Thursday, July 17, 2008

Salsa - The Motion Picture

Robby Rosa former lead singer of the super group Menudo stars in this sexy story of young dreams dangerous passions and dance-floor fireworks! With special performances by Salsa legends Celia Cruz and Tito Puente this high-energy musical sizzles with breathtaking choreography and all the spice of red-hot salsa! In a nightly escape from his day job as a mechanic Rico (Rosa) enters his true element: the wild exuberance of the East L.A. La Luna salsa club. Dreaming of making himself and his girlfriend the King and Queen of Salsa Rico pours all his energy into winning La Luna s Grand Salsa Competition. But when the club s gorgeous owner sets her sights on making Rico her dance partner Rico must decide what drives him his ambition or his heart.System Requirements:Running Time: 99 Min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: PG UPC: 027616884619 Manufacturer No: 1004382
Customer Review: Fantastic energy!
Simple awesome movie and I was really enthralled by the charisma, the energy of the lead actor. The movie as such is similar to many 80's dance movies but being a Salsa dancer I enjoyed this one so much more. I now keep it in my laptop and watch the opening scene every time I need some positive feel or want to get into the mood of hitting the dance floors. Highly recommended to the Salseros.
Customer Review: Don't Waste Your Money
I bought this because my teenage son and his girlfriend loved Take The Lead and were interested in learning more about latin dancing. The dancing is marginal but the dialogue and acting are TERRIBLE! We couldn't watch it after the first 20 minutes - even the teenagers who, quite frankly, are not the best judges of acting!


Lauren Peterson, another nationally recognized yoga practitioner and teacher, meticulously crafted Yoga Motion: White Swan Yoga Masters Vol. 4, as a sacred blend of male and female energies. Lauren is one of the few advanced (Fourth Series) ashtanga yoga practitioners in the United States. She has been featured in many magazines including Yoga Journal, as well as on television in the PBS series Healing Quest. If you're familiar with Dance Wave or Sweat Your Prayers events, you will readily appreciate the fabulous selection of music Lauren made for Yoga Motion. Starting with the slow, sensuous "Invocation to Water" by Shaman's Dream, by the third track, "Partner World" by Mass Ensemble, you'll be dancing like there's no tomorrow.

Of course, you may choose to do yoga or other forms of movement instead of dance with this incendiary collection of songs, but dance is my thing. "Napas," the next track, by Mercan Dede, continues the intense, even outrageous world beat groove. But then, a few tracks later, Jai Uttal and Ben Leinbach slow things down a bit with "Mahadeva." Before this exquisite CD concludes, we're treated to Prem Joshua and Manish Vyas doing "Habibi" and Deva Premal singing "Guru Rinpoche Mantra" as only she can. In short, Yoga Motion: White Swan Yoga Masters Vol. 4 takes the listener on a most extraordinary journey. With over 77 minutes of music, by the time you're finished moving your body to this delicious selection of tracks, you'll be ready for a break.

As is often the case with great compilations, one of the joys of Yoga Motion is the opportunity to get to know some terrific artists who you might not otherwise get to hear. I urge you to spend some time soon with the exotic, over-the-top joy of Yoga Motion: White Swan Yoga Masters Vol. 4.

Steve Ryals has been writing music reviews since 1994, and to date has published more than 1200. Steve specializes in World Beat, Native American, New Age, Meditation, Contemporary Instrumental, Chanting, Devotional Singing, and more. He currently writes two music reviews every month as part of his Drunk with Wonder Newsletter. To sign up for his FREE newsletter go to http://www.drunkwithwonder.com

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Coldplay - Color Stripe T-Shirt

Coldplay t-shirt with pictures of band members in a color stripe on the front.


The exceptionally talented Jazz group Weather Report have released their CD entitled Heavy Weather. I am very confident and happy to announce that I believe Weather Report fans, and Jazz fans alike will be pleased with this one. With the release of Heavy Weather their artistic excellence is on full display as they have once again delivered a brilliant collection of tracks that could very well be their best work to date.

I wish it werent the case but, its not everyday that I get a CD for review that I can just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. There is usually a song or two that I just cant force myself to get through. Not at all the case with Heavy Weather. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish.

Heavy Weather is a nicely varied, mix of 8 tracks that are very well written and brilliantly performed songs by these clearly superb musicians. With many of the songs displaying a lot of the kind emotion that makes for a really great listen. Seemingly drawing from what I can only imagine are their own real life experiences. At different points touching on the most real emotions of love, heartbreak, pain, failed relationships and unattainable romance. Theyre all here.

Listen to this CD and I believe youll find there's not much to dis-like about it. The songs are inspired, the production is simply outstanding, and this is clearly the work of a group of musicians in top form. So much so that if you're even mildly into Jazz music you'll enjoy this CD.

While the entire CD is really very good the truly standout tunes are track 2 - A Remark You Made, track 5 - Rumba Mama, and track 8 - Havona.

My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 1 - Birdland. This is a great track!

Heavy Weather Release Notes:

Weather Report originally released Heavy Weather on September 23, 1997 on the Legacy Recordings label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. Birdland 2. A Remark You Made 3. Teen Town 4. Harlequin 5. Rumba Mama 6. Palladium 7. Juggler, The 8. Havona

Weather Report: Joe Zawinul (vocals, piano, synthesizer, melodica); Jaco Pastorius (vocals, fretless bass, mando-cello, drums, steel drums); Manolo Bandrena (vocals, percussion); Wayne Shorter (soprano & tenor saxophones); Alex Acuna (drums, percussion).

