Your painting is finished, you have a name for it, and now you need a frame so you can either exhibit it on those trendy pop up display stands, or just put it up on the wall. So you go to the local framing place and oh…it’s expensive. Much more than you can afford to spend, considering you have a few to do. So what do you do? You make the frame(s) yourself of course. And it really isn’t that difficult, even if you’re not a gifted DIYer: all you need is a saw and a hammer and some long nails. And paint, or wax, to finish. It takes no time at all and providing you are careful and don’t rush, there is no reason whatsoever that it shouldn’t look really good! 1) Get an old frame that is too big for your piece and break it up. It’s much cheaper to find a ready made wooden frame than it is buy one. 2) Saw it to the right lengths, making sure to cut each mitres at an accurate 45 degrees. 3) Now you need to join the pieces. First apply a generous helping of PVA glue and then stick together. Now, hammer in the nails while the glue is still drying. Hammer them in diagonally, so that you are sure to get a good fixing in both pieces. 4) Sand down the corners so that the join is not so noticeable. 5) Either leave it at that or apply a coat or two of clear wax. Or, alternatively, you could paint the frame black or white with emulsion. Emulsion is the best kind of paint to use because then you can put clear wax over the top and get a really nice smooth finish.

Getting an art commissioning gig is never as easy as it sounds. Even once the contracts are signed that’s only the beginning of the story. It could just be the beginning of your worst nightmare if not suitably prepared. Don’t be naive and think everything is just plain sailing from here.

First things first. Now to begin with your going to have to agree on the particulars of the job. It is always best to get the specifics in writing if you’ve not already done so. Find out who has the last say in agreeing the project is as they desire, completed and ready for payment. Read more »

So you want to create a piece of art do you, and your deciding on the best choice of art materials to use? There are so many to choose from. Some standard media you can utilize are pastel, ink, and oil paints which are the basics of many an artist’s tool box (along with many, many paper towels to clean up the mess). These can paint on board, paper, canvas and wood which are all traditional types of materials artists throughout the ages have painted on.

However there are difficulties which each one. Indian ink has an excellent texture Read more »

The bustling of London nightlife fills the city with cheer and never seizes to open doors to some of its hottest night clubs. Within these clubs you will find some of the latest DJs playing a number of popular hits and visitors should expect long lines if not showing up early enough. Things to consider before entering any of London’s clubs are there is usually an admission fee, some places have a dress code (I would suggest not turning up in running wear) and the legal drinking age in London is 18. With that said, below you will find some of the hot spots in London.

Fabric

This is possibly one of the best known clubs in London and has been voted number 2 on DJ magazines "Top 100 list". You will find some the the very best DJs from all of the world playing at Fabric which include Sasha Funze and John Digweed. You can be certain to find some heavy dance music playing at this club.

Cargo Nightclub

This club offers a wide mix of DJ music and live concerts. Located under railway arches, this club offers something unique for anyone who visits.

SeOne

Located near under the railway arches in SE London area on Weston Street, this club is the largest in London. It opened in 2002 and holds over 3,000 people. The club was recently renovated with better lights and sound and a 30,000 square feet dance floor. Many people come here to dance on its floor to various music such as Rave, Indie, Electro and House.

Aquarium Club

This club offers a very entertaining time with a huge dance floor, special blend cocktails and a Jacuzzi.

These only touch some of the various hot clubs in London. No matter which you decide on, plan on arriving early to avoid the long lines that are surly going to leave you with impatient anticipation.

If you are looking for a great nightlife spot in London you should head out to Cargo in Shoreditch, I discovered it a few years ago when I was dreaming of moving up north and looking into Hackney flats and houses for rent. They have not only great nightlife but also great South American Street food. Even though I didn’t end up moving North of the river, I still think that this is worth the treck. The food is reasonably priced and you can always find something that will appeal to the whole crowd. We have tried many of the menu options and they have not failed to surprise us. The variety of live music is very varied.

