The Kitchen Rebellion

The article is about gender equality and revolution—the revolution of
the female. The article sited an illustration from a book of George
Orwell, "The Animal Farm". It sited the death of one of main characters
that sparked the revolution and that of Princess Diana. Her death in a
way may serve as an inspiration to the women in the world who are
victims of prejudice.

"If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies, we are
determined to foment a rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by
any laws in which we have no voice or representation." -
Abigail Adams, Former US First Lady

In the book "The Animal Farm," George Orwell wrote about the peculiar
human phenomenon of rebellion. The animals led by the pigs rebelled
against the Manor Farm and their human master, Mr. Jones. These animals
rebelled because they wanted equality, or more appropriately, equality
with human beings. In the end, they were able to attain victory and
decided to run the farm all by themselves.
Today, there is a rebellion that is heating up much like what the animal
characters conspired to do in the said book. This uprising is the
"rebellion of women" in society. Today's sexist society has limited
women by confining them within the bounds of the kitchen, beauty
pageants, and prostitution. These women are often abused physically and
are often the butt of many jokes. Society, men in particular, have had
their share of nasty jokes pertaining to women.
The society that is dominated by men practices double-standards when it
comes to women. For example, if a woman gets drunk and gets raped, she
is to be blamed because she asked for it. The women is to be blamed and
not the man who cannot and did not even try to control his libido. A
wrong deed is wrong no matter how beautiful we present it. In culture,
the self-esteem of the typical male is defined by his trophies—the women
he has gone to bed with. The females, on the other hand, are defined by
their virginal virtues. Perhaps, calling for equality between men and
women is not too much to ask.
According to reports, violence against young girls and women is a major
human rights and health concern. Physical, sexual, and psychological
abuse takes place in the family, and in the general community. These may
include battering, sexual abuse of children, rape and other practices
degrading to women. It added that domestic violence is the most common
form of violence that is linked to gender. Studies reveal that rape of
women, whether attempted or consummated, is mostly perpetrated by a male
intimate partner or former-partner. This form of sexual crime and abuse
leads to stress and anxiety in the lives of women. The epidemic of
sexual abuse had become so alarming that even celebrities had to take a
stand to protect the rights of women. One such celebrity was the late
Princess Diana, who as some would say, had become an advocate for
women's rights and an inspiration to many abused women..including the
the sick, the discriminated, and the homeless. She left a legacy that
will be remembered for a lifetime. Her life became a channel through
which coping with anxiety for women had become easier. Her compassion
and good heart made her more beautiful in the eyes of the world. Sadly,
she died almost ten years ago without seeing the wide acceptance of
women's rights as a cause.
In George Orwell's book, the death of "Old Major" was used to convey the
lesson about the perils of rebellion. He was well-respected by the farm
animals because of his knowledge and wisdom. In the story, Old Major
died three days after sharing his vision and teaching to the farm
animal. His death became an inspiration to the farm revolution where the
animals won.
Maybe the death of Princess Diana will be the spark of this revolution
of women. The revolution that would free them of bounds of the kitchen,
beauty pageants, prostitution, and abuse. The true essence of a woman
will not be measured by her virginal values, her beautiful face, or the
physique she displays. The true essence of a woman is her ability to
share her love to others and the society she lives in. Women need not to
be conformed to beauty contests or the kitchen. The kitchen rebellion
will take place. And it will succeed.

The Knife Culture In Britain

Britain has currently got a knife amnesty in place. This where people
are able to hand in their knives without the fear of prosecution, the
amnesty is in place until the end of June. The hope is that it will
reduce the amount of crimes involving knives including of course
murders. The last amnesty was very successful according to the latest
reports and one can only hope that this latest attempt also proves to be
a success. Something needs to be done as I am hearing about more and
more deaths at the hands of this knife culture and the problem seems to
be getting out of control.

Britain has currently got a knife amnesty in place. This where people
are able to hand in their knives without the fear of prosecution, the
amnesty is in place until the end of June. The hope is that it will
reduce the amount of crimes involving knives including of course
murders. The last amnesty was very successful according to the latest
reports and one can only hope that this latest attempt also proves to be
a success. Something needs to be done as I am hearing about more and
more deaths at the hands of this knife culture and the problem seems to
be getting out of control.

I have had personal experience about Britains knife culture. When I was
about eighteen years of age I went out for a few drinks with a number of
my close friends. We all ending up getting quite drunk and I ended up
walking home with three of these friends. On the way home we passed a
group of four men all in their twenties. They pushed passed us in an
aggressive way making a number of nasty comments at the same time.

Despite being rather worse for wear, myself and my friends did not
react. We were however very shocked as only a few moments later these
four youths started to run towards us in quite a frightening way. We all
started to run but one of my friends stumbled and fell over. I looked
behind me and saw that these four men had surrounded him and were
starting to punch him. I was not really sure what to do and was quite
surprised to find myself going to his aid, rather brave or stupid I now
think.

Luckily for me the youths ran off with my friend lying on the floor in
agony. As I reached him I noticed that there was blood on the pavement
at the place where he was lay. I asked him if he was OK and he said that
he was. He had been stabbed in the stomach or chest area but had not
realised. He thought that he had only been punched.

We managed to get him to the hospital where we later found out that he
had been very lucky, even though he did have a punctured lung.

Even to this day which is years later, I find it hard to understand why
the person decided to stab my friend. Why was a few punches not enough
for him? It was not as if he was in any danger himself as there was four
men against one. If he had killed my friend he could have been looking
at a long stretch in prison and would have to live with the knowledge
that he has killed a man for the rest of his life.

My advice to people is to leave your knives at home. By carrying a knife
you could end a persons life, ruin the lives of that persons family and
friends and even ruin your own life.

Over the last weekend, I have read about three murders on the streets of
Britain via knife stabbings. I can not truly believe that the people
carrying these knives left their houses with the intention to kill. The
act was possibly influenced by alcohol or by some troubles in their own
life. The people involved are likely to seriously regret their actions
only a short time later. This however is too late for their victims.

The Legacy of Alexander the Great

Among the figures found in military history, very few inspire the same
awe as Alexander the Great. Commanders that followed, from the ancient
Romans to the Nazis, are said to have felt inadequate in the face of the
Macedonian's achievements.

Alexander the Great. The name alone inspires images of a man with a
massive army at his back, his face laden with both the burden and the
right to sweep the world and bring it under his rule. During his time,
and for centuries afterwards, Alexander the Great, son of the infamous
Phillip of Macedon, was hailed as one of the great, if not the greatest
military commanders of all time. One particular side effect that
Alexander's sweeping conquests inspired admiration in the military
leaders that followed after him, though he may have also made them feel
a bit of status anxiety.

Scipio Africanus, and his Carthaginian counterpart Hannibal Barca were
both recorded to have felt a slight sense of inadequacy at being unable
to achieve the same level of military prowess as Alexander. Hannibal, in
particular, can be seen as having felt status anxiety when he compared
himself to Alexander. According to classical accounts, he felt that
Alexander would not have been defeated in the Battle of Zama, despite
the superior tactics and numbers of Scipio's Roman legions. It was said
that he believed that, if he could have beaten Scipio during that
critical battle, he could claim the same level of military genius as
Alexander.

Julius Caesar, often heralded as the greatest man to have come from
ancient Rome, also felt pressured by the myth of Alexander. Roman
society, the military in particular, often felt status anxiety whenever
the topic of Alexander the Great was brought up. Due to his status,
Caesar often felt a great deal of pressure to at least appear to have
the same status of greatness as the fabled Macedonian ruler. Julius
Caesar often said that he felt as if the citizens of Rome wanted him to
lead the city, along with their Italian allies, to totally dominate the
world. Caesar had managed to expand the empire beyond the average
Roman's wildest dreams at the time. However, according to popular
legend, it was said that Julius Caesar wept when he realized he would
never achieve the same greatness as that of Alexander.

Caesar Augustus, the first emperor of Rome, is sometimes said to have
felt even worse than his famous uncle. Whereas Caesar experienced status
anxiety from contending with the myth and legend of Alexander, Augustus
had to achieve victories and glories equivalent to both the Macedonian
conqueror and his late uncle. The pressure, however, did wonders for his
career as dictator of Rome, followed by his later career as the
imperator. Some analysts and historians believe that Augustus focused
more on becoming "worthy" of the name Caesar since most of his actions
were concentrated on making improvements or changes to Rome's political
and social structure. His military achievements, while seen by the
public as worthy of Julius Caesar, would not have been viewed as being
on the same level as Alexander's.
Napoleon Bonaparte, perhaps one of the few generals that can be
considered in the same league as Alexander, often compared himself
unfavorably with the Macedonian. By most accounts, Napoleon was a man
who was supremely confident about his talents and skills. He possessed
great faith in his ability to command the French army from victory to
victory. However, he was once said to have uncharacteristically humbled
himself when some of the people around him compared him to Alexander.
Some stories claim that he was disappointed, for he could not even begin
to conquer the world, whereas the Macedonian came so close to total
world domination.

Modern history also records some leaders who aspired for the same glory
enjoyed by the ancient warrior-leaders. Some accounts claim that Adolf
Hitler often dreamt of leading Nazi Germany to conquer the world, much
like Alexander led the Macedonians. By this time, one of the prevalent
myths about Alexander was that he was intent on conquering the world,
purifying it by the sword. In some ways, Hitler saw a reflection of his
own mission of reclaiming Aryan supremacy. By patterning himself after
history's greatest general, he was, of course exercising nothing more
than self-aggrandizement because Hitler can hardly be considered a
military man.

