An exciting way to create art is tattooing. People and tribes around the world have been doing it for years and we are getting our turn to describe what is in our souls through ink. The body is a canvas and as we are experimenting with what we can do with that canvas, tattoos and piercings are becoming evermore popular. There are many websites out there that have links to so many tattoo galleries. Everyone wants to show the world what they can do with ink. Some people find it incredibly attractive, beautiful, sensual and exotic. Others think it is not appropriate. For the artists, all they see is the opportunity to create another piece of art.

There are many facets to tattoos. The styles, the shapes, the placement are all so key when choosing one. When a person comes into a tattoo parlor the artist must be able to discern and help the customer determine what it is they are wanting. Bringing ‘pics’ or pictures of what design you want is important. Then they need to have the confidence in their craft to be able to transform those desires into reality. Tattoo designs are as different and as beautiful as each unique person getting them. Some want hearts and butterflies while others want lower back tribal tattoos and skulls. No matter the pattern each one will always be different because the artist creates it a different way every time.

Piercings are also a new way to portray beauty. Ear piercing has had different meanings throughout generations. Women use it now as a thing of beauty, to enhance the body and give those around them something to look at and talk about. Body piercing such as through the nose, the lip even the belly button are things that are being experimented with. We are seeing people transform into walking pieces of art. That is art in its fullest. To provoke an emotion or a feeling is something that artists do all the time. It doesn’t matter what the emotion. To captivate someone’s thoughts enough for them to take time to discuss with another person what their feelings are, gives the artist fulfillment. They know that their art is being remembered.

Technorati Tags: Belly button piercings, Tattoos and piercing

Lesbian love is nothing new; Sappho was an Ancient Greek poetess who was born on the island of Lesbos. Many of her love poems were addressed to other women and the female narrators in many of her works speak of infatuations and love for various women. The word “lesbian” derives from the island on which she lived and her name is the origin of the word “sapphic”. However, until recently, the idea of one woman loving another, let alone sleeping with another female has been perceived as something either very unusual and rare, or just downright strange. Over the last few years, there’s been a gradual sea-change in regard to the general perception of what being ‘lesbian’ really means. The traditional image of the cropped haired, rather aggressive looking, butch dyke might still apply to some gay women, but now we’re coming out of the closet in our millions and the world can see that actually, in most cases, we look just like the girl next door.

This mass ‘coming out’ is partly due to the proliferation of lesbian-centric resources on the internet; type in the word ‘lesbian’ into any of the search engines and you’ll see a plethora of heavily populated chat rooms, directories, forums and dating sites like PlanetSappho.com which are the exclusive territory of sapphic women. It is this availability of male-free communities that has coaxed so many gay, bisexual and even bi-curious ladies out of their closets and into the open. Also, we now see major cultural icons like Madonna kissing Britney Spears kissing each other full on the lips in front of a television audience of millions which is exactly the right heterosexual seal of ‘cool’ that we lesbians have waited such a long time to see. Over the years, there have been a great many famous lesbians in both film and music but, unfortunately, they were just too frightened to come out and publicly admit it. Now we have Ellen DeGeneres and KD Lang – both of whom have an army of straight, non-judgmental fans.

The outcome of all this is that there is no longer a social stigma attached to the concept of women dating women or straight women experimenting with their sexuality by taking a same sex partner. Gay guys have been doing it for years but now there’s no reason for any woman to feel repressed or uncertain about dating or sleeping with someone of their own sex. Being who we are or want to be is no longer just a possibility, it’s a right and it’s also something that’s now accepted by our straight counterparts.

Whilst the word ‘lesbian’ is an all encompassing description for a gay woman, it doesn’t do justice to the many different types of female who embrace the lifestyle. There are the traditional dykes as well as femmes/lipstsick lesbians whose ultra-feminine appearance would give no clue as to their sexual inclinations and bi-sexual and bi-curious women who occasionally indulge the lesbian side of their sexual and emotional psyches. Just because you don’t have the shaved head and the tattoos doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy yourself sexually with another woman if that’s what you want to do. So sisters…there’s never been a better time to be a lesbian and now is the time to come out of the closet and be loud and proud about joys of lesbian loving!

Sarah Harris
http://www.articlesbase.com/sexuality-articles/sisters-are-doin-it-for-themselves-58337.html

Early on the morning of March 8th, 1999, Joe DiMaggio died at the age of 84 after a terrible battle with lung cancer and pneumonia. At his bedside were his brother Dominick, two grandchildren, Joe Nacchio (a friend for 59 years) and Morris Engleberg, another long-time friend and his attorney. His body was later flown to San Francisco, for burial in his home town.

Joseph Paul DiMaggio, named for his father and his father’s favorite saint – Paul – was born on Nov 25, 1914. He grew up as one of nine children, just as the age of the Great Depression settled on this country.

As a child, he had to wear braces to correct a knock-kneed condition. He did not participate in organized sports until the age of 10 when he played softball. At 15, he gave up baseball and decided to focus his efforts on tennis. After two years, at the age of 17, he gave up on tennis and dropped out of high school to support his parents by earning a living at physical labor.

