Embrace the Celebrity Within - Why Everyone Has a Little Celebrity in Them - and What to Do About It

Everyone is a celebrity at something, and by "celebrity" I'm not talking about movie stars, professional athletes or those overnight sensations that are here today, on the cover of People tomorrow and gone by Friday.

True celebrities are experts. In a lot of cases they're experts at acting, putting a ball in a hoop or looking sexy in next to nothing. But believe it or not, most celebrities these days - the ones that keep auditoriums and hotel conference rooms and even bookstore shelves full - are folks like you and I; people who realized what they are very, very good at and put it to use by celebritizing themselves (or putting their expert status to use as a modern celebrity).

You, too, can become one of these nowadays celebrities, no matter what business you're in, how big your company is (or isn't) or even if you don't think you bring the chops.

The best part is, it's as simple as 3-F's:

Find...Yourself

To be a modern day business celebrity you have to know 1) What you're good at, 2) What are you passionate about and 3) What people need from you. Celebritizing yourself is about knowing all three of the above, not just one or two.

So, what are you a good at? It could be anything: gardening, management, economics, knitting, housecleaning, politics - the works. The experts we all know and recognize and who become celebrities, everyone from Tim Russert to Ty Pennington to Linda Cobb, the Queen of Clean, to George Stephanopoulos, may come from a wide array of backgrounds but all have one thing in common: they know what they're good at and do it very, very well.

Next, what are you passionate about? Now, being good at something and being passionate about it are two very different things. You can be great at fixing cars but hate talking about it, sharing it with other people. If so, this topic just wouldn't qualify for the expert celebrity game. But, if you look a little harder to identify what it specifically about fixing cars that you truly love and you find it's restoring classic automobiles, now that's something you could celebritize!

Finally, what do other people need from you? So what if you're good at fixing cars AND passionate about restoring classics? Is there a market for that? Do people really want to talk about that? And are you the right person for the job? Once upon a time I might have said, "No, there's no market in celebritizing yourself around restoring classic automobiles." But that was before Car Talk on NPR made its and co-hosts (and brothers) Tom and Ray Magliozzi famous. That was before Antiques Roadshow captivated the country's attention and before both the History and Speed channels became cable staples.

Nowadays, truly, if you are an expert at something, passionate about that thing and can find a market for it, you too can become a celebrity!

Focus...On What Works

We all know what's going to work for us and what doesn't.

Blink and Tipping Point author Malcolm Gladwell is a celebrity x 10 but I don't think you'll ever hear him screaming into a microphone on some shock jock's call-in show; it's not him, it's not his audience - it doesn't work.

On the other hand, Guy Fieri, celebrity chef, cookbook author and winner of the Food Network's first "The Next Food Network Star" contest, IS just the kind of passionate, verbal, excited and outgoing individual who has made a career out of what works for him: using his natural passion and enthusiasm for his expertise - cooking - to create a personal brand that is suddenly dominating the Food Network scene.

Of course, even a profound extrovert like Guy Fieri pales in comparison to pundit, expert, author and popular CNBC host Jim Cramer. Cramer, with his trademark rolled up sleeves and loosened tie, intense eyes and voluble vocabulary, spends every evening shouting his message of the latest stock tips to an adoring and exceedingly loyal fan base on his popular TV show, Mad Money.

With his expertise, proven credibility and solid background, Cramer could have easily been a popular and successful pundit. But by finding his niche on his very own show, Cramer has truly shone and become what most experts crave: a celebrity.

Malcolm Gladwell, Jim Cramer and Guy Fieri are all experts; all are also bona fide celebrities.

And all are doing what works... for them.

Finesse... the Message

Finally, you need finesse; specifically, you need to finesse your message. It needs to be clear, concise and focused. For instance, if you are an absolute miracle worker when it comes to organizing things, it only makes sense that your message is organized as well.

What is that message? Let's say over time you've realize that most people aren't organized and even fewer people recognize the value of organization. So to make it clear for them just how important it is to be organized, you've come up with a simple three-part message that you communicate everywhere you go: your message is that organization saves time, increases productivity and boosts profits.

That message is delivered every time you publish something, hand out a business card or invite someone to read your blog. That message isn't just the words you use but the graphics you use in your brochures, on your Web site and on your business card.

