My Chicago Rant

Archive for January, 2010

The stages of Grief Recovery are often confused with Elizabeth Kubler-Ross’ Stages of Death and Dying. This schema evolved as a result of her therapeutic work with terminally ill individuals whose reactions to a Terminal Illness diagnosis she summed up as follows. Terminally ill individuals would go through: 1) Denial; 2) Anger; 3) Bargaining; 4) Depression; and 5) Acceptance. This group of stages has nothing to do with the grief recovery process even though they are mistakenly quoted as such.

After conducting a review of currently available data and looking back over my 25 years of clinical experience I have come up with the following 4 stages as more accurately describing the grief recovery process. This group of distinct phases is based on the experiences of hundreds of individuals and families who were dealing with the loss of a loved one at the time they came to see me. It is my hope that the following summary will clear up a lot of confusion around this issue.

1) Numbness and Shock: – We hear the news about the death of a loved one and our mind goes into shock. The news is too unbelievable, too hard to digest in one sitting. Numbness enters the picture because our mind is still reeling from the news as our body goes into a state of emotional numbness. We try desperately to process this terrible news. Simple tasks now feel overwhelming. Feelings of disorientation and displacement are common. Some have described this as a dreamlike state where you feel disconnected from events and people around you. Funeral arrangements and other issues are accomplished mechanically.

Stage 2 – Disintegration and Disorientation: The initial shock of losing a loved one begins to settle down and we are now faced with the deeper feelings of grief and bereavement. Emotional disintegration, which feels like “falling apart” enters the picture as the reality of the loss hits us hard. Physical reactions such as sleeplessness and loss of appetite are not uncommon and need to be taken up with your family doctor. On the emotional side, feelings of confusion, anxiety, anger and depression may now begin to surface. These deeper reactions are your body and mind’s way of trying to release stress. Grief recovery means working through these reactions over time.

Stage 3) Bereavement and Grief Recovery – Once you are past the shock and have started to come out of disorganization, bereavement and grief recovery can begin in earnest.  You can now make full use of your grief recovery resources including books, audio books, healing music and grief counseling.  These days, you can be part of an online support group where sharing is the by-word and all persons there are eager and ready to listen and  help each other recover. You are not alone, unless you choose to be. And you are not a victim, unless you choose that as well!

Stage 4) Reintegration and Coming back Together – The right kind of help coupled with recommended action steps will benefit your grief recovery enormously. Your approach to dealing with the emotional side of grief has begun to pay off.  You are less and less inclined to break down.  You can trust yourself to get on with your life and your daily routine.  You realize your life has changed.  That important person is gone, but not your love for them.

We have reviewed the stages of bereavement and grief recovery against the backdrop of Kubler-Ross’ Stages of Death and Dying and see them to be different. What we experience after losing a valued loved one is not the same as what we would experience if we were given a terminal diagnosis.  Entering grief recovery and moving through bereavement are the result of losing an important loved one.  This would include separation and divorce. We are talking about losing a parent, child, spouse, life partner, close friend and valued family member. I have experienced all of these losses and know personally that these stages are accurate.

For a successful grief recovery I recommend the following:  1) Acquire a good reading and/or audio book resource that you can access whenever you want and need to, something that will provide support and guidance as you work your way through the necessary grief recovery action steps. 2) Check out any support groups in your area. This will help eliminate the feeling  that you are alone and will normalize your recovery experience.

3) If a local group is not an option, consider joining an online Grief Support Network where you can post your story, receive support from others in grief recovery and provide support in return. This provides a sense of community during the grief recovery period and re-emphasizes that you are not alone. 4) And finally, see a therapist if your grief reactions are so overwhelming you feel you can’t function. Follow these steps to grief recovery and your bereavement will be over before you know it.

Maurice Turmel PhD
http://www.articlesbase.com/self-help-articles/grief-recovery-stages-and-you-928069.html

Festival of Music

Festivals in Leeds have a long and glorious history. A pair of very popular annual music festivals in England take place in two places, Reading and Leeds. Ordinarily these festivals take place in the bank holiday weekend in August. A music festival is defined as an event with a number of music programs played through a genre. The Leeds festival is certainly more than this, with many activities going on as well as the music, including fairground rides and stalls where you can buy just about anything you might need.

