love my house. I love almost everything that is in my house. I'm glad that I have a bed to sleep in, a hot shower to take on cold days, and a refrigerator that keeps my food cold. I've recently realized, however, the my table is one of the best and most underappreciated things in my house. When is the last time you reflected on all the ways something as simple as a table helped your life?
There are many reasons I love my table. The biggest reason I have grown to love my table is because it has become the gathering place for friends and family and the setting for some of the best conversations I have ever had. There is nothing that beats sitting down with the people you love at a table and sharing a great meal, a pot of tea and a good talk about anything and everything. My table has been the place for every shared birthday cake and every late night glass of wine for many years. I absolutely love spending time with the people I've been blessed with, and it seems like more often than not we share some of our best time around my table. I guess I love my table so much because it represents the gathering of loved ones to me.
I love my table for less profound reasons as well. Take last Tuesday for example. I was busy preparing a portfolio of all of my photographs from the last few months to share with a potential employer. I needed somewhere hard and flat to lay out each photo until I organized them into the portfolio. Where did I work? At my table, of course. There is no better place to spread out all of your work and keep it safe while you work to organize it back together again.
My table has also become host to Wednesday night game nights with my friends. We gather each week and sit around the table to play the latest, greatest, and sometimes not so fun games. Card games, board games, or puzzles, it doesn't matter. We rotate bringing the games and the snacks each week. The only thing that doesn't rotate is my table. Every Wednesday night we gather there without fail. I'm so grateful for my table at times like those. It may sound simple or strange to be so grateful for your table, and I guess in some ways it might be. But I, for one, would not want to live without my table. Would you?
Jumat, 07 Januari 2011
Kamis, 06 Januari 2011
Incarcerated Fathers And Their Children Find New LIFE
A group of inmates are learning how to breathe new life into their relationships with their children through a unique program at a maximum security prison.
Through the 4-H LIFE-Living Interactive Family Education program at the Potosi Correctional Center in Mineral Point, Mo., youth build relationships with their incarcerated fathers through 4-H club work. Developed jointly between the fathers and local 4-H staff, the program focuses on improving parenting skills and bettering the children's social and academic adjustment and overall well-being.
One and a half million American children have parents serving sentences in state and federal prison, according to U.S. Department of Justice statistics. These children can react negatively to the separation and develop aggressive behaviors or suffer from eating or sleeping disorders.
"Offenders join the program because they see their kids are repeating their own destructive behaviors that led to their committing crimes and they want to help break that pattern before it's too late," said Washington County 4-H Youth Extension Associate Robert Wilkerson.
In the 4-H LIFE program, children and their fathers can move freely and interact naturally in an open, unstructured setting-a sharp contrast to the restricted visitation usually granted at the maximum-security prison.
"When you meet them for a [regular] visit, you're [only] allowed a hug. In 4-H, your kid can sit there with you and lean on you," said one father. "You have a bigger bonding process between father and son."
The youth and their fathers work together on 4-H club activities that encourage goal-setting, teamwork and accomplishment. One youth said being able to work on 4-H activities with his father "created an environment for me to be with my family like a normal family."
Fathers work on their parenting skills in formal meetings and often look to each other for help working out family problems or other advice. They organize food sales and recycling programs to fund activities and adopt needy families in the community.
Families that participate in 4-H LIFE report stronger relationships, better communication, greater family unity, life skills development and improved home and school behavior for the youth.
"It's astounding and gratifying to see the changes the kids have made," said St. Francois County 4-H Youth Development Specialist Lynna Lawson.
4-H is a community of young people across America learning leadership, citizenship and life skills.
Through the 4-H LIFE-Living Interactive Family Education program at the Potosi Correctional Center in Mineral Point, Mo., youth build relationships with their incarcerated fathers through 4-H club work. Developed jointly between the fathers and local 4-H staff, the program focuses on improving parenting skills and bettering the children's social and academic adjustment and overall well-being.
One and a half million American children have parents serving sentences in state and federal prison, according to U.S. Department of Justice statistics. These children can react negatively to the separation and develop aggressive behaviors or suffer from eating or sleeping disorders.
"Offenders join the program because they see their kids are repeating their own destructive behaviors that led to their committing crimes and they want to help break that pattern before it's too late," said Washington County 4-H Youth Extension Associate Robert Wilkerson.