You can find everything from live bands to singer songwriters performing. They also have DJ’s that perform there as well. There is live music of some form every night at Cargo. You can always check online to see who is scheduled to play that night. The interior look is a bit industrial on the ceiling with the exposed pipes. The atmosphere is great and people are always very friendly and welcoming here. One other great feature of Cargo is that they actually have free entry to the club on Friday nights. That’s right I said free entry. Most clubs in the area have a cover charge every night and especially on a Friday night.

Cargo breaks this mold and offers no cover charge on Friday nights. Also if you are interested they have free Wi-Fi available as well. Cargo has also installed very large televisions around their garden terrace. If you are looking for a place to catch the world cup or another sports event they have you covered there also. Whether you are looking for great food, great music, or a great atmosphere I would suggest checking out Cargo if you are in the area. We have never been disappointed when going out there and I am sure that you will not be either. Cargo is our favorite nightspot in Shoreditch.

There was a time when the word of the US was taken very seriously by the rest of the world. They dominated the global stage in regards to political policy, economy, military, and to some extent culture. They also controlled various markets including becoming one of the leading red diesel suppliers during the war. But those days seem to a distant memory. The days of their global dominance have all but disappeared as a result of poor decisions and bureaucracy during the ill years of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. Their influence on American foreign policy has made the US significantly less influential on the world.

The US successfully influenced the world’s politics, economy, and culture during several pockets of history, specifically during the post war era (1945-1955), and during the end of the Cold War. But in the new millennium, the US has proven that their foreign policy is insignificant and flawed. They have tried to influence the world, specifically the economy of Europe and the military and culture of the Near East. They have failed in these endeavours of late, and it would appear that they are not the world giants they once were. Perhaps this is why they are willing to make peace and trade agreements with China, arguably the world’s true future power.

In this second decade of the 21^st Century, the Americans have shown great weaknesses in all three areas that they once dominated. Their economy suffers greatly, and thanks to a grand bailout by the rest of the world’s economic powers, the US avoided falling into chaos. Their military may still be the strongest in the world, but they surely are failing all of their missions, most notably their decade long war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Their influence culturally also has taken a serious knock. They are no longer seen as the leaders of culture, as the rest of the world has been subjected to poor cultural and religious forces coming from the US.

The problem with achieving effective foreign policy is that you must be seen as trustworthy. If this is missing none of the agreements or inputs will be effective nor noted. The current administration is trying to handle and improve relations with many of the world’s key powers but this is proving to be extremely difficult especially when you have countries that want to take advantage of the situation and the American’s need to dictate terms.

There are literally hundreds of walking tours in London, many of which I have been on and enjoyed, but I haven’t found one as intriguing and engaging as the London Conspiracy Walks.

Boasting to be the most thought-provoking tours in London, London Conspiracy Walks certainly live up to their billing. The new kid on the block for walking tours in London, the Conspiracy Walking Tours focus on a number of subjects, each with a fascinating conspiracy angle. Launching their first tour in April 2010 with ’The Westminster Conspiracy Walks; they examine the history of monumental buildings and statues in the area and cleverly blend them with modern day conspiracy theories to reveal how events of the past share troubling paralells with current world affairs.

The focus is on claims made by conspiracy theorists that the world’s elite are planning a New World Order in a quest for world dominance and it’s remarkable how many revelations uncovered in the Westminster Conspiracy Tour are mirrored with events throughout history.

You will learn how the quest of Richard I to capture the Holy Land in third crusades parallel the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan, how Hitler’s false flag operation that started World War II is not far removed from the attacks on the World Trade Centre and how the events of English Civil War could be repeated if the world’s elite and the independent financial advisors that work with them persist with their plans for a New World Order.

Find out how William the Conqueror’s coronation ceremony ended in chaos, why Charles I was executed and how the war in the middle-east is illegal. The Westminster conspiracy tour bombards you with a dekuge of interesting facts highlighting the courruption and scandals of the ruling classes and raising awareness of the secrets and lies cooked up in the political halls of Parliament.

The Westminster Conspiracy Walk leaves from Jewel Tower on Monday’s, Tuesday’s, Fridays and Saturday’s at 3pm and 7pm. Prices are £7 for adults and £5 for concessions and children under 16.

