“I think music in itself is healing. It's an explosive expression of humanity. It's something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we're from, everyone loves music.” That is what Billy Joel says. Music is in fact a very powerful form or tool of communication and is one of the most beautiful and dear human experiences. There are different styles and genres of music and can completely transform your drab world into a thrilling and beautiful one.

Facts about music

The history of music dates back to the ancient days when the Gods and Goddesses are said to have created music and the different musical instruments. According to Greek mythology, Apollo, the God of light and music, is the one who created harp. Harp is the most ancient form of instrument that has been used to create music. He is said to have discovered this instrument when he realized that his bowstring could heal physical wounds and could also heal souls. Music is still now used to heal bruised souls.

In this modern world of ours, we cannot deny the "Mozart Effect" which is in fact a set of results which indicates the fact the listening to the music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart can actually make your smarter. If rather simpler reports are to be considered, it is also being said that early music lessons can help develop the brain areas mainly involved with reasoning and language.

There are different genres of music like classical music, folk, rock and roll, jazz, hip hop, country, new age, world, blues, rap, bluegrass, metal and so on. There can be several variations of these genres too. With experimentation, music has actually evolved to different level these days.

Music actually can work wonders. It can soothe a patient and can even soothe a crying baby. It can help you to lift up your mood. So, no wonder music is played in different places like the restaurants, waiting rooms, airports, elevators, cars, bus terminals and also in places of work, train stations, in OTs during delivery of a baby (more of a new phenomenon – music therapy) and so on. Music helps you convey the unspoken words.

Other than this, most common options through which you can get directly involved with music is if you start learning music. However, if this involvement is to be on an indirect basis, you can attend different musical concerts and various musical events.

So, this is what music is to us and thus it is important for our society and our lives.

It's true that if you don't get your father of the bride speech planned early, you're not going to be happy on the day that you have to deliver it

photo credit: Martin Cathrae

because you will not be prepared. This is an easy speech to put together because you've actually been preparing for it all your life. All you have to do is a little organization and condense all your fathering into a short three minute speech.

See How Easily You Can Write The Father Of The Bride Speech

Start writing down ideas about what you would like to talk about several months in advance of the wedding day.  All you need are about a dozen ideas. Don't worry, you will not be speaking on all of these ideas. We'll condense them later into the best three or four ideas and that will be your speech.

3 Easy Ways To Write Your Speech

1. Look at all the ideas that you put down in the last few months and pick the top four.
2. Transfer these four ideas and put them on a note card in bullet point form.
3. Practiced the speech once or twice in front of somebody that you know and who will tell you honestly how the speech sounds.

The Secret Of Giving Your Father Of The Bride Speech

The secret of giving a successful speech is to engage the audience with good voice inflection, laser targeted eye contact, and a nice smile. Your body language and the tone of your voice are far more important than what you actually say. If you can get this down, you're 90% on the way to hitting a home run for this speech. The other 10% is making sure that you say honest and sincere things about your daughter and the relationship that you have with her. The speech is really about her. Understand that last point and you will give the best father of the bride speech on the planet in your daughter's eyes.

Proper planning in a relaxed manner is going to make this speech easy. Most fathers talk with other members of the bridal party to find out what their speeches are about. I think it's most important to find out what will be said during the maid of honor speech since both of you have huge responsibilities in the wedding and are very close to her.

My final words of advice are to plan but not over plan. You do not want the speech to sound memorized.

With the current price of guitars and guitar equipment, it's no wonder that many people are resorting to DIY solutions during these difficult economic times.  Guitarists generally have a lot of gear and whether we need it or not, we will continue to buy equipment to add to our collection.  So if you're on a budget, what are the current solutions?

photo credit: aesop

There are a lot of guitar accessories that one could produce in their spare time.  It all depends on your budget and how much free time you really have.  You may want to create a piece of kit that matches your current level of playing ability, or something more advanced so that you can aspire to improving your skills.  Beginner DIY guitarists may look at creating an acoustic guitar strap from a cheap belt.  They may then progress to assembling their first effects pedal and pedalboard to match.  There are a multitude of tutorials and designs online with information on how to create all these items at minimal cost.

As your skills become more advanced, you may fancy yourself as a carpenter or amateur luthier (someone who makes or repairs stringed instruments). I would advise that you start out small and build something like a ukelele. If you're more ambitious and you find that designing and creating instruments is your thing, you may soon be searching for information on how to make a double neck guitar.

Giving guitar DIY a shot is definitely worth it.  Start out with small items that you need to advance your guitar playing.  You may find it is something that you really enjoy.  Creating a customized instrument and understanding the technical aspects of the guitar are definitely skills worth having.  If you're extremely good at it, you might even be picked up by a guitar manufacturer or a recording artist as their own personal guitar tech.

