The Last Cattle Drive of Oliver Loving and Charles Goodnight

Many people have heard of the famous cattleman Oliver Loving and the just as famous Texas Ranger Charles Goodnight. It has even been rumored that the movie "Lonesome Dove" was loosely based on these two great men and the last cattle drive they ever went on.

Oliver Loving was born in Kentucky back in 1812. He was a farmer in Muhlenberg County until the time that he decided to move his family to the Republic of Texas. In Texas he had 639.3 acres of land that stretched across the counties of Collin, Dallas, and Parker. By the time 1857 rolled around he had increased his land holdings to 1000 acres and he was raising cattle on that land.

Because the cattle were needed in other parts of the country Loving began to drive them out of Texas with the aid of his son William. He drove his cattle up the Shawnee trail to Illinois where he received a profit of $36 per head. This encouraged him to repeat the drive yearly and to allow William to drive herds for neighbors as well.

In 1866 Loving heard that there was a great need for cattle in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. He combined cattle with that of his friend and neighbor Charles Goodnight and they traveled the trail to deliver cattle to Fort Sumner. This route to Fort Sumner would eventually be called the Goodnight-Loving Trail.

The next year,Loving and Goodnight set out to Fort Sumner on another drive. This second drive to Fort Sumner would prove to be a bad decision for Loving. From the beginning the trip was plagued with foul weather and threats on Indian attacks. The cattleman were on guard and edgy. A few days before they reached Fort Sumner Loving and a scout were sent on ahead of the rest. Loving promised Goodnight that he and Wilson (the scout) would travel under the cover of darkness, but being impatient Loving reneged on this promise and traveled during the day.

The daytime travel drew the attention of some Comanche and Loving and Wilson were attacked. At the very beginning of the attack Loving was caught off guard and injured seriously. The two cattlemen sought refuge under an embankment and fought the Indians off from this position. Loving knew that they would have to help if they were going to survive so he sent Wilson to get help.

Loving remained under the embankment defending his position for several days, he had little to no food, and he lost a lot of blood. When the Indians left him he made his way in the direction of Fort Sumner, where a Mexican family found him and took him the rest of the way. His wounds developed gangrene, and he died a short time later.

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Chemical Plant Explosion And Fire In Iran and A Refinery Fire In Richmond CA - Any Relation?

Do you believe in coincidence, because generally speaking I don't? You see, there will be, just based on probability, so many coincidences in our given realm at any one time. However, when they happen in very close proximity, one needs to start asking the questions, and playing a little bit of detective. Let me give you one such instance which came up recently in the global media.

You see, I live in California and I'm now paying four dollars a gallon for gas. It turns out there was a California refinery fire, which sent 100 people to the hospital for smoke inhalation, and that refinery is responsible for about 16% of the fuel for California. Due to supply and demand, now you know why I'm paying so much for gasoline. Interestingly enough, just the day before there was a petrochemical plant fire and explosion in Iran.

There was a news alert coming in from CBS on August 6, 2012 titled; "California refinery fire sends scores of residents to hospital with breathing problems," which incidentally occurred only one day after the Iranian chemical plant fire and explosion killing 1-person and injured 16, quite serious; cite: Chemical Info article; "Fire Kills One at Iran's Biggest Petrochemical Plant."

We know that Iran has insurgents in the United States, and they have admitted to sponsoring terrorism in the past to serve their political will, and stated in the global media that they have sleeper terrorist cells here in our homeland. Was this a retaliation? It may have been, we don't know, at least not yet. It is hard to say if the petrochemical explosion in Iran came about due to foreign spy operatives there. Anytime there is an explosion in any of the facilities in Iran, they automatically suspect that it is the Western world which is behind it.

Whether it was or wasn't, Iran might believe it was, therefore launched a secondary attack in reciprocal response here the United States. If so, this could be considered an act of war through state-sponsored proxy terrorism. If it is so, would I be surprised? Not in the least actually, and that's why I dare to ask a question at a time when no one is talking, the Department of Homeland Security won't comment, and we are further marching towards war in the Middle East.

Economic sabotage, and attacks on our oil infrastructure have already been part of Iran's plan to get back at the Western world for economic sanctions, which they believe are an act of war upon their civilization and society. Some might say that my creative mind is making links and connections which don't exist. I don't allow my mind to do that, and yes this is speculation, but it comes from a deeper understanding of geopolitics, international terrorism, and the reality of current events on the global stage. I ask that you please consider all this and think on it.

Lance Winslow is the Founder of the Online Think Tank, a diverse group of achievers, experts, innovators, entrepreneurs, thinkers, futurists, academics, dreamers, leaders, and general all around brilliant minds. Lance Winslow hopes you've enjoyed today's discussion and topic. http://www.worldthinktank.net/ - Have an important subject to discuss, contact Lance Winslow.

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Ferdinand Magellan Biography

Ferdinand Magellan's father is Pedro Ruy who was a mayor in their town. His mother's name is Alda de Mezquita. Magellan is a Portuguese who had his education and was tutored at the Court of Portugal. Among his best teacher was Martin Behaim who is a famous cartographer. With the help of his teacher's teachings and inspiration, Magellan grew up having a passion on sailing and on voyages; considering the fact that his teacher was also a navigator himself.

When Magellan was old enough to make voyages and expeditions, he started studying the maps used by Christopher Columbus. In the year 1505, when he was a young and brave 25 year old man, he finally had the courage to join expeditions.

He first joined the expedition of Francisco d' Almeida who paved its way to reach India. They've had a successful navigation. It helped him to learn about the basics in navigation. Not long after, in the year 1512, he then again joined another expedition. This time he joined the Portuguese expedition to Morocco where it was the time he was severely wounded. But this doesn't stop his passion for expedition.

Magellan asked those in authority to support his expedition but none of them ever approved his appeal; which later on led him to move to Spain. There he gained approval in which he was promised on one/fifth of the profit he will gain in the said expedition. Lucky enough, he was provided with 5 ships by the Spanish government. It was definitely his first voyage to navigate around the world. Through his expedition, they had encountered mutinies that later on damage some of the ships. Yet it doesn't stop them to continue on their expedition. They in spite of the hardships continued to navigate with the use of the remaining ships. Magellan discovered a lot on his expeditions like; Puerto San Julian located in Southern Argentina; they had reached the equator; Pacific Islands of Guam; etc. Until they had reached the country Philippines on the 16thday of March 1521, it was that day Magellan was killed by the natives of Mactan. They've had a bloody battle; many of his crew was killed by those natives that only 110 of his people were left to continue on its expedition. And yet along its way, the other ships together with the crew were imprisoned by the Portuguese. Only the Victoria ship was the remaining ship to return with victory.

Having only eighteen survivors to return in pride and honor at Sanlucar de Barrameda located in Spain. The great expedition to tour around the world took them 3 years to complete with many lives lost.

Browse more biographies at Famous-Explorers.

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The Growing Problem Of Poverty In Nigeria: What Can We Do To Reduce It?

Poverty is an insidious disease that incapacitates, depresses, and ultimately kills scores of people world-wide. Those afflicted can be old or young, black or white or brown, rich or poor, skinny or obese. Everyday more than 50,000 people needlessly die from poverty. Nearly a billion persons unnecessarily suffer, some of them in the midst of plenty.

Yes, endowed persons can and do suffer deprivation and painful premature deaths. My country of birth beloved Nigeria is an example. How could a nation so blessed with countless natural and human resources be so self-cursed that nothing works well? Every statistic that should be high is low and those that should be low are high. Be it about mortality, employment, crime, disease, accident, corruption, greed, human rights, you name it!

Facts are, within the Beverly Hills of the world, you will find poverty staring you in the face, albeit obscured. Inside their mansions, some materially rich folks are, in the prophetic words of Fela, "suffering and smiling". Poverty is as relative as it is universal. Depravity comes in various colors, shapes, sizes, and degrees. It's not just about money as some would erroneously portray. How you define it, is your version of poverty.

Poverty effects are profound on both the individual and society, especially in Nigeria. Humanity should find an affordable cure; until then, each person should do what he or she can to prevent and treat this pandemic. Personal responsibility should be called to arms. Moreover, it's easier to steer a small boat (the individual) than it's to turn around a big ship (society). So it behooves one to start with one's self.