Initial days predominance of Folk Music

In earlier days the festival used to be folk based. Folk music is by, and made for, the common people. The history of folk music has its descent in those societies where mass communication did not make headway and in seclusion the music was original to the inhabitants of a particular place or society. The performances are given by a set of experts who gain expertise in the music within the periphery of the restricted environment of their own clan. The spread of musical knowledge is verbal. A new meaning was given to Folk music in the 20th and 21st century, referring to a particular kind of popular music with its cultural heritage from the traditional folk music. To day, folk music is synonymous with traditional music.

Festival today

The festival today, however, is not confined to folk music alone and has taken within its embrace alternative music of all sorts. It includes jazz, punk, dance, comedy and all types of modern music too. The festivals are regulated by the Mean Fiddler Music Group. Sponsors have been coming forward to sponsor the musical festival and the current sponsor is Carling. The festival is therefore termed as the Carling Weekend Leeds. The audience capacity at the 2005 festival was 57,500. In 2006 the audience capacity has been further enhanced to 67,500. The event is held at Bramham Park, a historical venue in Leeds.

Reading and Leeds Music Festival 2006

This year the festival took place as always over the bank holiday from Friday, August 25th to Sunday, August 27th. There were two locations as usual with most of the musicians playing in both Reading and Leeds over the weekend. The festival is so popular that tickets were sold out long before the event. A tradition that started in the 1970s of rock and heavy metal is still continuing. This year people will be happy to see a few of their favorites like Franz Ferdinand, Guillemots, Muse, Dirty Pretty Things, The Raconteurs and Goldie Lookin’ Chain. There are many others who are comparatively new but have the potential to become the craze of the crowd by the end of the festival.

The festival a chequered history

Although with a chequered history, the festival has grown in popularity over the years. When it started in 1971, the audience was a mere 15,000 and this has expanded to a staggering 60,000 over three decades of performances by popular bands. The early events were held in Temple Newsam Park but the experience was not always a smooth one. In 2002, the festival was nearly cancelled due to violence and crime during 2001. Though Police, M.Ps and local residents opposed it, the event licence was finally granted by the authorities. This happened only after a judicial pronouncement came up in favour of hosting the festival. But the violence increased in 2002, resulting in a conviction of a number of festival goers. The organizers therefore decided to move the festival outside the city to Bramham Park in 2003. Strangely enough, since then the crimes have come down considerably and the site has become the home of the festival. The City Council increased the audience capacity by 12500 in 2005.

Memorable events

The Leeds festival was not as popular as it is today always. But after a grand show by Rod Steiger in the 70s it picked up and went from strength to strength. The 1978 event ended up with bottle throwing. But in 1988 the events were better and attracted more people. In 1992, the Manics, Smashing Pumpkins, and the Wonder Stuff played and 1998 there were 55,000 in attendance watching Robert Plant and Ash, Beastie Boys, Prodigy, Supergrass and Bentley Rhythm Ace. The new millennium saw the arrival of Slipnot and many more new sensations. During 2001 playing were Travis, Manic Street Preachers, Eminem, Green Day, Fun Lovin’ Criminals and Marilyn Manson. In 2005 saw the Pixies, Foo Fighters, Iron Maiden, The Killers, Kings of Leon, and Marilyn Manson once again.

Article by Susan Ashby of Leeds Singles. To read more articles like this or for dating in Leeds visit http://www.leeds-singles.co.uk

Susan Ashby
http://www.articlesbase.com/dating-articles/leeds-festival-not-to-be-missed-79910.html

Many people are unemployed today and many others are underpaid compared to the amount of bills they face every month. We will talk about 3 online jobs from home you can do to develop more security for yourself today.

1. Sell affiliate marketing products as a professional affiliate marketer. Even if you do not have any skills to do that right now merchants will take you as an affiliate marketer.

You can join the program for free and have instant access to products, websites, and marketing materials to promote. It is no doubt that you can be making money if you represent the right programs.

There are many instant affiliate programs showing up online now. All you can do is join a PayPal account which you can set up for free.

The money is deposited directly into your PayPal each time you make a sale so you do not have to wait for your affiliate commissions.

2. Network marketing is a popular business model that pays extremely well. Your job in this business is to refer people to your retail website and to sponsor people underneath you in your business.

The wonderful thing about long term security as a network marketer is the duplication process through leveraging your time. As your group begins to grow people underneath you will be building their own business which in turn benefits to you.

