Obtain A Smallbusiness License In Missouri

Get a business license in Missouri at your local city or county government office.

Starting a business in any state can be exciting and rewarding if you choose a business that you are passionate about. As in all other states, in the state of Missouri you will need to have a business license for your business to be deemed legitimate. Operating your company without a city- or county-appointed business license can get you into legal trouble as well as get your business shut down.

Instructions

1. Go to the city administrative offices in the Missouri city in which your business is located. These offices are commonly found in the downtown city area. If you live in an area in Missouri that is governed by the county, then you will need to go to the county office that handles business licensing for your area. You can get directions to the office by visiting the city or county Web site or by looking them up in the local phone book. Web sites will have a more comprehensive list of departments and how they can be accessed than the phone book will.

2. Locate the department that handles business licensing when you get to the correct building. Ask a receptionist or information-desk person where the department is, and she can point you in the right direction. If there is no reception or information desk, there will probably be a building map that can help you find the right department.

3. Fill out the application for obtaining a business license when you get to the correct department. You will need to provide information about your business, such as the location, phone number, business name, expected income and so on. Have all of these things readily available to prevent delays with your application. You will also be asked to give personal information, such as your name and address. The department may need a copy of your identification for verification purposes, so make sure you have it with you.

4. Submit your application along with the appropriate filing fee. Depending upon which Missouri city you live in, the fee may be a set fee or one that is determined by the estimated gross revenue of your company. Typically, it takes two to three business days for a business license to be approved.

Perform A Fundamental Worldwide Rumba Walk

Man (right) standing in a Rumba walk

The famed Rumba walk is one of the most widely practiced basics in any studio. Although some can get carried away with the technique, emphasizing its practice for hours upon hours per week, there is a great amount of time to be invested in mastering this technique. The Rumba walk is a basic action that you may train in Rumba, though it is also used in the Cha Cha and similar elements will transfer over into other dances. Below are some guidelines on perform a basic Rumba walk and practice it for future reference.

Instructions

1. Begin with your feet together and turn your feet outward 45 degrees from forward.

2. Point your right foot in front of you with the outside edge of the foot touching the ground. Your leg should be absolutely straight and "toned" (flexed). This is position "A."

3. Using your left leg, begin pushing yourself forward and onto your right leg. Make sure both your legs are constantly straight and do not bend during this time. Here is the most difficult part. You must maintain your weight between both legs and on both balls of your feet. This is the transitory section aptly named "B."

4. Finish by continuing your pushing forward and putting your weight entirely over your right foot. Your left foot should release in a pointed, straight line behind you. This is position "C."

5. Go back to the beginning and repeat the 3 positions starting with left foot forward.

Illustrate A Picture Novel

Illustrating a graphic novel is a major project.

Graphic novels are a new literary form that are often confused with comic books. Although both mediums utilize comic illustrations and bubble dialogue, graphic novels tell a single story while comic books are serialized. Graphic novels, which often cover social and political narratives, benefit from visual storytelling and the use of symbols to convey powerful situations that are otherwise left to the imagination in a memoir or novel. Illustrations in a graphic novel range from simple line sketches to detailed and colorful artwork.

Instructions

Sketch the Elements of Your Graphic Novel

1. Drawings bring characters and narrative to life.

Sketch each character from your graphic novel. Give each character distinct physical characteristics such as glasses, hairstyle, facial features, clothing styles and scars. Practice drawing several different versions of each character, then draw them with various emotional expressions.

2. Outline the plot of your story. The dialogue and storyline should be complete before you begin illustrating your graphic novel. Use the story outline to determine the scope of your illustrations. Create a sketch of each major plot point listed in the outline.

3. Draw a sketch of each important location from your graphic novel. Bring the environment to life with buildings, plants and animals that embody the mood of your novel. Remember that darkness connotes danger and depression while lightness represents growth, new beginnings and success. Environmental symbolism is a powerful visual storytelling tool.

Draw Thumbnails of each Panel

4. Graphic novel illustrations replace literary narrative.

Decide how many panels you will place on each page. This number does not need to be fixed, but much of the graphic novel will adhere to the number you choose. Many graphic novels have 6-9 panels per page. The size of your panels will be determined by the size of your novel and amount of fine detail you plan to illustrate.

5. Use blank paper to create boxes that represent each panel. If you have chosen to include six panels per page, draw six boxes on each sheet. At the top of each page create a place to note scene and page number. Under each panel leave room to note characters and dialogue references. Make enough photocopies for each page of your novel.

6. Draw a thumbnail version of each panel. A thumbnail is a rough sketch that conveys location, characters present in the panel, and the size of speech bubbles. Do not include fine details; those will be drawn in the illustration phase.

7. Notate characters and dialogue under each thumbnail. Dialogue can be notated by numbering speech bubbles with corresponding dialogue lines. Be sure to number dialogue in your script to match the thumbnails. Dialogue bubbles are read from left to right and top to bottom. Sketch your characters and speech bubbles on each panel according to this convention and don't allow the tails of dialogue bubbles to cross.

8. Consider the amount of space that dialogue will consume in each panel. Limit speech bubbles to one or two short sentences. Dialogue may need to be adjusted. Narrative can also be added to a panel; this is denoted either through a rectangular box or font written directly onto the panel.

Illustrate Each Panel

9. Illustrations convey mood, action, emotion and environment.

Mark your multimedia hardboard with measurements for an 8 1/2- by 11-inch sheet of vellum. These measurements will help you maintain perspective and ratio while you illustrate each panel. Tape a sheet of vellum to the hardboard.

10. Illustrate each page to fill an entire sheet of vellum. Be sure that your panel boxes are carefully measured and drawn prior to illustrating. The first stage of illustration is drawn with a mechanical pencil. Don't be afraid to erase mistakes or start over.

11. Complete your illustration with pen and ink. Use micron pens and felt tips for fine lines and use cartooning ink for thick lines. Denote negative spaces (black areas) with an X. The black area will be filled in Photoshop.

12. Leave space for speech bubbles, but don't pen them in unless they are accent words like "BOOM!" Dialogue and speech bubbles can be added with Photoshop to save time and create flexibility with font styles.

13. Scan your completed illustrations into high resolution Photoshop files. Manipulate your illustrations, add speech bubbles, dialogue and narrative, and add color if desired. Print your graphic novel at home, or pay a self-publishing service to bind your novel for you.

Find Out The Third Conjugation Verbs In Latin

Latin verbs are conjugated in first, second and third conjugations.

The Latin language uses verbs in a variety of ways. Latin verbs take on more than just an action meaning; they also include adjective and noun characteristics. In addition to providing the base of functional action, each verb in the Latin language defines a time, defines a degree of factualness and they are more focused on the person. More specifically, Latin verbs define singular versus plural, identify who the person is, identify the verb tense and action type as well as indicative versus subjunctive meaning.

Instructions

1. Identify the verb stem. Regere means to rule, the stem of the word is rego.

2. Identify the tense of the verb. Latin has six tenses, present, future, imperfect, perfect, pluperfect and future perfect. Verbs using the third congugation end in i, e, io and us. The e in regere is replaced by an o, an i everywhere except third person plural where it is changed to a u.

3. Follow third conjugation rules to determine if the identified verb fits these rules. Regere would be conjugated to rego, regis, regit, rege, regimus, regitis regunt and regite.

Create A Vegan Hamburger

Serve some blue corn chips with your vegan burger.

If you're a hamburger lover who's concerned about salmonella contamination in meat or the health risks of eating too much beef, you should have no problem finding a vegan burger recipe that suits your taste. Try an alternative to frozen veggie burgers in supermarkets. Crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside, this vegan burger recipe bursts with french fried onion flavor.

Instructions

1. Boil millet in water. Lower the heat, cover and simmer until water is absorbed and millet is tender, about 20 minutes. Add more water if necessary.

2. Saute minced garlic in oil until a light golden brown. Immediately add diced red pepper, diced mushrooms and shredded onion. Saute until onion is translucent, and red pepper and mushrooms are tender.

3. Combine millet and sauteed mixture in large mixing bowl. Stir until all ingredients are evenly distributed.

4. Mix egg replacement, herb seasoning blend, salt and pepper in a separate mixing bowl. Add to millet and sauteed mixture. Stir well.

5. Refrigerate vegan burger mixture for at least an hour.

6. Crush french fried onions into fine crumbs. Shape the vegan burger mixture into patties and cover in the french fried onions, patting them into place.

7. Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet in a 350-degree oven for 30 minutes. Carefully flip burgers and bake another 30 minutes or until firm. If french fried onions start getting too brown, cover with foil.

Go To The Smithsonian

Currently the Smithsonian Institution comprises sixteen museums in Washington D.C. and two museums in New York City. These museums showcase a vast collection of national and scientific artifacts. All Smithsonian museums are free to the public, and a visit to them can be educational and entertaining.

Instructions

1. Select the museums you want to visit. Visit the Smithsonian website for a complete listing and description of all the Institution's museums and galleries. See Additional Resources referenced below. Determine how much time is available for your museum journey, and how much time you will spend in each museum.

2. Arrive at your first destination when the museum opens, this will help you avoid crowds as most visitors arrive later in the day.

3. Take a map from the information desk. Adhere to its suggested route or wander the halls and corridors as you please.

4. Read the descriptions and histories of the pieces that interest you and spend as much time as you like observing your favorite displays.

