Alex Workshop

Humanity takes itself much too seriously and every experience does not have to be a life and death situation.

Before the industrial revolution came along, humanity was involved with living. Half the world’s population produced all the food that would supply the other half. Rural residents produced their own food and in doing so they maintained their connection with the earth.

When I was growing up, we always had a garden. Everyone had fruits trees of some kind growing in their yards. Listening to the radio or watching television was something you did after supper when all the chores were done-it was kind of a reward for work well done.

When we went to bed at night, we slept well. Our minds were at peace knowing when we go up everything would be as it was. People were content and happy to do a good days work. The middle class families demonstrated the good life.
The very poor and rich were struggling to maintain what they had. They were always under stress to improve their lot-always wanting more-always worrying about keeping what they had. All classes look at each other with fear and envy. The rich envied the middle class for their freedom-the middle class envied the rich for what they had. They both envied the poor for their perceived lack of responsibility and freedom. The poor wanted to be recognized and treated fairly-they wanted a part of what the other two groups had. Yet it was the middle class who separated the rich and poor. And it was the middle class who was the most prolific in symbolizing how man should live.

The rich always eager to collect more introduced a virus into society called consumerism. Consumerism was the next great plague that would kill off the middle class. As the middle class turned their heads away from what they had and focused on what they could have, they found themselves wanting more. They turned away from the simple pleasures which were expressions of their happiness and become addicted to the new wave of materialism that would consume them and destroy their way of life.

The rich introduced new products and services they said would free up middle class. All this extra time would be spent leisurely with friends and family. However there would be a hefty price for all these goods and services. This required the middle class to move from their fields and gardens to find good paying jobs in the cities to pay for the new consumerism. The quality leisure time traditionally spent with family, friends, and community was now spent working harder to pay for the goods and services. We are isolated and cocooned ourselves. We live in front of the TV because we are too tired to interact with others. The virus has a strong hold and the middle class has shrunk to almost non-existence.

The middle class was duped into believing it was not happy and happiness could be found in consumerism.

Humanity now finds itself searching for what it already had-happiness. It has tricked itself into believing things will bring it happiness. “I will be happy when I get my new car.” “I will be happy when I purchase my new 72″ plasma TV.” “I will be happy once I move into my new home.” But people are finding out happiness doesn’t always come with the new product or is very short lived. We have convinced ourselves into believing only “things” bring happiness.

All of us have experienced being excited about acquiring something new, only to find it didn’t live up to our expectations, was defective, or not as advertised. Were we happy?

The illusion of acquiring more happiness outside of ourselves has not worked and it is observable-something went wrong! How were we tricked?

We experienced happiness when we were not too busy looking for it. By nature, happiness is what we are naturally and what we do expresses our happiness. Happiness is a choice we make first and then we express it. In your mind you must be happy and then you seek to do things which reflect your happiness-you do happy things. We have it all backwards, and it is why we are suffering now. We are experiencing consumerism induced happiness-it is synthetic and unnatural, and it is designed to drain you and take all your energy and resources.

The new religion of consumerism has not enlightened us. In fact it has taken us away from enlightenment. It has taken us down a path of searching for what we already are by nature, and it is the reason we cannot find it. You cannot find what you already are. To experience happiness you must be happy first and then express it physically in what you do.
Enlightenment does not bring you happiness. Searching will not bring you there.

There is a Buddhist expression; “Before enlightenment comes chopping wood and carrying water, after enlightenment comes chopping wood and carrying water.” It is all there is, and somewhere in between you experience happiness. Happiness will always lead to the simpler life. It does not mean we have to give up the things we desire. It simply means we should not take on more than what we are able to manage while maintaining our ability to experience happiness.

Roy E. Klienwachter
http://www.articlesbase.com/motivational-articles/chopping-wood-and-carrying-water-75545.html

Before you should decide whether or not taking part in a writing workshop is right for you and your writing you should first understand just what a writing workshop is.

A workshop is an educational format where an expert shares information on a focused topic over a short period of time. Some workshops are intended to be simply informative while others involve more hands-on activities. Today there are many options for enjoying a workshop: you can attend workshops in person, view them on television or tape, or participate in an online workshop.

So now that you know what a workshop is you can see how this format can readily be adapted for writers. Writing workshops can cover the basics of writing, writing challenges, topics related to publication and careers in writing, or specific research subjects. Some of these programs are featured as part of larger events, such as conferences, while some groups or individuals offer them as one-time events. Some organizations, institutes and educational programs offer workshops to their students or members while others open those workshops to the community at large.

Why would a writer want to attend a workshop? What benefit could it be?

