During the vacation I got to see many of the wonders that Amsterdam has to offer. One of the first things I went to see was the Van Gogh Museum. Having just gotten off the plane I was tired, but some of his art is just amazing to see, and I did not want to wait to see them.
After going to the museum I headed into the city center to look around, maybe do some shopping and get some food.
I had herd many things about Amsterdam and just thought that many of them were blow out of proportion, well I am here to tell you that they are all true. The first thing that hits you is the strong smell of Marijuana, and then you start to see the almost completely naked girls in the windows.
As if the prostitutes in the windows were not enough there are live sex shows and sex shops selling every imaginable sex toy known to man on every street, but this was not what interested me.
Then as I continued walking around I started to notice something besides pot, and naked females, I saw casinos.
I grew up in New Jersey, just about 2 hours from Atlantic City, and after my 18th birthday I spend a good amount of time in the casinos. So I decided to go in and check some of them out.
Well I wound up spending most of the rest of my time in those casinos. The first one I went to was Video Gaming machines only, but they had video poker, video blackjack and Video Slot machines as well, I did not really do well her in this place so I only spent about an hour, and about 100 Euro, then left.
The next place I found was a nicer place. Unlike in New Jersey, in these casinos people are dressed up in their nice clothes instead of jeans, sneakers and T-Shirts. This casino had actual table games so I tried to play some Blackjack, but there was a player at the table that either had no idea on how to play or he was somehow involved in cheating with another player, but I am inclined to think he just did not know how to play blackjack.
So I started playing at the Roulette table, and I was doing really well, at one point I was up about 400 Euro before I started losing. So I decided to leave this casino and go walking around for a while.
The next day I found myself in another casino, and I decided to see if my luck was back, I went to a slot machine and put in some money and on the third spin I won another 200 Euro, so feeling lucky I decided to enter the poker room, and that is when things got really interesting. I got into a game and boy were these guys good, but I was winning just as much as I was losing, and in the end I may have even walked away with a few Euros more then when I walked in.
After playing for about 5 hours I decided to go outside and walk around a bit to stretch my legs. I would up deciding to sit down and have a cup of coffee, but I did not know the difference between a coffee shop and a caf?.
In Amsterdam a caf? is a place to sit and have a coffee, but a coffee shop is a place to purchase and smoke Marijuana. So as I was sitting there drinking my coffee I noticed several people rolling joints. Now I have herd about this and I hade smelled plenty of pot while I was there, but I did not realize it was sold out in the open like this. So I decided to buy some pot and try it.
I went to the counter where I saw others buying their weed and the guy behind the counter was very nice and showed me a menu of what they had for sale. I wound up buying a joint of white widow. The man behind the counter told me his was very strong stuff, but I was not prepared for this.
I managed to smoke about half of the joint, before I was hit with this feeling. I have been a drinker for many years, but even in my college days I was never out of my head like this.
Eventually I managed to get out of there and get some fresh air, and some waffles. I decided, this was the time to back into the casino and win my money back, and in the end I lost another 600 Euro, and wound up falling off my chair in the casino and needed to be helped out.
So if you are going to be going to Amsterdam, be careful the grass is really strong.
Jumat, 13 April 2012
Kamis, 12 April 2012
Nonviolence for Social Change
Ghandi and Martin Luther King, Jr. advocated peaceful nonviolence to change ailing social systems. They and their followers were able to successfully change the social conditions of their times. Recently, a lawyer in China named Gao Shizheng has called for symbolic ongoing hunger strikes across China to support people who have encountered violence and ongoing persecution perpetrated by the Chinese Communist Party which currently rules China.
For over six years now, since July of 1999, the peaceful Falun Gong practitioners have used nonviolent actions to draw world attention to the ongoing persecution of Falun Gong practitioners by the Chinese Communist Party. If past history is any indication, the Falun Gong practitioners and human rights advocates such as Gao Shizheng will be successful in the long run.
The Chinese Communist Party is a large stumbling block to overcome. They are unwilling to admit that human rights violations are occurring in China. Fortunately, the world knows better thanks to groups like the Falun Gong practitioners, Amnesty International, Freedom House and even the United Nations Special Rappateur on Human Rights.
One can find all kinds of evidence including testimonials, video footage, and other documentation to prove the gross human rights violations perpetrated by the Chinese Communist Party. In addition, the very existence of a labor camp system in China demonstrates the systematic nature of the human rights violations.
Virtually everyone in the world knows what is going on, yet China continues to deny the facts. One is reminded of the many murderers throughout history that have committed terrible crimes and yet proclaimed their innocence. They are met with justice. But these are individuals in society and here we are talking about a large group of people, the Chinese Communist Party, acting in unison to perpetrate, hide and then deny their abuses. It is harder to bring an entire group to justice or convince them to change their behavior.
The CCP (Chinese Communist Party) numbers around 60 million people. That is sixty million individuals that are willing to deny in tandem any wrongdoing. It is similar to sixty million criminals all proclaiming their innocence together at the same time.
