Belly dancing costumes are often made of delicate fabrics that cannot be washed, so how do you care for them properly and make sure you give them the longest life possible?

1. Before wearing your costume, make sure you take a shower and wash off any oils or chemicals that could stain or damage the costume. Natural body oils and perspiration can result in a stale smell and washing first will help preserve the costume for longer.

2. Naturally, you cannot prevent yourself from perspiring during a performance, so straight after a performance make sure you change out of your costume and allow it to dry and air out for a few days before storing. There are several good odor neutralizing sprays on the market that you can use to prevent stale smells lingering on your costume, but spot-test a small area first to ensure it will not damage the material.

3. Avoid wearing your costume around smokers or in smoky environments as this will cause your costume to absorb the odor. If you cannot avoid the smoke (for example, if you are dancing in a restaurant that allows smoking) then follow step two to try and eliminate odors before storing your costume.

4. Belly dancing costumes often include delicate bead and metal decorations. To protect these from damage you should avoid sitting in your costume for any length of time and only wear your costume for the duration of the performance.

5. Do not eat or drink in your costume and avoid people who are eating and drinking, to minimize the risk of spillages on your outfit.

6. Store your costume in a place where it can breathe properly (not a plastic bag) and do not hang a heavy costume from a clothes hanger by the arm holes as this will cause it to stretch out of shape. A good tip for keeping your costume fresh in storage is to put a fabric pouch filled with baking soda in the storage space with it, which will help absorb any odors.

7. Check the seams for tears and look for any loose or broken beading and sequins before storing your costume after a performance. This will prevent any last-minute panics when you retrieve it for your next performance.

Your belly dance costume is fragile and will have cost you much more than the other outfits in your closet. To ensure it looks as good next year as it does this year, give a little consideration to its storage and upkeep, and it will continue to do justice to your performance every time you dance.

Did you ever watch a tea ceremony in person or on television and wonder just how it came about? Or perhaps you wish to know about the ceremony to better explain tea to your customers. After all, it is very important to understand the past in order to fully grasp the present and the future.

The traditional tea ceremony actually came from China, not Japan as many people mistakenly believe. The tea ceremony was a practice in China for thousands of years before a Chinese Buddhist monk introduced it to Japan in the ninth century. After its initial introduction, the tea ceremony became hugely popular in Japan.

The traditional tea ceremony first started in China for medicinal purposes. It later was used for recreational reasons. In the early ninth century, a Chinese author by the name of Lu Yu wrote about the tea ceremony and the cultivation and preparation of tea. This book was known as “Ch'a Ching”. Because Yu was very influenced by Zen Buddhism, Buddhist ideas had a great influence upon his outlook on the tea ceremony. Many people who partook of the ceremony later adapted these same ideas.

In the twelfth century, a new type of tea came about. This tea was called matcha, and was a powdered green tea. In the thirteenth century, samurai warriors came up with a way to prepare and drink matcha. These ways were incorporated into the tea ceremony as well. The traditional tea ceremony thus transformed into its own artistic and visual ritual.

By the time the sixteenth century came around, all of Japan was practicing tea ceremonies – across all social classes. A man known as Sen no Rikyu came about during this time. Today, he is one of the most historical figures in the tea ceremony. He introduced the concept of “ichi-go ichi-e” to the ceremony. This means “one time, one meeting”. He believed that every meeting between people should be something that is sacred because it can never happen again. His teachings of harmony, purity, respect and tranquility are the foundations of the modern tea ceremony today.

Today, the Japanese tea ceremony (known in Japan as Cha-no-yu or sado) is a ritual that is influenced by Zen Buddhism and includes the drinking of matcha. Cha-no-yu is a single tea ceremony, while sado is the study of the ceremony itself. During the ceremony, the tea is prepared by a skilled practitioner and then served to people as they sit in a tranquil setting.

The tea practitioner must know all about the types of teas, as well as kimonos, calligraphy, flower arrangements, incense, ceramics, and other arts. He or she must study this at a school, and it often takes years to do so. Even guests of tea ceremonies must know about sado and the gestures and phrases that are part of the ceremony. They must also know how to drink the tea and eat the accompanying foods.

