to face. Storms and ship traffic provided for harrowing escapes from natural and human threats.
But there were the quiet moments when the couple could reflect, savour the sunsets on the ocean, be intrigued by the amazing wildlife, mink whales following the boat, dolphins who's curiosity was too much and always came alongside them to have a closer look. Giant Turtles with heads the size of soccer balls and small but spirited pilot fish living underneath the boat to keep the couple company.
Vasti will intrigue the audience with a unique woman's perspective of the world of adventure; a world usually reserved for rugged, and very brave men. Her talk will open the audiences mind to the new possibilities in their lives. It is not a motivational story, but rather one of inspiration. Being inspired lasts longer than being motivated. Real stories of having gone out and actually DONE; this is what inspires.
Vasti was willing to leave a world she understands, and knows intimately, for a world she never ever dreamed she would find herself in. Would you?
The 'FastTrack' to Female Empowerment
When powerful women gather together, powerful conversations ensue. Recently, Robyn Hey, Chairperson of the Businesswomen's Association – Cape Town branch (BWACT), joined celebrated South African women at the 'Change Maker' event held by the Consul of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for women who have made a difference in South Africa or are busy doing so. Guests included Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela; Executive Director of the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, Mpho Tutu; Singer, Yolanda Yawa, Social Entrepreneur Didintle Ntsie and Senior Associate at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), Judith February.
Ntise raised the question as to whether or not affirmative action should be abolished. Madonsela responded by saying, "We are homosocial, we gravitate to people who are like us. Without affirmative action we would hire our relatives only." This lead to the subject of forgiveness being discussed.
Tutu shared that many South Africans are not getting the opportunity to tell their stories which often results in violence and stated that hurts buried alive don't die – we need to give people a voice and let them be seen. Madonsella stated that part of the difficulty in the oppressor-oppressed dichotomy is that not only does the oppressive regime give power to the oppressor, it also entrenches thinking patterns in the oppressed who believe that they cannot come forward or progress. BWACT Chairperson, Robyn Hey said that in the business world, because women don't get the opportunity to tell their stories, they don't form really deep connections with each other.
During the event the topic of empowerment and what it means to empower arose. Tutu said, "When we look at power, we tend to look at it vertically. In other words, who has power over me and over whom do I have power. A helpful question to ask oneself is, with whom do I have power to implement change – who shares power with me and how can we, together, make those changes." One of the key takeaways from the discussion was that "Our generation of women has the responsibility to give a platform to young women, to advise them and nurture them."
Robyn Hey says that Tutu's statement reaffirms the BWACT's approach to empowerment, particularly in terms of the mentorship opportunities that it provides.
The BWACT recognises that young professionals with high potential require support in order to fast track their development and get traction in their careers. Employers often don't have the tools or programmes to focus on these promising individuals. Thus, the BWACT has launched a unique initiative to prioritise the development of young female professionals via its 'FastTrack' programme, which integrates mentoring, lectures and networking to provide a blended learning experience and at the same time enabling them to belong to a community of like-minded professionals.
Hey shares, "Our goal with this project echoes the Women's Empowerment Principles of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, which states, 'Empowering women to participate fully in economic life across all sectors is essential to build stronger economies, achieve internationally agreed goals for development and sustainability and improve the quality of life for women, men, families and communities. The private sector is a key partner in efforts to advance gender equality and empower women'."
"With more experienced women of the BWACT coming together to mentor and nurture young professionals, we are sharing our power with them to not only benefit their futures but also that of the country and continent," concludes Hey.
FastTrack Event 19 August 2014 : Rising Stars
In short…WOW! An outstanding, energising and highly motivating evening for young professional women was held in the beautiful Pavilion room at Kelvin Grove last week.
Katherine-Mary Pichulik, founder and designer of PICHULIK, a bespoke range of bold accessories, and Talia Sanhewe, award winning reporter and MD of Talia Productions had all enthralled as they shared their journeys to success.
The room was literally filled with positive energy as these two brave, creative and highly successful young entrepreneurs inspired all present with their experiences, passion for life and love for what they do, speaking with wit and insight. Not always plain sailing, Katherine and Talia eloquently shared the learning and life experiences that made them who they are today. Proud South Africans (and Capetonians) they have both established their growing, successful businesses in the Mother City as they take on the world, and we wish them continued success.
Look out for Katherine's pieces in the September issue of the British Vogue and for the graceful, award winning journalist, media personality and TV producer Talia as she inspires and motivates others. Her message: Find what you love and run with it. Be brave and YOUR dreams can come true!
Many thanks to Kelvin Grove for providing delicious nibbles and a stunning venue, Porcupine Ridge for their fabulous wines and Miglio for the beautiful jewellery presented to both speakers.
The BWA offers a unique initiative to prioritise your development as a young female professional via the "FastTrack" programme.
Contact Cheryl on 021 671 6118 or firstname.lastname@example.com to find out more about the exciting "FastTrack2Success" mentoring programme that starts in 2015. We look forward to seeing you at the FastTrack event in November, "Fresh, Fast & Fashionable" where you can network with like-minded individuals and look at life hacks for young professionals, with renowned foodie Heleen Meyer and stylist Nadine Pieters.
– by Bev Hancock


text:
Lyle was born in 1895. Lyle Elliot ... She passed away in 1936. [1]
This profile is a collaborative work-in-progress. Can you contribute information or sources?
See also:
Have you taken a DNA test for genealogy? If so, login to add it. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA.
Lyle is 26 degrees from Judy Garland, 28 degrees from Mindy Silva and 20 degrees from Victoria of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Washington, Aug.4 (ANI): A slew of posters have been spotted throughout Los Angeles that portray President Barack Obama as "The Joker" from "The Dark Knight," with the word "socialism" printed in black above and below his face.
According to Fox News, Obama's been called a lot of things -- but this is probably the first time any campaign has tried to peg him as flat-out creepy.
The posters show the president decked out in the kind of unnerving makeup Heath Ledger used in the latest Batman. Obama's face is painted white, his eyes have dark circles around them and two red scars curl up from the corner of his mouth.It's unclear who is producing and distributing the sinister posters. They come as Democrats and Republicans continue to battle over health care reform -- which some critics warn will lead to a government takeover of health care. (ANI)
john blakemooreAugust 7, 2009 at 12:00 AM
this is the work of art instructor edward przydzial a los angeles art teacher who's reportedly teaching art in los angeles somewhere...


text:
As we draw closer to 7 May, not only are our staff from all parts of the business busy helping customers prepare for one of the most heavily analysed, publicised and contested elections in years, but our researchers have also been busy looking into notable election and referendum-related issues and changes to our electoral system.
Last year, we saw an unprecedented focus on the democratic process, with high profile votes such as the Scottish independence referendum, as well as revolution in the way in which citizens register to vote through the introduction of Individual Electoral Registration (IER). It's likely that this degree of interest in the political system will continue as we move towards the general election in May, with a number of related topics being up for debate.
Individual Electoral Registration
The introduction of IER in June 2014 was a major step in the delivery of digital government services. It was implemented to provide a more modern service and to help combat electoral fraud. The IER system is essentially a hub that was built by the Government Digital Service. The hub links up with the Electoral Management Software (EMS) in each local electoral area. There is no central database of voter details and the data has been received and saved locally, and is deleted from the Hub within 48 hours.
Yet although these changes have been introduced to improve the system, Dr Toby James, Senior Lecturer in British and Comparative Politics, suggests that they could have the opposite effect, and lead to reduced levels of voter registration.
Political engagement
The Scottish independence referendum was described by some as a "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity, which would have permanently changed the political landscape of Scotland. The plebiscite saw 84.6% of the population voting, the highest turnout a nationwide election has had since the introduction of universal suffrage in 1918. The election also gave 16 and 17 year olds the right to vote, which resulted in 109,533 young people signing up before polling day.
It will be interesting to see if this high level of political engagement and the lowering of the voting age will be reflected across the UK in the future. The Prime Minister, David Cameron, has already accepted proposals by Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, to lower the voting age in Holyrood elections permanently; although a House of Lords committee has raised concerns over these plans.
European referendum
The referendum on Europe could potentially be the big issue of this year's general election. The United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) and the Conservative Party have promised to hold a referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union if in government. However, the Labour party, at the moment, are against the idea of a European referendum.
Due to the fragmented political environment, it is quite possible that there will be another coalition government. In this scenario, parties will negotiate and smaller coalition partners may change their stance. At this stage, other parities including the Liberal Democrats, the Democratic Unionist Party, the Green Party and the SNP may also have an impact.
The latest polls are too close to call: with Ipsos MORI showing the Labour Party leading the Conservative Party by 1 point and YouGov showing the Conservative Party leading the Labour Party by 2 points. If the Labour Party win, it's unlikely that there would be a referendum on Europe; however if the Conservative Party win, it's likely that there will be.
Boundary changes
Boundary changes, although not as high profile as the debate on Europe, could also figure in the next parliament. In 2013, a Conservative backed plan to reduce the number of constituencies was rejected by their coalition partners and the opposition parties. However, there are currently a number of electoral reviews being carried out by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. For example, North Dorset Council will make changes to their boundaries that will come into force at the local elections in 2015.
Greater devolution within England is also expected to be a major general election issue. Although directly elected mayors have been part of the political landscape since the early 2000's, not many cities have chosen to introduce them due to low voter turnout. However, in November 2014, the chancellor, George Osborne announced that Greater Manchester would have a directly elected Mayor, who would have a host of new powers for the region. This increase in powers, alongside a greater desire for more local decision making, may lead to a higher voter turnout than has previously been seen. It will be interesting to see if this triggers demands for mayors from other regions.
Police and Crime Commissioners
The spotlight will also be on the role of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC). Similar to the mayoral elections, turnout has been very low for PCCs elections, with the average turnout approximately 14.7%. If the Conservative Party wins the general election, it is likely that PCC elections will continue across England and Wales, despite their low turnout. Conversely, if Labour wins the election, it is likely that they will scrap PCCs, arguing that the Conservatives have wasted millions of pounds on PCC elections.
Whatever the result of the UK election, 2015 looks like being another big year for all aspects of elections management and voting.
By Steven McGinty, Idox