Recorded at Devonshire Sound Studios, North Hollywood, California. Includes liner notes by John Ephland.

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Bette Midler was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on December 1st, 1945. Her ancestry is Jewish and Italian. She was named after Bette Davis, though Midler doesn't pronounce the second "e" in her name like with Davis. She is the third of four children.

For college she attended the University of Hawaii where she majored in drama. To pursue acting, Midler dropped out of college before graduating. In 1966 she landed her first movie role in the film Hawaii. It wasn't a major role as her part was simply as an extra, but it greatly encouraged her interest in becoming a professional actor. To that end, she moved to New York City to pursue roles on Broadway.

Her efforts were soon rewarded with a role in the legendary Broadway musical, Fiddler on the Roof. She played Tzeitel, the oldest daughter, which was a pretty significant role for someone just breaking into professional acting. While working on Fiddler on the Roof, Midler's sister Judy was killed by a taxi while visiting her. Midler performed in Fiddler on the Roof until 1969.

In 1970 she got a gig in a gay bathhouse. There she met Barry Manilow. Manilow played the piano at the bathhouse and the two become good friends. Manilow produced her first album, The Divine Miss M, which was released in 1972. The album won rave revues and has since sold millions of copies. In 1973, The Divine Miss M garnered Midler a Grammy for Best New Artist.

Midler won a Tony Award in 1974 for her involvement in a Broadway play titled Clams on the Half Shell Revue. In 1978 she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her starring role in the movie, The Rose, in which she played a drug-addled rock star loosely based on Janis Joplin.

In 1989, Midler again achieved music success with her hit single "Wind Beneath My Wings" which earned her a Grammy for Record of the Year. She returned to music success again in 1989 with the song "From a Distance" which also was awarded a Grammy.

In 1992, Midler was awarded an Emmy for a performance on The Tonight Show hosted by Johnny Carson. Bette Midler is one of America's most talented celebrities. She's found success in film, theater, television, and music. Few popular artists can match her range of abilities. There aren't many people who can say they've won a Tony, Grammy, and an Emmy.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as Hollywood collectibles at http://www.shop4hollywoodcollectibles.com

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Latin Thug - 4 Life Beater - Women's T-Shirt




Even if heavy metal is seen by many people as evil and destructive it is still very popular among young and old. It is pretty obvious that the thing teenagers today (and yesterday and tomorrow) are crazy about is music. Of all the musical genres the one with probably the most enthusiastic fans has to be heavy metal and all the hundreds of sub-categories, whether it is classic hard rock or grindcore.

Discordant heavy metal music struck a chord with many teenagers during the late '70s and '80s. The loud, fast, guitar-driven music has since languished commercially as successive generations have chosen newer soundtracks to fuel their rebellion against the establishment. Many of the original fans, however, never moved on, even as they aged, started careers, got married and had children of their own.

"If you're seeing a 40-year-old at a concert, you're quite sure at 18 you know what kind of music he was into. For so many people the music of the most emotional point of their lives is a touchstone that they return to for the rest of their lives, there keeping their own youth alive.
Heavy metal fans wear their passion on more than just the sleeves of skull T-shirts and black leather jackets. For many of them, the music--louder and faster than anything heard before--became a way of life. The mostly white, mostly male and mostly middle-class listeners found a feeling of power over their parents, over their teachers, over the jocks at school that treated them as outcasts.

Metalheads, or headbangers, as they called themselves, built up a community linked through underground tape swapping networks and conversations about Metallica lyrics while camping out on line for concert tickets.

A second wave of British and American rock bands became popular during the late 1960s to the 1970s, with groups that were more steeped in American blues music than their more pop-oriented predecessors. Bands such as Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Alice Cooper, Judas Priest, Status Quo, Aerosmith, Queen, Black Sabbath, and Uriah Heep played highly amplified, guitar-driven hard rock that would come to be known as heavy metal. Heavy metal languished into obscurity in the late 1970s. A few bands including Kiss, Queen, Black Sabbath,AC/DC, Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith maintained large followings and there were occasional mainstream hits such as Blue yster Cult's "(Don't Fear) the Reaper". Music critics overwhelmingly disliked the genre. This began to change in 1978 following the release of Van Halen's eponymous, self-titled debut album. The album helped to usher in an era of high-energy rock and roll, based out of Los Angeles, California.

One genre that was widely popular in the 1980s (c.1983) was glam metal. Taking influence from various artists such as Aerosmith, Guns N' Roses, Bon Jovi, Queen, Kiss, Alice Cooper, Twisted Sister, (all but Queen would eventually play glam metal at some point in the 80s), Sweet and the New York Dolls. The earliest glam metal bands to gain notability included: Mtley Cre, W.A.S.P. and Ratt. They became known for their debauched lifestyles, teased hair and use of make-up and clothing. Their songs were bombastic and often defiantly macho, with lyrics focused on sex, drinking, drugs, and the occult.

By the mid 1980s, a formula developed in which a glam metal band had two hits -- one a "power ballad" (slow-dance tempo, with soft verses and bombastic anthemic choruses), and the other a hard-rocking anthem. In 1987 a second wave of glam metal acts, sometimes referred to as sleaze rock, emerged including L.A. Guns and Faster Pussycat.

