Mixology as a career option

Mixology in simple words is the art of preparing mixed drinks. The drinks prepared as a result of employing this technique might be alcoholic as well as non alcoholic.

Finely mixed drinks always leave an impression. While even the best variant of your favorite drink might end as a short-term memory, the mystery behind the unusual punch that took you by surprise in the late night party will linger on your taste buds till the morning after. Be it martini, tequila or whiskey, a different mixture of the components each time is what adds the variety to your life.

Mixology is also a good career prospect as they are and will always be fewer in number than bartenders. Social Elite Staffing describes the ratio of bartenders to guests as 1:100 for parties and 1:75 for weddings. Imagine, if in a party with a crowd of more than thousand guests, there is only one mixologist, how much special and demanded he’s gonna be.

What makes mixologists needed

Most people who have tried to unwrap the basics behind making a cocktail would know that the basic components of a cocktail are the base, the modifying agent and flavors and colors. But what after that? Do you all know the various categories of mixes and cocktails, what is the basic differentiating factor between a Daiquiri and Jack Rose?

In today’s party-crazy world, having a good knowledge of mixology can help you a great deal as the person who can take control of the party can take control of a lot of things, and drinks are the trump card.

Mixologists, with more extensive and in-depth training than bartenders, know the most unique things about drink recipes, sour drinks, non alcoholic drinks and a lot more, and can use this knowledge to the best of their advantage.

The art of mixing drinks

The art of mixing is one art anyone and everyone who has a taste for fine drinking would love to possess. As suggested in David A. Embury’s classic cocktail book The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks, some of the basics that need to be ensured for a quality cocktail are that the quality of liquor should be absolutely top-class, not containing heavy agents. It should also have a good appearance and aroma.

Mixologists would know how to use substituting agents and how small additions can modify the taste and the overall effect of the drink. Icing is another important aspect that will be covered in all mixology courses around the world, because, as you know, people have different preferences for temperatures.

Schools and courses

Some of the popular schools and universities that are imparting education and professional courses on mixology are The Columbia School of Mixology, University of Mixology (California), Mixology Group (UK), Professional Bartending Schools of America (all over America) and Universalclass.com (Online class). Myles Cunliffe, the director of Mixology Group says "Once you've completed our course, we believe that we've provided you the knowledge and confidence to go out and get a higher profile job. Meaning you can enjoy work more, get better pay and have more time off."

Myles Cunliffe, Director, Mixology Group, teaching a few tricks of the trade to prospective mixologists.  

  

While studying mixology from these universities, you would learn it from expert, experienced mixologists and bartending experts who have traveled all around the world; with hands on practical teaching, allowing you to make the mistakes. You can also try online classes, which are imparted through videos or video conferencing.

While each school or university has a different course curriculum, the major aspects that will be covered in most mixology-based bartending course would include drink recipes, garnishes, basics of and around the bar, pricing, serving techniques, substitutes, inventory management and of course, the liquor laws.

Whichever school you learn from, make sure your mind is always open to new ideas, from within and from others. Wisdom is one of the key drivers of smartness, and one who is wise can lead the way.

A good knowledge of the various mixtures can help you impress friends, win over dates, win competitions and land a job, or if lucky, a business opportunity. The scope of learning and winning in the field of mixology is infinite, it’s just up to you how you tap your potential.

So why not give this option a try?

An Untold Story of Success

Woman, a word that whenever appears carries with itself a sea of stories. A story of struggle, a story of discrimination, a story of freedom and many such untold, unheard stories. Well, I have a different story to tell today. The story of Women, Sports and Discrimination. Do you even know that when the Olympics games began in 1896, not even a single woman athlete was allowed to compete? And the most shocking part of that Olympics was that, even if a woman was found watching it, she was punished severely.

But to find the gender discrimination in sports, we don’t have to go so far since we have plenty of examples right at our homes. The very sight of a barby doll fills our live barbies with delight. But have you ever thought why we gift a baby girl with a doll and a baby boy with a toy car or maybe a toy gun? Isn’t it a sort of discrimination?? Just give it a thought!

However, later the Olympics authority gave two explanations for excluding women from Olympics;

• Women are not too healthy to compete
• Not all the women prefer playing everywhere, and if women seek to participate in Olympics, a women’s sport has to be practiced widely in not less than 25 nations

But very soon the women cleared both these blocks and proved their physical fitness first to prove their eligibility. In 1900, Olympics allowed not more than 22 women to participate in Olympics but this was a partial success. Why partial, because they could only compete in two games viz. golf and tennis.