text:
The father of Semaj Crosby says "someone does know" and is "covering it up." James Crosby spoke exclusively to the Scott Slocum show and says he "just wants to know what happened to his daughter." The 17-month old was found dead in her home in the 300 block of Louis Street in Joliet Township last April. At the time of Semaj's death, he was incarcerated at the Will County Detention Center and says he was not aware of the condition of the home where his daughter lived. Crosby says he didn't know about the squatters living at the home and the condition of the house. The home was deemed uninhabitable by the Will County Land Use Department after Semaj's death. The home was burned down following the funeral for Semaj.
Crosby is hoping one of the four women in the home at the time of Semaj's death will come forward with information. Crosby sees his 8-year old son once a month. He is in the care of DCFS. He also has a one-year old daughter. Crosby is currently in drug rehab.
The post Father Of Semaj Crosby Tells WJOL, "Someone Does Know" What Happened to His Daughter appeared first on 1340 WJOL.


text:
- Calories 240
- Caloriesfromfat 38%
- Protein 32g
- Fat 10g
- Satfat 3g
- Carbohydrate 2.9g
- Sodium 376mg
- Cholesterol 93mg
Salt-and-Pepper Roast Turkey (Tacchino Arrosto con Sale e Pepe)
If desired, rub the turkey with the salt and pepper the night before roasting to slightly "cure" the meat.
How to Make It
Remove and discard leg truss from turkey. Pull off and discard any lumps of fat. Remove giblets and neck; save for Rich Poultry Broth. Rinse turkey inside and out; pat dry and rub all over with about 1/4 cup olive oil. Mix 1 tablespoon salt and 1 tablespoon pepper; rub evenly over skin and inside the bird. If desired, wrap airtight and chill 12 to 24 hours.
Place turkey, breast up, on a V-shaped rack in a 12-by 17-inch roasting pan; tuck thyme and marjoram sprigs inside body cavity.
Roast turkey in a 325º oven until thermometer inserted through thickest part of breast to the bone registers 160º, 2 to 3 hours.
Transfer turkey to a platter. Let stand in a warm place and rest at least 30 minutes, then carve. Add salt and pepper to taste.
(Nutritional analysis per 1/4 boned cooked turkey with skin, based on percentages of white and dark meat in an average bird.)


text:
How to make my E-mail list?
Lets start with a story: I recently had dinner at Hot Stuffings. They cook excellent stuffings so i expected dinner to be great. Following dinner I used a comment card provided by restaurant to tell them how much i enjoyed the food. When i returned to my office (netcore solutions) next day i saw an email from the Wholesale Hot NHL Jerseys restaurant waiting for me. The email thanked me for my comments and invited me to contact him in future if i ever needed assistance for getting reservation at any one of their restaurants.
Thus, you see if a chain like that can identify their touch points and finds time to make ongoing connections, every business should find time to do the same.
Connection Points:
We all meet lot of people in our routine. Every time we interact we build connections. There is a difference between connection which are valuable for you and connections which are valuable for your business. What is valuable? If you can answer all the questions âYesâ than its a valuable connections:
1. Is the contact information valid & direct to the decision maker?Donât collect email addresses such as email@example.com
2. Is the person youâre collecting the information from interested in what your business offers?Some businesses insists that everyone is a prospect which isnât true.
3. Is the place where youâre collecting the information conducive to establishing a relationship? Placing an e-mail sign-up list at the counter of all the banks in town will result in more valuable connections for financial planner.
Where do you interact with customers and prospects?
⢠Retail storefront
⢠Website
⢠Local networking events
⢠Trade shows, conferences, industry events
⢠Phone
⢠Email
The first step in collecting or building up your e-mail list is to trace valuable touch points for new customer eg look at the above list. Touch points should always be legal, ethical and in line with consumer preferences.
Internet Sources:
You connect with people on your websiteâs homepage, but people visit all kinds of online sources including:
⢠All the pages on your website
⢠Your blog
⢠Social networking pages
⢠Online directory listing
⢠Natural search listings on search engines
⢠Websites that offer maps and directions to businesses
⢠Paid search listings.
These sources might also prompt an inbound phone call, personal visit or an email inquiry, so its important to map out these sources and touch points as well.
Personal Contact sources:
⢠Inbound phone calls
⢠Walk ins
⢠Networking events
⢠Trade shows
⢠Speaking engagements
⢠Social events
Referral Sources:
⢠Current customers
⢠Family & friends
⢠The media
⢠Colleagues
⢠Business partners
⢠Suppliers or account reps.
Tactics to maximize email address collection
1.) Leave sign up link on every page of your website. Add a compelling message of value of subscribing your list.
2.) Since you are not involve in sign-up process so need to make it more personal form of communication.
3.) One way is also to provide link to an archive of past e-mail campaigns.
4.) Testimonials can be used to demonstrate to show value of your e-mail list.
5.) All E-mails you send everyday represents a touch point. Capitalize on your e-mail conversation.
6.) During the course of responding an inquiry Mitchel & Ness Broncos #30 Terrell Davis Blue With 2010 Super Bowl Patch Stitched Throwback NFL Jersey ask your client if he is interested in joining the e-mail list to receive info on related topics.
7.) Networking events are great places to interact. Once you SWAP a business card at these places take few seconds to write down whether he is interested in receiving your marketing mails or what they are interested in.
8.) Walk-in shows that individual has already taken great step towards your organization now its upon you how to engage the communication into right directions.
9.) Last but not the least traditional marketing tools are great way of highlighting the value and importance of your list. Using Print Advertising, television ads, radio ads or outdoor advertising to highlight your organizations and its vision.


text:
Some believe Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee won the Iowa caucuses. We would disagree. The real winner was…Television.
Some $40 million was spent on political ads on TV and Iowa wasn't even having a primary. They were having a caucus, some Democratic and Republican neighborhood discussions might be a more appropriate description.
They met in 1,781 caucuses across the state in schools, community halls or wherever a community had space. For the Democrats, each candidate staked out a corner and those committed citizens who arrived no later than 7 p.m. went to their appropriate corner. If a candidate and corner lacked 15 percent attendance negotiations began, but could only last 30 minutes. Sort of reminds one of tug of war, as the strongest, most persuasive lure people to their corner. And at the end of the time limit, the biggest group wins. It sounded and looked like chaos.
But the Republicans are hardly better, as a person or persons ran
around the room taking pieces of paper with a candidate's name written
on it. And the winner is announced.
How anyone knows these
people are qualified voters remains unexplained. We do know anyone age
17 and older in Iowa is eligible to vote.
Back to the
spending. There are an estimated 2.9 million people in Iowa. Of that
1.9 million are said to be voters this year. This year's turnout far
exceeded expectations and certainly trumped anything in the past two
presidential elections. In the year 2000, only 59,000 Democrats
participated in a caucus. This year, they say there are 220,580
participants and that is just over a third of the registered Democrats
in Iowa.
On the Republican side, in 2000, there were
87,000 who had their say and this year an estimated 114,000 handed in
their piece of paper. That represents about one-fifth of the registered
Republican voters.
With these kinds of figures just the TV
ad expenditure amounts to about $20 per registered voter or around
$123 per caucus attendee. Then comes all the money spent for the
staffs and candidates for housing, food, transportation, and any other
forms of advertising such as postcards, telephones, radio, newspaper
and fliers.
My description of this sort of expenditure is "downright sinful."
those who think a caucus is another example of "the American way," it
may interest you to know that there is no absentee voting, no
accommodations for the handicapped who can't get to one of the meeting
areas, those who work at 7 p.m. don't have a say either. The Iowa
process has to be one of the most discriminating forms of voting one
can find. And yet, far more than $40 million was spent in this state of
2.9 million. The process is not controlled by the federal government,
it is controlled by each political party.
Iowa's caucus
process was started by farmers some 200 years ago because they felt
they didn't have much say in the voting process. We doubt those farmers
intended for it to be such a discriminatory process. And , of course,
there was no way they could know Iowa would reap the financial bonanza
as has just been seen.
As long as the politicians are willing to play the game, you can be sure Iowa and the media will take it to the bank.
By Nancy Leonard
Of the Upper Rogue Independent