In the end, it is difficult to ascertain just how much influence the
facts and the myths around Alexander the Great affect modern military
commanders. Perhaps, in some ways, they still feel status anxiety when
their work is compared to the Macedonians, but there is no certainty in
that. The only concrete influence, really, is that any military
commander that goes into an expansive campaign is going to be compared
to Alexander, as a testament to the great general's legacy.

The Life Of Luxury(Green With Envy)

It is always nice to see how the other half lives, take for instance
there is the Life of Luxury: the George Hamilton way.

This is a TV show which looks at the lives of the Super Rich in which
the first episode looks at the PlayBoy Mansion, a collection of
multi-million dollar homes, hip-hop half-billion dollar empires and some
queens of shopping.

Tom Delay's Life of Luxury over the last six years:

Public documents reviewed by The Associated Press document his 48 vis...

It is always nice to see how the other half lives, take for instance
there is the Life of Luxury: the George Hamilton way.

This is a TV show which looks at the lives of the Super Rich in which
the first episode looks at the PlayBoy Mansion, a collection of
multi-million dollar homes, hip-hop half-billion dollar empires and some
queens of shopping.

Tom Delay's Life of Luxury over the last six years:

Public documents reviewed by The Associated Press document his 48 visits
to golf clubs and resorts; 100 flights aboard private company planes;
200 stays at hotels, many world-class; and 500 meals at restaurants,
some averaging nearly $200 for a dinner for two. Not all paid for by Tom
Delay.

ARCHESTRATUS: THE LIFE OF LUXURY

ARCHESTRATUS was a Sicilian Greek who wrote a poem that was an actual
cookbook describing styles of Greek food in antiquity In travelling
throughout the Greek world - Greece, Southern Italy and Sicily, the
coast of Asia Minor, the Black Sea - Archestratus shows us how the
ancient Greeks were extremely cosmopolitan.

His influences - ingredients, combinations of flavours, techniques - are
drawn from a wide Mediterranean background, taking in a diversity of
ideas unrestricted by the topography of the Greek mainland.

The Life of Luxury: Check out the Robb Report: Luxury Homes

The Robb Report features this Beverly Hills house. The owners, a retired
industrialist and his wife, who is a trustee of Los Angeles' Museum of
Contemporary Art, wanted the architect to maintain a simple palette that
would not compete with their art collection, which includes a beautiful
collection of contemporary art.

The Life of Luxury's Most Expensive ZIP Codes

From Beverly Hills to TriBeCa, from notorious enclaves of mansions and
lush lawns to little-known niches of wealth, this is where the most
expensive real estate in the country can be found.

Many of these neighborhoods are rarified places, of course. They are
close to beaches and golf courses and prime yacht moorings--or at least
within spitting distance of the power centers that are the sources of
great wealth.

They have high tax bases, expensive private schools, exclusive
restaurants and they are not all located close to Rodeo Drive.

The Life of Luxury; Some Expensive Must-Have Items:

We must be getting richer. Designer items are becoming more and more
popular, we are no longer happy with a cheap watch but want an Omega or
a Tag Heuer.

According to the Federal Reserve, the net wealth of American households
hit a high at the end of last year, increasing from $46.59 trillion in
the third quarter of 2004 to $48.53 trillion in the fourth quarter.

Rising real estate and stock prices helped push the country's household
net worth up 4% between the third and fourth quarters.

You can now buy a $67,000 hand-crafted bathtub; Luxury is no longer
confined to the affluent. To enhance people's lives they are willing to
pay more for luxury items like expensive perfumes and designer handbags.

Sometimes it's hard to justify spending much more on an item when
something considerably less expensive offers the same functionality.

You can, for instance, buy a watch for $10 and you can buy a watch for
$20,000 that offers the exact same functionality so where is the
rationale for buying the expensive watch?

Still, the expensive watches get sold and people are proud to own them.
The exclusive maker of mattresses for the British royal family will
reject a container of cashmere if it is deemed to be clumpy or defective
in any way, says the director for the American division.

For each bed, workers cover thousands of springs in calico cotton; the
damask cases are hand-woven in Belgium. If you have to ask how much
these mattresses cost you can't afford them.

Life of Luxury: living on your own Cruise Ship.

The World is the only private luxury community at sea. It is a Cruise
Ship built with apartments and studios for long term residency rather
than vacation cruises.

For sale originally were 106 apartments, 19 studio apartments and 40
studios, with square footage starting at 675 for studios and maxing out
at 3,242 for a three bedroom apartment with optional jet pool.

With the exception of studios, which have more limited amenities, The
World's residential accommodations include fully-equipped kitchens,
living room, veranda and all furniture and audio/video equipment.
Studios an Apartments can be had from 1.4 million to 4.8 million dollars
and annual maintenance costs start at $100,000.

This is a 40,000-ton ship which could easily carry 1,500 passengers but
the World Residensea carries an average of 285 guests plus a crew of 252.

The passenger distribution is about 40% Americans, 40% Europeans and 20%
from other nations. The price of a "home" on board the ship includes
furniture, appliances, carpet, draperies, linen, china, cutlery and crystal.

Maintenance charges will cover daily housekeeping service, repairs and
replacement of appliances, fixtures and fittings supplied by the builder.

The Mystery Shopping World

When you become a part of the mystery shopping world there are several
things you will have to do to maintain your status as a mystery shopper.
One of the most important things in mystery shopping is note taking. You
will be required by the company that you are shopping for to take
detailed notes about the establishment you have visited. It is wise to
make sure you take these notes immediately upon returning to your car.
This will enable you to have the information and detail...

When you become a part of the mystery shopping world there are several
things you will have to do to maintain your status as a mystery shopper.
One of the most important things in mystery shopping is note taking. You
will be required by the company that you are shopping for to take
detailed notes about the establishment you have visited. It is wise to
make sure you take these notes immediately upon returning to your car.
This will enable you to have the information and details fresh within
your mind still, if you wait until you get home, you could have
forgotten various information that was needed by the company.

Another thing to keep in mind, is you should not ever attempt to take
notes while you are shopping. This could be cause for someone to spot
you and you will "get caught", many companies will refuse to pay any
mystery shopper that has been caught mystery shopping. Once you have
taken notes, you should always make sure you keep a copy of them in a
safe place. Occasionally, the mystery shopping company will return to
you to ask you other questions about your experience, the notes will
allow you to look at your notes and answer them accurately.

Mystery shopping can earn you good money, the amount will be determined
by the particular job, where you live, and the type of shop you will be
visiting. Sometimes your mystery shopping experience will be paid for
(expenses), other times reimbursement will be less than other types of
mystery shopping jobs. Typically a retail store job will pay you
anywhere from $10 to $30 a shop, depending upon the type of store you
are visiting. A fast food job, will pay anywhere between $5 to $15 with
a meal allowance of around $5. For a casual dining job, you will
typically receive somewhere between $15 and $30, depending on the
establishment with meal allowance being $15 to $20. Grocery stores can
earn you somewhere between $15 and $30 with an allowance of around $5 to
$8. The grocery store jobs will likely have a shopping list that is
specific on what you should get during the mystery shopping experience.

The Need to Honor Community Heroes Still Strong

Who are the country's most courageous people? In many people's minds,
it's the heroes in their communities: firefighters, police officers and
emergency response teams.

Who are the country's most courageous people? In many people's minds,
it's the heroes in their communities: firefighters, police officers and
emergency response teams.

Firefighters and police officers were ranked among the country's most
prestigious professions in a poll conducted by Harris Interactive.
According to the survey, prestige is strongly associated with respect,
public service and good work, and professions with high prestige are
those that benefit society and the people they serve.

Yet prestige isn't necessarily what they face in a dangerous job in
which their lives are at risk every day.

The Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks brought to national attention the
need for better emergency response equipment and technology. Toy drives,
pancake breakfasts and other fundraising events are just some of the
ways communities have come together since then to raise money to help
their local heroes.

Many U.S. companies continue to support the cause as well. Wal-Mart
stores, for example, give to these organizations on an ongoing basis.
And, as a part of their annual nationwide emphasis on safety in October,
each of the 3,700 Wal-Mart and Sam's Club locations provides a special
grant to local law enforcement officers and firefighters through their
"Safe Neighborhood Heroes" program. This year, the company will provide
a total of $8 million in $1,000 grants from each of its stores to local
fire, police and emergency response teams.

The negative impact of the weight loss obsession

Being thin is "in," according to the mass media. However, there are
several potential problems with this, including the possibility that
people may push themselves to be too thin.

The media has pushed upon the general public that the thinner you are,
the more attractive you are. All manner of media outlets have given
people the impression that being larger than a size 0 is a bad thing
because it makes you fat, even though realistically, your appearance is
a little too similar to that of malnourished African children. We have
become trained to see the waif-like figures of fashion models to be the
ideal in feminine physical beauty, even though such a form may not
really have any benefits in a strictly biological sense. This has had
the effect of creating the weight loss pill industry, as well as giving
it the backbone it needs to be a feasible avenue of business for
pharmaceutical companies eager to make a quick buck or two. However, is
being thin really all that the media makes it out to be?

