The covers of any magazine are the face by which it is judged. They express the growing pains, mood swings and love pangs of the magazine, its editors and publishers.

The Media’s Effect on your Nest Egg

February 2012 Category :Discussion 0

Changes in media over the last decade have brought a drastic change to the way we receive information.  When it comes to retirement savings, we have countless new media outlets for consuming helpful information in planning our golden years.  Using a 401k calculator can be a particularly useful tool when it comes to planning for your retirement.

When one wants to map out their retirement goals and objectives, a 401k calculator provides a means through which they can do this. The tool is readily available in many sites. One can attain many benefits when they use this tool to map out their retirement plan.

When most people attain the age of 40, they begin putting their retirement plans in place. It is necessary to not only to estimate the amount of funds you will need to accumulate for retirement, but also know where this money will be invested. This calculator helps you plan your retirement, considering present income and age.

The information required for one to use this tool is current salary, desired retirement package and age at which one intends to call it quits. These details are crucial to help you know how much money that will have accumulated in your account by the time you retire. The tool is both simple to use and convenient.

While these calculators will give you all the numbers, there are other factors to consider as well. Remember that the funds you invest are simply provide a means to enabling you live the life you have always wanted once you stop working. Also remember that the numbers and percentages given do not tell it all; you may need some expert help to make sure that the funds you invest are adequate.

Planning your retirement based on these percentages and figures alone can be disastrous. Even with an elaborate retirement plan in place, you have to plan for unforeseen circumstances. In old age, people often find themselves struggling to pay for their insurance. Sometimes, getting simple health coverage may be difficult, especially when one attains the age of 70.

You therefore need to plan for such expenses. Talk to your insurer to see if they would be willing to cover you even when you are elderly. You also need to figure out if you will continue living in your house. Most people desire to change abode once they stop working. If so, plan for such events.

You may need additional funding to help you achieve this. Factoring all these issues into our retirement plan will help you deal with them effectively when the time comes. The recent financial crises have necessitated the need for prudent financial planning among the citizenry.

Only after factoring all these events should you use the 401k calculator. Keep in mind that these tools simply tell you how much money you can expect to accumulate given your current situation. You may need additional funds to achieve your retirement goals. If this is the case, you should plan on how you will get these funds before you retire.

When you figure out all these things before you use a 401k calculator, you will be able to live comfortably when you retire. Do not hesitate to ask for expert help if you have any doubts. It is better to have a good plan in place rather than struggle during retirement. Remember that if you fail to plan; then you are planning to fail.

 

The design and usability of online dating sites

February 2012 Category :Discussion| Media 0


Are you looking for love? Then it is a good idea to try services from online dating sites. The most prominent dating sites in Europe are meetic, match4me and be2. Though everybody has their own preferred dating site, I prefer match4me as it is a specific dating site that is mostly focused on matching higher educated singles looking for a serious relationship. Their technology is amazing, and it is incredible how simple ideas have totally changed how things happen in the world today. From doing business to communication, technology has now taken over the art of dating. Online dating is fun and you will only have to go online only when you want to. The best think about dating sites is the usability and design that makes communication and looking for people very simple. To begin with, love souls have to sign up to one of these sites before they can get access to the other millions online.

Most online registration procedures are simple, needing you to fill out simple forms. When choosing your username, simple names should be used. This will make people who have visited your profile remember your name without difficulties. You can decide to remain virtually anonymous by choosing a name that does not disclose your identity. If you feel you have no problem with that, then you can combine your first and last name to create your username. Mostly, one person can only use one username and if the name you intend to use is not available, you still have the option of creating another. Some websites will suggest these names for you.

Inside dating sites, you are required to create your personal profile, describing yourself, your likes and people you would love to date. Usability is better when you have a completely filled profile, making it easy for people looking for people like you to find you easily. You should also upload pictures and videos to go with what you have written about yourself. When searching for people on online dating websites such as Match 4 Me, you will use the various search criteria set by the web creators. In searching, you are presented with various categories of users available. Once you choose your group, you can scale down your results by filtering them into those who are within a certain locality. Some sites will still splice the results into professional levels for those looking for people from a certain profession. Privacy of users is close to the hearts of many web designers, therefore very strict security measures are put in place to protect genuine users from annoying stalkers. Users can report certain users if you think they are participating in activities that are termed as improper by the dating site policies.

The art of online seduction: let your profile speak for you

February 2012 Category :Uncategorized 0

Online dating is the way to go, and it seems like everyone out there is looking for love and friendship online. In France, you can find many online dating sites if just go and look up search terms such as rencontre gratuit (= free dating) or sites de rencontre (= dating sites). So, with the very many people flocking dating sites to look for lovers and friends, how do you as a woman make your profile stand out? One thing you should understand is that, men fall for the visual features before they dig deeper into your personal characteristics. Your profile picture should portray what you are in real life. Most women think that using pictures when they were young draws men more that how they look now. This is a mistake, and all women should know that other online users can know if such a picture is a fake or outdated picture.