text:
Boys Bash (formerly Mother/Son Event) Thursday, April 26th 6-8pm Round 1 Bowling at Southwest Plaza All Blue Heron boys are welcome to grab mom, grandma, or other female role model for a fun night of bowling! Cost of tickets is only $5 per person and includes shoes and bowling. This is a PRE -PAY only …
April 11, 2018 archive
Apr 11
Boys Bash at Round 1 Bowling
Apr 11
Garlic Knot Restaurant Night
Apr 11
PTA Meeting
There will be a PTA meeting April 12th at 3:45 in the Library. Free childcare is provided. The main topic for this meeting will be discussing next years budget. If you have concerns about how and why we raise money and then where this money goes, this is your chance to find out some answers. …


text:
Kim, Kourtney, & Khloe Kardashian Celebrate Kendall Jenner's 20th Birthday with the Family!
Kim Kardashian puts her baby bump on display in a skin-tight black dress while heading to Kendall Jenner's 20th birthday party at The Nice Guy on Monday (November 2) in West Hollywood, Calif.
The 35-year-old pregnant reality star was joined at the party by her husband Kanye West, sisters Khloe Kardashian and Kourtney Kardashian, as well as her mom Kris Jenner and her beau Corey Gamble.
Kendall's party had a photo booth that Kim and Kanye took advantage of while in the venue! "mom & dad turn up" Kim captioned one photo of her kissing Kanye. See the pic below!
45+ pictures inside of Kim, Khloe, and Kourtney Kardashian at Kendall Jenner's birthday party…


text:
Many Laurelhurst Blog readers have emailed the Laurelhurst Blog Staff about Tully's suddenly closing last Sunday.
One neighbors said:
As a long time Tully's customer I was saddened to learn that it had closed. I was told by employees the rent had tripled. No word what is planned for the space.
The Laurelhurst Blog Staff spoke with a Tully's who said that the landlord "wanted to triple our rent." He added that Kinko's will most likely be downsizing in the same space.
King County Records show that the building, appraised at $3,152,600 is owned by William Guimont of Gemo-Guimont LLC.
That appears to be the only building he owns in the area as Property Development Associates (PDA), a division of Safeway that focuses on the leasing and disposition, owns the building where Burgermaster is.
Nearby Baskin-Robbins has sat empty since September of last year.
The manager and also son of the owner, told the Laurelhurst Blog Staff that the new landlord "wanted to raise the rent by more than 50% with all costs included."
So they had to walk away from the business his family has owned for 15 years, and in which it has been located for 40 years .
Word on the street is that the rent is $7,000 a month for the space. One neighbor said "Probably the only business that can afford that is Starbuck's."
Also empty is the space that used to house Chloe Bistro which closed in January of last year. Before that, Union Bay Café was there for a number of years.
The landlords, the Spigers, have told potential renters that they only want offices in that space and no more restaurants.
The Spigers own the entire building, which also houses Epic Barber, a variety of offices and businesses.
The Sunrice Café is also in that building and the Laurelhurst Blog Staff has heard that it will be closing very soon, because the rent has suddenly increased.
Blog readers speculate that these spaces will continue to be vacant as the "loss of rent is a tax write-off so no money is lost" one resident said. "Landlords can afford to have their spaces sit empty as long as they want."
A reader who is a Tax Preparer and Business Development Specialist, wrote in and said:
Landlords still have to pay property taxes and other costs. They can, in some cases, take the loss generated by the property as a reduction in taxable income and, thus, get some tax savings, but that's not the case for most property owners because their incomes are too high for that.
Undoubtedly, most property owners would prefer to have tenants and it may be worth their time and lost rental income to wait for one that will pay a higher rate or to redevelop the property.


text:
News & Events
October 18, 2017
2017 Ladies Film Night Out Tickets On Sale Now!
Join local film and media professionals and film aficionados at the 4th annual event celebrating female filmmakers in Arizona, "Ladies 'Film' Night Out"!
This year's popular film event will be held on Friday, November 17, 2017, at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts in Scottsdale, Arizona! Start your evening by joining us for socializing, appetizers and cocktails in the spacious lobby from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm (light appetizers included with purchase of event ticket; cash bar available). Then head in to Stage 2 at 7:30 PM for the program of short films, an intermission with dessert, and more shorts followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers while you vote for your favorite film. The evening "wraps" with the presentation of the "Audience Favorite" award, and more networking with film pros and invited guests!
Shorts were submitted from around the state, which were then viewed and scored by a judging panel comprised of women film pros in Arizona. The main criteria for the submissions was that at least one of the following key positions was held by a woman - Producer, Director, Director of Photography, Editor, or Screenwriter.
While this is a "don't miss" night for ladies, men are also encouraged and welcome to attend.
The Arizona Production Association presents the 4th Annual "Ladies 'Film' Night Out" on Friday, November 17, 2017, at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second Street in Scottsdale. Socializing begins at 6:00 pm; the film event at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are $20 for APA MEMBERS; $25 for Non-Members IN ADVANCE, $30 at the door, which includes light appetizers, the film screenings and the Q&A. This event has SOLD OUT in prior years, so get your tickets now!
"Ladies 'Film' Night Out" is sponsored by Broadcast Rentals; Reel Men; SNEAKY BIG Studios; Laurie Fagen; DYNAMIC! Productions, LLC; Postal, Randy Murray Productions and Jim Collette.
Tickets Available at: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3117538


text:
Article "Where Artists Create: Studios Get Personal," by Jennifer Forker at Associated Press, 8/8/2012, quotes Moorea on how to design a studio! Full article here. Excerpt follows:
"Moorea Hoffman, a San Clemente, Calif., kitchen designer and quilter who helps clients plan their studios, suggests asking these questions:
— How much work will be done sitting or standing? Table height needs to match the work. For those who need to stand at a table, for example, as with painting or cutting fabric, the tabletop needs to line up with the crafter's hip bone, Hoffman says, for optimal strength and agility.
— How messy will you get? Do you need a wet station and an area that's kept dry? Quilters like to keep their work area clean, while painters need somewhere to clean up.
— Is there natural light? Can you control the lighting? Have as bright a light as you can find, but put it on a dimmer switch. Task lighting, such as a table lamp on a swivel arm, also is helpful.
— Do your floors support – or hurt – you? Artists enjoy cleanable floors, such as tile and concrete, but these surfaces are hard on knees and backs. Think vinyl tiles. They come in patterns, some that resemble hardwood flooring, or carpet. If you already have a hard surface, use a gel kitchen mat at your primary workstation."
Designer's Note:
I'd like to add a few suggestions. Think about using kitchen cabinets in your studio space. They are the perfect height for standing work (for obvious reasons) and are available in lots of different configurations. Ikea has very affordable kitchen cabinets that can be converted to craft space storage with the simple addition of a top and casters for mobility.
One thing I have learned as a crafter is to invest in quality storage. When I first arranged my home craft studio, I didn't want to spend a lot of money on storage. Since it was "just a hobby" I didn't think it a worthwhile investment. Besides, who wants to spend money on storage when it can buy fabric or pretty papers? So I would buy a cheap storage cabinet, say $50. And six months later it would break or I would realize it wasn't working the way I wanted so I would spend another $50 on another inadequate solution. And six months after that . . . this went on for years until I finally realized I deserved a work space with not just enough storage but accessible storage. If crafting gives you pleasure, you deserve a space that enhances that pleasure by making art easier and more fun to create. I wish I'd spent more in the beginning – I would have saved in the long run.
Posted on 08/10/2012 at 12:00 AM


text:
"Thank you so much, Evelyn. It's exciting to hear from you. I am in Santa Barbara CA USA. I love what you say, and I would love to connect with you. Right now, I am feeling the push -- not totally sure I can really handle…"
Bruce Schuman has not received any gifts yet
Looking forward to having a visit after 3 PM PST. I stay up until about 10 PM.
© 2018 Created by Phil Lane Jr.. Powered by


text:
$ 175.20 $ 219.00
Pink and black just naturally go together, and they certainly do in this incredulous dress from Joseph Ribkoff. Spot-on-trend as always!
FREE SHIPPING on orders of $99 and more in the USA. Orders under $99 ship for a flat rate of $4.99. International orders ship for a flat rate of $32. Expedited shipping options are available.
We ship anywhere in the USA: Including Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico- as well as internationally.
Expected Arrival Time: For much of the USA east of the Mississippi River, your package will arrive in 2-3 business days. For the southern portion of the USA, the expected arrival time is 3 business days. For the USA west of the Mississippi River, the delivery time is 3,4 or 5 days.
If you are not delighted with your purchase, simpy return your unworn items to us within 45 days of purchase for a full refund and/or exchange.
No receipt is necessary as we have a record of your puchase in our order management system.
Items that have had alterations made to them may NOT be returned.
Send To:
No Sales Tax in Pennsylvania on all clothing and shoes. We are able to ship your purchase FREE of sales tax saving you money!
$ 105.00
Mona B makes the Brad Backpack for the traveler on the go. It is sturdy...
$ 89.60 $ 149.00
Full of fun features, this Joseph Ribkoff tunic has a high low hem and a...
$ 119.20 $ 149.00
Constructed with next-level shaping features, the Joseph Ribkoff "Sublime Contour" legging pant slims, smooths, contours...