Perhaps the primary concern would be the impact what effect taking a
weight loss pill might have on the system. By their very nature, the
pills are designed to help a person lose excess weight, typically by
burning stored fat or increasing the metabolic rate. However, as testing
has shown, a number of the more effective forms of weight loss pill
formulas can have terrible side effects on the body. Reports can vary,
though some of the more common ones are nausea and occasional cases of
vomiting. In some countries, where the standards are a little lax, these
pills find a massive market despite the lack of testing on just what
potential side effects it might have. Aside from that, a weight loss
pill can easily be overdosed by people who are overzealous about losing
weight, leading to potentially life-threatening situations.

However, aside from the weight loss pill boom, the media's effort to
push people to become thinner has resulted in psychological damage. Even
without the media at work, there will always be a segment of the
population that would experience social anxiety because of their weight.
Due to the emphasis on physical achievement and perfection among
students, high school students typically, those who have more weight
than the average student often end up being socially scorned.
Large-built students who cannot find ways to compensate for their weight
through activities such as sports often find themselves socially
ostracized by their peers. After all, the media pushes the message
"nobody wants to hang out with fat kids" rather strongly. Now, combine
that with exposure to mass media, which pushes people to subconsciously
dislike being "fat," and the social anxiety simply gets worse. There are
several studies behind the effects and the treatments for bulimia and
anorexia, but very few have tackled the psychological issues and the
social anxiety behind these eating disorders.

Finally, perhaps the worst effect the media "push" has had is the
prevalent obsession with losing weight, even for those who don't need to
lose weight. The media has made people consciously relate extremely
thin, waif-like figures to beauty. This has had the effect of women
adopting all manner of fad diets, weight loss programs, and extreme
treatments to attain that "perfect" size 0. This is a far cry from the
pre-Raphaelite standard, where a full figure was considered the ideal
and a little meat on the bones was not necessarily a bad thing. While
the public obsession with health stems from this need to get thinner,
the fact that some people are stretching the limits on how thin the
human body can get while still remaining healthy is not a good sign.

It is interesting to note that men seem less affected by this than
women. There are several possible explanations for this, though there is
a distinct lack of overly-idealized male figures in the media, as
compared to the female ones. According to some studies, it is generally
harder to determine an "ideal" for the male figure, apart from one that
appears capable of performing the tasks subconsciously associated with
the male gender, than it is for females. There are several likely
sociological and evolutionary reasons for this sort of discrimination,
but the number of men experiencing the same social pressures as women is
increasing.

The New Improved North American Sauna Culture

The use of the term " Sauna " as it has been referred in most of North
America has truly been abused and over-used to such an extent that it
has lost its true meaning. When a person mentions the word " sauna " in
North America, visions of seedy bathhouses and steam rooms come to mind.

The use of the term " Sauna " as it has been referred in most of North
America has truly been abused and over-used to such an extent that it
has lost its true meaning. When a person mentions the word " sauna " in
North America, visions of seedy bathhouses and steam rooms come to mind.
The home sauna is in most instances a pleasant enough enclosure heated
by various devices that range from electric sauna heaters to far
infrared units. These saunas are what have interestingly enough been
called a " dry sauna ". There is no steam .The one thing these home
saunas have in common with a traditional Finnish sauna is the generated
heat because there really is no such thing as a dry sauna.

The true " sauna " has lasted for well over a thousand years. It has
been tweaked and minutely altered over all those years but in its true
essence, very little has actually been changed. Any changes that have
occurred have been mostly health improvements like better ventilation
and heating units. The form and function of a traditional Finnish sauna
remain intact.

Another term that has taken a pounding in North America is the " sauna
session " or " sauna ritual ". A sauna session has come to mean nothing
more than a naked or semi-naked individual or individuals sitting in a
nice wooden cubicle and just plain sweating. This of course is followed
by the occasional dip in the pool or a nice invigorating shower.
Although this is so-called sauna session is better than no session at
all (at least you clean out and purify your skin pores a little), it is
hardly worthy of the term.

The original Finnish sauna incorporates several elements that make up
the actual sauna session or sauna ritual. The primary difference between
the Finns and most North Americans is the abundance of time that they
lavish on the experience. In a Finnish sauna, time is not of the
essence. The pleasure of the ever-evolving moment is.

The different elements of the true sauna are the Preparation,
Perspiration, Lowly (does not quite translate the right characters here,
but it means the hot steam of the sauna), Whisking, Cooling, Washing and
finally, Relaxation. There is no schedule or timetable whatsoever and a
watch is definitely an optional attachment. Plenty of time is allotted
for a true sauna session and many of the actual elements are repeated
more than once.

The sauna was introduced to North America in the 1960ès as a status
symbol for those that had it all and wanted something different. Even
today it is considered to be something of a symbol of wealth, or at
least of being well off. Considering that the Finns had a 2000-year head
start, it is little wonder that here in North America there is little or
no tradition attached to the use of a sauna.

The one true driving force in North America is commerce, and commerce
drives the evolution of products to be bigger, better or best. There is
no in between. Perhaps in this light, the sauna is evolving into
something different and unique to this marketplace. The actual sauna
ritual as it pertains to Americans is something that will just have to
take more time to develop.

Perhaps we need a new term to describe the North American Sauna Culture.
Let the Finns keep their sauna and their sauna ritual. Here we will
develop and enjoy our own rituals. Maybe we can use the Native American
sweat lodges as a starting point. Or not. I would just like to have the
term sauna mean one distinct thing. Then again, I would have to change
the name of my site and start from scratch. Never mind. If you can
afford it just get the best North American built sauna you can and
start your own personal sauna ritual.

The Old School Stands Strong

There has been a strong trend recently towards on-line greeting cards,
or e-cards, as they are more commonly referred to.

There has been a strong trend recently towards on-line greeting cards,
or e-cards, as they are more commonly referred to. The automatic
assumption would then be that normal greeting cards, the traditional
hallmark (bad pun intended) of birthdays, holidays, and graduations
would be on the decline, but according to Hallmark Cards and American
Greetings (by far and away the two largest producers of greeting cards
in the United States) that is not the case, and both companies have
actually continued to sell more cards the last few years than before.

According to recent numbers, there were literally billions of greeting
cards bought last year. This is a staggering number, and seems to show
two things: 1) e-cards would have to go an incredibly long way, indeed,
to even make a dent in these greeting card giants, and 2) the e-card
take over has not been as sudden or complete as many people assumed it
would be. E-mail and e-cards promised to revolutionize the business of
saying ,"I Love You," but so far that sentiment has not caught on.

Even as more and more electronic greetings make their way to e-mail
accounts all around the world, the old fashioned ink-on-paper greetings
have held their ground--a fact many people attribute to the
irreplaceable feeling of opening, and even saving, a physical card from
an old friend, lover, or family member. Over the past few years,
greeting card retail growth has been mostly from the sales of cards for
everyday situations, and not, as commonly thought, for holidays. A study
done by a committee put together by a conglamorate of greeting cards
companies found one of the main reasons consumers head toward greeting
cards rather than hashing out their feelings in a letter is because
greeting cards "make it easy to express feelings" and "help people
express them selves better than they can alone."

Despite the boom of e-cards, more than 90% of U.S. households were part
of a year that created over $7.5 billion dollars last year. A second
thought on why greeting cards continue to do well is the tradition of
saving Christmas cards, which for many people, is the "catch up on all
this year's news" for old friends and acquaintances. There are also
graduations and birthdays, which often involve relatives giving money,
which is very easy, and discretely done, through cards, and doesn't show
any signs of slowing soon.

The Passing of Liu Zhirong

Why is it that much of the world, despite the excellent documentation,
continually fails to recognize this as a major problem? Is it the lure
of big business? Is it that China seems too far away to make a
difference to us? Hasn't history adequately demonstrated that what we
ignore ends up on our back porch sooner or later?

Liu Zhirong was a 42-year-old schoolteacher at Tuanjie Elementary School
in the Xifeng District of Qingyang City in China. He practiced
meditation and aspired to embrace and manifest truthfulness, compassion
and tolerance in his daily life. His life was brought to an end
prematurely by those who did not have the same lofty ideals to guide them.

Zhirong enjoyed the practice of Falun Gong. For more than six years, the
Chinese Communist Party has embarked on a campaign to eliminate this
peaceful meditation practice and Zhirong was a victim of the CCP's goal.

It is claimed that he was tortured to death in the Tianshui City No 3
Prison on or around January 14th 2006 in Prison Ward number 1. The
address of the prison is No 196 Jianshe Road, Tianshui City, Gansu
Province. The phone number there is 86-938-8278849.

What was Zhirong doing in prison? In most countries around the world,
elementary school teachers are not imprisoned for meditation. Things are
a little different under the rule of the Chinese Communist Party.
Stories such as Zhirong's are not at all uncommon.

The Clear wisdom website records these abuses. They have documented over
2800 deaths like Liu Zhirong's since 1999. Other organizations have also
documented this ongoing persecution. The methods of torture utilized
include so many different varieties that it is difficult to remember
them all.

Records indicate that the CCP also persecutes a wide range of groups and
individuals. Christians and Tibetan Buddhists as well as those who
support various freedoms are among the Party's victims.

One may question why the Chinese Communist Party engages in or permits
torture. It is hoped that the reader recognizes that there is no
rational justification for torture and even less so in the case of
peaceful, non-violent meditators like Zhirong.

Why all this violence? Why all this hatred? Sadly, the Chinese Communist
Party has been a brutal entity since its very beginning. History has
documented the millions of Chinese people that the CCP has killed since
it took power decades ago. The tally far exceeds the number of people
killed by Adolf Hitler.