In the 4-H LIFE program, children and their fathers can move freely and interact naturally in an open, unstructured setting-a sharp contrast to the restricted visitation usually granted at the maximum-security prison.
"When you meet them for a [regular] visit, you're [only] allowed a hug. In 4-H, your kid can sit there with you and lean on you," said one father. "You have a bigger bonding process between father and son."
The youth and their fathers work together on 4-H club activities that encourage goal-setting, teamwork and accomplishment. One youth said being able to work on 4-H activities with his father "created an environment for me to be with my family like a normal family."
Fathers work on their parenting skills in formal meetings and often look to each other for help working out family problems or other advice. They organize food sales and recycling programs to fund activities and adopt needy families in the community.
Families that participate in 4-H LIFE report stronger relationships, better communication, greater family unity, life skills development and improved home and school behavior for the youth.
"It's astounding and gratifying to see the changes the kids have made," said St. Francois County 4-H Youth Development Specialist Lynna Lawson.
4-H is a community of young people across America learning leadership, citizenship and life skills.
Rabu, 05 Januari 2011
Is The End Near?
During the past year, hundreds of thousands have perished at the hands of a mother nature run amok. Tsunamis, hurricanes, earthquakes, and torrential rains have served us notice that for all our brilliant achievements, we are not masters of the earth.
Those who adhere to the prophecies of the past suggest that the cataclysm of world destruction is coming, that the rapture is at hand, the end is near.
Certainly, the recent natural disasters have been extreme, eclipsing anything in living memory, but do they signify a terrible end?
The human race is now enormous, exceeding by a thousand percent the world inhabitants of the not-too-distant past. Communication is instantaneous: a boulder falls on a house and a picture is flashed around the world before the dust settles.
Consider the news in historical context, a far vaster landscape than human memory. And consider that until 100 years ago, news of events traveled slowly, if at all.
The earthquake in Kashmir claimed perhaps 40,000 valuable lives out of a planetary population of 6.4 billion souls. An earthquake in Shaanxi, China in 1556 claimed over 800,000 lives out of a contemporary population of only a few million, most of them totally unaware of the disaster.
The horrors of AIDS and the looming threat of 'flu pandemics may kill a few million of us. In 1347-1350, the Black Death wiped out over a third of Europe's population and it took 400 years to grow back to its former level. There were no news flashes or video coverage, just the word of straggling strangers of the terrors they had seen.
Think of the Ice Ages that have periodically crept across the earth's surface, wiping out hundred of species each time and forever leaving the mark of their ravages on the continents. Envision an enormous meteor crashing into our planet, leaving a killing residue of dust that blotted out the sun's rays for decades, destroying the dinosaurs that had dominated the landscape for 100,000 years of endless summer.
Our spaceship earth is a living, breathing and highly unstable vessel. It explodes, erupts, and trembles on its own timetable, far removed from the brief memories of mankind.
The forces of nature are doing what they have always done. There are just so many more of us to get in the way and so many more to bear witness to the recurring catastrophes.
Those who adhere to the prophecies of the past suggest that the cataclysm of world destruction is coming, that the rapture is at hand, the end is near.
Certainly, the recent natural disasters have been extreme, eclipsing anything in living memory, but do they signify a terrible end?
The human race is now enormous, exceeding by a thousand percent the world inhabitants of the not-too-distant past. Communication is instantaneous: a boulder falls on a house and a picture is flashed around the world before the dust settles.
Consider the news in historical context, a far vaster landscape than human memory. And consider that until 100 years ago, news of events traveled slowly, if at all.
The earthquake in Kashmir claimed perhaps 40,000 valuable lives out of a planetary population of 6.4 billion souls. An earthquake in Shaanxi, China in 1556 claimed over 800,000 lives out of a contemporary population of only a few million, most of them totally unaware of the disaster.
The horrors of AIDS and the looming threat of 'flu pandemics may kill a few million of us. In 1347-1350, the Black Death wiped out over a third of Europe's population and it took 400 years to grow back to its former level. There were no news flashes or video coverage, just the word of straggling strangers of the terrors they had seen.