text:
As the more than 34 billion regular readers of this column are well-aware, I pride myself on my accuracy. I do not report idle speculation or gossip. Let's say I happen to hear a rumor that Vice President Gore likes to relax by putting live spotted owls through a Salad Shooter. I am not going to just haul off and write a statement like that in the newspaper. I am going to follow the procedure used by top journalists, which is to write: "Vice President Gore reportedly likes to put live spotted owls through a Salad Shooter."
The point is, I have high journalistic standards; that is why today I am so upset that I am tempted to commit suicide by drinking vending-machine coffee. It turns out that some of my recent columns contained factual errors. Yes. These errors were spotted by vigilant readers who took time out from their busy schedules to write letters, and so I want to "set the record straight" on certain matters.
1. Montana is not north of Canada.
Actually, I never said that Montana is definitely north of Canada. What I said, in a column about a trip to Montana, is that it is "possibly" north of Canada. This resulted in a stern letter from reader Lena Anderson, who states: "You must be one of the uneducated young that never cracked a geography."


text:
Morgo 2015 – Obsession
Posted by: Jenny Morel | Uncategorized | 10.03.2015
Morgo is the annual get together for people actively building high growth companies into the world.
Morgo 2015 is being held in September in Waitangi. The programme is filled with amazing speakers from NZ and around the world – and a fantastic bunch of delegates and sponsors will be heading along. For more see www.morgo.co


text:
We installed a sample of ceiling cover in the beer hall today (sorry, no pictures, I forgot to take them before it got dark). Early on we had decided to cover the ceiling with wood. It will give the room a warmer feel. After five minutes of installation, we looked at the sample and started weighing pros and cons of the particular sample, the type of ceiling cover in general, and, and, and.
One of the reasons why we do most of the work ourselves is, because we continuously change our mind, often mid-stream, about how to go about things. This is largely, because we are not professionals in the field of home improvement. Although we have a vision, we often lack the knowledge of available materials.
We can't afford hordes of highly paid professionals, and therefore, we improve the place through trial and error. In our defense, though, even the hordes of professionals will not help you make up your mind.
Our problem in this regard is, that we like to make Gunk Haus a great looking place, but we get stuck on so many details a customer most likely won't recognize. What we have been good at so far, however, is to compromise in the end, and recognize what is important and what isn't.


text:
The emergency deployment of the last remaining available battalion of British combat troops to Kosovo is indicative of the dangers posed by Pristina's decision to declare its independence from Serbia.
With the Army stretched to breaking point by the demands of its existing commitments to Iraq and Afghanistan, the last thing commanders need is to open a new theatre of operations, especially as the deployment of 1st Bn Welsh Guards means there is no reserve if reinforcements are suddenly required for Basra or Helmand province.
But the genuine risk that conflict could erupt in the Balkans has left the Government with no alternative, particularly as, along with its European Union allies, it has supported the creation of an independent Kosovar republic.
Ever since Tony Blair in 1999 led the international campaign to protect the majority ethnic Albanian population of Kosovo from Serbian attack, the Kosovars have been pressing for full independence from Serbia, which regards the republic as an integral and historic part of the Serb nation.
The refusal of the Russian-backed Serbs even to contemplate an independent Kosovo has severely hampered the United Nations-sponsored negotiations to find a solution.
Moscow's hostility to the very idea of Kosovo breaking away was underlined at an ill-tempered press conference by President Vladimir Putin last week when he denounced the concept of Kosovar independence as "illegal, ill-conceived and immoral".
He hinted that Moscow might be prepared to retaliate, although it was not clear whether this would involve direct action against Kosovo itself.
Apart from Kosovo's historic ties to Serbia, the main cause for concern in both Belgrade and Moscow is the fate of the estimated 120,000 Serbs who live in the province's northern enclave around the regional capital Mitrovica.
There are fears that the two million ethnic Albanians who form the majority of the Kosovar population, who have for decades suffered at the hands of the Serbs, might be tempted to avenge past injustices.
If that were to happen, Belgrade would be forced to act, and within days Europe could see a return to the violent blood-letting that became a daily occurrence in the Balkans during the mid-1990s.
Boris Tadic, the Serbian president, has already given a stark warning that the "partitioning" of Serbia - as he refers to Kosovo's declaration of independence - could result in the escalation of conflict throughout the region.
As Kosovo's parliament yesterday formalised the decision to declare independence, and to approve the new state's symbols, UN security officers and Nato troops increased their presence on the streets of Mitrovica to reassure the Serbian population.
But the fact that the British government has been forced to deploy 1,000 troops to the province suggests that Kosovo's transition to full independence could prove perilous both for the Balkans and the rest of Europe.


text:
The Amiea Facile is an excellent machine for those who require portability, new styling, and robust alloy frame - Simple Elegance.
Dedicated to make your work easier and with portability and simple functionality in mind
Amiea Facile delivers the reliable high precision results. This machine is an economical alternative the top of the line Linelle Supreme
the Facile comes with beautiful styling and a robust brushed aluminium frame.
The NEW ergonomically designed cosmetic pen has a completely redesigned needle depth adjustment and its light weight and permits you to work steadily and precisely. It is compatible with the full range of ingenious creatip twist cartridges hygienically sealed to avoid spills and backflows and available in numerous shapes and needle configurations for every application.
As we all know with advances in technology
electronic devices keep getting smaller and yet still provide the same
functions, this device is the perfect match of function and elegance.
Below are some key features at a glance;
- Full Digital functionality
- Ultra compact base station
- Robust aluminium external casing
- Elegant
styling with beautiful clean lines
- New light weight hand piece with new more precise needle depth control
- Can plug 2 hand pieces into the device for quick switching between needle types
- Perfect for the technician on the go!
NB. Creatip Twists are a designed to fit the Linelle One & Linelle Two & the Amiea Facile and the Creatips are designed to fit the Linelle Supreme they are not interchangeable.
The sleek, intuitive clinical styled control unit with its digital controlled hand piece ensure top precision and allows you to focus fully on your work. Light and compact, the Amiea Facile operates with minimal noise and vibration, takes up little space, and is easily transported.
Must See - Click Here to see my Special Report
Linelle Digital Machine ~ Comparison to a Standard Rotary Pen
Click here for a pdf Product Information Brochure
The Creatip Twist needle modules are incredible, no more mucking around with needles, tips, casings and transmissions shafts, creatip modules replace all those fiddly components with one single use sterile needle chamber that is completely separated from the hand piece to prevent flow back contamination. For safety when the machine is turned off the creatip twist needle automatically retracts thus helping to prevent needle stick injuries.
The advantages at a glance
• Low cost, high benefit
• Easy to use, easy to clean
• Weight 1100 g
• Width 230mm x height 45mm x depth 185 mm
• Smallest lightweight hand piece
• New technology for setting handpiece depth
• High needle frequency – 50-150 penetrations per second
• Low noise and vibration
• Safe, hygienic - NEW creatip twist system
• Precision technology
• Base station - brushed aluminium outer case
• 2M Hand piece cable
• Made in Germany according to ISO 9001, DIN EN ISO 13485, and CE quality standards
• 12 months warranty
• Elegant styling
The Amiea Facile set includes
• Ergonomic pen
• Easy-to-use, easy-to-clean base station with integrated pen rest
• Convenient foot pedal
• Power adapter (Australian plug)
Optional Extras
• Additional 1 year warranty - 2 years peace of mind (Just $99).
• A creatip module (30 needle cartridges) starter pack (just $11.67each)
NB. Due to the high value of this item postage costs at checkout must include a mail option with signature required and insurance.
*Patents: US 6,505,530; US 6,345,553; DE 299 19 199; EP 1 495 782; EP 1 618 915; EP 1 882 492; EP 1 743 673; further patents pending
Important Links
We Suggest
Site news
- 07/08/2018 Normal Shipping Resumed
- 27/07/2018 Shipping restrictions between 02/08/2018 & 06/08/2018
- 25/05/2018 Privacy Policy Update
- 11/05/2018 Amiea Digital Machines Side by Side Comparison
- 04/09/2017 Face Masks for Cosmetic Tattooing
- 07/06/2017 Trial: Flat Rate Shipping
- 24/02/2017 CTshop Official Distributor For Tina Davies Professional Range
- 14/02/2017 Plagiarism
- 03/01/2017 Normal Shipping
- 06/12/2016 Festive Season Shipping Restrictions
- 22/09/2016 Looking for MicroBlading Supplies?
- 11/04/2016 Server Maintenance Is Being Performed
- 12/03/2016 Are You Thinking About Purchasing Second Hand Equipment?
- 18/02/2016 MicroBlading - First Things First
- 20/01/2016 New Facebook News Group for Prospective Students
- 01/07/2015 Fake Equipment Suppliers
- 15/11/2014 AAM Board Certified Intructor
- 01/06/2014 Update on Products
- 01/10/2013 Some Needles - Out of Stock
- 03/09/2013 Site Transfer
- 06/08/2013 New S-3 Digital Machine Now in Stock
- 17/07/2012 Amiea Permanent International Congress Nov 2012
- 29/02/2012 Beware of Cheap Imitation Parts & Accessories
- 04/02/2012 New Faster Server for CTshop
- 14/09/2010 We're Selected as Exclusive Australian Agent for Amiea