Why is it that much of the world, despite the excellent documentation,
continually fails to recognize this as a major problem? Is it the lure
of big business? Is it that China seems too far away to make a
difference to us? Hasn't history adequately demonstrated that what we
ignore ends up on our back porch sooner or later?

Whatever the reason, we must not turn a blind eye and sit idly while
innocent men, women and children are brutalized by the Chinese Communist
Party for practicing meditation or having a belief. Each of us can stand
up and provide a voice for those who have been silenced by the CCP.

Shining the international spotlight on the atrocities may help to reduce
them. Writing letters and raising awareness are an important beginning.

The Perfect Halloween Mask

If messy makeup isn't your thing or you simply do not have the time or
the artistic hand to apply it, a Halloween mask can be the next best
option for you to complete your costume. And there are always plenty of
options to choose from when you are shopping around

If messy makeup isn't your thing or you simply do not have the time or
the artistic hand to apply it, a Halloween mask can be the next best
option for you to complete your costume. And there are always plenty of
options to choose from when you are shopping around.

Why a mask?

There are several reasons why you can consider a Halloween mask. For
starters, they are a lot easier to take on and off than a face full of
specialty paint. This means that you can easily go about your normal day
and quickly don a mask for that after-work or after-school party. Masks
can also be an inexpensive way to create a spectacular costume look.
Depending on the mask you choose, you may need limited other accessories
to complete your Halloween costume.

Creating your own look

Thanks to Halloween costume manufacturers you can find nearly any type
of Halloween mask that you can think of. You can go with your
traditional monster masks or something from the latest and greatest
movies and TV shows that are out.

For instance, you could get a Napoleon Dynamite mask, complete with hair
and glasses. Or, you can become your favorite Xman, Fantastic Four
member, or other super hero. Movie characters can be a great way to
coordinate a group of friends that are going trick-or-treating together
or attending the same party.

If you want to stick to the creepy Halloween, you can look for Halloween
masks in some of the traditional Halloween spooks. For instance, you
could go as Freddy Krueger or Chucky or even the Wolfman. Some masks
will even have realistic hair to help complete the look.

If you like the lighter side of Halloween, consider a comedy horror
character like a member of the Addam's Family or Herman Munster. Kids
might enjoy going as their favorite "monster" from Sesame Street or a
character from one of their favorite kid's shows.

Consider a "Masktume"

Another option for costume seekers is to go with a "masktume."
Basically, this is half mask and half costume. A hand sculpted and
painted mask is attached directly to the costume, allowing for the
creation of a wide variety of monsters, ghouls, and other Halloween
characters. They are definitely something different for the party goer
that wants to stand out among more traditional costumes.

Getting the perfect fit

Keep in mind that for your own safety, you want to make sure that your
Halloween mask fits properly. Make sure that you have full vision while
the mask is on and that it doesn't slip down when you move about. You
also should be able to breathe comfortably while you are wearing it.

If you want a costume idea that is easy, or even one that is different
than everyone else's, going with a Halloween mask can help you complete
the look that you want. Remember to shop early in order to find your
perfect mask before they run out!

The Revolution? Is It About You?

Do we have freedom? Do we seek it? Power is within more than just one
thought! It takes a passion for what you really want, and to touch that
mountain top, it is far away! Or is it?

The power of the net may be in your hands! You just never knew it!
Picture the fastest car in the world and your in it! How is that
possible? Is it a dream? Can you do more?

If I say anime, what do you feel? Is there just one wrinkle in time? One
person said, "We Read to Know We Are Not Alon...

Do we have freedom? Do we seek it? Power is within more than just one
thought! It takes a passion for what you really want, and to touch that
mountain top, it is far away! Or is it?

The power of the net may be in your hands! You just never knew it!
Picture the fastest car in the world and your in it! How is that
possible? Is it a dream? Can you do more?

If I say anime, what do you feel? Is there just one wrinkle in time? One
person said, "We Read to Know We Are Not Alone". If knowledge is power,
then we know each other! Do you have it?

To have a moment in time to write and reveal the freedom of thought is a
miracle. When you read this, what will make you think? What did you just
realize? That is for you to know.

The Revolution is whatever you want it to be! May it be a choice or may
it be the perfect timing. Will there be a movie that does not take your
ticket? Just a thought.

The very thought of a Revolution goes back to one time. If we take the
timeline, It will give us significant events before, during, and after
the war. Google has more answers, then time will give you. The
revolution begins!

Do we need all this knowledge or do we just need money? We have become
seekers of knowledge, that if we know the right question, then we can
find something new. Is the past repeating itself?

Does Harvard University test to know? Why would a person write to reveal
secrets? There is an old saying. Get ready!

"Genius, that power which dazzles mortal eyes is oft, but perseverance
in diguise." --- Henry W. Austin

If your stuck in a rut and you think it is possible to get out. You must
read and seek the answer waiting for you. MaGyver was a show back in the
80's, that I watched as a teen. "There is no problem, without a
solution" He said! That was a long time ago. Do we have the solutions?

Are we what we think? You sit there and think, that it will be just one
more day. It could be more than one day! Stephen King could knock on
your door, instead of Ed McMahon with one million dollars!

Is there a deal or no deal? I love Howie Mandel and I think it is
possible to win! Do we have a deal? Game shows and Elimdate find us
looking and we know why! Has boredom lost its touch!

The internet has us typing for everything we want! Are we ready for what
it will reveal? Howard Stern has Satellite? I guess life is easier!

The rigtht Sports cleats can make all the difference.

Whatever sport you play, from golf to baseball to soccer and rugby,
being equiped with the right footwear is of paramount importance.

The Right sports cleats for the best game.

Whatever sport you play, from golf to baseball to soccer and rugby,
being equiped with the right footwear is of paramount importance.

Whether you play professionally, or just for fun, buying the right Cleat
for your sport may be one of the most important decisions you need to make.

Considering the risk of injury, or just plain discomfort caused by
wearing the incorrect sporting footwear, some time should be spent on
acquiring the information for the purchase of the best cleats.

Obviously your performance and hence enjoyment of your chosen sport is
also influenced by the quality of your chosen footwear.

So you will find some informative articles here, to help guide you in
your quest to sporting enjoyment nirvana.

Considering all factors before making a purchasing decision is often
overlooked in the eagerness to get going. There are definately several
factors that should be evaluated before plunging into the buying decision.

A mistake many people make in selecting sports equipment, is that they
blindly follow the endorsement of their favorite professional sport
star. The equipment being used is obviously of the highest quality, but
is it right for you?

For example, when I was a Scuba diving instructor, many of the students
I taught went out and blindly bought the same type of fin that I was
using. They forgot that I was training 3 hours of fin swimming daily,
and my muscles were used to the stiffness and resistance of the fins.
They worked well for me.

Unfortunately most of the students ended up with cramps, not what they
wanted.

So, even though they had chosen top rate equipment, it did anything but
enhance their enjoyment of the sport.

This merely illustrates the point that you need to buy what is right for
you. Is the fit right? Is the price within your budget? Will the chosen
sport cleat suit your style of playing?

Answer these questions before running out and buying the wrong or
unsuitable Sport cleats.

Try and get professional assistance, even if the purchase price is
slightly higher than that from a discount store. The end result and cost
effectiveness ratio with the correct decision, might be far better than
merely a cheap dollar price.

Also remember to do some basic research online, so you are aware what is
available, and suitable, before making any decisions.

The Scooter – Your Number One Transport Companion

The word scooter refers to a motorcycle that has a step through frame
where its rider sits without having to straddle any part of the engine.

Another difference between the scooter and the motorcycle is the wheel
size. Motorcycles have large wheels and average scooters have wheels
that are between 8 and 14 inches in diameter. In scooters the engine is
usually located underneath the seat and they use a continuously variable
transmission that transfers the power to the rear ...

The word scooter refers to a motorcycle that has a step through frame
where its rider sits without having to straddle any part of the engine.

Another difference between the scooter and the motorcycle is the wheel
size. Motorcycles have large wheels and average scooters have wheels
that are between 8 and 14 inches in diameter. In scooters the engine is
usually located underneath the seat and they use a continuously variable
transmission that transfers the power to the rear wheel.

The first scooters were Vespa's and these models originated in Italy.
These scooters had a manual transmission with a gear shift and clutch
built into the handlebars. This can still be found in some of the retro
model scooters that are available today.

Scooters always include a front leg shield and a flat floorboard where
the rider's feet are placed. Storage space is normally located under the
seat although in some scooters it can be built into the front leg shield.

Scooters use smaller sized engines and these can range from between 30cc
and 250cc. Scooters under 49cc are classified as mopeds. Some of the
most common manufacturers of scooters are Honda and Yamaha.

In recent years there has been a trend to introduce large scooters.
These scooters have engines that are from 250cc to 650cc and include
models such as the Honda Fusion and the Yamaha Aprilia. These more power
scooters also have fully automatic transmission systems, which is
preferrable amongst a lot of people.

In many countries around the world and especially in Europe and Asia,
scooters are a very popular means of urban transport. This is mainly due
to their size, weight, and the ease of parking and avoiding city
traffic. Scooters are also very economical to run and maintain
especially with the rising cost of fuel today.

