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What Are The Recent End Of The World Theories?

2011-12-10T02:38:00.000-08:00

Most of the recent end of the world theories are connected with each other. These days, end of the world predictions have affected the minds of people. Some are freaking out about the rumors going on. In the past, there are end of the world theories that have failed. However, up until today, there are recent end of the world theories that has yet to come.

Here is the list of some of the recent end of the world theories:

Predictions About Armageddon - The world has witnessed two world wars over the past century. However, several prophets stated that the Final War between the good and the evil will take place in 2012. According to the prophecies coming from the bible, great Tribulation will happen all around the world. In addition, as 2012 nears, lots of natural catastrophes will wreak havoc. These days, some of the recent end of the world theories including earthquakes, famines and wars have become inevitable.

The Occurrence Of Pandemic Disease - Included in the recent end of the world theories list is the likely occurrence of a pandemic disease. A virulent disease will occur and will devastate humans all over the world. Several scientists supported the theory because of its higher chances of becoming real.

Colonization Of Extraterrestrial Beings - One of the most controversial and recent end of the world theories is alien colonization. According to several recent end of the world theories, extraterrestrial beings will wipe away the entire human race and will take over the world. In the past, there were stories of alien abductions and sightings that have been reported. However, no concrete evidences were given regarding the particular theories about the end of the world. Some realists even criticized the idea of having extraterrestrial beings.

Massive Asteroid - There are threats that a massive asteroid will hit the earth. In the past, asteroid reports have been sensationalized. During the Prehistoric Era, asteroid was the one responsible for the extinction of the dinosaurs. As a result, there are scientists that advocated the idea as one of the recent end of the world theories. Some of them even calculated that the likely event will occur in 2036.

Solar Flares - It has been one of the most probable theories about the end of the world. Even NASA stated that the likely occurrence of solar flares might be seen in 2012. However, there are no ideas of how big it will be. According to several biblical prophecies, the sun will play a major role on the likely end of the world.

Mayan Calendar - One of the most famous recent end of the world theories involves the Mayan Calendar. According to the Mayans, the world will suffer from devastation in December 21, 2012. The Mayan Calendar has been included in many 2012 end of the world predictions. However, the Mayans did not give any exact information on how the world will end.

People are asking if the recent end of the world theories will really happen or it will end up as failures just like in the past. Having said that, only time can tell if those theories will really occur.

More Nostradamus are on the internet which shows the end of the world in December 21 2012.

How To Find The Most Relevant News Items Online

2011-11-27T20:21:00.000-08:00

Picking out relevant news from the irrelevant junk that appears every day in the newspapers, on your television screen, or on the news portal you subscribe to, could be a tedious job. Especially when it is the first thing you are doing in the morning. Or better still, when you are looking for a piece of news that is pertinent to your industry and field of work, and all you can lay your hands on is spiced up stories, that if nothing else, definitely make sure that the news sells like hot cakes.

Moreover news readers everywhere today are faced with another major challenge. That of advertisements! All kinds of news portals everywhere are flooding with advertisements of every possible company that you have ever come across. From small ads, telling you how fabulous the company is, to quarter page to sometimes even full page ads, newspapers, news channels and almost every news portal today is brimming with advertisements. And while newspapers, news channels or news portals may be the best place for a marketer it certainly is not a pleasant experience for the viewer or the reader. Imagine waking up early in the morning, wanting to update yourself with whatever has happened in the world around you, in the last few hours, while you were tucked away in the comforts of your bed, only to be greeted with an array of advertisements of sorts. That definitely is not the best beginning to any day.

Hence many of you, who are almost addicted to news, simply get disgusted at this whole hoax that presents itself in today's world in the form of news. Especially if you have been looking for breaking news, or handpicked news, having to sift through not only a lot of irrelevant news but also a great amount of unnecessary and time consuming advertisements may turn out to be an extremely irritating experience. To now save you from this form of torture you have several news portals available on the World Wide Web, that handpick news items for you and not only that, usually these sites are usually free from advertisements of any sort. They choose relevant articles, from relevant industrial sectors and then place them under separate categories. This makes the task of looking for news a far more pleasant and pleasurable experience, because in this case you can exactly click on the category of news you want or be specific about the particular beat of news that you are looking for, and you have all that you need to know about that particular industry right at your disposal.

Explow is one such website which has hit the nail right at the target. Not only do you have specific categories like recent news, but you also have your news items divided into specific categories like Business, Entertainment, Technology, Health, Lifestyle and Money & Finance. Moreover you also have an option of searching the website for exactly the kind of news that you are looking for. With websites like these have made their way to the internet it makes the life of an average reader way simpler.

http://explow.com is a news website with user friendly pages so that you can sit back and read news with ease. We have used our experience and expertise to bring to our end users the most interesting news of the latest happenings.

A Blackfeet Warrior Who Enforced Federal Promises

2011-10-27T18:57:00.000-07:00

Elouise Cobell was a warrior, as Jim Scott, vice chairman of the board of directors for Montana's First Interstate Bank, told mourners at her funeral service last Saturday.

But Cobell's fights did not take place on any battlefield. Instead, she carried her courage and quest for fairness to bank boardrooms and courtrooms, where she sought to end a long era of government mismanagement and misappropriation of assets owned by Native American people.

Cobell, a member of the Blackfeet Nation, died of cancer Oct. 16 and was mourned by family, friends and admirers from around the country. Over the course of her life, Cobell, also known as Inokesquetee saki, or Yellow Bird Woman, was awarded both a "genius grant" from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the rare honor of a warrior's eagle feather from the Blackfeet Nation. Her work earned her the recognition of U.S. presidents and leaders of the American Indian and business communities.

Sadly, Cobell did not live to see the fruits of her greatest endeavor. For most of the last 16 years of her life, she served as the chief plaintiff in the landmark class action suit Cobell v. Salazar. That suit sought redress for more than 300,000 people who have suffered financially from the federal government's failure to fulfill its fiduciary duty for assets held in trust by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Though the suit has not been fully resolved, the government has agreed to a $3.4 billion settlement. Under that settlement, $1.5 billion would be directed to individuals, $1.9 billion would be used to buy and consolidate privately owned land on reservations, and $60 million would be dedicated to a scholarship fund for American Indian youth.

The settlement is an important step toward righting the series of financial and cultural abuses perpetrated against native people over the past century and a half, in the wake of the more violent conflicts that began as soon as European settlers arrived.

The particular problems addressed by the lawsuit originated with the Indian General Allotment Act of 1887, also known as the Dawes Act. That law, dressed up as an attempt to relieve American Indian poverty, appropriated communally held tribal lands without consent and allotted them to individual tribe members. Rather than redistributing the land outright, however, the law directed the federal government to hold the land in trust for its new owners for 25 years. In the meantime, the government sold off the "surplus" land left over after each tribe member had been given a meager allotment, dramatically reducing the size of Native American land holdings and interspersing tribal land with non-tribal land. This allotment method was part of a broader, systematic attempt at coerced assimilation, which also involved forcibly sending Native American children to schools where they were forbidden to speak their native tongues.

In 1934 the Indian Reorganization Act stopped future allotments and restored at least some of the so-called surplus land to its American Indian owners. However, that act also made the trust period for existing allotments permanent.

Since then, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has been responsible for collecting individual American Indians' income from sources such as oil and gas production, grazing leases, coal production and timber sales on their allotted lands. As of 1996, the BIA held control over more than 387,000 individual accounts, totaling around $450 million at any given time.

Around the end of the 20th century, substantial evidence began to surface that the BIA allowed huge sums of money to go uncollected or unaccounted for. The BIA regularly failed to meet established accounting standards, leaving only an incomplete, gap-ridden paper trail that made the true amounts held by individuals impossible to verify. A report prepared in 1989 by Arthur Andersen & Co., which was hired to perform an audit, stated, "The accounting systems and internal control procedures utilized by the Bureau suffer from a wide variety of procedural weaknesses and other problems, such as inadequate training and supervision of personnel. Certain of these weaknesses are so pervasive and fundamental as to render the accounting systems unreliable."

Meanwhile, as generations passed, the remnants of the allotment system resulted in the creation of what are known as fractionated lands: properties that have so many separate owners that they are of little practical use to any of those individuals. These fractionated lands can provide only minimal income to their myriad owners and, because of the logistical problems created by their shared ownership, are often left unused.

The legal settlement will compensate individuals whose money was mismanaged by the BIA and provide for the purchase and consolidation of the fractionated lands. Cobell certainly knew that the settlement she worked so hard to obtain would not resolve all of the problems faced by the country's American Indian population. Reservations today remain, in far too many cases, remote and neglected pockets of poverty, isolation, poor health and little hope. The settlement will, however, provide resources to make life a little better for individuals in the present and set the stage for improved land management in the future.

Although I lived in Cobell's home state of Montana for seven years, and wrote periodically about Native American affairs while I was there, I never met her. I left the state in 1981, a good 15 years before she launched her class-action battle. But, like so many others, I admire her accomplishments. Many great tribal leaders of the past had to settle for fleeting tactical victories while their people's freedoms and properties were steadily diminished. Elouise Cobell, in contrast, will be remembered as the warrior who forced Washington to make amends.

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Genetic Engineering: Boon Or Curse?

2011-09-11T18:30:00.000-07:00

Genetic Engineering is the alteration of the genes of an organism, to improve its chances of survival, boost its immunity, help in its regeneration and reproduction, and in more complex fields of study - even clone them. It is the direct manipulation of an organism's genes. It uses the techniques of cloning and transformation to alter the structure and characteristics of genes directly. It has ushered in a new era of science and technology with many successful applications. The most notable of such applications include increased crop productivity, development of insulin in hamster ovary cells, development of organs such as 'ear' on the body parts of mice and the most known example that really accelerated the researches on genetics and its application - cloning of a sheep named Dolly in 1997.

Today, genetic engineering is one of the most hotly debated topics in the world. Many believe and hope that it can once and forever get rid of all human sufferings due to diseases, disability, starvation, etc. On the other hand, more conservative and pessimistic people - who actually believe they are rather realistic, argue that genetic engineering will never be able to accomplish what it promises. They argue that it will do more harm than good citing the principles of natural selection and evolution.

Genetic Engineering has a wide range of applications including agriculture, animal husbandry, medicine and surgery. With its help, various species of crops have grown immune to many lethal diseases. Hybridization has helped to increase crop yield. Today, many species of crops such as wheat are genetically altered for high nutrition value and quicker and higher productivity. Countries all over the world are adopting genetically enhanced crops which have helped to minimize food scarcity, provide highly nutritious food and grow crops much immune to various illness and pesticides. This has thus brought about a new era of agricultural revolution, which can hopefully eradicate starvation and malnutrition.

However, some people believe that genetically altered crops are not healthy in the long run. There are also doubts about the effects of such highly enhanced and immune crops in the much delicate ecosystem. Genetically altered animals are also thought to bring about similar problems.

Similarly, genetic engineering which has proved revolutionary in the medical sector is also believed by some people to be morally and socially unethical. Altering some organism's genes is thought to be against religious beliefs and values. It is also considered immoral to hybridize some organism for selfish human needs. Most of these arguments are correct and not baseless. There have been many cases of genetically enhanced crops being potentially harmful to the consumers as well as the ecosystem. Also, it is not hard to get to the point of argument that genetic engineering, especially cloning and hybridization are immoral and unethical. However, most of the people that support the ever-increasing applications of genetic engineering argue that something that might free humans from all kinds of sufferings is bound to have some drawbacks. These drawbacks are in fact correctable provided required effort is put in. Therefore, there must not be a stop to the applications of and researches on genetic engineering. It is too great an opportunity for humans to undo their past mistakes of conflicts that have brought poverty, of mismanaged civilization and development that have brought destruction of natural resources and disturbed the delicate ecosystem, and of thoughtless and haphazard technological advancement

A Survey of Top News Sites for Internet Users

2011-08-19T02:09:00.000-07:00

Among a large number of news websites, only a handful are reputable and have earned the distinguished honor of being the first choice among a loyal band of new followers. The Internet had ushered a world of instant news which is accessible from anywhere at any time. Various websites had come up such as reuters.com; cnn.com; abcnews.go.com etc which provide minute by minute update of news and information which is happening around the globe.

Cnn.com is a part of the larger Time Warner Inc. which provides information and entertainment news, films and other programming across a global audience in excess of a billion. Cnn.com has been a definitive first choice for a large number of US and world viewers who always get their daily dose of what's happening from this source. Cnn.com has been a pioneer news broadcasting and publishing company effectively setting the tone for the day for millions of Americans. A global audience which riches over billion comprising all five continents also check cnn.com and the international section of both the electronic and the television media for their news.

Reuters.com is a part of the Thompson Reuters group, which is the largest international multimedia news agency. They provide news of the world financial news, sports, entertainment, technology and other news. A global network of news reporting including pictures taken, backed by a professional team of technology specialists makes reuters.com a first choice for not only news readers but also a global list of newspapers, magazines and online publications.

NewsDaily.com is another news site known for its trending news and a wide coverage of topics and issues. NewsDaily.com was started by ScienceDaily back in 1995. Since then they have had more than 3 million visitors each month and over 15 million in page views. NewsDaily.com has been covering major trending news since it inception more than one and a half decade ago.

Other websites that are also popular include yahoo.com which has been a popular news and information portal ever since it was launched back in 1994. Although the project that David Filo and Jerry Yang was trying to develop had nothing to do with commercialization and the popularity that it gains today, Yahoo!'s core concept of being a Yet Another Hierarchical Officious Oracle has been made. It took them less than 3 years to be known and become regularly use; soon more people were using Yahoo! That the founders ever thought that it would be possible.

Another great trending news site is Google news. Although Google news does not have an internal reporting system and what they show on their website are basically borrows content from handed of websites that produce original content pertaining to top news. However having said that one has a wonderful way to access all major news website a single place at Google News.

Many other news sites exist. A simple Google search can help users find what best suits their needs.

Online Debate Forums - Potent Tool of Opinion Formation

2011-07-28T18:46:00.000-07:00

Online debate forums have become a potent tool of opinion formation. Participating in such forums will help the participants keep abreast of the latest happenings around and get across new ideas. Moreover, these debates help you to play the role of a socially responsible citizen.

One of the blessings of the Internet in today's age is that it has given a people a platform with which they can voice their opinion on critical issues affecting them. With easy accessibility of Internet, more and more people of all ages are voicing their opinion through various social networking sites and other public forums. These forums are not only involving people but also making an impact on the institutions or organisations which are the subject of the discussion. These are instrumental in creating awareness among the common people.

The popularity of online forums has developed a potent tool of opinion formation. Debate does not mean arguing and launching verbal criticism on one another to gain brownie points on a certain topic but to give a diversified perspective to an issue in order to come to a practical and mutually agreeable conclusion. It is an effective medium to promote opinion formation reflecting all perspectives. Important issues require an arena of free thinking rather than the presumption of facts by the people at the top of the society. Online debate forums offer just that.

There are many advantages of joining an online debating forum. The foremost being you will be enjoying a community membership comprising of academics, experts and a large number of people just like you, waiting to voice their opinion. Being a part of such a community and discussing issues with such well informed friends will undoubtedly help you in broadening your perspective. Participating in such forums will help you keep abreast of the latest happenings around. You come across new ideas and also get an opportunity to refine the old ones. Above all, these debates help you to play the role of a socially responsible citizen.

The online debate forums eliminate the importance of geographical location. Thus, in whichever corner of the country you live, you can easily participate in the discussion in order to give your own perspective and at almost any time of the day. You can voice your concerns and views while working in the office or before going to bed. This aspect of the online forums makes it different from regular forums where one has to take time out from his/her regular life. Moreover, on online forums, you need not disclose your real identity, hence you get an opportunity to voice yourselves without any fear or favour.

If you are a resident of United Kingdom, then you can join these debating forums to play a role in the solution of issues critical to society. These online initiatives invite people to participate in debates on various relevant public issues, be it national or international. The platforms cover all good debate topics under the sun - social, economic or political. While participating in debates on these online platforms, one gets to share views with academics and opinion leaders which helps in developing an intellectual approach to any given topic. This is the place where you can seek answers and contribute to the formation of a better society to live in, so participate and explore the issues in depth and feel free to speak your mind.

LeicesterExchange.com is a leading online debating community inviting people to participate in debates relating to social, economic and political issues in UK.

News Media and Its Responsibility to the People

2011-06-03T23:47:00.000-07:00

Newspaper is the oldest and the most conventional method of focusing on different types of reports from several parts of the world. It also provides varieties of topics, contents, articles, news and many more to millions of people at their doorstep. Today, a large number of English Newspapers, journals and magazines in India are flourishing in across of the country. The Indian paper industry has been providing a number of credible English papers to the millions of readers, both at the national as well as at the regional levels.

Today's English news headlines can be classified in three categories like international, national and regional. Internationals English papers cover global news, national newspapers contain generally national reports and regional newspapers cover mostly regional rumors and highlight local news. In India, The Statesman is one of the oldest English new mass media of India. These are also many top and credible Indian English papers like The Tribune, The Times of India, The Pioneer, The Northeast Tribute, The Hindu, The Sunday Indian, Telegraph India, Indian Express, and Asian Age English News from the Indian State of Indian States.

Today, the Indian newspaper industry has gained marvelous ground of success for different languages of newspapers that are circulated throughout in this country.

But many English papers are the most published and circulated in different parts of India. You can read more about Today's English news headlines. You can get more information and all happenings in the country and the world. Indian newspapers serve as an ideal banner for companies who would look forward to advertise their products or services keeping in the mind strength of the readers nationwide. In this country, newspapers read while taking a cup of tea early in the morning. The papers stand at an advantage of making its stand in full view of the massive number of readers. Indian English news media subscribe and read all nook or corner of this country. Most of the companies advertise their services and products in big English newspapers.

Newspapers act as the ideal method of public relations due to its strength as the best way of communication. Now, English papers have earned for incredible reputation for high quality reporting and in depth analysis. Many English magazines and journals provide in- depth reports, surveys, analysis, expert views and columns and articles on a variety of subjects like campaigns, brand journeys, snippets on news, celebrity endorsements, research, features, interviews, book extracts and reviews.

Eqbal Sajid writes about " At A Glance of Indian English newspapers "like News headlines, Today's English news headlines, English news.

The Five Basic Traits, Continuity, Genes Versus Environment, and the Twin Studies

2011-05-05T17:58:00.000-07:00

This article describes the five basic traits, continuity, genes versus environment and the twin studies. In terms of the five basic traits, I would describe myself as an extroverted, open to experience, conscientious, agreeable and not neurotic woman, or a woman who tends to be described by these traits. Not only can most people notice these traits in me over time or for a while but also they can notice them in all the areas of my life, such as the social, the spiritual, the financial, the physical, and the mental area. I am characterized by these traits in the long haul or in a continuous way.

There are two kinds of continuity: absolute and differential. Absolute continuity is the consistency in the amount of traits exhibited, and differential continuity is the consistency in individual differences in trait results over time. Some research showed how extraversion or positive affectivity, correlate to BAS or behavioral approach system, which manifests positive approach behaviors after incentives. BAS has dopamine and electrical brain pathways. Neuroticism manifests itself in anxiety, depression, moodiness, nervousness, hostility, vulnerability, hypochondriasis and overall emotional instability. I may have had neuroticism very mildly, for very short period of times, during childhood traumas, but, from my adolescence onward, I have been overall emotionally stable.

I have clients who score high in neuroticism, but I do not have friends who exhibit neuroticism and I choose to associate with people who have little or no neuroticism. After recommending neurotic friends that they get professional help, and after observing that they were not following my friendly recommendations, I kindly and politely de-committed and disassociated from them. I have no patience for people who act like victims of the world. I believe people create their own reality and everything happens for a reason. I believe adults cannot still blame their childhood for everything that goes wrong in their lives or for all of their failures. I believe people have to become aware, take responsibility, and design their future. Also, with the advancement of medicine and technologies, today, people can access any kind of information, so, if someone does not want to improve his or her life, unless they are mentally challenged, then that means they simply do not want to improve it, or they enjoy staying in a more mediocre state, or they are lazy.