Poverty is slavery, per African (Somalian) adage. The Book says the poor will always be among us. Gandhi stated "poverty is the worst form of violence". And Einstein said no problem could be solved by the same level of consciousness that created it. I ask what can one do to minimize depravity in Nigeria?

We all have heard or witnessed "rags to riches" stories. Books have been written to show us how to better ourselves. There are road maps to improve ourselves, both individually and collectively. It's never easy! Are we willing to work harder, sacrifice more, and implement better strategies to improve our lot? Or are we going to be shy and perpetuate the cycle of poverty by blaming everything and everyone but ourselves? Or are we going to put our feet down and say "enough" and break this miserable cycle? "With God, all things are possible", but we need to do our part.

Eight Ways To Can Reduce Poverty In Nigeria: Here are eight ways to reduce poverty in Nigeria.

Education and implementation: It's important to know what to do. However, it's critical to put that knowledge to perpetual praxis.

Foster Relationship With Right People: Knowing lots of people is good, knowing the right kind of people is even better. Beware, that receptionist may aid you more than the manager. As the saying goes, "it's not what you know; it's who you know". Be ready to "give" before you can "receive".

Financial Planning: Start saving early and often. Little drops of savings do make the mighty ocean of wealth. Create additional income sources. Don't take too much or too little risks. Capital preservation should be paramount. First acquire money management skills and then impart folks you can reach. Most people are embarrassed to discuss these life skills. They fear that if they catechize about saving money, they would be labeled "have it all or know it all". As I wrote in a previous article, that mentality makes "money" a dirtier word than sex. Neither should be dirty; both are pertinent when used as intended!

Healthier Living: Make exercise and healthier living a priority in your family. Watch what you eat and what you feed your children. One sick family member affects the lives of all members. Sedentary lifestyle prematurely kills. The healthy you, is a wealthy you!

Family Planning: There are too many mouths and not enough to feed them. Consider having as few children as you can afford. When is enough really enough? The God that gave you children does not want you to raise them in poverty.

Era of Self-reliance: It's prudent to help others in need. However, each person needs to hold his or her end of the bargain. Politicians are raising this alarm with their code words for budget and deficit reduction. Governments can't do it all.

Eschew Culture of Poverty: Lavish funerals and excessive title rituals set wasteful precedents and should be curtailed. Expensive funerals did not raise any Pharaoh from the dead then and will not resurrect any Lazarus today. It's unfortunate that even educated Nigerians are fanning the amber of waste and promoting this culture of poverty. Why not invest the resources on the living as tribute to the dearly departed?

It's proactive to express your wishes as to where and how you wish to be buried: cremation or formal burial, internment here or in Nigeria. And save to fund your choice. Don't leave it to the grieving spouse to deal with the fallout from your family members here and in Nigeria.

Terrible governments and (yes) citizens-supported corruption and other social problems have continued to plagued Nigeria. Many people suffer and die in the midst of abundance. Several have been forced into exile within and outside Nigeria. Insecurity and disease and crime alarmingly abound while few drain the collective coffers with impunity.

The bottom line is everyone's losing: both the rich and the poor, the rulers and the subjects, the sectarian victims and victimizers, the robbed and the armed robbers, the kidnapped and their kidnappers, and all of us abroad. For the betterment of all, let us reduce poverty, the slavery of today.

These words of musician John Mayer ring so true:

"Now we see everything that's going wrong

With the world and those who lead it

We just feel like we don't have the means

To rise above and beat it"

So how long are we going to "keep on waiting for the world to change"? Wouldn't we rather start with the masterpiece in the mirror?

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Inspiration, War, Peace, and the Hungry Ghost

What happens when a person has nothing in life that brings a sense of real success? Let's start by defining success as accomplishing something that requires a person to stretch them self beyond their personal comfort zone. Success could also be simple satisfaction - perhaps the satisfaction of feeding one's family, living in peace, having an income, or attaining basic desires.

Satisfaction brings the joy of success. Forgetting, or not having, the joy of success can lead to a hungry ghost mentality. The hungry ghost mentality is also known as a person's empty cup or unmet need. When the hungry ghost grows too large, destructive behaviors can easily follow. The hungry ghost personality might spend too much money, become alcoholic, abuse drugs, and even see those destructive behaviors as a way to overcome a challenge.

The hungry ghost is a vampire attitude. Vampires will find anything to feed on that will give them a sense of success. The vampire success is a false sense of success. This type of success is temporary and must be constantly fed - just like a drug problem. There is no real, lasting sense of accomplishment. Often, the vampire success cannot even be openly shared and is usually based in fear.

Theft is a vampire behavior.
Developing a new skill or hobby is a real success.
Manipulating another person to do something against their will is a vampire behavior.
Outdoor adventures can bring real personal growth.
War and terrorism are vampire behaviors.

The hungry ghost/vampire is an emotional-mental emptiness. Something within the person has not been fulfilled. There is a need within the person which will be filled one way or another. That need might be filled by endless shopping, alcoholism, illegal behaviors, abusive behaviors, or something else. How that hungry ghost emptiness is filled varies from one person to another.

Take a look at what currently fills your time. Ask yourself what you want from that activity. Drill down on what you want. For example, if you are considering working a second job ask yourself what you want from that job - more money? What do you want more money for - to buy something? What is it you want to buy? Perhaps you drill down to wanting a home that has no mortgage. OK, that means you want a second job so you can have a home that is paid for. Most people are not clear about what they really want. When you are not clear about what you want, getting what you really want becomes exceedingly problematic. Keep in mind that none of this is about what someone else wants or what you want for someone else. This is about your goals and dreams.

Why do terrorists do what they do? Do people really become terrorists because they want to die? Mentally sound people do not set out to get killed. Do people become terrorists because that is their only option for an income and a life? Does it really get them what they want? Some people might think that is exactly how terrorism is working for them. Reality says they are coerced and manipulated - one wrong move and them and their families might be destroyed. Is this really how anyone wants to live? Does terrorism even get what the terrorist leadership wants? For example, what did Bin Laden really want? We all heard "down with the United States - destroy them!" We all heard about the hatred. Back to the question - what did he really want? Does anyone know? Realistically speaking the goal of destruction will only destroy Bin Laden (which it did). The news did an excellent job of putting forth the idea that Bin Laden wanted revenge on the US government or he wanted to force Islamist beliefs onto everyone much like being a small time Hitler. War and terrorism do not work for obtaining these types of goals. The idea that Bin Laden only wanted to terrorize as many people as possible takes one back to the goal of destruction. Terrorism is designed to instill fear and Bin Laden definitely lived in fear. Are the people following terrorist leaders confused about what they want for their own lives or are they operating out of fear? Education is certainly a factor here. Education changes how people think. There will be more on education at a later date.

From Phil Johnson, MBL: "... People don't like it when you change because the ways they used to manipulate you stop working."

Terrorism has been in use around the globe for many years and it has never worked. Someone once said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Perhaps people do the same thing over and over and expect different results because they are confused about what results they want. When people are just feeding their hungry ghost, they are not clear about their goals and will perform all sorts of insane behaviors.

Terrorist leadership cannot manipulate people who are clear about what they want for themselves and have a way to get what they want. Would anyone take up terrorism or war if their lives were filled with satisfaction and joy?

For the individual who wants to promote world peace, take 10 minutes a day for one month to meditate on what you do. Review your daily activities at the end of each day and ask yourself why you do what you do. Be completely honest with yourself - no one else needs to know. Do your daily activities really get you what you want? Some activities only take up your time and energy and leave you empty. Stop the time wasting activities and do something you always wanted to do. This will bring a sense of fulfillment. Fulfillment can bring peace and happiness which then radiates out to everyone around you. Fulfillment brings satisfaction and stops the hungry ghost mentality. There is another subtle change happening when this type of practice is done regularly. The mind gets trained to think and examine quickly and perform more efficiently. Your mind will learn to become efficient at finding successful ways of getting you what you want when you are very clear on what you want. There is a saying in the world of computers and technology "garbage in, garbage out." Meditate daily and make sure you are feeding your mind with value, clear thinking, and clear goals.

Take up a hobby. Learn a new skill. Meditate on your new skill or hobby and see yourself succeeding in your new skill. Actively practice the new skill and soon you will find a real sense of personal growth and accomplishment.

