Archive for December, 2009

I am thinking to buy a Baby Weavers Verso TS Monodot pushchair. I liked the look of it and could only find 2 positive reviews on kiddiecare.com. Was looking on google for more reviews or info on this brand but could not find anything which is a bit worrying. Do baby weavers trade under any other names? what parent company owns this brand? Any suggestions on where to find anymore reviews about their products?
Many Thanks,

Not sure, I’ve just ordered a car seat by Baby Weavers though from Kiddicare. Had numerous fantastic reviews. Seems that maybe this brand is sold exclusively to Kiddicare as just had a little browse for you and only Kiddicare is coming up as the retailer. Looks great though and i’m sure you won’t have any problems and can always return if you do.

I want to buy a new acoustic guitar. Right now I have this guitar: http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ibanez-AEG10E-AcousticElectric-Guitar-?sku=519982&src=3WFRWXX&ZYXSEM=0&CAWELAID=26045141

I have had it for maybe a year and a half. It’s my brothers though and he will soon be moving out and taking his guitar with him. I have heard good reviews about Takamines and was wondering what model would be a good one for me to buy. I’ve played guitar for 6 years, but only took lessons for 1 year. I just started playing acoustic about 2 years ago just by teaching myself mostly. I am looking for one that isn’t expensive though, maybe less than $400

I’m getting my first guitar for Christmas, it’s a Takamine. I know this probably isn’t going to help you much, me being inexperienced, but I’m getting this one:

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Takamine-G-Series-G360S-Classical-Dreadnought-Guitar-512205-i1170415.gc

For more answers, I suggest you ask this in the performing arts category.

They must be a marketing ploy and not a objective review/information about products.

This smells of censorship.

Very unAmerican.

Symbols Across Cultures
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From the time the earliest cultures learned to make representational drawings, people have been attempting to communicate through the use of symbols. Since the invention of technologies making it possible to widely distribute text and images within the past century or so, symbols have become more sophisticated. Society has improved our understanding of the effectiveness of a given image and manipulation of symbols in the form of advertising has become a science in itself. The tricky part of using symbols in appeals such as advertisements is that the meanings of symbols are built upon the cultural ideas and values of the society in which they’re produced. Meaning is transferred as a result of the understanding of the symbol as well as the way that this symbol is used in association with other symbols that also depend, to a large extent, on the understandings of this same society. The clues that are conveyed through these combinations of images educate the audience regarding how they should feel about various things. This is true whether the symbols are used to sell a product or to illustrate a story. By studying the visual clues presented through these combinations of symbols, an individual can gain a deep understanding of what the company, artist or illustrator is attempting to convey about themselves and social values. Since the symbol has to be understood by the public in order to effectively send an understandable message, there is an interactive cause and effect relationship involved in each symbol used in which the audience both determines the content and is instructed by it. This type of examination of how symbols are used and combined is what Roland Barthes called semiotic analysis. To fully understand the significance of the symbol and the way in which it can convey different meanings depending upon the society in which it is used, it is necessary to establish a fundamental vocabulary for the subject before applying it to specific examples.
Essentially, the science of semiotics is the examination of symbols used in a particular culture or context to discover its meaning at various levels. “Semiology therefore aims to take in any system of signs, whatever their substance and limits; images, gestures, musical sounds, objects, and the complex associations of all these, which form the content of ritual, convention or public entertainment: these constitute, if not languages, at least systems of signification” (Barthes, 1964). Through the clever use and combination of symbols, even common associations of meaning with an image can be manipulated in order to introduce a different meaning into the social narrative. This ‘artificial’ imposition of meaning is what Umberto Eco is referring to when he suggests that semiology is “a discipline for studying everything which can be used in order to lie” (1976). Although semiotics can refer to just the simple meanings inherent within a single symbol within a specific dominant culture, the concept of semiotics can move beyond the mere form of the individual symbol, though. Semiotics also expands to take into consideration how these various symbols work together with each other and with the specific language, color, expression and placement of these symbols as a means of signaling to a particular group that a message is intended to communicate something specific to them. In many cases, the resulting composition is expected to convey a deeper content of some kind beyond the mere appearance of its outer form. The language and terms developed within this field are thus very helpful in discovering the meaning of a given commonly used symbol such as the symbol of an apple.
The practice of semiology makes the conversation about symbols easier because it breaks the discussion of images down into signifiers, signified and sign. Generally speaking, the ‘sign’ is the meaning that emerges as a result of the signifier and the signified. It can be thought of as the total result when the signified and the signifier are combined. David Chandler (2006) tells us that the signifier is “the form which the sign takes,” or the actual image that the viewer is presented with. The signified is “the concept it represents” (Chandler, 2006), or the ideas that are trying to be communicated. The basic way in which these terms are most often applied during discussion is that the signifier, the actual image, indicates the basic idea, the primary theme of the composition or the individual picture. This can be something relatively complex, such as the word ‘enter,’ or it can be something immediately recognizable, such as the symbol of an apple. From here, the signified almost immediately follows as we interpret the greater meaning behind this image. In the case of the word ‘enter’, we understand that those shapes are letters, those letters spell a word and that word means that this is the

