The Slavic Prophets and the complete prophecy of Mitar Tarabic

   We’ve all come across the writings of Edgar Cayce or Nostradamus at some point or other. If it isn’t a snippet here online or someone’s home-made video there on YouTube, interpretations of some of the more symbolic passages of say, Nostradamus’ work is as varied and plentiful as the people out there interpreting them.

My gripe with most prophecy is either the person sprouting it is full of it (Gordon Michael Scallion), it’s too unclear and nebulous (Nostradamus) or parts of their predictions have turned out to be completely unfounded (Louis Turi).

However, having said that, there are some people who genuinely seem to have a gift. They’re usually quiet, mind their own business, don’t seek out the spotlight too much and don’t have ads coming at you from all directions. In short, they seem to have the qualities of humility and modesty about them. I think of people like Hopi Grandfathers Martin Gashweseoma and Dan Evehema, Lakota Elders Floyd Red Crow Westerman and Arvol Looking Horse, and more recently Cherokee survivalist expert Grandfather Willy Whitefeather.

Less known in North America and in the English-speaking world are some of the Slavic prophets and teachers like Peter Deunov and his student, Omraam Mikhael Aivanhov. While their readership and followers number in the millions particularly in Europe and South America, they have largely escaped detection by the North American New Age community (and thank heavens for that!), mostly due to the fact that a large bulk of their talks have yet to be translated into English from their native Bulgarian or French.

Far less well-known is a Serbian peasant named Mitar Tarabic from the 1880’s. We know very little about him but he is considered a folk legend in his native Serbia because of the accuracy of his predictions. He predicted the exact outcomes of the lives of most of the Serbian royal family and how Serbia would end up starting WWI. A pious man and one who kept to himself and spent much of his time communing with nature in the forests close to his home, Tarabic confided his visions to the local Orthodox priest for his village, Zaharije Zaharic who recorded them all. Tarabic died in June 1899 and in 1943, Zaharic’s small chapel was burned down by invading German and Bulgarian troops, but most of the material was saved by the family and Zaharic’s original notes are now in the possession of family members living in Australia.

In 1998, I was browsing a local thrift shop and came across a curious title in the $1 book bin called “The Balkan Prophecy” by Zoran Vanjaka and Jura Sever. The book was very thin and after reading a few paragraphs decided to take it home with me. Here is the prophecy in full with my thoughts in (italicized brackets).

Our Times of Stupidity and Hatred

“You see my god-father, when the world starts to live in peace and abundance after the second all-out war, all of that will be just a bitter illusion, because many will forget God, and they will worship only their own human intelligence…

And do you know my god-father, what is human intelligence compared to God’s will and knowledge? Not even a single drop in the ocean.

Men will build a box and within will be some kind of gadget with images, but they will not be able to communicate with me, already dead, even though this image-gadget will be as close to the other world as hairs on the human scalp are close to each other.

With the help of this gadget, man will be able to see everything that is happening all over the world (computers and the internet).

People will drill wells deep in the ground and dig out gold (oil) which will give them light, speed and power and the earth will shed tears of sorrow because there will be much more gold and light on its surface then in its interior. The earth will suffer because of these open wounds (environmental degradation, open-pit mining, tar sands, oil spills, fracking).

   

Instead of working in the fields, people will dig everywhere, in right and wrong places, but the real power will be all around them, not being able to tell them: “Come on, take me, don’t you  see  that I am here, all around you.” (solar, wind and the Earth itself as per theories of another Serb, Nikola Tesla).

  

Only after many a summer will people remember this real power and then they will realize how stupid it was to dig all those holes. This power will also be present in people, but it will take a long time before they discover and use it (prana, chi).

Thus man will live for a long time, not being able to know himself. There will be many learned men who will think through their books that they know and can do everything. They will be the great obstacle for this realization (scientists), but once men get this knowledge, then people will see what kind of delusion it was when they listened to their learned men. When that happens, people will be so sorry that they didn’t discover it before, because this knowledge was so simple.

People will do many stupid things, thinking that they know and can do everything, but they will not know anything.(technocrats and bureaucrats).

Wise men will appear in the Orient (Buddhists) and their wisdom will cross all seas and frontiers, but people will not trust this wisdom for a long time, and this real truth they will proclaim for a lie. Their souls will not be possessed by the Devil, but by something worse. They will believe that their illusion is the real truth, although there will be no truth in their heads.

Here at home, it will be the same as all over the world. People will start to hate clean air and this divine freshness and all divine beauty and will hide in rankness (industrialization and urban development, suburban sprawl). Nobody will force them to do that, but they will do it of their own free will.

Here in Kremna, many a field will become a meadow, and many a home will be abandoned, but then those who have left will come back to heal themselves by breathing fresh air.

In Serbia it will not be possible to distinguish a man from a woman. Everybody will dress the same. This calamity will come to us from abroad but it will stay with us the longest. A groom will take a bride, but nobody will know who is who.

People will be lost and more and more senseless day by day. Men will be born not knowing who was their grandfather or great grandfather. People will think that they know everything, but not a thing will they know.

