karaoke @ home : Setting up a Karaoke system at home

 Karaoke is excellent entertainment for people of all ages. You most like experienced karaoke in a bar or club or perhaps a wedding reception. The karaoke host would have had a large selection of songs to choose from and a professional sound system. They would have used a karaoke machine with discs or a laptop computer and song files.

A growing number of people are investing in a karaoke system for their home. There are few things better for livening up a party. You can also save a substantial amount of money by staying at home and entertaining yourself. Being able to practice songs before performing them in public is another plus.

When you think of a karaoke system for your home you may envision an all-in-one boombox type of system. While these are certainly preferable for some applications, and come in a variety of sizes, power ranges, and prices, they do leave you with limited options and can not be considered a "professional" karaoke system.

The first thing you will need to decide is which type of player you will use. Your choices are a karaoke disc player, a hard drive karaoke machine, or a laptop computer with software player. There are pros and cons to each.

A multi-format karaoke disc player is the least expensive option. These will play CD+G and DVD karaoke discs and have features like digital key control and single play. Some may have a "vocal cancel" feature that reduces the volume of the lead vocals on some standard audio disc song tracks. The big downside to this player is having to handle, maintain, and store discs.

The sound system is independent of which type player you opt for. The basic components are an amplifier and mixer (or powered mixer), PA speakers, and microphones. For saving space and ease of setup a powered mixer is the best option for a home karaoke system. These come in a wide range of sizes, power ratings, and prices. A powered mixer with at least 4 channels and a total power output rating of over 400 watts will work great for a home system.

PA speakers are what separate a karaoke sound system from a high powered stereo. While high power rated stereo speakers perform well with recorded music they are unable to handle the live vocals of karaoke. Select a pair of 2-way or 3-way PA speakers with a combined power handling rating that exceeds the output rating of your powered mixer. I recommend no smaller than a 12" woofer.

Opt for good quality microphones. You can use any TV for displaying the karaoke. How you connect to the TV depends on the video output options of your chosen player.

The karaoke music could easily become the most expensive component of your system. The discs are more expensive than standard audio CD's and many contain just 9 songs. CD+G is the most common karaoke format and by far the largest selection of song titles are found on CD+G discs. In fact, I suggest that you forget about any other type of karaoke disc. All karaoke disc players support CD+G discs and the
hard drive players will import the songs from them. There is software that will rip the song tracks from CD+G discs to a compressed format that is used by karaoke hosting software.

There are various cables you will need to set up the karaoke system. The exact cables needed will depend on the type of components you chose and the setup area. I think you are going to find that connecting everything together is less complicated than you first imagined.
Much less complicated than installing a DVD player and surround sound in my opinion.

So there you have the basics of a professional home karaoke system. This will rival the sound of the commercial systems you sing on at the karaoke bars. More than satisfactory for throwing a great karaoke party.

Happy Singing!

source:wiseguy.articlealley.com

Traditional Easter Eats Around the World.

See what people in different countries serve in honor of the holiday. Symbolic or steeped in tradition, these culinary mainstays make Easter a front-runner of food-friendly holidays everywhere.   Happy Easter.

Hot Cross Buns

 

Traditionally eaten in the UK during Easter time, these little buns are flecked with currants or raisins and have a cross etched and/or frosted along the top. Many believe the tradition was started by the Anglo-Saxons, who crossed the buns to honor the four quarters of the moon. Now the cross is widely used to symbolize Jesus’ crucifixion. Photo: Shutterstock

Paskha

“Paskha” means “Easter” in Russian, but it is also the name of this traditional Easter dessert. Made primarily of cream cheese and cottage cheese—foods traditionally forbidden during Lent—it’s speckled with dried fruit, molded into a pyramid shape and stamped with the letters “XB,” which stand for "Christ has risen" in Cyrillic script. Photo: Thinkstock

Paskelbrygg

Breweries in Norway began making this special blend of “the best local beers” in 1934, but it met a lot of opposition from Christian groups. After World War II, however, the tradition picked up popularity and is still a common holiday brew today. Photo: Shutterstock

Red or Green Easter Eggs

Outside the U.S., the Easter custom of dyeing eggs (symbolic of rebirth and thus the resurrection) goes beyond DIY crafts. In Greece, eggs are dyed red to represent the blood of Christ; in Germany, eggs are dyed green and exchanged on Holy Thursday, when other green foods, like veggies, are consumed, as well. Photo: Shutterstock

Paçoca de Amendoim

More commonly referred to as just “Paçoca”—not to be confused with the salty meat dish of the same name—this Brazilian Easter treat is made of crushed peanuts, sugar and cassava flour (and has a taste likened to the insides of a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup). The easy-to-dole-out candy has long been served during holiday procession walks. Photo: iStockphoto

Monas

Especially in Spain during Easter time, one is likely to see elaborate chocolate sculptures called "monas" (first established during the 15th century in Catalonia) gracing displays. The figures and scenes, some of which can be seen at the Chocolate Museum in Barcelona, celebrate history and are more or less intended for entertainment. Photo: AFP/Getty Images