The Internet allows this to happen worldwide in an unbelievable short amount of time. You literally can have thousands of people in your business in a few months and be making more money than you could have ever done that a full-time job.

Network marketing is one of the excellent online jobs for home for long term security.

3. If you would like to have the ability to get up every day and make money in a matter of a few minutes develop a large email marketing list. The larger your list the more potential money it can bring you.

A fast way to build a really large email list is to purchase co-registration leads. Let a lead company build your list for you. You spend all of your time promoting products to your list and building relationships with the subscribers.

This is three online jobs from home to build long term security for yourself. If you have to work anyway you might as well get paid in the future for work you are doing right now.

Kha Ton
http://www.articlesbase.com/internet-articles/3-online-jobs-work-from-home-1252157.html

The English city of Nottingham has many unique features that set it apart from towns of comparable size in the East Midlands, but the one thing for which the city receives recognition around the globe is the fantastic legend of Robin Hood, and his arch nemesis the Sheriff of Nottingham. The name and trappings of his story are well recognized symbols of the city and the county of Nottinghamshire.

The mighty outlaw Robin Hood was a folk hero who was said to dwell in the depths of Sherwood Forest to the north of Nottingham, returning to civilized roads and places only to rob the rich in order to feed the poor. He used his iconic longbow to fight injustice, in the person of the Sheriff or Prince John. But was he real?

Well, Sherwood Forest and Nottingham certainly are, but other than that, it seems almost impossible to tell. As early as the 1200s, the term “Robinhood” or “Robbehod” was being used by justices in England as a placeholder name for any fugitive or outlaw, and it seems that an oral tradition grew up around the figure. The legend first appeared in fiction in “Piers Plowman” in the late 1300s, where a priest confesses he knows the “rymes of Robyn Hood” better than his Paternoster. Poems and stories about the exploits of Robin Hood, Little John, Will Scarlet, and the rest of his Merry Men multiplied and grew with the telling over the following centuries, and his tales were among the first to be gathered and printed in books, when printing was introduced to England in the 16th century. However, the tales shift about radically in time and place, and it’s doubtful there was ever a real personage behind the tales — except in the way that interesting real happenings were added to the famous legend.

The question of his real existence doesn’t seem to trouble the residents of Nottingham. In modern times, local signage describes Nottinghamshire as “Robin Hood County”, and uses a bow and arrow to direct travellers; a railway between Nottingham and Worksop was dubbed “The Robin Hood Line”. There are many local landmarks which are said to be part of the Robin Hood mystique.

The “Major Oak” is a gigantic tree in the heart of Sherwood Forest (near the village of Edwinstowe) which is said to have been Robin Hood’s home and headquarters. It is certainly more than 800 years old; its trunk is 33 feet in circumference, and it’s estimated to weigh some 23 tons.

The Sherwood Forest itself is now reduced to 460 acres of county park, designated as a National Nature Reserve. It hosts some 500,000 visitors annually, many of which come for the annual Robin Hood Festival each August.

In the centre of the city of Nottingham, the Old Market Square is said to be the place where Hood won his silver arrow from the Sheriff of Nottingham in an archery contest. The deep-toned bell within the dome of the Council House to one side of the square is nicknamed “Little John”. An iconic bronze Robin Hood Statue, featuring the outlaw firing his bow, stands near to the square.

About two miles to the north-east of Nottingham on Wells Road, an ancient well was rediscovered in a car park in 1987. Some historical sleuthing established that this was the well first known as the “Owswell”, and later “St. Anne’s Well”, but as early as 1500 had been dubbed “Robin Hood’s Well” because of a story about a brawl involving the Merry Men upon the site. The well had been covered over and lost during the construction of a railway line in 1887.

Nottingham Castle plays a key part in some Robin Hood myths. The historical castle was first built of wood in 1067, then replaced with a stone castle by Henry I in the early 1100s. When Richard the Lionheart left regents to rule in his stead when he left on the Third Crusade in 1190, his brother Prince John was left behind to scheme for the throne. John attacked and seized Nottingham castle in 1194, and Richard had to lay siege to it to get him out again after his return. That stone castle was finally razed in 1649, and the current castle mansion is very different; however, the stone caves and dungeons beneath the hill on which it sits are still said to be tinged with some of Robin Hood’s romance.