The Serbs will separate from each other, and they will say:”I am not a Serb, I am not a Serb.” Only weaklings will be born and nobody will be strong enough to give birth to a real hero. (The Balkan wars of the 1990s)

At one time, we shall disappear from this land of ours. We shall go north, and then realizing our stupid deed we shall return. When we come back, we shall wise up and chase away the unholy one, not to see him, in God’s name, ever again.

The whole world will be plagued by a strange disease and nobody will be able to find a cure; everybody will say, “I know, I know because I am learned and smart” but nobody will know anything. People will think and think but they will not be able to find the right cure which , with God’s help, will be all around them and in themselves. (cancer, nature, prana).

Man will travel to other worlds to find lifeless deserts there and still, God forgive him, he will think that he knows better than God himself (moon landing). There he will see nothing except the eternal peace of God, but he will sense with his heart and soul all of God’s beauty and power. People will drive carriages upon the moon and stars. They will look for life, but life similar to ours, they will not find. It will be there, but they will not be able to understand it and see that it is life.

One who will go there, God forgive him, not believing in God as is proper for an honorable and decent person, when he comes back, he will say: “Oh, you people, who mention God’s name with doubt, go there where I was, then you will see what is God’s mind and power.” (Apollo astronaut Edgar Mitchell, who had a spiritual experience on the Moon and went on to found the Institute of Noetic Sciences).

The more people will know, the less they will love and care for each other (materialism over emotional and spiritual happiness). Hatred will be so great between them that they will care more for their different gadgets than for their relatives. Man will trust his gadgets more than his first neighbour…

Among the people of a nation far in the north a little man will appear who will teach men about love and compassion, but there will be many Judas and hypocrites around him so that he will have many ups and downs. Not one of these hypocrites will want to know what is real human grace, but his wise books will remain, and all the words he will say, and then people will see how self-deceived they were. (Possibly David Icke, he’s from England and has been talking about how “Infinite Love is the only Truth: Everything Else is Illusion”. His various betrayals over the years are well-documented).

Those who will read and write different books with numbers will think that they know the most (left-brained people). These learned men will let their lives be led by their calculations, and they will do and live exactly how these numbers tell them (bankers, financiers, hedge fund managers).

Among these learned men, there will be good and evil men. The evil ones will do evil deeds (Rothschilds and Rockefellers, corporations). They will poison air and water and spread pestilence over the seas, rivers and earth and people will start to die suddenly of various ailments.

Lord Evelyn de Rothschilds

David Rockefeller – what a warm, cuddly looking fellow, eh?

Those good and wise will see that all this effort and hard work is not worth a penny and that it leads to the destruction of the world, and instead of looking for wisdom in numbers, they will start to seek it in meditation.

When they start to meditate more, they will be closer to God’s wisdom, but it will be too late, because the evil ones will already ravage the whole earth and men will start to die in great numbers (Before he died mysteriously of a” heart attack”, Hollywood producer Aaron Russo even got a Rockefeller to admit that there are plans to reduce the world population to 500 million and the Rothschilds are now looking into weather-control technology, which means controlling food production).

People will run from the cities to the country and look for the mountains with three crosses, and there, inside, they will be able to breathe and drink water. Those who will escape will save themselves and their families, but not for long, because a great famine will appear. There will be plenty of food in towns and villages, but it will be poisoned (radioactive?). Many will eat because of hunger and die immediately. Those who will fast to the end will survive, because the Holy Ghost will save them and they will be close to God.

When wild flowers lose their fragrance, when grace leaves man, when rivers lose their health…then the greatest all-out war will come. (WWIII)

The greatest and the angriest will strike against the mightiest and the most furious!

When this horrible war starts, woe to those armies that fly over skies, better off will be those who fight on ground and water. People waging this war will have their scientists invent different and strange cannonballs, instead of killing, will cast a spell over all that lives; people, armies and livestock. This spell will make them sleep instead of fighting and afterwards they will come back to their senses (Mind control by manipulating frequencies).

Serbia will not fight in this war, but others will do battle over our heads…burning people will fall from the sky above Pozega (a small town).Only one country at the end of the world, surrounded by great seas, as big as our Europe, will live in peace, without any troubles…upon it or over it, not a single cannonball will explode! (Australia).

Those who will run and hid in the mountains with three crosses will find shelter and will be saved to live afterwards in abundance, happiness and love, because there will be no more wars…

   In these times of death, in the Russian mountains, a young man will appear by the name of Mihailo. His face will be bright and his appearance will be graceful. People will be bewildered seeing him walk on the air and he will go to the first monastery and ring all the bells (The Hopi believe in the return of the good white brother named Pahana).

To the people who will gather around him, he will say:

“You have forgotten who I am and that I did not die, but alive went to heaven.” and people will look upon him and say:

“We did not, we did not, you are the holy Archangel Michael”

“You have crucified the Divine Man and the Son of God even though we had given you minds to think and love everything around you. You became beasts and murderers! I did not come to force you by fear to believe, but I came to make you understand! There are no more rich and poor and you are still hating, fighting and killing each other. You have forgotten your soul!”