What are you askign here?

So, I have an electric guitar and an amp. I was thinking of learning through the intenet. Then people told me that taking guitar lessons through a private teacher is far more benefitial. I checked out the websites of some guitar schols near my house. They said that there will be 1 one hour class every week. How much can they teach you in 1 hour? seriously? I read a review on the website of a guy who said that he was playing "killer" guitar in just 6 months.How’s that possible with just 24 classes, i.e, 24 hours? Plz help me out….are they really worth it or should i learn through the internet???

The lesson is one hour. During the lesson you’ll be given new information, new music and new playing techniques to learn and study. Then you will be expected to practice on your own every day to master the material your teacher gave you in the lesson, so that by the time you come back for your next lesson, you’ll have learned it and be ready to move on to more new material. Each week’s lesson builds on what you learned in previous weeks.

The more practicing you do between lessons, the quicker you’ll learn and the faster you’ll progress. If you don’t practice at all between lessons, the teacher will continue to introduce new material every week that builds on what you learned in previous lessons, but you’ll fall further and further behind because you won’t have mastered the previous weeks’ material.

Its like school. You HAVE to do your homework in between classes if you want to do well.

And I would strongly doubt that anybody learned to become a "killer" guitarist in just 6 months of playing — even if he practiced for 12 hours a day

I have read a few reviews on both guitars and still can’t decide which one will be better. I am still a beginner, I have only had a few lessons so far and currently have a cheapo electric guitar :).
My parents say maybe a new one for Christmas. So if anyone could help it would be MUCH appreciated! Out of those two guitars which one would you guys recommend and why?

Many thanks in advance.

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If I were you, I would definitely go with the RG120. I haven’t heard much about the EX series nor have I seen one. The RG series is definitely the go to axe for shredders and metalheads. If you want quality and something that will last awhile, then that’s the one for you.

Obesity: Social Prejudices and the Medical Community’s Disregard

It’s a meaner world out there folks. Everywhere you turn there are people who choose to be hateful in deed and word for just about any reason you can think of. There is the obvious and not so subtle racism, class prejudice, ageism, and political polarization, just to name a few.

That’s not to say that there are not exceptions to every rule but so many people have adopted political correctness to such a degree that humans have found much more subtle ways of showing their hatreds.

Some of these behaviors have gone underground only to emerge in our institutions, businesses and social strata. Sure it’s always been there but now it appears that its effects are more noticeable and very, effectively dehumanizing to those on the receiving end of the many prejudices and bigotry being voiced concerning those of us who are not a size 5.

Obese, heavy, overweight people are REALLY catching hell. People assume that when they see an overweight or obese person that they must be lazy, unproductive; lacking the will to take better care of them selves. I am sure that a small percentage of people in the USA fit that bill, however, you may be surprised that most of them do not.

There are many reasons for obesity. The bottom line though is that people who are obese or become obese have bodies that literally no longer work the way they are supposed to.

Here are a few medical and non-medical reasons people become obese:

Processed Foods: White-flour-based anything, sugar, coffee, booze and high sodium content (all of which usually make up processed food) is the enemy of the human body. It doesn’t know what to do with it but glean what little nutrients it can, store the majority and dump the rest.