In 1932, at the urging of his second oldest brother Vince, Joe tried out for the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League. This was the highest level of baseball for that time west of St. Louis. Vince was already a member of that team and Joe played the last 3 games of the 1932 season and even tripled in his first at-bat. During the 1933 season, at 18 years old, Joe hit safely in 61 straight games for the Seals. He missed much of the 1934 season with an injury to his knee. In 1935, his last season with the Seals, he hit an amazing .398. It was in 1936 that he was signed by the Yankees, even though he had higher offers from the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs. However, these two teams were too late, and thus, Joe became a Yankee where he would help them win the pennant in 10 of his 13 years and 8 World Sereis Championships.

The Yankees of his era signified graceful elegance. They came to the ballpark in 3-piece suits, cut hair and clean shaven. No tattoos back in those days and gaudy gang-like jewelry. They would beat you – and not get their uniforms dirty. And Joe would make things look easy – even exhibiting a gracefulness out in center field. His record of hitting safely in 56 consecutive games is remarkable. It is a record that many experts feel is the most untouchable in all of sports. And even though he posted gaudy numbers throughout his career, they might have even been moreso had he not served for his country during the peak of his career during World War II.

DiMaggio became the first Italian-American superstar in athletics and the first to be adored by the American public. He was a good-looking, well-dressed man who became an icon for dignity and grace and regularly appeared on the best-dressed lists of American men. He was a private man, and often-times painfully shy – which made him even more of a commodity to the public. He was a man who Italian-Americans could look up to and take great pride in. He did much to dispel and erase the previous “gangster” stereotypes fostered by Al Capone and the mafia.

His celebrity status even remained after his baseball days. In 1954, he married Marilyn Monroe, the most glamorous woman in Hollywood. The marriage lasted only 10 months, but it did much to capture the imagination of the nation, in a manner similar to how a king and queen would.

Monroe, who did not know of Joe as a ballplayer, entertained some military troops in South Korea during the couple’s honeymoon. Estatic from the reception she received, she said, “Joe, you never heard such cheering” and he replied “Oh yes, I have”.

He did gradually fade out of the limelight as he grew older. He became the spokesperson for Mr. Coffee and the Bowery Savings Bank. He remained in relatively good health, despite being a heavy smoker and would still make regular appearances at Yankee Stadium. But even after 50 years since wearing the Yankee pinstripes, he would still receive standing ovations at the stadium.

His last major public appearance was on the first game of the 1998 World Series. Some 30 years earlier, DiMaggio had his 10 World Sereis rings stolen from a hotel room. Yankee owner George Steinbrenner presented DiMaggio with duplicates of the 10 rings.

Not even a month later, DiMaggio was in the hospital battling for his life. In typical baseball fashion, he would rally and fade – only to rally again. He became disgusted with the press conferences held by his doctors in updating his condition, that he eventually put a “gag order” on the press releases. He finally gave out and went out quietly with the dignity that he deserved.

In a day when many of our sports “heroes” are criminals, thugs, and cry-babies, it is hard to imagine the character of a man such as Joe DiMaggio. His name will go down with many of the greats of this century such as Ruth, Ali, Brown, Bird and Jordan. He was nick-named the Clipper – in his day that meant winner. His name and spirit will be forever immortalized in Hemingway’s “Old Man and the Sea”. However, I think the Simon and Garfunkel song of “Mrs. Robinson” is never more appropriate when they sing “Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio? A nation turns it’s lonely eyes to you”. Rest in Peace, Joe.

Larry Aiello
http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/tribute-to-joe-dimaggio-61902.html

When it comes to decorating the home, oriental designs have become extremely popular over the past few years. Japanese decorating has taken the world by storm and now everything seems to be about peace and simplicity as well as natural and beautiful designs. So just what are oriental designs and just how can you use them within your home?

Using Oriental Designs to Decorate the Home

Oriental designs can include a number of things from paintings to rugs and gardens to tattoos. They have basically taken over everything and it is certainly no surprise!

Generally oriental designs are a lot more artistic than any other design and they are created with plenty of color and life. They make any house seem more like a home and they truly are beautiful to look at. Whether you choose to use a simple oriental rug, or whether you choose to go all out and decorate all of your walls, oriental designs can be used in a variety of ways.

There are a few different varieties of oriental designs and some are simple Japanese or Chinese letters of the alphabet. There is something about using a language which looks intriguing, that makes people’s homes inviting and peaceful. Each Chinese or Japanese word used in oriental designs usually means something significant such as ‘peace’ or ‘love’. The ideas behind the design are generally what encourage people to use them in their homes.

When you are out searching for an oriental design, ensure that you shop in the right places. There are quite a lot of shops claiming to sell authentic oriental designs, yet they turn out to be completely fake. So, if you are looking for something authentic it may be better to do your research first and ensure that the designs are truly what they say they are.

As well as main decorating such as on walls and on the floor, oriental designs can also add to the smallest of touches. Cushion covers, sofa throws and even dishes can be turned into oriental creations. It really depends on just how oriental you want to take your home. Do you just want to add a few little touches or do you want to go all out and decorate the whole house in an oriental theme? Whatever you want it is achievable and you can find design ideas on the internet and in local craft stores.

A.Caxton
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/create-oriental-designs-with-japanese-decorating-89303.html

“When you find someone you believe in, do not hesitate to stand by him through thick and thin.” – Bryce’s Law

INTRODUCTION

There is a general consensus today that there is a complete breakdown in corporate loyalty, that employees no longer maintain allegiances to their companies or their bosses. Years ago people joined companies usually for life. Workers figured if they worked hard enough and kept their noses clean, the company would take care of them. This is no longer the case. Due to the corporate changes implemented over the last twenty five years to remain competitive in a world economy, workers now typically live in a state of paranoia and think short-term employment as opposed to long-term, thus affecting their perspective on loyalty.