Then all nations will follow Michael and the world will become a real Eden. There will be food everywhere, in rivers, seas, and forests. Those who will be born then will live happily and for so long that they will forget when they were born.

Michael will be everywhere, but most of the time in Constantinople (Istanbul, meeting of East and West), until all people become one language and one faith. Then satisfied, he will go back to heaven.

A good, noble man with red hair will be sitting on the throne of the world (The King of the world, Melchizedek). Blessed are those who live to see him, because the red-haired man will bring happiness to all. He will live long and will govern until his God-given death…(Age of Aquarius)

During and after his reign, there will be no more wars but sometime in the distant future, unknown to men, because of human stupidity, great evil and hatred will rise again.” (Age of Capricorn or Scorpio).

How Ebola paralyses the immune system

                                    

  

Deaths in Africa from Ebola reached 1013 earlier this week, with 1848 cases reported. The World Health Organization, which had declared the outbreak a global health emergency, gave ethical clearance to treat patients with the untested drug ZMapp. With all the activity on the ground in Africa – not to mention the amount of media coverage – it was something of a surprise to find that the specific way Ebola kills has only just been discovered.

In essence, the virus blocks what would usually be an instant response to infection, paralysing the body's entire immune system. Gaya Amarasinghe of the Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, Missouri, and colleagues say the breakthrough could guide the development of new treatments.

There are no vaccines for Ebola, and until recently ZMapp had only been tested in monkeys. Normally, the body responds to infections by producing a substance called interferon, which acts as a fast-track message to white blood cells, telling them to mobilise genes and proteins. Amarasinghe's team found that the Ebola virus produces a substance called VP24, which blocks the channel through which interferon usually travels, crippling the immune system.

With its usual protective mechanisms knocked out, a cell is then defenceless against the virus. Amarasinghe says that drugs which target VP24 might provide alternative ways to combat the virus. Other virologists say that neutralising VP24 alone might not be enough because, like many other viruses, Ebola has other methods to thwart interferon's distress signals. "The rest of the parts of the virus can still work and replicate without VP24," says Ben Neuman of the University of Reading, 

Neuman says it might be difficult to find drugs that target VP24 exclusively without causing side effects. But he says that there are already drugs that target a similar molecule in the hepatitis C virus, called NS5A, without damaging healthy cells. "They're astoundingly effective," he says. "So in theory it could be done for VP24, but it won't be cheap or easy."

Options for treatments are now urgently needed. Liberia this week received a small amount of ZMapp, a mixture of three monoclonal antibodies, but only enough to treat two people. The company that makes the drug, Mapp Biopharmaceutical in San Diego, California, says only very limited supplies of ZMapp are available. So far it has been used on two infected US aid workers, who both showed signs of improvement. But yesterday it emerged that it had failed to save the life of a Spanish priest, Miguel Pajares, who was infected in Liberia.

The WHO declares a Public Health Emergency of International Concern when an outbreak crosses borders and poses an unusual threat. It has made such a declaration only twice before: for swine flu in 2009 and the polio resurgence in Pakistan earlier this year. The Ebola declaration asserts that "a coordinated international response" is required to stop further spread, because of "weak health systems in the most at-risk countries".

                                                                        

Faerie World

                                                               

1757, Wales: a well-known cleric, when a young child, was playing in a field with several other children. There at football-field distance away, were several dwarf/gnome-sized creatures, apparently in couples, all dressed in red and flourishing white kerchiefs. One of the males spotted the children and rushed at them, nearly catching them. The child described the gnome as having an "ancient, swarthy, and grim complexion". The other gnomes were shouting at the chaser the whole time in a language which none of the children could understand. Dr. Edward Williams, the cleric, summarized his encounter in a charming way: "I am forced to class it among my unknowables". One suspects that we will have to do the same as to this whole menagerie of beings.

 Mid-19th century, UK: The famous historian, Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould, had an experience when he was very young in which he saw "legions of dwarves" two feet tall keeping pace beside the carriage in which he was riding and trying to climb up on the horses, laughing all the way. His parents saw nothing at all.

  

 Mid-19th century, Yorkshire: If that youth experience might be waved off as some oddity of the very young, S B-G's wife had an encounter when she was 15. She was walking down a lane when she came across "a little green man, perfectly made, who looked at her with beady black eyes". [I am almost certain that the phrase "little green man" refers to him being dressed in green in such stories]. This frightened her badly and she ran home.

 Late-19th century, UK. And S B-G had a further encounter in his family. One of his sons was fetching peas in their garden when he came across a member of the Good People wearing a green jacket, brown knee britches, and a red cap [just about our ideal garden gnome]. He had a weathered old face, gray beard and stark black eyes. His stare unnerved the son and he ran inside. Doubtless, Sabine Baring-Gould had little reason to disbelieve him.