My parents took a creative writing class. They wrote humorous stories about their experiences. These stories were shared with a few people but never brought a real sense of success. A few years later, Mom decided to create family photo albums for all seven of her children. Mom and Dad wrote stories to go with the photos and bring meaning to the albums. The stories varied between interesting, sad, and humorous. In other words, those stories told about the people and events in the photos. The finished photo albums were a huge success!

Remember, this is about what you want for yourself - not what you want for someone else. Find and develop that which inspires you. Meditate daily. Develop your inner personal peace and sound thinking. Focus on positive ways to achieve worthy goals.

Quoting Bob Proctor, "You don't get what you want, you get what you are. You are the sum total of your thoughts. You have rich resources within you waiting to be developed." Widen your comfort zone. Take the time to develop yourself. The sense of satisfaction is well worth the effort. What will you develop - your hungry ghost or your success?

Remember, this is about what you want for yourself - not what you want for someone else. Find and develop that which inspires you. Meditate daily.

Therese Black is available for speaking engagements on developing world peace. Go to http://www.thereseblack.com/ for more information on the 1 World Peace Plan.

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Pedro Arias De Avila Biography

In 1513, King Ferdinand had appointed de Avila to be a governor to the Isthmus of Darien because Vasco de Balboa had been governing the land unofficially since 1511. Even Pedrarias was already old; he sailed with his wife to the land of Isthmus of Darien in the year 1514. He was given the title as the Captain General and also bearing the title as the Governor of the Castilla de Oro. Along his journey, the king had allowed Pedrarias to bring along with him 2, 000 armed men.

Pedrarias had arrived at his destination on June 29, 1514. As an educated man, he then started the trial and followed the proper process in the execution of Balboa. Pedrarias had deemed Balboa as a very dangerous rival and to the fact that almost all of the people who were original settlers of the land were already on Balboa's side. They had a judicial hearing to the case of Balboa. The hearing was progressing until such time that it was postponed until further notice. The rivals had then talked it out and have their own agreements. Balboa even had an engagement to Pedraria's daughter who was still in Spain at that time. Balboa and his men had prepared a couple of ships on the Pacific to help him escape the trial. But during the time of Balboa set sail, he was arrested by Pedrarias together with his men. After arresting Balboa, Pedrarias continued the interrupted judicial hearing. Years later, Balboa and his men died on the scaffold at Acla in the year 1519.

During the time Pedrarias had a complete control of the land and the people, they had then planned to make a number of expeditions. Andres Ni?o together with Gil Gonzales had discovered the coast of Costa Rica and Nicaragua while Pascual de Andagoya went to Peru and his work was then continued by Diegode Almagro and Francisco Pizarro. Years on the service, a new governor; Lope de Sosa is ready to sail and replace Pedrarias. But, the supposed to be new governor got ill in his cabin and then died before he reached Darien.

Pedrarias continuing in his good service had moved to Nicaragua. He then went back to Darien in the year 1527 before he was replaced by Pedro de los Rios as governor. He then sailed back to Nicaragua where he faced a lot of difficulty because his people are voicing grievances. He also got into a trouble with a subordinate; Gil Gonzales who in the long run he beheaded.

Pedrarias died on May 30, 1531 after his long years of expedition and good quality services. He died in the town of Leon; a town where he had also founded. Pedrarias was a great man and is very much dedicated to his service. He had attained his uttermost triumph and satisfaction and he did not let any of his rivals bring him down.

Browse more biographies at http://famous-explorers.net/.

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Doing The Little Things On Your End To Take Care Of The Planet

One of the really big topics of discussion these days - especially with this being an election year - is the state of the environment, and what we need to do in order to take better care of it; of course, this "discussion" tends to entail a pair of people taking opposite sides, with one person claiming that the environment has never been in worse shape, and with the other claiming that there is nothing wrong with the environment at all. No matter whether the truth is one extreme or the other (or, of course, is something in the middle), the one fact all of us ought to be able to agree on is that this planet is a blessing, and we should all be doing the little things we can do to take care of it, regardless of how "desperate" or "perfectly fine" we believe the situation to be.

One of the really great things you can do, if you want to take care of the planet, is to simply make an effort to be cleaner with your energy usage; by doing simple things such as unplugging appliances that are not in use and carpooling or taking public transportation whenever you have the chance to do so, you will be able to both save money and put the planet in a much better position for the years that lay ahead.

Another wonderful thing to do - that may seem small at the time, but that will actually build to make a big difference - is to help replenish the earth's resources; by not only conserving, but also giving back, you will be able to keep the planet moving in the right direction. In other words: recycle, and encourage others to recycle as well!

And finally, you should make an effort to make strategic and informed shopping decisions in your role as a consumer; after all, it is the largest corporations that will be able to make the biggest difference - one way or the other - in the direction the environment goes, and when you do your best to only shop with companies that are committed to green practices and energy-saving activities, you will make your voice heard, and will cause other companies to follow suit (as the saying goes, after all, "money talks").

There is definitely plenty of debate these days regarding the current state of the environment, but amidst all this debate, the important factor being lost is the fact that this planet is a gift, and each of us should be doing what we can to make sure we are taking care of this planet; start doing your part to keep Earth green - and even though it may seem like the things you are doing are too small to make a difference, these "too small" things will start to add up, until you are truly impacting the direction of the world!

~Esther Ingram

Do your part to take care of the planet!
http://www.beautisticgreenoffers.com/

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The School Safety Patrol

I wanted to take the time to give a shout out to all of the Safety Patrol of the 50's 60's and 70's. Not taking away from the modern day Safety Patrol, but it was a lot different then than it is now.

Palaski School No. 8 in Passaic NJ, in the early 60's was a different time. You had to be at least in the 4th grade and our ranks had 18 Patrol Boys, two Sgt, one Lt, One Capt and a Chief, who manned the corners of urban Passaic in rain, snow, sleet, hail. The Officers, Chief, Captain, Lieutenant and Sergeants had yellow belts to distinguish them and had to be 5th graders (the highest grade in our school) and their job was to check all of the other posts to make sure we were there and doing our job. We also had a Quartermaster who took care of the equipment, rain gear, flags, etc. He had the normal regular duties and had a silver Patrolman badge BUT he wore a yellow Officers belt and was consider an officer

In the school as well as manning the streets, we had Patrol Boys at certain doors to open and close them for the little kids, but we had "Monitors" in the school itself to watch the halls. The "Monitors" had a similar program like the Patrol Boys but not as organized and managed.

I don't know if this was unique to NJ, but we had a "Chief" in addition to the other officers and whomever was Chief made sure the other officers did their job. It was a REAL chain of command! We use to go on trips especially for the patrol boys.The other Passaic schools we met on the trips had Patrol boys and THEY also had a Chief. The Patrol Boys were big back then, even the Catholic Schools had Patrol Boys. Although we could have, we didn't have girls back then and I can't recall if our badges said "School Safety Patrol" or "School Boy Patrol" but we called ourselves "Patrol Boys".

On bad weather days we came in early and grabbed the yellow raincoats and hats and went out to our designated corners (up to 9-10 blocks away) almost up to the old Passaic High School. The raincoats and hats reminded me of the old sailors raingear. A "Maggie May" cap which was like a down turned Sailor hat and the raincoart was long and bulky. Can you imagine today? A fourth grader standing in the middle of the streets in Passaic, with their back turned to traffic and stopping cars!! No signs, no uniform just a white belt across your chest gave you the authority to control traffic and people paid attention. We were the first ones up and ready and the last to get home after school. At the end of the shift when the school bell rang in the morning, the Patrol Boy closest to the school yelled down the block, "DISMISSED" and each corner would relay and yell it down to the next until it reached the furthest corner. Many years later while driving home from a sales call I heard the "DISMISSED" being yelled out and it brought a smile to my face. When I bothered to look around, I saw these little kids with orange (ours were white) belts with badges leaving their assigned posts. I thought, were WE that young to have such a responsibility? I couldn't believe we did that at so young an age. I remember being the biggest kid around!!!!!