Let's say you start a blog to spread your message about how important it is to be organized. You wouldn't write about sports scores or share holiday recipes or Hollywood gossip, would you? Hardly. Your message is that organization saves time, increases productivity and boosts profits.

So every blog post must reiterate that message in articles that have to do with your core expertise. You'll want to write about how an organized office is a productive office, you'll want to link to news stories or breaking research that reveals organization boosts effectiveness by 28%, etc. Otherwise you're just wasting that message, if not ignoring it altogether.

Embrace Your Expertise

So much of expertise is confidence, but we've seen how confidence alone isn't enough to become a celebrity. The bottom line with becoming a celebrity is that once you find... yourself, focus... on what works and finesse... your message, the foundation is already in place for what promises to be a bright and celebritized future.

Becoming a celebrity next becomes a matter of taking all three of these vital core skills and truly embracing your expertise so that you will have the confidence to truly shine in whatever it is you are good at, are passionate about and can find an audience for.

Once all these elements align, the sky truly IS the limit!

The Kept Promise

Mary Poppin's comeback, "That's a pie crust promise, easily made, easily broken," echoes in my head as I listen to partners repeat marriage vows to one another. Weddings may be impressive, but statistics have it; human beings are not good at keeping their promises. The divorce rate is such that almost every person now-a-days has been affected, directly or indirectly, by broken vows. How do we experience a promise fulfilled?

A vow is a declaration made by one person to another, binding the person who makes the promise to do, or not do, a specified act. Vows are important. Promises can reveal expectations. The problem is, human vows are frequently presumptuous, preposterous, or naïve.

It is almost comical as I look back and picture my then fiancé, and I, in church, making promises to one another at our wedding. To put it bluntly, I was young and stupid! The expectation of "happily ever after" was tantalizing, yet fragile; mainly because life is not a fantasy.

So, the first year of our marriage was dicey. Settling into the practical aspects of life with a mate seemed tedious. But, instead of pushing myself, or my husband, to keep the euphoria of our relationship going, I pushed myself to sit down and be reasonable. And then, a few light bulbs went off in my head.

Light bulb number one was, no more promising (swearing) to do something I've never done before, or vowing not to do something I've done already. Action speaks louder than words.

Light bulb number two was, set practical, yet satisfying expectations.

Here is a pertinent example, on the subject of intimacy, of how those light bulbs shed light on spiritual unity within our marriage.

"Making love" is common verbiage. The cliché "making love" is repeated in movies, on the radio, and out on the streets. We've probably said it ourselves. And, we are trained to know very well "making love" means having sex. However, this framework is problematic.

In all reasonableness, how can "making love" produce a world full of disease, abortion, and unwanted children? Why does rape exist, if sex has to do with love? Why do we innately cringe when infidelity occurs? And, why are ex-partners, who previously made love, now sending out high frequencies of resentment, lies, and spite, and polluting our mental milieu?

Basically, sex is overrated, but I didn't want to underrate it either. So, I reasoned, starting with love.
Due to my religious background, the phrase, God is Love, came to mind.

So, God isn't only loving, but God is Love itself? Infinite Love.

I ribbed myself. The idea of "making God, Love," was so preposterous that from then on my definition of sex was no longer overrated or underrated. My husband and I became honest about sex. When we want to have sex, for the purposes of either multiplication or birth-controlled devotion, we say just that to one another. Sometimes conversation will follow the request, usually not, but our sexual activity is respectful, spontaneous, and satisfying.

Sex is only one part of our relationship. After twenty six years of raising children, fostering children, financial ups-and-downs, career changes, traveling, family deaths, moving, anger, forgiveness, crying, laughing, having sex-human life experiences-it is apparent that, thoughtful affirmations experience a fulfilled promise. Let me explain.

Every day, my husband tells me I am beautiful. Well, maybe not every day, but it feels like it. I never expect him to say I am beautiful. I don't anticipate it. He will declare beauty even when I am sick and distraught. And, after his affirmation, I affirm to him, A beautiful person sees beauty. And, we mean it. We feel it. They are not words filling dead air. They are profound promises manifest, coming from something greater than ourselves; coming from God, Love. It is similar to saying, It is snowing outside. And, it IS snowing outside. No stopping the promise fulfilled. We don't do anything to fulfill the declaration, but we acknowledge what is done.