In regard to conscientiousness, I am disciplined, responsible, reliable or committed, organized and perseverant. My word is law, and when I commit to someone or something, I follow-through and complete the task or experience, unless my life is threatened. I keep my word and I expect others to keep their word, as well, especially with me. The people who know me can safely say I am a person to count on. I like to keep my physical and electronic work and living space organized. I have implemented systems that help me stay organized, that help me stay focused and concentrated on the task at hand, that help me complete my tasks and that allow me instant retrievability of objects or information. This does not mean that if you enter my home or home office, everything is perfectly put together at all times.

I have a cat and a puppy and occasionally they put things out of order or, if I am having a busy day, I may not be caught up with my organization. In all the scientific, reliable and validated tests for perseverance, I score high. I believe that my perseverance is one of the major factors in the successes I have had and I have. If I really want something, I would not take the word no for an answer. At the same token, I understand when it is time to let go if something is not working out or becomes unethical. For instance, I invested three months of unpaid training with a company in San Diego. The company is owned by husband and wife who are going through their fifth divorce each. They have brought their drama to the workplace, overstepping professional boundaries, and, at some point, the husband made some sexual advances on me. Although I had persevered for three months and I was determined to succeed with their company, I determined, at the time of the advances, that I had to cut my losses, keep distance and let go of their neuroticism or emotional instability.

In regard to agreeableness, I am popular, I get along with everyone, I am empathetic, which makes me a great fit for this industry and niche, I love to help, I enjoy people and clients immensely, I am generous, and love is a priority in my life, maybe even over money. Love (family and friends) has always been the number one societal value in Italy, where I grew up. In the USA, monetary successes are usually more important than relations, but, although I am both an American and a European citizen now, I still, just like when I was growing up, embrace the old continent's values. In regard to openness to experience, I am usually the first one, in a group, to volunteer to try something new and pioneer new ways, as long as it is not endangering my life or lives of others. For instance, I am open to try new food recipes or combinations, new medical technologies (eleven years ago, I donated my eggs to my friends who could not have children on their own and they had triplets, but, at the time, egg donation fertility was brand new and not completely tested), investments, and new work methodologies. I take chances and I do not regret later. Sometimes I lose big and sometimes I win big.

In regard to openness to extraversion, I am quite highly extraverted. I am not afraid to talk to anyone. I am a just a bit shy with men I find attractive, but I am still extroverted. I get re-energized and recharged by being around people. I enjoy people. I have some friends who are introverted, and, because of my psychological experience, I know when they need to be alone and I am respectful of their need. Longitudinal research showed differential continuity in traits over adulthood. Many psychologists, including myself, although I only have a Master's, believe that childhood temperament provides a trampoline for traits to shape. Temperament is differences in behavior since childhood, related to genes. Caspi (1998) claims temperament becomes traits through: learning processes, environmental elicitation and construal, social and temporal comparisons, and environmental selection and manipulation (Caspi, 1998).

In my life, I grew up in Europe, in an isolated, rural place, which was torture for my extroversion. As soon as I could, at age twenty, of course, I moved to one of the most populated country on earth: the United States. As of today, I could comfortably say I could never live in the country or in a place under populated, for more than for a short vacation. Today, we know that genes are responsible for the inheritance of characteristics. An infant takes about half of his or her genes from the biological mother and about half from the biological father. Genes are transmitted through generations. Through generational transmissions, strange occurrences could happen to transform or mutate genes for the better or for the worse. Living creatures' bodies may change over time to solve environmental challenges or problems. These changes become inclusive fitness of the living beings of that species. The best example of these changes is the human mind.

The University of Minnesota study of identical twins grown up apart showed that genes contribute in a major way to personality traits. By the same token, for anyone to be alive, behave and develop personality, both genes and the environment are necessary. Research shows that measurable traits are heritable. Personality is the result of the interaction between genes and the environment. In twin studies, non-shared environmental factors that shape personality are: prenatal environment, accidents, birth order, sibling interaction, parental style, peer group and teacher influences. Genes can affect how one person decides to perceive the environment or reality or they can affect the environment that the individual chooses. For instance, in my case, being the second child, I was always compared to my older sister and asked why I was not like her. I rebelled against those questions, and I became her exact opposite. I don't think she and I have anything in common, although I love her. Was my personality the result of genes or the environment, such as the birth order? It was probably a combination of both, even if most of my family and relatives ' personalities are like my sister's and parents'. So far, I have only one second degree aunt and my only nephew, who share my personality, which is 10% of my relatives.

Longitudinal studies document that people tend to increase agreeableness, conscientiousness, responsibility, autonomy and self-confidence during adulthood, especially educated women. Jack Block (1995), through the California Q-sort, studied ego control and resiliency His studies generated the following personality kinds: individuated, traditional, conflicted and assured. In my case, I am definitely individuated. I pride myself to be original and I am often told so by people around me, in terms of my creative and original thoughts. I love thinking outside the box. I don't like to conform or be traditional; I prefer to be cutting edge and innovative, of course still remaining within ethical and moral standards. I have been one of the first Italians to adopt vegan nutrition. Perhaps, as a young girl, being raised by parents who were not fortunate to receive a high education, and having had a father, who became physically sick when I was six years old, I was conflicted. I thought I was the cause of that sickness, which is a natural thought for kids at that age. Growing up, I became more and more assured. I always knew what I wanted to be, to do and to have when I was older, since age seven or so.

Personality changes may occur depending on life goals, tasks, projects, values, coping mechanisms, interests, interpretations of the past, and visions. Characteristic adaptations and integrative life stories add on to traits in shaping personality. My life is a testimony of the previous statement. I am looking forward to continuing to discover more research studies in the field of Personality Psychology.

Japan Earthquake, Tsunami and Nuclear Fallout

2011-03-28T03:41:00.000-07:00

My heart goes out to the people of Japan. In 1970 I was a member of a hula troupe and we performed at The Narugo Hotel in Nagoya for three months. After landing in Tokyo, our troupe boarded the 'bullet train' to Sendai (the northern capital of Japan). Then we rode by car for a couple of hours until we reached our hotel. The people at the hotel and the President of the hotel, President Kumagai and his wife Mama San greeted us with broad and welcoming smiles. They bowed deeply and we bowed in return. We were taken to a room in the hotel where we were treated with a special dinner of sukiyaki made and served the authentic Japanese way. We were instructed every step of the way about how to proceed with adding each ingredient into the bowl of hot soup. What struck me the most was the genteel, polite and respectful way in which the people treated us. I felt so much aloha in Japan. I loved the people and never forgot their hospitality. When it was time to return home even though I was homesick, I was sad to leave the country.

When the earthquake and tsunami hit Japan, I was taken back in time when I was there many years ago. My memories of northern Japan (Sendai, Narita and Nagoya) came back to me crystal clear. It was as if I had just been there. I remembered the beauty of the countryside with it's deep green color. The numerous fishing boats with their fishing nets dotted the ocean ports. The humility of the people was astounding. They spoke with low voices not calling attention to themselves. At one point during my experience in Japan, I contemplated staying there. I have been riveted to the television even though others may have had their fill of the news coverage. I had lived through a disaster, Hurricane Iniki on the island of Kauai that hit on September 11, 1992. This was a level 4 hurricane that leveled the entire island. I lost my home. For five days I was in shock. I thought I was going to die along with many other people. I'll never forget that sinking and helpless feeling. This is another reason why my heart goes out to the people of Japan. When you've lived through a disaster you carry a deep sense of compassion for others during times of need. Please pray for the Japanese people and their country. Whatever happened there could just as easily happen anywhere else. Have compassion, integrity and love. Visualize engulfing the country with positive energies and with white light. You may also visualize different colors of light such as violet for protection (the light of forgiveness), green for healing, blue for calmness and pink for love. We're all in this life together. Whatever happened in Japan could just as well happen to us.

Text REDCROSS to 90999 or go online to donate $10 or more for Japan. May God bless everyone!

Deidre Glendon MEd is the author of The Healing Light, Trouble in Paradise and Light of Forgiveness. A death experience that profoundly changed her life led her to help people with intuitive insights. Her tips on inner peace have helped many to find happiness and forgiveness in their lives. Just click on the books for more tips.

The Threat of Terrorism: What to Do

2011-03-03T23:43:00.000-08:00

Terrorism threats are so serious they can shake up plenty of countries all over the world. They have also caused a lot of people to be always on the lookout.

Because of the harsh effects of terrorism to life, it's not surprising if you feel a high level of anxiety and stress. But then you can't afford to let it get the best of you.

Here are some tips on how to deal with terrorism threats:

Keep tabs on the news. Instead of watching the daytime soap operas or reading gossip blogs, watch or read news in CNN, ABC, and other news channels. You may also want to subscribe to your daily newspaper. When you're aware of what's happening in your surroundings, the more you're prepared for anything.

Read travel advisories. If you're planning to travel to another country, it's ideal you get to know first about travel advisories. What are the places you should avoid? What should you watch out for? Better yet, avoid visiting those countries that are in terrorism alert as much as possible.

Follow the security rules. Whether you're traveling outside or within the country, make sure that you're aware and that you're following the different security laws. A lot of them may be stringent, but just keep in mind they're doing these for your own good. It's a whole lot better to be very safe than very sorry later.

Be more aware of your surroundings. Be more observant of what's happening around you. Try to take note of anything suspicious.

Learn to distinguish between fears and reality. Sometimes the threat of terrorism becomes so real to you it paralyzes you. You no longer want to go out or ride buses and trains. You prefer to be at your home at all times, and you stop pursuing the things you normally do.

It's very essential you can learn to differentiate what's real from your own fears. Ask yourself the question, "Is there really a threat within our area?" Unless you can really see the common signs of terrorism, there is really nothing that you should be worried about.

Meditate. Before your start or end the day, meditate. Meditation brings you to the present moment, where you don't worry about anything. It removes the clutter in your mind, the negative thoughts that are causing your depression and anxiety. You can also combine meditation with affirmations or subliminal messages. These include the following:

I am a man (or woman) of peace and harmony.
I believe in love and the value of human life.
I can do a lot of things for the world.

Read positive news. Just to counter all the negative thought you pick up about terrorism threats, read something positive. You can research about the various organizations doing humanitarian missions, as well as how they're doing in their respective goals. Gather positive news reports about your community or even about your country.

Volunteer. You'll react less if you are more involved. A lot of organizations need your help.

Nelson Berry is the Pioneer of Subliminal Messages Videos and Subliminal MP3s Audio Subliminal Messages Online. Click for 4 Free Subliminal Video Messages Downloads (valued at $160).

Merger and Acquisitions - Future in the Light of Impending Changes in the Takeover Code

2011-02-13T03:41:00.000-08:00

India is one among the fastest developing countries with a highly impressive growth story. But to sustain this level of growth there needs to be a favourable environment conducive to development. Subsequently Indian regulators are these days sitting on the edge, recreating and revamping the legal framework for Indian incorporations. Significant alterations have been due from long time. However, owing to the rigidity of Indian legal system, the processes have been outstretched. The business and number of corporate organisations have increased manifold over the years. In this dynamic era, one cannot think of sticking to age-old legal regime. A legislation which is too old will lose its relevance and jeopardise the objective for which it was enacted.

Therefore, one such law relating to India's mergers and acquisitions ('M&A') are finally set to undergo a complete makeover as the Takeover Regulations Advisory Committee ('TRAC') under the chairmanship of Mr C Achutan in a 139 page report to the Securities and Exchange Board of India ('SEBI') has proposed sweeping changes to the Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeover Regulations, 1997 ('Takeover Code'/'Takeover Regulation') which were introduced to regulate the takeovers happening in our country and to facilitate the orderly development of the related activities which would have an impact on the M&A market.

Brief preview on the genesis of the Takeover Code

2. It would be worthwhile to review genesis of the Takeover Code starting from 1990. Briefly, it may be stated as follows:

• In 1990 the Government amends clause 40 of the Listing Agreement according to which threshold acquisition level reduced from 25 per cent to 10 per cent; change in management control to trigger public offer; minimum mandatory public offer of 20 per cent; disclosure requirement through mandatory public announcement.

• In 1992 SEBI (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 1992 was notified.

• In 1994 SEBI (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 1994 was notified replacing 1992 Regulations introducing new provisions to enable both negotiated and open market acquisitions and allowing competitive bids.

• In 1995 SEBI sets up committee under former Chief Justice of India P N Bhagwati to review the 1994 Takeover Regulations in order to frame comprehensive regulations.

• In 1997 Bhagwati Committee submits its report on the Takeover Regulations to SEBI.

• In 1997 SEBI accepts Bhagwati Committee report and notified SEBI (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 1997 after which it has been time and again being amended to suit the prevailing market conditions in order to facilitate an investor friendly market.

Rationale behind codifying the Takeover Code

3. With the announcement of the policy of globalisation, the doors of Indian economy were opened for the overseas investors. But to compete at the world platform, the scale of business was needed to be increased. In this changed scenario, mergers and acquisitions were the best option available for the corporate considering the time factor involved in capturing the opportunities made available by the globalisation. But soon the predators with huge disposable wealth started exploiting this opportunity to the prejudice of retail investor. This created a need for some regulations to protect the interest of investors which were done through enactment of the Takeover Code and various other ancillary rules and regulations. The major objectives of the Takeover Code can summarised as follows:

Investors having the option of choosing to exit from the company

Tougher requirements for disclosure of material information with respect to the open offer enabling the investor to make an informed decision

Effective and efficacious completion of takeover formalities in a timely manner

Key recommendations of the TRAC

4. Key recommendations of the TRAC can be summarized as follows:

4.1 Trigger of the Takeover Code

(i) The threshold for triggering of the Takeover Code has been increased from 15 per cent to 25 per cent.

(ii) The creeping acquisition limit of 5 per cent in one financial year increased from 15 per cent-55 per cent to 25 per cent-75 per cent. Such acquisition can be made in any manner (including through open market purchases, negotiated deals, bulk or block deals, preferential allotment, etc.).

(iii) Acquisition of control over a target company would require the acquirer to make an open offer.

4.2 Size of open offer

The size of open offer has been increased from 20 per cent to 100 per cent of the shares of the company.

4.3 Offer price

(i) For direct acquisition - Volume-weighted average market price ('VWAP') for 60 trading days prior to the public announcement to replace average of the weekly high and low of the closing prices of shares for past 26 weeks or 2 weeks. Further, in addition to highest negotiated price between parties and highest price paid by acquirer and PAC during 26 weeks prior to public announcement, VWAP for shares acquired by acquirer and PAC during past 52 weeks also to be considered for determining open offer price.

(ii) For indirect acquisition - New price indicator introduced in the form of highest price paid by acquirer or PAC between date of primary acquisition and date of public announcement for indirectly acquired target company, in addition to the existing price indicators. Further, offer price shall stand enhanced by additional 10 per cent per annum for the period between date of primary acquisition and date of detailed public statement.

4.4 Definition of 'control'

The definition of 'control' to include not only the right but also the ability to appoint majority of the directors on the Board of the target company.

4.5 Deemed direct acquisition - Concept of deemed direct acquisition introduced if the proportionate net asset value/sales turnover/market capitalisation of the indirectly acquired target company as a percentage of the consolidated net asset value/sales turnover/market capitalisation of the directly acquired entity is in excess of 80 per cent, on the basis of the most recent audited annual financial statements.

4.6 Delisting

An acquirer would be required to state upfront in public announcement its intention to delist the target company. If the shareholding of the acquirer is between 75 per cent to 90 per cent after the open offer, the acquirer would be required to either bring his holding down to ensure compliance with the Listing Agreement, or proportionately reduce both his acquisitions under the agreement that triggered the open offer and the acquisitions under the open offer. No requirement to make a separate delisting offer under Delisting Regulations if acquire crosses 90 per cent delisting threshold through the open offer under the Takeover Code.

4.7 Competing offers

The period for making competing offer changed to 15 business days from the date of detailed public statement of open offer. Further, within 21 business days from expiry of the offer period, any competing acquirer would be free to negotiate and acquire the shares tendered to the other competing acquirer, at the same price that was offered by him to the public.

4.8 Non-compete fees

Omitted. Promoters to be paid the same price per share as the public shareholders.

4.9 Open offer process - (i) Timing of public announcement - A summary public announcement on the same day of agreeing to acquire shares or voting rights in, or control over the target company. A detailed public statement within 5 business days from making of the summary public announcement. (ii) Timeline for open offer - 57 business days.

4.10 Obligations of the manager

The manager is free to deal with the shares of the target company after the offer period.The manager shall file a report with the Board within 15 business days from the expiry of tendering period.

Analysis of the recommendations

6. On basis of the recommendations given by the TRAC, an attempt is being made to analyse the impact of the recommendations that would have on each of the stakeholder in the succeeding paras:

6.1 Promoters of the target company

Rise in hostile takeovers of companies in which the promoters have a lower shareholding will be simple. This argument is augmented by the new threshold limits from 15 per cent to 25 per cent.

• Substantial shareholders to benefit from the exemption that is provided in the case of increase in voting rights due to buy-back of shares that happens but this rule is subject to certain conditions. This rule also benefits those who do not participate in any buy-back but end up crossing the threshold for open offer.

• The present Takeover Code permits creeping acquisition only up to 55 per cent but the recommendations permits creeping acquisition of 5 per cent per annum up till 75 per cent for any acquirer who holds 25 per cent or more voting rights in the target company.

• Promoters will now be paid at the same rate for their stake as is paid to other public shareholders of the target company due the abolishment of non-compete fees. This move could severely impact the stake sale done by many promoters in listed companies.

6.2 Public shareholders

• One of the primary intention for creating a Takeover Code is to protect the interest of all the stakeholders and this includes public shareholders as well. TRAC has recommended that the open offer size be increased from the present 20 per cent to 100 per cent. This could be viewed as path breaking because it gives exit opportunity to all the shareholders and not just a handful.

• TRAC urged the Central Board of Direct Taxes to put proposal to the Government for an amendment in the Income-tax Act to exempt capital gains resulting from sale of shares tendered in an open offer.

• By deletion of the concept of non-compete fee, all sort of difference between promoters and public shareholders have been removed. A uniform price is offered to one and all, thus, introducing an equitable treatment to every stakeholders.

• Risk associated with the volatile market conditions will be minimised as the timeline has been shortened for the open offer. Largely the price determined for the open offer at times ends up to be substantially lower than the market prices when the shares are finally tendered.

• One major change envisages is with respect to the accountability of the independent directors. The independent directors have to compulsorily make reasoned recommendations on the open offer. For the public shareholders this is a welcome move as they stand to gain from the experience and wisdom of the independent directors.

6.3 Strategic acquirers

• Increase in the cost for acquiring a listed company on the account of increased open offer size from 20 per cent to 100 per cent.

• Due to the increase in the cost of acquisition the domestic acquirers would find it difficult as the banks would have limitations in providing the finance. Moreover, at the same time foreign entity, wanting to acquire Indian company, would be placed at an advantage as there would be easy access to money outside India.

• Delisting becomes easier as the acquirer can bypass the requirements of the Delisting Regulations and delist the company directly if the acquirer's stake in the target company exceeds the delisting threshold.

• There are newer alternatives to the acquisition as it now also includes their own liquid shares or convertible securities.

6.4 Private equity investors

• The higher trigger option of 25 per cent should see an increment in the volume of private equity investment as now they can increase their stake in listed companies upto 24.99 per cent without having to worry about triggering the open offer requirements

• There is still a lack of clarity on the definition of 'control'. Instances such as when a private equity investor does not have a positive control over the affairs of the company by only getting minority rights. 'Defacto control' provides a better solution here than 'dejure control'.

6.5 Target company

• As mentioned earlier, there is an increase with respect to the

accountability of the independent directors as from now on they have to give compulsorily reasoned recommendations to their shareholders with respect to the open offer explaining whether they are in favour of the open offer or not.

• There is a new requirement for passing a special resolution by

the shareholders of the target company if they wish to dispose off an asset/undertaking within a period of two years from the end of the offer period.