The variety of types, sizes, temperaments and colors make the horse an animal that would appeal to almost anyone looking for this type of pet. It is important to find the right horse, one that suits your taste and preferences if you should be looking to purchase one.

From the Welsh shetland pony to the giant draught horse we are blessed with this animal species in all its' magnificence. We have enjoyed the horses' company for a very, very long time and together we have been involved in many adventures together. Removing coal from coal mines, pulling farming equipment and as well the horse has been used to carry passengers in carriages but my favorite use of all, the cowboy's horse. My love of the wild west is only intensified due to the abundant use of the horse in those times.

Because of mans' love of the horse movies were created purely with the horse as the main character along with humans as supporting actors. From Mr Ed to Black Beauty, then Trigger and not to forget The Lone Rangers' horse, Silver. We have been captivated by this fine animal, well I have, for all of my life.

When I heard of the Mustang shootings in America I felt sick to the stomach just like I did when I very young and found out they shoot horses for as simple a thing as a broken leg. These days I am sure it is still done in a few severe injuries but I like to think, as in Seabiscuit, the famous racehorse who was also a TV star, that they all could be repaired so they might live a life like they were born to do.

The majestic horse in all its splendor and variations will surely be with man a long, long time. What will this mean in the future? If nothing else our children and grandchildren etc might be allowed to experience the same love, respect and enjoyment from them that we all horse lovers share.

You should be ready at all times to promote your band and a press kit is one of the best ways to do so. Generally, a press kit consists of:

A Cover or Briefcase: Some people just use a folder and others use a briefcase or something large enough to hold CDs or DVDs. If you use a folder, include a cover with your band logo or some other eye-catching device.

Contact Information: Keep a contact page available that gives your contact information, along with a little information about the band, such as the style of music.

Booking Information: Similar to the contact information but small enough to include with CDs, a sticker or perhaps a business card.

Artist Bio Page or Intro Page: A basic introduction of the band, including the style of music, information about the members and location of past performances. In addition to band member bios, relate if you have your own sound or light crew.

Promotional Material: The way to secure future work is simply to make the venue money. Let the venue know how you plan to promote an event. You can do so by building up your fan base, putting up flyers, handing out demos, or whatever you have to do to get people to a show. Keeping sample flyers and such with your kit is a great way of showing the venue how you plan to advertise.

Band Pictures: Keep quality prints and electronic images on hand for promotional purposes.

Equipment List: Put together a list of the equipment you have available for gigs, including information on whether you have your own sound people. Include detailed information like the wattage of your amps, light equipment and so on.

Demo CD or DVD: Make you demos look and sound as professional as possible. Make sure you use your best material and don't forget to include your contact information with the CD.

Song List: Include a list of all of your original work as well as cover songs you play.

Newspaper Clippings / Reviews/ Articles: Keep a collection of media copy that relates to your band.

Business Cards: Include your contact information and logo. Keep them on you at all times; you never know when you might meet someone that can get you work.

Envelope/Folder: A small press package to hand out, include contact information, band bio, images, equipment and song lists, a demo CD and business cards.

Beyond a press kit, it's also a good idea to keep an updated webpage with music samples, contact information and a calendar of upcoming shows. Many bands also send out newsletters to their fan's email address to let them know about their upcoming concerts and events.

The 1939 New York World's Fair was conceived during the depression with the idea of building something so fantastic that its very presence would lift the United States out of the doldrums of the depression. To accomplish this, the founders decided to make the 1939 worlds fair a truly international event by creating seven zones, each covering a different subject area.

The seven zones were: the Government Zone, the Community Interests Zone, the Food Zone, the Communications and Business Zone, the Production and Distribution Zone, the Transportation Zone and the Amusement Zone. The Government Zone was further broken up into three areas, the Country Zone, the Hall of Nations and the Court of States.

Each zone focused on a particular type of activity. Let's take a look at what each zone offered to people who attended the 1939 worlds fair.

The government zone was all about the various countries around the world and the states of the United States. The exhibit allowed people to explore the various cultural varieties that exist around the world in the various country exhibits and specialties of each state that was exhibiting at the fair. Additionally, there was a central Court of Peace which held a variety of events and was best known for its equestrian performances.