Probably late 1800s, Wicklow Mountains, Ireland: This one will stretch you on how far you want to go. A farmer and his wife worked their farm just after their marriage and along came a winter's snow season. The man saw a Wee Folk outside and "brought him in and sat him on the dresser". [peculiar to say the least, but I'm not of the times....] . The farmer was telling this story to some folklore luminaries visiting him [including Lady Gregory and William Butler Yeats]. He said that the being stayed with them for about a week. His wife promptly interrupted him to remind him that it was two to three weeks. [!!!].The being was described as 15" high and very friendly. He was dressed almost entirely in red: cap to checked coat to skirt to stockings. The being had to be fed by spoon by the farmer himself. His meals consisted of bread in milk, it seems. His appearance was young and fresh at first, but rapidly he began to appear old and wrinkled [yep, I remember the Changeling legends]. He was no secret locally, and tipsy knuckleheads from the town pub would come over and they would laugh at him there on his dresser.One day the farmer saw another like being outside. That being was dressed in a grayish theme and looked more feminine. When the farmer remarked upon this to his wife, the Little Man who had never spoken, cried out: "That's Geoffrey-a-Wee that's coming for me!!". At that, he leapt down from his dresser and bounded out the door. If this story is true [two interviewed witnesses and several well-known interviewers], then just about anything goes as far as the typical historic folkloric fairy stories go. Encounters passing in the lane are one thing; stay-around family house gnomes are another. And the changeling-similar thing.... it is almost a line-in-the -sand over which the mind resists crossing.

Something New

Giants in Nevada

                                                                       

                                                 

Nevada Indian legend of 12 foot red-haired giants that lived in the area when they arrived. The story has the Native American’s killing off the giants at a cave. Excavations of guano in 1911 turned up this human jaw. Here it is compared to a casting of a normal man’s jawbone. In 1931 two skeletons were found in a lake bed. One was 8′ tall, the other just under 10′ tall.

Inexplicable Wedge

                                           

                                                       


         On the bank of Mures River in Transylvania, near the city of Aiud, in 1974, an aluminum wedge was found among 20,000 year-old Mastdon bones, encased in one millimeter thick layer of oxides that shows it to be at least 300-400 years old. Aluminum is always found mixed with other metals but it was pure aluminum. This 300 year old artifact is anomalous because aluminium was not discovered until 1808 and not produced in quantity until 1885. It’s still under research at an undisclosed location.

Are You Somebody Who Believes Love Sucks?

So many people believe that love sucks. They've gone through a break up, usually break up after break up, and they blame love for their pain.
Tina Turner asked, "What's Love Got to Do With It?"
But it's not love and romance that inspires a woeful "Love Sucks!' It's us. We humans who believe that just because we're human we should know how to love.
That'd be nice, but it's not so. So what do we do?
First, the phrase "love sucks," has to go. It's a lie. More important, it's an illusion that takes love and romance right down the drain. Why? Because as long as you believe love sucks . . . it will. Guaranteed.
Next we have to accept that love and romance have to be learned. Ideally from parents who know how to love and aren't afraid to express it in front of their children. But, sadly that doesn't happen often. Quite the opposite. We learn that love sucks from a very early age.
So if you're staying away from love and romance you must decide to stop running and start learning.
How? In this article we're going to tell you what not to do. Because there are so many traps that will snare you.
1) Don't ask your friends for advice --- unless you can see that they know how to live love and romance. Since most people don't, asking them is a guaranteed recipe for saying . . . "See. I told you love sucks."
2) Don't fall into fantasy. That'll keep you wrapped up in your head. You need to get out of your own love-sucks-pain. Otherwise you'll be stuck, and the love and romance you want will never come your way.
3) Don't pretend. When you do, you're only fooling yourself. The truth is you're setting up an inevitable breakup with your own sense of who you are. That's deadly --- emotionally and spiritually.

Going through a break up is rough. But don't let that breakup stop you. Don't choose to say "Love Sucks." It doesn't.

Where Are You ???

My dear friends which I know well and other people which I don't know personally where are you ? This statement cross my mind lately. How it is possible that nobody visit my blog? What I do wrong? I have only one person which follow me.Seems to me that nobody listen music this days but it's not truth. I know it.Must be something else.I am not kind of man who  like to make promotion  of  myself . So nobody of my friends don't know that I write blog and it will be like it, except if they find out somehow alone. I am one young man and I still have time for everything in my life. Even for changes... Like you already know I am a seamen and I come home from South Korea. There surprise me unusual cleanliness of streets and wonderfully decorated parks. I was in China before and there are very dirty.In China the sea ( we call it Yellow Sea or China's sea) is very blurred .I was not able to visit any place there , as it is famous China Wall , and I know that there are many wonderful places ....I just want to say which kind of impression I got between Korea & China. By the way nobody speak English , or maybe 2% can speak other language. In China you can buy and eat right there on the street , a wide selection of food . In  Korea is not like that. We didn't stay in China more than a  few days and in Korea we were only one week or so....When you work as me and other sailors, than you have not time to visit anything what is far away from the port.Unfortunately ! I travel everywhere and I meet people ,but like I write on the top of this story nobody read my blog. Where Are You People ???