As some very visible examples of this, consider the dismantling of the studio system in Hollywood and the farm system in Major League Baseball. Instead of being groomed and nurtured from within the system, employees have been forced to become free-agents. Obviously, this encourages individualism as opposed to teamwork. I chuckle when I hear an executive become exasperated that there isn’t any loyalty in his company anymore. Why should there be if he promotes a corporate culture that doesn’t encourage loyalty?

Let’s understand this from the outset, loyalty represents trust. It means a person is confident that something will behave predictably, positively, and to their benefit. As a result, they will willingly pledge their allegiance to it. If it doesn’t behave in this manner, loyalty will be shattered.

There are three types of loyalty we commonly come in contact with: Product, Institutional, and Person:

PRODUCT LOYALTY

I’m sure we all know someone who has allegiances to products. For example, I have a friend whose family has been buying Buick automobiles literally for generations. Even though the body styles have changed over the years, they have found it to be a trustworthy product and have remained loyal customers for decades. I also have a business contact who refuses to fly on anything but Boeing aircraft. Back in 1985 there was a consumer uproar when Coca-Cola changed their formula and introduced “New Coke.” Loyal customers finally forced the company to reintroduce the original formula under the name, “Coca-Cola Classic” (as we know it today).

People form attachments to products because they like it, have become familiar with it, and are confident it will perform routinely and to their benefit. They will even go so far as to adapt their lifestyle to the product and become dependent on it, just like a drug, even tolerating modest changes in price and attributes. But if the product changes radically, becomes unreliable, or skyrockets in price, then loyalty is shattered and the consumer looks for other alternatives. To illustrate, consider the American automotive industry; for years, people loyally purchased American automobiles because they believed them to be well built and tailored to the needs of the American public. Foreign automobiles were originally considered as nothing more than a curiosity that was out of step with the public. But because of some serious missteps by Detroit, consumer loyalty was shattered and transferred to foreign car manufacturers, particularly the Japanese and Germans who worked overtime to cultivate consumer loyalty.

Loyalty in this regards does not require a product to be best in its class. In fact, a lot of mediocre products command consumer loyalty simply because consumers perceive them as quality goods. For example, I do not consider Microsoft products to be the best of their kind, yet they command incredible consumer loyalty as people perceive them as “state of the art.” Even though there are many other excellent products out there with superior features, Microsoft commands the PC simply because they have been able to cultivate consumer confidence. But if they ever lose this confidence, there will undoubtedly be others to take their place.

INSTITUTIONAL LOYALTY

We see instances of institutional loyalty in such things as political parties (Democrats, Republicans), branches of the military (Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy), countries and communities, charities, sports teams, fraternal organizations, and companies. Here, people fervently believe in the institution they belong to and proudly display their loyalty though such things as lapel pins, bumper stickers, tattoos, web sites or whatever. Most people realize such institutions are not perfect. Nevertheless, they support it through thick and thin simply because they believe it to be a good and noble institution. The only time they will break with it is if the institution radically changes course and is no longer in line with their personal interests and values. For example, we have seen examples of people switching from one political party to another due to a change in policies and interests.

Quite often, the loyalty for an institution or office within it supersedes the loyalty to the person holding the office. We see numerous examples of this in the military and government alone. True, soldiers are more apt to follow certain leaders into battle they believe in, but they will also perform their duty out of a greater sense of loyalty to the institution.

Corporations tend to be a bit different though since the integrity of such institutions are being questioned today. This is probably due to corporate cultures that are failing to maintain the interests of the workers. Whereas I still have friends employed by big businesses who have long tenure with their companies, younger workers tend to lack faith in the institutions and find the company’s interests are not compatible with their own. Their only motivation is to pick up a paycheck, nothing more, nothing less. This is somewhat sad as it means their work is not aligned with their interests which does not promote a sense of craftsmanship.

PERSONAL LOYALTY

Loyalty to a particular individual is perhaps more common than the other two. This is because people are social animals and tend to identify with the interests of others (the “birds of a feather” phenomenon). In terms of superior/subordinate relationships, with rare exception, we want to believe in our leaders. We want them to worry about charting the right course of action while we worry about tending to our own particular work effort. People are more inclined to follow a leader, even through the most difficult of times, whom they are loyal to than someone they do not trust. But understand this, loyalty at this level is a two-way street; not only does a manager require the loyalty of his workers, the workers require the loyalty of the manager. This requires effective social and communications skills (people skills). The manager must demonstrate he knows what he is doing, knows the right path to take, and maintains the interests of his subordinates. Conversely, the workers must demonstrate to the manager they are willing to put forth the necessary effort to see a job through to completion. In other words, both parties depend on each other, which brings us back to trust. And if the trust is ever broken, harmony is disrupted, and the manager and workers begin to work at odds against each other, which, of course, is counterproductive and a very unhealthy working environment.

REBUILDING LOYALTY

If our trust in someone or something is broken, it is difficult to repair, but not impossible. If Product Loyalty is broken, consumer confidence has to be rebuilt; If Institutional Loyalty is broken, the corporate culture has to be overhauled, and; If Personal Loyalty is broken, it will be the most difficult to correct due to the human dynamics involved. In any event, rebuilding loyalty will be a long and costly process. The best thing to do is not to lose it in the first place.