For the visitor fascinated by the Robin Hood myth and imagery, there are numerous tours, guidebooks, and gift shops centred around the outlaw. There is even a tourist attraction called “The Tales of Robin Hood”, taking visitors through a recreated medieval countryside in “adventure cars” to witness scenes from the legend, then returning them to a banqueting hall for an authentic medieval feast.

Those who love history, adventure, and swashbuckling fun will all find what they are looking for in Nottingham.

Article by Susan Ashby of Nottingham Singles. To read more articles like this or for dating in Nottingham visit http://www.nottingham-singles.co.uk

Susan Ashby
http://www.articlesbase.com/dating-articles/nottingham-and-robin-hood-81113.html

Most of you reading this statement, ‘violence begins at home’, would be shocked. But this is one unbelievable fact. No matter how hard you try to overlook this statement, it will still remain the forbidden truth. Whether you accept it or not that solely depends on your opinion. In each and every household, you must have seen that the superior member of the household the inferior member is either physically or mentally assaulted. And the victims that are being assaulted are the female.

When we see a person in an abusive relationship struggling hard to put up with the abuser, the first thing we ask is why did you stay for so long? Or why don’t you leave the relationship and move on? The first thing is if you have been brought up in an abusive home and have seen abusing as the daily norms than how would you know the difference between an abusive relationship and a healthy relationship. According to statistics, about 82% of children each year witness violence at home.

This tends to have an adverse effect on the young minds which is likely to be 15% more abusive when they grow up. Relationships do not always begin with abusive. If you ask any of the victims of their relationship started, they would recount it as memorable moment. Physical violence is not necessarily the only violence; even calling names belittling you etc are also violence as it lowers your self esteem. Domestic violence in particular is responsible for the majority of deaths.

In the year 2000, about 5, 20,000 died in the act of interpersonal violence. Such is the toll of violence that in the US domestic violence accounts a quarter of the crime that is being committed every year. In an abusive relationship, 1 in every 2 women is being killed by their partner. As many as 69% of women in some countries are being assaulted by their partners in their lifetime. According to records somewhere in the world one person commits suicide every 40 seconds.

Navneet Brar
http://www.articlesbase.com/marriage-articles/violence-begins-at-home-594188.html

It was innocent enough-she just wanted a little piece of home. New Zealand, with its two islands floating at the far corner of a map, could feel like a forgotten outpost. When people started immigrating to the country, they wondered if they would ever see their native lands again.

So when a lonely Scottish woman broke the earth around her doorstep to make a cradle for seedlings she had brought with her, it’s possible to say that she watched and watered them protectively. In her diary found years later, she had written that she was worried her plant wouldn’t survive.

The story is reminiscent of a time traveling horror novel-kill one butterfly and it alters the world’s ecology in disastrous and permanent ways. The Scottish woman was planting gorse, now a common weed in New Zealand that has invaded the hills like a conquering army. Every year, New Zealand farmers spend massive amounts of time trying to rid the landscape of this nuisance, only to find the hearty yellow plant playing peek-a-boo from the other side of the hill.

But it wasn’t just gorse that settled comfortably in New Zealand. The country is plagued by introduced species that have bullied the natural environment and nearly wiped out many native birds and insects. To say that New Zealand has a homeland security problem is an understatement. New Zealand’s environment, renowned throughout the world for its unique beauty, is at serious risk of losing its biodiversity.

New Zealand’s Department of Conservation spends thousands of dollars each year combating introduced species. But they can’t, and don’t, do it alone. In a country where “a good possum is a dead possum,” New Zealanders almost consider it their patriotic duty to trap possums, or at least swerve for one darting across the road. Yet it’s not only locals that are taking this problem personally. International volunteers have heard the S.O.S and have set out to help with the rescue mission.

With recent appearances in a number of Hollywood blockbusters, New Zealand is the new “it” starlet of travel destinations. But as people around the world are becoming increasingly more aware of environmental issues, they are looking to explore New Zealand and other countries with an eye toward sustainability, ecotourism and viewing environmental crises as a universal problem.

“Instead of using all the paper in the world, you’re planting trees and replacing them,” said Anna Evely, a resident of the UK who volunteered in New Zealand for one month. “Instead of taking from the country, you’re actually giving something back. I felt like I left my mark by the trees I planted in New Zealand. As well as going somewhere and taking in all the beautiful scenery, I’m actually helping to make it more beautiful.”