Normally to become a Patrol Boy, you were recommended by someone and we had rules that WE enforced and followed. Another way was if a Patrol Boy asked you to "sub" for him a few times. "Subbing" meant that you wore someone's belt temporarily if they were sick or out for the day and you took over their post (you didn't get the badge, the "real" Patrol Boy wore that on his belt over his pants pocket while he was not on duty. It was cool to be a Patrol Boy if you haven't guessed). At the end of the "duty" or day, you gave it back to whomever you were subbing for. If you didn't report for duty too many times or had too many subs for no good reason, you were fired. Believe or not., those decisions were left to the Chief and Captain the fifth graders! We actually ran our own program (obviously under the eye of the Principle)

We practiced marching, we participated in parades representing our school against other schools in a contest. In fact, the school who won the marching contest on memorial day ( it was a county wide contest) went to the State Marching Competition.I don't know if there was a National Marching Contest. We had other duties too. We kept kids in the playground, we had the responsibility of bringing little kids home or escorted kids home when they were sick and delivered them to their parents and we watched the little ones from one corner to the other making sure nothing happened to them. In those days, it wasn't unusual for teachers and their class to walk to their destination in the city. 2-4 Patrol Boys and a Patrol Boy Officer were assigned to accompany the class and teachers to wherever they were going. We would run up ahead and stop traffic and wait until the class crossed, and then run up to the next corner and do the same thing. It was real work and a lot of responsibility for 4th and 5th graders. Some trips were over a mile away and about 20 or 30 blocks!

In the Mornings, the mom's would walk their kids to the corners where we were stationed and entrust their kindergarten and first graders to us. Each Patrol Boy would watch the little kids until they were spotted by the Patrol Boy on the next block. I remember one incident when a car stopped in the middle of the block and another 4th grade Patrol Boy, my friend Gary Fuller ran down the block and picked up rocks as he screamed and threw them at the guy. We always had two Patrol Boys on a 4 way block and then I ran down screaming too. The other boys from the next block saw and heard us and they came running. By that time people were coming out of their houses looking to see what was going on.

I would like to tell you that we stopped a kidnapping or a child molesting but we didn't. We pelted the father of the little kids and broke his car window. The poor guy wanted to say goodbye to his kids before going to work. When we reported to the Principal (who was in charge of the Patrol Boys), Mr. O'Shea he apologized to the father but he held his ground and protected us and supported us and said the Patrol Boys take charge of the Kindergarteners from one corner to the other. Mr. O'Shea paid for the car window out of his own pocket and said we did a fine job. We stood tall that day. We were the proudest 4th graders in the school and every teacher gave us praise and said we did a good job.

At the end of the year, we voted and picked our officers and Chief for the next year by secret ballot and the school let us without interfering. I can proudly say I was elected Chief. It was a dream I always wanted. I was liked and I guess respected. Unfortunately my dreams were shattered when my mom said we were moving out of the city. I even cried to my mom and said I was going to be Chief next year and didn't want to move. My mom said she was sorry but getting out of the 6th Street Projects was a good thing. It was a good time and one I didn't feel again until I joined the Marine Corps.

This will help you to understand the times. We didn't have Black and White or Puerto Rican or Chinese. We had "Poor". It didn't matter who was screaming that day, everyone who heard came out to see if they could help. white, black, red or yellow it didn't matter. Just a note: We all ate together and were watched by whoever s mom was home at the 6th Street Projects. There was Lester and Sandy Poole, Timothy Hogan, David Nelson, Kevin and Bobby Hill (now Hesson Hill), Shelia, Gregory and Larry Sessoms, Gerald and Stacy Pyron, Joby, Jerome and Walter Horn, Charlie Brown, Gary Fuller. We all ate in each others homes and ALL mothers smacked and hit you when you were bad. Poor was poor and color and race didn't matter then. Have to give a shout out to Butterball(James Jiles), Andrew Ward, Romeo, Baba from the Aspin Street Projects and the Passaic Boys Club & Camp Ocawasin in New Jersey.

I would like to hear from anyone who is/was a Patrol Boy/Girl/Person and their memories.

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Healthcare Insurance for Single Mothers

Are you a single mother without health insurance for your children? Is this causing you a great deal of stress at night or when your child has a small cough? You most likely want to know that your children are going to be taken care of if they are sick. The same is true if they simply need to have a check up. However, all of these things can become very expensive if you do not have insurance for your children.

State and federal governments will offer insurance through Medicaid programs but you will need to complete a set of guidelines in order to qualify for these services. What happens if you do not qualify? This can be very frustrating and it can make it difficult for low income mothers to determine where they should turn next. What you will find is that there are some places that you can turn in order to get great coverage.

You may want to start by looking at the "Med health insurance" website. This is a great resource for single mothers, self employed mothers or families that need affordable medical coverage. Even if you were once using Medicare and you had a lapse in coverage you may be able to get assistance here.

When you look at this site you will find that you may be able to get mini medical coverage for your children and yourself for as little as $50 a month. However, you should know that there are some things that you must remember with this type of insurance. First off, you may only be able to receive treatment a predetermined amount of times each year. Most of your prescription medications may be covered but that does not mean that all of them will be covered and this can be a problem. Therefore, always speak with a representative to determine what medications will be covered and which ones may not be covered. It is also important to know that accidental coverage may not be complete and you may not have as much coverage as you would like. Just make sure that you are asking questions and getting everything in writing. If the company is not willing to do this then you will want to move onto another company.

Health savings accounts are also on the rise. These are very inexpensive for many individuals that are struggling financially. If you have children and you are not able to pay for a full health care plan then this might be the way for you to go. When you apply for these types of plans you will be setting up an account that is much like a typical savings account. Then, when you need medical assistance you will be able to make withdrawals from this account to cover the cost. You will be able to rest easily because you know that you can afford preventative care that your children really need to be healthy.

No matter what type of a plan you decide to go with you should always find out what doctors you will be able to see. You should never purchase a plan that does not have doctors in your local area. It will not save you anything if you need to drive a great distance for medical services that you can get close to home. Always spend time reading the fine print and never sign something that you do not completely understand. Remember, you are already struggling with financial complications and you are simply trying to find a way to ensure that your children will be taken care of if they are ill. That does not mean that you should jump into anything and allow large companies to take advantage of you. The more questions that you ask the more knowledgeable you will be and you will be able to make better decisions about the health insurance plan that will be best for you. Many times you may be able to find websites that will allow you to compare different plans at one time. If you do not have access to a computer or you do not know how to use the internet then you can always go to your local library and they can help you there.

"Financial Help for Single Mothers" is one of the good online resources that provides useful guide and tips for single mothers. You will be able to find information such as loans, grants, applications, and other financial aids. Visit the website: http://helpforsinglemother.info/

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No Gain Without Pain for Workers

Finding work during a recession typically takes time and effort. For some, however, the search for employment can end up costing more than its worth.

Imagine that you are a Romanian national who wants to work as a chef or chambermaid in the UK. This is a perfectly legitimate aspiration, because after all, as an EU citizen you are entitled to seek employment in other EU nations.

You start off by paying a recruitment agency £500 (€620) to find you a job. Upon completing your first month of employment in Britain, you pay another agency the remainder of the finding fee - a further £500.

However, you cannot embark upon your new career in the UK without applying for a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ). The course takes a year to complete and costs at least £800 (€1,000).

The news that you must obtain this qualification is broken to you over the course of a 15-minute premium-rate phone call to the recruitment agency. This sets you back a further £15 (€19).

By now, your quest for employment in the UK has cost you well over €2,000.

The sum is a small fortune, regardless of whether you already have a job in Romania, where the average salary is €450. If you were looking for work in the UK because you couldn't find any at home, the €2,000 would have to be conjured out of loans or precious savings.

Many Romanians and Bulgarians have to rely on recruitment agencies to find employment in the UK because of restrictions imposed by the British government when their countries joined the EU in 2007.

The rules make it technically impossible for a Romanian chef or waiter to knock on the door of a London restaurant and start work the next day. Instead, they have to secure a job before they leave for the UK. Then they have to apply for a specific work permit as well as registering for an NVQ, which eases their way into employment.

The paperwork to get all this sorted is extremely complex. Many recruitment agencies offer to expedite the process, for a charge of around €1,000. The fee is not illegal - but some people are questioning whether it's really fair.

In the construction industry, similar rules have exposed Romanian and Bulgarian workers to exploitation. Over the coming months, I shall uncover more about the effects of these restrictions.