The Tale That Dogs the WAG

As the England football team once again return home under a cloud, the
tabloid press is doing its best to bring a little rain into the world of
the WAGs (Wives and Girlfriends) whose glittering presence and
extravagant spending habits caused a recent media storm; but can this
hail of words penetrate their world's 24-Carat sunshine? Oh for the life
of a WAG, muses Croydon J Hounslow…

e red-tops on certain days over the past few weeks, one could be
forgiven for thinking that England's World Cup bid revolved not around
11 strapping male athletes on the pitch in Gelsenkirchen, but rather the
occasionally dubious antics of a group of Cristal fuelled, bejewelled
glamour queens in Manolo Blahniks and oversized sunglasses.

Certainly this does not constitute any great departure from form on the
part of either the tabloid reporters or the WAGs themselves. The likes
of Victoria Beckham (neé Posh Spice), Coleen Mcloughlin et al enjoy a
tumultuous but mutually beneficial relationship with the tabloid press
the year round; the designer label and conspicuous consumption led
lifestyle financed by their HABs' (Husbands and Boyfriends')
nosebleed-inducing salaries providing the perfect fodder for the type of
journalist that eschews 'real' news and the tabloids in turn providing
that all important limelight presence that is the lifeblood of glamour
models and dried up pop has-beens. Few can have been generally shocked
at the 'mistake' that saw the WAGs and other family members of the
England team booked into the same hotel as the majority of the British
press deployed to cover the World Cup. For a few short weeks the
Brenner's Park Hotel played host to a bona fide match made in Heaven as
the WAGs trailed journalists pied-piper-like around Baden Baden's hot
spots, handing out tabloid-friendly photo opportunities and
faux-shocking examples of 'scandalous' behaviour with the generosity of
spirit of an anorexic at a soup kitchen. This was truly the blonde
leading the bland.

Tabloid journalists, by their very nature, are risky bedfellows who
specialise in biting the hand that feeds. That docile, friendly poodle
in the lap of the IT girl can turn to a ravening, bloodthirsty pack
animal quicker than you can say 'deviated septum', and this summer's
WAG-watching exercise saw its fair share of savagery. Like wolves or
hyenas, when packs of tabloid journalists select their prey they single
out the weakest individuals on the outside of the herd. Top spot on the
tabloid maul-o-meter in this case must go to Abigail Clancy,
(erstwhile?) girlfriend of Peter Crouch, lambasted not only for having
done the dirty on England's Unlikeliest Athlete but for having come
clean to him about it mere hours before England's game against Trinidad
and Tobago in which Crouch scored the opening goal. Whilst we can all
appreciate that such news is never good, and few would deny that its
delivery could have been better timed, the majority of tabloid umbrage
at this fact seems to be drawn from the assumption that the pain of
receiving such news might have stymied Crouch's game. This, of course,
quite ignores the fact that until Crouch's golden moment in the 83rd
minute and his subsequent lamentable dance display he was one of the
lesser known stars of English football whose very inclusion in the squad
was the subject of dark and doubtful mutterings in some quarters. Had
Abi Clancy's relationship misdemeanours indeed put the kybosh on
Crouch's ability to play at top level, the goal would never have gone in
and the entire sorry episode would barely have been newsworthy to start
with. There again, when did we ever look to the tabloids for logic?

Of course, now that England have returned in ignominious circumstances
it's not just Abi Clancy who has strayed within the tabloid zone of
terror. Having made such a towering media edifice of the England team in
recent weeks, the hacks of Middle England now balk at the prospect of
knocking it down, so instead they cast around for a scapegoat. All
accusations seem to slide from erstwhile manager Sven-Goran Eriksson
like droplets from a well-oiled silver duck, and in any case what does
Sven care? He's already packed his bags for Sweden and kissed his love
affair with English football a fond goodbye. All in all, it looks like
the blame for England's poor performance (it just wouldn't do to recycle
an excuse from the past 40 years) may well be laid at several pairs of
immaculately manicured feet in very expensive heels! Come to that, so
what? In return for such a lavish existence and a media presence second
to none (certainly to none who do so little to warrant it) couldn't they
at least shoulder a little blame now and again? Is that too much to ask?

The Unique Season Of Autumn

There is nothing like autumn. For me, no season quite compares to the
beauty and pleasure I experience each year as summer turns into autumn.

There are many reasons to love the season of autumn. One of the biggest
is the beauty of the season. If you were privileged to grow up in an
area that had a true autumn, then you know all about the way the colors
of the earth move from bright greens to the mixture of tones that is
golden, orange, red, and burgundy. You know that the...

There is nothing like autumn. For me, no season quite compares to the
beauty and pleasure I experience each year as summer turns into autumn.

There are many reasons to love the season of autumn. One of the biggest
is the beauty of the season. If you were privileged to grow up in an
area that had a true autumn, then you know all about the way the colors
of the earth move from bright greens to the mixture of tones that is
golden, orange, red, and burgundy. You know that the colors begin to
change slowly, as if they will soon become a dead brown, and then the
brillance of autumn colors emerges from every area of trees. The beauty
of autumn is in the diversity of the colors and in their warmth.

Another great thing about autumn is the way it marks a new beginning. At
least for children and youth who are enjoying summer break, the
beginning of autumn marks for them the start of a whole new year. There
is excitement over what the new year of classes, teachers, and friends
will bring. And parents love the beginning of autumn because it means
their kids are once again spending their days safely in school. Parents
know that autumn means their children are learning and growing again.
Autumn marks the chance to begin again and to enjoy all of the pleasures
of the season.

The season of autumn holds many special and unique things to do. Do you
remember going to a pumpkin patch to pick out the perfect pumpkin? Did
your family or friends have a carving party to see who could create the
most unique or the scariest faces in the pumpkins? Did you bake the
seeds of the pumpkins and enjoy them later? Or perhaps you remember
going for long walks through the woods and collecting the autumn leaves
that had perfectly fallen from the trees. There is something special
about seeing how each leaf turns into a unique expression of autumn
colors taking over the summer hues. Maybe you have the special memory of
going on an autumn hayride each year or perhaps you remember enjoying
caramel apples, powdered donuts and apple cider with family and friends.

For many people thinking of autumn means celebrating the great holiday
of Thanksgiving. People look forward to spending a day recounting all of
the blessings in their lives. They enjoy time surrounded by family and
friends and together they reflect upon the year behind them and they
dream and hope about the new year ahead. Celebrating Thanksgiving is one
of the best reasons to anticipate the coming of autumn.

Whether you have never really loved autumn or whether it is your
favorite of the seasons, think about a new reason to appreciate the
unique time of year that is autumn.

The view of the changing world – increasing crime

Life has lost its true meaning. The moral values and the ethical values
to help a person in need all have lost its meaning. Now days, the common
strategy of life seems to be just conquering and just to have whatever
one wants even if it costs a life.

Life has lost its true meaning. The moral values and the ethical values
to help a person in need all have lost its meaning. Now days, the common
strategy of life seems to be just conquering and just to have whatever
one wants even if it costs a life. After seeing the rising crime rate;
it is true to say that kindness and humanity have been exchanged with
brutality and cruelness. The society no longer has remained a safe place
to alive. It is full of fear and violence where no human values are to
be found easily.

Crime is in the increasing side. Daily, we come to know about the
criminal activities happening close to us. Just pick up any newspaper or
switch on any news channel on television, the only thing that you would
come across is the rising crime rates. It has no longer remained an
amazing thing to know about a robbery or even the murders that used to
be counted among the dreadful happening have become common thing theses
days.

The need of the hour is to get someone to guide you correctly. Someone
that is truly reliable. It is really difficult for a person to remain
updated with the criminal activities or criminal records. Correct and
updated criminal records can be taken from a reliable source or a
company or website that maintains a record of the criminal activities
going around in the society.

With the coming of the internet and keeping in view the increasing crime
rate, a few sites have come up for the assistance of the common man to
keep oneself and ones near and dear ones at a safer side. Sites of this
sort enable a user to get hold updated and accurate information about
the criminal activities. It is the criminal sites that enable a user to
get accurate criminal records. There are useful categories like criminal
search, criminal background search, public criminal records, employment
background search, pre employee screening, employee screening, criminal
checks etc.

Criminal data is a fantastic website that ensures full reliability. You
can get hold of efficient and up to date Credit reports, sex offenders
etc. The site caters to various services like extending state wise
criminal records, DOC Criminals, Criminal database search, Educational
verification, MVR driving records etc all the services extended on to
the users are extremely useful and surely would let you keep you and
your dear ones on safer side.

The Word "Love" is Overused in Todays Society

The word "love" is used in many different situations. The word is
defined as an extreme affection towards someone or something; however
this is not the case in which it is used by most.

The word "love" is used in many different situations. The word is
defined as an extreme affection towards someone or something; however
this is not the case in which it is used by most.

People tend to use the word just the same as any other. No actual
meaning to it -- it seems that whenever someone says "I love you" they
don't actually mean it. The meaning I LOVE YOU has now shrunk to a
simple I love you. It has lost its significance, its shnaz!

I hear young people saying it all the time, fourteen, fifteen year olds
telling it to each other like candy. It should be something special, not
something you throw out at somebody who you've only known a week or two.

Love is developed over a long period of time. Yes, there are those few
cases of "love at first site," but this is a very rare occurrence and
shouldn't be someone's first priority to claim their love the first
moment they see them.

Love is when you would do anything to be able to see this person. It is
when you jump in front of a car and push your love out of the way to
save their life. It is when you can't stand one moment without him/her.
It is when you think about him/her the first moment you wake up and the
last second before you sleep at night. Love can not be duplicated. Love
is love and everything else.