The Community Interest Zone of the 1939 New York World's Fair featured a variety of industries and trades that were of mass appeal - including art, gardens, the gas industries, textiles, home building materials and furniture, jewelry, cosmeticsm religion and many others. Its most striking feature was the Spiral Fountain which was located in the courtyard of Medicine & Public Health and the Science & Education building. It also featured the Town of Tomorrow, a collection of 15 state of the art homes. Each home was designed around a specific theme and each devoted a room that explained the materials that went into building that particular house.

The Food Zone was a showcase of industries and companies that helped prepare and make food available to the consumer. Companies that were featured included Borden, General Cigar, Heinz, Swift, Beech Nut and many others. And as its namesake suggested, you could purchase all sorts of food and drink here for consumption.

The Communications and Business Zone showcased a variety of companies and state of the art products - including AT&T, RCA, the U.S. Post Office, Crosley and many others. It also featured a communications building highlighting all the companies and products that were bringing us into the modern age of communications.

The Production and Distribution Zone of the 1939 Worlds Fair featured a large number of manufacturing companies and demonstrated how raw materials were used to produce finished products. Some of the companies represented include Con Edison, Dupont, Eastman Kodak, Elgin Watches, General Electric, US Steel and Westinghouse.

The Transportation Zone was all about transportation - including exhibits from Chrysler, Firestone, Ford, General Motors and many others. It also had exhibits about state of the art aviation, railroad and marine transportation. And it featured Futurama - a view of the United States in the 1960's.

And last but certainly not least was the Amusement Zone. The Amusement Zone was the most popular Zone in the park and it featured a variety of amusements, shows, rides and firework displays.

William Hogarth painters alike succeeded a lot in making their society more perfect. One of such successful perfect society creators was William Hogarth.

A satirist at heart William Hogarth is the first authentic English artist. His painting and engravings of the English society of his time had no precedent in England. His work is deeply theatrical and he referred to himself as a dramatist in paint: ‘My picture is my stage, and men and women my players.’

As a painter Hogarth became famous for his ‘conversation pieces’. These are paintings in several acts of informal groups of people, relatives or friends in their daily surroundings. Such series include ‘The Harlot’s Progress’ (1731) and ‘The Rake’s progress’ (1733-1734) which respectively tell about the rise and fall of a prostitute and of a dissipated man of fashion. ‘Mariage a la mode (1743) is the story in six paintings telling about an arranged marriage which ends in murder and suicide.

Hogarth who as a boy was apprenticed to a plate engraver also produced very popular engravings. The cheap prints of the engravings became the part of the furniture in many English homes.

He believed these prints could teach people moral lessons. He thought, for instance, that the prints of “Beer Street’ and ‘Gin Lane, two 1751 engravings could dissuade people from drinking gin. Indeed, by the middle of the 18th century this habit had reached alarming proportions among the poorer classes. It became a serious social threat.

Chapter One

1

He stared at the red capped cathedral. Sparklingly lighted, it laid enveloped in the Mantaro Valley, in the city of Huancayo, surrounded by what he called Mountains, and the inhabitants called hill.

He had been in Huancayo for two weeks, hand not really got used to it; the Plaza de Arms carefree composure he liked.

In the countries he had visited—which were many—few were lit up like this church. Yet he been told, and was aware the side streets were to be feared at night (ah, yes in deed, there was a difference between day and night in this Andean city); likened to the haunting-ness of the Dark Ages, with its cobblestone streets, and its Spanish balconies. He had come form the 20th century, United States.

2

The bus was a passenger vehicle; it was being loaded, he knew it was going to leave by one O’clock this very day, leave to go to Lima, Peru, through the Mantaro Valley, and then the Andes, and onto the Imperial city of Kings. They put boxes upon boxes in the side hold of the bus, along with the baggage left on the outside of the bus, two men lifting up the heavy loads, baggage and boxes, silently, as if they were on a mission, throwing them into the hold like sacks of potatoes, tossing them into the deepest part of the hold.

The bus was being made ready for its trip to Lima, and the Huancayo rains had stared (December rains); the rains rose and descended from city to city, town-let to town-let, village to village, black clouds shifting all day long, drifting throughout the valley.