Eating New Zealand

There were, of course, other reasons besides homesickness that people introduced foreign species to New Zealand. In 1837, the possum was introduced from Australia to create a fur trade. Rabbits were shipped in for hunting and sport. Stoats were introduced to hunt the exploding rabbit population. And heather was planted because somebody just thought it was pretty.

Unfortunately, no one foresaw the problems this would create for a country that had developed like a child always kept inside-with no hardened immune system. New Zealand only has one native land mammal-two species of bat-so birds and plants evolved over time without the threat of possums, rabbits, stoats and invasive weeds. Their ability to defend themselves, as one environmental field worker put it, is “pathetic.”

It’s more tragic than just unfortunate that New Zealand’s national bird, the kiwi (a flightless, awkward thing that never could see it coming), can hardly be found on the mainland. Like a refugee chased from its own home, the kiwi only lives safely on small islands where the predator populations have been eliminated.

And with it is going, though much more slowly, New Zealand’s native bush, filled with rata and kowhai trees. Possums eat 21,000 tons of vegetation per day. If New Zealand were a crescent moon, it would be the possum that took the bite out of it.

Stoats, too, stalk the bush with no real natural competition or threats. While they’ll hunt for rabbits and possums, there are other, much less adept creatures that make dinner an easy catch. As for the rabbits, well, we don’t use the saying “breeding like rabbits” for nothing. In no uncertain terms, New Zealand has become a free-for-all for introduced species.

Given this, it can be fair to say that there are no work shortages for conservation volunteers. It’s only a matter of time before volunteers set down their bags and are handed a spade.

“We need volunteers in conservation because the conservation challenges we face here are so huge,” said Toby Malcolm, team leader of the Global Volunteer Network’s New Zealand volunteer program. “New Zealand’s got some amazing biodiversity and unique flora and fauna, but it faces a lot of challenges because of that. Those challenges are almost entirely human-induced, and they’re not going to go away without intervention.”

Trading Backpacks for Work Gloves

Helen Winser and James Irving quit their jobs in the UK and sold their house. They put their cats in a kennel. Days after they arrived in New Zealand, they were wading in a stream in knee-high rubbery boots to conduct an ecological health survey of the water and the fish. It was just the holiday they had in mind.

“I’ve always wanted to come to New Zealand,” Winser said. “I heard so many horror stories about places being destroyed by tourism and I didn’t want to come here and do that. I thought, if I could come here and volunteer, I could give something back rather than just take something from the environment.”

Had Winser and Irving come to New Zealand strictly as tourists, there’s not doubt they would have been impressed. But New Zealand’s backpacker buses certainly don’t stop to point out a signing Tui or explain the mind-boggling stages of growth of the Lancewood tree.

“We were able to experience things that tourists don’t,” Winser said. “Even when we did go to tourist places, we got to go off track and get right into the heart of the environment to see what it’s really like.”

Getting off the beaten track was also what Mandy Reina, a college student from Texas, had in mind when she signed up to volunteer in New Zealand.

“As a volunteer, I really could experience the ’soul’ of New Zealand by working to preserve it,” Reina said. “I saw parts of New Zealand that tourists never will by getting down on my hands and knees and planting trees that will be there for decades to come.”

Because conservation volunteers usually work with local organizations and community members, they do get to meet New Zealanders in a different capacity. If volunteers have to turn down multiple offers for morning tea, it’s just because New Zealanders are grateful to have the help.

“So many community members are very appreciative that we’re here,” Irving said. “They know it’s not easy to come all this way and pay your own expenses.”

The conservation staff that work with volunteers are often overwhelmed by these strangers’ generosity.

“It is sometimes hard to find good in humanity,” said Browyn Wall, who co-manages the Otari-Wilton Reserve restoration project. “But this reaffirms for me that there are people out there who care about other things than just themselves. It’s inspiring.”

The Value of a Volunteer

When Joseph Otari declared the forest he owned just outside of Wellington protected land, he was defying the times. There wasn’t much that was spared during the early colonial land clearing days. His foresight would result in one of the most comprehensive collections of native New Zealand botanical specimens.

So when an area of severely degraded land teeming with invasive weeds began to rub elbows with the Otari-Wilton reserve, conservationists and the city council knew they had to work quickly to stop the damage from spreading.

But to restore the already degraded land with native species while maintaining the unspoiled reserve was a chore too big for even the most well-meaning conservationist. They decided, instead, to call upon volunteers.