Download Anime Tunes Right Into A Mobile Phone

Download Anime Songs Into a Cell Phone

Anime songs are songs that are played either in the beginning of an anime, at the end of an anime or during an anime. Anime songs are usually pop songs that are sung by Japanese artists who are well-known in Japan. Full or partial versions of these songs can be found online via P2P file-sharing programs such as Limewire and on websites that allow users to download songs such as Gendou's anime music website.

Instructions

1. Go to an anime music website such as Gendou.com. Websites like Gendou are made specifically for anime music and offer free songs that are available for download. If you are unable to find the song that you want, Gendou will allow you to request song titles.

2. Create an account or login. Almost all music websites, including Gendou, require users to create an account or login before downloading music. This is most likely to prevent violations of copyright laws because the website will be able to keep track of all of its users.

3. Browse the music listings until you find a particular song that you like or request a song and await a response. There is a search box at the top of the music download page that works like a search engine. Beneath the search box are several song titles that can be browsed by clicking on them. A song can be requested by emailing the website owner who's email address is listed in the contact page. To access the contact page, click "Gendou" at the bottom of the page. Gendou and similar websites have thousands of songs available for download.

4. Download the song. Usually a website will allow the song to be downloaded by clicking the title of the song. On Gendou, click "Music" on the top navigation bar, then click a song title link.

5. Plug the cell phone into the computer. Most modern computers with operating systems at Windows XP or above should have an automatic plug-and-play option. The plug-and-play feature automatically recognizes the device that's plugged into the USB port, which in this case is the cell phone. When prompted, select "Open folder to view files."

6. Open the folder where the anime song(s) are and drag and drop them into the cell phone's folder. You can drag and drop files by left-clicking the file once and moving it over to another open folder.

Identify Byzantine Art

Byzantine art is the art produced during the Byzantine Empire in Eastern Europe beginning in the 5th century and continuing through the fall of the Empire in the mid-15th century. Art produced in this era has its roots in ancient Greece and Rome. It tends to be highly religious in theme and concept. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

1. Learn about the classical art of the ancient Romans and Greeks. Byzantine art reflects the heritage that it stemmed from.

2. Acquire knowledge about the religious conflict between Eastern and Western Europe during the Byzantine Empire. The art of the Empire is concerned with the split between the Eastern Orthodox religion from the Roman Catholic Church. Much of the art created during this period was intended for the Eastern Orthodox Church. This is evident in the art's flat and one-dimensional form. Faces are long and sallow, eyes are intense and starring, which lead to a subdued tone.

3. Familiarize yourself with the history of the development of Byzantine art. During the 5th and 6th centuries the foundation was laid regarding the style of the Empire's art. Little changed until the invasion of the Turks in the 15th century. Painting of people was prohibited in the 8th and 9th centuries by Emperor Leo. This split the Empire into two sections. Painting and mosaics returned in the 9th century and flourished until the fall of the Empire.

4. Grasp a basic understanding of the primary characteristics of Byzantine art. Art from this period is generally either paintings or mosaics. It is one-dimensional and solemn in tone. View examples of Byzantine art on Fordham University's website.

Identify A Parker Pen

The Duofold Centennial Pen was produced in 1988 to celebrate the 100th anniversary.

The Parker Pen Co. was founded in 1888 and produced its first pen in 1889. By 1894, they had devised a curved handle on the top of their pen which stopped leakage, a selling point for early Parker Pens. A long-standing symbol of a fine writing instrument, Parker Pens have become a collectors item. True collectors like to verify and authenticate their Parker Pens. There are a few distinguishing characteristics that the company has used over the years on its products.

Instructions

1. Locate the Parker Pen clip. The shape of the pen clip is often the company symbol of an arrow complete with vanes or fletching. The tip of the arrow is pointed downward with the vanes near the top of the pen cap.

2. Look for the name "Parker" on the pen. It might be located on the cap, clip, or pen band.

3. Open the pen to reveal the ink cartridge. Parker makes ink cartridges specifically for their pens. The ink cartridge will bear the Parker company name.

4. Look for the "H" located on the gold of a Parker Pen. The George W. Heath Company did the gold work on early Parker Pens. They stamped an "H" signifying their company symbol on Parker Pens.

5. Reference your pen against the Parker Pen catalog. Their are collector sites such as Parker Collector which detail the older pens in the Parker line. Search through the catalog to determine if your pen is an authentic match to one of the many pens they have produced over the years.

Identify 1995 F150 Ignition Parts

Ford ignition parts, which enable the engine to be started, are grouped into different part classifications.

Identifying 1995 F-150 ignition parts relies on finding a part number. In the case of ignition parts, a sticker may be attached to components with wiring, or if there is a metal component, the part number, or a portion thereof, may be stamped on it. Not all Ford parts have part numbers located on the part. Once the part number is identified, decoding it is an easy process, and referencing is necessary to determine the general part number. Reference sites are available to help identify 1995 Ford F-150 ignition parts.

Instructions

1. Examine the part for a Ford part number. Ignition parts may contain a full Ford part number, a section of it or no part number at all. Places to look for are stamped on a metal part or on a tag or sticker wrapped around wiring or plastic parts. An example: 1995 Ford F-150 ignition part number is "F5TA-11569."

2. Decode the Ford part number prefix. According to Fordification, the example prefix, "F5TA," decodes as a 1995 Ford truck part, with "F" identifying the 1990s. The decade letter system began with "A" for the 1940s, "B" for the 1950s, up to "H" for 2010 and later. The following position, "5," indicates the last digit of the year, while the final two positions, "T" and "A," are truck engineering department designations.

3. Identify the general part number. The second set of numbers are the general part number, which identifies the part family and the specific part. The general part number in the example, "11569," identifies an ignition switch for a 1995 Ford F-Series truck. According to Fordification, the following Ford general part families include parts belonging to the ignition system:

10000-10399 Generators and Alternators

10500-10649 Voltage regulator

10650-10837 Batteries and ammeters

11000-11529 Starter motor and starter switch

11569-11619 Ignition switch

11645-11688 Lighting switch

12000-12427 Ignition coil, distributor, spark plugs.

Hypnotize Somebody

Hypnosis is probably not what you think it is. There is a common belief that the hypnotist controls the subject through force of personality or even some sort of occult power, but in fact hypnosis is more of a collaborative game between the two. By creating a soothing and comfortable setting and playing to the subject's expectations, the hypnotist allows the subject to experience a so-called "trance state" created in the subject's own mind.

Instructions

Setting the Scene

1. Get a good subject. Hypnotic subjects don't have to be believers in the process of hypnosis, but they do have to be open to trying it and seeing what will happen. The subject should feel comfortable around you, and you around him.

2. Have your subject sit down somewhere comfortable and quiet. Although advanced hypnotists can put good subjects into a trance nearly anywhere, the process is much easier in a quiet room without bright lights or excessive noise.

3. Maintain the right attitude from the beginning. Hypnosis is not a magical state, but a phenomenon based on suggestion. Basically, it works because the subject thinks it is going to work, and the subject's beliefs are affected by the hypnotist. If you act confident in your abilities as a hypnotist and casual about the whole process, your subject is more likely to believe in what you're doing and fall into a trance.

4. Have the subject look at a point on the wall near the ceiling. You could also put an object on a high shelf for her to concentrate on. it is difficult to stare at an object for any length of time, and looking upwards is a bit tiring for the eyes. Both of these phenomena will help you establish a trance state in the next section.

Establishing a Trance

5. Use constant droning repetition in a calm, relaxed and moderately paced voice. You don't want to use the heavy "you are getting very sleepy" Hollywood hypnotist voice, but more of a conversational tone. You should have a whole hypnotic scripts prepared that you are comfortable with and can continue to repeat with slight variations until the subject is in a trance.

6. Connect what the subject is already doing to what you want him to do or feel. For example, instead of saying "your eyes are feeling tired," say "as you sit here, breathing in and out and sitting in a soft, comfortable chair while staring up at a point on the ceiling with your eyes slowly tiring, allow yourself to relax more deeply." In the second statement, you tie the experience of tiring eyes to other things the subject is feeling, implying that it is true without commanding him to outright. The subject will make the same connection and feel his eyes tire without consciously thinking about it.

7. Subtly suggest that the subject is falling asleep. She will become more and more relaxed as you drone and blather on, enabling you to say something like "as you let your eyes become more and more heavy, breathing in and out, in and out, you can feel yourself drawing closer and closer to a deep sleep." by this point, she will feel relaxed and the suggestion of sleep won't seem unreasonable or jarring.

8. Use a hypnotic test to deepen the trance. As your subject begins to fall into a trance, have him visualize a balloon tied to his wrist. Suggest that his wrist will feel lighter and lighter as he feels tireder and tireder. Inevitably his arm starts to rise. This will provide evidence to him that he is falling into a trance and that this hypnosis thing works, deepening the state further. Tell him that the balloon is deflating so he can rest his arm again and relax.

9. Deepen the trance. A good technique for doing this is to have the subject imagine that she is at the top of a staircase or an elevator going down. At the bottom is a sanctuary of some sort--perhaps a garden or her favorite place from childhood. Have her imagine that she is walking the steps while you slowly count down from 10 to 1. Tell her to relax more with each step she descends. When she reaches the bottom, tell her to open a door into whatever restful, relaxing scene you are having her picture.

10. Bring your subject of the trance. Tell him that he is back in front of the stairway again and that he is going to climb the stairs while you count from 1 to 10. Tell him that as he climbs, he will slowly awaken and that when he reaches the top step he will be relaxed, awake and refreshed. When he reaches the top, say "awake."