The rains engulfed the whole region (within a short period of time), from, and to include Concection, to San Jeranimo, Cajas, and Sapallanga, was flooded, and the heavy downpour in Huancayo, flooded the street likewise.

The rains were heavy, and the cities first stank, and then got swollen with the seepage of waist, especially in Huancayo. He felt he was not all that safe in the rains, and wanted to get onto the bus.

3

Beyond the Andes had become the last hope for an American fugitive, as he called himself, a veteran of the Vietnam War (know in Huancayo as the Americano). Here he thought he felt safe, avoiding justice to keep his freedom, which could be purchased in Peru. This was the gate to tolerance, so he called it, if it was not to be had here, than where (?) He was lost for a plan ‘B’ perhaps condemned to be imprisoned in a concrete jungle in the United States where his visa was a one way ticket to Hell and freedom unobtainable. Only one thing mattered, a new identity, and here he found it.

He had blackmailed fate, married a Peruvian, found his way to Lima, changed his name, got a residency card, and paid a few people off.

4

The Bus tickets were sold out, and he could not pay even double the amount to get another ticket (even too late to bribe other passengers).

He had made his plans to move on, not sure where, but Lima would be a centralized point to start, and then elsewhere, he was familiar with the city slightly. This bus was the last way out of the Andean city, on this holiday weekend. He was the only gringo, in Huancayo, and felt he was the only unescorted foreigner.

He asked the bus driver if he could pay double fare, and sit in the isle. An absurd idea for even if he had talked the driver into it, allowing it, where would he sit—everyone had mounds of luggage by their seats in the isles…but I suppose in desperation or despair one tries anything.

(Haunted he was, and paranoid of capture)) who knows what logic was reasonable for his reality)).

Chapter Two

1

It was early in the morning (3:00 AM), and the Plaza de Arms was almost deserted —but for a vagabond (beggar in the morning, vagrant at night, he had seen him before), sleeping hunched in the doorway of a shop, across the street stood, Lugar Cathedral. The vagrant was sleeping, hunched in tightly. He became aware of a second homeless soul, as he walked indecisively about, paced the plaza platform, and stared at the two street people.

He took no further interest in the two down-and-out, as they wakeup and stared, watching him pace. He kept his watch, still fearful of the police, though he had done no wrong in Peru.

Fearful, he kept in the shadowy areas of the plaza, the cathedral. He walked about slowly, as if he were about to be captured at any moment, while trying to design a new plan.

He stopped for a rest, heard steps behind him, nearer and nearer they came, he then started back up walking. If he got arrested, he would be questioned, and his wife would find out he was missing (leaving), she was sleeping at her sisters in El Tambo (a district of Huancayo), thinking all was well.

2

He then disappeared down a side street, a very narrow cobblestone street, adjacent to the plaza. Now those footsteps were next to him. The shadow of the man behind him was large, larger than his.

“Are you lost?” said a voice in Spanish.

He shook his head ‘no’ and kept on walking (the street lights allowed the shadow to see).

“Americano?” Indirectly, questioned the voice.

He didn’t answer the voice, but continued walking, looking at the red-shadowy tile roofs on the houses and the moon’s glare. (He knew very few people in the city spoke English, and he spoke very little Spanish.)

“I’m not the police,” said the voice, in smooth English, with no British accent.

He did not believe the voice and continued his pace, although he did take a quick look behind him, noticing the large man was not wearing a police uniform, but rather rough looking civilian cloths, with a motley looking jacket on (gloomy like his facial appearance).

It was a chilly night, wet, light rain intermittently. He had been arrested, he told himself: too many times in America, he wasn’t going to take any unnecessary chances now, not here, not anywhere. He knew he had papers on him, showing he was a resident, but he’d have a hard time explaining himself with the little Spanish he knew to the authorities, and he did not, DID NOT! What them to find out that he really was, not who he was, or what his papers said he was suppose to be.

“I saw you looking at the itinerant men back at the Cathedral,” said the large man (who seem to be educated but down and out himself), “So I got thinking…!”

He showed indifference to his statement he didn’t care what he looked like, he wanted him to vanish. He needed to find a place to stay, figure out his next step, a new plan, he was wet, and getting hungry, and he had missed the bus, he wanted to get out of Huancayo.