My name is John Tahan a webmaster , computer specialist and also a musician singer song writer, working on my new demo , I invite you all to check out my sites for all metal fans at: http://www.tzarrockmetal.com and have a listen at my 80's Rock metal album called "Players of the Game" and for everyone starting out at playing guitar I have created a small site called: http://www.guitarapprentice.com enjoy them

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South African Folk Music Group Sweatshirt

Gildan - Crewneck Sweatshirt
A value fleece, made from Air Jet Spun Yarn, offers a soft feel and no pill, wash after wash.
7.75-ounce, 50/50 cotton/poly; double needle throughout, banded bottom, 1 x 1 athletic rib with Lycra, set-in sleeves.


Over the last 45 years that I have been involved teaching Ballroom Dancing, the biggest problem that I see with Beginner Dancers is that they do not want to learn all the popular dances, they just want to learn the dance that's popular and just enough to get by. Of course, it's fun to learn more steps in your favorite dances, but not to expand your variety is a real mistake.

Can you imagine only wearing one suit of clothing day after day? How boring that would be, not only for you, but especially for the people that are around you daily. Oh, there's Mr. One Suit, or Mr. Brown Pants...Boring.

Well, increasing your dance variety insures that you will be able to stay on the dance floor and keep having a good time with your favorite dance partner. The worst feeling is having to tell your special lady friend that we will have to sit this dance out because you don't know how to dance to the music that's playing. Before you know it, your lady is off dancing with someone else...
When you're having a good time, do you want to interrupt the flow of the evening? I don't think so..

Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango, Rumba, Cha Cha, East & West Coast Swing, Salsa, Mambo, Samba, Meringue. are the popular Night Club dances. The more you learn about these dances, the more you realize that they interrelate in one way or another...For example, a box step can be done in Foxtrot, Waltz, or Rumba, but of course the styling characteristics will differ from dance to dance, which will make each dance look different...

It's much better to learn 4 or 5 steps in all these dances, then to learn 25 steps in one or two of the dances. Why? Because, diversity on the dance floor will make you a sought after dance partner, and a more popular individual around your own social group. plus you will overcome a Beginners Nightmare, to be considered a BORING dance partner...

Remember Gentlemen, if you don't know all the dances, the other guy will.

http://www.SocialDanceCenter.com

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You can tell summer has arrived here in France because the signs are all around us.

First up there are the obvious ones - such as the weather and the dress code. Of course the latter, especially in the nation's capital, can still turn into something of a catwalk as this year's chic hits the streets big time in what for many is the Mecca of the fashion world.

Then there are the music festivals, concerts, outdoor productions, and jumble sales held up and down the country and let's not forget the smell of a BBQ wafting in from the neighbour's garden.

Prime time television news reports begin focusing on the queues at airports and the number of passengers passing through the French capital's major railway stations, rather than hard news. And national newspapers go in for the inevitable silly season.

The inside lanes of the motorways are bumper-to-bumper full of Dutch cars, trailers and caravans, busting at the seams with provisions for a month.

In August of course, when (hopefully) summer will be in full swing a huge chunk of the country will all but close down for a month and Paris will put up shop almost completely as the French head south literally and metaphorically with "Aoutien" holidaymakers replacing "Juilletistes".

But the real clue that the whole shebang is underway has to be the reappearance on the small screen of Secret Story.

It reared its less than attractive head on Friday evening on the country's number one national channel, TF1, and is set to be in everyone's sitting rooms for the next 10 weeks.

In essence it's France's answer to Big Brother - only more downmarket. Impossible you might think, but sadly true.

Basically the idea is very simple. It starts with 15 people, strangers to each other - with the odd exception, as will become clearer later on - moving into a built-for-TV house, where they'll be under the watchful eye of the production team and the viewing public 24/7 (via the Internet of course) for two and a half months.

Each carries with them into the house a "secret" - and the idea is to keep it hidden from the others for as long as possible while trying to cajole out of fellow house mates exactly what they're trying to keep under wraps.

Off camera there is also the deep bass booming tones of The Voice (La Voix), dropping hints whenever he feels like it, setting playful if somewhat idiotic tasks with cash rewards should they be completed successfully without anyone else in the house realising.

Every week two candidates are nominated and television viewers get to vote in a 'phone poll (at premium rates of course) on who should stay in. Original stuff huh?

Yes the country which so often likes to think that it has taken the cultural highroad, brought the world classics in the fields of literature, art and music, prides itself on its language and traditions, cuisine, fine wines and haute couture - now proves once again that it can mix it with the best and worst of what the world of reality TV has to offer.

The new series, which kicked off on Friday evening will have a hard act to follow.

Last summer, when TF1 first ran the programme, the eventual winner quickly had her secret revealed .She was a triplet - and after the other house members wheedled it out of her, in tramped her two sisters.

Thus the three of them provided viewers with hours of entertainment as they played cards, ate, played cards and slept, eventually being crowned the winners because.... well because they were pretty inoffensive and bland.

Up against them was the nudist, the escort boy, the son of a famous French tennis player (Henri Leconte) a transsexual and an obnoxious couple (their secret) who bickered and manipulated their way to the final, earning their Warhol moment of fame and then (thankfully) disappearing into oblivion.