11. Check in with your subject to see how she is. Make sure that she is comfortable and happy with the experience. Because hypnosis is affected by the leafs, a subject who feels she will still be "tranced out" by the experience can come out disoriented. If she does feel a bit disoriented, explain to her that it will pass in a few minutes and make sure that she feels better before she leaves.

Host A Vegan Barbecue

Summer is the best time to gather friends and host a vegan barbecue. The concept may defy everything you know about barbecues, but it is an easy endeavor when you know go about it. The tricks to hosting a successful vegan barbecue are easy to learn.

Instructions

1. Try new "meats." A wide variety of meat substitutes can be grilled: seitan, which is made of wheat proteins; tofu, which is also known as bean curd; and tempeh, which is soy beans. You can buy these at many health food stores, and they can easily be used in skewers or thrown straight onto the grill.

2. Use lots of veggies to add color to your grill. Most vegetables, such as squash, cucumber, peppers, onions, mushrooms and potatoes, can be cut and placed in foil on the grill or on skewers as well.

3. Advertise your intent. Let all of your friends know that they are coming to a different kind of barbecue. Unless they are all vegan, they may need some tips on what to bring that will complement the meals being served. Suggest fruit or vegetable salads, vegan-friendly breads for soy and vegetable burgers, and lemonade or fruity teas.

4. Make appetizers fun. You can stick with vegan tortilla chips and salsa when you host a vegan barbecue, but you can also make fun dips and condiments for your guests. You can serve hummus with vegetables and chips, or toast some warm pita bread.

5. Give your guests lots of choices. You don't have to make a lot of everything, but having choices will make people feel more comfortable about only trying a small bit of some of the dishes they aren't familiar with.

Draw Stick People Figures

Draw your own stick figures.

Drawing a stick figure requires just a couple simple tools and a little creative experience. For individuals who claim they can't draw, stick figures are a good way to represent people. Stick figures are fast, easy to learn, and good for beginners. Once you master the art of drawing stick figures, you can start adding details to create life-like drawings.

Instructions

1. Draw an oval on your paper. This represents a head, so make sure the size is appropriate for the size of paper you have.

2. Draw a straight line starting at the very bottom of the oval. This line represents the torso of your figure.

3. Add legs and arms. Draw an upside-down "V" with the point at the bottom of the line you just drew. This "V" makes the legs of your figure. To make arms, draw a straight line across the vertical line you drew, about 2/3 of the way up toward the head.

4. Add details to your stick figure. Add hair to the top and sides of the oval. Add facial features, such as eyes, a nose, and a mouth, to the oval. You can also add hands, feet and accessories such as ties or bracelets.

Draw Flames On The Picture Of The Vehicle

Flames drawn on a car picture are symbolic of speed.

Flames can be found adorning cars, trucks and other vehicles. The simple addition of flames to a vehicle can give it a racing look and has been a part of race car paint jobs since the birth of racing. Artists who draw cars often add flames to give the finished drawing a race car or hot rod character. Drawing flames on a car picture isn't a difficult process and can help you give any car you draw a flashy appearance.

Instructions

1. Locate the area of the car where you want to begin drawing the flames. This is the base of the flames. Typically, flames will start at the front fender and extend back across the door, but you could also start flames at the door and extend them to the rear fender. Flames might also be placed on the hood of a car, with the base of the flame toward the front of the car and the flames themselves extending back toward the windshield.

2. Draw a line from your starting point toward the ending point. Curve the line slightly as you draw toward where the flame tip will be. Bring the line at a slight downward curve, then lift your pencil and place it at the exact point where you ended the first line. Draw another line parallel to the first, running in the opposite direction, but stop after you've drawn about half the length of the top line. This is one of the flames.

3. Continue to draw several of the flames as described in step two, but vary the lengths of them. How many flames you draw will depend upon how many flames you want on your car. The last flame you draw will extend all the way back to your starting point to form the full base of the flame.

4. Color your flames with orange, yellow, red and blue color pencils. There is no set blend of the colors needed to create fire colors, but the blue will typically be at the base and used sparingly. Apply the red, yellow and orange, then gently rub your eraser over the flames to blend them.

Train To Bop The Horah

You've just watched a movie, gone to a Broadway musical or attended a Jewish celebration where you saw the horah performed. It looked like fun and the next time you attend a Jewish wedding or bar mitzvah, you'd like to join in. While this popular Israel folk dance is simple, you can train professionally and meet other people with similar interests at the same time.

Instructions

1. Learn about the rich background of the horah and Israeli folk dancing. This style originated in Eastern Europe among Jewish pioneers on their communal farms (kibbutzim) in the early 20th century. The horah we're familiar with today has steps based on those created by noted Israeli dancer Baruch Aggadati in the 1920s.

2. Review the horah dance patterns before your first lesson. Since this is a group circle dance, practicing the steps ahead of time on your own will make it easier when you dance with others (See "Do the Hora" under Related eHows).

3. Find an instructor with specific knowledge on Israeli folk dancing. You can locate them in the phone book or online. Also, check out your local dance studios, colleges and community centers. Attend every class and practice what you learned at home between classes, so you can perfect the moves and don't forget what you've learned.

4. Choose a venue to perform in after you complete your training. Your new dance skills will prepare you for a wide range of venues from Jewish celebrations and your own recitals, to folk dance festivals and onstage with a professional troupe.

Connect A Davinci Theater System

A DaVinci home theater system is designed to work with just about any audio/video device, including a television, DVD player or cable/satellite receiver. Although many stores that sell the DaVinci equipment provide home installation, it is far cheaper to hook up and perform the installment yourself. Doing so allows you to work on your own time and not pay any additional setup fees associated with this service.

Instructions

1. Place two speakers of the DaVinci home theater system to the left and right of the speaker. Plug the wires running out of the speakers into the "Front Left" and "Front Right" speaker connection ports.

2. Set a single speaker directly underneath the television. This is the center channel. Plug the wires from the speaker into the "Center" connection port.

3. Position the final two speakers directly behind the seating area. Insert the wires into the "Rear Left" and "Rear Right" speakers ports on the receiver.

4. Insert the digital optical audio cable into the "Digital Out" port on the audio/video device you want connected to the DaVinci theater system. Plug the free end into one of the "Digital In" ports on the receiver. Power on the equipment and you are ready to begin using the receiver with the connected equipment.

Help Children Learn How To Swallow Pills

Many of us remember the first time we swallowed a pill as a child because it was a difficult experience for both ourselves and our parents. Today, the process hasn't gotten easier, but pharmaceutical companies have developed medicine that caters to children and their fear of swallowing pills. Chewables and liquids have become popular, but there are small steps you can take as a parent to help your children become more comfortable with medicine as well. Remember, they're going to learn at their own pace.

Instructions

Using Cake Decoration Candy

1. Explain to your child why medicine is important and necessary to help them feel better and stay healthy. It's crucial to eliminate as much fear as possible before beginning the exercise.

2. Take a piece of the cake decorating candy and demonstrate the proportion of the candy on your finger. Emphasize its small size, and swallow a piece of it yourself to show how easy and harmlessly it can be done.

3. Present the glass of flavored beverage to the child, and show them place the decorative candy on their tongue. Ease them into using the drink to wash the candy down. It's important to be patient during this time (as they gag, spit up), and use positive reinforcement to keep them from quitting.

4. Allow them to try with as many decorative cake candies as they like until they become comfortable with the swallowing process. Once they are swallowing the candy without hesitation, you can move on to the next trial.

Using Tic-Tacs, Bigger Candy

5. Show the container of Tic-Tacs to the child before you propose the swallowing exercise. Allow them to try eating one on their own if they display any fear toward working with the candy.

6. Swallow a Tic-Tac with a glass of flavored beverage to demonstrate how simple it is to the child, and how it's just a step up from swallowing the decorative candy used before.

7. Allow your child to drink a beverage before beginning the process to avoid a dry throat. Pill-like, Tic-Tacs are more difficult to swallow than smaller decorative candies.

8. Help the child place the Tic-Tac on the tongue, and ease them into washing it down with a flavored beverage. Once again, be patient and encouraging with positive reinforcement.

Possess The Ultimate Rocky Horror Picture Show Experience

"

The Rocky Horror Picture Show" is a cult classic that still draws audiences to its midnight showings weekly across the country. It is a lot of fun to participate in, if you know what to do and what to bring. These steps will help you have the ultimate experience.

Instructions

1. Watch the movie beforehand with a friend who knows the audience responses. Now that Rocky Horror is out on DVD, you can practice at home before you go. Get a friend who knows the appropriate audience responses to scream at the screen and practice. You don't want to look like a "virgin!"

2. Bring the appropriate props. One of the greatest parts of the Rocky Horror experience is the throwing/using of the props at the designated times. The following are the correct items to bring, and when to use them: rice (at Brad and Janet's wedding), water guns and newspapers (when Brad and Janet walk through the rain to get to Frank's castle), flashlights (when Brad and Janet sing "There's a light..."), rubber gloves (snapped when Frank snaps his gloves), noisemakers (when the "unconventional conventionalists" use theirs during Frank's speech), toilet paper (thrown when Dr. Scott enters and Brad exclaims "Great Scott!"), Toast (thrown when Frank proposes a toast at dinner) and cards (thrown when Frank sings "Cards for sorrow, cards for pain").