A very important part of family celebrations are baptisms, which are practiced in varied ways by different religions. Still, the purpose is often the same, and that is to give a name to a brand new baby. Naming a baby is significant since it is a rite that bestows upon a child a label that he will have to live with all his life. Hence, parents must ensure that they’ll provide their children with names that they will be proud to carry. These days, numerous families are opting for female or male Japanese names as these are unique and significant. But whatever name you choose for your child, the best thing to do is know what a name means, especially if you are not very familiar with it.

photo credit: _foam

Japanese names are diverse, so you can take your pick from the long list of inspired names for girls and boys. Names for girls are often associated with beauty, emotion, and quiet power. A few examples are: “Satomi,” which means “beautiful and wise;” “Yuki,” “meaning “happiness” or “snow;” “Chieko” for “wisdom;” and “Saki” for “blossom of hope.” These are only some of the lovely names for girls. As for boys, most names are related to heroism, strength and admirable traits, like obedience, nobility and honesty. Some popular names include: “Akio,” which means “glorious hero,” “Junichi,” meaning “obedient one,” and “Katsuro,” which means “victorious son.” There are also names that can be used by either boys or girls, and you can find more comprehensive lists of names on the web.

As you can see, you have so many delightful names to choose from if you do decide on going for female or male Japanese names for your little ones. Those who are of Japanese origin can go for Japanese names to honor their homeland. But others can also choose such names for their babies if they want to.

When the eighth and final Harry Potter movie debuts this summer, there are bound to be long lines of teens and adults lining up to see the conclusion of this much-loved movie franchise. Many of today’s teens and young adults grew up alongside the young actors who play Harry, Ron, and Hermione. These kids “made believe” that they lived in the wizarding world, memorizing all the Harry Potter spells, and playing with their friends both in the real world and online, via all the different Harry Potter video games. It is with a mix of nostalgia and excitement that they look forward to the release of this final movie. Excitement, because they get to see a new Harry Potter movie! And nostalgia, because there won’t be another one after this. With this in mind, we have some ideas of how you can properly celebrate the release of this final movie.

photo credit: GunnerVV

The best way to enjoy the last movie is to brush up on the ones that came before it. Why not plan a marathon movie watching party the weekend before the new movie debuts? That way, you can spend all day Saturday and Sunday working your way through the Harry Potter movies list, from number one through number seven, and then schedule a trip the following weekend to watch the new movie at the theater. This will give you a chance to brush up on your characters and the plot points that have come before, and will serve to increase your enjoyment of the last of the movies.

To make your party that much more fun, why not also serve your guests some little treats from the wizarding world? Things like butter beer and Bertie Botts beans (cream soda ice cream float and jelly beans) are easy to provide, and your friend and relatives are bound to enjoy them!

Not only did Jim Carrey appear in public speaking about how the now is the only moment that ever existed, and yes should be the only word in the dictionary, he also allowed his views to penetrate and permeate some of the best movies of his career. Jim Carrey doesn't pretend to be a spiritual guru, or a pua guru for that matter. He doesn't even ask who does pua work. His work is not self-explanatory, like a series of cool letters.

photo credit: Lisa Padilla

Apparently, Jim Carrey follows the teachings of the spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle. His endorsements may or may not have greatly enhanced the business of this self-proclaimed spiritual teacher. However, some of the movies in which Jim Carrey was the star could have their plots heavily associated with the spiritual teachings of Eckhart Tolle.

For instance, The Truman Show is about a man whose entire life has been lived inside a TV show. His entire city is separated from the real world. His friends and acquaintances are hired actors. His relationships are decided upon based on how much viewership the producer thinks this or that girl might attract. The products he uses are all there because they are paid advertisements. In short, his entire life is a lie. This is what all this enlightenment business is about, and that is why one can't go back on being enlightened. There's no "unknowing" that your entire world is false. Truman can't just sit by and pretend he is feeling alright.

Another great movie was Yes, man! This one is more obviously based upon the philosophy propagated by Eckhart Tolle that one must accept the now entirely. That is taken to the letter by Carrey's character, who begins doing all sorts of activities that were previously outside his life experiences. This goes a long way to show the potential that actual philosophies might have to become entertaining and interesting movies.

K-3PO is an all white and an older version of the 3PO droids. K-3PO grew into a very valued droid that served the Alliance. The K-3PO was first owned by Arhul Narra, the starfighter pilot, and he used it for a repository to all the personal files he had while during Clone Wars as he fought for the Old Republic. Later when Narra joined with the Rebel Alliance, Narra kept very detailed accounts of his services with the Rebellion and this was often top secret information and he kept all these files hidden in K-3PO. As this droid got more and more information put in which contained military tactics this information began to make its way into K-3PO's comprehension circuits. Because of this, he became the tactical expert, so Arhul didn't ever have his memory wiped on K-3PO so his military value greatly increased daily. You may also want to look for the LEGO Han Solo figure.

photo credit: Puriri deVry

The K-3PO has almost the exact appearance as with the basic model of the C-3PO. The design with the torso is just about identical except with the top part where there is 2 red dots. This is how you can see the difference with the C-3PO and the K-3PO if you're viewing photos which are not very clear or they are not in color. The K-3PO has great facial detailing and from a ways back you can really tell this figure is a true 3PO droid but you cannot truly appreciate how much detail and texture this figure has till you are holding it in your own hand.