This year's dollop of dubious "culture" kicked off with the contestants tastefully arriving at the house one by one in his and hers blue and pink limos. Each woman seemingly more buxom than the last, many of them sporting micro dresses of which even pop diva Mariah Carey would have been envious.

And with a few exceptions each man was more muscled, more coiffed and more drop-dead gorgeous than the last, preening and pouting as though they were models in Milan.

Separately they tottered, strutted, swaggered or tripped their way through the jeering and cheering masses into 10-weeks-worth (for the eventual winner) of fleeting public notoriety and a stab at the chance of picking up a 150,000 cheque at the end.

Some of the contestants have had their secrets revealed to the public already - such as the lesbian couple from Belgium, the black mother and white daughter or the 30-something hunk and teenage siren who have to pretend to be "a couple". But none of the other housemates (apart from those "in" on their own coupled secrets) is any the wiser yet.

Nor do any of the contestants know exactly what secrets they have to find out, although once again viewers have been told that among the 15 there is an Anglican minister (male of female not revealed), an undertaker, a medium (who you would think might just have a head start on the others and know whether he or she would end up winning), a prince or princess and a Don Juan with apparently more than 750 "conquests" under his belt already.

So as the 15 pretenders to the title of French telly's newest reality TV hero or heroine are busy settling in to their 24/7 life together transmitted live on the Net and daily on the small screen, we can probably expect some tasteless antics similar to last year's offering - such as the rump steak shoved down the underpants of one male contestant.

There'll also doubtless be the same sort of petty rivalries, squabbles and handbags-at-dawn stuff that characterised much of the first series.

But breathe a sigh of relief because at least it's all being done in the name of entertainment. And as much as some might question why and find it "outrageous", there'll probably still be millions tuning in.

Let's also not forget there's always the "off" button on the TV set or alternative viewing on other channels.

As compulsive and trashy as Secret Story might be it'll still more than likely pull in the viewers and become its own story in itself as the nation tut-tuts and hisses in disapproval and indignation at the antics of the previous night's revelations.

Oh well. In the indomitable words of La Voix "C'est tout pour le moment."

Johnny Summerton is a Paris-based broadcaster, writer and journalist. For more on what's making the headlines here in France, log on to his site at http://www.persiflagefrance.com

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Coldplay T-shirt

100% cotton navy adult t-shirt with Coldplay group faces in X & Y album colors printed on front, and Coldplay X & Y Album cover artwork printed on back.


Did you always want to learn to dance, but never had the time? With college and career, marriage and children, and then your kids' college and careers, and their marriage and children, the years have a way of spinning away from us. Before you know it, you've gone from being a young adult to an empty nester in the blink of an eye. You and your spouse may find yourselves retired, looking at each other over the breakfast table saying, "What should we do now?"

If one of the things you and your spouse always meant to do but never got a chance to, was learn to dance, don't push that aside, thinking you're too old. You are never too old to learn to dance.

Dancing is excellent low-impact exercise. You are up and moving, getting your blood pumping a little. Dancing helps to increasing your stamina and strength. It improves balance and coordination, and it helps to relieve stress.

Dancing is not only great exercise, it's also a lot of fun. Taking dance lessons is such a fun thing to do that many people don't really consider it in the same category as taking an exercise class like aerobics, for example.

Aerobics and dancing are actually very much the same. The difference lies in the intent behind the movement. People usually take aerobics because they want to see a result after the class is over. The movements are done in order to be able to see an eventual change in their bodies; a change on the scale, on the tape measure or in the way clothes fit. The enjoyment of aerobics isn't within the class, but afterward. In a dance class, the focus is on the movement itself. The enjoyment is in the mirror as you are moving, not afterward. Any changes that happen after a dance class are a side benefit. But the joy and fun of learning to dance is the class itself.

Dancing is also very romantic. As we live our normal lives with jobs, kids and the activities of everyday life, we can lose touch with this part of ourselves and this part of our love relationship. Think back to when you and your spouse were dating. There was probably a little dancing involved, wasn't there? Believe it or not, that flirtation and fun that you shared when you were dating is still there within both of you. You just have to give it an opportunity to be expressed.

Knowing how to dance is a great way to connect with each other as well as enjoy more of what life has to offer. Going out for dinner and dancing with friends is a great way to spend any evening. Even the old family summer barbeque that you've been having for years can be livened up by setting up a small dance floor and some music.

So if you and your spouse have ever thought that you would like to learn to dance, there has never been a better time to do it. Learning to dance is something you'll never regret.

If you have ever wanted to learn how to dance it's time to take action. Some people talk about starting a new hobby or learning a new skill for years and but never do. Don't fall victim to inaction. Seize the day.

It far easier then you think to get started. Simply book some dance lessons and turn up. It's the only way you will find out if it's something you really want to do or not. At the end of your life you won't regret the things you did - you will regret the things you didn't do. Learn how to get started here: http://www.dancevogue.com.au/

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The Singles 1999-2006

2007 limited edtion UK box set containing fourteen 7" vinyl singles.