Think of the Ice Ages that have periodically crept across the earth's surface, wiping out hundred of species each time and forever leaving the mark of their ravages on the continents. Envision an enormous meteor crashing into our planet, leaving a killing residue of dust that blotted out the sun's rays for decades, destroying the dinosaurs that had dominated the landscape for 100,000 years of endless summer.
Our spaceship earth is a living, breathing and highly unstable vessel. It explodes, erupts, and trembles on its own timetable, far removed from the brief memories of mankind.
The forces of nature are doing what they have always done. There are just so many more of us to get in the way and so many more to bear witness to the recurring catastrophes.
Selasa, 04 Januari 2011
Silicon Bracelets
Silicon bands or bracelets are not just mere silicon loops. They represent the human spirit that can fight all odds. These bands create awareness towards worthy causes. They have been popularized by cancer survivor and cycling champion, Lance Armstrong. He helped generate 15 million dollars for charity through selling these bands.
Silicon Bands for a Cause
With the help of these bands you can promote business, show your support to special causes and also make a fashion statement. You can distribute these bands in trade shows, conventions, team sports and fund raisers to bring about awareness and support for any cause or disease. They are made of silicon and are stretchable and come in an array of colors like pink, blue, purple, yellow, green and black. Some glow in the dark too.
Silicon Bands for Business Purposes
You can use silicon bands to promote your business too as an advertising medium. Wrist bands distributed at corporate functions would life the image of your business. You may distribute the bands during trade shows also.
Multipurpose Silicon Bands
Through these silicon bands, you can convey more than one message. You can stamp messages and designs crafted on them, whether it is for religious purposes, business purposes or social causes. You can order these silicon bands from various websites which are available at $1 -$5. You will get discounts from the vendors if you order in bulk quantities.
Silicon Band: Identifying Device
Silicon band is also used as an identifying device in crowded places. For example, silicon bands are used in music concerts and other such events as a crowd control device. In hospitals silicon bands are used as identification devices. Medical information is stamped on these patients for identification purposes.
Silicon Bands Are Hot
Customized silicon bands are hot now. The demand for these bands is increasing rapidly. From sports team to awareness groups, everyone is sporting a silicon band. By wearing them a sense of unity and spirit is fortified.
Buy a silicon band or gift it to your loved ones and spread the message of the fighting human spirit.
Silicon Bands for a Cause
With the help of these bands you can promote business, show your support to special causes and also make a fashion statement. You can distribute these bands in trade shows, conventions, team sports and fund raisers to bring about awareness and support for any cause or disease. They are made of silicon and are stretchable and come in an array of colors like pink, blue, purple, yellow, green and black. Some glow in the dark too.
Silicon Bands for Business Purposes
You can use silicon bands to promote your business too as an advertising medium. Wrist bands distributed at corporate functions would life the image of your business. You may distribute the bands during trade shows also.
Multipurpose Silicon Bands
Through these silicon bands, you can convey more than one message. You can stamp messages and designs crafted on them, whether it is for religious purposes, business purposes or social causes. You can order these silicon bands from various websites which are available at $1 -$5. You will get discounts from the vendors if you order in bulk quantities.
Silicon Band: Identifying Device
Silicon band is also used as an identifying device in crowded places. For example, silicon bands are used in music concerts and other such events as a crowd control device. In hospitals silicon bands are used as identification devices. Medical information is stamped on these patients for identification purposes.
Silicon Bands Are Hot
Customized silicon bands are hot now. The demand for these bands is increasing rapidly. From sports team to awareness groups, everyone is sporting a silicon band. By wearing them a sense of unity and spirit is fortified.
Buy a silicon band or gift it to your loved ones and spread the message of the fighting human spirit.
Senin, 03 Januari 2011
Young Philanthropist Discovers Joy of Sharing
Philanthropist Ellie Guettler of Atlanta recently wrote a $500 check to help Heifer International fight hunger. Her gift provided two milking water buffaloes for an impoverished family. What is unusual about that? Ellie is only 5 years old. Ellie is not alone. Children are responsible for contributing more than $1 million a year to Heifer International, which has been providing cows, goats, chickens, sheep and other animals to families in 50 countries around the world for more than 60 years. These animals allow the families to have milk, eggs, wool honey, and many other benefits.
Ellie's parents say they want to teach her the habit of sharing by contributing to Heifer because it is a simple, concrete way of helping to end world hunger.