text:
Check out this great dog show video. There are some fun ideas in here for new tricks you can train (I always love the weaving through peoples' legs, or jumping through a hoop you make with your arms), or it's just a fun thing to watch!
Fun video with some great dog training
Leave a Reply


text:
You have no items in your basket
Our deep V neck cropped sweater is a fantastic new style that works well with everything from shorts to skirts, pants to dresses. Longer length sleeves with long ribbed cuffs and a deep ribbed hem add texture, whilst the dropped shoulder gives it a more relaxed feel. Crafted from 100% Mongolian cashmere, this is a truly luxurious piece and a holiday "must-pack"! Shown here in Sand, a new neutral shade in a subtle marl of cream and taupe. 100% Cashmere.
Style Ref: NPW-1956_SAN
Shipping within USA - 3 working days
For US Shipping and Deliveries we use FedEx.
Shipping to UK – 1-3 days
Shipping to Europe - 2-5 days
Shipping to Rest of the world - 2-7 days
All orders must be signed for upon delivery.
Click here for full shipping & returns information.
All purchases include complimentary gift wrap. Each garment is wrapped in tissue paper and then placed in an N.Peal gift box and tied with ribbon.
Please see our description and designer notes for any specific information about this product. Click here to view our size guide.
All N.Peal garments are of the highest quality and with good care will last for years to come. To read our care guide please click here.
You May Also Like
Regular Price:
Special Price
Regular Price:
Special Price
Regular Price:
Special Price
Regular Price:
Special Price


text:
This woman is my new best friend, she shook me out of my two week depression...she's Rosanna Guadagno, an assistant professor at the University of Alabama. Today I came across her study of three hundred student bloggers. While I was not willing to pay for her research paper, it states that women bloggers tend to be more neurotic. It was just what I needed to move me up and out! I set my little timer and off I went!
On the other hand...300?? That seems like a very few compared to the millions of bloggers out in cyber space...many of which I have spent my time reading since I've been depressed. Many are not American woman, many have amazingly interesting topics they blog about....so many I could not name them all! Unfortunately, numbers are always the name of the game in today's world, but 300?? And college students at that?
Oh well...Dr. Guadagno is still my new best friend! Nobody wants to think of themself as neurotic, even if they are....and besides, I already finished the wash and kitchen! My depression? That's a blog for another day.


text:
Looks like you're already verified.
If you still have trouble signing in, you probably need a new confirmation link email.
{* resendLink *} Please resend verification.
You're now logged in.
Are you already a home delivery subscriber for Austin360.com?
You're now logged in.
You're now logged in.
A follow up to the highly successful and sold-out "String Quartet Smackdown" I and II from late 2012 and 2015, this is a bracketed NCAA basketball tournament style competition using original string quartet compositions submitted by composers and musicians worldwide. It's like March Madness for the ears! A jury of experts have selected sixteen of these compositions to move on to the "Smackdown" portion, where the audience will be directly involved in the decision process by texting a code to vote for their favorite piece, all performed by The Mother Falcon String Quartet, comprised of three members of the local orchestral band Mother Falcon (Olivia David, Lisa Lam, Clara Brill, and Diana Burgess). The winner of each round moves on in the tournament and the champion will receive a grand prize of $1,500, plus other items of recognition. Fun and engaging for the whole family! Golden Hornet Project, Inc is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department, as well as private and corporate donations and grant sources. For more information please visit www.goldenhornetproject.org