You can not claim you love someone unless you have that special feeling
deep down whenever you see that person. You feel lifted off your feet
and have all your fears taken away.

The word should not be thrown around like a piece of meet, but preserved
for that special someone who will not leave you for another woman or man
and would do anything for you to be with them and you the same.

Save the word for the right person. Preserve the meaning of love and use
it towards those who deserve it.

This just in...

Dumbing down the news - or maybe TV should smarten up the newsreaders...

We are invited, this fine morning, to feel superior. As we sip our
coffee and munch on our toast, we're presented with a side-dish of
superiority, courtesy of our regular television channel's news readers.
We're invited to join and laugh with them at the hapless loser antics
of, well, just about anyone and anybody who dares to raise their head
above the parapet and be noticeable, everyone, that is, except for them
and, of course, since we're implicitly invited to join, we ourselves.
How nice to wake up and feel superior to those hapless others. How good
life can be. That's on this TV channel, anyway. Let's watch together in
a little more detail. I'll be mother.

Recently it's become the fashion for news readers who are doing the pop
segment to openly deride the rock stars and musicians they're discussing.
God knows why they think news readers are superior. I recently saw a
very creditable singing effort from someone who had been a contender in
one of these staged talent TV shows, where the winners are voted for by
the public and are granted seemingly wondrous record deals as a
consequence. This girl had come second and was pictured in head shot
doing a very creditable vocal into a mike. "She wasn't the winner"
advised one newsreader. "I'm not surprised, singing like that" chortled
her male companion, and off go the pair, together with the regular music
scene commentator, into peals of laughter at the feeble efforts of the
hapless and it must be said, slightly tubby chanteuse.

She sang great, actually. She was bang on. She was right on the money.
She hit the spot. I'm a trained singer and I've done a little singing
myself and I knew. She was good, and I knew and I imagine she knew too.
Who didn't seem to know were the news readers and their, er, specialist
music correspondent. What they'd been listening to was a dry vocal, the
girl's naked voice before it had been treated with several thousand
pounds worth of special effects in a studio costing a conservative few
million pounds by a producer whose income a Greek chorus of news readers
couldn't calculate on all their combined toes and fingers. In other
words, this supposedly hapless, loser wannabe dreamer girlie singer
sounded just like everyone does before it gets the studio magic added,
the same way I do, the same way you do, the same way any singer you
could name would if they were just singing dry into a microphone.

Now years ago, they might have got away with this. We'd all have
chortled merrily away, none the wiser. Tuned in the next day for more,
probably. Which is the point of the exercise. These days, though, given
how relatively cheap and easy it is to have a home computer-based
studio, more and more people will be aware of this and, along with me,
be insulted by the suggestion that they don't.

It's ignorant not to know this and it's a greater ignorance to display
this on television and a greater ignorance still to assume that your
audience/viewers are similarly as ignorant and thus will feel
comfortingly encouraged to chortle right along with you.

I see behaviour like this directed at the viewer - me - and I'm
insulted. And it seems to be all over the shop. I recently watched a TV
presenter interview a heavyweight economist about the economic
conditions in a country where a school was taken over by terrorists. "In
order to understand this kind of behaviour, you have to look at the
economic conditions typically prevalent in the countries where it
surfaces", says the economist, drawing breath to - presumably - do just
that. At this point the interview promptly accused him of supporting
terrorism, precipitating what looked like an imminent heart-attack on
the part of the economist.

Now there is a clear distinction between being a supporter of terrorism,
or even an apologist for terrorism, and observing, being expert in your
field, that similar economic conditions are often in place before the
rise of terrorism and going on TV in your official capacity to make
mention of them. I don't need that explaining to me - do you?

In this case, the interviewer apparently believed his audience incapable
of making the distinction. Again, I was insulted, myself. Since the
economist almost went into apoplexy I gather he wasn't too pleased either.

Being fed up with seeing scenes like the ones I describe above mean I
don't watch a lot of breakfast TV any more. I know well the saying that
no-one ever went broke by under-estimating the intelligence of the
public. That was before we had the internet, and access to it in every
living room. This is the information age, and oh yes, this just in - you
can't treat your audience as if they're ignorant any more. If you do,
they won't be your audience for too much longer, and hey - how dumb is that?

This Season, Think Of The Children

This is a season of renewal and rebirth. Nature is waking up from her
long winter.

This is a season of renewal and rebirth. Nature is waking up from her
long winter. The trees are beginning to bud, the birds are singing, and
the sounds of children playing outside can be heard once again. These
delights are all the more special because of the long winter we've endured.

The same is true for our children. Our kids especially appreciate the
care and love they experience here because they know what it means to
suffer pain and mistreatment. I wish you could see the changes I have
seen in them as they find love, faith and hope resurrected in their lives.

The Latin root of the word "resurrection" means "to lift up again." The
visual image I use for resurrection is helping up someone who has
fallen. Our work here at Girls and Boys Town is resurrection work. Our
Christian kids are inspired by the story of Christ's resurrection.
Children of other faiths connect with their own faith stories of triumph
over evil to help them find help, healing and hope.

All the girls and boys we help began life like every other child in
America-talented, loving and full of promise. Unfortunately, somewhere
they fell down-pushed down by adults who abused or neglected them. Some
fell into using drugs and alcohol, promiscuous sex, stealing, lying or
hanging with a bad crowd.

"Dad was never around, and Mom was high most of the time," said Kenisha,
a 14-year-old who is excelling in school today and is a member of our
choir. "There were times I had to eat weird stuff because there was no
food in the house. I would find an excuse to stay with friends because
at least they had electricity and a real meal."

For Jason, a 16-year-old, Girls and Boys Town is providing
problem-solving skills and a chance to rebuild relationships with his
family. His future is much brighter than before. In fact, Jason said he
is lucky to be alive.

"I just decided to be bad," Jason said. "I knew what was right and wrong
and I chose to go against my parents. Pretty soon I found myself with a
bunch of kids who did drugs and stole stuff. It scared me after awhile
because I found myself in front of guys with guns."

Thank you for being a part of Kenisha's and Jason's resurrection. With
your help, Girls and Boys Town will make this springtime a true chance
for a new life for the children in America who need it most. We'll lift
them up again and again until they can stand on their own.

Three Steps to “Take Back the Night"

You practice for virtually everything in your life. Why not practice
what to do in the case of an assault? Be prepared for the 20 percent
chance that you will be the next victim of sexual assault, assault with
injury or robbery. Three steps, when practiced, might just help save
your life in an emergency.

"Take Back the Night" events across the country in April are a grim
reminder of just how serious a problem crime against women has become.
From domestic violence to date rape, from assault in a parking lot to
rapes on a college campus it seems as though women are targets of these
predators wherever and whenever it pleases them-and the numbers are
staggering.

Statistics show that every two and a half minutes someone in the U.S. is
sexually assaulted. And while the numbers show and increase the scary
part is there are still 39 percent of rapes in 2002 that went unreported
for a variety of legitimate reasons ranging from embarrassment, fear, or
shock.

"Take Back the Night" events are well meaning, feel good events that
typically happen on college campuses where a surprisingly large number
of sexual assaults occur. The main focus of these events is to heighten
awareness of the problem which is a nice first step but really does
nothing in a practical way to help protect the potential victims from
either physical or sexual assault.

According to Bureau of Justice statistics 17 percent of women can expect
to be raped in their lifetime. In 2004 for every 1000 people there is
one rape or sexual assault, two assaults with injury and 2
robberies-that's a one in five chance that you are going to be next.

When an assault occurs most victims are, justifiably so, caught off
guard, panic and don't think clearly. But with a little common sense and
practice (YES practice) your survival instincts will kick in.

As a practical matter you practice for everything else, from studying,
playing an instrument, sports, rehearsal for a wedding, to memorizing
the alphabet, why shouldn't you practice some survival skills that might
save your life? Simple discussion groups with friends or family on some
basic survival techniques and plans of action will, over a short period
of time, develop good reflex reactions instead of pure unmitigated fear
when faced with a real emergency situation.

Here are some ideas to kick around with your friends at a "practice"
session.
When confronted by a potential attacker or rapist:
1. MAKE NOISE. Scream, yell, if you have a whistle use it, Try to
attract as much attention as you can. The noise will eventually attract
someone and in the process may deter the attacker.
2. STALL. Time is on your side. Stall as long as you can. Tell your
attacker you have STD's or AIDS. The longer you delay the better your
chances. Don't show any fear, stay calm as long as you can.
3. GET ANGRY AND FIGHT BACK. This is not a garden party. Learn how to
fight dirty. Gouge the eyes, hit and kick where it will do the most
damage. Use whatever you have available as a weapon.

Additionally get used to being aware of your surroundings. Be leery of
strangers asking directions, of sudden crowds around you, of a stranger
approaching your car. Most of all trust your instincts-if your gut tells
you something is wrong don't be afraid to react.

And lastly get used to always carrying some sort of personal defense
device-a whistle, an alarm, a siren, mace pepper spray even a stick if
you're out on a walk-anything that can help you MAKE NOISE, STALL, FIGHT
BACK. Remember it's your life on the line-BE PREPARED-PRACTICE,
PRACTICE, PRACTICE!!!

Thrifty Tips For Buying Christmas Gifts

Being thrifty doesn't mean becoming cheap. It's simply a way to express
your thoughtfulness and care to your loved ones this Christmas season
without having to spend all of your savings.