Loyalty is broken when expectations radically diverge from what happens in practice. People are willing to forgive errors or indiscretions to a point, primarily because as creatures of habit we are comfortable with the status quo and do not necessarily want to change. But if problems become significant without any sign of being remedied, people will lose patience and faith in the object of attention. Let’s take the 1985 Coca-Cola incident as an example; had the company made a minor change in the Coke formula, it probably would have been accepted. They didn’t. The “New Coke” formula was a radical departure from the old formula. Regardless of the considerable marketing hype of the new product, customers lost confidence in it and started a rebellion to reintroduce the old formula.

Worker loyalty is lost when they become convinced their interests are not being maintained by management, and lack confidence in the direction of the company. This typically occurs when:

• Promises are not kept by management.
• Worker jobs are in peril of being outsourced.
• The company is losing market share.
• The workers do not understand the deployment or withdrawal of certain products or services.

Whether such scenarios are real or not, worker loyalty will be lost if management’s judgment is perceived as questionable. A lot of this can be corrected simply by effective communications to clear up misunderstandings and to explain the rationale for a course of action. Even if the chips are down, workers are more likely to remain loyal if they understand and believe in the course management has plotted.

Worker loyalty in management is also based on ethics and quality. If the actions of management are perceived as unscrupulous or unsavory, workers will quickly lose faith in them. Further, if workers do not have confidence in the quality of the products or services they are producing and selling (that they know them to be based on inferior workmanship), this too will be a bad reflection of management’s integrity.

Look, its really quite simple, workers want to be treated fairly, lead a worthy and meaningful life, and have confidence in the direction of their company. This requires management to improve their people skills, refine the corporate culture, and enact effective communications. In return, management should rightfully expect loyalty from the work force.

Deeds speak louder than words. In order for management to be credible with workers, they must demonstrate they have the best interests of their employees in mind. Let me give you an example, every once and awhile in Major League Baseball you see a manager charge out to an umpire during a game to challenge a call and becomes quite vocal and animated (Earl Weaver and Billy Martin were legendary in this regard). Quite often, such challenges are done more for demonstrative purposes as opposed to actually refuting a call by the umpire. Basically, the histrionics are used by the managers to tell their own team that he believes in his players and is willing to fight to protect their interests. Now I’m not suggesting that a corporate officer or manager needs to pick a fight with someone, but some public demonstration of his sincerity is needed to express his commitment to his workers, be it a reward, a testimony, a recognition or whatever; something to demonstrate he has the best interests of his employees in mind. This includes affecting the corporate culture and establishing the proper work environment. Some managers have little sensitivity for the type of work their people have to perform. In fact, they prefer a master/slave relationship thereby elevating their ego. But if they create an environment that empowers employees and treats them like professionals, thereby giving them a sense of purpose, they tend to become more dedicated and loyal to the company.

Some people contend you can buy loyalty. I do not subscribe to this notion. In this situation, people will only be loyal as long as the cash continues to roll in. When it stops (or if someone outbids another), people move on. Do not confuse loyalty with bribery. Loyalty means you believe in something and are willing to stand by it through good times as well as bad.

CONCLUSION

Years ago, Les Matthies, the legendary “Dean of Systems” admonished me, “As long as someone provides you with a job, be loyal to that person; don’t gossip and ridicule him; do your job, and do it right. If you don’t like the person, then get out and do something else.” What worries me is that Les’ sentiments are lost in today’s world. Loyalty is rapidly becoming a lost virtue. Interestingly, I have met a lot of people in recent years complaining how loyalty is lost in corporate America, as well as other institutions such as nonprofit organizations. These same people all want to see loyalty become part of our core values again, but they are all waiting for someone else to take the first step in making this happen. If you believe in the necessity of loyalty, that it adds value to our lives, then it behooves all of us to take the first step.

Always remember: Loyalty = Trust

Tim Bryce
http://www.articlesbase.com/leadership-articles/rebuilding-loyalty-55543.html

When it comes to a northern california vacation, you definitely have a lot to pick and choose from. Just hop online and see what I mean. I must admit that although I don’t love the California heat, I do enjoy seeing all they have to offer. If you are in the mood this season for a nice and relaxing northern california vacation, then I suggest you do something about it and quickly. The cool thing about California is that it has all the beach scenes, it has the Hollywood thing going on, it has the great nightlife, it has the amenities, but it also has the desert.

Experience The Long Beach, California

Long Beach, California will hold beautiful memories for many of us, my friends and myself included. Once you arrive at the place, get reminisced, refreshed, rested, and hit for the town. After a stint back at your air-conditioned apartment, where you can do henna tattoos and tarot readings, you can go for Italian food in a crowded but friendly (popular) local place called Ciravello’s Restaurant and Sports Bar. The most remarkable of Long Beach California experiences, though, happened at midnight. More on this in the next paragraph.

One piece of advice I have always listened to and passed on is to hang out with locals when you are touring, for you will get to experience the underbelly of the vacation spot, not just the touristy areas. Try to eat outside, not only so you can smoke but so you can pick up more of the outer ambience. You can lunch at a classic diner and shop along Pine Avenue, where curiosities and collectibles meet with contemporary and other arts and souvenirs. When night falls, if fate in your favor, you can strip down and go swimming in the Pacific. No one but you and your loved one will be frolicking and slip-sliding about in soft, smooth, sleek calm waters.