text:
Creativity is all about allowing yourself to make mistakes; and art is, knowing which ones to keep. Any form of creative art is immensely valuable in an emotional, sentimental and cultural way. Art enhances an ability to communicate ideas and feelings in ways that words fail. Being creative is the true value of being artistic, and its in itself a valuable talent and trait. An artist expresses his ideas through innovation, inspiration and imagination, to which there is no restriction. The aim of every artist is to arrest motion, i.e. life by artificial means so as to hold it fixed, so that after a hundred years later, when a stranger looks at it, it moves again since it is 'life'.
Nava Rasa in Indian Classical Music
|Posted by suman-bhattacharya on February 11, 2012 at 1:55 PM
|comments (0)
Indian art evolved with an emphasis on inducing special spiritual or philosophical states in the audience, or with representing them symbolically. Of particular concern to Indian drama and literature are the term 'bhava' or the state of mind and rasa (Sanskrit रसlit. 'juice' or 'essence') referring generally to the emotional flavors/essence crafted into the work by the writer and relished by a 'sensitive spectator' or sahṛidaya or one with positive taste and mind. Rasas are created by bhavas. Rasatheory blossoms beginning with the Sanskrit text Nātyashāstra (nātyameaning "drama" and shāstra meaning "science of"), a work attributed to Bharata Muni where the Gods declare that drama is the 'Fifth Veda' because it is suitable for the degenerate age as the best form of religious instruction.
A rasa is the developed relishable state of a permanent mood, which is called Sthayi Bhava. This development towards a relishable state results by the interplay on it of attendant emotional conditions which are called Vibhavas, anubhavas and sanchari/ vyabhichari bhavas. The production of aesthetic rasa from bhavas is analogous to the production of tastes/juices of kinds from food with condiments, curries, pastes and spices. Vibhavas means karana or cause. It is of two kinds: Alambana, the personal or human object and substratum, and Uddipana, the excitants. Anubhava,as the name signifies, means the ensuants or effects following the rise of theemotion.
Nava Rasa
Bharata Muni enunciated the eight Rasas in the Nātyasāstra,an ancient work of dramatic theory. Each rasa, according to Nātyasāstra, has a presiding deity and a specific colour. There are 4 pairs of rasas. Forinstance, Hasya arises out of Sringara. The Aura of a frightened person is black, and the aura of an angry person is red. Bharata Muni established the following.
Śringāram (शृङ्गारं Love, attractiveness. Presiding deity: Vishnu. Colour: light green
Hāsyam (हास्यं Laughter, mirth, comedy. Presiding deity: Pramata. Colour: white
Raudram (रौद्रं Fury. Presiding deity: Rudra. Colour: red
Kāruṇyam (कारुण्यंCompassion, mercy. Presiding deity: Yama. Colour: grey
Bībhatsam (बीभत्सं Disgust, aversion. Presiding deity: Shiva. Colour: blue
Bhayānakam (भयानकं Horror, terror. Presiding deity: Kala. Colour: black
Vīram (वीरं Heroic mood. Presiding deity: Indra. Colour: yellowish
Adbhutam (अद्भुतं Wonder, amazement. Presiding deity: Brahma. Colour: yellow
A ninth rasa was added by later authors. This addition had to undergo a good deal of struggle between the sixth and the tenth centuries, before it could be accepted by the majority of the Alankarikas, and the expression Navarasa (the nine rasas), could come into vogue.
Śāntam Peace or tranquility. deity: Vishnu. Colour: blue
Shānta-rasa functions as an equal member of the set of rasas but is simultaneously distinct being the most clear form of aesthetic bliss. Abhinavagupta states it to be the string of a jeweled necklace; while it may not be the most appealing for most people, it is the string that gives form to the necklace, allowing the jewels of the other eight rasas to be relished. Relishing the rasas and particularly shānta-rasa is hinted as being as-good-as but never-equal-to the bliss of Self-realization experienced by yogis.
In addition to the nine Rasas, two more appeared later:
Vātsalya (वात्सल्य Parental Love
Bhakti (भक्ति Spiritual Devotion
However, the presiding deities, thecolours and the relationship between these additional rasas have not been specified.
Rasa & Spirituality
Rasa is a Sanskrit theological concept specific to Krishna-centered bhakti traditions, such as Gaudiya Vaishnavism. The theological use of the word can be found early, about two thousand years before the Nimbarka or Chaitanya schools of bhakti, in a phrase that Chaitanya traditionsfrequently quote: "Truly, the Lord is rasa". This statement expresses the view that God is the one who enjoy the ultimate rasa, or spiritual rapture and emotions.
It is believed Rupa Goswami developed, under the direct guidance of Chaitanya, the articulated andf ormulated theology of rasa as "the soul's particular relationship with the divinity in devotional love".
Rupa's text draws largely from the foundational theory of rasa formed by Bharata Muni, the originator of NatyaSastra. These relationships with the divinity in devotional love, rasa,can closely resemble the variety of loving feelings that humans experience with one another, such as beloved-lover, friend-friend, parent-child, and master-servant.
Bhakti Rasa
Bhakti is a Sanskrit term that signifies an attitude of devotion to a personal God that is similar to a number of human-human relationships (difference is that in bhakti relationships is soul-Supersoul, soul-God) such as beloved-lover, friend-friend, parent-child, and master-servant.
The Bhagavata Purana teaches nine primary forms of bhakti, as explained by Prahlada
(1) śravaṇa("listening" to the scriptural stories of Kṛiṣṇa and his companions)
(2) kīrtana("praising," usually refers to ecstatic group singing)
(3) smaraṇa ("remembering"or fixing the mind on Viṣṇu)
(4) pāda-sevana (renderingservice)
(5) archana (worshiping animage)
(6) vandana (paying homage)
(7) dāsya (servitude)
(8 ) sākhya (friendship) and
(9) ātma-nivedana(completesurrender of the self)
These nine principles of devotional service are described as helping the devotee remain constantly in touch withGod.
The Narada Bhakti Sutra is a well known sutra venerated within the traditions of Hinduism, purportedly spoken by the famous sage, Narada. The text details the process of devotion (Bhakti), or Bhakti yoga and is thus of particular importance to many of the Bhakti movements within Hinduism. Firstly bhakti itself is defined as being "the most elevated, pure love for God" which is eternal by nature and through following which one obtains perfect peace and immortality (release from samsara). The symptoms of such devotion are that one no longer has any selifsh desires, nor is affected by the dualities of loss or gain for himself being fully content with (and experiencing ecstacy through) the process of bhakti itself. Naradad escribes that lust is absent in one who executes bhakti purely because they naturally have no personal desires to fulfill. An important point is made inverse 30 in regard to the relationship between bhakti and knowledge:
"But the son of Brahma [Narada] says that bhakti is its own fruit".
In hiscommentary, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada further describes in regard to this verse that "bhakti is not dependent on anything else for nourishment" being complete in itself, without dependence on the paths of either knowledge or renunciation.
Rasa Lila
The Rasa Lila is part of the traditional story of Krishna described in Hindu scriptures such as the Bhagavata Purana, where he dances with Radha and her sakhis. The term, rasa meaning aesthetic/s and lila meaning act, play or dance is a concept, which roughly translates to "play (lila) of asthetics(rasa)," or more broadly as "Dance of Divine Love".
The rasa lila takes place one night when the gopis of Vrindavan, upon hearing the sound of Krishna's flute, sneak away from their households and families to the forest to dance with Krishna throughout the night, which Krishna supernaturally stretches to the length of one Night of Brahma, a Hindu unit of time lasting approximately 4.32 billion years. In the Krishna Bhakti traditions, the rasa-lila is considered to be one of the highest and most esoteric of Krishna's pastimes. In these traditions, romantic love between human beings in the material world is seen as merely a diminished, illusionary reflection of the soul's original, ecstatic spiritual love for God, in the spiritual world.
The emotion of Bhakti as a feeling of adoration towards God was long considered only a minor feeling fit only for Stothras, but not capable of being developed into a separate rasa.In the tenth century, Aacharya Abhinavagupta mentions Bhakti in his commentary on the Natya Shastra, as an important accessory sentiment of the Shanta Rasa. Shantha Rasa attained a state of primacy that it was considered the Rasa of Rasas. Bhakti Rasa also soon began to loom large and had the service of some distinguished advocates, including Tyagaraja. It is the Bhagavata that gave the great impetus to the study of Bhakti from an increasingly aesthetic point of view.
- From various sources
Music - A Spiritual Journey - Part 1
|Posted by suman-bhattacharya on February 11, 2012 at 5:15 AM
|comments (0)
Music is the purest form of art. Therefore many poets who are seers, seek to express the universe in terms of music. The singer has everything within him. The notes come out from his very life.They are not materials gathered from outside.
-Rabindranath Tagore
Gods favourite sound is the sound of His inner Music. This inner Music is the music of earths transformation and humanitys Life perception. Music is a miniature of the harmony of the whole universe, for the harmony of the universe is Life itself, and humans being miniature of the universe show harmonious and unharmonious chords of pulsation in the beat of their hearts, in their vibrations, rythm and tone.
Man goes from truth to higher truth. In this journey of spiritual evolution, perfection plays a major role. To achieve perfection is to touch the horizon. But is that so easy to achieve? The closer you seem to go towards the horizon, the further it seems to move away.
Then why is this obsession to achieve perfection so ingrained in human nature? According to Hindu Philosophy, to attain perfection is to attain mukti or enlightenment.
We need to be born a million times more to reach that state.
-AdiShankaracharya , Vivekachudamani
A state where you go beyond time and space. Then why this pursuit of such a Herculian task? You can attribute this to the undying spirit of Man. Indian Classical Music is all about hitting that perfect swara, though it is not restricted only to that, as raga, laya, taal etc are other of its important aspects too. But above all being in perfect sur is what music is all about.
Let us reflect on these two words: Asur and Sur. If we remove the letter A, we get Sur. Asur being the demon, and Sur denoting God. Being in sur means being one with God. God is the one who is always perfectly tuned and always in tune.
To find the swars sthaan is nothing short of a miracle. It is a walk on a double edged sword. You can hit the wrong edge if you falter a bit, and that becomes besura and if you touch the right swara, its a miracle-as the sword no longer remains one. Its edge becomes smooth, expanded, broad, It opens into a vast space - shoonya. One can bask in this shoonyata in pleasure, and continue to stretch it further and it remains ever so perfect on that note. This is Swar Sadhana. A student of music is sadhak, who is polishing this coal of imperfection to the glitter of a perfect diamond, meticulously polishing every note, till it shines with the tejas andaura of the sheer purity of the sound of that note.
Swara, a sanskrit word: swa- meaningself, ra -meaning to bring forth or throw light upon.
Meaning the artist or sadhak goes deep within himself to bring out the essense of Self to the surface. Only then it reaches out to the other to touch the core, and one is moved by this music. Its like a candle, once lit, throws light on all others around. Soulful music works miracles.This is the only way by which we are touched by music.
Words or sathiyaa does not make music spiritual, anymore than virtuosity would. Music needs no language, no gimmicks, or mastery over techniques. There are very many singers who have had no formal training in music, yet how pure and simple and in sur their songs were.