Online seduction tips require that you avoiding mentioning what you are searching for and turn the spotlight on yourself. Focus on telling more about yourself, your hobbies and general details about your fun side of life. Men do not want you telling them which kind of men you like, the cars you like and stuff like that. Give details about your hobbies, what you do when you are free and your adventurous side. If you like soccer, say it and even mention your favorites team or player. Men will be drawn more to girls’ profiles who like to have fun.

There is one thing about online dating and seduction that most women never get to understand, your Ex is your past. One thing for sure, if you still think about the man who dumped you, then you are not ready to move on and you would rather take time to think. Your emotional stresses are not thing you would love to air out on your online profile in dating sites. The negative attitude that accompanies such heartbreaks will hinder your progress, and affect the number of visitors to your profile. Your username plays a major role in the art of online seduction. Choose a name that reflects your likes and hobbies, and leave out provocative ones. It is better to remain anonymous and only present your personal details to people you think you would love to meet. Incomplete online profiles portray people who are not serious, and you will not be getting many replies from those. Above all, do not expose everything about yourself online. Leave the last dance for your one special catch.

Art for Art’s Sake!

February 2012 Category :Media 0

I have long been a fan of really creative and unusual art that uses everyday objects out of context and generates a whole new image of the materials being utilised. I was looking on the web site for sesquipedalist.com and saw that it was catering for my taste in art that many other sites just would not touch. Not only that but there was an extensive listing of blogs and other posting relating to an enormous number of other issues aside from art.

One of my friends is a keen biker and artist who has the same kind of fascination for their misplaced or misdirected images of the mundane to create thought provoking works of art. His latest work was to take pictures of  Knee Sliders and work them into a collage representing the death of motorcyclist on our roads. He intended to present his work at a private showing in Boston, but his type of work only attracts a very select group of appreciators. So I alerted him to the possibilities of using site like sesquipedalist.com to advertise his coming display.

I told him that the site catered for just such posts and that it was read by the local cognoscenti of art lovers in Boston. He said that he would give it some thought and went off to finish his piece. Knowing him as I do I went onto the site and started to advertise for him. When the opening night came around he still hadn’t been to the site and was pleasantly surprised at the numbers who turned up just from reading the blogs. It was quite a success and he managed to sell a few of his works for a tidy sum, one which he admitted he would not have made had it not been for me and my computer nous. He is having another show soon and it will be posted…by him this time… Ciao.

Media Health Blitz

February 2012 Category :Media Off

It is no wonder that the general public are so confused when it comes to making healthy food choices. How can some people believe that eating meat is the right thing while others won’t even drink milk never mind eat a burger. It all comes down to the conflicting information we read every day. Primal diet, paleo diet, Mediterranean diet and alkaline diet are just some of the ways of eating that are often discussed.

Should we eat meat or avoid it? How about eating fruits, is this good or bad for us? Is reducing our carbohydrate intake going to help us lose weight? Depending upon who you read of course, you’re going to hear different sides of the story.

So some people hate carbs while others love them. This is the information we are presented with through the modern media via channels such as Youtube.

Some of the best information that I’ve read is being advised to follow my heart. Do you really think that eating lots of fruits is a bad thing? What does your heart tell you? I know what I believe. There’s a host of juicer reviews that we can read through on the internet. So if eating your fruit isn’t your thing, you could try juicing it up in the morning. Not only will you feed your body with tons of great vitamins and minerals but juices help to keep us hydrated too.

Reality and the Media

February 2012 Category :Media Off

It is not hard to find people who think the media has become unreliable, and completely ridiculous. The reality of the situation and the people within the story are always much different than what actually has happen.  How can one person tell us a story and by the time the media is done with it there is nothing even closely recognizable.

Lets take  traffic accident claims for an example.  Just the other day I was watching the local morning news and they were showing clips of cars sliding down the road hitting other cars. As I looked I saw it was actually the street just one block down.

To the news media there was no less than 17 cars who met this fate that day. However, upon asking my neighbor who filmed the event I found out there was only 6 cars. Given, 6 cars sliding down the road crashing into each other and everything else you could imagine is a lot of car accidents but why claim there was more?

The Art of Food at McDonalds

January 2012 Category :Uncategorized Off

Those who have recently completed a McDonalds application and gone onto to work there will have witnessed first hand the changes in the McDonalds menu and the way the food it serves is made, with most changes coming as a reaction to the calls for healthier fast food.

For example in 2011 as a whole McDonalds purchased 54 million pounds of fresh apples. In 2009 they did not purchase any. all the apples are now used in their healthier salad options as well as in their kids meals, as children now get a side of apple slices as well as a smaller sized fries with their Happy Meals.

