How To Be Emo, Really!

How To Be Emo
From wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

HAVE you recently felt depressed? Alone? Abandoned by your family and friends? Misunderstood by the world? If you have, and like to express your feelings and emotions through poetry and music, chances are you're what today's society considers "Emo".

Steps On How To Become Emo:

1. Understand what Emo is. Emo has many meanings. Some would say it's only a genre of music, categorized by hardcore music with sad, Emotional lyrics. Others consider it's only a brief way to call someone emotional. Still, there are those who believe Emo is a life style and choose to live their lives the Emo way. Like any style, fashion or culture, the exact definition is up for debate and often varies according to personal expression. The term Emo is loosely associated with emotional rock; most Emo's like underground or Indie music.

2. Appreciate Emo music. Emo is a rock music genre, usually consisting of emotional lyrics and optional Screamo. Over the years, this music genre was usually seen as underground until recent times, making Emo music more popular than ever. This music sometimes consists of lyrics seen by many as "whiny," and "sensitive." Listen to a lot of Emo bands, and maybe even consider picking up an instrument, such as a bass or guitar. You could also try to play the violin, and if you invest enough time into it, Emo songs on the violin are incredibly Emo-sounding. The drums can also be a very good instrument. You may even want to write your own songs by writing poetry and turning it into songs.

3. Test yourself. Try listening to Emo music. If you end up liking this type of music, and come out wanting to download the songs after you’re done with the album, you’re probably a "true" Emo. Getting inner Emo is all a matter of finding out of you have it or not.

4. Dress Emo. After you have discovered your inner Emo, try shopping for a new wardrobe. Emo fashion has roots in both punk and goth. Wear tight jeans, tight shirts with Emo band logos on them, studded belts, and an old, black and worn down pair of sneakers. Girls can wear black skirts with striped socks or leggings. Leg warmers are also acceptable. For accessories go to Hot Topic and buy black rubber bracelets and any Emo-looking necklaces. Thick, black-rimmed glasses are not uncommon for Emo guys. Also, stripes and checkers are big in the Emo culture. Take an example from others Emo's you see around as inspiration, but do not copy, just do your own thing. Theres always more Emo points in thrift shop buys also.

5. Get an Emo hairstyle. Dye it black or brown with perhaps some blond or unnatural color streaks, especially in the bangs. If you are a girl, you may possibly want to cut your hair to a very short bob-like hairstyle but keep your bangs long, swept drastically to one side and covering your eye. Or, for those who like long hair, get many choppy layers and highlights. For a guy, you may want to spike up the back side, and pat down on the front side. You could also get your bangs/fringe dyed a lighter color than the rest of your hair.

6. Get the attitude. A lot of times, Emo is associated with being bitter, depressed, insecure and resentful. But at its core, you can be Emo because you're sensitive, introspective, thoughtful, and quiet. Don't ever be loud or in anyone's face; focus on your own emotional life.

7. Remember Emo's are people too! Don't be all glum if everyone makes fun of you! Remember you are still a person.

Source: How To Be Emo, Really!

This Yellow Is The Color of 2009

Yellow 135 is 'color of change, hopefulness, warmth and good cheer'
From The Washington Post

PANTONE has named Mimosa, an orange-juice tinted yellow, the 2009 color of the year.

First Lady Michele Obama lit up the inaugural ceremony and parade on Tuesday in a sunny shade of yellow, which Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, says is the color of change, of hopefulness, of warmth and of good cheer.

"We chose yellow based on the ... elephant in the room, the economy," says Eiseman. As an antidote to doom and gloom, dab your home with a dose of yellow. Eiseman recommends painting Mimosa in a front entry for an instant message of welcome.

Avoid overdosing by experimenting with small accessories, such as pillows, throws, plates and sheets.

Just in time for the news, major home retailers -- Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn and Williams-
Sonoma -- introduced bright new items for spring in "lemon," "citrus," "sunburst" and "turmeric."

How optimistic-sounding.

Source: This Yellow Is The Color of 2009

How To Start Freelancing

Freelancer, How To Find Clients
Talent is not enough, you need strong networking skills and client list

By James P. Ong
Editor, 88DB.com

FIRST of all, let's be clear what we mean by freelance.