Human vows won't make goodness, or love, happen. So, don't work so hard to make something happen. Right now, the promise of Love is fulfilled. As we act on the spiritual truth of Love's fulfilled promises, our expectations become reasonable and we inevitably experience unbroken vows. From 21st Century Science and Health, "Love is reflected in love."

Healthy Breathing Habits and Factors to Follow in Order to Avoid Breathing Pain

Breathing is life and different people have differing breathing patterns but all that is needed is that they all have healthy and proper breathes. Poor breathing leads to a lot of disorders but they can be prevented. There is a relation between good breathing and various breathing capability stages and their relation to the individual's health, well being and life span.

Breathing is affected by the ease, strength, depth and the smoothness with which it is taken with increased breathing volume and vitality. The condition of the body (ill health) calls for a different breathing procedure from those with sound health. Ill heath means that the body is not performing some of its functions as it should thus different levels of oxygen are needed. Denial of oxygen to the sick worsens the disorder because the body does not have enough energy to fight the disease causer's letting them spread unchecked.

The activity one is engaged in their day to day life also affects the amount of oxygen levels in the body. This means that parsons who do manual work that demands a lot of energy will have bigger breathes as opposed to those who sit on a couch to watch movies most a time. The climate and the environment we live in is also a facto as where the environment is polluted then there is little oxygen hence straining the muscles of breathes.

Breathing being life should be taken very seriously especially in regard to the age of the individual. Children whose body is growing need better breathes because the brain is still growing and failure to have enough oxygen does lead to mental retards. Supply of oxygen to all the body parts leads to faster and even growth.

It is clear that different situations lead to different responses all for good healthy breathe

Music Production Equipment - Microphone Basics

Obviously, the first thing that you need in order to record sound in general and music in particular is a good microphone. In earlier recording history, the only method to record sound was by using a conical shaped object that made impressions on a wax disc and could only take a single mono input. Now, with today's ever advancing technology, musicians have it relatively easy because the choice of recording equipment ranges from the simplest most modest home studio setup at an extremely affordable price to the high-end professional international standard quality audio gear made for the creme de la creme. Since this article is made for the DIY musician though, today we will look at the basics of microphones so that we can make an educated purchase that suits our budgets and our artistic aspirations when the time comes.

Microphones are divided into 3 main categories:

1. Dynamic microphones, also known as moving coil microphones. They are called moving coil mics, because that is the mechanism with which these kinds of mics work - by using a movable coil that receives stimulus from vibrations in the air and then translates that movement into electrical energy to be fed into the signal chain. It is also called a dynamic mic, because these types of mics are usually used for live performances, or to record relatively loud and strong sounds, like kick drums or electric guitar cabinets. The main character sound of a dynamic mic is that it sounds slightly dull due to the inherent frequency response allowed by the moving coil. But this is traded with durability and endurance: dynamic mics are the strongest mics around, so they are often used in live performances when the conditions on the stage can be too dynamic for sensitive equipment. The ubiquitous dynamic mic (that is hailed as the must have in every studio) is the Shure SM57.

2. Condenser microphones, also known as capacitor microphones. Like the dynamic mic, the capacitor mic receives its nickname due to the mechanism it uses to receive and translate mechanical energy into electrical energy - by using a capacitor (or conductor) to translate the vibrations into electric currents. Condenser mics are the studio engineers favorite for sound sources that are soft, fragile, and have a high frequency content i.e female vocals, violins, acoustic guitars, and cymbals. The advantage of condenser mics is that they have a better frequency response for high frequencies, so they are good for catching material that have insinuations or rich in high frequency harmonics. There isn't a ubiquitous example of a condenser mic like there is for a dynamic, but beginner standards include the Rode NT1A and the Audio Technica AT2020.

3. Ribbon microphones. I am sure you must have seen one of these unique looking mics, if you are a musician. These are the mics that you see in classic 1950's movies, where the female singer in the bar with the red dress holds the mic stand and sings into a mic that is shaped like it has grills on the side. Ribbon mics use a very sensitive method of transducing electricity from vibrations, and are therefore the most fragile of the three types of microphones available. They're sound is a blend between the warm quality of a dynamic, but can also catch the high frequencies like a condenser. Ribbon mics are usually used for specific purposes, because if you can use it right, you can create a signature sound that can't be achieved with garden variety dynamics or condensers. The unique usage of ribbon mics make them the most expensive on the list, when compared to the other two types.