So for you who visit the playful town (or city, really, with a population of almost a half a million), the parks and playhouses and plazas might turn your crank. Or, the realization that major celebrities live or lived there might be the crowning moment in your Long Beach, California vacation. You might be thrilled to know, then, that Bobby Burgess and Bo Derek; the Doggs, Snoop and Nate; Spike Jones; Billie Jean King; and many, many other superstars have lived or do live there. And I am sure some even visit now and again. Maybe you will rub elbows with someone!

A couple of years back, my friends and I rented a sporty car from San Francisco, packed some art and writing supplies, and headed south along the coast toward Long Beach, California. We deliberately went without a map so we could serendipitously explore new areas and people and things to write about and photograph. In spite of all the amazing and stunning history, scenery, and activity we enjoyed along the way (the missions, the Orange County Fair, and more), our arrival in and visit at Long Beach was giftedly pleasing.

If you are in the mood for a nice northern california vacation, it’s now time to give a northern california vacation a shot. You can hop on a trolley in San Francisco and check out all the wonderful city has to offer. If you prefer the internet, All you need is your personal computer and Internet access to get started. Pop open that nifty Google search engine and go to town. Well, so to speak. Just punch in the key phrase “northern california vacation” and you’ll be flooded with great results. Due to the darn high priced to live there, you may want to do your research and prebook some low cost hotel or motel before heading for northern California.

If you are still wondering if you should have your next vacation in California, just think, on your California vacation, you won’t be too far from Vegas. This may mean you have to take another vacation immediately after. Can you really pass up on Vegas? So start planning today. With so much information that is readily available to you, it’s a synch to plan your next big trip from the privacy of your living room.

Cindy Heller
http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/planning-a-getaway-in-california-114327.html

Hip hop is a cultural movement which originated from New York in the 1970s. Rapping, DJing, breakdancing and graffiti art are considered the main components of hip hop culture. Hip-hop music style consists of a rhytmic style of speaking (rap) over backing beats which are played by a DJ. Although rap is often confused with hip hop, it is not quite the same thing. Rapping is a vocal style which implies a performer speaking rhythmically to a beat and it is usually a component of hip-hop. Hip hop music was inspired from funk or disco songs, from which it borrowed the beats. Since 1979, it has entered the American mainstream and became a popular genre. In 1990s, a form called “gangsta rap” evolved. Today, hip-hop is in vogue not only in the USA, but also in the entire world.

The rise of hip hop was not arbitrary. It happened in the 1970s, when people were tired of dance and rock and needed a change. But that was not the only reason. There were also some social and political causes. Hip-hop’s popularity grew in the same time with the power of black and Latino gangs. Hip hop became a protest against middle-class white community from the poor black community living in “ghettos”. The lyrics spoke about the reality in ghettos which wasn’t exactly peachy. Consequently, hip-hopers used their music to express their feelings and frustrations. Of course, what begun as a poor class’s protest transformed into a million dollars industry, but that is another story.

Today, hip hop is listened to not only by Afro Americans, but also by white people. In fact, many successful hip hopers are white, an example being the notorious rapper Eminem. Hip-hop fans have their own way of dressing (with large clothes usually, baggie pants, bandanas, tattoos, sportswear and gold or platinum chains) and speaking. Consequently, we can say that hip-hop is more than just music and has turned into a life style for many. However, given the popularity of rap music, there are very many artists and the competition between them is fierce. The question is how can a young artist, at the beginning of his career, become popular and make himself a name? How can he obtain the attention of a producer who can help him to get into show business? The first step would be to record a hip hop mixtape and send it to several important music studios. The problem is that these studios receive thousands of records everyday. Many young artists, charmed by the mirage of easy success and fame, knock at the doors of music studios with a hip hop mixtape in their hands.

What every aspiring hip hoper must know is that there are web sites where you can post your songs in order for thousands of interested listeners to hear them. If you are lucky, you will receive an offer from one of the music studios and get to record your first album. The most important thing is to believe in your talent and not to give up easily. Send your hip hop mixtape to all the producers that you have heard of. Even if you don’t get any feedback at first, don’t lose hope. If you are talented, your hip hop mixtape will eventually be listened to by someone who realizes your potential. The road to success is not as easy as it may seem; it requires hard work, talent and maybe a bit of good luck, but in the end it will be all worth it.

Ken Wilson
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/hip-hop-more-than-music-a-lifestyle-292166.html

Oriental-influenced designs are very popular in the USA, allowing you to add a touch of style and elegance to your décor. Japanese, Korean and Chinese patterns can be used in many ways, while authentic oriental products are easy to find.

Designs inspired from the Orient are becoming very popular in the United States nowadays. The rich artistic tradition from the Far East is inspiring our manufacturers of quality consumer goods to incorporate oriental influence in their design. Expertly weaved oriental rugs are also gaining pride of place in many American homes where the intricacy of their patterns adorns floors and even walls, for a touch of Eastern authenticity.

The Chinese alphabet has inspired some of the most popular oriental patterns. This writing system is also called Kanji. It differs from our western alphabet is that each symbol represents a word or a concept rather than a letter. Known as ideograms, these symbols allow the Chinese speakers of various dialects to use a writing system that is understandable by all. The Kanji symbols are used in both Japan and China. They are intricate and graceful, which explains why they would be so widely used in eastern-inspired designs. Their influence is particularly true of with regards to tattoos. As most American tattoo artists are not, however, fluent Chinese or Japanese speakers, one should always exercise caution before getting a Kanji tattoo. You should always ensure that the chosen design actually means what the shop catalog describes it as.