Read more articles by Sorana Stanescu, and many more by award-winning journalists, on the leading English-language news site covering the Balkans; http://www.balkaninsight.com/

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How You Became a Knight in Medieval Times

During medieval times all throughout Europe, fearless warriors who fought wars and countless battles for their King were known as knights. To become a knight was a most highly esteemed position to be bestowed upon only the most worthy. Knights were the true warriors of the battlefield and were held in the highest regard for their abilities and chivalry. During the heat of battle knights displayed tremendous courage and defied fear to conquer their opponents. While there were many fearless and courageous Knights, there were even more individuals seeking to become Knights. When seeking knighthood, many perspective men sought out to do what ever it took to wear the armor and carry the designation of Knight.

To officially become a Knight, a prospective candidate had to have been lucky enough to be born into a noble family. Noble families had the means to facilitate training and stewardship to allow their sons to obtain knighthood. Perspective young men usually served as pages and were mentored under a Knight to learn the proper behavior and skills. When pages reached the age of 14 they were then transitioned into a squire. Squires were given more responsibility than that of pages and often times they were trained in combat. The training consisted of utilizing wooden poles to mimic swords in an effort to enhance their sword fighting skills. If a squire showed a high degree of proficiency and carried a track record that set them apart from the rest, their training would conclude in a dubbing ceremony. The ceremony would see the squire graduate to knighthood. This iconic ceremony is often repeated today, as the Squires mentor would touch each of the young man shoulders with the sword symbolizing the ascension to knighthood. This event often culminated in joyous celebration.

When people ask the question, how does one become a Knight, the progression from page to knighthood took many years and countless hours of training and preparation. One of the most important factors to allow students the opportunity to get knighted started with the family. Boys often asked how to become a knight quickly. If the boy did not have the appropriate family heritage often times it was extremely difficult for them to be eligible. The Kings lords and barons were ultimately responsible in training young men how to become a Knight. Through these men they learned the basics and principles surrounding how to become a knight of great honor and respect.

The road to knighthood was extremely difficult and often times deadly for many young men. To become Knighted was an extremely sought after position and only a few ever achieved this position. The mystique and aura of the Knights commanded was felt throughout the Middle Ages as these fearless warriors engaged in battle over and over again protecting the kingdom of their leader. The life of a full-fledged Knight was marked with combat and constant vigilance. These fearless warriors will be forever remembered for their honor and bravery while they proudly wore the armor of their kingdom.

I live in North Carolina with my two dogs and my wife, who thinks that I should have been born a few hundred years ago. I'm obsessed with medieval history, and I recently made a site called Knight Certification. You can go there and become knighted under one of three orders. Each order is represented by a knight with his own story and journal. It's a novelty site and I think it helps people remember what knightly virtues is all about. Plus it's great fun and an awesome present for kids or any other history buff. Check us out at http://www.knightcertification.com/ for more info.

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Will Iran Get a Nuke Before the November 2012 Election?

The IAEA stated in the third quarter of 2012 that Iran had significantly increased the number of centrifuges to enrich uranium and that their nuclear power plant was back up and fully operational, which will allow them to enrich uranium even faster. The intelligence services have noted a significant advance in North Korea's ICBM technology, along with a semi-long range successful test of an Iranian missile.

The Kim Jong Un and Amedinejad in August of 2012 signed a "technology agreement" because as they stated they have a "common enemy" which would be the US. So, if North Korea has nuclear weapons which we know they do as they have tested them the prior, that means Iran has all the technology they need, not that they didn't already get that from the Russians or Chinese, but now it is plausible that the North Koreans have given them more, who perhaps got their nuke technology from the Chinese or Pakistanis.

Now then, one should be asking "what if" as all this unfolds. As in "what if" Iran gets a nuclear weapon prior to the November US Elections? Or what if Iran holds off until just after the election not wishing to deal with a Romney Administration, and wanting to have a milder Obama Administration?

Next, will Obama seek a war with Iran just days before the November election to help him secure his victory (tail wagging the dog strategy)?

Are these fair questions to ask? Some might contend that they are not, but I am not concerned with left-leaning political pundits or the Council on Foreign Appeasement which just happens to be wrong in international matters about 60% of the time, some say that's better than average, but I am not interested in a good guess, or average foreign policy. This is the United States of America and when it comes to nuclear proliferation, we need to get this right - the first time. See my point?

Sometimes it's hard to tell which intelligence information is leaked into the media, and what information is legitimate free from misdirection. When a foreign government meets with another foreign government, and claims they've come to a memorandum of understanding or a treaty to share advanced technologies and information on nuclear weapons development, and they take pictures together, I'd say we could consider that pretty good intel.

The question is; is the United States of America going to do anything about it, or is the Obama administration going to continue to vote "present" just like the United Nations and let the future age of nuclear terrorism begin. If so, I seriously wonder why? Shouldn't we also be asking that question. Will this be an excuse to further invade our privacy, to treat every citizen globally as a potential terrorist? Is this how they will use fear to crack down on populations around the world?

What is the endgame here? Why are we not stopping the proliferation of nuclear weapons which may fall into the hands of nuclear terrorists, or proxy terrorist supported by rogue nation states? Why is Obama driving around on a bus campaigning, one which doesn't even have an American flag on it, and totally avoiding all of these important issues going on. Obama should sit his butt in the White House right now, dealing with this, and getting it done. There is no excuse for this anymore.

Lance Winslow is the Founder of the Online Think Tank, a diverse group of achievers, experts, innovators, entrepreneurs, thinkers, futurists, academics, dreamers, leaders, and general all around brilliant minds. Lance Winslow hopes you've enjoyed today's discussion and topic. http://www.worldthinktank.net/ - Have an important subject to discuss, contact Lance Winslow.

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The Benefits of Bartering

Possibilities and assumptions apart, the most simple, effective and beneficial method of resource trading for mutual benefit traces its origin back to 6000 BC and is believed to be introduced by the tribes of Mesopotamia. Known as barter, this system of trade exchange involves two parties, each possesses products or service the other one doesn't. So, they mutually benefit each other by exchanging the resource without having to rely on any cash or tangible mode of payment. In short, bartering is the cashless exchange of goods and services between two standalone parties who want to help each other in lieu of something rewarding.

In the ancient times people used to exchange vegetables for milk, teas for spices, goods for weapons, salt for salary. But because there were no criteria to determine the value of exchanged goods, the system saw a slow but steady decline despite being practiced for hundreds of years. With the arrival of money, the problems of barter have been fixed, but this ancient form of trade exchange exists even today in one form or the other and has been propelled by people and companies who found out innovative ideas to effectively rule out its shortcomings. There're many benefits why experts believe bartering is still awesome. Here we cover a few

It encourages more accuracy in trading for improved and valuable service. Take the example of two neighbours, one loves cleaning cars and the other one mowing yards. Both can trade the two tasks for common benefit. While doing the same, they ensure accuracy and perfection since this is something they love to do and not that they have to do. The outcome is one gets a shiny, clean car he never had seen before because of lack of time and the other one enjoys a perfectly mowed yard that he considered a tedious task before.

The system of bartering opens up possibilities to find alternative options to accomplish a task in exchange of something beneficial.

Cash is a crucial concern for business. Having a perfect cash flow unaffected by economical imbalance is something very few enterprises actually achieve. In bartering, neither party participates in cash transaction process. Therefore, it reduces the tendency of economic instability and financial insecurity due to cash shortage.

Participating in bartering encourages people to develop and share practical skills. Rather than relying on easy to purchase but expensive products that we don't really need, we can focus our attention on learning skills to obtain what is truly of value.

Depending on bartering, when you know whom to trade a service or product for something you have, you reduce the likelihood of investing money on advertisements and promotional ideas such as heavy discounts.

Since there're no middle men or overhead involved, bartering helps lower the price of a product or service.

Other than the mentioned points, bartering can make slow-moving inventory sell easily and reach a potentially untapped source of revenues and income. Simply put, bartering when coupled with improved exchange ideas seem to be a thoughtful answer to many of today's economic crisis. Wait for our next set of articles on how to improve your bartering skills with reference to the improved exchange ideas that make it a practically better trading option for a cashless future.

The author is an avid blogger, permaculture practitioner, new media enthusiast and a member of Varanasi Estate, who believes there's a life beyond economic shakeout, social dogmas and mental stress. Here to share his views, learning achievements and observation on how to lead a happy, healthy and deliberate life.

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The 1920s: A Decade of Change

Prohibition

At midnight January 16, 1920, the Volstead Act became law and banned the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating liquors, but not personal possession or consumption. All breweries, distilleries, and saloons in the United States were forced to close.