Words, virtuosity, control, mastery over taal, laya, harkat, etc. are all fabrics with which a musician clothes that swara for people to enjoy, just like swagun is nothing but clothed version of nirgun niraakaar.
When the musician is egoless, humble, surrendering, in a state of perfect self, with the perfectly placed swara, he is one with the Eternal spirit. That is spirituality in music. This can be achieved in any kind of music.
Music is the highest form of art, and those who understand it, the highest form ofworship
-Swami Vivekananda
Forme Sur is namaaz and namaaz is sur
-Ustaad Bismillah khan
Music is the wine, which inspires one to new generative process, and I am Bacchus, who passes out this glorious wine for mankind and make them spiritually drunken.
I despise a world which does not feel that music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy
Concept of Raga in Indian Classical Music
|Posted by suman-bhattacharya on February 11, 2012 at 4:45 AM
|comments (0)
Raga is a noun derived from the Sanskrit root ranj, meaning to colour, to delight.
Raga implies the emotional content of a song which delights the listener. King Nanyadeva of Mithila (1097-1147)wrote that the variety of ragas is infinite, and their individual features are hard to put into words. He described Raga as:
"Just as the sweetness of sugar,treacle and candy cannot be separately described, but must be experienced foroneself."
His predecessor Matanga played a crucialrole in the history of ragas. He is quoted by virtually all later scholars as the foremost authority on raga. Brihaddeshi, a Classical Sanskrit text on Indian classical music (dated ca. 6th to 8th century) attributed to Matanga Muni is the first text that speaks directly of the raga. It has the best definition of raga:
"In the opinion of the wise, that particularity of notes and melodic movements, or that distinction of melodic sound by which one is delighted, is raga."
In other words, ragas have a particular scale and specific melodic movements; their 'sound' should bring delight and be pleasing to the ear.
A raga can be regarded as a tonal framework for composition and improvisation. It is far more precise and much richer than a scale or mode. A raga usually includes a large number of traditional songs, composed by great musicians of the past. But ragas also allow today's musician to compose new songs, and to generate a variety of melodic sequences.
Structure of Raga
Indian Classical Music has two related, but distinct, traditions: Hindustani and Carnatic.
The basic scale of Hindustani music, like Western scale, has 12 notes.
Sa Re' Re Ga' Ga Ma Ma' Pa Dha' DhaNi' Ni
Raga is a subset of these notes together with a set of rules to combine these notes effectively and create a particular mood. It must have atleast 5 of these 12 notes.
They must contain the tonic (Sa) and at least either the fourth (Ma) or fifth (Pa). A raga is described by its ascent-descent pattern (Aroha-Avaroha) from middle Sa to high Sa.
In many ragas, number of notes in ascent and descent are not identical.
A note that is frequently used or that is held for a long duration is usually referred to as the Vadi or sonant. Strong note at a perfect fourth or fifth from the vadi which is called the samvadi('consonant'). There may be disagreement about which note-pair should be sonant-consonant in a given raga. So we use terms such as 'important', 'strong' and 'weak' to denote musical functions of tones.
Each Raga has a name. It also has a character and Rasa which can be devotional, erotic, bold and valourous, tragic, etc. A raga typically is associated with a time of day when it is best performed, usually spaced at a 3 hour interval. However the beauty of the raga is not affected by the time of the day it is sung. Some Ragas are related to seasons e.g. Raga Malhar.
Some can be traced back to ancient or medieval times, others originated only a few centuries or even a few decades ago. Ragas have originated across various places and have marked resemblance/ influence of musical tunes/ melody of other countries or culture. Howewer, all ragas have undergone transformations over the centuries. Many of them have fallen into disuse.
Ragas have often been illustrated through paintings over centuries, famous being the Rajasthani paintings.The paintings have inscriptions, for example
"Out of the lake, in a shrine of crystal, she worships Shiva with songs punctuated by the beat. This fair one,this bright one is Bhairavi."
Classificationof Ragas
Ragas can be classified using different criterias. For example, on basis of the number of notes used.
Ragas that contain all 7 notes are Sampurna,
Ragas that contain 6 notes are Shadav,
Ragas that contain 5 are Audav.
All ragas are divided into two groups as Poorva Ragas and Uttar Ragas.
Poorva Ragas are sung between noon and midnight,
Uttar Ragas between midnight and noon.
Another division of ragas is the classification of ragas under the principal ragas:
The rāga-rāgini scheme is a classification scheme used from the 14th century to the19th century. It usually consists of 6 'male rāgas each with 'wives' (rāginis) and a number of sons (putras) and even 'daughters-in-law'. As it did not agree with various other schemes, and the 'related' rāgas had very little or no similarity, the rāga-rāgini scheme is no longer very popular.
These are listed is as follows
(1) Parent Raga: Bhairav raga
Wives: Bhairavi, Bilawali, Punyaki, Bangli, Aslekhi. Sons: Pancham, Harakh, Disakh, Bangal,Madhu, Madhava, Lalit, Bilaval.
(2) Parent Raga: Malkaus raga
Wives: Gaundkari, Devagandhari, Gandhari, Seehute, Dhanasri. Sons: Maru, Mustang, Mewara, Parbal,Chand, Khokhat, Bhora, Nad.
(3) Parent Raga: Hindol raga
Wives: Telangi, Devkari, Basanti, Sindhoori, Aheeri. Sons: Surmanand, Bhasker,Chandra-Bimb, Mangalan, Ban, Binoda, Basant, Kamoda.
(4) Parent Raga: Deepak raga
Wives: Kachheli, Patmanjari, Todi, Kamodi, Gujri. Sons: Kaalanka, Kuntal, Rama, Kamal,Kusum, Champak, Gaura, Kanra [36].
(5) Parent Raga: Shree raga
Wives: Bairavi, Karnati, Gauri, Asavari, Sindhavi. Sons: Salu, Sarag, Sagra, Gaund,Gambhir, Gund, Kumbh, Hamir.
(6) Parent Raga: Megh raga
Wives: Sorath, Gaundi-Malari, Asa, Gunguni, Sooho. Sons: Biradhar, Gajdhar, Kedara,Jablidhar, Nat, Jaldhara, Sankar, Syama.
Thaat System of Classification
An important way of Raga classificationis the Thaat system. A certain arrangement of the seven notes with the change of shuddha, komal and teevra is called a Thaat. Every raga has a fixed number of komal or teevra notes, from which the thaat can be recognised. There are several opinions in this matter. According to Pandit V.N. Bhatkhande, the 10 thaat's used to classify ragas are
1 Bilaval : All shuddh or naturalnotes.
2 Khamaj : With ni note as komal.
3 Kafi : With ga, ni as komal.
4 Asavari : With ga, dha, ni askomal.
5 Bhairavi : With re, ga, dha, ni askomal.
6 Bhairav : With re, dha as komal.
7 Poorvi : With re, dha as komal andma as teevra.
8 Todi : With re, ga, dha as komaland ma as teevra.
9 Marwa : With re as komal and ma asteevra.
10 Kalyan : With ma as teevra only.
Raga & Spirituality
God is one. He is realized by guru's grace. There is one tune (God). The whole world sings His praise in classical Tunes - The ugly the beautiful and the devotees of God; all are the children of the same flower The God. God pervades in everyone.
The first major tune is Bhairav - Devotee's tune.
The second major tune is Malkaus - Acquired knowledge
The third major tune is Hindol - joy
The fourth major tune is Deepak - enlightenment
The fifth major tune is Shree - honour God
The sixth major tune is Megh - tune of guru's grace
The salty land, jungles, the religious shrines, the land of warriors the magiciansand the land of rivers; everywhere the devotees and the prophets sing God's praises.
- Compiled from various sources
Performing Arts and Creativity
|Posted by suman-bhattacharya on June 20, 2011 at 5:25 AM
|comments (0)
All true artists, whether they know it or not, create from a place of no-mind,
from inner stillness.
- Eckhart Tolle
Performing arts is just another way by which a musician paints their pictures on melody. All over the world to many people in many cultures, music and other performing arts like dance, drama, etc. are inextricably intertwined into their way of life. Music itself has a great power for bringing people together. Through the various forms of performing arts, one is introduced to the richness and diversity of their vast culture and to the myriad rhythms of life. Every form of performing art has its uniqueness in aesthetic understanding, its immediate association with religious thought and its all prevading spirituality. The aesthetic idea of a performer must not only be the idea of artistic perfection, but also its potency in terms of spiritual expressiveness. Its fanaticism, conflict , drama and expressiveness that makes a performer interesting to an audience. The wonder of an artist's performance grows with the range of his penetration, creativity and his abilities to dramatise his performance .Performing arts is not only about expressing ones ideas and talents, but its also a bridge for connecting souls. The thing about a performance, even if its only an illusion is that its a celebration of one fact that we do contain within ourselves infinite possibilities.
Practise what you know, and it will help to make clear what now you do not know.
Creativity is all about allowing yourself to make mistakes; and art is , knowing which ones to keep. Any form of creative art is immensely valuable in an emotional, sentimental and cultural way. Art enhances an ability to communicate ideas and feelings in ways that words fail. Being creative is the true value of being artistic, and its in itself a valuable talent and trait. An artist expresses his ideas through innovation, inspiration and imagination, to which there is no restriction. The aim of every artist is to arrest motion, i.e. life by artificial means so as to hold it fixed , so that after a hundred years later , when a stranger looks at it, it moves again since it is 'life'.
The artiste's world is limitless. It can be found anywhere,far from where he lives or a few feet away. It is always on his doorstep.
– Paul Strand.
Creativity refers to the phenomenon whereby a person creates something new (a product, a solution, a work of art etc.) that has some kind of value. What counts as "new" may be in reference to the individual creator, or to the society or domain within which the novelty occurs. What counts as "valuable" is similarly defined in a variety of ways.
It is generally thought that "creativity" in Western culture was originally seen as a matter of divine inspiration. In Greek culture, for instance, Muses were seen as mediating inspiration from the Gods. Romans and Greeks invoked the concept of an external creative "daemon" (Greek) or "genius" (Latin), linked to the sacred or the divine. This probably came closest to describing what the modern age views as creative talent. In the Judaeo-Christian tradition, creativity was the sole province of God; humans were not considered to have the ability to create something new except as an expression of God's work.
The traditional Western view of creativity can be contrasted with the traditional Eastern view. For Hindus, Confucianists, Taoists and Buddhists, creation was at most a kind of discovery or mimicry, and the idea of creation "from nothing" had no place in these philosophies and religions.
The article has been contributed by Miss Megha Chowdhury
Music - A Spiritual Journey - Part II
|Posted by suman-bhattacharya on April 29, 2011 at 10:55 AM
|comments (0)
"Raga" in Indian Classical Music is derived from the Sanskrit root "ranja", meaning to colour the mind with the sounds emanating from the cosmic vibratory Nada called "AUM" transmitting pranic energy. The immense potential of the power of Shabda (cosmic flow of sound) hidden in music was well recognised by the ancient Indian sages and they had devised several musical patterns emanating from the "Omkara" for chanting of the Vedic hymns and for distinct spiritual effects. The Shastric schools of music discovered musical octave (sa, re, ga, ma, pa, dha, ni, sa) indwelling in the subtle sounds of Nature and invented the basic classical ragas for activating specific streams of natural powers and effects.