Nightclubs are loud. Very loud. So loud, in fact, that talking is largely impossible and anything other than screaming at deafening volume in to someone’s ear results in "What? Say that again?". Now picture this happening to you: You’re drunk. You don’t know how it happened, you swear you only had ten pints of beer and three double-shots, but it’s happened. How very strange. Walls seem far away, ugly girls seem oddly attractive. When you walk it seems as if the room is bending around you and it feels weird–and then you arrive on the dance-floor and try to speak to a girl. The girl looks at you with a bemused expression that makes little sense. You can tell she can’t hear you, and so you try to shout louder and louder–

Now, that’s the reason I don’t like nightclubs in general. You get a hundred people all trying to shout over already very loud music, and you have one big ear-bashing mess. And it would be OK if you could hold a conversation in the quiet part of the club, but there’s a problem with that too: it isn’t quiet. No, all the people who were sick of the noise have come here and made it noisy. When you get fifty people whispering in the same place they may as well be shouting.

I know that some of you will be screaming at the screen now, thinking Me a berk, and I have no line of defence, so feel free to attack me at will: yes, I understand that Nightclubs are not called conversing clubs. I get that you go there for fun, not swapping stories. But does that mean there can’t be one quiet place? I’d like to think that someone sometime might try and help us night geeks out for those times we actually want to tell someone about those permanent vet jobs that we have just applied for!

I like an old proper BBQ me. I’m talking about the sturdy, decent, made-out-of-brick kind that my grandad built with his bare hands. The basic kind which is almost prehistoric, but works perfectly well. I ask you dear reader: what is wrong with that?

But there is an enemy, of course, and it is in every garden centre throughout the modern world. It’s what the Green Goblin is to Batman: it is the dreaded gas BBQ, of course. The intruder. The high-spec, instantly-starting machine that will eventually drive the good old-fashioned BBQ in to the ground. I hate this contraption! Which is why, whenever I am in a garden centre, I will happily walk over to people looking to buy one of these machines and start putting them off and telling them whatever it takes to get them to listen. As they stare at me oddly, I make out I am a man with expertise on the matter and then I begin to fill their heads with tales of old-fashioned BBQs and why they should stick with a brick one. Nine times out of ten it works a treat! Sometimes I am intercepted by an employee who knows my face, but I have learnt to run fast away from them. Fitness is a necessary evil when you are defending such greatness. It’s a small price to pay.

I bet some of you are now asking “but what is it that you really have against the gas BBQ? It’s efficient, it’s quick and it’s good. Why do you loathe it so?” Well, that’s as may be, but it doesn’t change the fact that it ruins a BBQ experience. Think of the children people! Think of all the poor children forced to grow up with a gas BBQ. Now remember the days before gas–see what I am saying?

Speaking of awesome times with friends: news on the holiday, I have finally been able to figure out what everyone is going to owe me for the Caravan insurance for our holiday this October. Please make an effort to get this to me by Tuesday so I can get it sorted out before we are ready to leave.

We all have goals. For all of us, there are certain things in life that we want to accomplish, whether that is financial goals, career goals, personal goals, or romantic goals. But for some, reaching your goals is sometimes too difficult and often forgotten.

To reach your goals, one important element is to be aware of your goals on a daily basis, not just in passing or as a fleeting thought. You must always be aware of these goals; if not, you are sure not to realise them. So, to visualise your goals daily, it is necessary to write them down. Make a list of what you want to accomplish and place it somewhere so that you will see it every day, such as your fridge or your night table. You must begin every day trying to achieve your goals, even if your goals are long term.

On your list, explain what you want to accomplish, and why. Explain to yourself why this goal is important. Also, include a time-line. For example, if you want to reach a certain level of employment, write down each promotional goal and when you want each stage to be completed by. This will give you a constant idea of how your progress is coming along.

One thing that has proven to be successful is to create a picture board that goes with your goals. Simple magazine cut-outs of your goals will help you visualise what your goals are and keep them from disappearing in your mind (for example a man in a business suit sitting at a large office desk overlooking the city can represent your career goals, or a picture of your dream house if that is what you want).

Keeping your goals fresh in your mind and reminding yourself every day of their importance are key factors to actually obtaining your goals.