Prohibition addressed a serious issue affecting a small fraction of the people and imposed a solution on the entire population. A colossal failure, it intended to lessen the evils associated with alcohol, but instead turned millions of law-abiding citizens into law breakers and gave rise to gangsters, rum runners, and speakeasies. With easy money to be made in illegal alcohol and gambling, Prohibition fostered corruption and contempt for the law. While authorities looked the other way, drinking, gambling, drugs, and prostitution flourished. To pass the law meant nothing if it wasn't enforced, and enforcement was nearly impossible.

For people who didn't buy cases of alcohol in advance or know an obliging doctor, there were many ways to drink illegally. In fact, the number of establishments offering alcohol and gambling doubled. Owners went to great lengths to conceal speakeasies, which included stores and secret rooms in basements of homes and buildings. People located the speakeasies by word of mouth, and to gain admittance, quietly whispered a password through a closed door, thus the term "speakeasy." The Feds raided them, often arresting both the owners and patrons, but it was common for owners to bribe the police to get advance notice about raids.

Corruption was rampant. President Harding's attorney general accepted bribes from bootleggers. A Cincinnati bootlegger had a thousand salesmen on his payroll-many of them were policemen. And in Chicago, Al Capone's organization had half the city's police on its payroll. Al Capone said:

"When I sell liquor, it's bootlegging. When my patrons serve it on silver trays, it's hospitality."

Advocates of Prohibition thought the law would also help immigrants assimilate better and become more Americanized.

By 1920, there were more people in Akron, Ohio born in other states or abroad than were born in Ohio. Akron's growing Tower of Babel overflowed with Austrians, Hungarians, Poles, Germans, Italians, and people from West Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky. The number of West Virginians living in Akron reached almost nineteen thousand-close to ten percent of the population.

Because of the constant flow of immigrants coming to work in the factories, racial tensions were high, and quotas were set for immigrants coming into America. The Ku Klux Klan railed against Negroes, Jews, Catholics, and immigrants. Akron's chapter of the Klan was the biggest in the country, and members included many high-level political positions, including the mayor and several school board members. With factory workers making up a large part of the membership, the Klan movement was an expression of dissatisfaction with the high cost of living, perceived social injustices, and the bigotry that was so pervasive throughout the city.

During the early 1920s, the Klan helped elect sixteen senators and many representatives, as well as local officials. By 1924, the Klan controlled twenty-four state legislatures.

Nineteenth Amendment Gave Women the Right to Vote

For young women, the 1920s marked a break with traditions. The nineteenth amendment gave women the right to vote, and attitudes changed drastically. Long-standing social barriers began to crumble, virtually overnight. Women bobbed their hair and wore short skirts. They used cosmetics, drank alcohol, and smoked cigarettes in public. Nearly every article of clothing was trimmed down and lightened in order to make movement easier. Even the style of underwear changed. Women wanted to move freely for energetic dances like the Shimmy, the Black Bottom, and the Charleston-something corsets didn't allow.

Young women took part in the sexual liberation, and it was a time of great social change. From the world of fashion to the world of politics, forces clashed to produce the most explosive time in a generation.

The country became smaller. Railroads made long-distance travel possible and were now a central part of American life. Rail lines crisscrossed the country, carrying people, manufactured goods, food, and the mail. The popularity of automobiles and radios had exploded, and new machines such as the washing machine and vacuum helped eliminate some of the drudgery of women's housework. The stock market was poised to skyrocket, and you could buy a car for a little less than three hundred dollars.

Akron was an exciting, vibrant city teeming with people and money and would experience several years of unprecedented, almost giddy, prosperity. The number of employees in the rubber factories reached seventy thousand with some workers earning up to seven dollars a day, more than most industries paid in a week. People had money, and they were spending it in speakeasies and music halls and on expensive clothing.

If you want to find out more about the 1920s and Prohibition, read Victoria Brown's debut novel, Zemsta. It's available as both paperback and eBook on Amazon. Available through http://www.woodchuckpublishers.com/

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Bacteria, the Foundation of Life

Bacteria are often maligned as the causes of human and animal disease. However that is true only for some bacteria. In fact bacteria are the basis for life. Without them no life at all would have been possible on our planet. Bacteria is a plural word. The singular for this word is "bacterium. They have one chromosome of double-stranded DNA in a ring and most are friendly. Only a few cause disease. But then what life form is there including plants and animals, a few of whom do not cause problems. Bacteria are life because they can multiply by duplication. However, they do not multiply by mating as higher life forms do. In the process, occasionally there are genetic mutations that are preserved creating new genes. Most chance mutations are eliminated by matching between male and female genes during multiplications in higher life forms.

Thus, bacteria are at the foundation of creation of life forms. The genes of more advanced creatures including humans are identical to bacterial genes and that is the source from which they have been derived. Bacteria can transfer their genes to other life forms through a variety of processes. Bacterial genes are enclosed in a cell wall but within that wall they do not have a protective nucleus to protect the genes further thus making the modification of bacterial genes much easier than the genes in the cells of higher life forms. A type of bacteria called cynobacteria, the basic cell type of plants is responsible for producing oxygen. Without them oxygen breathing life forms would not have been possible.

Although bacteria do not carry out sexual multiplication they do appear to enjoy sex of a different kind. They have appendages called pilli. This hollow, hair like structures made of protein allow bacteria to attach to other cells. A specialized pilus, the sex pilus, allows the transfer of plasmid DNA from one bacterial cell to another. That is how they transfer antibiotic immunity from one bacteria to another. Bacteria can acquire new genes by taking up DNA molecules (e.g., a plasmid) from their surroundings or from other bacteria.

Bacteria respond to variations in their environment by altering their gene expression pattern; thus, they express different enzymes depending on the carbon sources and other nutrients available to them as well as toxins in the environment that can damage them. Bacterial gene regulation is extremely efficient and the bacterial genome is highly organized. Bacteria appear to be adapt perfectly to a variety of environments, and they are ready to respond to whatever environmental changes they encounter by employing elegant and complex regulatory mechanisms. A modern theory of creation called Panspermia postulates that life has arrived on earth by a transfer of bacteria from outer space.

Check out more on how bacteria contribute in the creation of higher life forms in the book Naini Mata by Dr. Ashok Malhotra at http://www.amazon.com/Naini-Mata-Nainital-Ashok-Malhotra/dp/1461159229/

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Surviving the Summer Heat in the South

The majority of southern households have air conditioning in them. You have more than likely heard the phrase "it is not the heat, it is the humidity" if you are from the southern United States. The air is so full of moisture that it seems to cling to your skin. There are things that people living in these regions have learned about surviving the summer heat.

The first thing you want to keep in mind is dressing appropriately. You want to wear clothing made from materials like cotton. You do not want to wear many wool blends or synthetic blends during the summer months. Shorts, Capri pants, and flip flops seem to be a uniform for most of the southern residents. You see these items at the beach, in the bank, and in the grocery store on people from all ages and economic backgrounds.

Hydration is of major importance. You cannot feel cool and comfortable if your body is starving for water. Stay hydrated by taking frequent breaks and drinking plenty of fresh cool water. Bottled water will do in a pinch, but most southerners will prefer a nice cool drink of water from their wells.

Wear a hat to protect your head and neck from the sun. Wear plenty of sunscreen on any skin that is exposed to the sun. You will want to wear sunscreen on your lips. If you are not going to wear a hat then you may want to get one of the hair products that are designed to protect this part of your body from sun damage.

Find a shady spot to rest and work. Do not sit out in the direct sunlight if there is any type of shade nearby. The shade may not seem to be a lot cooler than the sunny area was, but trust me it is. At all times try to find a shady place to be.

Get up and do your necessary yard-work early in the morning before the temperatures get too hot. You can also go outside late in the evening when the temperature begins to drop. You will want to wear plenty of mosquitos repellant at these times of day. In the south the mosquitoes are worse at dawn and dusk.

Keep the electric lights off as much as possible. A light bulb adds additional heat to the room you are in. Keep as many lights as possible turned off. You also want to block as much of the sunlight that is filtering in through your windows as possible.