“Do you want to get out of the city?” the voice asked.

He did not reply. A few more feet, and he could turn about and knock the guy out with a solid punch to the side of his head.

“Here,” said the voice, holding out a set of car keys, “I can help you, you can help me, even you can go to Bolivia you wan, fro a price of course!”

He swathe keys, they looked like car keys in the feeble light. He felt it was now safe to stop and confront his ghost, his second shadow…

“Porque! (Why!)” He asked in Spanish.

3

“Do you think I need to get out of dodge?” He had learned a few words in Spanish, but only a few, but the shadow seemed to be quite able to carry on a good conversation in English.

“Come with me, I can assure you a way out of the city, and on your way to wherever, even Bolivia.”

“I’m not in need of a taxi!”

“Ah, yes…!” then he stared at who he figured was the taxi man, who wasn’t really a taxi man, whom didn’t seem to be a policeman neither.

(‘He must have known it was a holiday weekend, and all the buses were full, that is why he is perhaps offering me a ride ’)

I have always admired the monument of Sedona Schnebly standing at the entrance of the Sedona Public Library. The statue, a 10-foot-tall bronze, portrays Sedona walking forward with her left arm extended offering an apple from a basket while her face draws a gentle smile, as if welcoming you to her namesake, the City of Sedona. This offering gesture is symbolic of Sedona's reputation as a charming hostess. As a matter of fact, she and her husband grew apples and their home doubled as a bed & breakfast welcoming tired travelers. The statue's fine lines and contours are masterfully combined with a gracious soft motion that brings it to life. When I learned that Susan Kliewer was the artist, I wanted to meet the woman sculptor of the woman pioneer.

Susan Kliewer spends time sculpting at Mountain Trails Galleries in Tlaquepaque (www.mountaintrails.com). She invited me to join her at the art gallery for our interview. Upon my arrival, she was working on a small equestrian statue of the legendary Buffalo Bill.

Her friendly manner and cordial smile made me feel right at home. I also gained an appreciation for her in-depth knowledge and respect for the Navajo as well as the Hopi cultures, and her passion for Southwest American history in general.

Coupled with a life in the country-side and constant contact with Navajo culture, her works involve detailed research, something she has been doing for about 30 years. For this reason, her master pieces accurately reflect a traditional American historical background that she brings to life in her animated bronzes.

In addition to the statue of Sedona Schnebly, Kliewer has sculpted two life-size water fountains: one commemorates the Sinagua People and the other portrays a Hopi Water Maiden. Kliewer enjoys these monumental projects and expects to create more in the near future.

Susan Kliewer was born in Orange County, California. Her grandparents were ranchers there before it became overcrowded. Although Kliewer is a talented sculptor, her first artistic passion was painting. She began painting at the age of 10, and decided she wanted to be an artist. As an interesting note, her father, Elmer Osterman (a fire prevention coordinator for CA) was the creator of today's popular icon "Smokey the Bear" which was based on the true story of a bear stranded in a fire. It comes as no surprise then that her artistic talent runs in the family.

It was in 1968 when she and her former husband read about the town of Sedona in an article published in Arizona Highways and planned a camping trip there with their three children. They came to Sedona for the first time on Memorial Day, and immediately fell in love with the area. Kliewer and her family decided to move from California and bought Oak Creek Mobile Lodge and ran it as a mobile home for about four years.

One day a Californian neighbor proposed that she run another type of business, a trading post at Marble Canyon. It was a remote location near the Arizona-Utah border, and even though she hesitated at first, now Susan realizes it was a very important move in her life: "that was a big thing for me. I didn't want to leave Sedona that much, but I'm really glad we did, because of all the new experiences that otherwise I wouldn't have had."

During the next five years Kliewer learned how to run a restaurant, a motel, a gas station, a post office and, of course, a trading post. "It was like a little tiny kingdom. Neat place! We met all the people who went down the Canyon for white-water rafting… so we had very nice, very interesting guests all summer. There was no television or any electronic things, but lots of music and singing at night"--she remembers smiling.

