KramKoob Article Vault

Need a picture frame? Just about every store in America carries them. Run there and buy one, and you can hang that picture on the wall tonight. But why might you want or need a custom picture frame instead?

• Your picture doesn’t fit in standard frames. For one reason or another, you have a print that could be an inch or two (or more) different from the standard picture frame sizes. Having a frame cut to match it is necessary in this situation.
• This is a work of art. A special painting or photograph may want a special frame. A good picture frame really accents a work of art and brings out its best qualities. Combine that with custom matting and you can have a piece that will draw the eyes of everyone in the room.
• You want a different material. Chances are, the standard frames you will find will either be wood or plastic, and both will be cheap. A custom frame can be any material you want or need, including several types of metals. It can really make a difference in the look and feel of whatever is hanging on the wall.

A custom picture frame is not always cheap, but investing in one will give your photograph or painting the proper treatment it deserves. Works of art deserve frames that complement them. That’s what a custom frame can do.

Do you love infomercials? Do you love products you’ve seen sold on TV? Do you have an idea for a product you’d like to sell on TV, or do you produce a product that the world needs to know about? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions and don’t have your own infomercial yet, what are you waiting for? Infomercial marketing is a time-tested way for inventors to make tons of money without a middle man. All you need it a good idea and someone to help you produce your first infomercial and you’ll be on your way to making millions!

Consider a guy like Ron Popeil – you may know him from the Showtime rotisserie commercials or ginzu knives. He got his start in direct response marketing with an invention called the egg peeler. He is a case study in why you don’t even need to be making a great product that everyone must have in order to make millions; you just need a commercial that makes it look like your product is great and is something that everyone must have.

But how do you ensure that your product is a must-have? Considering that your only expense besides marketing your product is producing it and mailing it, you should probably spend a good bit of money on making sure that your infomercial creates as much product appeal as possible. This will invariably require enlisting one of the few infomercial companies with a track record of successful product launches. Though their rates may seem outrageously expensive, consider that they are your entire marketing, sales, and advertising department, in addition to being the people who handle all the logistics of making an infomercial – getting an audience, casting a spokesperson, hiring a caterer; all things that would make infomercial-making your full-time job if you weren’t already an inventor (or a crafty entrepreneur.)

The success of direct response marketing is a testament to the truth of the American dream: only in America is it possible for such marginal ideas to become monetized in such a big way. Companies that make infomercials are the partner you need if you have an idea to get rich – or at very least have an idea that could, in some ‘not typical’ cases, have the result of making someone else – perhaps a paid endorser – very rich as well. Call now! What do you have to lose except for your small bank account?  

Guitar picks or plectrums as that is the technical name are one of the great mysteries of the world. They are made from quite a variety of materials. I even noticed some picks made out of meteorites! Wow over on hundred bucks.

That is a lot of doe $$$. I would have to: #1. Try one first and pay later. #2. It better be like going to the crossroads. I should be a much much improved player after buying that!

Most picks are made of a plastic polymer called polycarbonate, real tortoiseshell, tortex: is basically a synthetic tortoiseshell compound, celluloid which is the most common and oldest and can actually catch fire(no shredding, Yngwei), and acetyl/polymers.

There are numerous styles of picks ranging from thumb and finger picks. Generally used by finger pickers like Merle Travis and many other great acoustic finger pickers. The other style which is most common are flat picks. These picks are held between your thumb and index fingers. Used by almost all electric guitar players and myself. Some other quirky designs are: stubby picks, jellyfish picks, metal picks and specialized picks for special styles of play.

Thickness is another decision that must be made. Ranging from thin to thick. No need for extensive details on thickness. Thickness is a matter of experimentation.

Some folks swear by a certain pick and some people don’t find a big difference. I have played for a fair amount of years and I generally like a medium thickness pick. The main reason for that is I get less vibration in my hand with a thicker pick. I don’t like any of the weirdo space material picks, in fact some of the super hard materials can break strings, so think about that before you lay out a bunch of money for a meteorite pick!

Realistically speaking, I probably have not solved anything. My experience is that most picks are cheap. Buying a bunch of different picks and trying each one for a while is the best way to choose your pick. Perhaps my hearing has diminished a bit, but I really don’t hear a significant difference between pick types.

Even though I use thicker synthetic polymer picks I tend not to be to fussy about them. But I do have a preference for a particular brand and color! The brand is not mentioned because it is not fair to influence you. It is fun messing around with picks. Have at it.

Experience over the years is the next best way to make your choice. When you first start to play the guitar, you may end up with a large collection of types, shapes, colors and materials before you can fell good about what you are picking on your guitar with. Enjoy.