Join the writing community. One of the strongest benefits you can receive from attending such a gathering is getting to know other writers. Writing is a solitary profession and can be very lonely. Enjoying the company of other writers and talking about writing with people who really understand your joys and worries can be wonderfully energizing to you personally as well as your writing. You can also make contacts that may lead to support and growth of your writing or perhaps even professional advancement. You never know when the friend you make today might be in a position to recommend you to an editor or publisher down the road.

Learn something new. No matter what level your writing career there are always lessons to be learned from other writers. Sometimes there are research strategies and shortcuts or perhaps it is a method for dealing with writer’s block. You can learn market news and contacts as well as important information about reviewing contracts. Workshops are generally geared toward a specific genre or market niche and offer a wealth of specialized information depending on whether you write about crime or food.

Improve your craft. Generating new work or revising existing pieces is often a large part of attending a workshop. Sometimes you must bring something with you, create a project as part of the workshop or are inspired by the gathering itself. Sometimes talking with others or listening to the presenters causes you to suddenly rethink a stalled project or inspires a new one. Whatever the impetus there is definitely an increase in production after attending a workshop and that is the surest way to improve your word craft.

If you have not taken part in a writing workshop in the past then perhaps you might consider doing so in the near future so you can join the writing community, learn something new, and improve your craft.

Deanna Mascle
http://www.articlesbase.com/careers-articles/why-you-should-take-part-in-a-writing-workshop-72817.html

Hard wood floors are a beautiful addition to any home of any style, and besides adding beauty to a home, they add value. There is a wide choice of colors and types of woods to choose from to suit any style of decorating.

Here are just a few of the many types of hardwood flooring that are available today:

- Plank. This is a wide strip of wood, between 3 to 6 inches wide. It easier and faster to install than other types, and suits a certain look like colonial.

- Strips. Smaller strips of wood (about 3 inches wide) serve to make a room appear larger.

- Solid. This is one large piece of wood to cover the entire floor. Usually custom made and very durable.

- Parquet. These are squares of wood about the size of tiles. They can be either glued down or nailed down and are laid in different patterns to create interesting designs.

Hardwood floors are available finished or unfinished. Finished floors have the finish put on at the factory. This makes them easier to install, but it also makes them more expensive. Many people, however, feel the time saved on staining and sanding may be well worth the extra cost.

An unfinished floor is laid down and then the wood is stained, sanded and varnished. Since a number of coatings are required, and each coating must be dried and sanded by floor sander, this takes at least a few days.

IF you are ordering wood flooring for your home, one of the most critical steps is to measure properly. You must make sure the sub floor is perfectly level, or you must place asphalt tiles to level it sufficiently. For a finished, professional look, remove the moldings and baseboards before installation. The boards should be installed starting from the center and working your way out. Using a saw, cut the planks or strips to fit corners. Seams should be staggered as each piece is laid. Whether you are laying hardwood, bamboo, cork or pergo flooring, these steps should be taken.

Hardwood floors should be nailed to the dub floor and into the joists so prevent he floor from moving. This will prevent the floor from squeaking.

The floor has to be sanded after it has been laid. You can rent a floor sander at a rental center or a home improvement store. Be careful to sand evenly by keeping the sander moving; otherwise you may have unevenness.

Take proper care of you hardwood floors by following the manufacturer’s directions. If the floor has a urethane finish, sweep it frequently to remove dust and debris that can cause scratches. Spills should be wiped with a damp towel, not soaked with a mop since excess water can damage the floor.

If your floors are waxed, you will have to wax and buff the floor periodically to maintain the shine. Use area rugs and mats to protect your floors. Also consider putting pads on the feet of your furniture to prevent scratches to the wood.

Leroy K. Calstard
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/hard-wood-flooring-is-a-beautiful-addition-to-your-home-104458.html

A discussion recently about conducting successful workshops led me to believe that very few people have the answers. It is ironic that the very people who are supposed to have all the answers, people conducting workshops, don’t really know how to capture and captivate an audience. It’s a shame that most people are being attracted to the more alluring and energetic voice, one that may not necessarily have the correct answer.

We’ve seen them on television and businesses hire them as motivational speakers, because that’s really all they do. They transfer their high energy to you and make you want to jump out of your seat and go get something done. But what it is that you want to do, you don’t even know yet. You don’t have the answer to that one. You’re just a ball of energy ready to explode and make things happen, but you don’t have a cause.

We’ve seen the other too. We’ve seen the guy who knows what you need to do and how to do it. He’s the hired training officer for your company who reads through all of the directives and puts them into a language that you and your fellow workers can understand. He’s the guy who can help you get further ahead in life and really succeed at what you do, but you fall asleep in his training sessions because he never learned how to deliver his information with as much as enthusiasm as the expert public speaker who comes at a high price.