Being thrifty doesn't mean becoming cheap. It's simply a way to express
your thoughtfulness and care to your loved ones this Christmas season
without having to spend all of your savings. As the saying goes, "It's
the thought that counts." Of course giving away something as tacky as a
piece of candy is not being thrifty, it's just plain cheap. To avoid
being tagged as "Mr. or Ms. Scrooge without taste" this season, here are
a few tips on how to give the perfect Christmas gift without breaking
your piggy bank.

First, make a Christmas list. Write down the names of those who you want
to give presents to and how much you'll be willing to spend for a
particular person. It would also help to write down some ideas so you'd
have an easier time once you're shopping. Bear in mind that you don't
have to give all of your acquaintances presents. Neighbors and
officemates that you are not close with don't necessarily have to be
given gifts unless you have the extra budget to give them simple tokens.
Make sure you remember to write down all the important people in your list.

Second, make homemade gifts. Most people love receiving homemade gifts,
especially those that they can really use. Try to find out what they
like so you can give them something they would like. For example, if
your mom loves to cook, you can give her a self-compiled cookbook with
all her favorite recipes and you can even include yours too. Their likes
may vary so be aware of what you'll be making for them.
Third, use your talents. If you're good at something use it to your
advantage to give something very special this Christmas. If you're a
photographer, take one-of-a-kind pictures of your family and have it
framed. If you love to write, you can write poems or short stories. If
you're into music, you can compose a special song just for them. If
you're good at crafts, make jewelry or pretty boxes.

Fourth, equality. One similar gift to each person can also be a thrifty
way to give Christmas gifts. Cookies or cakes are good choices as
everyone can appreciate this and gain (a few calories) from it too.

Fifth, recycle. When wrapping up your Christmas presents you can use old
newspapers. If you're using newspapers, make sure that it doesn't have
any stains and that it hasn't turned into a disgusting shade of yellow.
You must also make sure that the content written on the newspaper is
suitable for giving; you wouldn't want any bad comments regarding your
gifts.

Sixth, buy presents before the Christmas season. You can save up if you
buy presents during sale season. It will save you from the hassle of
standing for hours at a long line, arguing with someone over the last
piece of an item that you both want and you won't have to squeeze your
way through hoards of people rushing to buy late Christmas gifts.

There are a lot of ways to be thrifty this Christmas season; you just
have to be creative and patient. And don't stress yourself too much
about the presents; after all it's Christmas.

Time For Reflection

When was the last time you stopped to reflect upon your life??

I was recently sidelined with a fall so have had a couple weeks when
life has taken a decidedly different course than I am accustomed too.
I've had to take a back seat and learn to accept life as it comes for a
little while.

Friends have been great to volunteer their services with meals, rides
and dog walking duties. Even my pets have been extra solicitous. As a
results I've had great cause to think about th...

When was the last time you stopped to reflect upon your life??

I was recently sidelined with a fall so have had a couple weeks when
life has taken a decidedly different course than I am accustomed too.
I've had to take a back seat and learn to accept life as it comes for a
little while.

Friends have been great to volunteer their services with meals, rides
and dog walking duties. Even my pets have been extra solicitous. As a
results I've had great cause to think about the wonderful things which
my life provides.

Friends. When was the last time you stopped to think about those you can
truly call friends. I remember growing up that my parents told me that
I'd find I had fewer friends the older you got. This is one time when I
have to say this is not true of my life. Because I have been open to
others I have experienced positive developments in more than one
relationship.

Health. We live in a society of increasing sicknesses and ills yet we
are among the most healthy nations of the world. My fall required two
separate trips to the hospital for diagnosis and medication. Although
the wait in an emergency room is never pleasant, the staff treated me
kindly and with respect and the doctors were knowledgeable and
attentive. I am extremely grateful for medicine which has eased my pain
and the easy access we have to professionals who can help us.

Happiness. I have experienced considerable pain and discomfort over the
past few weeks. Many would react to this circumstance with very negative
feelings. I have found exactly the opposite. My heart has opened as I
have been able to feel the warmth of others and I have appreciated the
opportunity to reflect on the good things in life. In spite of the
negatives which have come from this experience I can say I am very happy
with my situation. The world often reflects back a bleak picture of life
and we start to expect that things must always be rosy for us to be
happy. I have learned that happiness comes from within as we traverse
the vicissitudes of life and find ourselves with the choice of reacting
in either a positive or negative manner.

Are you happy with your world? Do you appreciate the many good things
which life has to offer?? Take the time today to reflect and you'll be
surprised how much many reasons there are to keep going.

Tips On Recycling Office Paper

There are several good reasons why office paper must be recycled. First,
papers used in offices are usually high-grade, and it's a shame to see
these quality paper reduced to waste. A staggering 77% of these papers
are recyclable. Second, an average business office employee can produce
a pound and a half of paper waste in working for a business office
daily. Finance offices generate waste paper from two to three pounds per
employee daily. Third, production costs can be lowere...

There are several good reasons why office paper must be recycled. First,
papers used in offices are usually high-grade, and it's a shame to see
these quality paper reduced to waste. A staggering 77% of these papers
are recyclable. Second, an average business office employee can produce
a pound and a half of paper waste in working for a business office
daily. Finance offices generate waste paper from two to three pounds per
employee daily. Third, production costs can be lowered simply by
reducing office paper costs and using used paper whenever possible.
Removing office paper from the garbage can reduce waste collection fees
by 50%. Fourth, a ton of paper recycled is 6.7 cu yds saved landfill
space. Removing this much paper from our waste would prolong the service
of present landfill sites. Whether your paper supplies are plain white
paper, copier paper, office paper, inkjet paper, or letter paper, these
are all easily recycled.

There are easy steps to recycling office paper. Recycling can start as
soon as your employees are informed and consulted regarding the adoption
of recycling schemes. Make sure that all employees know about the
recycling program of your company. Recycling systems as simple as
monitoring paper use and separating white paper from colored paper are
widely-practiced in most offices. Placing labeled trash cans has proved
to be an effective recycling method. Be sure, however, that the cans are
placed where waste paper amounts to a significant number like in the
computer rooms and records sections. Put the recycling can together in
an accessible area so people will actually use them. Consulting the
employees who work in that particular area where to position the
recycling cans is a good idea. It's always a good idea to separate white
papers like bond paper, copier paper, paper supplies, office paper,
inkjet paper, and letter paper, together rather than mixing them with
other paper like cardboard and newspapers. This way, even if you don't
reuse the paper but sell them to recycling shops they will a higher
value, since white paper costs more. It's also important to inform the
maintenance crew. After all, you wouldn't want to waste your employees'
recycling efforts undone by having an uninformed janitor haul your
papers and dump them with food garbage. It's advised to train them how
the recycling system works.

Lastly, these reams of bond paper, copier paper, paper supplies, office
paper, inkjet paper, and letter paper materials can bring you good
money. So it's recommended to have a log book or record book handy to
record the amount or weight of office paper that came from your company.
This way, you can keep track of your paper wastes and evaluate if your
recycling paper program is actually working to reduce paper use and
waste in your office. Also, by keeping a record and receipt, you can be
sure to be properly paid for them by the recycling companies.

Tips to Avoid Fraud While Helping Hurricane Victims

After the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, many are wondering how they
can help. At the same time, criminals are using this outpouring of
support to take advantage of well-meaning citizens through deception and
fraud.

After the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, many are wondering how they
can help. At the same time, criminals are using this outpouring of
support to take advantage of well-meaning citizens through deception and
fraud.

People who wish to contribute to the relief effort are urged to beware
of charity scams, which are especially prevalent online. Consumer
advocates offer the following advice:

* Make sure the organization is legitimate. Some illicit organizations
will try to confuse you by using a name that is similar to a well-known
charity. Do your research to find a reputable charity. For a list of
charity reports, visit the BBB Wise Giving Alliance Web site, www.give.org.

* Never respond to or click on a link within an e-mail asking for money
and claiming to be from a charity. If you wish to make a donation
online, stick with familiar, established charities and donate through
their Web sites directly.

* Be skeptical of telephone solicitations. Never give out your personal
or credit card information. Ask for a charity's exact name and address.
After researching the organization, call back using its published number
if you would like to get more information by phone.

* Give a check or money order made out to the organization, not an
individual.

What are the best ways to help? The following is a partial list of
organizations:

FINANCIAL HELP

American Red Cross

Provides emergency shelter, food, water and other critical assistance.

(800) HELP-NOW

www.redcross.org

America's Second Harvest

Donations help transport food to victims and secure additional warehouse
space to assist member food banks in resuming and maintaining operations.

(800) 344-8070

www.secondharvest.org

VOLUNTEER GROUPS

Habitat for Humanity

Helps repair and rebuild homes damaged by the hurricane.

(229) 924-6935

www.habitat.org

Salvation Army

Provides food, drinking water, cleaning supplies and other necessities.

(800) SAL-ARMY

www.salvationarmyusa.org

Convoy of Hope

Provides supplies and other disaster relief, sponsoring outreaches to
the poor and suffering.

(417) 823-8998

www.convoyofhope.org

ANIMAL RESCUE

Humane Society of the United States

(888) 259-5431

www.hsus.org - NU

To Fund a Good Cause, Start Your Own Foundation

What can you do to make the world a better place? One of the best things
you can do is create a charitable foundation to contribute to a cause
that's near and dear to you.