Other new food innovations have included the Snack Wraps, new menu items that were crested by Chef Daniel Coudreaut, whose previous job before becoming “head of menu management” for McDonalds was as the executive chef of the prestigious Four Seasons resort in Dallas, Texas.

 

The Art of Good Coffee

January 2012 Category :Uncategorized Off

Learning the art of producing a  a perfect espresso can take a very long time and your average person just wouldn’t have the time or inclination to undertake the necessary training just make a better daily brew. These days, however help is at hand. The new breed of single serve capsule coffee machines, such as the Nespresso Citiz by Magimix or Krups, just make life so much easier. Obviously they don’t give you quite the result that you would get if  you were sipping an espresso which had been lovingly prepared by a barista in a pavement cafe in Rome or Florence but for your day to day coffee habit they aren’t half bad.

Art and Media Go Hand in Hand

January 2012 Category :Discussion Off

Art is considered to be a territory of aesthetic people, who use a form of art to express their emotions or mirror a social situation, through an art. Taking a look at visual artistic works of ancient times will always help us understand the state of mind and way of living. Music is another form of artistic activity that not only delivers the emotions, hidden in depths of a person, but also soothes them from within. Now, are art and media connected?

Medium of entertainment, like movies or theater are considered a branch of art, used to express an observation in a society. Basically, every artistic endeavor needs one to think in unconventional manner. This “going out of way” process is also being reflected in the more serious medium of communication, like press. These days, news needs to be presented in a very novel manner. Conventional reporting is a passé; it is time to up one’s creativity quotient, to present news in a manner that attracts more audience.

Creativity is not restricted to art. Creativity in technology gives us break through and advancements. From no telephone connections, to a wireless smart phone, the transformation was never possible, if few people did not think unconventionally. Not only that, important aspects like communication, even smallest of innovation like automatic litter box, is also an outcome of creativity. This creativity is sometimes, circumstance driven, and often, a very natural skill, the person nurtures by indulging in some form of artistic hobby.

Creative advertising: Art or science?

January 2012 Category :Uncategorized Off

We’ve seen them before, highly controversial and thought provoking. I remember a few years back when I was driving down the highway. I saw a billboard about the dangers of smoking and it showed a horrific picture of x-ray’d lungs in a microwave looking device and the lungs looking more like a pair of grilled steak.

Is this form of advertising art or science I wonder? You see, as an architect, I have always thought of advertising as a form of business, a hard science and nothing to do with art. But there are plenty of ads that display images for the purpose of education as opposed to the generation of corporate income. I spoke to a representative of an internet marketing company the other day and what they told me was that there is a growing trend of creative marketing where the purpose of an image is designed to capture attention and be thought provoking.

I can also relate to this trend as recently I had to design a building that represents “a ship sailing in the ocean” and it was supposed to convey a message of being dynamic and pioneering. I guess there is art in business after-all.

Choosing Cat Furniture That Fits Your Home Decor

January 2012 Category :Uncategorized Off

Design is important in my life and I like to have a home where everything fits together in its perfect little way.  This is all well and good but when you have two teenage boys running riot and a cat who thinks he owns the place, it doesn’t always work out the way you want it.

Take for example my cats litter tray.  Luckily for me he does most of his toilet business outside and I never come across it so that makes me very happy.  However, when he does go in his litter tray he sticks the whole house out – it really is a nasty experience.  We have tried putting his litter tray out in the garage but then we have to leave the garage door open so it defies the purpose.  We tried the utility room but again, no cat flap in the door means its a problem.

I was getting to the end of my tether with it all until one of my neighbours suggested buying cat litter box furniture.  This cat furniture is designed to look like a piece of normal furniture, say and end table or chest of draws, but it actually holds a cat litter tray and has a cat flap in the side so the cat can get in and out at his or her leisure.  The whole side opens out which allows the owner to clean the tray when required and the cabinet itself comes in many different veneers so it can match the rest of the furniture in that room or through your home.

The best bit of all this is that the cat litter furniture actually keeps all the nasty smells as well as the unsightly messes hidden away so me, my wife, kids and even guests don’t ever have to see the cats toilet business until we need to clean it out.  I can not tell you how happy that makes me!

The Art of Ashiatsu: Enhance Personal Wellness

January 2012 Category :Discussion Off

Nowadays, with our hectic lifestyles, our entire being is always confronted with a lot of activities, both physically and mentally that in some aspects affect our personal wellness. Many forms of pampering activities can be availed almost anywhere to give us the needed relaxation and regeneration.

One of the most sought forms of massage therapy that is making names in most spa providers is the “Ashiatsu“. This kind of therapy is considered as an art already with the way the massage therapist performs the entire bodywork massage, wherein foot pressures are given to the body of any client in aim to provide total relaxation. As the massage therapist applies this therapy, artistic movements are carried throughout with the use of custom-made bars as its main tool needed for the balance and support in order to give appropriate pressures while treating the client, but other physical movements of the elbows, knees and hand are used for the other parts of the body.