Conclusion

7. TRAC has attempted to simplify the Takeover Code and align it with the international best practices. The report of TRAC sets a benchmark to emulate before any new legislation is introduced since some of the important principles followed by TRAC such as sound statistical analysis, relying on past court rulings, analysing international Takeover Codes, plugging the loopholes based on some of the recent cases, etc., are extremely important for developing a robust legislation which can stand the test of time. If SEBI stamps the recommendations of TRAC with force of law, replacing the extant Takeover Code, then the Report of TRAC will be guiding light for takeover regime in India in the next decade to come as was Bhagwati Committee Report in the previous decade.

For more such articles and news updates, Subscribe to Sanjay Mathur which is 22 years old leading fortnightly journal on Corporate, Business and Commercial Laws and is available at attractive discounts at SimplyBooks.in - a Leading online bookstore to buy books India. You can also chose from thousands of law books from all leading publishers on the portal and avail discounts and free shipping.

History of Fast Food

2011-02-01T17:13:00.001-08:00

It is believed that fast food originated during the ancient Roman times where cooked meals were available instantly during games and festivals. Fast food gained prominence after Merriam-Webster dictionary recognized it in the year 1951. In some countries like India, the fast food industry is exploding and growing at the rate of 41 percent each year.

Fast food is one that is available readily and served to the customers through a fast service. The culture started essentially as an urban phenomenon to meet the needs of busy people. The concept of fast food is very old, but it became modernized and professional after the end of the Second World War.

Some popular food outlets:

White Castle
It is one of the oldest food chains in the U.S. It was started by Billy Ingram in the year 1921 in Wichita, Kansas. The company has the reputation of being the first one to sell a billion burgers.

Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC)
It is popularly known as KFC throughout the world. It was founded by Harland Sanders in 1930 as a single outlet. Today it has worldwide presence. KFC is better known for its fried chicken and it boasts of a recipe that is very confidential.

7- Eleven
It is another popular food outlet in the U.S with around 7,100 outlets. It sells ice blocks to refrigerated foods.

McDonald's
Started as a drive-in restaurant in the U.S., it has its outlets spread across all the continents. The founding fathers were Dick and Mac McDonalds. It sells food items ranging from hamburgers, milk, coffee, soft drinks, French fries and milkshakes. It has 31,000 outlets globally in 126 countries and the business revenue is 13 billion per year.

All may not like fast foods, not all foods are good for you. Junk foods contain high fat in them and cause obesity.

About Author:
Kum Martin is an online leading expert in people biography. He also offers top quality articles like:
American Indian Movement, Christopher Columbus Facts

The Sanctuary Mission

2011-01-16T04:33:00.000-08:00

We say change is great; luckily for the community Nada Thomson made a big change from organising properties to lives. Nada Thomson started out as a Personal Organizer with her own business called Artful Organizers and made the change into supporting the poor around 2006.

As a Christian organisation, it seeks to assist those members of the community who would otherwise be ignored. Any ethnic groups regardless of religion are welcome, the Sanctuary will try to help as many people as they can. The mission consists of men and women from 25 to 55. The help they supply, helps the thousands of people who pass through their doors every year.

The street outreach team does an essential job, going out to the community on their own turf, offering and giving support such as meals and Children's Aid. The support does not stop there, the Sanctuary also has health clinics, support for those who are using drugs and rehab for the mind and body. Purposeful employment is another service, with teams helping people into work through employment training.

To commemorate Xmas, the Sanctuary gives a big Christmas feast which takes place each year. This feast is made more special with a play, a talent show and from the church donation, a gift bag is given out. Through the summer there is a 5k walk and in September the charity has a music concert. The events are not just for the people who rely on the mission for assistance, anyone that contributes is welcome, this way they can see their money is put to good use. There genuinely should be no difference between rich and poor, people are part of a community. People, who have been stripped of their significance to society, will be given back their pride. Making a difference is more than just supplying money but also about getting new friends.

We're not here to substitute social services, we're here to work alongside social services, Thomson tells us. People are regarded as friends and are now living in a property rather than on the street. These people could not do it by themselves, for that reason the Sanctuary has helped them find a house and furnish it.

The life of a young woman, born and growing up in Toronto is one of the Sanctuary's success stories and gives you an idea of the help given. After she was born this baby was placed in the foster care system; the following facts will show you why. This poor baby never stood a chance of a good life when it began with a family member setting fire to her cot. Inadequate hygiene led to her grandmother seeing her covered in cockroaches. One of the worst heinous acts she was put through was that of being sexually abused. When she was in foster care the heartache did not come to an, with numerous foster homes, addictions and relationships that didn't last, this, now young woman, was at a very low point in her life. A multitude people helped her and she has now been a regular at Sanctuary for four years.

Julie Kinnear is MLS GTA agent and environmental activist.

The Nation's Top Retailers to Work For

2010-12-15T06:27:00.001-08:00

At a time when almost 10% of us are unemployed, many are seeking and accepting jobs in a place they never would have considered before they lost their executive position or found themselves on the other end of a pink slip.

Some will find, over the holidays, when taking a temporary job to make money for Christmas, that there are some really decent retail employers out there, amongst all the horror stories that you hear about working in retail.

Forbes has done their homework and has compiled a list of the top 10 Best Employers in Retail. The retailers that made this list have a number of things in common. Their owners, presidents, CEOs, et al, all have high favored rankings among their employees. They seem to "get" their employees and know how to relate to them. They offer healthy discounts, remarkable incentives and that regular "pat on the back" that goes so far to encouraging employee loyalty and morale. They offer flexible schedules and seem to take an interest in their employees' futures. These guys know that many people that work in retail are "just passing through" on their way to something better. The difference is that these retailers accept it and even expect it and offer a helping hand up to every single employee that makes their best effort.

So, number 10 on the published list of 100 is still a fantastic place to be! Best Buy is the home for tech gurus. With the latest in technology always available, not only do tech gurus get "hands-on" fun, they ingest an amazing amount of information that will surely help them in their future endeavors. They get first dibs on new products, a decent employee discount and they get to work in a place that is known as flexible and friendly.

Sitting at number 9 on this prestigious list is L.L. Bean, Inc. This company encourages their employees to follow their passions. They have a "use room" where employees can check out outdoor gear at their Freeport, ME headquarters and one of the perks for L.L. Bean employees is access to their cabins situated along the Rangeley Lakes. Their Maine headquarters rivals just about any retail store, described by their employees and customers as "awesome".

Number 8 is Nordstrom. This up-scale department store is touted as having a "friendly" workforce and a work environment that is more like being around family. The store pays commission, which in some atmospheres can harbor unhealthy competitiveness and make for "back-stabbing" and "name-calling", seeming to foster the feeling in their employees that their "hard work is rewarded" and therefore; commission is a good thing.

Unashamedly coming in at the number 7 spot is Costco Wholesale. When asked, employees will tell you that the competitive pay and the benefits keep them happy and working here. Supervisors make $20.96 and cashiers average $15.39 an hour. That, and the fact that Costco employees absolutely love Jim Sinegal, their CEO, with the second highest employee approval rating, only following Overstock.com's CEO, Patrick Byrne, makes for a good relationship amongst the employees and staff, which in turn makes it a great place to work.

Somewhat surprisingly, Hot Topic made the list at number 6. The employees love punk/rock music and are encouraged towards self-expression through their dress. They also enjoy flexible work schedules that allow them to attend, and be reimbursed for, concerts. Hot Topic has some of the most quirky, but loved, employee bonuses.

Coach, a world-class luxury leather outlet, seems to attract Type-A personalities, or the 'powers-that-be' are very good at picking them out. But, since Coach doesn't pay commission, their sales people must be highly motivated to succeed. Coach has a goal-based system that isn't attractive to slackers and seems to bring out the very best in an over-achiever. They don't care about the extra money, as long as they get "bragging rights". Coach can brag on their 5th place ranking, out of the top 100!

Nike seems to be favored for their office setting and culture above all else, which has them sitting nicely at the number 4 spot. A highly innovative competitor in athletic apparel, its employees seem to be caught up in the same kind of excitement. They live it and breathe it and love going to work.

Maurices is a small-town specialty retailer that seems to cater to the fun-loving, young-at-heart. Their product line seems to be the draw for their customers, who one manager says are "great"-98% of the time. Employee discounts are generous and they have an exceptional management-training program that many times is sorely missing in retail environments. According to their employees, Maurices' deserves the number 3 ranking.

Recreation retailers have some big boots to fill when it comes to meeting or exceeding REI, the retailer who is the first runner up for the top position. The employees here value the communication and workplace recognition that is passed from the top on down, far surpassing other just as well-known recreation retailers.

And the number one retailer to work for? Overstock.com got achieved that status. Let's start at the top. The CEO/Chairman Patrick M. Byrne has a 92% approval rating among his employees, the highest on the list. This Salt Lake City-based online company is known for its deep discounts and really inexpensive shipping costs, but the employees love it for entirely different reasons. They say the atmosphere is fun and relaxed and that keeps the nauseous office politics that run rampant in other organizations, to a bare minimum. Kudos to Overstock.com. Keep up the good work!

So, if you find yourself looking for a retail position, either to fill a financial void or because you have no other choice, you might head first to the internet to do a little research. A quick search will turn up current and former employee comments about the companies they work(ed) for, while further research will tell you if they are financially stable and what their opportunities for advancement are.

Sammy lives too far out in the country to think about working at any retailer, though she researched this article for daughters that live in metro areas. Sammy, herself, has started a second career, freelance writing, to make ends meet during these tough economic times. She also has a vegetable garden that is expanding every year. She supplies her 7 children and 14 grandchildren fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the year, by growing,harvesting and preserving what she has grown herself. Sammy also shops online in order to save time and money and has found that Garden Harvest Supply always comes through with quality products and on time delivery. This year she is starting a perpetual asparagus bed and has pre-ordered her asparagus plants for spring planting. She has also ordered her organic vegetable seeds, which she will start indoors in April, transplanting to her Oklahoma garden in May.

Health Care Reform - Unconstitutional?

2010-11-25T09:46:00.000-08:00

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has become so controversial especially because it is deemed unconstitutional that many states are filing a lawsuit against it. If this was written genuinely for the interests of the people then it should have had a fight in the Supreme Court Justices.

However there's a lot of shady transactions and compromise involved. If you want further information with regards to this, you can see it in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution.

Federal law falls under the blanket of laws that stretch from sea to shinning sea and must remain equal for all citizens. The Federal Government does not have the ability to initiate and pass laws that are state specific or group specific and this is where the difficulties with the health care reform come into play.

Some of its provisions lean in favor towards only a few states. This is not according to the Commerce Law in our Constitution. It is now up to each state government to decide to participate or not. It will be intriguing to see how each state government will deal with the problem of changes.. Don't forget, that when the dust settled at the end of the War Between the States (Civil War), it was the individual states that assumed power to the Federal Government for the good of a strong, stable Union.

Let's find out how the single payer health insurance reform will unfold. Are they going to add provisions to the law? Will the Republicans win in their call to have it repealed?

What will happen to people who will still refuse to purchase Will these individuals be refused access to other adjoining states? The health insurance reform bill is considered to fall under the interstate commerce clause. Only time will be the judge as to how this new health insurance reform will be implemented.

Predicting the Future - Four Tips to Hone Your Intuitive Skills

2010-11-07T03:07:00.000-08:00

Nobody is left who lived between the two World Wars to relate to us what it was like and what were the signs approaching...

The Great Depression of the 1920s lasted over ten years and was followed by the rise to power of Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany. If history has the habit of repeating itself this current recession could well last another 5 or 10 years and usher the rise to power of the antichrist - the champion of globalisation, dividing the planet into ten regions under the umbrella of a revamped UN mashed European Union and combining all religions into one. It doesn't take a genius to see it is just around the corner.

So what would constitute four easy pointers to watch for?

Globalisation: Every time an industry is uprooted by unfair foreign competition we lose a piece of our independence. Every time we give up something as a nation we were quite capable of doing ourselves we become enslaved to global trade for our sustenance. Nations are being robbed of their identity. When elections worldwide turn into a popularity contest you can see how people are eagerly waiting for some charismatic figure with a compelling propaganda to make the great deal of the century (a 7 years peace treaty between Israel and its neighbours...)

Political correctness. Unnatural ideas are being pushed onto people under the guise of "tolerance" and "diversity" and "equal rights". New mumbo jumbo words are being coined to labels things we do not understand nor can control. Carbon footprint, bio-diversity, global warming are terms that were unheard of 10 years ago.

Collapsing birth rate in the western civilization. Within 20 years the next generation will be missing in action. Governments are panicking that there won't be enough taxpayers to fund all the looming pensions soon due to be paid to people who live longer and longer. Their answer is to open wide the doors to immigration. This creates social and racial unrest as the newcomers do not integrate in the society.

Destruction of the family unit. The divorce rate is so high that an entire generation of children is coming up - not having experienced the loving care of a stable home, and looking up to the role models of a man and woman committed to each other for a lifetime. People will enter adulthood with issues - not the strength to cope with any challenge.

For some good life directions click here

For more articles like this check out the author's website

What Visa Fears Most About The New Debit Card Legislation

2010-10-19T01:17:00.000-07:00

New legislation - the Durbin Amendment was signed into law by Barak Obama on July 21st, 2010. The amendment grants the Federal Reserve power to set debit interchange rates, taking control away from Visa. These are "unchartered waters" for Visa, and a cause for alarm. What will the Fed do, and how will Visa respond?

Visa's Chief Financial Officer, Byron H. Pollitt Jr., says that U.S. debit transactions produce 16% of their net revenues. Couple that with the fact that new legislation, the Durbin Amendment (which was signed into law by Barak Obama on July 21st, 2010), grants the Federal Reserve power to set interchange rates, taking control away from Visa.

These are "unchartered waters" for Visa, and a cause for alarm. The greatest fear for now is the fear of the unknown. How will 16% of net revenues be effected? What can they do to offset the potential loss of income?

Until this legislation it was the card associations - Visa and MasterCard, which had exclusive power over interchange. This was a fact which caused lobbyists from the National Retail Federation (NRF) to cry "foul". According to the NRF this amounted to nothing less than a monopoly, which resulted in excessive profits for the associations at the expense of the nations retailers.

To respond Visa has formed "strategy teams", to consider a whole range of possible outcomes, along with appropriate actions to take. As you would expect, Visa is doing all it can to "educate" the Fed on how the debit card industry works and all the potential ramifications of their decisions.

A "Loophole" of Sorts

One fact about the new legislation which most people aren't aware of is the new laws only apply to debit card issuing banks with $10 billion dollars or more in assets. Critics charge issuers may use this as a loophole and either reposition assets or find other ways around the legislation's intent.

Stay tuned for more on how the Dodd-Frank Financial Reform Act, along with the Durbin Amendment, will effect the card associations profits, the nations retailers, and our overall economy.

Virgil Stanphill works as a Consultant in the Payment Processing Industry. If you need fast cash for your business you can get help here.

If you want to qualify for some of the best credit card processing programs in the industry you can visit his blog and learn more here.

The Year 2012 - The End of the World

2010-09-14T11:15:00.000-07:00

A lot of different disasters have been happening to the Earth lately. Massive earthquakes, super typhoons, global warming, floods, and even other severe crisis and disasters have been shaking up people's view about the state of our beloved planet. Some say these events are signs that all point to the Year 2012 Apocalypse.

Many different points of views that all point towards this major event have been causing a wave of panic and unrest among many. People have started asking many questions regarding the 2012 prophecies and are trying to find out if this will really be the end of the world as we know it.

It is hard to determine what is true and what is a hoax. It's hard to verify fact from fiction with the many websites spreading rumours, viral campaigns, and doomsday movies? Can this widespread panic be a cause of genuine fear, or is it just a product of man's power to manipulate facts for their own personal gain? It is a sad fact that people are getting more and more restless in their search for answers.

If you take a closer look at the facts you will find out that Science, Religion, and even parts of History all believe that the earth as we know it will come to an end in 2012. The Bible, Nostradamus, the Mayans, and even countless scientific theories all provide speculations about the year 2012 Apocalypse.

So the big question is: will the world really end 2012? Some say apocalypse 2012 will take place, others say it won't. Some have their Faith to hold onto, while others turn to Science for answers. One acceptable answer to the big question is that it will depend on the amount of energy of the Earth. This theory is based on the Second Law of Thermodynamics which justifies the possibility of Heat Death or the eventual stopping of the mechanical movement of the Earth due to its total and irreversible loss of energy.

Whichever way people choose to look at it, one simple truth really matters, and it's that all good things must come to an end. And if God made all things "good", then maybe it's just a matter of time before the earth comes to an end too.

Sometimes, answers to seemingly hard questions are just right at our fingertips. Maybe the end of the world doesn't really rely on the cycles or movements of Comets, or Mayan beliefs, or even the wrath of God. Maybe the coming of the Apocalypse is an unavoidable fact that everyone has deal with whether they like or not, and that the end of human existence whether it be in some days or in 2012, will only depend on the way Man takes care of our world.

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Santa Clarita Rotary Club Veteran's Project - Showing Our Fallen Heroes and Families That We Care

2010-08-26T05:20:00.000-07:00

My Rotary Club, located in Santa Clarita, California, does great work in our community. Recently they honored the 8 young men who have given their lives for our country during the past three years. Watching the moving ceremony and dedication made me think about how fortunate I am to be a part of this caring community, as well as a member of the Rotary Club.

We always allow our guests to speak, and having former military is quite an honor. One of the speakers was a former member of the United States Air Force, and he described our community as an island. This brought some laughter, because Santa Clarita is located in the middle of the desert. He went on to explain that what he meant was that we were unlike other cities and towns in California in that we are so concerned with the families of these fallen heroes, and with helping the young men and women who are returning from their time overseas in the armed forces.

I also found out that we are one of the only states within the United States that does not offer a license plate to honor our soldiers. That would be a great thing if we could purchase that to start a fund to help these brave warriors and their families.

Our Rotary Club has a garden where we now have marble tiles with the names of those who have died serving their country. This is a great honor and it is important for us to remember that these people have made the ultimate sacrifice to uphold the values we all share.

Connie Ragen Green has been a member of the Rotary Club of Santa Clarita since 2006. Find out more about this club by visiting http://www.AdventuresoftheSCVRotaryBell.com, and find a club near you by going to http://Rotary.org.

What Are the Views That Employers Hold to the Certificate Fever?

2010-08-05T05:21:00.000-07:00

For the recently hot social situation of certificate fever, employers have their own opinions.

One University investigated from 102 enterprises and institutions shows, 70% of enterprise leaders express the view that, although many university students hold many certificates, but they have paid less attention on their major learning and professional capacity. 30% of the leaders hoped the university student has the practical application ability. The standard to hire employee emphases on student's practical ability, this is the most employer's view.

Project Manager Mr. Huang indicated that, the genuine good company does not regard these certificates as important as you think; the qualifications certificate only indicates they have passed the related test, but it does not mean that university student has the ability which matches with the certificate. Therefore, the employer thinks the actual operative ability is of more significance.

(Shanghai) Power Advancement Company human Manager Li Xiangdong tells the university student do not place too much energy on various certificates. He said that, the students must understand many certificates are useless, in particular computer certificate. According to Li Xiangdong's introduction, the new staff all has three month-long training period in the his company, company in each month can carry on the inspection to their work, if the first month-long inspection result is not ideal, they will carry on the reminder and the suggestion to them, so is the second month. If they do not have any improvement, then they have to leave.

Meanwhile some employer regards more on the credentials. Bank of China Shanghai Branch Human affairs Training office director said, Bank of China must recruit more than 100 the university student every year, requesting English and computer capacity which the graduate must have stands out the most rigorous test.

The SenDa group a mister indicated that, they are willing to pay extra wage for the staff to get a certain technology certificate, some enterprises even give staff's wages difficultly according to the credentials rank.

University students may feel surprise to know the opinions of employers holds for them, for they regard it would be better for them to seeking a job and being more competitive among all employees with more certifications. Actually, this attitude needs to be corrected as soon as possible.