Colomba Pasquale

Made of natural yeast, butter, flour, sugar and eggs, this traditional Easter loaf, commonly served throughout Italy, is known for its panettone-like flavor and distinct shape: a dove, which represents peace or Christ. Before being baked, the bread is coated with almonds and coarse sugar. Photo: Getty Images

Herring

In Scandinavia, this saltwater fish—which is caught during spring around Easter time—is enjoyed in one of many preparations: pickled, raw or cured. Traditionally, the delicacy is served on a bun or alongside rye bread, potatoes, sour cream and akvavit, a special-occasion Schnapps. Photo: Shutterstock

Credit:  http://www.womansday.com/food-recipes/traditional-easter-eats-around-the-world-117631

For The People, By The People

Young Indian artists need crowdfunding, besides relevant lyrics, a distinct sound and a reality check,
but this is a great place to start. Whether it’s for a gig or a new album, a growing number of music
 enthusiasts are willing to lend voice and support.

Last September, close to 10 promising bands, mostly from Mumbai, took to the stage for their debut
show at Control Alt Delete, an event that was completely funded by its 600-member audience. Rishu Singh,  manager of bands such as BLEK, who coorganized the gig, claims to have raised a sum of Rs 95,613 on the crowdfunding platform Wishberry within a month, posting a daily update on the day’s collections on Facebook.

In fact, the Mumbai gig managed to get online contributions from Chennai, Gurgaon and even Washington. “We needed about Rs 90,000 to make the gig happen excluding the bands’ fee,” says Singh, “We finally  raised Rs 1,64,000 including contributions at the gate and each of the 10 artists got a fat, princely sum of Rs 7,000 .”

A crowd of contributors placing their money and faith in events like Control Alt Delete is in stark contrast to the other side of the coin: the frustrating reality where organizers and venues find it tough to draw audiences to gigs across the country.

American performer Amanda Palmer, who is one of the biggest success stories on international crowdfunding site Kickstarter [she raised $1.2 million within a month] wooed the crowd by offering everything from digital downloads to CDs, vinyl and even dinner and private performances alongwith a photoshoot with her band.

Though many attribute the early success of crowdfunding to initial euphoria, others feel it could be the beginning of an alternative movement against the money mintinglabels. Musicians, for their part, are only hopeful that this new online avenue will finally give them a voice. Whether crowdsourcing will help indie India is a matter that we will only find out in the coming years.

source:rollingstoneindia.com

Exam 2013: Exam v/s Food.

Exam time has almost arrived and every parent wishes to help their children stay physically and mentally healthy throughout this time.

Why eat breakfast?
Children should never skip breakfast as it causes lack of concentration in studies and weak memory. This meal is very important since it meet the needs of breaking the fast of 7 to 8 hours of sleep.
Breakfast can include oats, wheat flakes, milk, stuffed vegetable or panner chapattis with curd or sandwiches, egg or sprouts or idli. Avoid butter, ghee, cheese, and other oily foods.

Reason: These foods contain high level of protein that activates neurotransmitters and stimulates memory.

Why fruits and vegetables?
The best diet food during exams is lots of fresh foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, sprouted pulses, fish and egg.

Reason: These foods help to activate memory by stimulating the release of neurotransmitters, brain chemicals involved in receiving, processing, storing, and accessing information optimally which are needed most during exams.

What to drink?
It would be good to have health drinks or soya drink instead of tea and coffee since tea and coffee are stimulants and cause sleep disturbance, muscular tension, anxiety. Also a few crushed almonds blended with milk or fresh fruit juices can add as energy drinks.
The best liquid to drink before and during an exam is water as it speeds up brain function.

What to do for physical fitness?
Eat a light meal if you plan to stay awake throughout the night. Also avoid oily or fried snacks as they will make you sleepy.
Remember gentle walking, swimming, jogging, cycling and jumping supports memory function and help in reducing the stress level.

What are worst foods?
The worst foods are all the processed ones that include soft drinks, cookies, cakes and junk food that should be avoided as they inhibit brain function.

Credit: http://www.indiancolleges.com/career-news/Exam-2013-Exam-v-s-Food/3547

Is it Too Late for You to Learn How to Play the Guitar?

It is a common misconception of many people that you have to start young to learn a skill, since you won't have the flexibility (and the time) when you try to learn at an advanced age. While this may be true in some talents like ballet dancing and contortionism, anyone can learn the guitar at any age.

Guitar is among the most popular instruments and the easiest to play that is why many musicians prefer guitars as their constant companions in composing songs and performing in gigs. However, you do not need to be a musical genius to be able to master the guitar. By attending guitar lessons for beginners, you
 can get the hang of the stringed instrument in a short time depending on your dedication.

Why Is It Never Late To Learn the Guitar?
No matter how old or busy you are now, it is still not late to learn how to play the guitar. First, since guitar-playing is a kind of music, it helps ease your emotions. It can be your creative outlet from your day job and every day responsibilities. Learning guitar from a group class can also be a great way for you to socialize with people who has the same passion as you.

If you are not into group classes, you can just opt to make your guitar classes as a way to bond with your child (if you are a parent). If your child is fascinated with learning the guitar, you can also pitch into his or her classes, so you learn the instrument together.