Four years later, with overseas volunteers taking on much of the reforestation work, the land is experiencing a rebirth. To walk among the budding trees with their still snap-able trunks is to see New Zealand the way it may have looked as a toddler. Not only is the project heralded as a success in native bush restoration, but also in volunteers’ ability to play a vital role in the conservation effort.

“In 10 years time, we want to have a complete forest canopy,” said Jonathan Kennett, who works alongside Wall. “And we believe it is possible. This really is a place of hope for the rest of New Zealand. A forest is being developed here. Volunteers have been absolutely crucial. There’s no way this would have succeeded without them. And they’re not just working for New Zealand; they’re working for the global environment.”

It’s not always this easy for conservation volunteers to see the impact their work makes. Often volunteers take on tedious, difficult tasks that give no thanks by way of visible progress. The work that volunteers are involved with in New Zealand includes weeding, planting, conducting seal and stream surveys, predator control (setting up stoat, possum and rat traps), reserve and park maintenance and making seed balls to help reforest areas with native plants.

“You might not be able to recognize the benefits immediately,” said Catherine Walker, who volunteered in New Zealand for six weeks. “But you can think that in a few years time, the tree you planted will be that big. Even if it’s just tedious tasks like making seed balls, it’s great because it’s groundbreaking research. No one’s ever done this before. If they can work out what plants to plant here, it will save so much time and energy. Then they can focus their attention on what needs to be done, rather than just randomly throwing seeds around.”

While volunteering may be unceremonious at times, there are also the moments when volunteers understand their value.

“I was able to meet a kiwi in the wild when I was working in the Coromandel,” Winser said. “It really reinforced why we are here. The kiwi is the national symbol, and yet, it’s in so much trouble. We were working some really hard days up there, so to get to grips with what we were actually doing made me think, yes, this is all worth it.”

An Ecological Revolution

If the Kiwis and the kiwis have volunteers to thank for helping to safeguard New Zealand’s biodiversity, so does the rest of the world. After all, it’s volunteers that are trying to preserve Middle Earth for generations to come.

“I’m not stupid enough to think that I’ve saved the world from the work I’ve done here,” Winser said. “But I think that I have made some small contribution to protecting the kiwi and replanting natural habitat to get the forest back. I’m quite proud of it, actually.”

Although Winser and Irving would like to continue the work they’re doing in New Zealand, they, like most other volunteers, have responsibilities calling them home-bills, mortgages, families, jobs. Their cats, for one, will be happy to see them.

And while volunteers are willing to set aside their own lives for the pursuit of saving the environment, they’re also hoping they won’t have to shoulder the burden alone.

“People are starting to wake up to global warming and other environmental problems,” Walker said. “The mentality of the world is, ‘Okay, we’ve got a slight problem here.’ But there needs to be a connection between saying we need to do something and then actually doing it. You can’t expect the world to be changed by volunteers, because dedicated volunteers need to live and eat too. We could all be out there earning a living being fat cat city brokers, but then we’ll lose the world.”

It’s this environmental consciousness that has conservationists hoping that the work done by volunteers in New Zealand will result in action taken at home.

“I’d love to try and encourage an ecological revolution,” Kennett said. “These volunteers are going home and bringing a new environmental awareness that if it can be done here, and it can done there.”

If the old adage, “planting a seed,” has any merit here, it won’t just be in terms of the trees planted around the country.

“It’s always worth remembering that although New Zealand seems like a clean, green country, environmental degradation is happening here too,” Wall said. “But I think the message that volunteers can bring home with them is, it’s never too late to start.”

For more information on volunteering check out: http://www.volunteer.org.nz/

For more great articles on volunteering check out: http://globalvolunteernetwork.blogspot.com/

© 2000-2007 Global Volunteer Network

Megan Taddy
http://www.articlesbase.com/causes-and-organizations-articles/will-work-for-scenery-255413.html

Owning your very own record label is a dream that will become a reality for many. Anyone can do this! From the artist who just wants their music heard, to the manager, promoter or producer who is sure they have found the “next big thing.” Maybe you are sick of trying to secure another release with some other label. So, why not make your own label a brand in itself. Sometimes you just need someone to get you on the right track when deciding how to start an independent label.

The real exciting thing about the music industry is that aside from the legal rules and regulations, there is always room for innovation. Innovation can come from anything, high quality music, a great business idea or an original or exciting idea. With any of these, success in learning how to start a record label is right around the corner.