According to the Vedic Philosophy, yoga and music both are part of Nada Vidya. Yoga deals with realisation of anahata nada the sublime sound (extrasensory vibrations) of the eternal force of cosmic consciousness. Music pertains to the perception and expression of the infinite spectrum of the rhythmic flow of the ahata nada (perceivable sonic currents) pervading in Nature. Both have direct impact on the shat chakras hidden along the endocrine column and hence affect our physical as well as subtle bodies. The seven basic swaras (musical notes) of the musical octave have a one-to-one correspondence with these chakras (nuclei of subtle energy). The lower most (in the kava equina region along the erect endocrine column), viz., the Muladhara Chakra is associated with the swara "sa"; that means, the practice of chanting this particular musical note will have impact on awakening or activation of this particular chakra. Similarly, the chakras successively upwards in this direction namely, the Swadhisthana, Manipura, Anahata, Vishuddha, Agya and the top-most Sahastrara Chakra… have correspondence respectively with the swaras "re", "ga" "ma", "pa", "dha" and "ni".
Significantly, the order of the compositions of these swaras in the "aroha" (ascending) and "avaroha" (descending) patterns of the Shastric musical tunes also match with the top-down (from Sahastrara to Muladhara) and bottom-up (from Muladhara to Sahastrara) directions of the flow of energy or prana. Ragas are designed to help activate specific chakras, which allows the Kundalini energy to rise easily and energize and nourish the chakra. The raga also influences the chakra to maintain its optimum spin and balance, ensuring a balanced energy supply to different organs that are connected to the specific chakra.
The raga Shyam Kalyan helps activate the Muladhara chakra. Chastity, innocence and wisdom are established in the process.
The raga Gurjari Todi has a capacity to cool down the Liver. This raga and the raga Yaman help activate the Swadishthan chakra that governs our attention. Both ragas help focus wandering or wavering attention, which is crucial for effective meditation.
The raga Abhogi helps activate the Manipura chakra and stimulate the digestion process. When the Kundalini enters this Chakra, the Chakra is cleansed, bringing about a change of attitudes and inner transformation. This raga is also known to help one give up vices and impulsive or compulsive habits.
The ragas Bhairav and Durga have a power of Divine bliss and protection. Both help activate the Anahat chakra. When the Kundalini touches the heart chakra, Raga Bhairav activates spirituality in the person.
The Raga Jayjaywanti helps activate the Vishuddhi chakra, the controller of the sensory organs. This raga also develops the expression of voice, and helps make one's personality loving and sweet.
The Raga Bhupali helps purify and open the Agnya chakra. It helps relieve tensions, anger and mental fatigue. The mood created by this Raga helps the Kundalini pass through the Agnya chakra and enter the Sahasrara in the limbic area of the brain. This causes the person to reach a state of thoughtless awareness and has a tremendous impact on our ability to forgive.
Ragas Darbari and Bhairavi are helpful in prolonging the state of meditation and thoughtless awareness. The Kundalini energy then soothes and nourishes the Sahasrara chakra and the brain. The result is that one feels, joyous, energetic, peaceful and relieved of tension and depression. The person also enjoys the sensation of a cool breeze on the finger tips and achieves the state of Self-Realization or enlightenment.
Music - As a Medium of Communication
|Posted by Ranjan on March 29, 2011 at 7:15 AM
|comments (3)
"Feelings have no meaning unless expressed"
I heard this saying some time back. It immediately caught my attention. Its true. Expressing our feelings is as important as feeling them in the first place. Expressions result in communication. Effective communication, whether its with an external entity or with one's self, plays an important role in understanding ourselves and our surrounding. We often refer to it as growing up, or developing maturity.
Having been blessed with a baby recently I have realized this more than ever. The first thing nature teaches a baby is to communicate, understanding and expressing its feelings. It is amazing to see how fast they learn this art and with every passing moment improve on it. First, it screams when it feels any discomfort, then it slowly learns to distinguish between the various discomforts and learns to communicate them differently and then it learns who is who in its life and which feeling should be communicated to whom and how for faster and more effective resolution.
As we grow up, we slowly learn more and more ways of expressing our feelings and a blessed few learn the art of effective communication through music. In this article, I would like to express my thoughts on music as a means of communication.
First of all, why do I say Music is a means of communication? If its true that music is an expression of feelings, then its obvious that it's a way of communication. So does that mean music follows all the basic principles of effective communication? In my understanding, it does. There are two basic aspects to an effective communication and both are equally important.
1. How well its being expressed
2. How well its being comprehended by the listener
These are the building blocks of an effective communication, but problem is, can we really have a measuring stick to judge the effectiveness? When I have a feeling, no matter what, is it possible to ensure that any entity outside me is getting exactly the same feeling? Books say that's where the effectiveness of communication comes into picture. The onus of expressing it correctly depends on me, for the listener to comprehend it correctly. Myself and the listener both need to have a common medium. This is where language comes in with all its grammar and other rules - to build a common platform, a protocol where the two parties involved start understanding each other. The best part about music is, the language is universal. How? We have fixed number of notes, we have the differences between each note defined, we universally understand what tempo is. Of course, there can be variations, which make it even more interesting. Indian classical music (especially in Carnatic Music) there is extensive use of few extra notes (Shrutis), Experimental rock bands like Pink Floyd have used experimental, undefined chords, maestros in the field have used off tempo and fractional rhythm cycles, etc. These variations are accepted with open arms in music circles. They help in creating some expressions which are otherwise difficult or more often than not impossible to express. Apart from this common grammar there is something else which makes it universal. Every living being, hears sounds right from the time its body develops the power to hear, even before birth, inside the mother's womb. It learns what tempo is, by hearing its mother's heartbeat, it enjoys the sounds of the amniotic fluid around it, the gulp of food going into the stomach, the bowel movements, the tap of fingers on the womb from outside, etc, and it learns to react to them! After coming into the outside world, it hears sounds even before opening its eyes and seeing things around it! Its amazing how a colicky baby is calmed by the buzz of a running washing machine or the running engine of a car even when no medicine is able to do the trick! Music is built on sound and tempo. This is what makes music so much universal. We learn to appreciate sounds and rhythm and tempo even before we learn to understand who our mother is, let alone speaking up the first words.
This common platform, makes Music one of the most effectives means of communication. But like any other means of communication, it has its limitations and boundaries. It is said that feelings are common universally, but I have my doubts on that. On a light note, when I am happy, I know how I feel, but how can I be sure if someone else feels exactly the same way when he/she is happy? Keeping exactness of the statement aside, lets accept that yes, basic feelings are universal. When it comes to expressing the feeling, there are other complications. If I have to express my feeling, what is more important, to express exactly what I am feeling, or to express something which will make the person to whom I am expressing feel the same.
Whoa! That was a confusing statement, I admit. Idea is, for a complete communication, it is important to make the listener comprehend what I want to communicate. So is it not true that in an effective communication, understating the listener is equally important as understanding my own feelings or what I want to communicate? I believe, yes, it definitely is. As long as the communication is with self, its simple, but the moment the listener is not myself, it becomes more complicated. This is where other external factors like culture, background, upbringing, mentality, mood, and other innumerable variables will come in. According to me, this point is equally valid for Music as it is with any other means of communication. If this is not kept in mind, it may bring in communication gap, even in Music as in any other form of communication. Australians and Americans are typically known to talk more to the point and harsh, whereas Europeans and Asians are more courteous. Given this fact, I have a question, does that mean, Americans are better communicators than Europeans or vice versa? Is it fair for an European to criticize the way Americans talk? Is it fair to say that one mode of communication is better than the other? Similarly, in music, there are so many different forms. The different musical forms have their own specialties, factors which make them more suitable mode of communication, may be for a specific culture, a specific age group, a specific mood. It's a fact that in Indian Classical Music we have so many different ragas to express different moods and feelings. Similarly there may be feelings which are expressed best with a peppy number from Justin Beiber or the rhythmic Arabic tunes, or the hard drum beats and screeching guitars of Metallica or the scratches of a DJ in a night club. Except from the person who is expressing himself and the listener who is appreciating it and getting a feeling, whatever that feeling is, from that music, is it fair for anyone outside to say anything more than "I fail to understand this form of music"? Can we really be judgmental? If this is because of ignorance, then suitable exposure may be given, but still it is very much possible that I am not interested it knowing this form of communication at all. People living in a foreign country is exposed to the foreign language, to the extent that after some time they start understanding the language to certain extent, but is it fair to force them to learn the language saying it's the best! It may be the best for people who find it as the best way to communicate themselves, but it may not be the best for all. This holds true for music too.
We take pride in our mother tongue, we take pride in our country, we take pride in our religion - noone is stopping us from doing that. Its fair to debate or argue how my language or my country or my culture is good, out of passion, out of pride, but is it fair to be judgmental? Is it fair to believe that some other culture, some other language, some other country is inferior to mine? Is it fair to believe one form of music is inferior to some other? Is it fair to believe someone's expressions are inferior, just because I am not able to comprehend it or the feelings expressed do not hold much value to me?


text:
Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal
Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal is a Japanese anime and manga series. It was first unveiled on December 18, 2010, in the February 2011 issue of V Jump magazine, where it began serialization. It is the fourth Yu-Gi-Oh!
Last Episode01x73 The Illusive Great Clash!! Double … Aired: Sep. 24, 2012
Kite summons the Xyz monster Radiant Photon Paradios and manages to destroy Utopia, but Yuma manages to beat it with the Heroic Champion Excalibur …
Next Episode
Full Episodes
Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL: Season 3, Episode #146 - (Dub) Forever ZEXAL
Feel the flow for the final time as Yuma and Astral high-five the sky in the cosmic conclusion to Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL!
Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL: Season 3, Episode #145 - (Dub) Outclassed and Outmatched
The battle between Yuma and Astral rages on as the best of friends become the fiercest of foes!
Latest Clips
Posted 4 years ago
Posted 6 years ago
Posted 6 years ago
Series Fun Facts
- [no trivia found]