Workshops don’t need to be dog and pony shows where you literally have to do a somersault to keep your audience interested in what you are saying. But, you do need to lighten up a bit and care about your delivery. It’s not difficult at all and you don’t need a few years in college or even a college course to improve your public speaking skills. All you need are a few tips to remember. I’ve written several other articles about conducting successful workshops. And I’ll continue into the future because I feel there is a real need here.

Let’s begin with the fact that most people don’t feel comfortable speaking to a group no matter how small it might be. This leads to a level of anxiety. It’s understandable so acknowledge that you are going to be nervous and then, work toward getting over it. Tip #1 then is to take as much thinking as you can out of conducting your workshop.

The more that is in place beforehand, the more you have rehearsed and prepared, the less you have to think while conducting your workshop. Have a list of key points that you want to deliver. Have them readily available while you are conducting your workshop, so that you can refer to them any time you need them. For each key point, know what you want to say about it. Go over those explanations several times until you almost know them like the back of your hand. Now, as you move through your workshop point by point, you only need to refer to your notes for the key points. But, you’ll be able to talk in an informal language that is more inviting to the listener.

Eliminate repetitious wording. Important concepts should be repeated purposefully. The rule of thumb is that anything important enough for an audience member to remember should be repeated three times. Three times and three times only. Make it a consistent practice throughout your workshop so that your audience can get into a rhythm with it. But, saying a certain word over and over out of nervousness can be eliminated easily by knowing exactly what you mean to say before you say it. Successful public speaking is the transfer of important information in deliberate terms. Deliberately say and deliberately mean what you say. It builds the audience’s confidence in you that you know what you’re talking about. You are the voice of authority!

Allow questions to drive your workshop. If any question asked by a member of your audience is covered later in your workshop, simply say so and let your audience know that you will cover that in a few short moments. But if it is time that you hit on that point being questioned, it is a good gauge for your audience’s interest. Keeping the workshop interactive keeps it alive and helps you stay on cue. Answer a question, explain it in deliberate terms, take your time and think through everything you mean to say. Learn the art of beginning, explaining and wrapping up a point patiently, but efficiently.

If you follow these points and others that I already have and will continue to write about, you will be able to conduct a great workshop. My art workshop students learning to become art workshop teachers of their own practice these and several other skills. I’m literally proud of my students when I see them using the skills I have taught them. But the more important thing is watching the attendants react. When you see them interested and you see them captivated throughout the entire workshop, that’s when your workshop gives life back to you!

RivkyShimon
http://www.articlesbase.com/presentation-articles/workshop-scripts-developing-the-art-of-public-speaking-100036.html

This is the class description:

Students taking this class will work on a pre-selected project using either hand tools and/or small power tools. The project will include most phases of woodworking skills: cutting, gluing, sanding and assembly. Materials for this project will be furnished, however, students are encouraged to bring their own power or hand tools to use.

Any suggestions?

That would depend on how well the shop is equipped with shop tools and hand tools. Start by bringing a good apron, tape measure and pencil. If you are serious about woodworking in the future you'll want your own tools because you won't be able to use THEIR tools and shop forever. I do a lot of woodworking in my small garage. I started out slowly and over the course of a few years have 90% of everything I need. The best investment I made was the Ridgid portable table saw and portable sliding compound miter saw which cost me about $500. each, but have already paid for themselves over and over again. I also have lots of portable drills, circular saws and belt sanders. Because I also do remodeling of other people's homes, I own some pneunamatic nailers and power tools and a good air compressor to power them. Good Luck

Here’s an interesting woodworking project… making a guitar.  And, it’s not just any guitar but a copy of the famous Gibson Les Paul electric guitar.  The Les Paul is one of the most popular guitars used by Rock guitarists.

These videos will give you a good idea of what’s involved in making your own Les Paul.

A good resource book is How To Build Your Own Electric Guitar: Complete Instructions and Full-Size Plans

It’s a complete step-by-step guide to building an electric guitar—from the initial design to assembly and wiring—with clear instructions, full-size plans, and more than 400 color photos.

Technorati Tags: gibson electric guitar, gibson les paul, How To Make Your Own Electric Guitar, les paul, les paul electric guitar

Charles Neil and Bob Kloes give you a quick tip on how to correct the twist in a door. This technique can be used on chest or box lids as well.

Happy Woodworking & Be Safe!

www.antiquesbuiltdaily.com

woodworking, woodworking, woodworking, woodworking, woodworking, woodworking

Duration : 0:3:6

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In this episode, I review one of the most critical and fundamental aspects of woodworking: milling lumber. I review my 4-step milling process, which requires some big tools. And since I know many folks don’t have a fully outfitted shop, I also present numerous alternative methods for jointing edges and flattening faces. The jointer’s jumpin’!!!

Duration : 0:15:27

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In this episode, I discuss a fundamental woodworking joint, the mortise and tenon.

Duration : 0:9:42

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