In general, Ashiatsu is a true work of art with every rhythmic movement done by the massage therapist. Although this type of therapy isn’t included in the claims coverage for medical billing and coding specialists, still with your extra savings, you too can avail this form of relaxation and reward yourself to this kind of pampering once in a while.

The goal of this therapy is to bring comfort and ease all the aching muscles, thus making every individual improve his/her mental attributes and overall physical conditions. Here are some reasons why one should experience the art of Ashiatsu:

1.     Improve Immune System

Any person can benefit from this massage therapy because with regular sessions, one can improve his/her immune system needed to prevent certain sickness.

2.     Increase Blood Circulation

As the therapist conducts the whole body massage, this increases blood circulation with the right application of pressures to the body. Good blood circulation means normal flow of blood and oxygen levels which are vital in preventing any respiratory diseases and high blood pressure.

3.     Relax Tense Muscles

With continuous usage of this massage therapy, one can be assured that all tense muscles are given attention and eliminated in the long run, thus giving you a more relaxed feeling.

Find the best spa provider that offers this kind of massage therapy and come out a more renewed you at the end of each session.

The Beauty in a Garden Clock

January 2012 Category :Uncategorized Off

Some garden clocks are very attractive.  They do not necessarily need to be kept in greenhouses or sheds.  The more expensive ones are weatherproof and so can be kept outside.

There are all sorts of designs.  Some have pictures of birds around the hour which make a sound of the actual bird on the hour.  Some garden clocks also have thermometers as well.  Having a garden clock not only looks attractive but is a very useful thing to have when you are outside in your garden.

The cheaper clocks are not weatherproof so may need to be kept in a more sheltered area such as greenhouses.  If you have one with a thermometer you can also use it to check the temperature inside your greenhouses.

Working as an Entry Level Web Designer

January 2012 Category :Discussion Off

Entry Level JobsI want to tell you what it’s like working as an entry level web designer. I graduated last year with a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology majoring in Web Development. As expected of course, job hunting is not a problem for us. The advancement of modern day technology and its increase in use worldwide as time goes by is what really defines why web developers like me, don’t experience much difficulty in finding entry level jobs unlike other careers (puts bragging aside).

Well, just think about it! All companies today need their websites to assure the company’s advancement in terms of publicity and the sort. Not having a website for a big corporation is like not caring whether the people are notified of the corporation’s presence or not. Yes, big corporations… you guys need us THAT badly!

As much as I love to promote my career, I would also like to notify those people who are planning on working as an entry level web designer that being a web developer is NOT an easy task. Take it from me, it is really NOT easy.

Once you start working as an entry level web designer, you are to compete with all web designers for your career to grow. Companies tend to hire only those who they deem capable of creating the websites they need and they tend to be a bit over-cautious to the point that some talents are missed. Being a web designer is all about being surrounded by complex codes, creative imaginations and sensitive clients.

While working as an entry level web designer, I had this client and he was asking me to create an e-commerce site for his business. And so I did what he told me to do, followed all the details of the website to be created and then the moment I was about to submit the project, he asked for major revisions which is really not that easy to implement (agree with me, developers?).

The bottom line is this. For those aspiring students who are currently pursuing – or is planning on working in an entry level job as a web designer, expect stress, expect headaches, expect sensitive clients and the sort. But be notified as well that even though those may sound a bit negative, the rewards of working as an entry level web designer in terms of salary increases and career advancement are good (based on the advancement of the majority of my upperclassmen). A good trade indeed! So ergo, I love my work!

The Gas Fire Pit as Art

January 2012 Category :Discussion Off

If someone mentions a fire pit many peoples minds immediately conjure up images of a big hole in the ground surrounded by a few bricks. Thanks to the increase in popularity and availability of gas fire pits though that no longer has to be the case and homeowners looking to add some warmth to their outdoor spaces can actually find gas fire pits that are more like art installations than they are a household appliance.

Even in their most basic form gas fire pits offer a great many advantages over a traditional wood burning version. They are more economical, they light in an instant and burn cleaner, a bonus for the environment. They are also far less hassle from an everyday usage point of view (have you ever tried to keep a wood fire in all night? Its no easy task!)

There are a number off custom firepit manufacturers who are really taking advantage of the technology to create some really spectacular pieces that will do as much for the visual aesthetic of an outdoor space as they will for the temperature. For example a number of manufacturers are offering fire bowls. These installations offer all the warmth (and in some cases the cooking) benefits of a more traditional fire pit but their appearance really sets them apart.

Another popular theme is the fire and water table. Water features have been a staple in trendy landscaping for years now so combining a waterfall or fountain with a searing hot and bright gas flame is doubly effective visually.