In her spare time, Susan continued to paint and became quite proficient painting portraits. She was inspired by her love of and interest in Southwest cultures. In fact, her son married a Navajo girl and, ever since, her ties with the Navajos strengthened. Her Navajo friends and grandchildren have been the models for many of her bronze pieces.

After her unforgettable years at the trading post, Kliewer decided to move back to Sedona: "I wanted a more normal life for my kids. They had to go to school 40 miles each way… It was really hard for them, they had to take a one hour bus ride each way every day."

Back in Sedona, Kliewer worked as the manager of "Oaxaca Restaurant" in Uptown Sedona. But when the restaurant was sold out, the new owners managed the restaurant themselves and she worked as a waitress. She remembers it was a very tough time for her since she was going through a divorce and trying to make a living; then Kliewer applied for a job at the local foundry. Even though she was rejected at first because it was "a man's job," she persisted, and became the first woman in town to ever hold such a job: "if I wouldn't have done it, I wouldn't be sculpting today"--she asserted.

A hookah is basically a water pipe intended for the smoking of tobacco. It is often made of glass with two or more flexible stems drawing the water cooled smoke from the pipe. It originated in India many centuries ago, and moved from there into the Middle East. Although tobacco was the original substance burned in the hookah, others are also used. Some of these others have been illegal substances such as Cannabis or Opium, and this has tended to give hookahs a bad name in Western Culture. In recent years, the hookah has been making some headway in dispelling this bad reputation. One of the attractions of hookah smoking in the East was the manner in which the activity induced relaxation, and stimulated conversation.

The Online market has allowed hookahs to be purchased in larger numbers, and the merchants generally sell a large variety of flavored and low nicotine tobacco. The nicotine level is furthered reduced by the action of the water inside the pipe, and the result is a smoking experience that is ultimately less expensive and a lot less messy than sharing a couple of Marlboros. If a couple were smokers, it is easy to envision the hookah on the coffee table for a private evening of movies or conservation.

This is exactly the thought of some enterprising businessmen who have begun to open Hookah bars around the country. These would be regular bars with the exception of a hookah in the middle of every table. That large selection of fragrant tobacco would be available for purchase along with your drinks. The hookah smoking would supposedly have a calming effect on the patrons, encourage good talk, and enhance the entertainment. A Hookah Café would be similar except that perhaps food and coffee would be served with the tobacco rather than alcohol. Which ever approach suits you better, a trip to a Hookah smoking establishment would make a novel and very interesting group activity.

Have you ever looked over to the party goods table at a gathering and felt as though something were missing. Sometimes a little spice and pizzazz is needed at the food table to keep conversation stirring and the enjoyment of the evening flowing. Taking into account the million and one different kinds of parties people throw, integrating your specific party theme into your eatery will be a thoughtful and joyful conversation piece that will give entertainment through out the evening. Here are some helpful ideas.

Food can be altered in many ways but you must first pin-down in what way you would like it to go. Depending on the party, this should be easy. A four-year-old birthday is going to have less black than a forty-year-olds birthday party. Similarly, a bachelorette party will not entail the same decor that one would enhance within a wedding party.

Once you have a good grasp on what your party is about, it is time to get creative. But where should you start? There are several pieces to a party revolving around the food that are boring hum-drum-everyday things. Here is a simple list that can easily be expanded with a little extra thought:

Party-ware (tablecloths, hats, silverware, plates, cups, and napkins)

Cake

Relish trays

meat and cheese trays

chips and dip

Now, to get your mind moving on the right track, how can you present these things in a different way that would not only feed your guests but entertain them at the same time? An angel food cake at a baby shower that was cut into and frosted as though it were stacked building blocks can be an adorable touch. Relish trays that make a collage relevant to the event are also another great piece of entertainment. Meat and cheese trays that are prepared to create a 3D figure. Chips and dip can be of a different color or individually prepared so one can easily grab a small bowl without trying to fumble with them on their already stacked plate can also be a thoughtful rendition. The key to keeping your guests entertained and fed is only one imagination away.