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Barefoot Bandit Busted But 5 Reasons He'll Buy a Nice Pair of Shoes

2010-07-16T09:22:00.000-07:00

The authorities finally caught up with the infamous "Barefoot Bandit" in the Bahamas... but here is 5 reasons he will be buying a nice pair of shoes. We all love a good story and for two years Colton Harris-Moore gave us a heck of a yarn while managing turn himself into modern day folk lore with his Houdini like evasion of authorities. After avoiding police for over two years, they finally nabbed the Barefoot Bandit (yes he was actually barefoot when they caught him) after a high speed boat chase in the Bahamas yesterday.

While they say crime does not pay, in this case it may. Colton has amassed over 60,000 Facebook supporters over the past two years and it looks as though he is going to be able to buy himself a nice new pair of shoes in the end. Here are five reasons why:

1. Harris-Moore's crimes were not violent or serious in nature: While Colton is infamous for the grand nature of his thefts, from nabbing $600,000 Cessna airplanes (and flying them with little aviation experience) to highjacking just about every vehicle Consumer Reports covers... none of his crimes have been violent in nature. He has not physically harmed any of his victims. This has largely help feed his lore. In the end, Colton is looking at a large stack of larceny, burglary, theft and evasion charges (Nebraska has issued an arrest warrant). However, his theft of boats, cars, and small planes keeps him well out of the league of the world's criminals that eat liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti.

The list of Colton's latest alleged crimes include the following:

June 1st: Astoria, Oregon - stole boat and car

June 9th: McMinnville, Oregon - stole car

June 10th: Ontario, Oregon - stole car

June 18th: Yankton, South Dakota - stole car, reportedly broke into a house ate food and showered, homeowner caught him, Colton escaped

June 20th: Norfolk, Nebraska - Colton caught on surveillance tape, police say he stole another car and committed several burglaries including a restaurant and theft at an airport

June 24th: Dallas City, Illinois - police recover car believed to have been stolen by Colton

End of June: Danville, Illinois - police report Colton stole car he then drove to Bloomington, Indiana

July 4th: Colton believed to have stolen Cessna Corvalis from Monroe County Airport crashed off coast of Abaco

July 5-7th: Search for Colton Harris-Moore Continues in Bahamas. Includes FBI and Bahamian Police

2. Harris-Moore had a tough childhood: By all accounts, Colton had a miserable childhood. The product of a alcoholic mother and father, Colton became a skilled outdoorsman spending a great deal of time in the woods to the north of Seattle, in Pugust Sound. His mother has often stressed how difficult his childhood has been over the years and in fact Colton's spree started with his escape from after sneaking out of the window of a Juvenile detention centre over two years ago. Any judge or jury will surely take this into consideration.

3. Even some of Harris-Moore's "victims" are pulling for him: After John Miller had his $600,000 Cesna swiped by Colton, folks urged him to Google the "Barefoot Bandit"... so he did. Friends told Miller to google Barefoot Bandit. "And up pops this little baby face of a young kid that looks like he's 12-years-old." Miller said he started to soften up. He read Colton had had a hard life, with an alcoholic mother and father. He remains angry but also wonders how the kid pulled it off. Bottom line... if Miller's own victims soften on the kid, it's likely as judge or jury will as well.

4. Harris-Moore already has well known competent legal counsel: It was not long after his arrest before the Barefoot Bandit had a well known, competent entertainment lawyer by his side. Who needs a hefty retainer to plop down when the publicity this case will garner is all O. Yale Lewis (A Seattle entertainment lawyer who has represented the likes of Courtney Love and the family of Jimi Hendrix) will need to plunge head first into this case. Have no fear as it seems the Bandit is in good hands with his defense.

5. Let the entertainment deals begin to flow: Part of the reason Harris-Moore's mother obtained O. Yale Lewis is because the entertainment deals are already flowing. Colton's mother, Pamela Kohler says she needs an attorney to handle her "entertainment" interests, and she said a deal for a book about her son is in the works. Given Colton's popularity, the book deal is just a stepping stone to larger deals, interviews and likely a movie about his exploits.

In the end, telling his unique tale to the right people are finally going to get the Barefoot Bandit a nice pair of shoes.

Attorney Don McPartland is a litigation attorney with Secor, Cassidy & McPartland, P.C. (http://www.legalrazor.com)

Donald C. McPartland
http://www.legalrazor.com

Save Dolphins And Support The RSPCA And Save Animals From Euthanasia

2010-06-22T06:15:00.000-07:00

Many of us have dreamed of giving many thousands to our favourite charity, but of course most of us don't have the money to do it. That doesn't mean it isn't possible however. One Western Australian veterinary surgeon is hoping that thinking a little bit out of the box will allow people to save dolphins and support the RSPCA and save animals from euthanasia

All of this can be achieved by the power of leverage. Leverage can turn small donations into larger ones that will continue to grow with time and be potentiated with success. There are three important organisations in our region of the world that we would like to tell you a little bit more about.

The Dolphin Discovery Center in Bunbury Western Australia is a non-profit organisation committed to dolphin research, education, conservation and tourism. The Centre was opened in 1994, and is the first Centre in Australia dedicated entirely to dolphin research. Dolphin research into feeding patterns, social group interactions, population dynamics, breeding, water quality and mans impact on dolphin behavior and survival is critical for the survival of the species. Man over harvests, over pollutes and damages the environment of the worlds' oceans. Understanding the impact of man upon dolphins is very important for the survival of dolphins for future generations to enjoy. It is important to save dolphins.

The RSPCA is a global organization which protects animals against cruelty. The RSPCA in Western Australia is desperately underfunded and is unable to provide an adequate service to such a vast land mass as Western Australia. The RSPCA in Bunbury Western Australia was forced to close and is serviced by a single officer from Perth. The support of the RSPCA is important to maintain a balance between humans and animals.

Western Australia is overrun with feral animals and abandoned animals. Animals are dumped on animal refuges in alarming numbers and they are dumped in the environment where they take a huge toll on Australian native wildlife. The South West Animal Refuge is a non-profit organization set up by dedicated volunteers to save animals from euthanasia and to ensure re homed animals are sterilized and fostered out to caring families. It is possible to save animals from euthanasia.

You can join a global action to help build a perpetual donation to several charities. In celebration of "think globally, act locally" we have decided to develop "the gift that keeps on giving". The power of leverage will save dolphins by contributing to vital research and conservation, help

Hilarious Prank Call Contest Using Call Display Spoofing

2010-05-27T05:52:00.000-07:00

Recently, a group of students from a well known university ran a contest in which participants competed against one another to create the best prank call. The students were tasked with performing a prank call that was innocent and non-harming, creative, and unique. The students completed the prank calls using the popular call display spoofing service, SpoofTel, and had each of their calls recorded. It was the choice of each participant whether or not he or she wanted to utilize the voice changing option.

The contest ran for a two week period and the winner of the contest was to win the $150 grand prize. The winner of the prank call contest was chosen by a group of four members from the student union, the group that organized the contest.

"The contest gained an unexpected number of participants," states one of the organizers, whom we'll call Sheila. "I was happy to see the variety of participants and a nice number of female participants this year." This is the second year in which the school has run such a contest, according to the student union.

The judges received quite a lot of entries but had to narrow it down to a few select favorites. They were kind enough to share excerpts from some of the "best" prank calls that were entered.

One young male made a phone call to his girlfriend and pretended that he had been taken away by the government to serve in the army against his will. "I'm sorry honey, they took me," it began. He went in to quite a story about how government agents came to his work and took several of the males away for the purpose of serving in the army as they were short on men. The girlfriend was in disbelief at first but as the phone call went on she became more and more worried to the point of actually believing him. When he started to laugh and told her it was a joke, she just began to scream and no one could understand a word she was saying.

The winner of the contest was well deserving of the prize money. The hilarious and unexpected circumstances that played out during his phone call surely contributed to his win. This guy decided to phone his mother and essentially just act silly. When she answered the phone he began to explain that he had "a higher purpose" and it was "time to let his people know." She kept asking him what he was talking about and told him stop being silly. However, he continued with random gibberish for several minutes. He talked about knowing "where the enemy hides its resources" and "we'll need more bumper cars if we're going to succeed." During the phone call there was a knock on the door and he answered it with his mother still on the line. There were some muffled voices on the recording and he came back yelling "mom, what are you doing?" She stated that she believed he was on drugs and had his father come to take him to the hospital. She wouldn't believe him when he told her it was a joke.

We congratulate the winner of the prank call contest and wish all of next year's contestants the best of luck.

Disaster Hits Close To Home For Asset Location Expert

2010-05-10T00:21:00.001-07:00

There had been false alarms before in Saint Bernard Parish, a community rich in heritage, adjacent to the Ninth Ward in New Orleans. By the time Katrina came along it had become almost routine. So on August 28, 2005 when a mandatory evacuation was ordered, Charles and Rosena Seruntine boarded up three buildings, taking only the clothes on their back. They would be back in a few days after the storm passed, just as they had done before. When they drove away in two cars sporting four children and three dogs, little did they know that their world as they knew it would be forever changed.

FEMA would not allow the Seruntines to return for over three weeks. Charles indicated in an interview to KATC-TV that, "We've been in three states, in five different hotels." Desperate for information, FEMA would only tell the Seruntines that there was “a lot of water.”

The Seruntine family home in Arabi, Louisiana was 2,800 square feet of luxury, evidence of Charles’ success in the asset location business. Charles was 21 when he began work in negotiations at a national debt recovery firm. He rose rapidly in the ranks to the legal division where he eventually headed up the agency’s asset investigation department. It was only natural that eight years ago he would start his own firm. First Guarantee Associates, LLC boasts an impressive client list, servicing some of the most successful collection specialists, attorneys and governmental entities.

When FEMA finally allowed the Seruntines to return, they would enter the boarded-up residence through a back door which had been kicked in by rescue teams. The receding waters had confirmed their worst fears: the family home was a total loss. Katrina would claim their daughter’s home, too and lift the building which housed First Guarantee Associates off its foundation. “We are starting over. We are back where we were when we first got married,” explains Seruntine.

Historically, the floodwaters of the Mississippi River have played an integral role in the destiny of Saint Bernard Parish. It was the floodwaters which left behind a rich soil, creating a thriving agricultural industry. It was those floodwaters, too, which played a part in the brewing tension with its celebrity neighbor. Tension dating back to the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927, when in the face of a monster storm, engineers bowed to local pressure by diverting floodwaters into Saint Bernard to save New Orleans. That decision destroyed a prosperous community and fueled resentment toward the Big Easy which continues to smolder to this day.

Katrina has done little to quell this bad blood, for once again Saint Bernard has taken a punishing blow. And once again it has taken a back seat to its popular neighbor. One of the hardest hit parishes, this bustling community of 67,000 people was erased overnight by Katrina. There is no real estate inventory; every building in Saint Bernard Parish was destroyed. This is where the tragedy at St. Rita’s nursing home took place. Yet much of the media attention has been focused on the French Quarter, argue Saint Bernard residents, noting much of the resources have been diverted to their sexy sister while they sit in obscurity like a forgotten stepchild. FEMA has become a four-letter word in this parish.

Today Saint Bernard Parish is an eerie sight. In an attempt to describe his community, Seruntine asks, “Have you ever seen ‘The Day After Tomorrow’?”

Out of the 67,000 residents in the parish, all but 203 fled the storm. 127 bodies have since been recovered. Although there were a handful of survivors, the balance are reported as ‘missing’. St. Bernard’s 25,000 homes were declared a ‘total loss’. With neither residents nor businesses, the parish government lost its tax base overnight. It will take at least five years to rebuild the community.

The nightmare for the Seruntines continually evolves, but never ends. Because so many homes were destroyed, available housing has soared 40-60%. But investment real estate Seruntine owns in the flood area has dropped. His investment lots prior to Katrina were selling for $80,000. Investors are now offering him $5,000. In November 2005 Seruntine bought a smaller home at twice the cost of his former residence. He’s since discovered it’s infested with termites.

Largely ineligible for government assistance, the help for Charles Seruntine would be grass roots. His 22 employees kept the business together. Members of the collection community rallied to his support. Sometimes that support would come by way of a sympathetic phone call, a check in the mail or a Wal-Mart gift card.

Seruntine makes no effort to hide his anger, “If Katrina was a woman, I would have shot her in the head a hundred times.” He is angry at the government engineers for failing to shore up the levees. He is angry at the insurance companies for denying his claims. He is angry too at FEMA and the media for their inattention to his parish’s plight. But most of all he regrets losing everything accumulated over two decades, especially family photos and keepsakes which were washed into the canal. “How do you replace 20 years of Disney World snowglobes?” he asks.

Seruntine’s business, conducted largely by email, is up and running. He continues his fight with the insurance companies and the federal government. His legal battles are expected to take 10 years to resolve. The scars of Katrina, however, will never fade.

Ramona Featherby is a judgment collection specialist in San Diego and past president of CAJP. http://discoverassets.com/

Disaster Hits Close To Home For Asset Location Expert

2010-05-10T00:21:00.000-07:00

Today Saint Bernard Parish is an eerie sight. In an attempt to describe his community, Seruntine asks, “Have you ever seen ‘The Day After Tomorrow’?”

Ramona Featherby is a judgment collection specialist in San Diego and past president of CAJP. http://discoverassets.com/

Katherine May Not Have Been Michael's Only Parent Who Bonded the Jackson Family

2010-04-24T07:30:00.000-07:00

Katherine was not the only Jackson parent who had an unconditional love for Michael, not the only one who nurtured and bonded the family, nor the only one who was always there, always supportive. Joseph Jackson, as widely reported, was a hard taskmaster, his relationship with his famous son evoked mixed emotions from the singer. And Joe Jackson wasn't always easy to understand.

Michael expressed in his 1993 interview with Oprah Winfrey, "I just wish I could understand my father". The singer acknowledged his father had a great difficulty showing affection, which was more a cause for concern for him than any spanking he received growing up.

In his Oxford speech Michael said that if he did a great show, his father would tell him it was a good show. And if he did an OK show, he would say nothing. The music legend further stated, "My father was a managerial genius and my brothers and I owe our professional success, in no small measure, to the forceful way that he pushed us." While Katherine appeared to be the only parent who sought legal custody of Michael Jackson's children, his father was quoted by ABC News as saying he believed the two of them were ideally suited to take care of and raise their grand children "to be strong Jacksons."

In Michael's last months of life, Joe says his ability to gain access to his son was limited -- hampered by the star's inner circle and security personnel. For months Katherine too had been unable to get in contact with MJ due to the same inner circle. She had to contact Debbie Rowe who got in touch with Arnold Klein, Michael's dermatologist, who informed Michael that his mother was trying to reach him.

Joseph said that his son, who seemingly surrounded himself with those who didn't have his best interests at heart, "didn't know any better."

The extended-family patriarch, commenting on missed opportunities to teach his son street smarts to better judge those seeking to take advantage of his success, said: "Maybe that I might have -- should have learned 'em a little more how the streets are instead of -- instead'a keepin' them -- close together."

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A Penny For Your Thoughts - Should They Be Eliminated?

2010-04-07T07:48:00.000-07:00

In the last several years, there's been a lot of debates about the possibility of no longer minting pennies in the United States. Some people think it's utterly ridiculous to even consider. Others think that it's ridiculous that we even had them in the first place.

The reason that some people like the penny is that it's practically in their blood to save their pennies for a rainy day. There are even rhymes about how picking up a penny is good luck. People have jars and piggy banks full of them. However, those people don't understand the fact that pennies are rapidly becoming impractical.

First of all, there's the cost to consider. You might not be aware, but it actually costs more to mint a penny these days than the completed penny is actually work. After all, it does take a couple days to mint a coin and a lot of materials, workers and machinery to make it happen.

There's also the inconvenience to consider. After all, it's difficult to calculate with pennies involved. If we got rid of the penny, things would always be in multiples of five. There'd be no more instances of calculating in terms of numbers like 37 cents or 89 cents. It would be much easier for kids and foreigners to figure out the math while shopping.

So, is it worth it to keep pennies for nostalgia, even though they aren't practical? Well, that depends on who you ask. One thing's for sure, though. As long as people are taking the time and resources to make pennies, we should respect that and save them for a rainy day.

Alan Kelly has been writing articles about coins for the past two years. He also enjoys writing about hobbies, like why you should use plastic playing cards and how to find quality giant playing cards.

Budget Cuts and Emergency Vehicle Response Times - The Efficiency of Life and Death

2010-03-18T10:24:00.000-07:00

For those who are involved in the life and death career path of emergency response, they realize that who survives and who perishes is often in their hands when seconds count. And as long as we are counting, let me tell you what I've recently counted. I've observed a number of very alarming articles of needless deaths from slow emergency response times. Worse, most of them are due to budget cuts of staff, new equipment, and/or the latest GPS/GIS technologies to speed things along while maintaining safety.

Not long ago, I had the chance to interview Jonathan Reed on this topic of the response times of emergency vehicles. And worked to identify some of the problems and he reasoned that we need to pay more attention to; "Probability Zone" and the needs and prediction of needs which "have been well mapped and are studied/reviewed often."

Perhaps, you do not realize, but Los Angeles has some great software which is able to predict about how many crimes will occur where on any given date, and it is scary how accurate it really is, meaning they can use this to schedule police. Well, the same thing can be used for fire and ambulance teams. Jonathan proposes that we; "integrate these systems; real-time information of volumes of cars from traffic cameras so crews can avoid traffic jams. Integrating traffic lights with GPS positions of crews so that intersections can be cleared, and roads prepared for services to decrease their journey time."

Think about what he is saying and all the information we already have - first let's look at Google Maps, GIS data gathering companies, ESRI software, Battelle traffic research, not to mention all the data collected by various first responder teams. Why not integrate it all.

Another challenge is the one about human obstacles, such as blocked intersections, grid lock, drivers who do not hear sirens or will not move over? "As at the minute people can only start to move once they see or hear the emergency vehicle, quite often meaning they have to slow down repetitively en route," states Jonathan Reed.

Indeed, his comments makes sense to me, like "packet" routing on the Internet. A smart grid for traffic flows, with artificial intelligence timing how best and most efficient to get the emergency vehicles to their destination quickest, setting a priority. We could use the same algorithms used in Finite Capacity Scheduling Models for manufacturing with regards to emergency expediting - after all - really it's the same basic theory. Kind of putting in a "Rush Order" without screwing up traffic flows, which is what happens now.

So, I agree this needs fixing especially in urban areas such as LA, Seattle, Dallas, Houston, San Francisco, Phoenix, Denver, Portland, KC, OKC, Baton Rouge, Orlando, Tampa, Miami, J-Ville, Atlanta, Boston, NYC, Philly, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Louisville, Nashville, Memphis, Chicago, Detroit, Indianapolis, Green Bay, etc. And all the second tier cities of 400-500K pop.

As we speak the City of Los Angeles, CA is cutting 10-ambulance crews and has made drastic cuts in police and fire. This article is not speaking to union grievances or even the political firestorm that has created - rather it speaks to reality. It speaks to getting the job done more efficiently when seconds count, and life and death hang in the balance. Please consider all this.

Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank. Lance Winslow believes in efficiency even at a car wash; http://www.carwashguy.com

Note: All of Lance Winslow's articles are written by him, not by Automated Software, any Computer Program, or Artificially Intelligent Software. None of his articles are outsourced, PLR Content or written by ghost writers.

The Individual and Society

2010-03-03T09:22:00.000-08:00

The modern rules of the society encourage individualistic attitudes and also separation. Touching each other in society is always considered as a sexual advancement and people stay away from each other due to this. The rights of individuals are given more importance and take precedence in the society.

So, as time goes by, people are getting lonelier. However, from a sociological point of view individuals are a part of the bigger society and they are not separate. An individual leads two lives, one in society and one with themselves. Any decisions that they may take in their personal life will affect the societal life also. In the end the definition of a society is it contains several individuals who are leading their lives with respect to their means and as well as the society.

There is a direct relationship of dependence between the individual and the society. If there is nobody to interact with, then we all will feel lonely and actually can develop serious mental and physical problems. Therefore, interaction with the society is a must. However, this interaction is very controlled and moderated.