3. Be prepared to be outed as a Rocky Horror Picture Show virgin. No matter how well you prepare, someone will most likely rat you out to the MC of the evening as being a "virgin." This is not a bad thing! Have fun with it. It's a great experience, and the hazing you go through will be even more fun the next time, when you get to help do it to someone else.

Have Proper Enunciation In Female Voice Training

Have Proper Diction in Female Voice Training

You might like to expand your vocal horizons by improving your diction. Proper diction in the female voice requires some vocal training. Here are some things to keep in mind when you practice your diction and some special things to keep in mind when training a female voice.

Instructions

1. Make consonance a priority and think about each consonant as you sing it. This helps make the words much clearer to your audience. This is especially true when you sing the falsetto range, which tends to have less control and is more breathy.

2. Pay special attention to letters L, P, S and T, especially at the end of words. The consonant sound at the end of words, even in the higher female voice, tends to get lost. Crisp T and S sounds, as well as other consonants, keep the feeling and understanding of the words of the song alive as well.

3. Practice your diction by speaking the words of a song as well as singing them. Say the words of a song, as if you're reading poetry, to get more of an understanding of the meaning and to help you concentrate on the communication held in each phrase.

4. Have someone listen to you practice and tell you what they hear. If they cannot understand the words you sing in a certain range, focus on your consonance in that range in an effort to communicate the words.

5. Balance emotion and word formation. Overly emotional singing sometimes looses the control needed to maintain proper diction, especially in the female voice.

Have A Very Good Orchestra Audition

Auditioning for an orchestra can be a daunting process even for professionals

Auditioning for an orchestra is a necessary process for joining the ensemble. In an audition, a potential orchestra member will be asked to perform a piece in front of various members of the orchestra's administrative and creative staff. Above all skills and techniques in an audition, the most important step is preparation and being ready for what is to come during your audition time.

Instructions

1. Find out exactly what is expected of someone auditioning for the orchestra. Will it be a prepared piece? How many measures will be expected? What style of music? Who will be at the audition? Will there be any sight reading? All of these questions are relevant for audition preparation and all of them are normal, and expected, questions to ask beforehand.

2. Prepare several pieces of varying styles for the audition. You never know if midway through one piece, for a variety of reasons, someone on the audition panel will ask to hear something else.

3. Practice beforehand until you feel completely comfortable with all the pieces you plan to play at the audition. Try to have them committed to memory by the time audition day rolls around. While it isn't necessary to actually play the music without sheet music during the audition (though sometimes it is), having it memorized will make you feel more confident when performing. Don't overwork yourself when preparing. If you feel tired or frustrated by the music, take a break.

4. Perform your piece for a knowledgeable friend the day before the audition. Use this process more as a performance opportunity than for feedback. If he is able to give constructive criticism then certainly use it, but remember that the people you are trying to impress are the ones you are playing for tomorrow.

5. Remain calm while waiting for your audition. The moments spent waiting outside the room for your name to be called can be nerve-wracking. Remember to breathe deeply, relax your muscles, and think more about the music to be performed than the audition itself.

6. Greet the members of the panel courteously; shake their hands only if it feels natural or comfortable. Even if you know someone on the panel, remain professional throughout.

7. Perform your piece and think only of the task at hand--playing music. Don't worry about the opinions of others until after you are finished; now is your moment to put on a show.

8. Bow at the end of your audition and politely thank the panel before leaving the room. They will let you know what the next steps would be in the audition process (regarding call backs, entrance, etc).

Fresh paint A Watercolor On Yupo

Yupo provides an unusual surface for watercolor painting.

Yupo watercolor paper isn't paper at all. It's actually a synthetic product made of polypropylene. The surface is strong, waterproof and stain resistant. Unlike traditional watercolor paper, Yupo doesn't need to be stretched. The sturdy, nonabsorbent sheet also lends itself to techniques that would strain other watercolor grounds, possibly causing tearing or other damage.

Instructions

1. Clean the Yupo surface with soap and water to remove grease and fingerprints. Tape the sheet to a drawing board.

2. Draw preliminary guidelines lightly with a pencil. Brush on diluted watercolors. Tilt the board to allow wet paint to flow and mingle. When the paint is wet, it can be wiped off completely. Partially dried paint can be lifted to any degree with paper towels. Dried paint can be scrubbed with a bristle brush to create soft-edged spots.

3. Cut sponges to useful shapes. Thicker watercolor can be dabbed on with sponges or applied with palette knives. Add textures by blotting the wet paint with sponges, crumpled plastic wrap, paper towels or paint rollers. Sprinkle wet paint with salt and allow to dry. Gently brush off salt to reveal the unusual textures left in the paint.

4. Add multiple layers of color, allowing each level to dry completely before painting on top.

Hang Glass Spiral Wall Artwork

Although some glass spiral wall artwork may provide hangers on the back, many glass spiral artwork pieces do not have appropriate spacers to hide wall hangers. Instead, the artwork is just a series of wrapping metal with no designated way to hang it. The artwork must be hung without an attached hanger. You can hang glass spiral wall artwork by a couple of methods, depending upon the look you would like to achieve.

Instructions

Hook Hangers

1. Hold the glass spiral wall artwork up to the wall in the location where you would like the artwork to hang. Mark two or more locations on the artwork that have mostly horizontal pieces that could be hung from a hook. Use a pencil to mark along the bottom of each of these locations.

2. Put the artwork down. Attach the hangers to the wall using the hardware provided, according to the directions included. If you have drywall, make sure you use the supplied wall anchors.

3. Hang the glass spiral artwork on the hooks. Place one horizontal piece of the metal into each hook and gently lower the artwork to hang against the wall.

Wire Photo Hanger

4. Hold the glass spiral wall artwork up to the wall where you want to hang it. Look for two sturdy pieces of the metal artwork that sit horizontally across from each other at roughly the same level on the artwork.

5. Attach the ends of a wire photo hanger to the artwork in these two locations by wrapping the wire end around a piece of metal several times. If the artwork is especially heavy, add super glue to the back of the wire and allow it to dry fully to hold the artwork firmly in place once hung.

6. Pull the center of the wire up to a point at the top of the glass spiral artwork so that it creates a triangle above the top of the artwork. Mark the point at the top of the wire.

7. Secure the hook provided with the wire photo hanger into the wall so when the wire is hung from the hook, the artwork hangs at the level you want it to on the wall. Place the point of the wire on the hook, and carefully slide the wire right or left on the hook to level the artwork on the wall.

Cubism Activities

Cubism was prefigured by the work of Paul Cezanne.

Cubism was one of the major art movements of the 20th century. Studying Cubism not only informs art students the background of and developments that led to Cubism, it also teaches them about the structure of objects --- an important step in developing an artist's eye. Activities to learn about Cubism can speak to the history of the movement as well as the techniques used in its application.

History of Cubism

The artists Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque developed the style of Cubism in the early decades of the 20th century; they worked to further the ideas of artist Paul Cezanne, who understood that most objects in nature could be broken down into their most basic geometric essentials. Cubism took this a step further using methods such as painting many perspectives in one picture, playing with the techniques of foreshortening and fragmenting objects into geometric parts. Students of art can learn about these and other facets of Cubism by researching the period, its art and proponents; for example, they can explore the differences between analytical and synthetic Cubism, or they might look more closely at the life and work of Cezanne.

Recreate a Cubist Painting

As students study the history of art, they are often encouraged to recreate the works of artists they admire; examples of Cubist art by both Braque and Picasso can serve as models for this activity. The way the instructor incorporates lessons in this style of art will depend on the skill level of the students. Beginning students may need to use an overhead projector to draw in the basic parts of the painting being studied before beginning to paint; more advanced students may draw the piece freehand before starting their painting work. The most advanced students can be tasked with taking lessons learned from such exercises and creating an original Cubist-style painting with new subject matter.

Field Trip

Part of learning about art history is the privilege of seeing famous works up close. A field trip to a museum that houses such works gives both visual art and art history students a better understanding of how Cubist artists worked. If your local museum doesn't carry work by Cubist artists, a field trip to a larger museum might be possible. Some university programs, for example, offer tours abroad and touch on the intellectual history of the area they're visiting; a trip to Spain or France brings students face to face with the lands, architecture and history that influenced Cubism as well as giving them access to museums like the Louvre.

Applications of Cubism

The effects of Cubism were far-reaching, and the influence of Cubism was felt outside the world of art. For example, military designers during World War I used the geometric modeling techniques of Cubism to create better camouflage patterns for their tanks. Using the lessons learned from studying Cubism, students can be asked to apply Cubist principles to design a practical object.

Hang A Flagpole

A flagpole can help you easily decorate for any occasion. In addition to the American flag, you can hang a flag for any season or holiday.

Instructions

1. Choose a spot

If you are installing a flag pole on a brick house, make sure you position the screws to go into the mortar and not the brick. If you are working on a sided house, make sure you are in a sturdy area of the wall. Another good option is a porch post.

2. Mark first

Place the bracket where you want it and use a pencil to mark where the holes are. Choose a drill bit that's best (masonry bit for mortar) and pre-drill the holes.

3. Anchor

If you are hanging the flagpole on a brick house, use a plastic anchor in the hole before screwing the bracket in place. For other materials, put a bit of caulking in the hole first to keep out moisture. Most likely, the pole will come screws that are at least 1 ¼ inch long. If not, replace the screws with longer ones to make sure the pole will remain anchored.