Some people who opt for a gas fire pit like them so much that they extend the theme even further, opting to add gas powered tiki torches or even gas fire pits that bear a greater resemblance to a rocky hillside than they do to anything else.

The Changing Face of the Media and Wine

January 2012 Category :Uncategorized Off

Perhaps nothing helps to explain the changing face of the media as the rise of social networking, blogging and the rise of the truly independent source.

Content it seems, is truly king for the first time in the media.

For wine, according to the owner of my wine of the month club, that’s a really, really good thing.

For too long only the largest and most well funded wineries have been able to be featured in the mainstream press, now it seems that anyone making truly outstanding wine, assuming they have a decent idea how to market themselves, can find themselves at the center of the wine world if only for a short time.

Can E-Cig Design Have An Impact On Sales

January 2012 Category :Discussion Off

There are numerous e-cig brands available today and one of the most important things that many are missing out on is their brand identity and packaging design. Many are just bland brand names with boring artwork and logos that do nothing to set themselves apart from this ever increasing market.

A Look At the Design Work From Specific E Cig Brands

First for standing out for their artwork and design is Green Smoke. Their packaging design fits in well with their brand name making it instantly recognizable. They also supply a full range of promotional materials and Green Smoke discount code.

Second we have a brand called Bull Smoke that takes a different approach but one that is very effective. Their ‘snorting bull’ branding logo stands out and ensures that you remember the brand.

The last brand to look at is E-Lites. They have gone down the more traditional cigarette packaging design route. With a very clean brand and color the packaging gives off an overall sophisticated feel.

Newest Technologies Make Better Design Possible, But Are They Really Worth Using?

January 2012 Category :Discussion Off

As the Internet evolves, new technologies are becoming more often the #1 choice for web design. While the use of tools such as Flash can readily enhance an existing website, they should not be used for a design process from the ground up.

Designing the main structure of a website in anything other than HTML will result in lost business and increased frustration level on the customer’s part. Fortunately, CSS can provide with everything you need for a good looking website keeping the basics of HTML.

For example, many websites will open a new window for a Flash website. As if this was not annoying enough, the web browser controls often disappear when the new window opens up. With or without the “Skip Intro” button, bookmarking your website has now been made impossible. To access your website the user has to type in the web address manually every time they wish to visit your page. Further it is very unlikely that a website designed with such structure will ever make it into a search engine. Without real content and only multimedia, search engines are unable to crawl the site for content or follow links for spidering & seo services you get performed on your site will be less effective..

In comparison imagine reading a book and bookmarking the page you have reached. If a website can not be bookmarked, quick access to previously reached sections is made very difficult. You are forced to go through the pages one at a time. You may or may not find where you left off before and by now are probably very frustrated with the experience. Once you are done with the book you will put it down again without the ability to include quick reference points to interesting sections, only to begin the whole process anew when you return.

Keeping with the book scenario imagine now that the title of the book is written in some strange language and characters foreign to the A-Z alphabet. Such a book would be impossible to find in a library or bookstore because it would be impossible to catalog. This scenario represents a search engine trying to index a Flash website. If the website consists off multimedia only, the search engine will not know which category to put it into because it will be unable to examine it’s content. The end result is either no listing for your website or placement in some obscure place where few people visit.

Before you sit down and design a website keep one thing in mind for it is a formula that will help you please more visitors than any other: a user who finds what they are looking for fast is a happy user. The most technologically advanced website will not generate business if it can not answer questions and inform the customer. When we are looking for answers in printed media we do not go and purchase a children’s book with pretty pictures and pop-ups. Instead we purchase a magazine or book with the right balance of visual demonstration and typed instructions.

The balanced approach is easier on the money purse up front and generates more income in the long run. It is a win-win situation. Remember this golden rule and you will have surpassed half of your competition long before your first ideas begin to materialize on screen.

The Art of Architecture

January 2012 Category :Uncategorized Off

As the owner of a new (vintage) home, I have developed an intense appreciation of the art of architecture.  Along with the development of this appreciation, I’ve also developed an appreciation for the art of researching and purchasing beautiful homes within a budget.  Using an amortization calculator, I determine what exactly I can afford in a new home, and then I proceed to find deals that are both within my budget and up to par with my architectural tastes.  This approach is not easy or for the faint-of-heart.  It really takes some significant hard work and dedication.  But if you’re passionate about it like I am, it will certainly pay off in the end.  This is how I became the proud owner of a vintage architectural wonder of a home – all within my relatively modest budget!  Yes, the art of purchasing a home can be dull in comparison to appreciating the beauty of its architecture, but you’ll find that the two absolutely go hand-in-hand.