A long way to go!

Every year since then, we can notice some changes in the criteria of Olympics as far as a woman’s participation is concerned. And the struggle continues till today. After declining many formal petitions it is only in 2009 that the authority gave its approval to women ski jumping. Ski jumping “seems not to be appropriate for ladies from a medical point of view..” said Gian Franco Kesper, the then-Ski Federation president (2005).

The number of sports event for women keep on changing every year but with terms and conditions applied. The women’s boxing event got accepted by the IOC only in 2012. But with the condition that the women competitors should wear skirts while playing since it would help the authority distinguishing them from the male competitors since every fighter has to wear a headgear during the competition. Whereas, some nations found it more elegant.

However, the London Olympics (2012) marked a remarkable increase in the women’s participation. There were around 45% women participants it. And almost 59 women participant won medals including 29 gold ones. The figures suggest a positive and celebratory future for women in Olympics or any of the sport event.

On their way to success!

 But despite of these promising figures there are a few Muslim nations that still discourage their women athletes to prove their competency publicly.

Recently, the whole world celebrated International woman’s day on 8th March and on 9th March, we witnessed Nagoya International Women's Marathon that actually symbolizes women’s empowerment and their competency in sport’s events.

The 20 or 30 minutes, that you enjoy watching a women’s tennis, boxing or racing event, has behind it decades of struggle. The 20 or 30 minutes in which women try to give their best, prove their ability has many decades of hard work, determination and of course many untold stories of struggle. 

Success! Success! Success!

A Traveler or A Tourist?

“Come on! I am going there as a traveler, not as a tourist,” stated are the words of a friend of mine who left the country for Italy last Friday. When his mom asked him to come back early that’s what he replied with. Don’t know about his mother but I found this statement very catchy and interesting. Thus, have made the statement food for my blog today.

A Traveler or A Tourist?

“Tourist” or “Traveler”, generally we use the two terms interchangeably but actually there lies a huge difference between both of these. Take two different roads, one which is full of adventure despite of its unforgiving and inhospitable atmosphere while other is a smooth and most walked on since it is guided by the experience of others. The one who would choose the former road would be a traveler while the one who chooses the later would be a tourist.

Let us try to distinguish between the two on different parameters:

Planning - A tourist always has measured steps towards some set routes. He carries with himself a self-charted-out map. Whereas a traveler cares less for the routes and remains agile enough to change the route even at the eleventh hour. A tourist has planned routes while the traveler wait for the routes to plan for him.

A tourist always follows his schedule religiously even up to the limit that at some point of time he becomes slave of his schedule. He knows exactly where he would be after a week. Whereas, there is no such compulsion with a traveler. In fact, you would find him clueless about his next move.

Comfort- A tourist would care much for his comfort and to attain it, he would not even think once in spending a lot on quality hotels or resorts and also on hiring comfy cabs. Whereas, a traveler would find his comfort under a mosquito net, around campfire and by traveling in an overcrowded public transport. They literally lead a nomadic life during the phase.

Learning- By visiting a nation, a city, a place you indeed give pleasure to your eyes but did your mind get its food? The curious mind of a traveler remains active 24X7 in knowing about the things they can’t see around and want to know beyond what everyone knows. Whereas, a tourist remains quite active with his cameras and wanna capture the beauty of the place for once and all. But isn't this capturing limits the nature for him.

Interaction- A tourist has his interaction limited with a guide. He seeks whatever information the guide gives him. Hiring a guide actually curbs his opportunity to interact with the natives or locals. Whereas, a traveler tries to ask maximum questions with a native with his limited vocab and generally with some unusual yet amusing gestures. A traveler gets friendly and interactive very easily. He tries to grasp each and every minute detail without being a formal questioner.

What Next- Once home, a tourist gets the opportunity to share the pics with his near and dear ones via Facebook, WhatsApp and other social networking site. After a day or two’s rest, they get back to their old life. But you would find the same traveler with a different hairdo, interacting in a strange and broken language that too in a very different accent.

I think, we should earnestly thank these energetic and enthusiastic traveler because they are the one who spot the unknown places and later write about them. Such writings not only acquaint us with some unknown places but also extend our knowledge about what we already know.