The Blue Room EP:1. Bigger Stronger2. Don't Panic3. See You Soon4. High Speed5. Such A Rush
Shiver:1. Shiver2. For You3. Careful Where You Stand
Yellow:1. Yellow2. Help Is Round The Corner
Trouble:1. Trouble2. Brothers & Sisters
Don't Panic:1. Don't Panic2. You Only Live Twice - Live From Norway
In My Place:1. In My Place2. One I Love
The Scientist:1. The Scientist2. 1.363. I Ran Away
Clocks:1. Clocks2. Crests Of Waves
God Put A Smile Upon Your Face:1. God Put A Smile Upon Your Face2. Murder
Speed Of Sound:1. Speed Of Sound2. Things I Don't Understand
Fix You:1. Fix You - Video Edit2. The World Turned Upside Down
Talk:1. Talk - Radio Edit2. Gravity
What If:1. What If - Tom Lord Alge Mix2. How You See The World - Live From Earls Court
The Hardest Part:1. The Hardest Part2. Pour Me - Live At The Hollywood Bowl

The singles are housed in a custom white box.


Like many people you may have had a long standing interest in learning an instrument. However, if you are also like most people you maintain an extremely full schedule. On a daily basis you may find that you barely have time to eat and sleep let alone to enroll in or take guitar lessons. With that in mind, you may have found yourself wondering whether you can learn guitar online.

The fact is that at this point in time there are a variety of options available to you when it comes to playing guitar online. In other words there are websites operating on the Net that offer you the chance to take guitar lessons. Therefore, when it comes to the subject of guitar lessons online, the subject simply is not availability. Rather, the subject is whether these online guitar lessons actually are effective.

The major drawback associated with online guitar lessons is that you do not have an in person instructor guiding you along. Therefore, you have to be the kind of person who can learn without the direct guidance of another person providing you direction in person as you go along.

Perhaps in the final analysis, you might want to consider combining guitar lessons online with at least some practice or lesson time in the brick and mortar world with another person. In this regard, you have two primary tracks that you can follow.

First, you can participate in some real world lessons combined with the time that you spend online learning the guitar. Many people have found this duel approach to be a very good way of learning to play the guitar.

Second, another tactic that you might want to employ is taking guitar lessons online but to find a partner you can practice with in the real world. What you might want to consider doing is taking guitar lessons online with another individual. You both can garner important lesson information from the Net. After you have done so, you can schedule time to practice the guitar together. A growing number of people are taking this approach to great effect and with solid results.

Third, when it comes to taking guitar lessons online, you will want to look for a program that offers a multi-dimensional approach to learning to play the guitar. By this it is meant that you will want to look for a program that offers a variety of tools through which you can learn to play the guitar.

This can include such things as videos that you can watch online and so forth. By having a variety of tools available to you online you will be in the best possible position to be able to make great progress in your efforts to learn to play the guitar through guitar lessons online.

Fourth, when it comes to guitar lessons online, you may want to keep an eye out for a program that allows you the ability to join in forums and chat rooms at the website that sponsors the guitar lessons. Being able to chat and discuss with other students can be an invaluable experience when you are taking guitar lessons today. Sites that offer this type of exchange and experience are few and far between today. However, there is growth in this area and you will want to keep your eyes open for such an option.

Finally, you need to keep in mind that guitar lessons online can be a very convenient experience for you. If you are like most people, the fact that online guitar lessons are so convenient, this may be the best choice for you because of your busy schedule.

Stop wasting money on 1-on-1 guitar lessons! Check out Steve Krenz's Learn and Master Guitar, it beats the pants off anything out there. It's the most comprehensive and thorough instructional guitar course available today. Advanced guitarists should check out http://www.madguitarlicks.com for 35 killer licks to add to their arsenal.

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Still dishing out the same old party themes for your kids? How about the "tween" in the family? For the next birthday, make the party most memorable for your 12-year-old. These party ideas will set you apart as the coolest mom and dad in the block.

Party Uppers

Children ages 9 to 12 are at an awkward age, but give them a fun party and they'll lap it up. Since they are not official teenagers and no longer the little ones, giving them a party they can enjoy can tax your imagination and stamina. These tween party ideas will give your tween star status in the neighborhood.

Let the tween in you help you along these party ideas. If you've decided to host a Safari Sleepover, schedule it on a Friday night. The timing is right. The kids can catch some extra zzzs after a night of fun. But be sure to announce that the pick-up time for the kids is at 10 the following day.

An outdoor sleepover is a good idea, but for the kids' safety, have the tents installed indoors. Put up a hotdog and harshmallow grill, but don't forget to add a salad and animal-shaped sandwiches. Fill GI canteens with juice and distribute them among the guests. Let them whoop it up in the lawn - dancing and organized games - until you announce that it's bedtime. Girls should be separated from boys if it's a mixed party.

A tween party idea young girls enjoy is the "pajama dress-up" party. The girls can bring along their blings. Let them have a go at putting up makeup and do other girly things they all want to do - fix their hair, paint their nail with fun colors, and do a pajama fashion show. Of course, expect the girls to stay up late watching videos, swapping ghost stories, and doing just about anything. Girls are wont to do that when they are together.

If your tween loves to rock, she or he will be inviting like-minded friends. Host a rock party they won't forget. A '70s disco-themed party is a novel experience for the young ones. Clear the living room, install a disco globe, and get dance music they'll rock to. To make it more authentic, hire a neighborhood DJ who can do the spinning. Be sure to keep a bottomless supply of the kids' favorite eats, drinks, and munchies.