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Safety Issues With Signs Across America

Ray LaHood, the United States secretary of transportation, said that the government was letting go of regulations forcing states to put up newer road signs that have brighter coloring and text, increasing visibility. LaHood commented in January 2012 that many towns and cities may have budget issues, and the traffic signs they already have are probably adequate.

This news was good news indeed for state governments and their officials all across the nation who have long contended that such rules make it very costly for them. However, safety professionals take the opposite view. They are concerned that the lack of regulations will make signs harder to see, especially in the dark, and this could lead to more accidents and deaths on the highways of America.

The road towards improving traffic signs was started back in the early 90s. A bill in 1993 required the department of transportation to have more stringent retroreflective standards everywhere. This refers to the capability of a sign to reflect light, letting it been seen when lights hit it. Most items diffuse light, instead of reflecting it. Signs with a high amount of this quality can be seen sooner, often preventing accidents.

The ability to see signs is a big issue, especially in darkness, when is which half of all accidents happen. People can no longer use reference points like buildings to judge distances. People driving at night are often more tired as well. When you combine these factors, the time frame between evening and dawn is responsible for proportionally far more accidents, considering only 25% of all driving happens during these hours.

Unfortunately, the issue is not expected to improve. More and more elderly drivers will be hitting the road soon. People over the age of 65 need four times the amount of light to view the same road sign someone in their 20s does. As a person gets older, their reaction times slow significantly as well. By the start of the next decade, one-fifth of all drivers will be over 65. In 2025, that number could be as high as 25%. These calculations demonstrate that there should more cautions in place, considering all the risks associated with driving at night.

Previous laws had rules ensuring road signs show the same color and shape at day and night. States would have also been forced to make sure all signs meet a retroreflective standard. All these regulations would have to have been done by 2018. Now that these rules are removed, 46 federally mandated controls are no longer in place.

LaHood defends his position by saying a deadline to replace street signs is going to cost most communities money in their budgets they simply do not have. LaHood spoke with dozens of local and government officials across the country to see their views. Victor Mendez, who works in the Federal Highway Administration, agrees with LaHood. He thinks local governments are the best suited to determine when they need to replace or update signs. It is good they did not reach such conclusions blindly, but they also did not think of the important safety issues that truly matter in the long run.

A few states have already begun to reconfigure and update their signs so that they are more retroreflective. In Pennsylvania, over 90% of their signs meet new retroreflective standards.

The majority of states are lacking in their efforts to improve their signs. It may sometimes seem better for the federal government to stay out of things, but without federal interference to ensure it gets done, a lack of sign quality could mean a more dangerous ride at night for all of us.

Impact Recovery Systems® manufactures flexible, durable, high impact traffic systems for both permanent and temporary applications as well as other traffic safety products. Products are tested for durability and designed to give upon impact, then quickly return to their original position. The heart of our devices is our patented reactive spring system-making ours the only products on the market today that utilizes a mechanical device to increase product durability.

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Finding a Social Care Job Board

People who work in the health care related fields often need to find a social care job board that is listing some of the positions they might be able to fill. Health related services are performed by many different people with many different skills. They are employed at various hospitals, offices, nursing centers, and social care centers designed for abused and neglected children.

The location of a social care job board that has these announcements is very important for people who work at all of these different jobs. The easiest way to find one is to hire an employment or recruiting agency that specials in finding employment opportunities. These agencies will be able to connect you with the various social care job board web sites that are listed on the internet.

Some social workers and nurses find these boards listed at the web sites of the hospitals, clinics, and offices that use these types of employees. Most places that hire the individuals that do this type of work do not post their boards in public. The majority of them have recruitment agencies that are responsible for listing the openings they have.

The recruiting agencies also do background checks on potential employees, they do initial interviews, and they establish all of the information the company will need before they will consider a person for hire. These types of agencies are the best source of job listings because the companies trust them and the workers do to.

Some government agencies have these board listings on their web sites. The problem with the free listings is they are not well maintained. When people connect with them in hopes of getting a job they see posted on them they are often disappointed to discover the post was old and the position was filled already. Using an agency will help you to avoid all of the old posts that have been filled because an agent will keep their lists and boards up to date and fresh.

Generally the boards that are maintained by an agency are updated and corrected daily in order to provide people with accurate notifications. If an agency allowed their boards to fill up with old notices people would lose confidence in them and start to use another agency. This is avoided by proper job board maintenance.

Finding online postings is easier than finding hard copy postings because you can look online for positions that might be open in another city. If you are considering moving and want to find a job, or a lead on a job, before you move then online searches are the best recourse you have. You can also use the online employment agencies to help you find a job in the new city and to arrange for interviews with the potential employer.

Most people do not realize that an employment agency has a list of positions available to them that no one else has. The company that hires the agency will list the openings they have with the agent in charge of their accounts and they do not list those positions anywhere else.

A social care job board announces openings of jobs for people who work in health care related services. To find the best social care job board a person needs to enlist the services of an employment agency.

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Planning a Party Online Has Become Easier Than Ever Before

Planning a party is a complicated process. It requires organizational skills, time, experience and a great deal of energy. Thankfully help is at hand with the arrival of online party planning tools, designed specifically to help your party go smoothly from start to finish.

Why plan a party online?

Planning your party on line is the perfect solution to your event planning needs. Gone are the days when guest lists were compiled by hand, invitations written and sent by snail mail and RSVPs tracked on a spread sheet. Now you can plan a party online using a service such as this one and let its revolutionary new software manage the whole process for you.

Online party planning enables you to create your guest list direct from your email contact list and customize your invitation from a huge range of traditional and contemporary designs to suit every occasion. The system will track your RSVPs in real time, giving you an at-a-glance picture of who is coming and who has yet to respond to your invite. A whole range of interactive task lists mean that you won't forget to make that important call to your DJ or transfer the deposit to your caterers too.

What type of party can I plan online?

Whether you are organizing a birthday, christening, wedding or other celebratory event, online party planning offers the perfect solution. Not only does it help with all the organizational factors, many sites also offer links to gift registries to help guests quickly and easily choose gifts that their recipients are guaranteed to love.

Social events, reunions and club nights are also perfect for planning online. There is no limit to the number of guests you can invite when you use an online party planning tool, it works just as well for a handful of close friends as it does for an event destined to be enjoyed by thousands.

Choose between a closed invitation list, or opening your event to an even wider audience by enabling your invitees to send your invitation on to their own friends and contacts.

How does it work?

If you are looking to plan a party online most sites will give easy-to-follow instructions to get you started. They will explain how to upload your contacts from your email address book and will lead you through on a step-by-step basis preparing your invitations.

Once they are ready for sending, a simple click of the mouse replaces a trip to the post office and all the associated costs traditional mail incurs. There is no need to manage your guest list as the software does it all for you, updating itself automatically with each and every response you receive.

Simple or complex task lists are available for you to customize to your own event needs, providing valuable information and guidelines to ensure that nothing gets missed.

Use a reputable provider to plan a party on line and discover for yourself just how easy it really is.

Jennifer is a gifted and creative party planner who has many years of experience in managing is planning successful event ranging from glamorous wedding to large cooperate conventions. For more details visit http://www.ejovo.com/ and http://www.ejovo.com/features/partyplanning

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So You Want to Be Famous - Top 10 Tips

Becoming famous takes hard work and determination, together with a strong will to succeed at all costs. However, fame is not just for the talented, as there are many untalented ways to become famous as well.

1. Reality shows like Big Brother and the X Factor, are two examples where everyday people have reached "instant" overnight fame. These shows are usually publicized by the T.V. companies before they begin, with details where auditions are to be held. Auditions are usually open to anyone who would like to participate, who is over the age of 18 years.

2. Singing is way to fame if you have a good voice. Look for singing work through a reputable talent agency. Many of these agencies advertise for new talent on the internet. They usually offer work in local bars, clubs, and sometimes on cruise liners. Reputable agencies do not usually charge for new talent to be put on to their books.

3. Modeling is a way to fame for those who have few skills. Take some classes, then contact an agency. Just looking good may open the right door. But be careful, as the world of modeling is full of scams and rip-offs. Always take someone along with you on your first booking. Model agencies usually charge to be put on to their books.

4. Become and actor or actress, by joining a local theatre club. These clubs are where even the most famous actors and actresses started out. They are good to get acting experience, and to get accustomed to performing in front of an audience. Ask the local drama school teacher for details where you can find the nearest theatre club.