Alabama History and Civil Rights Movement

As we mark the Black history month, I would like to celebrate my life as an African American. I was born in the beautiful state of Alabama. This state has amazing landscape. Alabama bears the footprints of Civil Rights Movement and the glorious history of liberation of blacks.

Center for learning

As a university girl, at the University of Alabama, I carry the history in my vision and thinking. While graduating with major in History at the university, I was introduced to history not only through lectures and books but by the writings on the wall, on campus and in cafeteria. My university days have shaped my ideals and beliefs. My professors who had seen the Civil Rights Movement in America were the living libraries of the historical events. Many of them actively participated in the movement.

One of my professors, who was a staunch Marxist, believed that capitalism is the root cause of racism. He argued capitalists believe that racism is important to sustain the class divide. He was a white American and was deeply critical of racism. He criticized that the capitalists used church to subjugate the blacks. Theology was used as a tool for the oppression of blacks and to uphold the superiority of whites.

Though I am not a Marxist, but I admire my professor because he was a man of letters. Extremely well-articulate with a towering personality, he made history walk in college lectures and informal chats. My interest in history grew more with his teachings and finesse in history.

University of Alabama carries the history of segregation. The African American students were not allowed to study there. The then governor of Alabama, George Wallace blocked the entry of African American students. His move raised a roaring controversy. Segregation was made unconstitutional in 1954’s Brown v. Board of Education but George Wallace was no short of adhering to the ideology of segregation.

President John F. Kennedy used deployment of National Guard troops under federal laws to dismantle segregation at the University of Alabama in 1963. This brought an end to the aggressive segregation divide at the University of Alabama. The entry of African American students ushered a new era in the history of liberation of blacks.

The rich history of Alabama does not stop only at the doors of University of Alabama but walks all the way through famous historical sites. The historical places which witnessed the Civil Rights Movement such as Birmingham saw the light of Birmingham Campaign. The golden pages of history also include the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

In 1963, the Birmingham Campaign led by Martin Luther King was launched. This served an important force in the Civil Rights Movement in America. The Birmingham Campaign marked the protest against segregation laws prevalent in the city.

 

The huge significance of Birmingham Campaign reflects in the words of President John F. Kennedy,  "The events in Birmingham... have so increased the cries for equality that no city or state or legislative body can prudently choose to ignore them."

Montgomery Bus Boycott is another glorious moment in the history of Civil Rights Movement. The arrest of Rosa Parks followed the Montgomery Bus Boycott. This was a turning event in the history of liberation of blacks. The Montgomery Bus Boycott brought the U.S. Supreme Court ruling which declared the segregation on public buses unconstitutional.

 

 

The rich history of Alabama speaks volumes. I feel blessed to be born in Alabama. My Alabama commemorates the Black history month along with millions of Americans. Let Alabama talk his history. Alabama continues to march in the hearts of people who stand hand in hand to fight against discrimination and oppression and pledge for equal and plural society.

Know about historical places around the world with ED World Historical Pedia Pro.

World History of Museums

The world history of museums is fascinating not only to historians and students but also to visitors as well. Museum visits take you back in history and get you introduced to kings and pharaohs, chariots and carts, guns and cannons. Know the golden World History of Museums and walk into the distant past. A Great Plan is all what takes you to World History of Museums! A journey with a lit candle!

Amazing Art

If you choose a weekend or a holiday for a visit to museum then you should be expecting rush and crowd. Most of the people get free time only on weekends or holidays to make a visit to museum with families and kids.

Museums often showcase themes that might interest you or that you might like to explore. If you happen to be a fan of George Washington or interested in knowing about the Civil Rights Movement in United States of America, then plan your visit around the time when Museums come up with such retrospectives. Don’t forget to do some research before you head towards a museum for the likely visit.

Museum visits give you the double joy of education and entertainment. Museums offer something useful to all kinds of visitors-families and kids, couples, researchers and students. Experience the unknown and know more the known with museums!

Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art and admire the beauty of the Gothic architecture. Explore the Vatican Museums in the Vatican City, Rome. Appreciate the beautifully decorated Sistine Chapel of the Vatican Museums painted by Michelangelo. Lost in the eyes of mesmerizing Mona Lisa in Louvre in Paris! Stop by the the Egyptian Museum in Cairo to make the Mummy return!