The Art of Taking your Blood Pressure

January 2012 Category :Uncategorized Off

It’s never been a truly exact science – really a medical procedure that has a bit of an artistic flair to it.  What am I referring to?  The art of taking one’s blood pressure, of course.   First, use a blood pressure chart to determine what the blood pressure numbers mean.  You’ll need a couple of tools, namely a stethoscope and a sphygmomanometer (cuff).  Place the round end of the stethoscope cuff.  Inflate the sphygmomanometer ( cuff) to a little above 180 mm Hg.  Then release air by  turning the air valve, and watch the pressure drop.  When you first hear a sound, that will be the Systolic blood pressure.   The sound you hear is the blood now flowing in the artery of the arm. This means that the systolic pressure is now greater than the pressure in the blood pressure cuff.  As you continue to watch the pressure drop, when you no longer hear any sounds, that will be the Diastolic blood pressure.  Ah yes, the fun of artistic medicine!

The Changing Face Of Internet Media

December 2011 Category :Discussion Off

Everything has changed in the last 10 years in media. Physical written media like newspapers and magazines struggle to stay in business as more and more eyeballs move online. CD’s are now on their way out as they are replaced by digital music and DVD’s are also on life support as they are being replaced by online streaming. Television still commands a large audience but people even have options with it: they can watch their programs later on their DVR’s or on the Internet in many cases.

This time in history is one of the most tumultuous times ever as the Internet is changing the way every one of us lives our lives. Businesses have had to adjust the way they do many things as so much money and time can be saved by moving tasks online. For entrepreneurs and people who want to learn how to make money from home, real options and opportunities now exist that were never there before. No matter what industry you are in or what your talents are, there is probably some impact on it from the emergence of the Internet.

Where it is all headed? That is something that no one can predict but the likelihood is that innovation is going to keep going at this breakneck speed for a long time. It seems like the lid has been taken off the jar and now more people than ever are realizing that they can get out there and make a difference. People realize that good ideas can come from anyone and it is cheaper today than ever before to get those ideas out into the marketplace.

How The Causes Of The Changing Face Of Media Have An Effect On Personalised Christening Gifts

December 2011 Category :Discussion Off

The changing face of the media in recent years has undoubtedly been controlled by the changes in technology. In particular increases in the download speeds of internet connections have resulted in new markets appearing that take advantage of people’s ability to watch streaming movies and the like.

Of course the onward march of technology has had effects on not just the media. In our business making <a href=”http://personalisedchristeninggiftsshop.co.uk/”>personalised gifts for christenings</a>, our most popular product is the commemorative bone china plate. Until 3 or 4 years ago the only way of personalising a plate was a method of printing called sublimation that involved heat and pressure. Because of the pressure required it was possible to print only onto flat surfaces – any attempt to print onto the raised edge of the plate would result in breakages because of the pressure. Then a machine arrived on the market that enabled us to glaze onto the china but in one colour only. Of course plates and mugs are glazed on many colours and have been for ages, but the method traditionally used is suitable only for large orders and not one-offs. Then 2 years ago technology took another step forward and a machine is now available that enables us to glaze in multiple colours. This has opened up a large market in glazing photographs onto china. Whilst there will undoubtedly be more changes in media, it is unlikely technology can advance in our particular business, which is probably a good thing as the new machinery has proved to be very expensive!

Media and Art Role in the Spread of Information about Cordyceps

December 2011 Category :Discussion Off

Media

Cordyceps has been used since ancient times in China. Today, knowledge about this herb has spread to various parts of the world. Media and art have played a very important role in ensuring that information about Cordyceps spread to various parts of the world. People in ancient China discovered the medicinal benefits of this herb long time ago. Since then, they have used it in curing various ailments. It has also been used in boosting immune system.

Media and art have been used in spreading information about this herb to people in different part of the world. As usual, media plays a very important role in ensuring that people who are their target audience are informed about emerging technologies. There has been a lot of research conducted on this topic. This has been published in various documents. Internet being part of the media has revolutionized almost every sector of the human race. In fact, Internet is one medium that many people are using to get information on almost everything they want to learn about. A lot of documents on Cordyceps have been published on the Internet. People are learning more about this herb from the media. Today, people who used to consider Cordyceps as a mere mushroom now have a different perception of it. This is due to the publication that media has given this herb.

As such, media has played a very great in portraying this Cordyceps as a herb with medicinal benefits. Many people now view Cordyceps as an antibiotic that kills bacteria, germs and viruses, which attack the human body. They now see it as a mushroom with power to eliminate toxins in the human body. It is also seen as a herb with the ability of restoring health and giving the body strength. Thus, media and art have initiated a new shift in paradigm on the subject of this mushroom.