In Nazi Germany you had a smaller group of people who were able to plunge the entire world into war and commit horrible human rights violations. It could be said that they were an organized group of thugs similar but perhaps not as vicious as the Chinese Communist Party operating in China today. In fact the Chinese Communist Party is responsible for far more deaths over the decades than the Nazis were in their day.
The Nazis are gone but the Chinese Communist Party is still operating, still grossly violating human rights and still denying their own bad deeds at every turn. How long can something like this go on? It could go on for a much longer period of time, if people don't stand up and speak out against the atrocities.
Staying in tune with the nonviolent means of achieving social change in history, it becomes the duty of every individual in the world to speak about the atrocities. As much and as often as the CCP denies human rights violations every person should speak out about them. With many more voices ringing with truth to counter the lies of the CCP, ending the human rights violations is an inevitable conclusion. However, it is a conclusion that must come sooner rather than later because people are suffering.
To learn more about the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China visit the FalunInfo or the Clearwisdom websites for additional information. A simple action that you can take today to help in the spirit of nonviolence is to call the nearest Chinese Embassy and say, "Stop persecuting Falun Gong practitioners. Stop the human rights violations."
Change is inevitable. As an individual you have the ability to help bring an end to the atrocities sooner rather than later.
For over six years now, since July of 1999, the peaceful Falun Gong practitioners have used nonviolent actions to draw world attention to the ongoing persecution of Falun Gong practitioners by the Chinese Communist Party. If past history is any indication, the Falun Gong practitioners and human rights advocates such as Gao Shizheng will be successful in the long run.
The Chinese Communist Party is a large stumbling block to overcome. They are unwilling to admit that human rights violations are occurring in China. Fortunately, the world knows better thanks to groups like the Falun Gong practitioners, Amnesty International, Freedom House and even the United Nations Special Rappateur on Human Rights.
One can find all kinds of evidence including testimonials, video footage, and other documentation to prove the gross human rights violations perpetrated by the Chinese Communist Party. In addition, the very existence of a labor camp system in China demonstrates the systematic nature of the human rights violations.
Virtually everyone in the world knows what is going on, yet China continues to deny the facts. One is reminded of the many murderers throughout history that have committed terrible crimes and yet proclaimed their innocence. They are met with justice. But these are individuals in society and here we are talking about a large group of people, the Chinese Communist Party, acting in unison to perpetrate, hide and then deny their abuses. It is harder to bring an entire group to justice or convince them to change their behavior.
The CCP (Chinese Communist Party) numbers around 60 million people. That is sixty million individuals that are willing to deny in tandem any wrongdoing. It is similar to sixty million criminals all proclaiming their innocence together at the same time.
In Nazi Germany you had a smaller group of people who were able to plunge the entire world into war and commit horrible human rights violations. It could be said that they were an organized group of thugs similar but perhaps not as vicious as the Chinese Communist Party operating in China today. In fact the Chinese Communist Party is responsible for far more deaths over the decades than the Nazis were in their day.
The Nazis are gone but the Chinese Communist Party is still operating, still grossly violating human rights and still denying their own bad deeds at every turn. How long can something like this go on? It could go on for a much longer period of time, if people don't stand up and speak out against the atrocities.
Staying in tune with the nonviolent means of achieving social change in history, it becomes the duty of every individual in the world to speak about the atrocities. As much and as often as the CCP denies human rights violations every person should speak out about them. With many more voices ringing with truth to counter the lies of the CCP, ending the human rights violations is an inevitable conclusion. However, it is a conclusion that must come sooner rather than later because people are suffering.
To learn more about the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China visit the FalunInfo or the Clearwisdom websites for additional information. A simple action that you can take today to help in the spirit of nonviolence is to call the nearest Chinese Embassy and say, "Stop persecuting Falun Gong practitioners. Stop the human rights violations."
Change is inevitable. As an individual you have the ability to help bring an end to the atrocities sooner rather than later.
Rabu, 11 April 2012
The negative impact of the weight loss obsession
The media has pushed upon the general public that the thinner you are, the more attractive you are. All manner of media outlets have given people the impression that being larger than a size 0 is a bad thing because it makes you fat, even though realistically, your appearance is a little too similar to that of malnourished African children. We have become trained to see the waif-like figures of fashion models to be the ideal in feminine physical beauty, even though such a form may not really have any benefits in a strictly biological sense. This has had the effect of creating the weight loss pill industry, as well as giving it the backbone it needs to be a feasible avenue of business for pharmaceutical companies eager to make a quick buck or two. However, is being thin really all that the media makes it out to be?
Perhaps the primary concern would be the impact what effect taking a weight loss pill might have on the system. By their very nature, the pills are designed to help a person lose excess weight, typically by burning stored fat or increasing the metabolic rate. However, as testing has shown, a number of the more effective forms of weight loss pill formulas can have terrible side effects on the body. Reports can vary, though some of the more common ones are nausea and occasional cases of vomiting. In some countries, where the standards are a little lax, these pills find a massive market despite the lack of testing on just what potential side effects it might have. Aside from that, a weight loss pill can easily be overdosed by people who are overzealous about losing weight, leading to potentially life-threatening situations.