Bob Seger developed into one of the most popular heartland rockers over the course of the '70s. Originally, he was a hard-driving rocker in the vein of fellow Michigan garage rockers the Rationals and Mitch Ryder. He successfully created a unique American Sound which was actually the combination of the driving charge of Ryder's Detroit Wheels with Stonesy garage rock and devotion to hard-edged soul and R&B(http://events.ixs.net/R-B-Soul.aspx ). Inspite of many lost opportunities of the initial Years of his career, Seger finally achieved a national audience in 1976 with the back-to-back release of his albums Live Bullet and Night Moves. These two Albums were a superb success which helped Seger in retaining his popularity for the coming two decades, releasing seven Top Ten, platinum-selling albums in a row.

Seger shown his interest in music in his early age. He began playing music in 1961 as the leader of the Detroit-based trio the Decibels; his future manager, Eddie "Punch" Andrews was also a member of the band. Moving to Ann Arbor, he played with the Town Criers before he became the keyboardist and vocalist for Doug Brown & the Omens. The band released "The Ballad of the Yellow Beret," that was parody of the Sgt. Barry Sadler song "The Ballad of the Green Beret." However, It proved a set back for them when Sadler threatened a lawsuit against this song.Resultantly, The single was withdrawn shortly after its release.

The First Solo Single of Seger was "East Side Story, which was released in 1966. This song gained huge popularity and soon it became a regional hit. Many other local hit singles followed on Cameo Records, including "Persecution Smith" and "Heavy Music," before his label folded. The Year 1968 was very important in the Career of Bob Seger as in this year, He successfully formed the Bob Seger System and got the golden opportunity of signing with the reknowned Capitol Records. His debut album, Ramblin' Gamblin' Man, was released by Capitol Records in the spring of this eventual year. The title track met a grand success and it became a national hit, climbing to number 17.

Seger achieved a commercial breakthrough with his 1976 album Night Moves which featured several hits including the highly evocative title song. Night Moves became a blockbuster, generating the hit singles "Night Moves," "Mainstreet," and "Rock & Roll Never Forgets." Stranger in Town, released in the summer 1978, was just as successful, featuring the hits "Still the Same," "Hollywood Nights," "We've Got Tonite," and "Old Time Rock & Roll." His most recognizable songs are almost certainly "Old Time Rock & Roll" (featured in the film Risky Business) and "Like a Rock" (most familiar to many younger Americans through its association with a long-running Chevrolet ad campaign). Seger also co-wrote the Eagles #1 hit song "Heartache Tonight" from their 1979 album The Long Run.

Keeping in view of his grand successes, Seger was acknowledged as America's most popular rockers. Seger's next album, 1980's Against the Wind, became his first number one album and all of its big hits -- "Fire Lake," "Against the Wind," "You'll Accomp'ny Me" -- were ballads. The live album Nine Tonight continued his multi-platinum success in 1981, selling three million copies and peaking at number three.

New books - especially hardcover editions - are expensive. However, there are ways to locate both paperback and hardcover copies of books at a reasonable price.

Remember the great Pearl S. Buck novel that you read in high school? Now, years later, you want to find a copy so that you can read the story again. But you don't want to pay full price.

What do you do?

You have decided to start collecting out-of-print book editions as a hobby.

Where do you start?

You are a student with a limited budget searching for used textbooks.

Where do you begin?

You are a passionate Anne Rice booklover. Her latest release has been out for a couple of months, and you want to find a used copy.

How?

If your needs are specific, you can start at an online site like AbeBooks.com. This website is terrific because it offers both used and new books from sellers all over the world. Each book's condition is fully described. Shop around, and be sure to check shipping rates before you order. A $1 book may be more expensive through one seller than a $2 book through a competitor because of high handling costs.

A couple of other online stores specializing in rare and out-of-print books are BookFinder.com and Alibris.com. And Used.Addall.com has a service that will hunt through several sites at the same time.

Did you know that Amazon offers used books?

And of course, there is ebay. If you are careful to read descriptions meticulously - and only deal with vendors who have a high positive feedback rating - you can often find exactly what you need.

A would-be collector can visit garage and rummage sales, estate auctions, flea markets, second hand stores, and thrift marts.

Many libraries clear out paperbacks on a regular basis. Your library may also offer a book-exchange program. A quick phone call to the librarian can provide you with more information.