"We want Ellie to do a service project every year as her birthday gift back to the world. She picked Heifer since we live in the city and she can't have farm animals of her own," said Katrina Guettler, Ellie's mother. "So she sent a birthday letter to all our neighbors and friends asking them to save their change."
Ellie collected $660 in quarters, nickels, dimes and pennies. As a thank-you gift for their contribution, she gave each person a handmade candle.
"We both learned that people are generous and want to make a difference, but sometimes they don't know how or they need motivation," Guettler said. "She also learned that a little bit of change, which we take for granted, can collectively make a big difference for someone with less opportunity."
Ellie likes to read the bestselling picture book "Beatrice's Goat" by Page McBrier that tells how a goat from Heifer International changed the life of a young girl in Uganda, and she knows the story by heart.
"I feel bad that so many kids don't have food and can't go to school, so I hope that if I help a Heifer project, they can have food and go to school like Beatrice," says Ellie.
Children can participate in raising funds for Heifer International by reading books, making and selling bookmarks, hosting bake sales, or making donation cans with pictures of animals from Heifer's holiday catalog to help collect money toward the purchase of gift animals.
They can also see farm animals and learn about solutions to world hunger on visits to Heifer's three hunger education centers in Arkansas, Massachusetts and California.
Ellie's parents say they want to teach her the habit of sharing by contributing to Heifer because it is a simple, concrete way of helping to end world hunger.
"We want Ellie to do a service project every year as her birthday gift back to the world. She picked Heifer since we live in the city and she can't have farm animals of her own," said Katrina Guettler, Ellie's mother. "So she sent a birthday letter to all our neighbors and friends asking them to save their change."
Ellie collected $660 in quarters, nickels, dimes and pennies. As a thank-you gift for their contribution, she gave each person a handmade candle.
"We both learned that people are generous and want to make a difference, but sometimes they don't know how or they need motivation," Guettler said. "She also learned that a little bit of change, which we take for granted, can collectively make a big difference for someone with less opportunity."
Ellie likes to read the bestselling picture book "Beatrice's Goat" by Page McBrier that tells how a goat from Heifer International changed the life of a young girl in Uganda, and she knows the story by heart.
"I feel bad that so many kids don't have food and can't go to school, so I hope that if I help a Heifer project, they can have food and go to school like Beatrice," says Ellie.
Children can participate in raising funds for Heifer International by reading books, making and selling bookmarks, hosting bake sales, or making donation cans with pictures of animals from Heifer's holiday catalog to help collect money toward the purchase of gift animals.
They can also see farm animals and learn about solutions to world hunger on visits to Heifer's three hunger education centers in Arkansas, Massachusetts and California.
Minggu, 02 Januari 2011
Stun Guns: Why They Are So Popular
Most people when they hear the words “Stun Gun” think of Star Trek or science fiction. Contrary to that belief, stun guns have become one of the most highly effective, widely used and very reliable in the arsenal of crime fighting tools. As time goes on, their use gains in popularity as a non lethal self defense weapon for individuals and a very potent weapon for law enforcement officers.
HOW THEY WORK
Stun guns temporarily incapacitate targets by sending a high voltage but low amperage charge of electricity to the nervous system. This causes a disruption in the body’s neurological impulses that control muscle movement overwhelming the neuromuscular system causing the victim to lose balance. It also causes temporary partial paralysis and depletes the body’s system of blood sugar (energy) making the body too weak to move.
They cause no long term damage. The effects can last for several minutes. They do not rely on pain for results. The current cannot pass to your body thru the target.
WHO USES THEM
For would be victims of robbery, assault, rape, murder, kidnapping the site and sound of a stun gun's charge might be enough to deter an assailant. If not, then a 3-5 second dose of 700,000 volts will be enough for most people to escape the situation they are in. Women who live alone or work in isolated areas such as real estate agents are some of the many people finding stun guns easy to carry and conceal. School teachers, people who work late at night can defend themselves with stun guns with great effectiveness. They are small, easily concealed or disguised and easy to use.
A stun gun is a tool in the fight against crime: it is not lethal and at best will give the victim 2-3 minutes to escape. Escape is better than the alternative.