Media From the Thunderer to the Iplayer

December 2011 Category :Discussion Off

In 1785 a newspaper was established called – ‘The Daily Universal Register’.  Not the most awe inspiring name but it was to become one of the most famous newspapers in the world over the next few hundred years.  The newspaper was renamed in 1788 to the slightly more familiar – The Times and from then on as developed into a famous world brand.   The Times has not always been popular and in fact in recent years the days of it’s slightly mocking nickname of ‘The Thunderer’ would have seemed child’s play compared to the allegations currently being directed at the Murdoch’s empire.

The media has probably changed more in the last five years than in the preceding two centuries.  The internet and TV have meant that news stories travel around the globe at a breathtaking speed, so your average newspaper will be way behind the times on many news stories waiting for the presses to roll.  Access to the news has also become more global, if you have the right box you can watch live news from anywhere on the planet in your sitting room.  A Sky subscriber probably has access to more information than a News editor from the 1970s by a long margin.

There is one corporation that has a significant advantage though in this media development and that’s the BBC.  Despite the austerity cuts the BBC has a huge Internet budget and access to possibly the most comprehensive media archives on the planet.  The delivery mechanism will be crucial and although currently aimed at the domestic market there is hope that you will be able to access Iplayer abroad very soon from anywhere.

At the moment it is restricted although there are several technical work arounds to bypass these.  Unfortunately these technical issues mean that the audience is restricted globally.  The restrictions mean that the audience will either be very technical (or geeky if you prefer) or they will have the means to purchase solutions to access the BBC IPlayer. In both cases it is kind of sad that the audience is restricted this way.

 

 

Art In Advertizing – 1950s Appliances

December 2011 Category :Discussion Off

Advertising is full of examples of art used as the medium of choice for encouraging consumers to buy products.  Since the invention of the affordable printing press, marketers have been utilizing graphic media to sell goods to buyers.

1950s graphic advertizing

Even household appliance like this freezer pictured can be sold using attractive and colorful artwork.  Look at this great example from the 1950s.  Who needs professional refrigerator reviews to tell you what appliances are worth buying, you can see all you need to know from this simple advertisement!

The freezer is huge, lots of room for as much food as you could ever conceivably need. Look at all that delicious food – she is obviously a very well organized wife!  However, even better is the picture of the attractive and stylish fifties house wife.  Are you feeling a little frumpy?  Fear not, you too could look like her if you bought this device!  Could dear hubby possibly say no to that?

There is no need to look at the vital statistics, or a list of boring features.  A picture of a beautiful woman using a product is worth a thousand words! Let’s leave boring and unbiased analysis of the product to less spontaneous shoppers.  Take hubby dearest down to the store and buy this freezer at the soonest!

Of course, even in the early days of advertising people were likely aware of how Madison Avenue manipulated them into wanting to purchase products.  However, that has never stopped it from being effective.  Even today, a lot of advertising is based on selling sex, style and sophistication to consumers – and it still works!

Be it online media, TV or magazine advertising, the use of art that appeals to our instincts is – and will continue to be – the most effective way of convincing customers to pull out their credit cards and buy whatever it is companies have to sell.

 

In the Age of Digital Photography…

December 2011 Category :Discussion Off

I just glanced over at my corner shelf and was reminded of my small, but memorable, collection of antique cameras.  In the age of digital photography, the art of cameras from days gone by is something that I cherish.  My favorite camera is one from 1847 and is made up of wood, brass and leather — a far cry from the plastic and metal of today’s cameras.  It’s my great-grandfather’s, in mint condition, and is absolutely breathtaking.

Looking at an antique wood camera reminds you of the true art of photography and what goes into capturing a moment for an eternity.  With a digital camera, it’s so easy to forget all of the minute processes that make up the act of recreating a moment.  We still capture beautiful photographs, but I oftentimes feel like something is missing when I look at a digital photograph.  Where is the essence of the photo?  It’s just a vivid picture, frequently shared on an iPhone or laptop screen, but there’s history to it like photographs of the past.  It’s just another memory that can be deleted in the blink of an eye.

I’m happy to hold onto my antique cameras and think about what life was like when they were first created.  Who knows what people will think some day when they see one of our modern digital cameras.

The Art Of Successful Debt Relief

December 2011 Category :Discussion Off

Getting out of debt is no easy feat, the majority of America can attest to this being the truth.  For some people it honestly seems like quite the long shot to every actually escape what is known as the dreaded credit treadmill.  There is however some hope, and this hope stems from debt settlement.  The debt settlement process comes from the artful negotiating of one’s account with the objective to achieve a settlement which can be paid at a much lower amount than is currently owed.

Debt settlement has shown its true value during the past few years of the recession.   Proving to help people get out of debt fast and save money while doing so.  If you need help with credit card debt than considering this option would be a wise move.

The Art Of Successful Sleep Apnea Treatment

December 2011 Category :Discussion Off

Quality sleep truly is a thing of beauty, sought after by many, achieved by surprisingly few.  One of the leading factors for people in terms of disruptive sleep is obstructive sleep apnea. This condition causes very loud snoring due to people’s lack of breath while asleep.  So this dangerous condition not only affects the patient but also their partners sleep.