By using the correct type of microphone, we can achieve a better quality of sound recording. Granted, that art is limitless, and there are no hard and fast rules. But it always helps to have a guideline so that we can make an educated guess, and aim to achieve the same sound quality as we hear on our favorite records.

To your mic choosing prowess,
Endy

Set the Stage For Entertainment With Home Theater Lighting

Because the room is a completely visual environment, lighting is one of the most critical elements. With good lighting, you can enjoy sharp images on the screen while safely moving to get popcorn or a glass of wine. Bad lighting, however, will wash out images and make a $15,000 projector perform like an $800 office supply store special.

From a performance standpoint, the best video rooms are a thoughtful blend of projector, screen, room and lighting, and the challenge is to provide an overall design that performs extremely well when the lights are low. Let's start with the screen. It's important to make your screen size just right for the room, because an oversize screen reduces the contrast of the image as well as accentuating pixelization. Choose a smaller screen for a sharper image - the result, you will find, is sort of like sitting in the center of the theater, rather than in the front row, where the screen is way too large for your field of view.

Next, you need to ensure a relatively dark room with very little ambient light. Forget daylight or windows, or install black out shades. The reason is contrast; it is the ratio of screen image white to screen image black. Black is actually not black, but rather, a low level of light depending on both the room's ambient light and the inter-reflected image light that bounces off the walls and ceiling of the room. Make sure that the room itself is not causing lighting and image contrast problems. Use mostly dark wall finishes, especially around the screen. Don't hesitate to paint the room, including the ceiling, a dark color, because if you don't, light from the screen's own image will be reflected off the ceiling and will wash out the image. It's OK to use saturated colors like red or blue as long as the color is deep and low in reflectance. Avoid finishes with shine or sheen, like gloss paints. The most critical surfaces are the ceiling and walls in the front of the room, and the wall in the back of the room.

Finally, you need to take into account the fact that the room, like video, should be dynamic. When you enter the room, the room décor and architecture is very important. Then through the use of dimming and systems integration, the lights fade, and the room's function and comfort become the dominant issues.

Lighting for the room tends to be divided between functional lighting, which ensures the ability to move about and see critical tasks, and decorative lighting, that is chosen more for the appearance and character of the lighting fixture and effects. Decorative lighting should be turned off during the program, so it can be anything whose style and appearance are a proper match for the décor. There are literally thousands of choices of wall sconces, pendants, and chandeliers that fit the bill. (I'm not sure I'd recommend a crystal chandelier, because the crystal facets could actually cause disconcerting reflections from the screen, but that's up to you.)

The hardest part of home theater lighting is the functional lighting. With a good design, you can read a detailed description on a DVD cover with a minimum impact on the screen contrast, and then find your way to the door while others watch the program. For this type of lighting, a little bit goes a long way, and finesse is highly desirable. Most importantly, use lights that throw absolutely no light onto the screen.

I tend to use two separate functional lighting systems. One of them is the higher level "task" lighting, and the other is a safety/step lighting system. For the task lights I prefer low voltage fixtures, usually with good shielding and narrow flood MR16 lamps. Keep lights at least 4 feet away from the wall so that no light spills onto a wall. You can get good results from low voltage recessed, track lighting and monorail lighting systems. Be certain to place these lights on their own dimmer, as you will want to turn them off once you've settled in to the movie. Avoid regular "cans" in home theaters - they tend to wash out screen images.

There are many ways to provide step lighting. Consider actual step lights, keeping in mind that the smaller LED and xenon lamp step lights are typically all that you need. Other designs, such as those using linear light strips under steps in the floor, will be inspired by the room's architecture and finishes. Always remember to highlight steps and changes in level - it's OK to move from pool to pool of light on a flat floor, but if steps are involved, make sure that the step is in a one of those pools of light.

Connect these lighting systems to modern dimmers and permit the integrated control of lighting along with the rest of the home theater electronics. Even if the home does not have a dimming system, use preset dimmers in the theater. This will make it easier to push one button and have lights - projection - action, the ultimate feature of a real home theater.