5. Join a local sports club and you may get spotted by a talent scout. Sports are a way to fame for those who are good at them. Most towns have sports clubs where you can practice and participate in a local team. Most famous footballers were spotted playing for locals teams, as were others sports stars while playing their sports.

6. Invent something new, as everything that exists was invented by someone. New inventions are usually invented by people who find a need for something that does not exist, or for something that already exists, but does not work very well. Try to find a way to better something that already exists, as many things were invented in this way.

7. Get involved with a local political group, as becoming a Politician is a sure way to fame. If you are interested in politics, like the public spot light, and are good at speaking in public, then being a politician may be for you. Decide which political group suits you best. All worldwide leaders started out by joining local political groups.

8. Write a best-selling novel. A writer may not have a famous face, but a famous name is for certain. Try writing short stories and articles to develop your skills. There are many places where you can publish as a way of making a name for yourself. Contact an editorial company to see if they would be interested in your stories.

9. Start a business and grow it until it becomes a household name. Facebook, Microsoft, and Virgin Media, all have famous owners, although they were unknown when they first started out. Most of these business leaders never had the intention of becoming famous, however when their businesses became famous, so did they.

10. Finally, marry a famous person. Marriage is the simplest way to fame if you can find the right person to marry. Try frequenting places where the famous hang-out, such as bars, clubs and restaurants. Making friends with someone who is famous may be easier than you think, as many famous are married to ordinary people.

Remember, every famous person was at one time just like you. How did they become famous? Read about them, and decide whether you could do the same as they did. You never know, fame may be just around the corner!

Philip Albert Edmonds-Hunt is from the County of Oxfordshire in the United Kingdom. He has travelled most of Europe, and he has lived in Spain on more than one occasion. Philip has also travelled much of the USA and now lives and works as a Freelance Writer and English Teacher in Mexico. He is the owner of "The Oxford Quill," a small but reliable business offering a range of services such as, "Professional Article Writing, Proofreading, and Website Design." Philip's business also offers an extensive selection of professionally written e-books. If you would like to read more about talent agencies and model agencies, check out: https://sites.google.com/site/theoxfordquill/talent-agencies-and-model-agencies

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Ditching Inflation Target Monetary Policy - Global Trade Flow Factors to a Greater Degree

What do you do when your GDP is so large, that when your central bank prints more money, you end up inflating the world due to lopsided trade flows? Ah ha, a good question yes? One, I'd like to pose rhetorically to the Federal Reserve Board and its chairman. Okay so, let's talk shall we?

First, there is an interesting set of papers you should read on this topic are those written by Ben S. Bernanke and Michael Woodford; "Inflation Forecasts and Monetary Policy" November 1997 published in the Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Vol. 29, No. 4, Part 2: Dynamic Effects of Monetary Policy.

This information is important because we have a real challenge here with managing our monetary policy to inflation rates, and yet continuing this myth that it is somehow the Federal Reserve's job to fix the unemployment problems here at home. More stimulus usually leads to more inflation, but lately it has not increased employment, thus, no real wage inflation, and all we have to show for it is;

Inflating the rest of the world
More temporary spending by consumers
More off shore money flows and trade deficits

Is this bad? Well, it's not helping jobs is my point. Sure we want the US Dollar to be the world currency, the EURO won't work, and cannot be trusted and who knows if the EuroZone will survive or the ECB will get the power needed to manage it all - and even if it could, there are too many socialist nations in Europe. The Chinese currency is a nightmare, and the other BRIC nations are sketchy, too much volatility. So, whereas, we need to get money into the system, and money creation theory in global markets aside, this isn't helping jobs, nor should anyone really expect it too.

Further, more spending by the Federal Government just creates more economic industry bubbles at home, thus, only temporary jobs and incompatible job stability. On September 1, 2012 the Wall Street Journal had an article titled; FED Sets Stage for Stimulus - central Bank Chief Bernanke Defends Past Measures, Says Weak Labor Market Requires More Help," by Jon Hilsenrath.

Well, has it occurred to anyone that maybe we ought to ditch inflation target monetary policy or realize that creating money here, isn't creating inflation here, or jobs, it's doing that abroad due to poor trade policies and trade flows. Further the real answer to this question is not money creation or even quantitative easing.

The real solution is regulation reduction so our companies here can compete here at home and abroad. That isn't the Federal Reserve's job, nor their responsibility - that would be something the Federal Government needs to do, unfortunately our socialist leaning administration just doesn't get it. See my points here?

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks on Economic Concepts. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net/

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Corporal Punishment

'Corporal Punishment' - these two words have taken the media by storm. What exactly is Corporal Punishment? Corporal punishment is the deliberate infliction of pain intended to discipline or reform a wrong-doer or to bring about a desirable change in a person's behavior. It stretches from downright cruelty to anything that leads to insult, humiliation, physical and mental injury. Children have the right to fight against these both at home and at school.

Gone are those days when the parents and teachers used to tame the children with a stick. But children are not like animals in a circus ring. Life of human being should be protected against cruelty, physical and mental violence, injury, abuse and exploitation. Children could not be subjected to any kind of physical violence in the name of 'Education' in school and in the name of 'discipline' at home. The constitution has laid down the basic rights to safeguard the dignity of children and a child cannot be denied his basic right just because he is small. Being small does not make him lesser human being than grown up.

Through the entire blame of inflicting corporal punishment put on the shoulder of school, but several times it has been found that children become victims of domestic violence and parents often become very hash. But no one takes the issue to the media as everybody thinks that parents have right on their own children. But we as parents and teachers should keep in mind that we are not the owners but custodians of our children.

The list of negative impacts of corporal punishment is long. It leads to emotional disturbance, decrease in self-esteem, slow mental development, failure to show mental development, failure to show love and respect to others, poor academic performance and fear of school or home. These may ultimately have a long-term effect in their tender minds.

The purpose behind punishing a child is to discipline him. Sometimes it becomes imperative for the parents and teachers to be stern with the students to stop them from going astray. But that is to be done without hurting the child physically or hampering the child's self-esteem.

Children are the greatest resources they are the future citizens. The elders entrust with the pious responsibility of moulding them. Instead of imposing ourselves on generation X, let's allow the tender hearts and minds to fly free and help them grow into responsible, disciplined and worthy citizens. It needs 'them' 'you' and 'me' to join hands and think something different and creative as every child is different, every child is SPECIAL.

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A Rehab Center for the White House?

Well, as a high-performance intellectual political pundit and fact checker, I've often come under fire for suggesting things to help stop the insanity of piss poor policy making by presidential administration podium pushers. I am just as aggressive in my writing towards the ridiculous business as usual policies in Congress. I've previously suggested that Congressmen take mandatory speed reading classes, along with their staff and forced to read every page of every bill they vote on, and initial those pages. Why? Well, the ObamaCare bill was the main reason, but really the problem occurs in nearly all bills passed.

I've also suggested in jest that perhaps we need a rehabilitation center at the actual White House, so I've formulated a brilliant plan and strategy for this. Why not remodel the basketball court down stairs into a rehab center because obviously the Obama Administration is on drugs "if" they think they can keep spending in excess of a trillion dollars in deficits each year and there will be no unfortunate implications to that. In some countries they have debtor prisons for people that can't find it within their power to pay back the money they borrow. This reminds others to not spend money they don't have.

Rather than having the entire citizenry of the United States have to pay for the mistakes of a few, I think it is time that the White House had an accounting review, and they learned how to balance their checkbook, and those members of Congress who continually vote for more omnibus bills, or to funnel government money to their crony capitalist friends found out that we do have a solution it's called; rehabilitation. Apparently many of these folks never took an economics class, perhaps they were too busy studying laws and in law school?

Well, that's no excuse because anyone can study economics on YouTube there are University level professor lectures available any time you want, although it appears to me that these good folks in government who keep spending us into oblivion perhaps need to start at the seventh grade level and take some prerequisite economics classes, and actually learn accrual accounting and how to balance a checkbook. Until we get some folks in government that have a little business sense, understand the value of money, and stop trying to buy votes with the taxpayers money - we aren't going to solve in our nation's debt problem.

It's high time we took their credit cards away, taught them fiscal responsibility, and sent them back to financial rehab. Indeed I hope you will consider all this and think on it, and no I am not going to tone down my politically sharp tongue.

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks on Economics and Politics. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net/

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