A beach party theme is also a welcome idea, whether you have a pool or not. Decorate the party venue with shell wired garlands, paper balls, mock palm trees, and surfboards. Prepare more than a dozen rubber slippers. Use colorful fish platters to serve your beach fare. Ask the guests to come in their favorite beach bum attire. If you have a pool, make sure that a lifeguard is around to watch over the kids.

Before the Party

Schedule the party on a weekend before the actual birthday. Get invitations to go with the party theme. A pillow invitation for a sleep over, a papier mache conch shell for the beach party, and a map invitation for the safari or treasure hunt party. Shop for party favors and ask your tween for the type of music he or she wants for the party. To make your shopping a convenient jaunt, have your money organized in one of those money clip wallets, and bring along the list of things you must buy for the party.

Call up the parents and ask for any restrictions on movies to watch and any food allergies to avoid potential problems. To help you out, ask the neighbors' tweens to come over. They'll enjoy the party too. If you have smaller kids, let them have a guest or two so they won't feel left out of the fun.

Make your party planning more convenient by keeping cash in a magnetic money clip and storing your party favor suppliers' contact cards in personalized business card holders. Don't forget to give away unique gift baskets as tokens. Visit ExecutiveGiftShoppe.com today.

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How many times have you turned to music to uplift you even further in happy times, or sought the comfort of music when melancholy strikes?

Music affects us all. But only in recent times have scientists sought to explain and quantify the way music impacts us at an emotional level. Researching the links between melody and the mind indicates that listening to and playing music actually can alter how our brains, and therefore our bodies, function.

It seems that the healing power of music, over body and spirit, is only just starting to be understood, even though music therapy is not new. For many years therapists have been advocating the use of music - both listening and study - for the reduction of anxiety and stress, the relief of pain. And music has also been recommended as an aid for positive change in mood and emotional states.

Michael DeBakey, who in 1966 became the first surgeon to successfully implant an artificial heart, is on record saying: "Creating and performing music promotes self-expression and provides self-gratification while giving pleasure to others. In medicine, increasing published reports demonstrate that music has a healing effect on patients."

Doctors now believe using music therapy in hospitals and nursing homes not only makes people feel better, but also makes them heal faster. And across the nation, medical experts are beginning to apply the new revelations about musics impact on the brain to treating patients.

In one study, researcher Michael Thaut and his team detailed how victims of stroke, cerebral palsy and Parkinson's disease who worked to music took bigger, more balanced strides than those whose therapy had no accompaniment.

Other researchers have found the sound of drums may influence how bodies work. Quoted in a 2001 article in USA Today, Suzanne Hasner, chairwoman of the music therapy department at Berklee College of Music in Boston, says even those with dementia or head injuries retain musical ability.

The article reported results of an experiment in which researchers from the Mind-Body Wellness Center in Meadville, Pa., tracked 111 cancer patients who played drums for 30 minutes a day. They found strengthened immune systems and increased levels of cancer-fighting cells in many of the patients.

"Deep in our long-term memory is this rehearsed music, Hasner says. It is processed in the emotional part of the brain, the amygdala. Heres where you remember the music played at your wedding, the music of your first love, that first dance. Such things can still be remembered even in people with progressive diseases. It can be a window, a way to reach them"

The American Music Therapy Organization claims music therapy may allow for "emotional intimacy with families and caregivers, relaxation for the entire family, and meaningful time spent together in a positive, creative way".

Scientists have been making progress in its exploration into why music should have this effect. In 2001 Dr. Anne Blood and Robert Zatorre of McGill University in Montreal, used positron emission tomography, or PET scans, to find out if particular brain structures were stimulated by music.

In their study, Blood and Zatorre asked 10 musicians, five men and five women, to choose stirring music. The subjects were then given PET scans as they listened to four types of audio stimuli - the selected music, other music, general noise or silence. Each sequence was repeated three times in random order.

Blood said when the subjects heard the music that gave them "chills," the PET scans detected activity in the portions of the brain that are also stimulated by food and sex.

Just why humans developed such a biologically based appreciation of music is still not clear. The appreciation of food and the drive for sex evolved to help the survival of the species, but "music did not develop strictly for survival purposes," Blood told Associated Press at the time.

She also believes that because music activates the parts of the brain that make us happy, this suggests it can benefit our physical and mental well being.

This is good news for patients undergoing surgical operations who experience anxiety in anticipation of those procedures.

Polish researcher, Zbigniew Kucharski, at the Medical Academy of Warsaw, studied the effect of acoustic therapy for fear management in dental patients. During the period from October 2001 to May 2002, 38 dental patients aged between 16 and 60 years were observed. The patients received variations of acoustic therapy, a practice where music is received via headphones and also vibrators.

Dr Kucharski discovered the negative feelings decreased five-fold for patients who received 30 minutes of acoustic therapy both before and after their dental procedure. For the group that heard and felt music only prior to the operation, the fearful feelings reduced by a factor of 1.6 only.

For the last group (the control), which received acoustic therapy only during the operation, there was no change in the degree of fear felt.

A 1992 study identified music listening and relaxation instruction as an effective way to reduce pain and anxiety in women undergoing painful gynecological procedures. And other studies have proved music can reduce other 'negative' human emotions like fear, distress and depression.