Let’s start with all the ways you can fund your label. First you can use capital or personal savings. If that is not available to you then you also have bank overdraft, loans from friends or family, loans from a bank or loans from owners or directors. Loans might come easier if you can convince people you know how to start and run your own record label.

If your budget requires you to start out small, that is ok. You don’t have to be loaded to figure out how to start a record label. All you really need to do is complete the product/record and get it released. The key in the beginning is obviously to generate some profits or at least break even.

Low budgets often don’t allow for a huge amount of marketing. This is where the internet will be your most powerful ally. There are so many powerful tools on the internet for Indie record labels that it is unbelievable. From MySpace to WebPages to CD Baby, a service that caters to Indie Labels, learning how to start and run your own record label isn’t hard with all these options.

So, your homework is to write out a starter budget. What will you have for expenses? Where will the income be generated from? And most importantly, create a solid business plan. Then write out a timeline that includes a one to five year plan. Consult with others in the industry; gain as much knowledge as possible. Educate yourself on the ins and outs of the biz and you will be one step closer to success.

Ty Cohen
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/the-independent-record-label-dream-156346.html

A 27 year old woman, Cecilia Riveria was shot to death by her estranged husband, 32 year old, Sean Paul Rioux in her apartment garage, then shot himself and died today at the UC Davis Medical Facility.

Per the press release issued by Sgt. Bryan Golmitz, of the El Dorado Sheriff’s department, the department received 911 call(s) from resident(s). According to the caller(s), several gun shots were heard in the parking area.  When sheriff’s arrived at the scene, they found two bodies on the floor of the garage, Ms. Riveria dead and her husband critically wounded.

How long did it take for the Sheriff’s to arrive to the scene?

I spoke with Sgt. Golmitz today who simply had little to say. I asked Golmitz if the department was aware of the restraining order Ms. Riveria had filed in the El Dorado Superior court on February 26, 2009? He replied, “I have no personal knowledge of the restraining order and I will turn this lead over to the officer in charge of the investigation.”  I continued with asking him if the department was aware of a history of violence reported by Ms. Riveria? Golmitz replied with, “No, the department is not aware of any history of violence reported by the victim.” Picking their noses, while no comment.  As I am ready to post this, Golmitz released a statement and acknowledged that there was a history of domestic violence.

The DA, Vern Pierson was not available for comment as he was in city council meetings. El Dorado Hills is not a big city as Los Angeles. This case has been treated as though this happens everyday, no big deal. Well, I have news for the El Dorado County Sheriffs Department, this is a big deal, a seven year old boy no longer has his mother or father.  Accountability is the key here.  How many times did Ms. Riveria call the sheriffs department to report domestic violence?  Enough for her to file for a restraining order.

How did the sheriffs department respond and with what attitude? As careless as the response I got on the phone today? Then it’s no surprise she was murdered.

My condolences to the family of Ms. Riveria and I will be issuing a letter of support to the family. I can’t imagine what that little boy is going through.

Randi Rosen
http://www.articlesbase.com/national,-state,-local-articles/murdersuicide-el-dorado-hills-ca-sheriffs-sit-around-picking-their-noses-while-no-comment-799954.html

People are starting to prioritize work against health. During these hard times when there is no more available time to focus on our health, there are instances when our body weakens and therefore unable to do work that needs to be done. Dieting is one way of keeping yourself healthy and at the same allowing you to do your daily routine without eating up time and effort.

The following are tips to help you improve your diet:

Increase your water intake. It is proven that you can live for days and weeks without food. But you cannot definitely live without water. Your body is somewhere between 60% and 70% liquid. The liquid in your body is in charge of helping to maintain every body system in excellent working order, as well as all of your body?s metabolic processes. When you de-hydrate, the whole thing slows down. The liquid in your body will also make sure that you can easily move well and be energetic. When you begin to dry out, your body?s capacity to do essential activities will slow down and your capability to exercise efficiently or even take pleasure in exercise will be reduced. You will always sense tiredness and will probably get a headache.

Eat different kinds of food. Organize your dietary priorities. For defense from the bulk of diseases such as cancer and heart disease you must need an assortment of foods that bring the combination of nutrients and minerals. Plan to eat different types of fruits and vegetables. Take an apple a day as the apple cleanses the body?s digestive system by taking out toxins and as a result prevents degenerative health disorders such as cancer.