So where does art come into play when treating sleep apnea?  Well one of the most successful treatment options comes from dentists, who must craft each individual oral appliance used as a treatment for this condition.  Every person is different therefore every oral appliance must be too, the artistic touch of the doctor will ensure the treatment is successful.

Olive Oil in the Media and Art World

February 2012 Category :Discussion 0

Any time we’re talking about a food item which has been around since antiquity, there is going to be a long and historic list of media and art sources which have documented it.

Olive oil is no different in that regard, but perhaps no other food product has been featured as prominently in religious art other than the apple itself.

From the Catholic Baptism to the olive tree paintings themselves, there are literally thousands of examples of art centered around the olive, especially in the Mediterrean basin.  Of course, in modern times there are quite a few books which document the larger olive oil industry in present times.

Thinking about Website Design for Travel Sites

February 2012 Category :Media 0

When I’m designing a new website I am torn between two point of views. The first is the point of view of the website designer – I look at my peers and their work. The other point of view is the end user. I imagine myself using a site and from that thinking about navigation, organization of content and overall feel of the site. These two points of view seem very relevant when looking at designing a site with a travel theme.

For example, if you want to design a site about Choeng Mon beach in Koh Samui I first look at pictures of the beach. YouTube clips are even better. I want to get an idea about the ‘product’ I’m selling or promoting. I want to get the ‘feel’. This feel should be replicated in the design of the site about Choeng Mon. In this case the beach is exclusive, tropical and a place to be pampered in luxury.

I see what other websites have done for similar places and weigh this against the experience of the user. I often find these two positions contradictory. Website designers want to make sites new, innovative and eye catching. From an end user point of view this can often mean that it is hard to navigate the site. Big pictures may sell a location but provide little information. Another thing I’ve noticed is that travel websites like to have a booking engine demanding dates, room type etc. As a traveler  I get annoyed with this. I just want a list of hotels and prices. I don’t want to immediately commit to choosing dates. Maybe I don’t have exact dates yet.

It is by finding an acceptable balance between these 2 ways of looking at travel websites that I arrive at a template from which to build a website. My instinct, however, is to place user-friendliness above innovation and style.

Media, Art and the Full Moon Party

February 2012 Category :Media Off

The media has an incredibly short memory. This is no doubt the result of the financial pressures that force the mass media to toe the line of the owner’s opinion and to assuage the prejudices of the reader. In the 1980s the Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan island was largely vilified by the media. This was the time of the divisions in the UK and America caused by Thatcherism and Reagan-ism that sought to brand ‘alternative elements’ within society as being inimical to the progress of society.

The Full Moon Party was originally composed of a small group of Thais, hippies and backpackers who smoked a few joints and had a laugh dancing on a beach. The event needed very little policing but that didn’t stop masses of Thai police raiding the parties assisted by British policeman looking to stop long haired types brazenly taking soft drugs.

In the early 2000s the open joint smoking had been stopped. The Full Moon Party started to attract staggeringly large numbers of people (up to 30,000). The money made the event good. Despite the fact that the party goers were now taking class A stimulants. Since this behavior is not openly seen. The problem of drugs at the party was declared over and the media could focus on promoting the cash cow.

This is the story of may illegal raves turned into legal dance evenings. The surface undesirability is replaced by something worse but not superficially apparent. The commercial nature of the events make hypocrisy all the more necessary.

Is there any art at the Full Moon Party? The proficiency of the DJs is a type of art. Although those DJs that use computers and have the help of beat matchers have questionable abilities as disc jockeys. Few big name DJs play at the party and so it can hardly be labeled as a ‘showcase’ for talent.

The real art of the Full Moon Party is the ability to consume gallons of Thai whiskey buckets and make it through the night without passing out, throwing up or drowning in the sea.

In truth the event is neither as good or as bad as people or the media imagine. It’s not really about the music. It’s more just about saying you went to the world’s biggest moon party.

New Media Art

February 2012 Category :Media Off

With the changes in technology, the world of art has been given quite the whiplash. There is plenty of new ways to create art outside of the painting and sculptured worlds. These new pieces of technology have created a new genre of art in new media art. It encompasses works of art made with new media technologies.

This includes things like digital art, computer graphics, computer animation, virtual art, Internet art, interactive art, computer robotics, and even biotechnology. What differentiates itself from paintings and sculptures is its relationship to the observers of the work within these culturally and socially new mediums. It often lends itself to being engaged with those looking upon the artwork.

There are also many forms of artistic expression within new media art. The practices range from conceptual to virtual art. This can mean anything from performance to installation. Many of the themes within this art pertain to the avenues computers have created in identity, collaboration, cultural appropriation, surveillance, and other technological issues.