The social research separates the society from the individual. They see them both as two different beings. Individual is a person who is free and independent, and acts at his own will. A society functions in a pre-determined way. The society controls the individual, but the individual cannot control the society and its functions. Society can also lead the individual to live in a certain way and establish their identity at the same time.

About Author:
Kum Martin is an online leading expert in the education industry. He also offers top quality tips like:

Learning to read stocks, Types of Engineering

Producing a Healthy Population on a Budget - Who in the World is Getting the Job Done? Part 1

2010-02-10T09:48:00.000-08:00

Are you familiar with the saying that if you want to become successful at something, find someone who has what you want and do what they do?

Applying this simple wisdom to the healthcare debate, I decided to see what I could turn up. Out of all the countries in the world, which nations have the populations with the best health measured by the highest life expectancy, and how is this accomplished?

I was hoping to come across a comprehensive study by some think-tank or prominent university giving detailed statistical analysis of factors affecting life expectancy and health, showing which nations around the world have the healthiest populations, and how they accomplish this, but I couldn't find anything substantial.

I will attempt to provide some rudimentary findings in this article.

I started with searching for life expectancy rates in the different nations. I figured that life expectancy was the simplest measurement of the health of a populace. Here is the Top 10 List:

Countries with Highest Life Expectancy

Macau (part of China) -- 84.36
Andorra -- 82.51
Japan -- 82.12
Singapore -- 81.98
San Marino -- 81.97
Hong Kong -- 81.86
Australia -- 81.63
Canada -- 81.23
France (metropolitan) -- 80.98
Sweden 80.86

50. United States 78.11

Why do people living in these countries on average outlive the rest of the world?Does universal health care coverage play a key role? What about the lifestyle of these groups? What about factors that can't be changed, but still play a role such as wealth and demographics of the populations?

Wouldn't it be important to have an in-depth understanding of why these populations are so long-lived before undertaking any expensive, extensive, and potentially revolutionary changes to our own health care system?

As it turns out, each of the nations that made the top ten are relatively wealthy when compared with many other parts of the world, but those with the highest life expectancy are certainly not the wealthiest. From this, I must conclude that wealth may play a role in life expectancy, but there are clearly other factors involved.

Japan is noted for its extraordinarily low obesity rate - only 3% of Japanese citizens are obese (while in the United States, a full 32% of the populace is obese)! Since several of the top killers of Americans are chronic illnesses that occur with a significantly greater prevalence in the obese (heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes), it would make sense that America's portly and out-of-shape populace is a literal drag on the nations's life expectancy. Japan's relatively lower rates of these chronic diseases gives further credence the significant role of obesity in life expectancy.

An interesting side note about Japan's low obesity rate is how they avoid this modern plague - Japanese children are taught to eat only until 80% full, fresh vegetables and fish are eaten in abundance, sweets are eaten occasionally, and more people in Japan get exercise in their daily lives than in America. I think we can learn a lot about a healthy lifestyle from the Japanese!

In terms of demographics, some of the countries in this top-ten list have a tiny population size with a racially homogenous populace (such as San Marino, Andorra, Macau, and even Sweden). Others have larger populations, but still a very homogenous population such as Japan and Australia (92% of the Australian population is of European descent). But Canada, France, and Singapore all have a good degree of racial diversity.

A quick look at demographics reveals that having a small, homogenous populations may be positively associated with higher life expectancy, but it is clearly not the main player in the life expectancy game.

Next I wanted to look at the health care systems of each of the countries on this top-ten list. Unfortunately, a complete statistical analysis of the health care systems of nations with high life expectancies is beyond the ability of my poor little brain, and beyond the scope of a blog entry. But here's what I can say so far:

Each of the nations and nation-states with the highest life expectancies appear to give access of at least basic health care to even the poorest of their citizens. If someone is having a heart attack, they won't be turned away. If someone is mauled in an accident of some type, they will receive care. Any person with a chronic illness will receive at least basic care in a public clinic of some kind.

I have much more research to do to compare how this differs from what is currently offered to the poor in the United States under the Medicaid and Medicare program. I'm sure there are may be some significant differences, and I would like to know what they are.

In my research on health care systems, I made a very surprising find that I want to share. Did you know that in the list of countries with highest life expectancies that there is a country that is less affluent than the U.S. that has an infant mortality rate one-third less than that of the U.S., that spends one-seventh of what the U.S. government spends on health care for its populace, and its population lives an average of almost four years longer?

What country is this, and what are they doing right?

And did you know that there is a part of the world where a push to give each and every citizen health insurance has succeeded at insuring almost everyone, but has increased the cost of health care for many of its citizens while showing little or negligible increases in their actual health, while practically bankrupting its government in the process?

Stay tuned for the scoop. Julie Behling invites you to become a follower of her blog at http://www.juliebehling.com.

Making Relationships Work - Haiti Brings Us Together Once Again

2010-01-26T09:25:00.000-08:00

Our hearts are heavy. We have all watched in horror as the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti unwinds leaving a catastrophe for survivors and aid works to comprehend and work through. And now, we witness the real courage of the families left without news or closure as they wait for news of their loved ones.

There are some that believe we as people have become immune and desensitized to horrific visions of injuries and death. After watching the events unfold in Haiti, that statement can no longer be true. We have been forced to watch and endure the pain of the families and orphaned children left behind and feeling the agony of families as they helplessly watch this unforeseen tragedy unfold.

It has been joy and happiness on one hand when survivors are found. And then grief and sorrow when hearing the news there were no survivors at some of the search locations. Our hearts ache at public outcries to aid workers to look here or there and in doing so, that life is not found. We view our television sets with incomprehension as we observe the mass graves and hear stories of the smell attached to death.

The little girl, Anika we watched as her rescuers freed her from the concrete that held her captive with one of her legs caught underneath as it also subsequently dealt the fatal blow that would take her life the next day. Anika's family called her the pride of their family as we all watched in disbelief of her death. We as silent voyeurs watched and in silence grieved with her family for their precious lost life.

Brittney, from Massachusetts one of four missing in Haiti, we watch as her dad pleads for the President to rescue his daughter. His pleas are our pleas. His anguish becomes our own silent anguish as we watch him question her whereabouts and safety. We reach for him to comfort his pain as only strangers can do through our thoughts and prayers.

There are reports of a number of the elderly and abandoned that because of their location and plight they do not have access to the food and water being dropped where most of the survivors are located. We watch as the survivors from the earthquake run towards the aid as the weak and elderly remain behind as nothing more than a faded memory as they are left to fend for themselves.

Those left behind could have been neighbors, family or friends, no matter they have been forgotten because after all it is survival of the fittest. Those that can save themselves with unabashed selfish abandonment for those who couldn't walk nor run to obtain the nourishment and water they need to survive as they lay patiently waiting for death to claim them.

Sometimes when remembering how it takes a group effort to conquer obstacles, we often hear the African proverb, it takes a village. We have proven this to be true by gathering our five and ten dollar bills and creating millions. And, by working together we all provide aid in an attempt to save a country, to save its people, the injured, the hungry and thirsty, and the dying.

Some have made light of the Haitians misfortune wanting to attach negative beliefs that their plight is about sin, politics and race. Despite the rhetoric we as people have transcended the criticism. When tragedy strikes the divisiveness that separates our nations ceases to matter. This catastrophe and others before it is still an overpowering reminder that we are our brothers' keeper.

So we come together again as we have in the past as one with the sole purpose of helping others, something that brings the best out of all us. At one point while rescuers are working, the Haitians emotions overflows and with unsuppressed anticipation, they begin chanting, "USA! USA!" as another survivor is found and removed from the ruins of their city.

This collective body of people, doing what they do best helping those in need no matter the location or devastation as they give of themselves unselfishly. We can afford to beam with pride that we are Americans despite our differences, we are Americans. More articles from this author can be found at http://www.makingrelationshipswork.net.

Current News - Do You Like to Argue But Hate to Lose?

2010-01-12T07:30:00.000-08:00

Some news articles really excite me while other articles make me upset. For example, this morning there was an economic article about job losses in America. The article said that there was a net loss of jobs in December 2009, which was a bit of a surprise to economic forecasters. I was not surprised by this current news. Last month, in November, when the job loss situation improved significantly there were a lot of journalists projecting the beginning of an improved job market going forward. The economists who issued the statistics in November warned against that kind of optimism and recommended a wait and see approach. That made sense to me; hence I was less surprised by the December backslide into job losses.

The point is, news is emotional stuff. What happens is the news sets off a whole network of memory associations, and these associations produce an emotional reaction. My memories of the economists' warnings in November allowed me to feel dismissive of the journalists optimism and therefore not surprised by December's job losses. On the other hand, if you have no knowledge or memories about a news item then you can only process it intellectually, there are no emotional memories involved.

So skip forward a few hours and find me in a discussion with my son about the employment report. He was disappointed and argued that the numbers were merely a seasonal oddity. He didn't remember the November statistics or the warnings to "wait and see." At any rate, I didn't want to argue with him or make him feel worse about an already disappointing situation, but to myself I just noted the process. Since I had a memory reference, my emotions were brought into play rather than just reacting to current news.

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Remembering Snail Mail

2009-12-17T04:22:00.000-08:00

Times have changed and along with it the way we go about our day to day tasks. Thanks to the influx of modern technology in our lives, most of us perform common tasks in life in similar ways. When we want to send a mail to a distant relative, we use the power of the internet. Just a few minutes spent in writing the mail is more than enough. At the click of a button, the mail is dispatched and delivered to the inbox of the intended recipient. If the person to whom the mail was sent is online at that time and if his or her mail client is open, he or she will be immediately informed that they have received a mail.

Chances are that they will scan the mail and reply back to it quickly if it is urgent enough. So, by the time we can complete a cup of coffee, our mail has been completed, sent and we have also received the reply. However, these electronic versions of mails do not have that special feeling of love and caring attached to them that were there with snail mail. For those who do not know, most people refer to postal mail as snail mail because of its slow speed compared to the speed of email.

During the good old days (depending how you look at them), we used to send copies of the photographs we had taken while touring another city or country. The photographs were hopefully appreciated by the receiver who would then proceed to date them and affix them in photo albums. The current generation sends photographs as email attachments. They do not have to spend time writing on the envelope "contains photographs... please do not bend." When they are received, the current generation of people just drops the images into folders on their hard drives if they bother to save them at all.

As with so many things, making mail and pictures too cheap and easy also destroyed much of that special value we put on them when they required more effort. Most of you who have corresponded using postal mail will remember quite a few things with nostalgia. Remember those anxious moments that you used to spend waiting for the postman to come with the letters of your beloved? Times are changing and with it our means of communicating are too. This has good and bad points, but our emails and digital images do not have the heart of letters and pictures.

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Pay to Read News Online?

2009-12-05T02:58:00.000-08:00

It is not a new concept, It is not even something that has not been done before. What is it? It is the buzz going around that companies may start charging people to access and read the news! Who is behind this crazy change that may come to the world wide web soon? Newspapers and magazines have the most to gain from charging people to read their articles online. For a number of years now these companies have been struggling to survive in a world where information online is so readily available that they have seen fewer and fewer sales of their paper versions. Other companies have also begun to look at this idea of charging for content to visitors. So why would they do this? It all comes down to one simple fact. More and more information can be found online for free. Due to this proliferation of free information, companies that rely on making money from news are hurting more and more. Also even though all this information is usually plastered with ads not enough of us humble internet users are clicking on those ads and buying products to make up for the lack of sales in real world papers and magazines. So where is all this leading us? Will we have to pay to start visiting websites that contain important information and things that interest us? Well here is my take on how things should or could be.

The internet or world wide web or whatever you want to call it is wild animal. It seeks to devour all information and ideas that are out there from everyone and everything. This is a good thing though because as a result individuals, families and businesses both small and large have gained access to virtually anything they could ever want or need. As a result we have seen a boom in the variety of products and services available world wide including in areas that would be hard pressed to gain access to even basic necessities. We have also seen the world open up in the form of communication. Today people are meeting and getting to know more people than anyone ever has been able to before. Online communities and website have allowed us all to be closer to each other whether it be just within the family, friends, or even different cultures. So when it comes to a few companies wanting to charge for their information I think it will prove a bad direction for them to go. For one thing, even if they try to protect that information from leaking out beyond their own domains there are so many other choices out there that readers will just go elsewhere. In the end they will be left with just those loyal readers that prefer to get their news from a favored writer or in a certain format.

No matter what becomes of world of advertising and business we can be sure that the world wide web won't be going anywhere! I am sure it will change and grow in many ways and maybe even morph into a totally new experience for all of us as the world continues to change in ideas and technology. That is what makes the internet so fascinating though, and so alluring to almost everyone. So will i pay to read an article or find some information? Certainly; because I already am paying for it by using the internet through my local provider just as is almost everyone else in the world. Will I pay anything extra to access information from certain companies? Who knows; I guess it just depends on how bad I want it and if I can find the information elsewhere. What will choose to do?

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Survey Markers - Ensuring Mapping Accuracy and Integrity For Over 120 Years

2009-11-19T08:46:00.000-08:00

Survey Markers are used to mark survey earth surface points in geodetic and land surveying. The markers may be either benchmarks, which are vertical elevation markers or trig points, which are markers for horizontal surveying. The markers are usually permanent and can be depicted in a variety of ways.

The simplest survey markers are chisel marks or nails to mark the survey points. Traditionally most professional surveyors use markers that are made of stamped metal discs set in rock or concrete pillars. As a backup, markers are stacked under the ground, in case the above ground marker is disturbed or displaced. The newest line of survey markers are long metal rods that are able to be pushed deep (up to 3 ft) into the ground. After these innovative markers are placed, a special tool is used to engage a patented "root" system that anchors the survey marker into place permanently. One of the most modern uses for these markers are in setting up GPS receiver antennas but their versatility, light weight design and speedy installation has them being used in many other applications such as the marker of choice for swampy areas where using concrete is practically impossible.

Benchmark survey markers are chiseled markers that are placed into stone structures, where an angle iron can be placed across it to form a bench. They are placed by government agencies or private survey firms. Records are kept of registered survey markers in a large computer database. The height is determined by a map of other benchmarks in the area. If you have ever been to a mountain summit you have probably seen a benchmark type survey marker. It could be a large boulder at the top of the summit, at the highest point. The benchmark typically has the station name and date stamped into it, but rarely has the elevation etched on it. The names of benchmark stations are not unique and can be used over and over again. If you see one, maybe take a picture of it.

Trig points are another type of marker and are also referred to as triangulation points. These survey markers are typically found on buildings and in urban areas.

It is against the law to intentionally remove or destroy survey markers. Anyone who deliberately destroys or removes a marker will be charged with a misdemeanor crime in most states. These markers are intended to be permanent and are used by surveyors, engineers, contractors and planners for designing, the construction of a wide variety of residential, commercial and governmental projects. While concrete or some of the newer, lighter and more permanent markers are hard to remove, many older or cheaper ones are frequently moved or just disappear. This can become quite frustrating for workers who need to track exactly where an underground pipe system might be leaking or where exactly a residential lot might end.

Survey markers form a network all the way across the United States, including Hawaii and Alaska. It is estimated that there are over one million markers in place today. They are used for many residential applications but also in many major business, research and governmental applications such as the mapping of pipelines, communications grids or simply manhole covers. These markers have been being put in place since 1879 and are responsible for mapping done across the country.

To learn more about survey markers please visit our website at http://www.usmarkers.com.

Catch Hold of All That is Latest in News

2009-11-04T09:01:00.000-08:00

The world is advancing with rapid steps and the augmenting technology has made it possible for us to embrace even the most invincible of challenges with grace. Staying ahead with the progressing times is essential for success and thus, keeping oneself updated with happening in the country and around the world can keep you stay a step ahead of others. With a number of news channels mushrooming from every nook and corner of India, even little information is becoming breaking news.

Everything from minor to major is encompassed between the spheres of breaking news and is given undue attention by the news channels. Thus, it is the responsibility of the viewers to differentiate between quality news and trivial news. Spreading information is not only limited to television or the news channels but has also gripped the masses over the internet. Every popular news channel has its own website that hosts latest news India along with top news videos. Through these top news videos one can catch a glimpse of the latest news in India and around the globe, anytime.

Tapping on the surface of moon has been made possible after endless efforts from mankind's end. India too has registered its place amongst those developing nations able to achieve even the impossible with ease as the Indian Chandrayaan discovered water on the moon. The moon mission of the country could well be credited for the biggest finds made in space till date.

This breaking news can be seen on India's news channels. India's other mission to host the next Commonwealth Games is still to be accomplished as the preparations and the games venues were inspected by the foreign delegates. The US president Obama announced that he expects a 'fruitful relationship' with India. The global automobile company Ford too has realized that to strengthen its hold in India, launching a small car is a must, after all the product should reach masses to boost the popularity of the brand. Numerous websites offer the internet users a plethora of information on all that is latest news in India and across the world.

Sourav Sharma is freelance market analyst and is writing reviews articles on breaking news, latest news India, top news videos.

How to Send the World a Message With a Flag

2009-10-23T10:37:00.000-07:00

Why is it that at the drop of a hat, many people run pennants up flagpoles to celebrate their successes, or the homecoming of someone much loved? Well, it could be said that this is a perfect visual way to show people either that the person or people coming home are valued. Or, it shows a sense of belonging to one cause or another. Flag stores are usually inundated with requests for family oriented flags or such and most offer a custom flag service.

Everyone will know of the identifying pennants that will be flown from sea going vessels etc. But what they may not know is that the naval service has meanings for each and every pennant it flies. When a ship is coming into port, decoration is not the only reason to fly these delightful strings of pretty colored pennants. They may spell out the name of the home port, or even a message to the country that they are visiting saying something like 'our company is honored to be in your country'.

At other times these pennants, or bunting as it is commonly called, may just be celebrating an anniversary of the monarch of that particular country. In England, the Royal Nave will always celebrate the birthday of Nelson who is considered to be one of the most beloved and respected seafarers of all times.

Cargo ships will use these pennants to show where they are registered. Very often it is not the country where the ship comes from. This is a 'convenience' pennant and is done in this way to take advantage of tax laws in that particular country. So any ships that look like they come from Panama, a favorite 'convenience' country, is normally from somewhere quite different.

Before the days of electronic communications, small pennants were used to signal from ship to ship. Each position adopted by the sailor given the task of sending the message meant a different word or letter and other ships in the area could clearly see what the message was meant to convey.

Today many companies will have a pennant designed to denote what the company does. It may be the company logo, or perhaps show something on the pennant that is relevant to the business concerned. These are usually made bigger than normal to be flown from either the top of the building or from the car park to attract attention of people driving by. Just notice how much bunting car sales lots have all around the place to attract the attention of shoppers.

Finally, for family members it is sometimes good to have a kind of crest designed to denote what the family is comprised of. For example, in many European countries in days gone by, each family would have a family crest to show who the family was. This was used to identify that particular family in times of feuds etc. Anyone not showing the family crest was promptly thrown in a dungeon or hung, drawn and quartered, whichever came first!

Connor Sullivan bought some Custom Flags for the local high school booster club. The booster president ordered custom flags from an internet flag store for the local high school fall sports.

Educational Innovation and Economic Stimulus

2009-10-12T09:06:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Department of Education's 2010 fiscal year budget of $47.6 billion includes an allocation of $517 million dedicated to the Teacher Incentive Fund which rewards principals, teachers, and other school personnel who raise student achievement, close achievement gaps and work hard to staff schools.

School districts across the country will be competing for the billions of dollars on the line. They will showcase their great schools, exemplary teachers and innovative ideas. There's no doubt that the stimulus money will be a boon for school reform. For years, school districts have shown that they have innovative ideas, but without proper funding those ideas never come to fruition.

Innovation and change should be energized with both an incentive and reward to replenish resources of ingenuity, commitment, and creativity. Only in public education is going the extra mile a donation expected of the dedicated few.

It is empowering to be recognized for turning gang infested schools from the strong hold of the socially impaired to havens where students can remediate themselves to academic achievement. Yes, placards and pats on the back feel good; but, they don't buy anything. Why are educators the only missionaries who trek the roadways of the under-achievers --prodding them to the higher places with maybe a brief notation in the annual assessment of their deeds and misdeeds in the educational workplace?