Mummy at Egyptian Museum

Last but not the least download the app ED World Historical Pedia to get a detailed information about all the renowned museums of the world, their location, entry timings and accordingly plan your visit. Know about other historical places across the world with ED World Historical Pedia.

ED World Historical Pedia Pro

Tour the World of Art with ED Art Lovers

Let's give another cheer for technology. The digital age has opened up a whole new world of possibilities for artists, art enthusiasts and travel aficionados. Art applications can become powerful tools to take virtual tour to art and cultural centers around the world. ED Art Lovers for android belongs on every art lover's device. With this app, get access to more than thousands of art centers around the world.

ED Art Lovers is designed to give you up-to-date information about Art Galleries, Theaters, Concert Halls, Dance Academies, Arts Academies and many more arts and cultural centers near you, in your city and around the world. With maps navigation information, this is a must-have for art and culture lovers, travel aficionados and all those who want the right information.

Travel with this app to world-famous art galleries to see Renaissance to Modern paintings. ED Art Lovers will inform you on everything from fine art galleries to modern art galleries, presenting with classic art centers you’re already familiar with or introducing you to new art centers never seen before.

Whether you're looking for a dance academy to watch a soulful dance performance, or a theater to watch great Shakespearean play and drama, this smartphone application can help you explore the center with ease. ED Art Lovers offers you your favorite art-centric places so that, wherever you are, you can have the desired cultural center at your fingertips.

Make your trip to world-class National Gallery of Art to admire paintings, exhibitions and events. Movie-lovers plan your visit to international film festivals across the globe. There’s even more: mark your favorites and read or write reviews about the app.

Come to world-famous Art galleries and experience the greatest art pieces! Explore the brushstrokes and hear the stories behind masterpieces by Leonardo, Renoir, Botticelli, Rembrandt and Van Gogh. Visit the Lourve in Paris, and admire the beauty of Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci.

The app includes a nifty Staples feature that lets you staple the art centers of your interest and save for quick reference in future. The Matchstix feature gives you a detailed view of all stapled art centers. And that's not all, share your experiences of your visit to art centers with your Travelogue.

Travel world’s renowned National Gallery of Art with this app to see the works of world's greatest artists Picasso, Matisse, Cézanne, Manet, Renoir, Gauguin and more. Walk your way to World Cinema, Classical and Contemporary Dance Performances and Photography Masterpieces!

Welcome to the World of Finance

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” -Benjamin Franklin.

This quote by Benjamin Franklin advocates a way of learning that asks one to participate in the whole learning process with great enthusiasm because only through such kind of involvement one may learn something once and for all.

After receiving worldwide applause for its language learning apps like LingoDiction, LD SAT  and many others, MediaAgility has now moved towards the world of finance. Yes, you guessed it right, the world of finance and accounting through its recently released app called LD Finance. Following the successful path of its previous apps, this one utilizes the exemplary features of Staples and Matchstix and also the Quiz that keeps you engrossed and captivated during the learning process.

LD Finance gives you an all out information about more than 87OO accounting terms and financial acronyms. These accounting terms have been adroitly placed under 17 broad categories like Banking, Accounting, Real Estate, Estate, Economics, Legal & Policies etc. Not only this, the UI of the app is also very appealing and keeps the users intact with curiosity. From a commerce or economics student to a successful entrepreneur anyone can use it to add to their knowledge. Let us discuss the app with all its features and noticeable aspects:

• The Leather bound book: The app opens up with a Leather bound book that actually banks all the terms related to commerce and financial accounting.

• The coin: Once you select a term, you automatically land on a coin with that term and its meaning inscribed on it. By flipping this coin you may view its preceding and succeeding terms.
• Staples: Staples gives you opportunity to get involved with the app by actually stapling the terms of your concern in a category prepared by yourself.
• Matchstix: It presents before you all your stapled terms.
• Quiz: The Quiz prepares you in a much better way by giving you the opportunity to first learn a category and then rate your learning by quizzing yourself on the basis of that particular category.

This application has been built using references from most trustworthy and acknowledged sources from across the financial accounting. The full-fledged knowledge about all these accounting terms is very important if you really want to deal with the world of finance or commerce and also to manage with your daily lives. The application helps you to learn these terms without consuming much of your time in a very effective and retentive manner while inviting a soulful participation from your part.

A sneak peek