My Top 4 Indie Rock CDs of 2009

2009 has been a great year for music, with many new albums coming out. Both new artists and more established artists made a big impact on the music world this year, and there was some truly enjoyable music. While the year isn't over yet, there's been enough of a year to give some awards out. Here we go.
4. Dark Was the Night (various artists). While this was a compilation CD, all of the music on it was original and written specifically for this compilation. Some of the best names in indie rock produced songs on this. From The Decemberists, to Spoon, to Bon Iver, and so many more (seriously), this album is packed with great songs.
3. Grizzly Bear, Veckatimest. So maybe the sound is a little unconventional and it's an acquired taste, but these guys are brilliant. Between the hooks and the freshness of the sound, I absolutely love this album. It pulls me in on every listen with its layered sounds.
2. The Felice Brothers, Yonder is the Clock. This sounds more like Bob Dylan than anything else, but to simply end the comparison there (as great as that is) wouldn't do the band as much Justice as they deserve. A modern day folk classic, this is a must listen for anyone who likes the genre.
1. The Dirty Projectors, Bitte Orca. How could I even classify this album? It's hard to say, but with unconventional guitar hooks and some great female backing vocals, this is a truly innovative album.

These are all in my opinion and surely you'll have yours. I hope you enjoy these albums if you haven't heard them yet.

What Are the Best Video Game Websites?

Video games is a favorite past times for many people around the world. Like any past times, many people are interested in the latest news, gossip, reviews or information of their favorite past times. So where is the best place to find all this information in regards to video games on the internet?
There are many choices, but the ones I recommend are listed below:
Large commercial websites
These websites are owned by large companies such as publishing houses like Future plc or CBS which often have the latest news and reviews of videogames because of their large influences and capital.
1up.com:
This website was previously associated with their video game magazine, Electronic Gaming Monthly. This website tends to concentrate on hardcore games, but has editorial staffs who give opinions about video game culture, news and opinion. 1up.com was one of the first pioneers of video game podcasting. Unfortunately, some of the editorial staff who gives opinions often are biased due to their favorite games or consoles which skew certain video games opinions.
Gamespot.com:
Gamespot is one of the oldest video game websites out there. It has wide variety information on many consoles on news, reviews and previews. They have many exclusive previews of videogames not seen on other websites due to their large viewer base. The have a large video section on their website for good videogame viewing. Unfortunately in 2008, they were in a scandal involving advertisers changing their videogame reviews. The result was a resignation of a journalist and banning of gamespot links on certain videogame forums.
Ign.com:
Ign is the largest videogame website on the internet. It has a subscription membership where you pay to see exclusive videos and access on their website. Their servers are very fast as they have servers in many countries. Ign has the most and largest reviews on many videogames. If there is videogame you have never heard of and wanted to see the reviews, ign will probably have it. Unfortunately due to their many reviews, some of their reviews are not reliable or poorly written.
Video game blogs:
Video game blogs are the best place to find the latest news. Here are a few:
joystiq.com
destructoid.com
kotaku.com
Videogame forums:
There are many internet forums, but the only place in my opinion for the best videogame forum is neogaf.com . This is the place to find news on the latest consoles, discussion on videogame culture and gossip. Some of the members on the forum actually work in the videogame industry so there is much insider information. Unfortunately membership is limited and is moderated.

A Life With Music

Music plays an essential role in our life. It gives life to the soul as food does to the body. It becomes the voice of the heart when plain words fall short of expressing how we feel. Music is first introduced to us by our mothers, our beloved musicians. The lullabies sang to us by our mothers when we were still small, in whatever language, notes or tune, have always been a delight to the little hearts. A melody forever playing in our mind.
As everything in life changes, so does music. It changes with the times and technology. From jazz to rock, from rock to hip-hop, and a lot of fusions in between. And together with the evolution of music is the advancement of technology in the delivery of music. These technologies or gadgets have brought music closer to us. Gone are the days when you have to go to a music place when you want to enjoy a night of music. In the advent of radio, people were able to start enjoying music at home. Today, the evolution of music gadgets has come a long way. With our trusty mp3 players, music has never been this available to us. Now, music is everywhere.
The music industry has always been a lucrative business as people readily spend their money for a musical experience. Studies have been made to understand the human need for music. But the common person certainly knows why, as music knows us. Music comes to us in different ways, it comes as an encouragement to the athlete or any dreamer, a hand that picks you up when you're down, a comforting embrace when we're heartbroken or even in grief. And, yes, what would life be without a love song behind every loving couple. Thus, we are flooded by love songs.
The thrill of listening to a new song or an old song made new, and of musicians wanting to make a mark in the world of music, will always keep the music industry alive. People won't hesitate to pay for a good musical indulgence, be it purchasing a concert ticket or the newest CD or just downloading music over the internet to our latest mp3 player. It is a wonderful reality that music is very much embedded in our culture which greatly affects our values and way of life. Music will always be a beautiful companion.