Eastern patterns are also commonly used in many crafts such as embroidery. They can spice up a project by giving it an exotic refinement and decorative features that are not available with western-inspired designs. You can find such oriental inspiration on dishes, furniture, and many other home products and surfaces. Wallpaper decorated with oriental designs can give a living room an instant lift that will astonish you by its sophistication. Amongst my favorite Asian products, I particularly love the softness and warmth of the heavy Korean blankets, which are covered in stunning nature-inspired designs such as animals and plants.

If you are, however, after authentic looking oriental products, the best way is to purchase products that actually come from the Far East. I find it relatively easy to source all sorts of beautifully decorated household products as I live in San Francisco, where there is a large Asian community. Unfortunately this may not be the case in the area where you live and authentic oriental products may be harder to come by. This said, and as we do import a lot of goods from Asian countries, you should be able to locate eastern-influenced designs without too much difficulty.

Mr.Andrew Caxton
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/how-to-add-a-touch-of-japanese-style-to-your-home-113073.html

What won’t you see in Panama. Well if you go to the malls at night you won’t see out of order teenagers cutting up – no running around cursing, no boom boxes, no gang colors, no purple hair, no mohican haircuts. Go to the mall arcade and observe nicely behaved kids having fun. No stoned out kids here. Marked absence of body piercings and tattoos. You will not see kids coming at you in groups and making you give ground to them. You will not see streetwalkers, crack houses, street corner crack dealers, no gang hangouts of any sort, no OTB betting houses. There is a marked absence of homeless people living in the streets, never saw any in Panama City. You will see neighborhoods with incredibly poor people not that much unlike what you see all over the USA but they are poorer here in these neighborhoods. You will see street beggars, street vendors selling things while you stop for a red light (sometimes they have good fruit cheap) and you will see some fairly wild traffic violations. They drive wild here. No one stops for stop signs, they do stop for red lights. They will turn left from the right lane of a three lane each direction street. Right of way is defined by who has the most guts and aggression. Many people will wind up paying their traffic fines on the spot so to speak if they get pulled over. For an Expat figure $10, while a local may pay way less. The driver asks the police if he can just simply pay the fine now and sort of discreetly palms the bill over. If you decide to take a ticket be prepared to wait a while since the policeman may need help filling out the ticket since he rarely ever does this or you could be his first. Tickets do not count against your insurance (imagine a country where the insurance industry hasn’t corrupted the legislature). I could see the insurance industry raising rates due to accidents but what the heck do tickets have to do with accidents. Did you know that insurance companies have programs to buy traffic radar and laser guns for local law enforcement. Just another reason why America is about to collapse in on itself as the large corporations continue to operate a corrupted Congress. You could use a radar detector here but I never saw any police using radar but they do have it. You might spend more on the detector than on tickets, LOL.

Panama has private firearm ownership. As a resident or citizen you can get one too. If you can purchase the gun you can carry it concealed on your person in your car etc.

By the way I am an ex law enforcement officer (something I did in my younger days). When I walk down the street or am driving if I concentrate on it I can still read the streets, it used to be automatic but after a while it just goes away unless you consciously turn it on again. I see the drug dealers, the street thieves, the junkies, dumpsters appear as ladders, etc things regular untrained people will not pay any mind to. This is common to any local law enforcement officer who ever worked the streets in the USA. When I try to read the streets here I come up blank there just isn’t anything to read unless I am driving through one of the extremely poor neighborhoods where you shouldn’t be and then I see the old street signs the lookout playing what they call chickie for the dealer or whoever, the hooker etc. on down the line. So yes there are bad neighborhoods and I think it would be fictional to imagine a country today that does not have them but I can think of no reason why any Expat would ever go there and in reality while these neighborhoods are bad I think the bad neighborhoods in USA are much worse. For instance I doubt Panama ever had a single drive by shooting where machine guns sprayed innocent bystanders, houses etc. yet these are common events in the USA.

Guns. Yes Panama has private firearm ownership. As a resident or citizen you can get one too. If you can purchase the gun you can carry it concealed on your person in your car etc. This is a typical scenario in several countries. In the USA a handgun to me was like Karl Malden and the American Express Card – never leave home without it, and while home rest assured one was always very close by. In Panama it is nice to not have to carry a gun – not needed. If you want a gun you can readily have one in Panama. Remember Panama is under Roman Law. If you shoot or kill a person even a home intruder or a person in a traffic accident you can be incarcerated by the police during which they investigate the death. I am told there is a usual 7 day limit on this. There is also the crime of passion exception to murder. If you came to find your spouse engaging in sex with another and you killed them both it would be a walk under crime of passion but you may have to go to jail for a few days while the investigation took place. Remember you are not in Kansas anymore. Having an unregistered gun will result in a trip to the jail. Panama is not a full auto jurisdiction (machine guns)- no private ownership of full autos. I believe things like semi-auto AR-15’s are available. I understand that there are lots of full auto AK’s floating around due to Colombians smuggling them in but that too can mean big trouble with the police – ill advised and unnecessary. Silencers, and things like any other weapon, are not available for private ownership.

Drugs – They are here but not obvious. If you are a recreational drug user I would strongly suggest you look for another country to live in, they do not take this lightly especially if you are an Expat. Depending on quantities and circumstances you may get booted out of country and fined, you may get a warning or you may do some time in jail. They would probably not put you away for 20 years or execute you like some countries but if you had enough and were dealing you would probably be miserable for a few years. Find a country more tolerant of drug users, this is not your place.