4. Hang

Slide the pole with the flag on it into the bracket and you are done.

Hang Art & Picture Mounts

If you are feeling that the task of hanging your art is daunting, have no fear. There are some easy methods to preview your ideas before you get to the holes in the wall. A few simple guidelines will help you have confidence to enhance your space with your image. The term picture mounts is how the United Kingdom refers to matting. Here again a few rules will help you get started so that the color choices will be the hardest decision to make in this vast world of hues and textures.

Instructions

Hanging Art

1. Hang artwork so the center of the picture is at eye level. This makes 60 inches from the floor a good starting point to have at the center of your image. Of course, this is determined by the size of the piece of art. Err on the side of hanging it too low, if in doubt.

2. Take into account the space on the outside of your framing. This area of the wall and the furnishings in your room become part of the total effect your wall hangings will project. Decide if you want to project a formal air or a more casual feel from your room.

3. Sit in a chair and have someone hold the picture against the wall. They can move it up and down so you can consider its placement.

4. Trace the outline of your framed art on scrap newspaper.

5. Tape this onto the wall at the place you plan to permanently hang the art. Use painters tape so that it will not mar the wall's surface.

6. Now you are free to stand back and enter from other rooms to see if you like the placement.

7. Use a digital camera to take a picture of these newspaper outlines on the wall. This will give you another perspective to view the placement and decide if you like it.

Picture Mounts (Matting)

8. To find the proper size for the opening of your mount, measure your artwork and subtract 6mm from each measurement. This will allow for an overlap so your picture doesn't fall through the cut out.

9. The outside measurements can be standard, such as 5x7, 8x10, or 11x14, or a custom size can be gotten for a particular frame. The outside of the mount will be the dimension of the inside of the frame. A "weighted" section can be allowed on the bottom margin of the mount. Three sides would then have a border that would be the same, and the bottom of the mount would be the thickest.

10. Consider colors for the picture mount board, both outside and core colors. This is a personal preference and may depend on the colors in your art.

Hands Color Photos Using Marshall Oil Offers

Add contrast to black and white photos with oil paints.

Coloring black-and-white photographs can create beautiful pieces of art. Marshall's oil paints for photographs are a transparent, oil-based paint. The transparency allows the original photo to show through the color. It is important to use photographs printed on matte photo paper because the paints will not stick to a glossy finish. Because the paints are oil-based, you can manipulate them on the photograph once applied.

Instructions

1. Make paint applicators by placing the toothpick in the middle of the cotton strip and twisting small pieces of cotton around the tip. Twist the cotton around the toothpick with your fingers until it is tight.

2. Apply any background color desired first using a small bit of the cotton. Rub the color over the background, keeping the color even.

3. Apply detailed color to the photo with the cotton-tipped applicators. After applying color, you can then use a clean cotton-tipped toothpick to manipulate the oil paints and add subtle details such as highlights.

4. Use a cotton-tipped toothpick dipped in liquid color remover for any mistakes. It is especially useful for cleaning out color from eyes and other small details.

5. Allow the photograph to dry. This can take two to three days. An entire week of drying is recommended before spraying with a finishing lacquer. The drying time can be longer depending upon the humidity in the air.

6. Remove any remaining pieces of cotton fluff from the photograph by rubbing it gently with your clean palm.

7. Spray with a finishing lacquer to preserve the photograph. Follow the instructions on the spray for proper ventilation and other requirements.

Suggestions For A Kinetic Sculpture

A weather vane could be considered a simple form of kinetic sculpture.

Kinetic sculpture is a branch of 3-D art in which parts of the sculpture move. The motion may be driven by a built-in motor, viewers, gravity or other environmental forces. The parts of a kinetic sculpture that can move are called "motion elements." They may be arranged to vary the way light interacts with the sculpture, alter its overall shape or simply move in an aesthetically pleasing way.

Wind-Driven

Kinetic sculptures driven by wind require no power source or human interaction. They also have the advantage of unpredictable movement and harmony with natural forces. By harnessing wind energy in aesthetically pleasing ways, these kinetic sculptures can draw viewers' attention to the natural environment surrounding them. Simple wind-powered sculptures include weather vanes and wind chimes. More complex examples could be large outdoor installations that have screw-shaped wind catchers, sails or pendulums or sculptures that combine wind-powered motion elements with interactive or motorized elements.

Interactive

Interactive kinetic sculptures depend on the artist or viewers to move their parts. Marcel Duchamp's "Bicycle Wheel," an early example of interactive kinetic sculpture, consists of a bicycle wheel mounted upside down on a kitchen stool; a viewer can spin the wheel and watch it whirl. Interactive kinetic sculptures may simply have hanging or axle-mounted motion elements that a viewer can push to launch a motion. More complex sculptures may have interactive clockwork, weighted mechanisms to multiply a viewer's simple action or pieces the viewer can move around and reattach in new configurations.

Motorized

Some kinetic sculptures have motion elements driven by a built-in motor. The motor may either keep a mobile turning or steadily alter the configuration of a sculpture's parts. In some cases, the entire sculpture works as a motorized vehicle. The Kinetic Grand Championship of Humboldt County, California is the first of many kinetic sculpture races held around the world. Contestants build amphibious kinetic sculptures and race them through various terrains over three days.

Gravity-Powered

Gravity-powered kinetic sculptures could be considered a subset of the interactive type, since they cannot run indefinitely powered by gravity alone. However, some sculptures rely on human interaction only for an occasional reset, then run independently for some time. Examples include sculptures in which balls run down a long track, possibly setting off other motion elements as they pass. Pendulum-powered sculptures also fall into this class, as do sculptures in which one or more counterweights set off the motion. Even grandfather clocks could be considered a specialized form of gravity-powered kinetic sculpture.

Take Professional Pictures Having A Camera

Purchasing a digital camera takes you one step away from amateur photography and one step closer to taking crisp, beautiful and professional-looking photographs. The techniques for operating a digital camera are essentially the same as a film camera. The real skill is in using a few essential photographic techniques in order to optimize the benefits of a digital camera. By using these easy techniques, you will be well on your way to taking professional, high-quality photographs.

Instructions

Take Professional Pictures with a Digital Camera

1. Carefully select the object, person or landscape you want to photograph. In order to get the best results from your digital camera, you need to first choose what you want to photograph. Simply putting your arm in the air and snapping the shutter won't produce a good photograph.

2. Compose your shot by looking into your viewfinder at your subject matter and using an old artist's rule, the "rule of two thirds." According to visual artist, designer and photography Samir Bharadwaj, "The idea is that if you draw lines over your image to divide it into three equal horizontal rows and three equal vertical columns, you are most likely to get an attractive result if you place your major points of interest at the intersection points of the lines or along the lines" (Reference 1). A way to understand this better is to imagine taking a picture of a person. You don't want their head to be at the very top of the frame, but rather two-thirds from the top.

3. Use the natural light more than your flash. The camera's flash should be used sparingly, as it tends to dilute natural light and the true colors of landscape and skin pigments. One of the benefits of having a digital camera is that you can set your camera to "automatic." What this means is that the camera will automatically adjust the camera to different light settings. Allowing the digital camera to record the natural light in a photograph will only enhance the look of the final shot.

4. Use the digital camera's zoom lens. The kind of zoom lens will be different for every camera. If you have a point-and-shoot digital camera, the zoom lens will likely be just below the shutter release (the button you push to take the picture). If you have a digital SLR camera, you will control the zoom of your lens by twisting the lens back and forth. The reason it benefits your pictures to use the zoom lens is because you can get close to your subject matter, and allow the high-pixil digital camera to record crisp, clear details of your subject matter.

5. Look at the photograph you took immediately after you take it. Perhaps the greatest benefit of the digital camera is that you can immediately see the photograph that you recorded. In most digital cameras you can see the last shot by pressing a "Play" button. This will show you, either in the viewfinder or a separate viewing screen, the picture you just recorded. Therefore, if you don't like the photograph or didn't position your subject just as you wanted to, all you have to do is take another photograph.

Practice Salsa Dance Posture

You've seen the beautiful, muscular backs of the professionals on "Dancing with the Stars," and you've heard the judges drone on and on about the importance of proper posture and frame. With the tremendous enthusiasm for salsa dancing, more and more people are finding it to be a fun hobby. To perfect your dance moves, you'll need to have the correct posture.

Instructions

1. Stand tall with your back straight. This is a vital element of the salsa dance posture. Standing straight and proud will help you look the part of a real salsa dancer.

2. Check your straight back by standing against a wall. Move onto the dance floor in this position.

3. Get into a salsa stance by raising your arms high above your head in an arc, similar to the way a ballerina poses. This will help straighten your spine.

4. Pull your arms down with your elbows completely to the side and your arms in a right angle. Move your elbows in front of you.

5. Place your right hand on your partner's left shoulder blade in you're the male. Do the opposite if you're the female.

6. Lean toward your partner from your ankles. You must lean from your ankles, so that your entire body will be in a slightly forward position.

Remove Rust From My Vehicle Fresh paint

Rust is never a good thing to see on your car paint. You can't just paint over it; you need to remove all rust from the area and strip that spot to bare metal first, or else the rust will come back. There are multiple ways to remove rust from your car's paint job. The best method for you will depend on how bad the rust is on your car.

Instructions

1. Run a rust removing pen over the very small spots. This "pen" is a tool with fiberglass strands that pick away at the rust as you twist the pen against the surface.