How Long Your Lessons Should Last?
Typically, if you regularly attend your classes in a span of one to two months, you should be able to learn how to strum a couple of chords and pluck single string songs, making it possible for you to play easy guitar songs. By continuing your lessons for three to six months, you'd be able to play more difficult songs
 with more complex technical elements. Such songs require hammer-on, pull-off, and other simple techniques in lead guitars.

For a year of continued classes, you should be able to play intermediate level songs such as those popular guitar songs, riffs, blues, and more. As you progress with your lessons, you'll discover that you get to learn new things about your instrument day after day. All you need is a reliable teacher or a friend who is patient enough to teach you the basics and answer your queries about the process of guitar-playing.

source:http://www.articlesbase.com

Best Wines for Indian Cuisine.

                     Finding wines to suit Indian dishes rich in spices involves tasting sessions and exploration of flavours. Many well known wine drinkers and good food specialists have  conducted such research and have discovered particular wines that do give the palette an enjoyable union when consumed with Indian cuisine.

Here are some of the popular wines chosen to pair with Indian and South Asian cuisine:

• Gewürztraminer - A white wine from the region of Alsace in France which is mildly sweet. Particularly suited to South Asian dishes that are tandoori based or rich in masalas, herbs, ginger, garlic and cardamom.
• Sauvignon Blanc, Cotes Du Rhone or Australian Shiraz – Good accompaniment for tikka dishes and tandoori Prawns and paneer dishes.
• Riesling - White German type is the best. Often fruity wines, flavored with apples, plums, and peaches, they have a high acidic content and are mildly sweet along with being tart. It is best paired with curried dishes such Rogan Josh, masalas and red meat dishes which are rich and heavy in flavour with spices.
• Rose – These wines are pretty dry. They have the depth of a red wine as well as the acidity of a lighter white wine. Hence, go great with heavy meat dishes, like lamb but not poultry.
• Pinot Noir – This is one of the most popular red wines for Indian cuisine. Mainly available in fruity flavors, this red wine is smoother and silkier in texture compared to other high-tannin wines. It is also a wine that goes well with all types of dishes, whether spicy or tangy, chicken, seafood, vegetarian dishes or paneer.
• Champagne or Sparkling Wines - Champagne and other sparking wines can be paired with several types of Indian cuisine, including vegetarian. If you have a rich & creamy curry, or something heavy like saag, makhani balti dishes, paneer and potatoes, Champagne goes well with it, as it offers a nice change-of-taste due to its bubbly acidic texture.

Other good pairing wines include, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Grigio and Verdelho. Wines of a tannic nature are not a good choice for Indian and South Asian cuisine such as Merlot.

It is very important to serve wines at a suitable temperature. Typical temperatures are, white wines at 5-8 degrees and reds at approximately 15 degrees. Spicy foods taste much more nicer if the wines are cooler. Also, the alcohol content of the wine should not be above 12% proof. Most wines vary between 10.5-12.5% alcohol.

Choosing a wine for a meal is always down to personal preference but we hope the tips have given you a little guidance to finding that right pairing for one of the most wonderful and popular cuisines in the world.
 

Credit: http://www.desiblitz.com/content/best-wines-for-indian-cuisine

Veeraswamy..oldest Indian Restaurant in London

Veeraswamy is the oldest surviving Indian restaurant in the U.K, and possibly the world.
It is one of London's oldest surviving restaurants.
The Veeraswamy Restaurant was established by Edward Palmer in 1926 in Regent Street. Palmer was a retired Indian Army officer and in 1924-5 had run the Indian section at the British Empire Exhibition, Wembley, where his company, E. P. Veeraswamy & Co., Indian Food Specialists, sold spices, chutneys and curry pastes at the café..

The British tradition of drinking beer with a curry is said to have originated at Veeraswamy's when the Prince of Denmark visited and decided to send a barrel of Carlsberg to the restaurant every Christmas thereafter.

Veeraswamy is decorated to maintain the air of 1920s Indian sophistication with which it opened back in 1926 and reflects the Maharaja’s palaces of the period. The restaurant has been the rendezvous of rich, famous, and fashionable lovers of Indian food. Customers included Edward - Prince of Wales, King Gustav of Sweden, Pandit Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Charlie Chaplin, King Hussein of Jordan, and Marlon Brando.

London’s oldest Indian restaurant situated on Regents Street. Open in 1926, this historic Indian eatery recently received a complete transformation with a décor that reflects its original 1920’s glamour. Vibrant Indian colours and jewel coloured lighting set the scene at this first floor restaurant. The menu has also been given an overhaul and dishes are much more bold and authentic. Indulge in flash grilled oysters served with a spicy salsa; raj kachni (puffed wheat poori filled with potato, lentils, tamarind and yogurt); chicken breast rolled with pine nuts, lemon and rose petals and the star of the show – the lobster Malabar curry. There are also numerous seafood dishes inspired by the Southern coastal regions of India.

Veeraswamy has been serving first class Indian food to London’s diners for decades and is certain to do so for many more. A fantastic and legendary Indian restaurant in which to enjoy a romantic evening in the West End.