Hotels that Expats use are going to have security and be relatively safe but do make sure the hotel is recommended (see our Hotel section). Most of these hotels will have in room safes. Only the expensive larger hotels will have hotel safe deposits boxes. Once we saw a guy at one of the best hotels put a load of cash in the hotel safe and the staff deposited it in the bank with their deposit and the guy had to wait until the bank reopened after a holiday to get his money back. From the tone of the argument it was a lot of money and the hotel manager seemed to know the customer was not in any position to complain to anyone and he would of course get his money back and basically told the customer to shut up and wait. I do believe he got all his money back and learned a lesson.

You can also hire a driver with a car for somewhat less than $100 a day which is best done when going out of Panama City.

Arrange to be met at the airport by a driver. Safer and same price as a cab. He’ll meet you with a sign with your name (use an alias if security conscious) and take you right to your hotel. See our services section for a reliable driver.

Taxis are safe as a rule. Cab fares go from $1.00 to $3.00 around Panama City. If you are coming for a few weeks bring a stack of one dollar bills and quarters. Taxis have no meters and never have change. Even if they do have change they will wait to see if you want your change. Try to act like you know what is going on, ask at the hotel desk what your fare should be to your intended destination. Hail a taxi away from the front of your hotel so you won’t give the impression of being a tourist. Give your destination in your best Spanish with best accent or have your front desk write it out in Spanish for you just in case the driver can’t understand your accent.

You can also hire a driver with a car for somewhat less than $100 a day which is best done when going out of Panama City. Rental cars are readily available. Check our recommendations for a smooth experience. If you have a problem you can always complain to us and we can exert pressure that is well respected to say the least.

Always travel with a powerful flashlight with fresh batteries – generic advice applicable anywhere not just for Panama. What if there is a power failure, fire, etc and you need to get out?

Cash. You don’t need a lot there are numerous ATM machines around. Ones in malls often have a security guard lurking around them. Remember Panama money is US dollars. If your currency is otherwise you will need to convert and not all that many banks do that and there are no street street money changers here. Make sure you can use the ATM machines here and maybe carry some cash if the ATM’s will not work for you. You can use Visa/MC all over the country.

For more information, please visit:

http://www.panamaexpertos.com

http://www.panamaexpertos.com/info.php?page=content/crime_and_safety&pagenumber=2

http://www.panamaexpertos.com/info.php?page=content/crime_and_safety

Jean Bouttet
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/crime-and-safety-in-panama-part-2-95076.html

Chicago, Illinois is the largest city in the state of Illinois and the third most populous city in the United States. The Chicago metropolitan area has a population of over 9.4 million in Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana, making it also the third largest metropolitan area in the US. Chicago is located along the shore of Lake Michigan. The city’s monikers include “Chicago land”, the “Windy City”, “Chi-Town”, “Chi-City”, the “Second City” and the “City of the Big Shoulders”.

Chicago is a major center of transportation, industry, culture, medicine and higher education.

A major transportation hub, Chicago is the third largest inter-modal port in the world after Hong Kong and Singapore. Chicago is one of the largest hubs of passenger rail service in the nation with Amtrak providing connections to New York, Seattle, New Orleans, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Washington DC. The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) operates an extensive network of buses and a rapid transit system know locally as the “L” (for elevated), which includes services to Midway and O’Hare airports. Chicago stands out among large cities for offering 150 miles of on-street bike lanes, 10,000 bike racks and a state-of-the-art central bicycle commuter station in Millennium Park.

Chicago has ten interstate highways running through the city and suburbs which include I-90 (also known in some segments as The Kennedy Expressway, Chicago Skyway, The Dan Ryan Expressway and The O’Hare Extension), I-57 (Bishop Ford Freeway), I-94 (Kennedy Expressway), I-55 (Stevenson Expressway), I-290 (Eisenhower Expressway), I-294 (Tri-State Tollway), I-80 (Kingery Expressway), I-355 (North-South Tollway), I-190 (The O’Hare Extension) and I-88 (East-West Tollway and Reagan Memorial).

Midway International and O’Hare International Airport service the Chicago area. In 2005, O’Hare was reported as the world’s busiest airport by aircraft movements and second busiest by total passenger traffic. Gary/ Chicago International Airport, located in Gary, Indiana, serves and the third Chicago area airport. Chicago/Rockford International Airport is a regional base for United Parcel Service flights, some passenger flight and occasionally as a relief to O’Hare. Chicago is also the world headquarters for United Airlines, the world’s second-largest airline.

The city has been rated as having the most balanced economy in the US, due to a high level of diversification. Some of the largest employers include over 66 Fortune 500 companies such as The Boeing Company, Sara Lee, Walgreens, Motorola, Caterpillar, Sears, State Farm Insurance, Allstate, Deere, McDonald’s, Aon, Office Max, USG and the Tribune Company. The city hosts four major financial and future exchanges including the Chicago Stock Exchange, the Chicago Board of Trade, the Chicago Board of Options Exchange and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Headquartered in the Chicago area are several medical products and services companies such as Baxter International, Abbott Laboratories and the Healthcare Financial Services division of General Electric.