2. Switch to sandpaper for slightly larger spots. You might need two types of sandpaper: Start by rubbing coarse paper against the rust to knock the larger spots loose, then rub fine paper against it to help sweep away all loosened and remaining rust.

3. Use a power grinder with a sanding wheel for large spots of rust, rubbing the grinder against the surface. A metal grinding wheel may be needed for excessive rust, but be careful with it because it can damage the metal. In any case, you will likely remove paint with the rust.

4. Cut away and replace the metal only as a last resort. You'll need to use the grinder as a cutting tool to cut away the metal, then use a welding torch to connect new 18- to 22-gauge metal in its place. This should not be attempted unless you are an expert at cutting and welding metal.

Calligraphy Writing Instructions

Calligraphy takes patience, but has great rewards.

Calligraphy is still considered a high art form. It is a formal type of writing, literally meaning "beautiful handwriting." Modern calligraphy uses either an inkwell and a metal-angled dip pen -- the tip is called a nib -- or a metal-angled pen with a replaceable ink cartridge inside. Calligraphy, like most forms of art, takes a lot of practice to perfect and is not for everyone. It is a beneficial skill to have, as calligraphy artists are in demand for letter writing, envelope addressing, wedding invitations or sign making.

Instructions

1. Decide which type of calligraphy pen you want to use. Traditional dip pens with inkwells are better for flow and precision. The nibs are less expensive, but you have to buy ink -- permanent India ink in matte black is best. Cartridge pens are easily interchangeable, and offer a quick set-up, but because the ink is in a cartridge, it may not flow out as easily as the dip pen. Nibs come in 10 sizes; the wider the nib is, the thicker your line will be. Nibs that are 1 to 2 millimeters wide are recommended for general writing.

2. Apply the ink, if using a dip pen. You can either carefully dip the pen into the inkwell, or apply the ink on the nib with a small paintbrush.

3. Get the proper paper. Since calligraphy uses more ink than other pens, it may bleed through regular lightweight paper. Layout paper is thicker and is often used for calligraphy. For formal work, parchment, rice or vellum papers work well.

4. Hold the pen properly. Never squeeze the pen or press hard on the paper. A light hold, with the pen resting just below the bottom knuckle of your index finger, with your forefinger and thumb almost touching, is recommended. If a certain grip feels more comfortable, and your writing does not suffer, do not force another grip. Always sit up straight when writing and hold the pen at a 45-degree angle for best results.

5. Practice before you start following templates. Do lines and squiggles, or write your name. "C," "W" and "U" are the best letters to practice on, as they share common movements with the rest of the alphabet. Write enough to get used to the pen and ink.

6. Use a template for practicing the alphabet and numbers. Templates for calligraphy are similar to those you used when you were learning write for the first time. They can be found online and printed out for free, or are available in the calligraphy section of most art and craft stores. Practice uppercase and lowercase letters, as well as numbers. Do this until you feel comfortable with each letter.

7. Write a sentence on lined paper. Write a sentence such as, "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" -- a sentence that uses every letter of the alphabet. Continue with several sentences, until you feel comfortable.

8. Write a letter or a long paragraph without the use of lines. Most uses of calligraphy will involve unlined paper, so you need to be able to write straight. If you find that it is not possible to write straight without lines, use a ruler and pencil to lightly add lines to your paper, then carefully erase them when the ink is dry.

Graffiti

Art or vandalism, graffiti is often found on otherwise drab urban and industrial buildings.

Graffiti has grown from an underground street art to a legitimate art form in some places. The style is decidedly urban and edgy, and the artwork is seen by more people in a day than most museum pieces see in a year. If you're interested in learning graffiti, here's a legal way to learn do it.

Instructions

1. Study graffiti in your area to see the different styles that are used. Take note of the shapes and characters.

2. Look for other types and styles of graffiti on the Internet. That will give you an idea of the styles of writing that are being used in other cities and areas.

3. Start with a name. You can use your own name, or make one up (often they are 4 letters long).

4. Draw the letters on a sheet of paper. Make sure to leave plenty of space between the letters so that you can build them out as you design.

5. Choose a style of lettering that you like--boxy, bubbly, fat, pinched, slanted or however else you want your letters to appear.

6. Begin by lightly outlining your letters in the style that you've chosen.

7. When you have the basic shape down, add details and flare to your letters. Try extending legs, curves or other portions of letters.

8. Add a colored background if you want.

9. Fill in the letters and any special parts you added.

10. Add highlights to your letters to add depth. Use white or a lighter shade of the color of your letters, and be sure to place the highlights in the same general area of each letter.

11. Practice drawing your name with spray paint on plywood until you can draw it quickly and easily.

Grade Drama Projects

Drama students bring together many forms of art, from performance to design.

A drama project is a wise way to bring students together to express their artistic nature and talents. Drama classes -- from grade school to college -- often involve textbooks, from which reading passages, quizzes and tests are assigned. While textbooks and other traditional learning methods are important, the culmination of a drama class involves a performance project. Actors, directors and technical theater students must assess three major components when grading a drama project: rehearsal, preparation and performance.

Instructions

1. Review rehearsal, preparation and performance methods, an important prerequisite for drama projects. Go over relaxation exercises to show actors release unnecessary tension before rehearsing and performing. Teach sense memory or "Magic If" techniques, for example, to enhance the actor's and director's involvement with the creative work. Sense memory teaches students employ their five senses to boost their imagination, while the "Magic If" is a rehearsal tool actors and directors can use to stimulate their imagination by asking, "If I were in my character's shoes, how would I react to the given situation?"

2. Tell students upfront about the project and how they will be graded. Set deadlines for the rehearsal process and establish a date for the performance. Acting students should have their lines memorized by a certain date, for example. Explain how the final grade will be determined. One way to do this would be to give 30 points to rehearsal, 20 points to preparation and 50 points to the actual performance.

3. Monitor the rehearsal process. Note which students give their all and which just go through the motions. Observe whether acting students have memorized their lines by the specified date and whether they are employing acting techniques you introduced in class. Watch how directors handle actors and if they are using rehearsal exercises and methods they learned. Make note of any students misbehaving and interrupting the process, as well.

4. Observe each student's preparation on performance day. Watch which acting students use previously learned relaxation techniques or preparation methods to stimulate the creative state of mind. Note how each student behaves independently of the fellow students. Are they showing respect and remaining quiet when others are performing? Are they cramming to memorize lines due to misused rehearsal time? Notice which students come in prepared -- with props and wardrobe pieces -- and which fail to do so.

5. Assess the performance. Notice each actor's immersion in the role, emotional involvement in the work and whether actors are really listening to fellow players. Look at the creative choices actors make in expressing their characters and note the authenticity and appropriateness of their choices. Observe how the play is staged technically. Note how the lighting and set design contribute and complement the mood and themes of the play. Assess the direction of the play. Watch how actors are staged -- where they are positioned throughout the performance and how they move -- to assess the directorial side of the performance.

Clean Spray Guns & Hoses

Spray guns are indispensable painting tools when it is necessary to create uniform coverage or expedite a painting job. However, ignoring proper maintenance will drastically shorten a spray gun’s lifespan. Part of this maintenance is regular and thorough cleaning. Clean your spray gun after every use.

Instructions

1. Wear gloves, safety glasses and work in a ventilated environment for cleaning with solvents.

2. Turn off the air supply and fluid delivery valves.

3. Pull the trigger to let out remaining pressure and material.

4. Remove the bottle and bottle wing-nut adapter and rinse them with the required cleaner. If you were using a water-based substance in the gun, clean with soapy water. Clean with denatured alcohol if you were using an oil-based substance or lacquer thinner if you used lacquer. Use the same cleaner for the entire cleaning process.

5. Fill the bottle with cleaner and reattach it to the system. Turn the system back on and spray cleaner through the gun for about a minute, aiming the spray into a waste container. Do not spray water-based or oil-based discharge onto the ground or into the sink, as this is an environmental hazard.

6. Turn off the system again.

7. Unscrew and remove the air cap from the nozzle. Use a wooden toothpick to remove any gunk from the air cap holes. Do not use a metal cleaning implement, as this can cause permanent damage to the cap.

8. Unscrew and remove the nozzle. Use a wrench if it is too tight to undo by hand. Use either a crescent wrench that is the size specified for use on your gun in your user's manual or an adjustable wrench.

9. Unscrew and remove the fluid adjuster knob.

10. Remove the fluid needle, which is attached to the gun’s trigger.

11. Soak these small parts in a cup of the cleaner. If using denatured alcohol or lacquer thinner, do not let the parts soak for more than two minutes.

12. Disconnect the fluid delivery hose. Pour cleaner through a funnel into the hose to flush out the hose. Use a bottle brush to scrub the inside of the hose.

13. Clean the exterior of the gun with a towel soaked with the cleaner. Scrub any hard to remove build-up with a scrub brush. Wipe out the interior rims of all places where attachments were removed.

14. Pat-dry all parts with dry towels and reassemble the gun for storage.

15. Dispose of the waste properly. If cleaning with soap and water, add cat litter, mulch or shredded paper to absorb the dirty water; let it dry, then throw it in the regular garbage. For solvents, check your local codes regarding hazardous waste disposal. Do not empty waste in the garbage, down the sink or on the ground. Options may include taking waste to a local recycling center, waste disposal center or mechanics shop for disposal, or using an evaporation pan. You can also place leftover solvent in a sealed container for reuse.