When an inspired teacher or administrator makes the difference in average yearly attainment a reward is more than appropriate. It is fully earned for having the tools to enable the struggling student to complete a toolkit that is in ill repair.

Based on the state funding tables issued by the U.S. Department of Education, Colorado is expected to receive $33,845,209 in Recovery Act funding for schools identified for improvement, corrective action and restructuring under Title I. This money is expected to come into play this fall.

If past history is any indicator the incentive program will be a success. Programs such as the Absence Addiction Approach recognized by the National Interagency Drug Institute and the U.S. Department of Education helped an academically impaired high school move from low attendance and floundering graduation rates to turn around status celebrated by its principal winning recognition as Outstanding Individual In School and feted by the state's governor. This turn around scenario was incentivized by outside funding. This shows what dynamic effects special funding can have.

The rewards reaped from the Teacher Incentive Fund will provide a tremendous opportunity for improving schools with hard work and innovation. The real winners though, will be the children.

Busby is a former Colorado Springs high school principal and school board member and an educational consultant with the Women's Workplace and Educational Initiative.

Delia Armstrong Busby is an award winning educator and former school board member. Contact at rubusy1@comcast.net

I Want Free Health Care, But I Don't Want to Pay For It, and Other Pearls of Wisdom

2009-10-04T05:40:00.001-07:00

With the news today coming out that the most recent Gallup poll stunningly uncovered the fact that Americans want the best health care but don't want to pay for it, came shock and disbelief albeit only from people that were stranded on a desert.

"The poll of 3,026 adults, surveyed Friday through Sunday, has a margin of error of +/-2 percentage points. Some questions, asked of half the sample, have an error margin of +/-3 points. By 56%-33%, those surveyed endorse the idea of enacting major health care changes this year. Just one in four say it's not important to them. When it comes to financing the costs, six of 10 favor the idea of requiring employers to provide health insurance for their workers or pay a fee instead." from the USA Today Gallup poll.

The fact that this survey was actually paid for by a public company was more shocking to me," said Captain Obvious of I knew it, Florida. Perhaps the greatest idea came from the Gallup poll writers themselves when they decided to go home for the day and stop asking silly questions.

While considering my abnormal viewpoints with a colleague recently, I was reminded of a terrific book I read called the "Shock Doctrine" by Naomi Klein, a truly thought provoking book, quite the opposite of a Gallup poll. Her book is based on historical facts and statistics that were used by the Chicago School of Economics to shock nations into globalization. This allowed US companies to go into these poor, often battered companies and buy everything from the workers to their public utilities. The reason why many of these countries were so poor was because they were often "spoiled" by social programs they couldn't afford. The IMF and the large corporations would then only loan money to remake the countries if the politicians would agree to open up global trade (which allowed the international companies to go in and buy everything that was attached) and repeal any and all social programs. Largely, these countries of course suffered immensely worse then before the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had gone into the countries and after 5-10 years the local currency etc. would start to gain traction and the economy were modernized into a model of capitalism.

The parallel between these countries (mostly Latin American and Middle Eastern) and our country today is that we are on the precipice of a truly awful economic decline and polls like the one by Gallup confirm that we as Americans want everything but won't sacrifice anything to get it. Of course the politicians will still promise and deliver these programs to us without regard to cost or anything else as long as they are elected time and again. And the ugly truth of the book (which is pointedly liberal) is that we going to need to be shocked out of these habits in order to "reset" the economy. All social programs and anything else that causes deficits and debt will have to be abandoned and then started all over again.

As the most productive nation on earth, this future can certainly be avoided by making good decisions like Universal Health Care but cuts will have to be made elsewhere! But just like after all the recessions that Greenspan avoided by messing with the interest rates (which is causing a larger, more impending crash which will combine all the past recessions as bills from these prior mistakes have never been absorbed, just deferred) and like we are doing again, now by avoiding the current recession and spending money that just doesn't even exist, this final bill is going to come due. And it is coming due. And when other countries wake up and stop financing our debts, as they wake up to the notion that is impossible for us to pay them back. When? I have no idea. But the first part of it is happening already as the dollar continues to decline and China is slowing its ridiculous purchase of our treasuries. I am willing to give up my cushy health insurance brokerage for the good of this country and if we all do something painful it can help defray some of the pain that is coming, what are you willing to do?

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About American Flags - When and Where American Flags Are Displayed

2009-09-20T10:30:00.000-07:00

If you're an American citizen, you might purchase a flag at some point, for a holiday, ceremony, or to display on your property as a form of patriotism. For a standard American flag, cotton and polyester versions of the stars and stripes can be found. As, in many cases, the flag will need to stay outside, the material should be strong enough to withstand water, the sun, and wind. Although brick-and-mortar stores selling exclusively American flags are hard to come by, online retailers sell flags with setup equipment like flagpoles and stands. American flags should be displayed at schools and government buildings, and they can be displayed in your home for various reasons.

Holidays, such as July 4th, are often times to display the flag. If you go through any city or town, American flags are almost always on display around this time of year. Although patriotism is appropriate at all times, July 4th is the national day of independence, and showing your pride is accepted all around. July 4th isn't the only holiday in which American flags are displayed prominently, and other summer holidays like Labor Day and Memorial Day have flags displayed prominently to symbolize values associated with it.

Holidays aren't the only times in which the flag is displayed prominently. In fact, American flags should be on display in public schools and government buildings. When you were a student, you probably remember a standard size flag displayed in your school's auditorium. A smaller flag might have been displayed in your classroom each day, so that when you said the Pledge of Allegiance, you and your classmates could turn in the direction of the flag. In addition, a larger flag would have been displayed on a tall flagpole outside. Government organizations and buildings may not have their workers say the Pledge every day, but having at least an American flag outside is necessary.

What if you want to display an American flag in your home? Many who served in the military or those who are simply proud Americans want to display a flag on their properties. Displaying American flags is legal, but all flags need to be displayed according to the Flag Code. The Flag Code specifies how American flags can be displayed, and this includes the direction and how the flag is facing, and also how the flag should be disposed of once it is too tattered to be flown.

2012 - End of World Or Start of the Party?

2009-09-12T03:49:00.000-07:00

The 2012 end of world scenario has a lot of people worried. The basic idea is that some people believe that the world is going to end on December 21, 2012, which is the date that the Mayan calendar ends. But what exactly do people mean when they say "the end of the world".

This is really the key to the equation. No one knows what will happen for sure. Some believe that we'll be facing death and destruction, while others feel that things are about to get really good.

"What?" you may ask. Yup, there are actually two sides to this debate (well, three if you count the people that believe it's going to be just another day), both of which can be fairly convincing.

On one side, you've got the people that think the world is about to be destroyed. Science is on their side. Certain scientific signs can easily be interpreted to mean destruction for the planet. I'm not just talking about global warming. For example, some believe that the poles might reverse, which would cause intense earthquakes and tidal waves that could easily destroy most of the planet. Other theories point to asteroids, sun spots cycles, and a galactic alignment.

But you don't have to face certain destruction! On the other side of the fence are the people that believe that there is going to be a sudden transformation for the better. Some interpret this as an "evolution of consciousness". Many religious people believe that this will be the biblical end times, a time when the wicked are weeded out and those that are left will experience a "heaven on earth".

What's really in store for 2012? Will the world end or will the world as we know it end? Where will you be? Click here to learn more about the 2012 end of world. Think it's all a load of hogwash? Express your opinion in the big 2012 debate.

The Most Radical Aesthetic, Much More Than Tattoos and Piercing

2009-08-29T00:03:00.000-07:00

While tattoos and piercing are breaking into an increasingly open society, new and surprising forms of aesthetics are arising: the scarification and branding tattoos, the subcutaneous implants and the mutilation. Some of these techniques have thousands of years, such as the scarification, who have been practiced in cultures like the Maya since ancient times. Today, in capitals like Berlin, you can see more and more people with these new forms of extreme beauty.

Scarification Tattooing is one of the oldest tattoo techniques in the world. They make cuts in their skin with a scalpel in order to get scars in the shape of the desired pattern. Other American and African civilizations, as well as the Maya, see scarification as something aesthetic and beautiful. Today it does not other purpose than aesthetics, but some people think that this is a simply self-injury way.

With the branding tattoo people obtain the same results obtain as with a scarification tattoo, but with a different process: scars are obtained by applying some metal plates previously heated to the skin. This is a laborious and painful technique. In both cases they try to get a very bulky a scar in order to the tattoo look better, so people try to provoke wound infections for that purpose.

The subcutaneous implants are the most recently aesthetics pattern included in our society. The society is still very reluctant to this kind of ornaments, but in the United States they extend quickly, as once they the piercing did... This technique consists of introducing surgical supplies pieces under the skin to give it different forms: horns, stars, hearts, everything is valid! The arms, the head and the chest are the most suitable places to place them due to the elasticity of the skin.

Many people are against mutilation: some examples are the cuts in the tongue in order to look alike a serpent, or to sharp the teeth imitating a vampire ... Any way of physical mutilation is good to look different!

What do you think about the extreme aesthetic? Is this fashion, madness or autoinjury? The controversy is served. But do not judge without knowing it, travel to Berlin and discover the most modern aesthetic trends. For your convenience, rent Berlin Apartments and enjoy the trip!

Diana Roig

People far and wide have long used their bodies as canvases to express cultural identity, community status, connection to ancestors or gods andaesthetic standards. The most radical new expresions are the scarification and branding tattoos, the subcutaneous implants and the mutilation. Discover them in the German capital! Rent Berlin Apartments for a comfortable and cheap accommodation.

How Technology Affects America

2009-08-20T08:25:00.000-07:00

With the amount of information that is available, people can become experts on just about anything. A perfect example is interior designing. With the internet and television, a person with no experience can go and find the perfect shower curtain for their bathroom. You may think shower curtains aren't important, but it is the fact that it used to be a designer that got paid to do all of that work. Someone can go online and find a how to site that tells them all the steps to installing a sink or new countertops. The increased amount of available information can have both its advantages and disadvantages.

One advantage that many see is that it allows people to do many jobs on their own. This eliminates the hassle and cost of hiring an outside source. The fact that a person can find out how to practically build their entire house could essentially eliminate the whole need for construction workers. It is only a matter of how much time the person may have. That is where all this information can have its downside. Eventually, people are going to become so able to rely on themselves that it will mean there are no need for certain occupations. Some might even say that it could ruin our society because everyone will become so self reliant.

Another argument that can be had over information and its accessibility is its effects on jobs. It can be seen as a plus for the reason that it provides many jobs in the technology world. With so much information, there is a high need for people who can relay it on to the people and keep track of it all. This is a growing field because it has not been around for very long. The other side to this argument is that in a time of economic struggle, it is taking business away from many people. Libraries are losing people because they can find so much online. Movie stores lose business because movies can be found on the internet. The amount of information that people have access to is beyond belief. Now people have become experts at hacking and stealing more information than they are privileged to. Information can be a dangerous thing.

This is a very interesting argument. The internet and other ways of providing information to people are not going away anytime soon. However, no one knows the long term effects that it could have on our society. It is a debate that could be had forever because the future is the unknown. We will not know if there are going to be negative effects until it might be too late. At the same time, we do not know how life would be without television, cell phones, or the internet. Some even argue that the internet is one of the most revolutionary inventions of mankind's history. Despite how you feel about the amount of information available and the ways that we can access it, you cannot deny that it does play a big role in our lives.

Chuck R Stewart recently purchased a beautiful new shower curtain for his master bathroom. He also purchased several new shower curtains for his hotel.

Paying it Forward From Pittsburgh to Chicago

2009-08-07T10:43:00.000-07:00

The concept of "paying it forward" - doing a good deed while asking only that the person helped would in turn help someone else - provided the motivation for a Good Samaritan in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to pay it all the way forward to Chicago, Illinois.

Around the beginning of April, the man from Pittsburgh (who wishes to remain anonymous) picked Chicago at random and posted a message on the Internet site Craigslist offering to help anyone in Chicago on the weekend of April 4-5. He wrote that he could assist with such things as groceries, giving a ride, or helping with house or yard work. The only thing he wanted in return was for the person helped to pay it forward by aiding someone in the future. After sifting through the replies, the man decided he could help four of the respondents, all of them strangers.

Armed with tools, a video camera, and some clothing he was planning to give to one of the parties needing help, the man made the long trek to Chicago. During the trip he received an e-mail on his cellphone from one more person requesting assistance; this brought his mission total to five. In an April 16 story, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette quoted the Good Samaritan as saying that he knew he was "taking a big risk" traveling to another city to meet complete strangers, yet he didn't let fear deter him.

His first mission on Saturday was to deliver an automobile battery to a man whose van needed a new one. Mission number two also involved a vehicle: a man had bought a truck on, of all places, Craigslist and needed a ride to Des Plaines, Illinois, to pick it up. The last mission on Saturday - the one received via cellphone - was to help someone remodel a bathroom, which included the twist that the remodeler was himself doing the work to help a friend.

Sunday began with mission number four: tearing down an old wooden swing set in a woman's yard. At this point the Pittsburgh Samaritan ended on the receiving end of one of his own pay-it-forward efforts: the man who had needed the ride to his recently purchased truck showed up to assist with dismantling the swing set. Mission number five brought the altruistic odyssey to completion as the Good Samaritan donated the aforementioned clothing to the Chicago Homeless Sandwich Run, which delivers food, clothing, and personal items to over 800 homeless people every Sunday.

The day concluded with the long journey back to Pittsburgh, putting a grand total of 1,176 miles on the Samaritan's car. Afterward, he posted a video of his adventure on the YouTube website under the user name "friendinpittsburgh" and the title "Pay It Forward - Pittsburgh to Chicago - Random Acts of Kindness." It has since gathered over 5,000 views, and the man from Pittsburgh told the Post-Gazette he is very happy with how it all turned out. "Positive energy rubs off on other people. I figured if I posted something and got a couple of hits on YouTube then other people would do good things, pay it forward, and there would be a chain-reaction. I didn't expect anything to this extent."

The extent of the Pittsburgh Samaritan's influence can be seen in the comments left by his YouTube viewers. A viewer known as missmandie78 wrote: "What a wonderful start to my day to sit here and watch someone truly making a difference in the world!... Thanks for helping inspire those around you." And jswndrsk posted this comment: "I shared the Post-Gazette article with my students today and just finished watching your video.... Bless you! You've given me hope again."

To view the rest of the article, click here - http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/culture/family/1216-paying-it-forward-from-pittsburgh-to-chicago

Texas to Oppose Oklahoma Law

2009-07-27T09:34:00.000-07:00

The good thing about the kind of government that the country has is that there is a check and balance. Those who are working the law and doing the legislation can create bills which they think may be good for the people and there are also those who can interpolate and think if the bill is right. If not, they can veto the bill so that it is not passed. Or if it really something that a certain state or the whole country needs, they can approve it and then implement it.

One of the newest pieces of news that is going around is about a law in Oklahoma. This new law (which means that it has already been passed) though is already in hot water though for the officials from Texas are already looking at opposing it. See, it is said that a federal lawsuit has already been filed against it. The lawsuit was set out by the Tarrant Regional Water District. According to the group, they have filed such because the law is saying that those who are not from Oklahoma cannot purchase water from out of the state and those who are not from the state cannot purchase water from the state. Do you think that the law is something that is fair? Is the Tarrant Regional Water District on the right track?

The law is known as the HB 1483. It was just this month of May that the law was passed by the lawmakers from the state of Oklahoma. The group against the law is saying that such a mandate has a hidden purpose which was not said out loud. In fact, they believe that Oklahoma already has policies that are discriminatory and are also unconstitutional. With that, they want to make sure that such a trend does not continue and that not many more will happen like this.

Will the Tarrant Regional Water District win the lawsuit? Or will all their efforts be just put to waste? Well, the general manager of the group, Jim Oliver, is saying that though they may not be really well versed in Lexington law, they believe that they will win this. Lexington law information may be something that they are really knowledgeable about but what is important to them is that they are doing it right and they have the right arguments which will be their weapons towards victory.

Irene Miller is a teacher. She loves words and plays with them.

The American Workplace

2009-07-16T06:45:00.000-07:00

There are many places in the world that cater to certain jobs. A Las Vegas DUI lawyer is a perfect example. With the amount of partying and drinking that takes place in the casinos and clubs of the Sin City, it requires that there be a large number of Las Vegas DUI attorneys. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people that get in trouble for alcohol related offenses, which means that they will have to deal with going to court and any other legal issues. It is because of the environment of the Sin City that it demands that there are plenty of people to deal with the trouble.

Big cities are areas that need a lot of different people to perform necessary jobs. Police officers are very important to the proper functioning of a city. Unfortunately in big cities, there is a higher rate of crime. This means that there needs to be more police officers on duty than a suburban area. This means that if you want to be a police officer, you have a better opportunity to find work in a big city. New York and Los Angeles are two great examples. They employ a large amount of people to their police workforce, and they are two of the most well respected law enforcement agencies in the country. Big cities also need a lot of people to wait tables and work in restaurants. In a city like New York, there are places to eat on almost every corner or so it seems. This is a great chance for struggling actors, musicians, and artists. It is hard for many of these people to pay bills because their jobs have not made them enough money. You can find a lot of these people working in restaurants to help make ends meet.

Unfortunately in current times, many people are losing their jobs. The economy is in a recession and a lot of people are going to have to do everything they can just to survive. For some, this might mean that they need to move to an area where there are available jobs. A person might have to go from the suburbs to a city because the city is going to employ more people. It is unfortunate, but desperate times call for desperate measures. It is even tougher for those that may not have a great education. This will limit the types of jobs that they can go after. In a competitive job market, you need to have as many marketable skills as possible. A great education is just another plus on your resume that could get you a job. Once the economy turns around, the job market will improve. Everyone in the United States is going to have to weather the storm and hope that the recession ends as soon as possible. Until that point, you may have to commute farther or move to an area where you can get a job to help support your family. It isn't the best situation, but it is necessary.

Chuck R Stewart recently reviewed the cases of a Las Vegas DUI attorney. The Las Vegas DUI Lawyer cases were very interesting.

Deciding What Men Want From a Relationship - Secret Tips to Make You Desirable to Men

2009-07-03T08:16:00.000-07:00

Do you want to learn what men want from women? What can you do to attract men and make them excited about you? How can you get inside a man's heart and find out what is really happening. There are some quite simple tips which can be used to determine exactly what men want.

The first thing that you need to do is to make sure you can give men a great first impression. This will make men want to spend time with you. If there is a special guy that you are already interested in then there are quite a few different ways that you can make him interested in you.

In order to make this good first impression you need to understand what men want. One of the easiest ways to do this is to look the part. Men like beautiful ladies and if you take pride in your appearance he will be interested in you. You don't have to look like a model to attract handsome guys. All you need to do is concentrate on your best assets and make them stand out.

You need to concentrate on your assets and highlight them. To do this you should spend some time looking at yourself in the mirror. When you spend time researching what men really want you will be able to highlight attractive features which will help yourself to stand out from the crowd.

You must take your time looking at your body to make sure you know which parts of your body you can highlight and emphasize. If you have a nice neck then you should wear a blouse which shows off your neck. If you like your legs then you can also wear some nice shorts or a skirt to show off your stunning pins.

Keep some things secret and hidden so that men aren't quite sure what they are getting. The imagination are very important and these will help people to understand what men want.

Imagine what if you could make any man adore you, chase you, love you, and commit to you? Click Unforgettable Woman Advice and learn 77 Secrets that ninety percent of women have never heard. You have got to see this!

This article is contributed by Tina Jones. Tina is part of the Unforgettable Woman Publishing Team. She works together with founder Alexandra Fox and writes dating/relationship articles for women who want to understand male psychology, how to attract men, and find true love. You can find more about Unforgettable Woman Publishing by visiting their website.