Hypothyroidism: Since the thyroid controls the basic workings of the human metabolism, if it is too low, then it cannot convert many food calories into a usable source and that inability will cause weight gain despite healthy eating practices. When the thyroid goes wacko on the low end you WILL get fat. If it goes wacko on the high end, you can lose weight exponentially and have as many medical problems as an obese person.

Cushing’s Disease/Syndrome (Cushing’s disease has always been considered a dog or horse problem, hmmm go figure): This disease is “reportedly” prevalent in only 10% of each million people if you want to believe what the CDC, FDA and AMA bother to report. Cushing’s occurs because the body producing too much Cortisol. Cortisol controls regulation of blood pressure and the immune system, and keeps insulin levels in the body stable. In Cushing’s Disease, it is assumed that only a tumor on the pituitary gland is responsible for the production of excess Cortisol. However, a few other doctors disagree and have found that Cushing’s Syndrome can also be caused by food dependency and steroid- based products such as Prednisone; especially if they have been taken for long periods of time.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: is a hormonal disorder in women. Most women would not know to ask their doctors to have them tested for this disease because the medical community considers it rare. I dare say it may be the norm today with the amount of hormones coming through our food products for many years.

Oral Contraceptives: Progestins and other steroid based drugs for cancer often throw the thyroid out of balance and injure the Hypothalamus, which usually results in weight gain.

Anti-Psychotic and Anti-Depressants: Taken even a short time, depending on the health of the thyroid or hypothalamus, will cause either weight gain or weight loss. The majority is weight gain especially in those taking these drugs for many years. I am doing research now as to how many people taking these drugs have had their thyroid effected, treated ,or removed.

Insulin and Insulin-Stimulating Drugs: These drugs are used to treat diabetes almost always leads to weight gain. Talking about a conflict of interest when it comes to a person already overweight from diabetes and deeply disturbing for those with type 2 diabetes

[ Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; ]

Doctors, pharmaceutical companies, the diet industry, and exercise businesses have a vested interest in keeping as many people obese as possible. Money.
I mean do you know how much a lap-band and stomach stapling costs? In some instances Medicare will pay for these surgeries before they pay for the many tests available to diagnose any one of the above stated problems.

Instead, millions are spent on denigrating people who find themselves obese and have no clue why. Billions are spent on gyms, get-thin drugs, exercise tapes and books, special foods, diet clubs, plastic surgeons and equipment, by people desperate to reclaim active, healthier lives and avoid the worse part…social stigma.
People are openly mea

what’s the question?

So, I have an electric guitar and an amp. I was thinking of learning through the intenet. Then people told me that taking guitar lessons through a private teacher is far more benefitial. I checked out the websites of some guitar schols near my house. They said that there will be 1 one hour class every week. How much can they teach you in 1 hour? seriously? I read a review on the website of a guy who said that he was playing "killer" guitar in just 6 months.How’s that possible with just 24 classes, i.e, 24 hours? Plz help me out….are they really worth it or should i learn through the internet???

i might have to go against the crowd here….from personal experience i can tell you that in the initial stages it is better to learn stuff from the internet…u need some good materials for that..need to know good websites (not that "become a killer guitarist in 6 months bullshit.." those are lame)…you’ll get them if u do some thorough research….but it’s definitely more efficient if u learn through the internet initially…if u go to a teacher they spend lots of time with chords and n all that…obviously its very important but i think u get the hang of chord shapes/progression better(and a lot quicker) if u do it yourself..

once u get the hang of chords, a few scales and u develop some speed u can approach a teacher who’ll help u find your own style/voice…basically to nurture you…

here’s a very good website for beginners
http://guitar.about.com/library/weekly/aa071200a.htm

I have a new product idea. I don’t want to market it myself and I’m trying to figure out how to find the most trustworthy and reliable invention marketing companies to consider submitting my idea to. Are there reviews of such companies? I’ve been digging around with Google and Bing searches, but I’m not finding any solid, actionable information. Does anyone know of a better approach or where I can find reviews and info on such companies? Thanks for any help!

http://www.eLance.com is a wonderful place to find someone that can help you produce, manufacture etc. your idea…you write up a disclosure with the company you select to protect your idea.

I personally use their services and it has worked out great for me.
http://www.eLance.com check them out.

Hope this answers your question and good luck…Happy Thanksgiving too!
Peace