The Future is Bright For Online Gaming

The world of gaming has developed to the extent that even choosing a way to play games is a difficult decision in itself. As well as the range of gaming platforms, there is also the cost to consider, and you wouldn't get much change from a few months worth of mortgage payments if you were to buy every gaming system and console currently on the market. With the cost of the actual games too, you can literally go broke staying on top of things if you are a avid gamer. The cost of involvement hasn't hindered the development of the gaming industry though, which is now more popular than ever before.

The online capabilities of most gaming platforms and games has been highlighted as the principal reason for the beyond expected growth of the gaming industry. Whilst online gaming has been around in one form or another for some time, it is only lately that it has come into its own. From the days of simply playing 'Pong' with a friend in the same room, we now find ourselves in a time where we can play games with graphics resembling a movie, against 20+ people simultaneously, from all around the world.

Not long ago the dream of online gaming was a pipe dream, because while the computers might have been fast enough to manage it, the Internet connections were generally not that good. Today, with the advent of high speed connections like Cable and DSL, it is possible to play online as well as you would if you were physically wired into the same console as your opponent and in the same room.

Obviously, the range and type of games available these days has also contributed to the boom in online gaming. There is something, and more, for everyone, regardless of their age, tastes and gaming experience. Gaming companies have recognized that there is serious money to be made from producing quality games and are investing more time and money into pushing the boundaries of what can be done. The better the games they make, the more people become gamers, the bigger the market, and more reason there is to make an even better game next time around - everyone is a winner.

Most of these various games come with a plethora of online support from various communities, and the more popular the game, the more involved the community becomes. There are many groups out there that are dedicated solely to the enjoyment and play of a particular game. Much like fans of Star Trek have been known to have gatherings and such, the online gaming community has been known to be a very enthusiastic bunch. In fact, a good many online gamers actually use this as a networking opportunity, where they can meet others that share in the same desires and interests.

So, the future is bright for online gaming!

Celebrity Sunglasses to Die For

Would you pay thousands of dollars for a pair of sunglasses? Apparently, most people won't. But for many celebrities that's not a problem. After all, expensive shades can make your favorite stars look more glamorous and certainly add to their sex appeal. This has transformed a lot of stars into celebrity characters.

Take Brad Pitt for instance. The handsome star of Troy, Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Ocean's 11, reportedly delights in designer sunglasses that are said to be worth more than his stylish clothes and fashion accessories. Like Kate Hudson and Lindsay Lohan, one of Pitt's picks in shades is Moss Lipow which costs thousands of dollars.

The brand is named after the New York artist who is known for his eccentric designs which run as high as $3,800 as in the case of his ostrich and alligator leather framed sunglasses. Still, that's nothing compared to Dolce and Gabana's DG2027B. The gold-framed sunglasses boasts a logo made of diamonds with a price tag of a whopping $383,609! I wouldn't be surprised if Angelina Jolie wears them one of these days.

Georgia Rule star, Lindsay Lohan, has been a favorite of tabloids due to her erratic and wild behavior, her numerous boyfriends and her stays in rehab. But she certainly has taste when it comes to eye wear. One of her prized possessions is a $30,000 pair of sunglasses from Nefarious called Auric. These were worn on the Nefarious Fine Jewelry holiday party in December 2006. The shades are in 18-karat gold and covered with diamonds. Not bad considering the string of flops Lohan has starred in recently.

Rap artist Jay-Z who has sold millions of albums, sports a pair of Louis Vuitton Millionaire sunglasses that cost $1,500. It has two rows of gold and mini-Louis Vuitton logos that run across them. The shades were inspired by the movie Scarface. Not surprisingly, the reigning rapper's sense of style is shared by fellow performers Kanye West and Rhianna.

Other popular celebrity sunglasses include Ray-Ban, Oakley, Dior, Gucci, Oliver Peoples and Tom Ford. Of course, as I stated earlier in this article, looking like a celebrity can cost you a lot. Thankfully, you can get lots of celebrity sunglasses at better prices without spending a fortune. The Internet is full of sites that carry these popular brands at great prices. That means you can still look like a celebrity and feel like a million bucks without draining your wallet.