Essentials of a Happy Relationship

2009-06-16T06:12:00.000-07:00

Relationships come in many forms. May it be professional, romantic, friendship-based or business, we wanted one thing; for it to be happy and healthy. Our relationships define us. It shows how we are not just as a person but a partner, a team member and even a subordinate or co-employee. Our relationships build our whole being; it helps develop us and increases our socialization skills. But how do we really create a happy relationship? This has bogged the minds of experts and psychologists. Although science has some explanation on their own, we can sum up the ingredients of a happy and lasting relationship into 4 things.

First, Shower your relationships with love. Time, effort, attention, kindness and respect are essentials in a relationship. Do this by purposely creating time to be together. Be connected by specific activities and be consistent in keeping them. It is important that you regard your time together as sacred and important. Exert efforts to keep them. When you have established these, it will continue to happen and will be part of your routine.

Second, show kindness. This is important because it shows that when you treat your loved ones with kindness you care for them. This may come in simple forms as little as speaking politely, be affectionate, smile and show appreciation, encourage and be gentle. These little things help strengthen the bond that you and your loved ones have.

Third, remember to put people over tangible things. Be sensitive to others' needs and put them before any material things. A good relationship cannot be exchanged for all the wealth in the world. Show them that they are more important than money or material goods.

Last is to help them realize their true potential. Help your loved ones become successful by supporting them. Genuinely show them how your share their dreams and objectives and help them reach it. You can only be truly happy once you see your loved ones happy. Share their dreams and live it.

http://www.answerstolove.com/

Why You Should Prioritize Your Relationships

2009-06-06T01:03:00.000-07:00

In this Internet age, there are more and more things that are competing for your attention. While in the past people only have a few options to pay their attention to, these days you have thousands of options.

In such a situation, it's easy to forget the importance of relationships. You might replace them with other things such as your work, hobby, or activities.

But relationships should have high priority in your life. Why? Because your relationships are the place where you can get lasting happiness.

It's through relationships that you can love and be loved. And love is an essential human need. Where else can you get love but through your relationships?

Relationships are also the place where you can get help when you need it. When you have a problem, it will be much easier if you have other people who can help you. On the other hand, the problem would be difficult to overcome if you must face it all alone.

So make it a priority to build your relationships. You can do that by providing more time for your loved ones. Give them the attention they deserve. Spend time and share your life with them.

Also make an effort to keep in touch with your friends. Social networking web sites can be helpful here. They make it easy for you to meet your friends and communicate with them.

Every now and then, make the time to physically meet with your friends. While you can communicate with them through the Internet or the phone, nothing can replace physical meeting.

The essential thing to do in building relationships is giving. Only through giving can you build strong and genuine relationships. Relationship can't be strong if everyone only thinks about his or her interest. So take the initiative to give. Don't wait for other people to start before you give.

Don writes about personal growth and effectiveness. Read his articles on relationship problems and good relationships.

Make Your Kiss Make Me Want You More

2009-05-25T05:57:00.000-07:00

I really don't like to give the notion that a man's fate can be made or broken by any single action, but kissing is one of them. I've heard countless friends start sentences with, "He was so cute, but then....(enter some complaint about either a slobbery or forceful kiss). It's usually one of the first forms of physical contact you have with a woman and we make many assumptions about what this means about you and whether we want to go back for seconds. Now before you get all anxious about having to be perfect at this before you test drive your newly acquired knowledge, by following some basics, you will avoid major pitfalls and learn as you go.

Basics

Not only are shaven faces (or trimmed facial hair) and soft, non-chapped and non-scaly lips preferable (you can take your toothbrush and lightly brush them to get rid of dead skin), but so is fresh breath. You'd think this one would go without saying, but trust me when I tell you that I've been slain by many a man's deadly dragon breath. This is especially important for your first few kisses because even if the two of you ate garlic over your dinner date, she doesn't want to experience it a second time through your mouth. Strategically place packs of gum in your pocket, in your car and in your bedroom. One more thing...please suck up any extra saliva before you move in. Wet, sloppy kisses can be gross and unsexy...

Be gentle as you move in for a kiss, allowing your lips, not your tongue or your teeth to lead. Kissing should not involve dangerous tooth encounters. Give her the sense that you're in the lead, that you're commanding the situation by pursuing her lips first, then back off just a bit. This will make her come toward you, both with her mouth and her body...this is where it starts to get fun. Now that you've established that she is responding to your moves, you can initiate some tongue play, but please do not shove your tongue forcefully into her mouth. Your mouth is bigger than hers and your tongue will already feel large in her mouth, so you're better off using only a portion of it. Move it around slowly (please don't rush) and back away from it to resume using your lips only every so often.

Touch

What do you do with your hands and your body? Even if your lips are the only thing that touch her, your body position and stance is important. I like tall men. This means that most of the guys I've kissed are somewhere between 7-11 inches taller than my 5 foot 6 frame. Take height into consideration when you're kissing a woman because chances are, you're taller than her and she's not going to be into it as much if she has to strain and crane her neck to give you a smooch. Place her on a stair or two above you. Lean down and in if you're standing. You'll know if you have it right by the amount of pressure she gives you back or if she's tense and struggling to sustain lip contact.

Safety in how you touch her is paramount - let your kiss be about the kiss. If you're using it as no more than the gateway into harder, more intense interaction, then she may back off and slow you down. This isn't to say that it couldn't move into something else more physical, but rushing the ever-important kiss is in poor form. This let's-get-to-the-point approach makes me wonder if you'd be a one-pump-chump in the bedroom. See? Women interpret a lot. I come from the "How you do anything is how you do everything" philosophy and forceful, rushed or sloppy first kisses reveal some key aspects of your nature.

We're really mimicking sex here and just like good lovemaking, it is a dance of forward and backward moves varying in length, rhythm and intensity. This demonstrates the traits of a skilled dancer, with the confidence and masculinity that will make her want to tango with you under the sheets soon enough.

Jessica Plancich is a Los Angeles based marriage family therapist, wellness practitioner and a writer, coach and co-owner of AverageGuy, Inc. For over 10 years, she's worked with individuals, families and couples to realize their fullest potential and bring it into their relationships. She offers both a clinical and female perspective on coaching men in their relational and personal journeys. Her professional, direct and yet candid approach offers solid insight and practical directives to motivate and inspire men to be exceptional. Visit http://www.averageguy.com/single to get a much more detailed explanation on this subject, including the importance of safety to women according to the programming of our Primitive Brains. Take the opportunity to educate yourself further, it's well worth the effort.

How to Know If You Are Being Cheated On? Sure Shot Tricks to Bring Out the Truth Within Seconds

2009-05-06T02:13:00.000-07:00

There are times when everything just doesn't seem alright in a relationship. There is a nagging feeling that something is missing and your spouse is distracted and listless. This logically leads you to develop myriad doubts in your mind and you start suspiciously giving attention to his behaviour pattern and schedules.

With behavioral changes, you may have a doubt, but cannot conclude that he or she is having an affair behind your back. There are a few simple methods by which it is possible to figure out what exactly is going on in a discreet manner. Catching a cheating spouse is pretty easy if you go about the process in the right manner. There are six aspects with which you can identify adultery or cheating.

• Carefully notice your spouse's attitude. If it becomes distant and cold all of a sudden for no reason, then you may conclude that he or she is cheating on you.

• If you notice that your spouse has new things which you did not buy him, then there is a possibility he is cheating on you. If he or she is not the type to go around shopping for gifts for themselves and suddenly possess things which you never gifted them, then there is a strong reason to doubt.

• A shifty behavior where he or she goes out every time a phone call comes is a sure shot sign of cheating. This is all the more strange if they have started behaving like this of late.

• All of a sudden your spouse starts working late and claims they are busy at office. Calling him or her at the office phone can tell you whether they really are hard at work or dating elsewhere.

• A person who is cheating is bound to avoid going out with family on fun outings. He or she will excuse themselves from any such programs claiming work.

• A cheating partner will suddenly start meeting up with old school friends and long lost relatives who you don't even know exist. After all, they cannot keep giving work as an excuse especially if you have started calling them at their office number.

Identify any of these symptoms and you can be sure your partner is cheating on you.

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The World is Knocking, You Should Answer

2009-01-17T07:16:00.000-08:00

With the expansiveness of media today people are better informed about the world around them than ever before. The topics of politics, economics, business, and international relations are so prominent among daily conversations that to stay uninformed is not prudent for anyone hoping to talk to their fellow man for more than five minutes. In addition to it not being a wise option, remaining completely unaware of major events in today's world is a difficult task to achieve unless of course you are living in a foreign country, though this offers little excuse as well. Satellite television allows people to stay up to date with current information even if they have little more than a few minutes to dedicate to watching the news each day. The frequency of local news broadcasts provides viewers with plenty of opportunities to catch what the pressing issues of the day are.

Along with local news, channels dedicated entirely to relaying news, such as CNN and MSNBC, are a constant source for information about the United States and the world as a whole. By simply turning on their satellite TV and scanning the channels for a small amount of time each day people can stay current with world news, taking in knowledge from different news sources all over the world. Beyond maintaining a working knowledge of late breaking news, viewers can also learn additional useful information to apply to their lives. News channels often venture into the wonderful world of travel, revealing hidden vacationing treasures while recommending accommodations and local cuisine. These pieces can delve into the culture of mostly unknown places and make people feel as if they really are in the audience as they watch a native dance take place in high definition.

The massive influence of different cultures is unavoidable and satellite television works to educate people about these varying perspectives. News channels highlight the meshing of countries and cultures as the world becomes more intertwined. Focusing on international relations reveals the maturation of countries as they are forced to adapt to opening themselves up to the world around them. Much as nations are pushed to open up, so are the people of the world. Isolation is rarely an option and the news works to eliminate fear of the unknown by providing information and familiarizing groups with the common practices of one another.

The news works towards the proliferation of information and the creation of a better understanding amongst sometimes divided parts of the world or society. With the expansion of the news media and satellite television, there is much more knowledge to be had and an even larger audience to receive it. News channels also possess the power to construct a kind of image of a country based on what they choose to report so it is important to utilize the numerous options satellite tv offers and be sure to take in all perspectives. Being able to see the same puzzle from different angles ultimately gives an individual the upper hand in truly understanding what is going on.

Direct TV is the nation's leading provider of satellite television services. For the best in sports programming, movies, and high-definition entertainment, check out the latest Direct TV packages.

Growing Faith in a Community's Future

2009-01-05T02:56:00.000-08:00

Today, I'm riding the spanking new, Valley Metro, light rail. I'm not going anywhere specific, particularly. (I'll just feel a brief moment of exhilaration about experiencing a travel modality that is quiet and efficient, and a twinge of modest vindication.) But metropolitan Phoenix surely is.

This is a leap forward in mass transit and in urban planning for America's fifth largest city. It's been a long journey getting here. Here's a bit of history. In 1985, Phoenix had an election for a joint regional freeway RPTA entitled Proposition 300; this was to secure tax funding for the development of a regional Maricopa County freeway system over 20 years (tentative completion by 2005). The initiative also created the Regional Public Transit Authority, whose small percentage of the freeway tax was to be used to plan, design and find a funding source for a regional transit system within 5 years.

By Prop 300 requirements, the RPTA was created to design a transit plan. In 1989, the agency proposed an initiative to secure a one-percent sales tax funding source over 30 years for the following components: A regional Maricopa County-wide bus system (7 day-a-week service on every major street in the county), regional-express rapid-bus transit system, multiple commuter trains which would use freight railroad tracks and a 103-mile, elevated, double track, 60 mph rapid-train system. It was totally ambitious, this VALTRANS plan. It made for a very contentious election, in which many voters felt that the plan was too large, too long, too expensive but, somehow, not detailed enough. Even more voters did not like the idea of transit vehicles travelling overhead above neighborhood backyards and streets. Still more were skeptical, concluding that despite the County's 1985 freeway tax imposed four years earlier, only 10-15 miles of freeway had been built with the taxes collected-so who was to say this wasn't another boondoggle for a few vested interests?

Having served on the City of Phoenix's Surface Transportation Advisory Board for 3 or 4 years beginning about 1985-86, I was recruited by the RPTA proponents to become a vocal supporter of the initiative. I felt up to the task, since I had spent years in Naples, Italy and metropolitan Washington, D.C. depending on mass transit, and I particularly was a fan of the Paris Metro and bus system that Peggy and I rode for miles daily during the first year of our marriage. No one prepared me for the public hostility awaiting me at Kiwanis breakfasts and Rotary lunches where panels or debates on the proposition usually spoiled the meals. Many agendas emerged in the opposition to the VALTRANS proposition, but it clearly was doomed--very early in the pre-election process--and no one was shocked that the voters savaged it by a 3-1 margin.

It seemed not so much that the valley was populated by backward-thinking people. Much of the resistance was from folks who weren't ready to abandon driving their cars, and/or didn't especially care to emulate the transit-heavy eastern cities from which they had migrated westward (New York/NJ, Chicago). Since much of the in-migration of the 1980s was from California, many newer arrivals weren't frustrated by habits of spending hours in vehicles commuting daily. Some of the local communities' entrenched leaders were convinced that freeways alone would address the pressures of sustained growth-and they had waited too long already for the funding with which to lay asphalt.

Well, perhaps that hasn't changed much. Honestly, it doesn't matter tremendously whether the over-40 crowd doesn't ride light rail here. There aren't going to be that many converts among those with a reserved parking stall (except when they realize they are needlessly paying a premium to sit for 30 minutes in a parking garage downtown after a Suns or Diamondbacks game). It's enough that parents don't forbid their children to ride. Those who aren't predisposed to disregard mass transit as a viable mode for travel will in time create the critical mass to reach the "tipping point," where light rail becomes, beyond vogue, a behavior pattern. I used to think that it would take about 25 years for that to happen, but I'm going to make an optimistic prediction: 15 years, and the Valley Metro ridership will more than cover the expense of its ongoing maintenance. If I'm crazy, then Denver is collective-crazy. Take a look at the acceptance of rail travel in the business and hospitality sector corridors in that city. There's no Portland-tree-hugging, chip-on-the-shoulder attitude in Denver. It's Middle America; and the population there understands that transit solves an urbanization problem. And take a look at the impact of Denver transit on its urban form, too. Perhaps that's the most exciting potential for Valley Metro-a transit-driven urban form, and the eventual electrification of Phoenix's downtown that some of us have been waiting patiently for-lo, these many decades.

Mike Widener has practiced law in Arizona for 25 years, and is a Certified Specialist in Real Estate Law, according to the Board of Legal Specialization of the State Bar of Arizona. Mike is listed in SuperLawyers (2008 Southwest Edition) and in 1000 People to Know in [Arizona] Commercial Real Estate, 2008-09. Mike's real estate portfolio contains holdings in the States of Florida, Arizona, Tennessee and the Commonwealth of Virginia. You can contact him at (602) 274-1100 or at mnwidener@gmail.com.

Bars in Dubai

2008-10-29T22:31:00.000-07:00

It's almost impossible to advise bars in Dubai which will be good for everyone. Below you can find a list of places where I've been for the past time to make full joy of Dubai Nights.

Vu's Bar - situated at the 51st floor of the overpoweringly space age EJumeirah Emirates. The beautiful views over the sea from Vu's Bar - possibly Dubai's shorthand for views. Like in many alluring UAE hotels, the crowd is an up market mix of guests, who are dressed to impress. The soft-cushioned air-conditioned lavishness can make you feel like a superstar. If you try the 51st Floor house cocktail, you will find it so yummy. We even forgot to ask what it was. But if you can't find it, don't worry - there's a astonishing 200 cocktails to choose from! If you are looking for a night club in Dubai don't go there. It's definitely not that kind of party.

Boudoir - If you're not staying at the Dubai Marine Beach in some property in Dubai, catch a cab to this place and check out the Boudoir. It's bursting with nice furnishings, oil paintings and velvet plush, done in an magnificent French Renaissance style. Entrance with rose bowls, rich cocktail menu, Boudoir has certainly abandoned Dubai's obvious Eastern theme and gone for authenticity in its own.

360º Bar - The name of the place says for itself. This elegant, laid-back terrace bar swanks outstanding panoramic view of the ever changing Dubai property, ever evolving Dubai skyline and wonders of Dubai Night life. Placed in the centre of the Gulf, at the heart of the huge, wave-shaped Jumeirah Beach Hotel, this naturally cool spot is popular hangout with Dubai's cocktail set. Chic and sophisticated, bathed in desert sun, this is the perfect place to escape overwhelming Dubai buzz and relax in a beautiful atmosphere. Cool house tunes set the tone at the Bar, playing until the early morning. The visitors sink into comfy sofas and sip a drink (or two, and more) as they watch the sunset.
Alamo -located at the Dubai Marine Beach Resort and Spa is a Tex/Mex restaurant with emphasis on the bar drinks.

Shopping in Dubai

2008-10-21T01:37:00.000-07:00

Dubai is full with world-class hotels, gorgeous long and sandy beach, finest shopping malls and much more attractions to maintain its tourism industry. World's most important hotel chains are investing here to take benefit of Dubai tourism sector and this phenomenon creates lot of jobs in Dubai. Rich in natural resources such as oil, natural gas, and gold, Dubai is a wealthy state and is also referred to as 'City of Gold'. The culture of Dubai is quite remarkable. It is interesting to see how a modern economy exists in harmony with an ancient culture.
Dubai is renowned to be a shoppers' dream come true. There are supermarkets and shopping malls where popular and not so popular names vie for the customer's attention. The local markets as well as big shopping malls offer everything what one can imagine. Moreover for fun lovers bars in Dubai offer great night life enjoyment.
The most modern from the world of cinema is abuzz in theatres in Dubai. The only pointer there is that anti-Islamic and nude content is taken out before screening. And for the expatriate interest, there are groups and clubs suiting almost every interest in addition to the frequent national and international cultural fests in the city.

Jobs in Dubai

2008-09-09T23:01:00.000-07:00

The Jobs market in Dubai has become such that employers are no more looking to fill up positions with keen people to move to Dubai, as the city has attained worldwide status, but they c now look for the best possible candidate for these vacancies. This doesn’t mean that finding perfect jobs in Dubai are impossible, but employment packages and senior positions are a bit more competitive.
The job market in Dubai is diverse and for skilled professional present great opportunities of growth. Job opportunities in Dubai are intensifying in sectors like as Hospitality and Tourism and I.T. Hotel jobs in Dubai are particularly booming with opportunities. Some even say that the job market in Dubai pay same to less experienced the same amount which their experienced counterparts receiving back home.
Dubai is growing annually at record levels and the jobs market has to keep pace with rising demand and requirement for creativity, Sectors like Media, marketing and computer related jobs in Dubai are badly trying to keep speed with a city that is now more and more look like Singapore or Hong Kong .Marketing ,media and I.T are some hot places to look for job vacancies in Dubai. Remember to make it sure that your C.V is strong and focused for that particular job.

Tourist visa opened to all nationalities

2008-07-24T00:53:00.000-07:00

Source: Gulf NewsPublished: July 24, 2008
Dubai: People of all nationalities can now enter the UAE on a tourist visa under new rules that come into effect from next week, a senior official from the Interior Ministry said on Wednesday.
Earlier, nationals from 79 countries in the subcontinent, Middle East and elsewhere were not eligible for tourist visas and could come to the UAE only on a visit visa. "The new rules will encourage the tourism sector in the country," said Major General Mohammad Ahmad Al Merri, Director General of Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD).
Al Merri announced the new rules after a meeting with hotel and tourist agency representatives yesterday. He said travel agencies will no longer be allowed to apply for visit visas. "Now these companies will only be allowed to apply for tourist visas," he said. "This will regulate the business and make the process of people travelling to the UAE easier and smooth, as tourism is a high priority for us."
Al Merri reiterated that people should apply only through licensed tourism agencies and hotels. Individuals cannot apply for the tourist visas, he added.
Short trips to the Iranian island of Kish, Oman and other neighbouring countries to change visit visas has also been stopped. "People wanting to apply for a new visit visa after the expiry of their visa, must go back to their home countries or distant countries," he said. However, Al Merri did not elaborate which countries would be considered distant.
"Nobody can now go on these visa runs. We don't want people to get stuck [on these trips]," said Al Merri. A visit visa will also not be converted to a work visa, he said. "Applicants will have to go back to their home country and wait for the work visa, which will be authorised by the Ministry of Labour," he said.