Life of Music

Music has been a part of our lives and is embedded within our soul. For centuries, it has become the outlet of human heart and the expression of one's feelings. Most of us experienced music since birth as our mothers would sing us lullabies to put us to sleep. Our mother's voice would always be a pleasant music to our ears.
Music evolved from time to time. Classic music has to give way to the new era of music. A new genre is created which each of them would define the current generation. Not only that the kind of music changes or evolved, the gadgets also evolve as the world become more advanced in terms of technology. In the past we only have radios. But now we have CD playes, MP3, iPod, etc. and this would change the way we connect with music.
Humans spend tons of time and energy, and, yes, a lot of money on musical endeavors. Researches have been conducted to understand the reasons behind the need of humans for music. But to the common person it is the thing that inspires us to reach the stars or lifts us up when we're down, the solace when we're heartbroken or in grief, the outburst when we are angry or the festive beat of the drums when we are jubilant. And of course, what would love be without a love song behind every couple. Indeed, millions of love songs have been made for everyone.
The excitement of listening to a new song and of musicians wanting to create a mark in the history of music will always keep the music industry up and beating. People will readily spend their money for a good musical treat, be it going to a concert, buying the newest CD on the shelf or simply downloading it over the internet to the ever handy mp3 player. It is a beautiful fact that music is deeply ingrained in our culture which profoundly affects our values and quality of life. And so the music goes on.

Playing an Instrument - Benefits and Self-Satisfaction

The purpose of this article is to explain some of the benefits of playing a musical instrument. I've played guitar about five years now and while I've never become as proficient as the rock stars you see on tv, I do enjoy it immensely, for more reasons than you might think.
Learning an instrument for me was a series of self-rewarding steps. One of the most rewarding of these is the feeling when you can play your first song. Once you've learned to string together notes or chords, no matter how simple, you realize that there are a whole lot of possibilities out there and that you can really only move forward. When I started playing guitar I was thrilled to to learn the main riff to "Sweet Home Alabama." This gave me a mental boost to keep going and pursue my musical interests.
The next key stage is starting to pick out songs you hear on the radio and take the initiative to learn them. No matter what instrument you play, there are sites where other musicians write out popular songs so that you can learn them yourself. When you hear something you like simply look it up. If a song looks too difficult don't give up, just keep working at it one small piece at a time until you've got it down. The satisfaction from this is really a great feeling because you aren't playing songs you are assigned and may not be your top choices, you're learning what you want to learn instead. Now you can really start to develop in that you can play songs people know and will appreciate. It's a great feeling when someone recognizes something you're playing and let's you know that it sounds good!
Another great benefit of playing an instrument is the meditative quality. Playing for an audience is fulfilling, but sometimes just stepping back from it all and playing music by yourself can be very relaxing and beneficial. For me I find that playing my guitar can offer great stress relief and help to ease away the tension of a rough day. I often try playing something calm to mimic the mindset I want to achieve.
Whatever you play, just know that there's a lot more to it then "being really good" at your instrument. Playing music can provide a whole plethora of mental benefits including improvements in your self confidence or even your mood. I hope you found this helpful, have fun with those instruments everyone!

Learn to Play an Instrument and Enjoy Life

For some people, playing a guitar, a piano or any other instrument is somehow boring. They would prefer to do other things than play musical instruments. But have you ever tried to it your self? Playing a guitar or a piano, for example? Give it a try and you will discover that there is more to it than just playing.
For people who dedicated their life to music would tell you that music is life. It is not only playing it for the sake of playing it. But it is playing an instrument with emotions attached to it. You play it as if you feel it within you. And it will eventually bring out the power within you.
Playing an instrument is not only done during past time. But it can be done if you want to have emotional freedom. If you want to divert your attention from the problems and stress forming situations you have. Music can make you relax, calm and free your mind from any problems to think about. Music can improve the quality of life. You feel revived for just listening to music. How would you feel if you are the one creating the tunes? It might be more expressive, and more satisfactory.
In playing musical instruments you can bring out the emotions within you. That makes you feel relieved. You feel free for the moment you play your favorite instrument. When you learn to love music and learn to play musical instruments, you will see that it will change the way you life your life.
This is a fact! Music can improve our quality of life. And by attaching our selves to musical instruments, we are gradually changing our lives. Choose the best instrument that you want to play. Lean it. There are many music schools where you can study. Or you can get an online tutor or a personal teacher to teach you how to play these musical instruments. Learn it and you will double your life's happiness.

Learning to Play the Drums

If you're a novice to drums, the jargon and the techniques involved can be most puzzling. What is certain is that you need to take the time to practise the correct individual techniques before you can work hands and feet together.

Posture is very important in order to prevent unnecessary fatigue. Your spine should be straight and your shoulders, arms and wrists slack. Sit so that you use your calf muscles only. Hold the sticks with a light pressure in whichever grip you prefer; don't clutch them tightly and tense your muscles - just hold them in a relaxed, controlled way. Stretch before playing to ensure your muscles are loose.

Find the balance point of your drumsticks and you can find the natural rebound; speed drumming depends on minimum effort, and a perfect rebound will save you effort later. Many drummers will sacrifice good timing and precision for speed, so make sure so you don't.

Start playing with your wrist parallel to the playing surface. Raise your wrist to play louder; don't raise your arm. Keep your body relaxed, don't tense it. Don't develop into a caricature of a drummer; head bent, neck straining, sticks slightly out of control, cheating on rolls, hands raised too high and occasionally dropping a stick.