Create A Terra Cotta Pot Person

In addition to people, you can also make dogs and other whimsical animals with terra cotta pots.

A terra cotta pot person will add a fun, whimsical touch to your garden. You can place one among your flowers for a cute little addition to your outside landscaping. Use your imagination and make various sized pot people. Use smaller pots to create child-sized terra cotta pot people and create a whole family. Add straw hats, gloves, rubber boots, a bandanna or flowers to give your terra cotta pot person character.

Instructions

1. Attach two 8-inch terra cotta pots together to form the torso. Use a hot glue gun to glue the open end of the pots to each other.

2. Glue the base of the 6-inch pot on top of the torso for the head. Fill the pot with a low growing plant to simulate hair. Creeping baby's breath, springerhi fern or blue fescue work well. Select a variety that will thrive well in the location you plan to put your pot person.

3. String six 4-inch pots together to form each arm. Use one continuous length of rope, attaching six pots to each side. Start by sliding a rope through the drain hole of one pot and tie a knot in the rope large enough to prevent the rope from slipping through the drain hole. You may also tie a washer near the knot for added stability. Add the remaining five pots to the other end of the rope one at a time, tie a knot in between each pot to prevent them from slipping. Attach the arms to the top of the torso pot by wrapping the rope around the pot where it joins the head.

4. String eight 4-inch pots together to form each leg. Tie a knot between each pot in the same way you created the arms. Place the rope from the legs under the bottom torso pot to give the appearance that they are attached. Add some sprigs of sphagnum or dried moss between the pots to soften the appearance.

Oil Painting Restoration Techniques

Paint and brushes

Restoring an oil painting is a delicate task. Professional restorers can spend years on just one piece, but amateur restorers can still make an old piece look good in a shorter amount of time.

No Shortcuts

When it comes to restoring an oil painting, taking shortcuts--or working quickly--is the quickest path to destruction. Patience and persistence are key when it comes to art restoration. Avoid seemingly quick fixes like soap and water, linseed oil, glue removers and general household cleaners, as these can further damage a painting that's already in need of care.

Testing Products

There are several chemicals that may be used to clean paintings. Each works differently, and each will clean at a different rate of speed and depth. Do-it-yourself art restorers should start the restoration process in one corner of the piece. Have a neutralizer handy; if something unexpected happens while using a cleaning agent, the neutralizer stops the process before the undesired effect spreads. Use a number of chemicals in this "test area" to see which one provides the desired look. Once the best product is determined, it's time to move on to the rest of the painting.

Cleaning a Painting

If the painting was created within the past ten or twenty years, the surface might simply be dusty, and it might help to clean the surface of the painting using dry tools, such as small brushes. Be sure to use a gentle hand. If the painting is sticky or grimy, a cleaning solvent is probably in order. Lightly blot the surface with a dry rag or soft cloth, and then use the desired cleaning agent to work over the entire painting. This cleaning process is the most intense part of the restoration and requires caution and patience. Once finished, re-varnish the painting to seal it again.

Consulting a Professional

If other restoration is needed--such as repairing a tear or fixing spots where paint has chipped off--consult a professional. He will know what techniques will work best given the materials used and damage sustained, and can provide an estimate of how much the repairs will cost.

Light The Writers On The Merritt O'Keefe Stove

Some O'Keefe Merritt stoves have been refurbished with continuous pilot lights systems.

O'Keefe Merritt manufactured stoves and appliances in the late 40s and 50s. Their product line was known for its beauty, practicality and craftsmanship. Today O'Keefe Merritt stoves can be found as the center piece of many retro-design kitchens. Whether refurbished, restored or original, these stoves are easy to use and, for many cooks, their gas cooking system is preferred over modern electric styles. Once the pilots are lit, it is easy to light the burners on an O'Keefe Merritt stove.

Instructions

1. Lift the cooktop cover, burner grates and griddle cover (if any) off the stove. The grates and covers are not clipped into place or otherwise attached; grab both sides and lift up to remove.

2. Find the pilot light for the burners. Some models will have only one pilot light located in the center of the cooktop. Other models will have two pilot lights, one for each set of burners. One set of burners consists of the front and back burner on one side. The pilot light is in the small cup located between the break in the gas feed tubes to the burners.

3. Push in and hold the red safety switch located on the left of the stove above the accessory drawer or, on some models, on the interior of the cooktop. Light the pilot light on the cooktop by holding a lit match in the cup. When the pilot is lit, release the safety switch. Adjust the flame if necessary by turning the adjustment knob on the pilot gas line. The top of the flame should be centered between the two feed tubes, with the flame going no higher than the top of the tubes. Replace the cooktop cover, grates and griddle cover.

4. Turn the temperature control knob for the burner to be lit all the way to its highest setting. When the burner lights, turn the knob down to the temperature desired.

Create A Shadow Puppet

Puppets have been used for many years to entertain children. Some believe the very first puppets were shadow puppets. Creating your own shadow puppets can be a great family activity that you can do with your kids.

Instructions

1. Find a design online that you want to use for your shadow puppet or draw your own onto a piece of dark-colored or black poster board. If using a design from the Internet, transfer the image onto the poster board with tracing paper.

2. Cut out the shapes. Cut eyes into the shadow puppets, cut the shape of a hat on its head and add other intricate patterns to give it interest.

3. Tape a wooden skewer or a similar stick to the back. Position this handle so at least 4 inches of it extends out from the bottom. You should be able to comfortably grip the handle in your fist.

4. Create your stage and put on your shadow puppet show behind a white piece of paper (the screen) with a light shining behind the stage to create the shadow.

Make Use Of A Snare Drum Marching Strap

Learn use a snare drum marching strap.

Marching bands are popular at sporting events, parades and at military functions. Band members must learn transport their instruments easily while still allowing the ability to effectively play music. Some of these instruments, such as the base drum and the tuba, can be quite heavy. For snare drum players, their instrument is typically worn with a harness strap that keeps the drum directly in front of the band member at waist level. A snare drum strap is adjustable to suit the size of the band member and is easily attached to the drum.

Instructions

1. Drape the strap around the back of your neck and let the two sides hang evenly over your shoulders.

2. Adjust the strap length to hang at waist level on both sides. This is the typical position to keep the drum so you can accurately strike it. You can make the strap longer by sliding the metal keeper toward the looped end of the strap. For shortening the strap, slide the keeper away from the loop.

3. Hook the strap hooks to the marching rings located on the sides of the snare drum. If you have a marching waist belt, attach this to the drum also,and have someone else secure the belt around your back.

Get Wisconsin Condition Fair Discount rates

Wisconsin State Fair discounts can be found

If you are planning on attending the Wisconsin State fair, take some time and look for discounts. This can be done with less trouble than you think. Here are some resources and tips on get Wisconsin State Fair discounts and deals.

Instructions

1. Stop in at a Wisconsin grocery store at the service counter through the end of June. You can purchase reduced admission advanced-sale tickets there.

2. Click on the Wisconsin State fair website (see Resources). Click "Discounts and admissions." You will find the latest discounts for that year, along with the dates and times they are valid. Pay close attention, as State Fair discounts vary each day.

3. Have your kids join the Summer Reading program at many state libraries. Call your library to see if they are participating. If they read enough books and record them on a log, they can redeem it for a free child's state fair ticket.

4. Enter contests on specially marked food and drink products during the month of July. You can also buy certain brands of beer and a free ticket is included with that.

5. Call your local radio station when prompted and play the trivia games or be the correct caller to win tickets. These are given away in bulk by the Wisconsin State Fair promoters to local area radio station.

6. Become a volunteer at one of the many display booths or work the fair. You will get in free by doing so and may still have some time to enjoy the state fair afterwards.

Get Tickets To Ringling Siblings Circus

Since it's founding during the Nineteenth Century, Ringling Brothers Circus has offered its customers "The Greatest Show on Earth," complete with clowns, elephants and acrobats. Here are a few ways that you can get tickets to see the Ringling Brothers Circus.

Instructions

1. Find schedules and tickets for Ringling Brothers Circus by selecting the link online at their website (see Resources below). Select your state from the drop-down menu and choose the link for the city that is closet to you. You can purchase tickets though Ticket Master (see Resources below) or order by phone.

2. Get discounted tickets. Click "Sign Up for Special Offers" on the circuse website. Choose which offers you want and hit the "Next" button. Registered customers can log in. If you're not registered, click the "New Customers Click Here" link and fill in the required information. Be sure to check your email and use promotional codes when you order your tickets.

3. Buy your tickets at the door. Generally you have to wait in line to get tickets this way. You won't have to pay the convenience or delivery charge that you may pay online, but you aren't guaranteed a seat if the show sells out. Try to get to the circus early, especially for more popular times.

4. Use Ticket Master's website to find and buy tickets online. Enter "Ringling Brothers" into the search box, press the "Search" button and select the show you want. Enter your city or zip code in the "Show Me Events Near:" box. Find the date and time you want and select the link. Review the options, click "Find Tickets" and put in the required information. Follow the "Look for Tickets" link. Buy the tickets or search for different tickets.

Cloud Painting Techniques

Clouds are simple but can be dramatic on their own or as part of a larger work.

Painting realistic clouds involves more than just a blue sky background and white paint. Clouds can appear deceptively simple, but actually contain complex areas of light, shadow and texture. It's tricky--but possible--to create convincing clouds using either oil paint or watercolors.