Be active. Working out does not only burn calories but also increases your body metabolism and can continue to keep it prominent for several hours after you have a workout. You do not require spending hours every day on the treadmill or bike to harvest the benefits. Exercising for as little as 10 to 20 minutes, three to five days a week will definitely make a very big difference. Additional movement all the way through the day is also necessary, climb up the stairs instead of using the elevator, do not use the remote control of your TV and move at every chance you can.

Sleep 8 to 10 hours a day. Shortage on sleep hours changes your hormone levels and ability to metabolize carbohydrates resulting to slower metabolism. Recent studies have exposed that deep sleep initiates cell repair and cell growth, which will rapidly speed up the metabolism and as well burn calories. Make it a goal to sleep enough and you will find that on the time you wake up it was like nothing ever happened yesterday.

Relax. When you relax for at least 20 minutes a day, you will not easily react to stress. Sit or lie anywhere at ease. Take breaths slowly in and out breathing intensely into your abdomen. These suggestions are equipped with affirmative energy and will help you manage your health and your emotions. Try on one occasion a day for unbelievable results.

Gen Wright
http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/diet-to-stay-fit-and-healthy-618764.html

‘Recession Resistant’ Jobs in Worthing

Finally the word we all knew was coming has arrived, ‘Recession’. For the past few months the word has been carefully avoided but leading economists and even the Bank of England have finally admitted that recession is on its way. Not a huge surprise with many of the general public seeming to believe we are already in one.

So it’s all doom and gloom now and no one’s job is safe right? Not so. Some of Worthing’s residents need not worry. Historically some jobs have proven to be ‘Recession Resistant’ but which jobs are they? Normally they are jobs in companies that provide goods and services that continue to be a necessity even as we tighten our belts. The sectors considered to be pretty safe include:

• Education – Children do not stop growing as the market shrinks and will not stop needing an education. Worthing’s many schools, colleges and Universities including Worthing College are still keenly recruiting (see Worthing jobs for evidence of this). Educational establishments also need administrative, catering and other additional staff. Educational jobs in Worthing should remain secure.

• Public Sector – Government is a obvious consistent during a recession. Our towns, cities and country must continue to go on providing services and making sure life carries on regardless. The Worthing Borough Council and The West Sussex County Council still need a large array of staff so public sector jobs in Worthing should beat the recession.

• Security – Unfortunately, crime do not stop happening during a recession (in fact, although I can’t claim to know the statistics, there are obviously related monetary factors which could increase it!) We are lucky in Worthing to have a relatively low crime rate but we still require our protective services such The West Sussex Police. They also need their support staff so people with security jobs in Worthing have a lesser need to worry.

• Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals – Illness and injury still happen during a recession. In Worthing it is fair to say that we have an aging population due perhaps to the quality of life we are lucky enough to receive here. Worthing Hospital workers, GPs, ambulance workers, nursing and care workers are still in demand so Healthcare jobs in Worthing should be quite safe.

• Energy Firms – We might all become a little more aware of our power outgoings as part of our belt tightening but we continue to have a massive for gas and electricity and this is unlikely diminish. Worthing businesses and homes will still need Southern Electric, British Gas and the like to keep us going so those working for energy companies such as engineers and customer services in Worthing should consider their jobs secure.

• Environmental Sector – In Worthing, as with every other city, our council seems committed to improving our ‘Greeness’. This is a sentiment also taken up by businesses and this is unlikely to be halted during the coming recession. There will still be a desire for ‘Green’ consultants and engineers in Worthing in the next few months.

• Sales and Marketing – This is not a sector you might expect to be safe but historically and logically anything which makes or saves a company money is likely to be safe. It is somewhat dependant on the strategy and outlook of the business in particular but sales jobs and marketing jobs in Worthing may be safe.

• Funeral Directors – My apologies for ending on a morbid note but to use the old saying ‘the only certainties in life are death and taxes’!

Worried that your job may be at risk? Unfortunately there are some troubled industries including construction, housing and finance and the strongest advice I can give you is to ensure your CV is up to scratch should you find yourself in the unfortunate situation and you have to enter the competitive job market. Also make sure you find a good job board such as Worthing jobs to keep you up to date with the latest jobs in Worthing.

Louisa Anderson
http://www.articlesbase.com/career-management-articles/recession-resistant-jobs-in-worthing-617874.html