You may also find treasures at used bookstores, plentiful in larger cities. However, a savvy bookstore owner will be on the lookout for valuable editions. Expect to pay collector prices for rare publications.

Local educational institutions may cull old textbooks that are no longer required in the current curriculum. They are usually well worn and marked with underlining and highlights. However, there are good finds to be had.

Your local or online yellow pages can provide information on local resources. If you live in a small community and are planning a trip into a nearby city, find the yellow pages first and make some pre-travel phone calls. Advance preparation can save you a lot of gas, time, and frustration.

Remember - you don't need to be a bookworm to enjoy a good book!

* A home without books is a body without soul. - (Marcus Tullius Cicero)

* Books are not made for furniture, but there is nothing else that so beautifully furnishes a house. - (Henry Ward Beecher)

* Books give not wisdom where none was before, but where some is, there reading makes it more. - (Sir John Harington)

Getting a job in the video game industry is sometimes the easy part. With today's technological advancements, there are oodles of opportunities to land a job in video games. The fun part is what comes next.

So what do you do once you've landed the job? You work your tail off. It will pay off, trust me. There are very talented people in the game industry and you need to know that you can do it and become a valued member on a team with a developer. But…it takes time.

How much time? Well, that depends on how motivated you are to advance your career. There are several things you can do as an artist or a game designer to help things along. These are simple things that once applied can move you leaps and bounds up the industry ladder.

Learn from others. One of the most important things you can do is to associate with highly talented people in your company. Be willing to learn from them. Watch and observe what they do, and be willing to put your time into this phase. Share ideas with each other and learn. You'll find that this helps more than anything in your growth as a designer and artist. You will be able to see your art develop and your techniques grow faster than if you just tried to do everything yourself. I can't express how important this is. Don't just sit at your desk and try to do things on your own. Meet senior artists and learn from them.

If you are just starting out, there will be times when you are going to be confused with the company's process or ways they go about hitting milestones. You need to ask people when you have a question. Don't just try and figure things out for yourself or you may get burned. Ask, then do.

Lastly, be active in the meetings at work. Don't just sit back and watch. Get involved. Be willing to share your ideas. However, being the noobie, don't think your idea is always right and be pushy with it. This will get you blackwalled quickly and people will shut your career down quickly if you are the new guy who thinks he knows something.

Looking for the best tips that help you take perfect Christmas pictures and snap the most unforgettable holiday moment?

Christmas is such a great time of the year when families and friends gather together and get into the festive spirit. It truly is a time to cherish when the children open their presents, eat dinner and listening to "Old Uncle Bernie" telling a few jokes.

What makes it even more special, however, is taking that perfect Christmas photo so that, when you look back on that Christmas, can really help you to relive the memories of that truly magical Christmas.

However, the truth is, although many people have expensive cameras, they may not know how to use them correctly.

A lot of people think "how hard could it possibly be?" and they just go ahead and take the photo without even looking at the instructions. What they do not realize is that it can be extremely hard to take decent Christmas pictures when you do not know how to use the camera properly.

Most of people just get the camera out, nap a picture and, when they get it back, the picture is either missing someone's head or it hasn't come out properly at all.

So, as well as knowing how to work the camera, it is a good idea to feel confident in how to take that perfect Christmas photo. There are a few tips that you can use to make things easier.

First, arrange the scenery and the people exactly how you require them to be and make sure that there are not any unwanted objects in the way. It can be extremely annoying when you take a photo and realize that some stranger making faces right in the view of your camera has ruined it.

You can use the red eye feature on some cameras that can help when the Christmas pictures have been developed. If this feature is not on your camera, you can ask the person to turn slightly to the left, which should stop the problem.

A great tip for taking a Christmas photo when there is a group of three or more people is to take more than one picture. The reason behind this is that it is almost guaranteed that one person will have their eyes shut or be looking the wrong way. So take precautions and do not pin all of your hopes on one photo, otherwise, you may be disappointed!

So, make sure you capture that perfect Christmas moment by following some of these basic tips. However, remember that it is all about having fun so be sure to enjoy yourself at the same time!

As well as having that perfect photo for your family album, how about entering your best photos in a contest for a prize? This could be a really big incentive to snap those perfect Christmas pictures, as well as a sense of pride and joy.