What can you do to make the world a better place? One of the best things
you can do is create a charitable foundation to contribute to a cause
that's near and dear to you.

Establishing a foundation is no longer an activity confined to the
wealthy. By definition, a foundation is simply a philanthropic
organization that contributes financially to designated causes. Anyone -
regardless of income - can set up a foundation, according to the
National Heritage Foundation. In fact, the organization's mission is to
help individuals and corporations do just that.

Established in 1968, the National Heritage Foundation provides the tools
and support needed to set up foundations for charitable, educational,
scientific or religious activities. It takes care of all of the
administrative tasks involved in running a foundation, including
receiving all donations, making disbursements, sending charitable
receipts for donations, and ensuring compliance with state and federal
regulations. It also can help with marketing and fundraising strategies.

To date, nearly 9,000 foundations have been created under the National
Heritage Foundation umbrella. Here are some examples of foundations you
can start.

* A foundation for your community that contributes to beautification
projects, public works and safety initiatives, and recreation programs.

* A foundation for athletes.

* A foundation for the disabled.

* A foundation that helps fund projects in foreign countries.

* A foundation to benefit a school, college, hospital or place of worship.

Tools and devices to beat police cameras and radar detectors

Technology has brought about a battery of devices aimed to prevent being
caught by police cameras and radar detectors. Learn how they work.

Since the beginning, law enforcement agencies and offenders have been in
a cat and mouse existence. Our modern world has equipped our government
troopers with enough electronic gadgets like street cameras, police
radas and laser guns to keep track of traffic violators, over speeding
motorists and catch them with their pants down. With the development of
sophisticated technology, counter measures also plied the market, such
as radar detectors, laser jammers and recently license plate cover
spray, all designed to evade detection, which renders the job of
troopers tough to handle.

What exactly are these devices? You might have noticed that our traffic
signal systems have become quite sophisticated. Monitoring road traffic
is now handled through the use of powerful computers and aided by street
cameras, radar detectors, and laser guns. Should you commit a traffic
violation, no officer of the law will accost and give you a traffic
ticket. Instead, all of these offenses are recorded and a traffic
incursion ticket is directly sent to your address. It becomes doubly
difficult to dispute a traffic violation because said violation is
electronically stored and detailed in a large database, complete with
video cover and time.

A product that has been in use by many car owners is the radar detector.
The idea behind this scheme is to provide warning signs once you drive
along pertinent government installations like photo radars, red-light
cameras and also speed cameras. These installations are good deterrents
against those prone to commit road violations, drunk driving or drug
related offenses.

For those in the habit of over speeding, the radar detector is no match
for the laser guns of police troopers. Once a motorist detects the
presence of these electronic gadgets, it detects too late since the
laser gun needs only a fraction of a second to record the car's speed.
To evade detection, the radar detector must have a laser jammer to
prevent the opposing laser gun from momentarily recording speed; thus,
giving the driver time to slow down and cruise within the required speed
limit.

Photo radars, red-light cameras and speed cameras are now widely used in
major cities across the United States. These systems have become popular
nowadays, because it is found to be very useful in tracking down traffic
violators. No efficient counter gadget has yet been designed to limit
its effectiveness except the license plate cover spray that hinders
traffic cameras from reading correctly the violator's plate number. This
is a new, highly advanced technology that actively blocks and bars any
system that employs a flash camera from taking a photograph of the
license plate. In the absence of concrete evidence, traffic violators
will not be charged.

Tornado Rips Building; 150 Live to Tell the Story

About 150 employees at Parsons Manufacturing Co. in Illinois were
shocked to see their company's building turned into a pile of mangled
steel beams and other rubble as an F-4 tornado ripped through the area.
But what's even more shocking is that they were inside the building when
the storm hit.

About 150 employees at Parsons Manufacturing Co. in Illinois were
shocked to see their company's building turned into a pile of mangled
steel beams and other rubble as an F-4 tornado ripped through the area.
But what's even more shocking is that they were inside the building when
the storm hit.

Thanks to reinforced concrete masonry shelters, all 150 people walked
away from the disaster without a scratch. An F-4 tornado has wind speeds
from 207 to 260 mph.

Winds from the storm leveled the 225,000-square-foot plant and destroyed
at least half a dozen homes nearby.

"We were told over a public address system to head to the three
restrooms, which are made of reinforced concrete masonry and serve as
storm shelters. When we got to the shelters, we could see steel beams
and machinery flying in the air," recalled Dave McClallen, a Parsons
employee.

Woodford County Emergency Services & Disaster Agency volunteer Dustin
Oltman said reports indicated that the storm inflicted the most damage
on the half-mile area in Roanoke, Ill., where Parsons Manufacturing Co.
is located.

Bob Parsons, owner of Parsons Manufacturing, which makes parts for the
construction and mining industries, didn't want to take any chances when
constructing his operation after a near miss of his first business by a
tornado in 1972. When he built an expanded business across the street,
he included reinforced concrete masonry storm shelters inside. He said
that he never could have guessed that decision would save 150 lives 30
years later.

"The storm shelters were so important. They saved all of our lives,"
said Craig Joraanstad, the company's human resources manager. "The most
important thing we hope happens out of this is that more businesses take
storm shelters seriously. Concrete masonry protects lives and property
... 150 people are alive today thanks to those concrete masonry storm
shelters."

The inherent strength of reinforced concrete masonry makes it an
excellent choice to withstand wind-borne debris - the largest threat to
occupants in these storms, said Dennis Graber, an engineer on the staff
of the National Concrete Masonry Association in Herndon, Va.

"Researchers at the Wind Science and Engineering Research Center at
Texas Tech University demonstrated this fact at a wind projectile test
in September 2003," Graber said. "In that test, solid grouted 8- and
6-inch reinforced concrete masonry wall panels withstood the
standardized FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] test of
15-pound, 2 by 4 projectiles shot at 100 mph, which is representative of
debris in a 250-mph tornado."

To Fund a Good Cause, Start Your Own Foundation

What can you do to make the world a better place? One of the best things
you can do is create a charitable foundation to contribute to a cause
that's near and dear to you.

What can you do to make the world a better place? One of the best things
you can do is create a charitable foundation to contribute to a cause
that's near and dear to you.

Establishing a foundation is no longer an activity confined to the
wealthy. By definition, a foundation is simply a philanthropic
organization that contributes financially to designated causes. Anyone -
regardless of income - can set up a foundation, according to the
National Heritage Foundation. In fact, the organization's mission is to
help individuals and corporations do just that.

Established in 1968, the National Heritage Foundation provides the tools
and support needed to set up foundations for charitable, educational,
scientific or religious activities. It takes care of all of the
administrative tasks involved in running a foundation, including
receiving all donations, making disbursements, sending charitable
receipts for donations, and ensuring compliance with state and federal
regulations. It also can help with marketing and fundraising strategies.

To date, nearly 9,000 foundations have been created under the National
Heritage Foundation umbrella. Here are some examples of foundations you
can start.

* A foundation for your community that contributes to beautification
projects, public works and safety initiatives, and recreation programs.

* A foundation for athletes.

* A foundation for the disabled.

* A foundation that helps fund projects in foreign countries.

* A foundation to benefit a school, college, hospital or place of worship.

Tools and devices to beat police cameras and radar detectors

Technology has brought about a battery of devices aimed to prevent being
caught by police cameras and radar detectors. Learn how they work.

Since the beginning, law enforcement agencies and offenders have been in
a cat and mouse existence. Our modern world has equipped our government
troopers with enough electronic gadgets like street cameras, police
radas and laser guns to keep track of traffic violators, over speeding
motorists and catch them with their pants down. With the development of
sophisticated technology, counter measures also plied the market, such
as radar detectors, laser jammers and recently license plate cover
spray, all designed to evade detection, which renders the job of
troopers tough to handle.

What exactly are these devices? You might have noticed that our traffic
signal systems have become quite sophisticated. Monitoring road traffic
is now handled through the use of powerful computers and aided by street
cameras, radar detectors, and laser guns. Should you commit a traffic
violation, no officer of the law will accost and give you a traffic
ticket. Instead, all of these offenses are recorded and a traffic
incursion ticket is directly sent to your address. It becomes doubly
difficult to dispute a traffic violation because said violation is
electronically stored and detailed in a large database, complete with
video cover and time.

A product that has been in use by many car owners is the radar detector.
The idea behind this scheme is to provide warning signs once you drive
along pertinent government installations like photo radars, red-light
cameras and also speed cameras. These installations are good deterrents
against those prone to commit road violations, drunk driving or drug
related offenses.

For those in the habit of over speeding, the radar detector is no match
for the laser guns of police troopers. Once a motorist detects the
presence of these electronic gadgets, it detects too late since the
laser gun needs only a fraction of a second to record the car's speed.
To evade detection, the radar detector must have a laser jammer to
prevent the opposing laser gun from momentarily recording speed; thus,
giving the driver time to slow down and cruise within the required speed
limit.

Photo radars, red-light cameras and speed cameras are now widely used in
major cities across the United States. These systems have become popular
nowadays, because it is found to be very useful in tracking down traffic
violators. No efficient counter gadget has yet been designed to limit
its effectiveness except the license plate cover spray that hinders
traffic cameras from reading correctly the violator's plate number. This
is a new, highly advanced technology that actively blocks and bars any
system that employs a flash camera from taking a photograph of the
license plate. In the absence of concrete evidence, traffic violators
will not be charged.