Brands such as Stun Master stun gun, Scorpion, Panther, Firefly, Z force stun gun and Talon stun gun have models that range from 80,000 volts to 975,000 volts. Stun guns can be disguised as cell phones, flashlights, or pagers for the element of surprise. Stun guns have rapidly become a popular self defense weapon of choice for many people in today’s crime ravaged society. Stun Guns are illegal in several states.
HOW THEY WORK
Stun guns temporarily incapacitate targets by sending a high voltage but low amperage charge of electricity to the nervous system. This causes a disruption in the body’s neurological impulses that control muscle movement overwhelming the neuromuscular system causing the victim to lose balance. It also causes temporary partial paralysis and depletes the body’s system of blood sugar (energy) making the body too weak to move.
They cause no long term damage. The effects can last for several minutes. They do not rely on pain for results. The current cannot pass to your body thru the target.
WHO USES THEM
For would be victims of robbery, assault, rape, murder, kidnapping the site and sound of a stun gun's charge might be enough to deter an assailant. If not, then a 3-5 second dose of 700,000 volts will be enough for most people to escape the situation they are in. Women who live alone or work in isolated areas such as real estate agents are some of the many people finding stun guns easy to carry and conceal. School teachers, people who work late at night can defend themselves with stun guns with great effectiveness. They are small, easily concealed or disguised and easy to use.
A stun gun is a tool in the fight against crime: it is not lethal and at best will give the victim 2-3 minutes to escape. Escape is better than the alternative.
Brands such as Stun Master stun gun, Scorpion, Panther, Firefly, Z force stun gun and Talon stun gun have models that range from 80,000 volts to 975,000 volts. Stun guns can be disguised as cell phones, flashlights, or pagers for the element of surprise. Stun guns have rapidly become a popular self defense weapon of choice for many people in today’s crime ravaged society. Stun Guns are illegal in several states.
Sabtu, 01 Januari 2011
Mystery Shopping Explained
Mystery shopping is a work at home business that many people has come to enjoy. With this business, there are no real requirements you need to be able to apply to become a mystery shopper. However, you should not that some niche areas have certain requirements, but for the most part the only limitation is that you be of legal working age. As with any job, you must be dependable and reliable, while representing the mystery shopping company you will not be able to cancel or miss jobs on a regular basis or you run the risk of losing the position.
Other qualities you should possess, is observation, you should be able to be very aware of all your surroundings, because this is required for mystery shopping. You will be asked to make specific notes of various aspects and report them back. You may also be required to have internet access, if you are reading this article, you likely have that aspect taken care of already. In mystery shopping you are given detailed instructions by the company as what they want you to do.
They will want you to visit a particular store on a specified day, what you do at the store can vary depending on the particular company and what they hope to gain from the mystery shopping experience. You may have only have to report on the appearance of the store and the overall helpfulness of the staff. On the other hand, you may be given very specific and detailed instructions. For example, you might need to ask for a specific product or member of the sales staff, you could also be asked to make a particular statement on the policy of the store.
Mystery shopping can take place in a variety of establishments, for example you could be asked to visit a particular fast food restaurant, a casual restaurant, department stores, retail or grocery stores. The time spent at these varies depending on the instructions the mystery shopper receives. Mystery shopping has turned into a very lucrative business for many people and it allows people to earn money by doing what they like to do… SHOP!
Other qualities you should possess, is observation, you should be able to be very aware of all your surroundings, because this is required for mystery shopping. You will be asked to make specific notes of various aspects and report them back. You may also be required to have internet access, if you are reading this article, you likely have that aspect taken care of already. In mystery shopping you are given detailed instructions by the company as what they want you to do.
They will want you to visit a particular store on a specified day, what you do at the store can vary depending on the particular company and what they hope to gain from the mystery shopping experience. You may have only have to report on the appearance of the store and the overall helpfulness of the staff. On the other hand, you may be given very specific and detailed instructions. For example, you might need to ask for a specific product or member of the sales staff, you could also be asked to make a particular statement on the policy of the store.
Mystery shopping can take place in a variety of establishments, for example you could be asked to visit a particular fast food restaurant, a casual restaurant, department stores, retail or grocery stores. The time spent at these varies depending on the instructions the mystery shopper receives. Mystery shopping has turned into a very lucrative business for many people and it allows people to earn money by doing what they like to do… SHOP!
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