Background

Make sure your background--the sky--is a realistic shade of blue. If you are using oil paints, you may want to use a glazing technique to create a sky that contains variations of hues. To create a glaze, mix glazing medium into the paint before loading your brush. Allow each layer to dry completely before adding subsequent paint layers. The trick to glazing is keep the paint thin with medium and to vary the hue slightly between layers, so that the finished product is varied in color and portrays a realistic sky. Be aware that a single glaze can sometimes take more than 24 hours to dry.

If you are painting with watercolors, achieving the proper proportions of paint to water is important to the final outcome. Before painting, have a good supply mixed of one or several shades of blue. Keep in mind that watercolor paints tend to dry to a shade that is lighter by 50 percent.

Clouds

Keeping an image of clouds handy for reference can be a useful aid in determining the placement of light and shadowed areas in the painting. When shaping your clouds, remember that clouds are not symmetrically shaped. Beginning artists sometimes make the mistake of opting for symmetry and, in losing variation, lose a realistic effect along with it. Clouds tend to tail off along some edges and appear more defined along others.

If you are painting in oil, pointed round and filbert sable hair brushes are recommended for their sturdiness and ability to create smooth paint strokes, but any round or pointed tip brushes should work fine. Use the glazing method, and work from light to dark. Though it may seem counterintuitive, avoid using pure white for your clouds. If your background is blue, try mixing a very light blue for the first glaze. For subsequent glazes, mix colors as they appear in your reference image--these may be light blue, dark blue, taupe or gray.

For watercolors, use a variety of larger-sized round and pointed round watercolor brushes--sable hair is preferable, but any high-quality synthetic hair brush will do. While the sky background is still wet, dip the brush in water and dab any excess onto a paper towel. Apply the brush in a rolling motion across the sky background. The blue pigment is lifted out, giving the appearance of transparent clouds in the foreground. Wash and dry the brush before applying the next color wash, which will be a darker color, such as taupe or gray for shadows on the bottom of the cloud. Use light blues for hues near the top of the cloud. Experiment with overlapping colors and with variations in hue to see what works best. Don't expect your first attempt to be perfect, but practice often and enjoy the results.

Obtain The Stars To Twinkle In Expensive Cs5

Make twinkling stars in Flash movies.

As with nearly every effect in Flash, a leading animation program, there are many ways to create a twinkling stars animation. Twinkling stars, of course, shine, dim, shine, and dim repeatedly. One simple approach is to create a Movie Clip symbol containing the twinkling star animation, then use the Spray Brush Tool to disperse multiple copies of the Movie Clip symbol over a night sky background on the stage.

Instructions

1. Click the "File" menu, and choose "New." This opens the New Document dialog box.

2. Select "ActionScript 3.0" from the Type list, set the size of the stage with the "Width" and "Height" fields.

3. Click the "Background Color" swatch flyout, and choose a background color for the stage.

4. Click "OK."

5. Click the "Insert" menu, and choose "New Symbol." This opens the Create New Symbol dialog box.

6. Type "star" in the Name field, click the "Type" drop-down menu, choose "Movie Clip," and then click "OK." Flash creates new Movie Clip with a blank stage and timeline.

7. Select the "Oval Tool" in the Tools panel. The Oval Tool is on the Shape Tool submenu, the eighth tool in the panel, which, by default, is set to the Rectangle Tool. Click and hold the Rectangle Tool, then click "Oval Tool" from the flyout menu.

8. Draw a small oval on the stage. Make the oval about 3 by 3 pixels. You can use the W and H fields in the Properties panel to set the size precisely.

9. Select the oval, go to the Properties panel, click the "Fill" (paint bucket icon) color swatch, then choose the yellow color swatch.

10. Right-click in frame 50 in the Timeline Panel, and select "Insert Keyframe" from the popup menu.

11. Select the oval, go to the Properties panel and change the "W" and "H" fields to "8." This starts the twinkling effect, by expanding the oval.

12. Right-click in frame 100 in the Timeline Panel, and select "Insert Keyframe" from the popup menu.

13. Select the oval, go to the Properties panel and change the "W" and "H" fields to "3." This completes the twinkling effect by contracting the oval.

14. Right-click any frame between frames two and 49, then choose "Create Classic Tween." This animates the expansion of the oval.

15. Right-click any frame between frames 51 and 99, and then choose "Create Classic Tween." This animates the contraction of the oval.

16. Click "Scene 1" in the upper-right corner of the document window to return to the main stage and timeline.

17.Click the "File" menu, choose "Import," then select "Import to Stage" from the flyout menu. This opens the "Import" dialog box.

18. Navigate to the graphic of the night sky, select it, then click the "Open" button. This places the night sky graphic on the stage. You can find images of the night sky at several stock photography sites on the Internet.

19. Drag the image file into the desired position on the stage.

20. Select the "Spray Brush Tool" in the Tools panel. The Spray Brush Tool is the eleventh tool in the panel. By default, Flash displays the Brush Tool. Click and hold the "Brush Tool," then click "Spray Brush Tool."

21. Click the "Edit" button in the Symbol section of the Properties panel. This opens the Select Symbol dialog box.

22. Select "Random Scaling," Rotate Symbol," and "Random Rotation" in the Properties panel. These options tell Flash to create random shapes and sizes for each instance of the symbol.

23. Hold the mouse button and drag the mouse cursor randomly over the night sky background image. Flash sprays instances of the Movie Clip symbol over the stage. Continue spraying until you have the desired number of stars.

24. Click the "Control" menu, and choose "Test Scene." Your movie displays with twinkling stars wherever you sprayed them.

Obtain The Best Concert Tickets

Get The Best Concert Tickets

I used to own a ticket brokerage, and I am publishing an article here that ticket brokers do not want you to know about, there are many ways to buy tickets, and the best way to do so is to buy in person at a TicketMaster location, contrary to popular belief, buying online is the worst way to go.

You need to go to a ticket master location, for this to work. Buying online might seem convenient, but it is by no means the best way to buy tickets. Follow the instructions below and enjoy your next concert by sitting up front.

Instructions

1. Find a ticketmaster location that is obscure. Find a location that most people don't go to, and find a location that will not be extremely crowded. If you live in a metropolitan area, then you might have to drive for a while. Figure the more popular the store is, the worse off you are.

2. Make sure you arrive at least two to three hours ahead of the store opening time, and make sure the first employees that enter the store know you are waiting in line. If it is a very popular band, then make sure you get there earlier.

If there are multiple people at the store, they might try a wristband system. If they do such a thing, let the manager know that this is not fair, and that you have been waiting to be first in line, and that it is not fair to let people who came late to get in front of you. If you are polite, this will help.

3. Once they allow you to get inside the store and you are in the front of the line, instruct the person printing the tickets that you would like to pay cash, the next step will explain the purchasing process

TicketMaster uses a system called the X codes. X codes are the way the TicketMaster computer system works. The employee of the store uses X1 by default. This means that X1 will try front row dead center as the best available ticket, then it will use second row dead center as the second best ticket, then dead center third row is the third best choice.

X2 and X3 will go with front row to the left, or front row to the right as the preferred seat. While everyone is fighting for the first row dead center you will be one of the few experts getting the tickets off to the left or the right. You will now be able to get the best seats not dead center. You will not be fighting with everyone else for the X1 seats.

4. Instruct the employee and to type in X2. or X3 in the TicketMaster system. The more tickets right next to each other you need, the worse you will get. If you want four tickets, I advise you buy two sets of two, that way you get the best possible. Tell the employee to type in X2Q twice, or X3Q.

The reason you use Q is because it will print the first set of tickets, then you will be ready to print the second set of tickets. By using Q it will not allow you to decide if you want the tickets or not, but it will speed up the process.

5. If you follow the advice above, you will now have some great tickets. Enjoy the show, and let me know of your great success. Print out a copy of this article to sthe employee at the store to let them know you are not a broker, but a big fan who wants the best seats. If they think you are a broker, then you might have a hard time.

6. Enjoy the concert.

Get Ready For A Play

Getting the preparation right for a theater play is half the battle in making sure that opening night goes as smoothly as possible. Double-check all areas of production so you know exactly what to expect and avoid any nasty surprises.

Instructions

1. Make a list of all the people necessary for the play. Include all technological support roles such as lighting direction and sound control. Move on to the design team to include costume designers and creators and people to implement the stage scenery. Finally, list all the roles involved for actors and substitutes and also the director and coaches. How exhaustive this list is will depend on your budget, setting and the type of play.

2. Recruit all your personal not forgetting to include back-ups in case of emergency. Assign a "leader" in every area of the production to begin initial practice and coordination such as someone for backstage, technological backup and a director for the stage itself.

3. Have an open dialog between everyone involved in the pre-production process, such as the director, actors, production team and designers. Fitting the different aspects of the play together is one of the most difficult tasks, so keep everyone talking and anticipate problems together.

4. Get each team and "leader" involved to rehearse as much as possible. This includes all the actors as well as the technological support group. Practice makes perfect is the key here, so have as many rehearsals as you can until everyone can perform their roles with their eyes closed.

5. Do several tech run-throughs to troubleshoot the equipment and iron out any problems with cues or timing. Make any changes sooner rather than later so you will have more time practice the finished version. Test all the equipment again prior to the actual performance to overcome any interim difficulties.

6. Perform several final run-throughs of the entire production with all the components working together. Have all the actors in costume and fulfill all the stage settings on cue. Ensure that you practice the production with everyone involved at least several times prior to the finale instead of just verbally inserting certain components.