Community Elder Care

2008-06-04T01:17:00.000-07:00

Community elder care helps to emphasize elder care issues in the community and resolve the problems faced by aged people. It plays a critical role in dealing with the problems of anxiety, depression, stress, life crisis and grief found in elders.

Adult homes in a community are ideal places to give elder care under the supervision of trained personnel. Fitness programs scheduled in the community provides physical health and mental relaxation. Competitive and health focused programs conducted in senior centers; parks and leisure places are very helpful in making a happy living for elders.

Community medical staff makes monthly visits to the elderly in their area to make sure that their health issues are attended to and treated if necessary. These regular visits are imperative to the well being of senior citizens in the community. Community based programs are carried out to give them a common place to gather and participate in diverse activities including walks, talent shows, etc. Getting together and sharing feelings of happiness and sorrow is a great relief from solitude for elders.

Heroes Among Us

2008-05-01T06:32:00.000-07:00

It was so touching to watch the news a month or so ago, to see 132 World War II veterans and hear their remarks following their return from Hero Flight. Their destination, the WWII Memorial in Washington DC, is a favorite of mine. At night, with lights illuminating the granite columns and gold stars, the rush of the fountains and the hushed tones in which everyone converses without even realizing, the monument takes on a reverence which is unique and unmistakable. It is a tribute befitting the heroes who fought in that war, those who returned and those who did not.

Liberty, as a concept, is sometimes hard to quantify. Thomas Jefferson said, "I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than those attending too small a degree of it." From Samuel Adams comes the charge, "The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil Constitution, are worth defending at all hazards".

The Power to Feed the World? A Tale of Sustainable Development, BioEngineering, and Citizen Activism

2008-03-25T04:07:00.000-07:00

I have neither read the book nor viewed the documentary, but to moderator from reviews and from the author's own explanation in interviews it seems that her basis is as follows. Following her broad three-year examination which exposes the deepness of Monsanto's vices past and there, Robin feels that we must ask the question: "Can we believe [Monsanto] when they tell us that biotechnologies are going to solve the problems of hunger and environmental contamination?" (My own translation from the French) (source: Arte TV) In essence Robin questions the ethic, given the ignominy of its past, of allowing Monsanto to feed the world today.

This is of particular importance in densely populated poor rural regions where the land available for agriculture would otherwise simply not be sufficient to carry the population. The consequent reductions of malnutrition have saved many lives and have improved countless others. A New York Times article dated October 2007 gives a a sense of the enormous transformative potential at hand if only a comprehensive implementation can be achieved. In this article, Celia W. Dugger shows that seed programs in Africa have fallen short not owing to deficiencies of the seeds themselves, but rather to inadequate farm economy infrastructure and local know-how. She highlights the pockets of success, and makes reference to India's "Green Revolution" of the 1960s and 1970s that enabled the feeding of hundreds of millions of people. India's success, she says, is attributable to the stronger farm-economy foundation with which it was endowed.

The Truth About The American Lifestyle

2008-02-20T04:20:00.000-08:00

Citizens of our great and wealthy nation are proud to be living the "American Lifestyle" right? Well let's take a closer look and look at the truth about this preferred lifestyle.

Lifestyle defined: A person's pattern of living as expressed by their interests, motivations, activities, desired experiences, and beliefs.

Americans have a commonly known separation rate that is reaching nearly 60%, yet there is no class in our school system that prepares us for marriage. Family dysfunction is expected, yet again, not prepared for.

There is an alarming increasing rate of overweight, under nourished, unhealthy, uneducated (on the subject of nutrition) citizens in our country. Most American citizens are completely blind to the correlation between what you put in your mouth and what impact it has on you physically and mentally.

Learning the Meaning Behind Dreams for a Better Life

2008-01-21T05:02:00.000-08:00

Since the beginning of recorded history, dreams have played a significant role in the lives of many people. Military, political, and spiritual decisions have been made because of a dream. In some tribes, the crossover from childhood to manhood includes isolating oneself from the rest of the tribe and communing with the spirit world through dreams. The dreams are believed to reveal to the young man what his purpose in this life will be - the path that he should take for his journey through his life on earth.

Your dreams can help you bring about a unity of body, spirit, and mind by showing you the path in life that will lead to happiness. Many times we may take a job because the pay is good, the benefits are good, and the "social status" we are searching for can be obtained through this job. But, if the job does not make us happy - if the job is not the career that we truly desire - is this keeping us from feeling successful? In many cases, the answer is yes.

We Have Become The Assume Generation

2007-12-26T02:01:00.000-08:00

Within all humans there exists the need, a longing, to be documented and valued in some way. It has been said that for some this is, indeed, their #1 moving need. In spite of the degree, people do want to be validated and know that they matter in this world and that they are valued.

It would be difficult to differ with that.

Expressing thanks, or recognizing someone for the optimistic collision they have made in our life, may appear simple on the outside. However, in today's world the line between thinking it and saying it becomes indistinct.

A sincere recognition is never forgotten even years later! Never.

That is the magical power of acknowledgment and appreciation. It affects both the giver and receiver!

We want persons all around the world to experience their own "magical moments" where one act of recognition and appreciation is shared and remembered even years later.

If you ever take the time to honor and acknowledge someone special in your life, you will never be the same-nor will the hero in your life!

It is emotional.

It is powerful.

And it can change the world!

It is not the right thing to do "sometime"...it is the right thing to do now!

Why People Read Less And Less

2007-11-15T22:05:00.000-08:00

Polls keep showing that more and more people in today's world read less and less. Some new polls predictable that about 25% of United Arab Emirates families did not read a book in the last year. I have even seen some studies put the number as high as 80%.

Many factors donate to the lowering reading rates. I will list some of the most major ones.

Maybe it is because knowledge and growth have eliminated a great deal of our need for cleverness. Maybe we feel safe that our needs have been met and feel that we no longer need to work as a civilization towards major goals.

Are Generational Curses in effect today?

2007-10-17T03:56:00.000-07:00

It has been argued that curses such as lying or consumption can be passed on from our parents – as proof of the validity of the generational curse instruction. Though it is true that routine sins (strongholds in our lives) can be “learned”, these are just as with no trouble instilled in us by our surrounds and peers as from our parents, and are not actually curses (in the sense that the curses depicted in Exodus were actually punishments for sins, not the passing down of sins themselves).

There is no doubt that it is possible for there to be a negative effect on our lives from past generations. However, the form this effect takes, the extent that some teachings say it happens, and the almost total assumption that everyone must have a curse if they are experiencing problems is unfounded.

The bible makes is clear that our upbringing has a great effect on our walk with God. In Proverbs 22:6 it says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

If you recognise that there are areas of habitual sin in your life, whether or not they started with you or were perhaps learned from your parents or peers, then you should pray for release from these strongholds.

Wood Blinds Have Entered A New Generation

2007-09-19T02:02:00.000-07:00

When a home needs window coverings, there are several choices obtainable. Finished or long curtains can be used, but they often become paler in the sunshine and can hold dust and cause sensitive to reactions. Sunglasses can be chosen, which be either opened or closed, but there is modest in between to control light levels. And then there are wood blinds, which are hard-wearing, easy to clean and can be adjusted to allow in any degree of light.

Blinds, such as the ones available in collections of Hunter Douglas wood blinds, come in a wide variety of colors and styles to fit any type of decor. Wood blinds also can be ordered with a high level of customization to allow more control over the level of privacy, light and the speed of closure. Depending on the needs of the user, there are many new designs that provide many more options than previous generations of wood blinds.
Hunter Douglas wood blinds stand out because of their TopShield finish which makes them five times more durable than the average standard wood blind finish, as well as resistant to scratches and common household cleaning solvents. This special finish provides a smooth and consistant gloss and color.

Cause And Effect - The Current state Of Society And Civilization

2007-08-18T01:35:00.001-07:00

This outbreak can be traced through the 60's to the Second World War, and from the Great Depression to the period immediately following the First World War. After WWI, plants, manufacturers and farmers constant to produce goods at the same rate they had been during the war. However, with European industry picking back up, the demand for US products in the international market was abridged. The lack of self-control (not government-control, but self-control) on the part of the producers resulted in surpluses, which lead to over-speculation and monetary discrepancy.

With their new-found affluence, most of the greatest age group resolute to give their children the whole thing they themselves never had. It was that willpower that produced the prerogative frame of mind borne by the Baby-Boomer Generation. Prerogative lead to a lack of admiration, and that lack of respect opened the door to question the lot. Such a notion may sound noble and wise, but that is only true when the questions are noble and wise. Unhappily, the preponderance of question-raisers were overly self-assured students who abused their bodies by ingesting chemicals and participating in "free-love".

Generation Y Should Get Same Recognition As Rest of Workforce

2007-07-18T01:28:00.000-07:00

This brand of rewards without merit sets up a dangerous precipice, on two levels. First, over time it will create a Pavlovian effect among Gen Y workers whereby the aforementioned on-time kudos, for example, will cease to have the same effect. This will force supervisors to be bolder and more creative if they want to maintain the same level of recognition for this generation as it ages. Unchecked, this effect could put a strain on the budget and/or upper management resources.

But perhaps even more dire, this generation-exclusive reward system could create a divide where one need not exist, as older generations of workers notice that their younger colleagues are getting more recognition for doing the same amount (or worse, a lower amount) of the work. Think of it as generational de-motivation.

I propose that what the media says my generation of workers wants, every generation wants. And despite the trappings that Hira says are indicative of my generation, including cell phones and iPods, these basic wants haven't changed for decades. They include, quite simply, honesty and open communication from supervisors and senior management, and a shared dedication to and understanding of the work required in each role.

Fair Trade - Why Is It Important?

2007-06-14T05:04:00.000-07:00

Fair trade is increasingly popular for imported goods. You may see coffee in your gourmet food store with a "fair trade" label. You may see textiles and crafts for sale on the web advertised as being "fair trade" products. But what is it exactly? Fair trade is an approach to marketing that incorporates environmentally sustainable development and humane wages and working conditions. It is based on the twin principles that the producer of a product should receive a living wage for his or her work and that commerce should be done with the intent of maintaining environmental conditions for future generations. Those goals are accomplished by working directly with small businesses, cooperatives and community-based organizations, thereby cutting out layers of middlemen. As a consequence of the elimination of middlemen, the retail prices for fair trade items are comparable to products that are not fair trade.

Why We Speak

2007-05-17T23:04:00.000-07:00

There is a great deal of jabber on in the world. Discussion heads, pundits, politicians, bloggers, citizens all over the place are chattering irately - in particular on the internet. Sometimes the quantity and disagreement of all of their dialogue are overpowering. There are so many channels in the world today, and as we toss through them with our various inaccessible controls, it is confusing how little good there is on those channels. Don't you ever wish they would all stop talking and listen to you once in a while? This is a place where speech matters, and where you can speak.

Speech matters. We speak to let it out. We speak to be heard. We speak to talk into. We speak to instruct. We speak to find agreement and community. We speak to change the world. So speak. And listen.

We speak to speak. At its root, speech is a human need, an end in itself. We speak to let it out. Our thoughts and ideas, our feelings and experiences need to find their way out. At some fundamental level, it does not even matter if anyone hears. We just need to speak. If we hold it in, if we stop speaking, we stew. The pressure builds and we must release it by speaking, by sharing.

Socialising

2007-04-20T03:13:00.000-07:00

Although it strength come into sight so, being outgoing doesn’t come easy to all and sundry, but if you are one of these people, there are many things that you can do in order to help have a improved community life. It’s significant to memorize that self assurance goes a long way. Being able to let go of your fears and thoughts of what others think of you can help build your assurance.

Take opportunities when they arise, if friends or housemates ask if you want to go for a drink etc, say yes, don’t shy away. The more you socialize the more relaxed your feel and this in turn will show to others around you. Possibly you can also begin a social congregation yourself.

Essential Taoism

2007-03-14T03:28:00.000-07:00

Besides I do not have much to say because I am not free-thinking. I cannot maintain to have knowledgeable the Tao any more than you have. Also the subject is such that even had I had a spiritual experience I would be even then at a loss for words. When we name a thing we put it in a class or a class. But the Tao – or God – is all there is. It cannot be put in a category or described by divergent it to another object. This should be mentioned in any sketch on necessary Taoism.

This is in dissimilarity with the Christian God who has given us commandments that one can choose to refuse to comply. But according to any outline on indispensable Taoism the very act or choice of disobeying is itself part of the stream of Tao. People try to force issues – like our wanting to be progressive for example – not knowing that we cannot diverge. Thus it is said that, “Your everyday realization is the Tao.”

About Retirement Communities

2007-01-19T01:42:00.000-08:00

Retirement communities are communities made up of people who are approaching or have already reached giving up work age living in private residences or somewhere to stay and take pleasure in either sovereign or assisted living depending on their preferences. The primary advantage of living in a departure community is having instantaneous admittance to a community that’s purposely designed and reputable to provide gorgeous lifestyles for its inhabitants. A giving up work community who wants to provide its residents with good service should also provide lifetime fundamental benefits – and that means food and shelter – to its residents even when they have already and wholly consumed their financial and non-financial resources. Nursing facilities should also be a part of the giving up work community services, for its residents and which must be located within the community.

Peace Is a Process

2006-12-22T22:00:00.000-08:00

All the prophecies about the "end times" are recitation before your very eyes! The time of the great suffering (Mat. 24:21) is close at hand. For the first time in international history, all nations of the earth are faced to make a choice. "Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people. Let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it." (Isa. 34:1) True Peace shall be well-known when the Lord returns and sets up His Kingdom in Israel. "Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone; a tried stone, a costly corner stone, a sure foundation." (Isa. 28:16) Just as the Ark of the Convention was built in the rough country exactly to God's condition, so Jerusalem is the pattern of the heavenly City of God which will be established in the earth. His will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Luke 11:2) For every physical element on the earth there is a spiritual counterpart.

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The Broad and Narrow Way of Life

2006-11-29T00:40:00.000-08:00

The broad path is what many travel on today. The term broad means wide, spacious, tolerant, open and unrestrained. It offers a wide spectrum of paths within itself. It is enticing, diverse and has many deceptive things to offer. This path is not strict, but very lenient, instead. You can do anything you want to do and live however you want on this path and in vain say Lord, Lord. On this path people are lead to believe that they are on the right path to God when they are not. The devil doesn’t care who he uses to mislead people. People are tricked into thinking they can live the life of sin and still go to heaven. They assume that Jesus Christ is their Lord and personal Savior while they continue to live a Hollywood lifestyle of sin.

On this path there are many philosophies, myths, traditions and doctrines of devils. They don’t eat the whole roll of the Word of God, instead they dip and dab. They take out what they want to believe to suit their lifestyle. If you encounter a religion whose viewpoints, or mindsets are contrary to the doctrines of the Bible, then that religion is false. They dispute the Bible having departed from the faith. They deny the deity of Christ and the works of the cross. They say Jesus is not the son of God. They distort the infallibility of the Bible, final judgment, and eternal life in heaven. They are in denial of everlasting punishment. They say there is no such thing as sin. They say there is no Supreme Being. They say there is no devil. They say the devil is something conjured up in the mind. They say hell is a figment of one’s imagination. They even say heaven is an illusion. Instead of saying, I am a god: they say I am God. Some say there is no God.

Virtual communities

2006-11-10T23:06:00.000-08:00

The term virtual community is qualified to the book of the same title by Howard Rheingold, published in 1993. The book discussed a range of computer-mediated communication and social groups. The technologies included Usenet, MUDs (Multi-User Dungeon) and their derivatives MUSHes and MOOs, IRC (Internet Relay Chat), chat rooms and electronic mailing lists; the World Wide Web as we know it today was not yet used by many people. Rheingold pointed out the potential benefits for personal psychological well-being, as well as for society at large, of belonging to such a group.

Virtual communities are considered a vital aspect of the Web 2.0 concept, which depends upon social interaction and exchange between users online. This emphasizes the reciprocity element of the unwritten social contract between community members. Web 2.0 is essentially characterized by virtual communities such as Flickr, Facebook, and Del.icio.us (see below).

Different virtual communities have different levels of interaction and participation among their members. This ranges from adding comments or tags to a blog or message board post to competing against other people in online video games such as MMORPGs. Not unlike traditional social groups or clubs, virtual communities often divide themselves into cliques or even separate to form new communities. Author Amy Jo Kim points out a potential difference between traditional online communities (message boards, chat rooms, etc), and more people-centric, bottom-up social tools (blogs, instant messenging buddy lists), and suggests the latter are gaining in popularity.

Finding the Perfect Home in the Perfect Community

2006-10-29T22:07:00.000-08:00

Each one uses a comparable architectural subject matter, with a assortment of different floor plans. If you are looking for a brand new home, these communities are a great choice. You can select your favorite floor plan and make the upgrades you'd like. These areas include a collection of price ranges, especially more reasonable homes, and they have a great history of appreciating prices long term.

Resale Homes

Tempe is a great area for new homes, but you'll also find breathtaking older houses. These properties are very distinguishing, many in Mediterranean styling, with older landscaping and large lots.

Resale homes are more than ever interesting for those wanting a well-established district, with its own exclusive traditions.

Condominium Communities

Condominiums are a popular housing substitute in Tempe, but they don't simply pass on to small apartment-like properties. Tempe offers luxury condominiums several thousand quadrangle feet in size and bordering on world-class hotels. Of course there are also smaller units perfect for first-time buyers.

Active-Adult Communities

Tempe is a popular target for tourists, young professionals relocating for a job, and of course, retirees. An exciting part of the real estate market is the active-adult community.

These communities offer a variety of services to home buyers, including golf courses and clubs, fitness centers, tennis courts and swimming pools. Homes in these communities are often courtyard homes, town homes, or stand-alone properties.

Energy Utilization of Society

2006-10-17T01:39:00.000-07:00

A preponderance of folks would most likely answer yes to quite a few of the questions above, and that implies they are using way more energy than they in fact need to. For a fact, a preponderance of patrons are expenses hundreds on electricity they don't even comprehend they are using. As an visual aid, leaving you television set in stand-by mode (when the little red light is on and you can turn it on with the remote) will at all times draw energy and can cost you more than 100 dollars during the course of an entire year.

And by adopting a more relaxed driving style with your machine - not the same as driving as a snail, mind you - you can save not simply on fuel, but on tires and the rest of the machine as well.

If the entire population of a large country like the US could manage to actually turn off their television every night, instead of leaving it in standby mode, that would quickly be equivalent of the power from an entire nuclear power plant.

Social Responsibility

2006-10-09T01:29:00.000-07:00

With ever increasing concern on environmental hazards and issues related to various products and services, it is becoming an undeniable fact that a business should ensure its social responsibility to facilitate a societal sensitive corporate image. Koontz & Weihrich (1990) asserts that corporate social responsibility is nothing more than seriously considering the impact of company's action on society. However a more comprehensive definition refers social responsibility with the degree to which a company recognizes what being a good community and global citizen means and acts accordingly (Slocum, 1995:17). It was further asserted that there are three basic conceptual views of social responsibility are generally acknowledged. First 'traditional social responsibility' is referred to the perception that by serving the interests of shareholders, organization is fulfilling its social responsibility.

Cultural Development

2006-09-08T23:05:00.000-07:00

Dubai is rapidly aspiring to supplement its cultural prospect with the $13.6 billion development of the Dubai Cultural Village. This expansion will take in art museums and performing arts centers as well as libraries, schools for music and dance, rare book stores and open spaces for activity.

* Dubai has a growing number of stages including the Royal Hall at the Dubai Pearl, the Stage on the Sea at the underwater Hydropolis and the Dubai Community Theatre. The Madinat Theatre is also one of the most major and deluxe theaters in the area, hosting many West-End productions with booked seasons.

* The Dubai film festival is an annual film festival that attracts the stars from all over the world. Dubai is also developing the Dubai Studio City which aims to be a center for artistic production on the screen.

* Dubai is currently building an island opera house which has been designed by Zaha Hadid.

* An art museum and a general museum are presently being built.