Playing drum rudiments are vital to your drumming; mastering these will go a long way toward becoming a creative player. There are 40 rudiments that are considered necessary to good drumming; knowing these will build versatility and strength into your drumming.

Now you can begin to develop your stick technique.

Percussion Drums And Their Users

Drums, and percussion instruments in general, have been a key part of ceremonies, communications, and other uses throughout history. From the Karate Drums of Japan to the Steel Drums of Trinidad and Tobago, drums have reached across cultures and centuries of societal evolution.

Percussion drum sets are a popular component of musical groups across many styles. Individual components of the drum sets are used in orchestral compositions and these drum sets are also used in rock bands. The diversity of the sounds created by the components, both individually and combined, allows the percussion drum set to be both diverse in the genres it’s used in and a stable provider of rhythmic components to a song.

The percussion drum set comes in multiple variations and can be changed to fit the musician’s need. Below are some of the more common percussion drum types in use.

•Bass Drum (Kick Drum) is used predominantly in rock and jazz and has a deep, low sound.

•Crash Cymbals (Hi-Hat) is two matching cymbals that are stacked one above the other and played by either a pedal or by striking with a stick.

•Snare Drum is used in orchestral, band and jazz and is named for the strings stretched across the lower of the two heads.

•Tom Drum is a cylinder drum that does not have a snare and is most commonly used in jazz and rock music.

•Ride Cymbal is a single Cymbal that is positioned at an angle and comes in varying degrees of thickness based on the need of the musician.

•Splash Cymbal is a single cymbal that sits at an angle and is named for the “splash” sound that it makes when struck.

These are some of the more commonly used drums and cymbals used in a percussion drum set and their uses. Each one has its own distinct sound. Due to this, musicians have needed to evolve in order to include the various types of sounds produced by each into their compositions.

Alternative Drums For Acoustic Performances

There are lots of options for the drummer looking for an alternative to a large drum kit. Drum kits are cumbersome and heavy, so an acoustic drum is the perfect replacement for a larger set. In particular, the cajon and the djembe are preferred by acoustic drummers during performances.
A djembe is a West African hand drum designed for usage in a drum circle. This drum is meant to encourage community involvement, and is relatively easy to play. Ben Harper, Paul Simon and Peter Gabriel are known for including the djembe in their typical percussive line-up.
Traditional African drums are favored by professional djembe players, due to the superior materials. African female goats lend tougher skins than American goats, to the drumheads, as a result of the rough life of the African goat. African djembes also use hardwood instead of plastic or softwood, which makes for better sound. Many less expensive, mainstream djembes are made with plastic, which provides longevity but sacrifices on the quality of sound.
Djembes produce a range of sounds, called the bass, tone and slap. The bass is the lowest sound, and is produced by holding the fingers together while playing, like the tone. The tone produces a round and full sound. Finally, the slap creates a high, sharp noise, produced by relaxing the fingers while playing.
A djembe is much smaller than the typical drum set, with size averaging out at twelve inches in diameter, twenty-four inches in height. You can find smaller djembes, down to 8 inches in diameter and eighteen inches in height.
The djembe was prominently featured in Thomas McCarthy's 2008 film, The Visitor. The film focused on the cathartic experience of playing the djembe, and how the musical expression can become part of overcoming grief, as a result of the emotion. Djembe playing is not about skill; it is about community and passion.
Unlike the West African djembe, the cajon is an Afro-Peruvian hand drum that is played by slapping the sides. A box drum, which was created to combat Spanish boycotts on African music, the shape of the cajon allowed the instrument to be disguised as a stool.
The cajon is traditionally used to play the rumba or the flamenco, but has become an important part of contemporary music in the last few decades.
Jennifer Lopez and the Dixie Chicks have used the drum, as well as Alejandro Sanz, Fleetwood Mac, Norah Jones and Ben Harper.
When playing on the cajon, the drummer sits on the top of the box and slaps the frontplate, which is usually made of plywood. The other parts of the box are made of thicker wood, which creates stability for the musician, with rubber feet for the protection of floor surfaces and the bottom of the cajon.
Cajons today have a variety of sounds as a result of bass pedals, snare wires and nylon strings in the production of the drum. Musicians use their hands, as well as plastic and metal brushes to vary the sound for the music.