Sheri Robb and a team of researchers published a report in the Journal of Music Therapy in 1992, outlining their findings that music assisted relaxation procedures (music listening, deep breathing and other exercises) effectively reduced anxiety in pediatric surgical patients on a burn unit.

"Music," says Esther Mok in the AORN Journal in February 2003, "is an easily administered, non-threatening, non-invasive, and inexpensive tool to calm preoperative anxiety."

So far, according to the same report, researchers cannot be certain why music has a calming affect on many medical patients. One school of thought believes music may reduce stress because it can help patients to relax and also lower blood pressure. Another researcher claims music allows the body's vibrations to synchronize with the rhythms of those around it. For instance, if an anxious patient with a racing heartbeat listens to slow music, his heart rate will slow down and synchronize with the music's rhythm.

Such results are still something of a mystery. The incredible ability that music has to affect and manipulate emotions and the brain is undeniable, and yet still largely inexplicable.

Aside from brain activity, the affect of music on hormone levels in the human body can also be quantified, and there is definite evidence that music can lower levels of cortisol in the body (associated with arousal and stress), and raise levels of melatonin (which can induce sleep). It can also precipitate the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkiller.

But how does music succeed in prompting emotions within us? And why are these emotions often so powerful? The simple answer is that no one knows yet. So far we can quantify some of the emotional responses caused by music, but we cannot yet explain them. But that's OK. I don't have to understand electricity to benefit from light when I switch on a lamp when I come into a room, and I don't have to understand why music can make me feel better emotionally. It just does - our Creator made us that way.

Duane Shinn is the author of over 500 music books and products such as DVD's, CD's, musical games for kids, chord charts, musical software, and piano lesson instructional courses for adults. He holds an advanced degree from Southern Oregon University and was the founder of Piano University in Southern Oregon. Previous to that he worked as an assistant music therapist at DeWitt State Hospital in Auburn, California. He can be reached at http://www.pianolessonsbyvideo.com He is the author of the popular free 101-week e-mail newsletter titled "Amazing Secrets Of Exciting Piano Chords & Sizzling Chord Progressions" with over 55,000 current subscribers. Those interested may obtain a free subscription by going to http://www.playpiano.com/

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Brothers & Sisters




Dance has been an important part of rituals, celebrations and entertainment since before the birth of human civilisation. In the beginning, before we had written language to record things, the purpose of dance was often to tell stories and to pass them down to future generations.

The story of dancing in Cuba

In Cuba, as in ancient times, dance tells its own story. The passion and energy of Cuban dance reveals the strength and conviction of the Cuban people, determined to enjoy life despite 'la lucha' (the struggle) of living in a strictly regulated country where the average monthly wage comes in at around 400 pesos - less than 10.

The richness of Cuban music and dancing also tells the story of Cuba's melting pot of cultures. From the high-stepping flamenco brought by the Spanish settlers in the 15th century to the frenzied tribal dances of the West African slaves, dancing is in the blood of the Cuban people.

From the teenage girl in denim shorts to the cigar-seller on the street corner, Cubans are given to break into spontaneous dance steps. Furthermore, the people dancing on the streets of Havana are likely to be just as good as the professionals, because in Cuba dancing is simply a way of life.

The variety of Cuban dances

Cuba boasts a huge range of dances including classical ballet, contemporary, flamenco and folk dancing. But it is the partnered routines that appeared in Havana dancehalls between the 1920s and the 1950s - Salsa, rumba, mambo and cha-cha-cha - that can be seen in every Cuban bar, club and street. Of these, Salsa is the most popular dance internationally.

Since the name 'Salsa' (it's Spanish for 'sauce') was coined, Salsa dancing has exploded in popularity in Latin America and across the world. Salsa dancing classes are now hugely popular but to really get into the swing of it a Salsa holiday in Cuba itself is a must.

Tips for Cuban Salsa dancing

If you do take yourself on a Cuban holiday, you'll have the unique experience of watching Cubans Salsa dancing. It sometimes appears that by some genetic aberration they have been born with super flexible joints, defying physics to carry out all the complex manoeuvres they have integrated into the dancing. Their remarkable twisting body movements and natural sense of rhythm will dazzle you.

If you have the right technique, Cuban Salsa is easier to learn than many other forms of dance. The basic footwork is a fairly simple walking motion, pausing every fourth beat, and there are some six basic steps you can follow to make sure you're on the right tracks.

1 Relax

To dance Cuban Salsa well it is important not to rush, but to relax into the steps. Movements should be precise and deliberate in addition to being flowing and smooth.

2 Walk with purpose

Salsa dancing involves a continual circular motion. Couples walk around each other with an imaginary axis between them. This makes turns look smooth and effortless. Walking gives time to untangle your arms after each turn.

3 Have confidence in your lead

The leader (usually the man) should have constant tension in his arms, while his hands guide his Salsa dancing partner around the floor. There is no need to clamp onto each other's hands, only to use the right amount of tension to provide a leading signal.

4 Be flexible when following

In order to follow well, ladies should try to match the tension of their partner. The exception to this is when arms need to be relaxed and flexible to complete arm-twisting Salsa moves without injury!

5 Keep balanced when you spin

The key to all the spectacular spins in Salsa is not to lose your balance. One way to do it is by spotting while you spin - focussing on one spot at each turn - an age-old dance technique.