Chi-Town offers a variety of culture stemming from its deep history to present-day modern arts. The Museum Campus is a 10-acre lakefront park sitting on the southern section of Grant Park and surrounds three of the city’s main museums: the Adler Planetarium, the Field Museum of Natural History, and the Shedd Aquarium. Grant Park also hosts the Art Institute of Chicago, a partner of The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The only building surviving the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 is the Museum of Science and Industry. Chicago’s museums also include the Oriental Institute, part of the University of Chicago, the Freedom Museum, Chicago History Museum, DuSable Museum of African-American History, Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art, the Peggy Notebeart Nature Museum and The Renaissance Society.

The city has and abundant entertainment and performing arts scene. Chicago’s renowned theater companies include the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, the Goodman Theatre Company and the Victory Gardens Theater. Other theatres such as the Strawdog Theatre Company, The House Theatre of Chicago, TimeLine Theatre Company and Remy Bumppo Theatre Company offer an array of plays and musicals.

Broadway musicals are held at venues including LaSalle Bank Theatre, Cadillac Palace Theatre, Ford Oriental Theatre and the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Broadway in Chicago was created in July 2000 and brings touring productions to the Chicago area. A few of the productions brought by “Broadway in Chicago” are: Blue Man Group, Wicked, Rent, Stomp, The Color Purple, Hairspray, Chicago, Jersey Boys, Mamma Mia!, the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Cats, The Producers and Jesus Christ Superstar. Chicago is also home to the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Joffrey Ballet, Music of the Baroque, Chicago Opera Theater, the Chicago Chamber Musicians and more.

Known for its skyscrapers, Chicago boasts the world’s tallest skyline. Notably historic high-rise buildings grace the Chicago skyline such as the Chicago Board of Trade Building and the Merchandise Mart, once the first on the list of the largest buildings in the world and still listed sixth. The tallest building in the United States, the Sears Tower is located in Chicago. The Aon Center and the John Hancock Center are also notable skyscrapers that give Chicago a distinct city skyline. Future building skyscrapers include Waterview Tower, Chicago Spire and Trump International Hotel and Tower. The 60602 zip code was named by Forbes as the hottest zip code in the country with many upscale buildings such as The Heritage at Millennium Park, The Legacy and Momo.

Chicago has a number of architectural gems in its historical church buildings. The Chicago Temple/First United Methodist Church boasts a 22-story skyscraper surmounted by a steeple 568 feet above street level, making it the tallest church in the world. Three basilicas: Our Lady of Sorrows, Queen of All Saints and St. Hyacinth proudly stand in Chicago’s city limits. St. Josaphat’s, St. Adalbert’s, Mary of the Angels, Church of the Epiphany, St. Gabriel Church, Metropolitan Community Church, St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral, St. Clement Church, St. Joseph’s Ukrainian Church and St. Simeon Mirotovici are other pristine and cherished church buildings in Chicago. Chicago was named the best sports city in the Unites States by The Sporting News in 2006.

The city is one of three U.S. cities to host two Major League Baseball teams; the Chicago Cubs (known to fans as “The Cubbies”) play in Wrigley Field and the Chicago White Sox play in the US Cellular Field. The Chicago Bears, Chicago’s NFL team, play at Soldier Field and the Chicago Rush, the city’s Arena Football League team, play at the Allstate Arena. One of the world’s most recognized basketball teams, the Chicago Bulls play at the United Center. The Bulls won six NBA titles in the 1990’s during the reign of Michael Jordan. The United Center also hosts the Chicago Sky, a WNBA team. Chicago has two hockey teams: the Chicago Blackhawks and the Chicago Wolves. The city is also home to the Chicago Fire, a MLS soccer team playing in Toyota Park.

Chicago gives tourists a trip to remember and in 2005 thirty-three million visitors from across the world came to visit The Windy City. Luxury shopping along the Magnificent Mile as well Navy Pier, a 3,000-foot pier is home to restaurants, shops, museums, exhibition halls, auditoriums and a 150-foot-tall Ferris wheel.

Navy Pier offers shopping for apparel, Chicago souvenirs, gifts and collectibles, toys and games and more at stores like All the Time, DC’s Mad Hatter, Earthly Elements, Funky Chameleon, Gold & Silver Art FX, Navy Pier Store, A Silver Lining, The Sports Store, Strictly Sterling, Sun Coolers, Varsity Stop Outfitters, Windy City Leathers, Y-Knot, Air One, Making History, Oh Yes Chicago!, Alamo Flags, Ferris Wheel Photos, Grand Avenue Gourmet, Life’s A Holiday, Jahjah Village, Oiled Up, TransPIERency, Fashion Bazaar, Irish Imports, The Oriental Arts Center, Passage to India, The Russian Place, Sitara, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Magic Masters, Bike Chicago, Faces in Focus Caricatures, Temporary Tattoos and more.

Chicago has shopping malls scattered throughout the city. Stores such as Ann Taylor Loft, The Body Shop, The Bose Store, Eddie Bauer, Emporium Luggage, Femme de Carriere, Glenn Poor Chicago, Gold Leaf Tobacco, Marshalls, Nordstrom, Olily, Lucky Brand, Sephora, and Swatch are sprinkled all through downtown as well as the suburbs.

Chicago is famous for its signature deep dish pizza, Italian beef sandwiches, the Maxwell Street Polish and the Chicago hot dog, which is made of Vienna beef and loaded with mustard, onion, tomato, pickle relish, celery salt, sport peppers and a dill pickle spear; putting ketchup on a Chicago

Kamyar Shah
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/chicago-illinois-226187.html