Instrumental Music

Music Instrumentals? What are they? What are some good examples? This post is for those of you that are awakening to the vast world of instrumentals. We are going to cover what they are and some of my personal insight on why I think they are so popular.
Google defines instrumental music as music that is intended to be preformed by a musical instrument or group of instruments. To know what it truly is you must dig deeper than pure meaning, because to me it is more than that. It is the backbone of all music because without it songs would just be pretty words. It is emotion, feeling, and lots of heart.
For those of you that are still new to instrumental songs or aren't completely convinced this type of music goes deeper than just instruments honking out notes, try listening to Duke Ellington play "Take the 'A' Train". He is one of many instrumental Jazz music composers that I really enjoy. He had more soul in his fingertips then most do in their whole entire bodies and his music exudes this same smoothness. Another must mention is Booker T & the M.G.'s playing "Green Onions". This purely instrumental piece could make even the biggest "stick in the mud" want to get up and dance. And this is just some of the best music instrumentals out there.
On a more serious note, if soft instrumental music is more your thing, try listening to Kenny G's, "Breathless". He is one of the best instrumental solo music artists to play the saxophone and he's sure to take your breath away.
I personally feel that instrumental songs are still popular after so many years because of the artists that choose to play this type of music. It's like they are quietly saying to the world, "I don't need vocals to move people, me and my instrument are enough." I believe this because I've been moved to dance with happy instrumental music and sometimes to be emotionally moved while listening to sad instrumental music. These musicians are all about the music and the way it makes you feel. Whether it's instrumental piano music with an upbeat tempo, or instrumental guitar music full of rhythm and blues, it will remain popular for years to come.
Now that you have my two cents on what instrumental music really is and have gotten a small taste of what's out there, I challenge you to go out into the vast world of online music and find a few instrumentals that you love. I look forward to hearing all about them. Until next time...

Art in Life - Do it Yourself

One of the most difficult hurdles to overcome for people who want to begin their lives in the art world is the problem of how to get involved in art. With everything else to consider from the day to day tasks included in work or school, or the obligation involved when raising a family, most people believe that art requires entry into the field at an early age and that involvement later on in life is virtually impossible. In reality, however, there are various ways to enter the art scene with ease. Home art projects are one and art clubs are extremely beneficial to the new artist.
Do-it-yourself
If you want to be acquainted with the arts, one of the best ways is to begin doing it yourself. Among anything else, art is a hands-on affair, and requires much participation. As many novice artists realize, it only by taking the crucial first step that the entry into the art world is best facilitated. In order to create art, however, there are tips to help you acquire the technical skills and basic know-how to help you. One is by joining art school, which will help you get the basic techniques in making art. Art schools are also best for those who still do not have an idea of which art craft to specialize in, because with art schools you are able to explore various fields. When you have found your specialization, you can begin with the next step to penetrating the art world.
Joining art clubs
Art clubs and art associations are an excellent way of exposing yourself to various other artists in your field as well as those who are creating artworks in other media. By joining art societies, you do not simply get the exposure to other talents, but will be better equipped in your own art medium through the constructive criticisms that art societies offer. Also, these organizations are excellent venues for you to share your home art project techniques as well as to learn the tricks which other painters have. With membership to art organizations, the novice artist can also sometimes get the chance to exhibit his or her works in due time, which is an essential part of any artist's life, especially because art is an essentially a social activity that is done to be shown. Of course, it is essential to create art with your own satisfaction in mind first and foremost, instead of the opinion of the art judges.
Art online
Another way to get involved in home art projects especially for those art enthusiasts with little time to offer to full-blown organizations is the use of online art sites to interact with other artists. More and more artists today are utilizing the web in order to showcase their own artworks as well as to learn the tips and tricks behind their craft. Because of the global scope of the internet, it is also an excellent venue to meet online artists who live in foreign countries and who create artworks that reflect exotic cultures. Best of all, with online art sites, you never have to leave the comfort of your own home.
There are various ways to get involved in the art scene. With patience and the courage to take the first step, art does not have to be as abstract and out of reach as commonly thought of.

House Painter - Finding A Painter Who Fits Your Needs

There are many reasons why you should hire a house painter, but knowing exactly how to go about it can be confusing. If you want professional-looking results and none of the stress of doing it yourself, follow these few easy steps to finding a painter who fits your needs.
The easiest way to begin your search is through the Internet. Only there can you quickly find contacts and information that can get you on your way to having a beautifully painted home. Using the Internet also has additional benefits that will be discussed later.
In the search engine of your choice, type in your area name followed by the word painter. Focusing your search to painters in your area is important because only they can know exactly the type of paint and method to use for your particular region. Select a few reliable-looking Web sites and begin browsing the company's information, taking notes on each. In particular, be on the lookout for clearly displayed contact details, a promising statement regarding the company's mission, and most important, testimonials and pictures of past work. An accessible Web site that contains testimonials and a portfolio is a sure sign that the painter takes his or her work seriously.
As you are browsing each company's site, take note of the services each offers and if these match up to your current needs. The best painters offer services that include, but are not limited to,
• Complete interior and exterior house painting
• Specialty and faux finishes
• Green/low VOC coatings
• Wallpaper hanging and removal
• Power Washing and mildew removal
• Comprehensive project and surface evaluation
• Detailed painting specification and estimating
• Color consultation and schematics
• Prompt and accurate scheduling
• Smart job management and supervision
• Thorough surface preparation
• Minor carpentry and dry rot repair
• Consistent, on time completion of painting projects
• Quality workmanship and materials
• Two-year free touch up service.
Eliminate any painters from your list that do not offer services for your required project. Once you have narrowed the list to at least two prospects, contact them and invite them to you home to give you a bid. Ask for a copy of the bid to compare with your final bill. All that's left now is to hire the bidder that you feel best matches your needs and price range, and you're on your way to having a beautifully painted house.