6 Use your body

In Salsa dancing, ladies should make use of their body and be sensual, playful and creative. This can involve some creative arm movements, going with what feels right and basically showing off a bit. Enjoy!

Emma Lelliott is the general manager of Captivating Cuba, an independent Cuba holiday specialist. With offices in Havana and the UK, Captivating Cuba can offer Cuban Salsa holidays to Havana as well as expert advice on holidays to Varadero and Cayo Coco and lesser known resorts such as Jibacoa and Trinidad.

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You can banish bad breath naturally by using home remedies. Along side using herbs to get rid of bad breath, you need to continue to brush your teeth, gums and tongue after meals.

Bad breath can be quite embarrassing at any given point of time. Bad breath is caused by the presence of oral bacteria. However, there are other causes of bad breath too, like onions, garlic, smoking, dryness of the mouth, and gum disease. More people suffer from xerostomia, which is, basically, dryness in the mouth. It occurs during sleep or if you have been speaking for a longer time. The saliva is a special kind of mouth moisture that kills oral bacteria.

Get Rid of Bad Breath Naturally

Bad breath, in medical terms, is known as halitosis. You can banish bad breath naturally by using home remedies. They are effective and do not have any side effects. Along side using herbs to get rid of bad breath, you need to continue to brush your teeth, gums and tongue after meals.

Some of the useful herbs and tips on how to banish bad breath are:

1. Wash your mouth with water, sage leaves, mint leaves, and parsley, to rid yourself of common bad breath. They are effective reducers of bad breath.

2. Frankincense, also known as Boswellia carterii, is a herb that has antibacterial capabilities. It is mainly used for treatment of sores and toothaches.

3. Cardamom seeds add sweetness to your breath, and are widely used as a breath freshener.

4. Drinking tea made from Fenugreek seeds helps to remove bad breath.

5. Parsley, whose Latin name is Petroselinum sativum, is more than just a green vegetable. Chewing parsley will get you fresh breath naturally.

6. There are certain types of herbs and spices, which are natural breath enhancers and are used in cooking. Some of them are cloves, fennel, or anise seeds and you can carry them in a pouch and chew them after meals.

7. You can chew some fresh breath herbs like wintergreen, spearmint or peppermint. They have a mint flavor and are soothing to the throat.

8. Commiphora molmol, Latin for myrrh, is also used for bad breath. It can be taken to cure infections in the mouth, teeth, gums and throat. It is very effective for toothaches.

9. Even fruits, such as Guava will help you reduce the intensity of bad breath.

These are some of the natural ways to kill that embarrassing odor. If you are able to use them regularly, then you can rid yourself of bad breath.

Understand the causes of halitosis is the first step in fighting halitosis smartly. Visit our site for more free tips on how to cure bad breath.

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The Latin Bass Book

This is a practical, comprehensive approach to learning Afro-Cuban, Brazilian and South American styles of bass playing, featuring 3 CDs of Berklee professor Oscar Stagnaro playing with three different world-class rhythm sections. The book consists mostly of transcriptions of every note Oscar plays on the accompanying CDs. Some amazing music, and logically progressing from simple to complex examples of each style.
Customer Review: What does one say?
This is a MASSIVE book (262 pages!) of latin bass in all it's various styles. We are not talking simple repetive patterns here either, we are talking from moderate to complex lines with excellent notation and a top notch CD set behind it. If you want to learn Latin Bass, you can start here, and stop here, as you won't find more and better probably anywhere else. Although it is not a Real Book, You can think of that kind of setup and variety.
Customer Review: Good intro to latin bass playing
This book is well thought, thorough and enjoyable. Comes with 3 CDs that stand alone on their own, if you don't mind having bass on one side and the rest of the band on the other. This arrangement allows you to pan the track and play along with the band, or focus on the bass line only. I googled some of the guys who play with Oscar in these CDs and they are first rate musicians with impressive resumes (try Rebeca Mauleón). It comes with no tab, but the first bass lines are simple enough so it wouldn't be a bad place to start reading, and once you understand the beats and where the bassline falls, you should be in a good position to read almost anything! The book takes you to a series of concepts that become more complex from track to track in a well thought way, so you build on your understanding of the subject. Probably the hardest part is to keep yourself from dancing while you play along to the CDs! A good purchase.


Here is a brief guide to using beginner electric guitar tabs to help you learn and accomplish your electric guitar playing goals.

If you are new to learning guitar, Using guitar tabs is an incredibly easy way to get started. But you may not know how to read them and how to go about using them to learn the songs you want to. Guitar tabs is a system that has been made exclusively for guitarists and other stringed instruments. It differs from reading music as it does not tell you how long to play each note, but it is just effective to help you learn where the notes are on the guitar and where to put your fingers (which really is what playing the guitar is all about!)

when reading beginner electric guitar tabs you will see six lines spread across the page, these represent the strings on the guitar, on the lines you will see numbers, these are the fret numbers of where you will be placing your fingers. you will read them from left to right as if reading a page in a book. A good tip is to actually listen to the song you are learning and follow along with the tab to see how long each note is to be played.

Many guitar players use guitar tabs as a way to start them off. I know i did, and learning them will save you many hours of confusion and Will help you progress quickly and have a lot of fun in the process.

Looking for tips and inspiration on how to become a proficient and talented guitarist? Check out simple guitar tabs to help you take your playing to the next level.

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