According to Dictionary.com, a freelancer is "a person who works as a writer, designer, performer or the like, selling work or services by the hour, day, job, etcetera, rather than working on a regular salary basis for one employer."

Advantage: You’re your own boss, you control your time. Disadvantage: You’re your own boss, yet your own paycheck is not guaranteed.

Is being a freelancer difficult? No, after all, you will still be using the same skill sets you used to in your previous job. But it can be challenging, because you will need to multi-task and take care of such things as billing statements, bookkeeping, and filing. Just think of it as preparing yourself to become a business owner.

In the current economic scenario where people are losing jobs, some have no choice but to become a freelancer. Take heed, it’s not just the creative fields that employ freelancers. If you are an accountant, sales agent or a banker, you can also make a living out of freelancing or consultancy. And because companies are also working on a tighter budget, they are more open to outsourcing jobs to freelancers.

You still need to work hard at getting gigs, however. Talent is not enough, you also need to know people who can refer you to potential clients. Tell everyone what you’re doing, post ads online and in community billboards. Spread the word.

Here are more tips from Entrepreneur.com on how to find clients:

1. Develop a portfolio to demonstrate the scope of your skills. If that means working for no pay or low pay initially, do it. Samples of your work will be your best calling card.

2. Tell everyone you know―colleagues, friends, family, neighbors―about your new freelance gig. Referrals will make up the bulk of your business initially.

3. Join professional organizations―online or in the community―that serve your field. In addition to all the other benefits you'll gain, you'll also pick up insider tips of where to find work.

4. Join local organizations, like the chamber of commerce or Rotary club. "Creative people often overlook organizations like these, thinking they'll be filled with stiff bankers and businesspeople,” notes an authority. “And they may be―but that's who'll be hiring you to do your creative work.”

5. Volunteer in the community doing something you love, and you'll broaden your network of potential clients.

6. Cold call. Yes, everyone hates cold calling, but the reason freelancers need to do this is because it works. Another important point to remember is that freelancing doesn't solely mean doing the thing you love. It also means knowing how to sell and market your services. When starting out, about 90 percent of your time will be spent on sales and marketing tasks.

Source: How To Start Freelancing

How To Create Smokey Eyes With Eyeliners

Fashion makeup artist and 88DB.com member Fionna Lau shares her tips

I haven't met anyone who does not know or does not want to have smokey eyes makeup. Everyone loves the smoky eyes look. Do you know that you can achieve the smoky make up look by using eyeliners too? Yes!

Creating smoky makeup looks is one of the most popular eye makeup and timeless makeup ever known. It is always in fashion and suitable for all types of eyes. It can be worn as a casual everyday makeup or as a formal evening make up look. This eye makeup for Asians is an absolute favourite!

This smokey eye tip is for day looks -

1) Firstly, line the rim of your upper eyelids with black eyeliner pencil, making sure it goes into the lashline.

2) Go over the top of the black eyeliner with a brown eyeliner pencil starting from the outer ends of the eye to the centre of the eye.

3) Softly shade the eyelids using short strokes and smudge the brown eyeliner with your ring finger. For the bottom eyelids, rim with the brown eyeliner instead of black to soften the smokey eye.

4) Smudge the eyeliner along the rim with your ring finger, and draw another line again. For a more intense smokey look, you can do the same as the top lid - rim with black and followed by brown, and smudge. I prefer to use a more creamy formula eye pencil as it draws easily than a waterproof eyeliner pencil.

5) Pad a little translucent loose powder over the lids to seal in the creamy formula. Although it may smudge on the bottom lid during the day.

It doesn't matter as it adds effects to the overall raw smokey eye look!

Copyright © www.fionnalau.com

Learn how to create smokey eyes with eyeliners.

Wine Lesson #6: Grape Talk – Cabernet Sauvignon (Part 1/2)

LESSON #6: Grape Talk – Cabernet Sauvignon (Part 1/2)

Bordeaux's Lafite-Rothschild, Mouton-Rothschild and Latour, America's Screaming Eagle, Silver Oak Napa Valley, Heitz Martha's Vineyard, Opus One and BV George de Latour and Italy's Sassicaia, what do these legendary wines have in common? It's a grape called Cabernet Sauvignon.