You can find the Lego Star Wars figure K-3PO, in the set "Hoth Rebel Base" (7666) and this set has many really great figures like Dack Ralter, Luke Skywalker, Imperial Probe Droid and assorted rebels. You can get this set for around $175.

For anyone who has ever wondered what it would be like to look and swim like real mermaids, he or she must look no further than the AquaTails website. This online store allows man, woman, or child to find a wearable mermaid tail that is stunningly beautiful and even suitable for swimming. If interested in what swimming in mermaid tails looks like, there are videos on the site. This store is the premier provider of these whimsical and artistic costumes for several key reasons.

photo credit: el_papou

The quality of these tails is unmatched. They are custom-made so that when they are worn they fit well enough to be mistaken as part of the wearer's own anatomy. They are crafted from materials that are durable enough to withstand the outdoors, yet sufficiently flexible to be comfortable while swimming and posing. There are also dry styles available that allow walking. These are perfect for making a lasting impression at costume events on land.

There are different levels of ornate designs available to fit a multitude of budgets. They range from a simple smooth design with one fabric, to tails that have large, fanning fins, fringe, or glittering sparkles. The highest quality models are made of warm wetsuit material so the expert wearer can truly swim like a creature of the ocean.

The designers clearly take their artistic vision seriously and offer a gorgeous array of ocean-inspired fabrics and intricate detailing. Even people with no interest in the aquatic lifestyle can appreciate these tails as brilliant textile or photographic art. Bikini and swimsuit tops are available as well. Customers can choose anything from a classic top to a trendy design, or even get a shell bikini. The company sells extra fabric for anyone wanting to make a matching top. They even offer accessories to complete the look.

These tails are perfect for aspiring mermaids who want a unique swimming experience, one-of-a-kind photographs, the best costume at a party, or a unique piece of artistic clothing. They make gifts for children that will be treasured long after they have been outgrown. Anyone wanting more information on these exquisite pieces, from choosing designs to how to swim in them, can find it all on the AquaTails website or by reading their blog, Mermania.

There are many people who are still lost in life and looking for something to do. There are also some people who have retired and find their daily lives a chore. Well now that there is the internet, many people are saved and have turned to the internet, not only to make a living but also to engage in all sorts of recreation activity. Besides the internet, I would also like to introduce to you the Microsoft Xbox 360 Kinect which is another method which can make your life at home bright cheery and fun. The Microsoft kinect can also be connected to the internet through Microsoft Live for video conferencing abilities. I also think that the Kinect can be used to surf the internet too. But the greatest draw is the motion sensing capability of the Kinect which can be used to play all sorts of great and fun video games.

photo credit: PseudoGil

Now that I have mentioned the above to you, you might be getting a bit excited and wish to know more or even buy a brand new Microsoft Kinect. You have to understand that it uses state of the art motion sensing technology to play your games. With a built in camera which acts as a webcam, the multi purpose video game console is a great buy. One of the major plus points is that gaming on the Microsoft Xbox kinect does not even require the use of any remote controllers. So players actually use only their bodies to play games! Of course for the traditional games, you can still use the xbox kinect controller for control but using only the body is a world’s first. So sounds interesting right? You should try out the Xbox kinect soon and experience some of the newest and most exciting games that come with it. Life will never be the same again and you may even forget what it means to be bored.

It doesn't matter how many weddings you've participated in or attended, when it comes to your own there are a lot of questions and concerns you will have. There are a lot of details that go into weddings, not to mention the dozens of traditions and niceties you must observe to be considered polite. When people approach wedding planning, they usually think of the ceremony itself. While this is obviously a crucial part of your special day, the reception actually takes a lot more work to plan.

Because the amount of work to be done can easily become overwhelming, it is important to have a strategy and a list of clear goals to ensure that everything is done on time. This is a list of a few steps to consider in the pre wedding planning process.

1. Before you do anything you must have a pretty good idea of how many people you plan to invite to your wedding. Since you can't write the invitations before deciding on a location, and it is hard to decide on a location without knowing how many people are coming, you'll have to estimate. If your wedding is small you probably have a pretty good idea of who is coming, if it's larger you should assume that 75 percent of the people you invite will end up coming.

2. Choose a location: Every city has different norms for wedding locations. Beach weddings are popular in California and Florida, while Houston wedding venues and those in other big cities are typically located downtown. Some people have friends or family who offer to host the reception at their homes, but most people settle for a wedding rental like a room in a restaurant or an entire venue that specializes in hosting events.

3. Get Help: If you can't afford a wedding planner, designate some people you know who can help you. Even if you don't want them helping with major decisions, friends and family are great resources. They can help you research or give you ideas from other weddings they have been a part of.