WHAT is it about Cabernet Sauvignon that makes such legendary wines and they seem be forever young?

The thick skin of Cabernet Sauvignon produces a lot of tannins for the wine to develop structure for a well-balanced wine. Long hang-time (length of time spent on the vine before the grape is ripe for harvesting) enables the grape to develop richer phenolics which are essential for a wine to be complex otherwise all we get is a simple wine quite easy to forget.

The acids in Cabernet form the foundation needed for the fruit flavors of the wine to stay fresh while it improves with age for many decades. So why doesn't everybody just forget about the other 1,000 grape varieties and plant only Cabernet Sauvignon then?

Not all locations are suitable for Cabernet Sauvignon. It is quite partial to moderately warm and slightly arid climate. Too cold or too warm, in very rich soils or in locations starved for sun light and the resulting wines become herbaceous and lacking in fruit flavors.

It ripens later than many other varieties such as Merlot, so harvest takes place later in the year. This means it is particular susceptible to late season rains which can ruin an otherwise perfect vintage. Planting Cabs in places prone to heavy rains during that part of the year is really asking for trouble. Cabernet Sauvignon wine tends to be a bit too firm and muscular. To make it more approachable, other grapes such as Merlot for example is frequently planted for blending to add flesh and makes the wine a little suppler. Straight 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wines are more of an exception than a rule these days.

ANY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NEW WORLD AND OLD WORLD CABS?

Old World Cabernet Sauvignon red wines are packed with aromas of violets, cassis and cedar. From the New World regions, aromas lend towards chocolate, blackberry and pepper, with various degree of oak and earth. But Cabernets from both worlds converge on food pairings of red meat, intense pasta, venison and lamb. For the more sophisticated palates and armed with a matured say 15-20 year old vintage Cabernet, try kangaroo or quail with wine reduction sauce served with some high-protein quinoa.

Click here to read Part 2

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Wine Lesson #6: Grape Talk – Cabernet Sauvignon (Part 2/2)

LESSON #6: Grape Talk – Cabernet Sauvignon (Part 2/2)
Bordeaux's Lafite-Rothschild, Mouton-Rothschild and Latour, America's Screaming Eagle, Silver Oak Napa Valley, Heitz Martha's Vineyard, Opus One and BV George de Latour and Italy's Sassicaia, what do these legendary wines have in common? It's a grape called Cabernet Sauvignon.

Click here to read Part 1

HEALTH
Second to Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon comes packed with a high concentration of resveratrol which researches prove to help our bodies increase our good (High Density) cholesterol. Viticulture tells us that Cabernet Sauvignon grapes produce resveratrol to protect themselves, not us. Humans are not the only ones with a keen interest in longevity. Wines need a long life span to have any chance of achieving greatness.

Like all varietals, there are great renditions and there are the mediocre versions. And then there are the superstars from which legends are born such as these wines, recognized as wines of the last century. They are based primarily on Cabernet Sauvignon.

1945 Château Mouton-Rothschild
1961 Château Latour
1959 Château Lafite-Rothschild
1900 Château Margaux
1929 Château Haut-Brion
1974 Heitz Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
1968 Beaulie Vineyard George de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Down a notch, there are hundreds of labels to choose from. Try a Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon, a Silver Oak Napa Cab or a classic like Ch. Ducru-Beaucaillou and Calon Segur. Bear in mind that Cabernet Sauvignon needs time to age and mature before it can show you what it's got. Drinking a Cab too young is punishment on both the palate and the wallet. A minimum of 10 years of age would be a good rule for a good Cab. Even the good wines from New-World regions are beginning to emphasize cellar-worthiness.

Merlot, Shiraz, Zindanfel, Tempranillo, Sangiovese, they come, they shine and they retire. If there is any constant in the fluid world of (red) wine, it that the fact that Pinot Noir will always be noble but Cabernet Sauvignon will always be poured when the minds are tired of making choices and decisions.

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