However, aside from the weight loss pill boom, the media's effort to push people to become thinner has resulted in psychological damage. Even without the media at work, there will always be a segment of the population that would experience social anxiety because of their weight. Due to the emphasis on physical achievement and perfection among students, high school students typically, those who have more weight than the average student often end up being socially scorned. Large-built students who cannot find ways to compensate for their weight through activities such as sports often find themselves socially ostracized by their peers. After all, the media pushes the message “nobody wants to hang out with fat kids” rather strongly. Now, combine that with exposure to mass media, which pushes people to subconsciously dislike being “fat,” and the social anxiety simply gets worse. There are several studies behind the effects and the treatments for bulimia and anorexia, but very few have tackled the psychological issues and the social anxiety behind these eating disorders.
Finally, perhaps the worst effect the media “push” has had is the prevalent obsession with losing weight, even for those who don't need to lose weight. The media has made people consciously relate extremely thin, waif-like figures to beauty. This has had the effect of women adopting all manner of fad diets, weight loss programs, and extreme treatments to attain that “perfect” size 0. This is a far cry from the pre-Raphaelite standard, where a full figure was considered the ideal and a little meat on the bones was not necessarily a bad thing. While the public obsession with health stems from this need to get thinner, the fact that some people are stretching the limits on how thin the human body can get while still remaining healthy is not a good sign.
It is interesting to note that men seem less affected by this than women. There are several possible explanations for this, though there is a distinct lack of overly-idealized male figures in the media, as compared to the female ones. According to some studies, it is generally harder to determine an “ideal” for the male figure, apart from one that appears capable of performing the tasks subconsciously associated with the male gender, than it is for females. There are several likely sociological and evolutionary reasons for this sort of discrimination, but the number of men experiencing the same social pressures as women is increasing.
Perhaps the primary concern would be the impact what effect taking a weight loss pill might have on the system. By their very nature, the pills are designed to help a person lose excess weight, typically by burning stored fat or increasing the metabolic rate. However, as testing has shown, a number of the more effective forms of weight loss pill formulas can have terrible side effects on the body. Reports can vary, though some of the more common ones are nausea and occasional cases of vomiting. In some countries, where the standards are a little lax, these pills find a massive market despite the lack of testing on just what potential side effects it might have. Aside from that, a weight loss pill can easily be overdosed by people who are overzealous about losing weight, leading to potentially life-threatening situations.
However, aside from the weight loss pill boom, the media's effort to push people to become thinner has resulted in psychological damage. Even without the media at work, there will always be a segment of the population that would experience social anxiety because of their weight. Due to the emphasis on physical achievement and perfection among students, high school students typically, those who have more weight than the average student often end up being socially scorned. Large-built students who cannot find ways to compensate for their weight through activities such as sports often find themselves socially ostracized by their peers. After all, the media pushes the message “nobody wants to hang out with fat kids” rather strongly. Now, combine that with exposure to mass media, which pushes people to subconsciously dislike being “fat,” and the social anxiety simply gets worse. There are several studies behind the effects and the treatments for bulimia and anorexia, but very few have tackled the psychological issues and the social anxiety behind these eating disorders.
Finally, perhaps the worst effect the media “push” has had is the prevalent obsession with losing weight, even for those who don't need to lose weight. The media has made people consciously relate extremely thin, waif-like figures to beauty. This has had the effect of women adopting all manner of fad diets, weight loss programs, and extreme treatments to attain that “perfect” size 0. This is a far cry from the pre-Raphaelite standard, where a full figure was considered the ideal and a little meat on the bones was not necessarily a bad thing. While the public obsession with health stems from this need to get thinner, the fact that some people are stretching the limits on how thin the human body can get while still remaining healthy is not a good sign.
It is interesting to note that men seem less affected by this than women. There are several possible explanations for this, though there is a distinct lack of overly-idealized male figures in the media, as compared to the female ones. According to some studies, it is generally harder to determine an “ideal” for the male figure, apart from one that appears capable of performing the tasks subconsciously associated with the male gender, than it is for females. There are several likely sociological and evolutionary reasons for this sort of discrimination, but the number of men experiencing the same social pressures as women is increasing.
Selasa, 10 April 2012
John Reese's Top Traffic Secrets
Track all sources of traffic generation.
John Reese stresses the need to track where all traffic comes from and at what cost. It is crucial to know exactly how many sales, newsletter sign-ups, or other leads your particular marketing campaigns generating. This enables you to work smarter and not harder. By tracking all traffic to your site you can make twice as much while working fifty percent less.
Content is King
On the internet, people are searching for one thing....... Content! Load your website with as much content as possible. Then, continuously add content. Search engines love information and they will love your site if you've got lots of it. There's plenty of free content for the taking on the internet. You can load up your site with articles from article directories like ezinearticles.com. Or, you could be like John and use content from the public domain. Or, you can use content that is in the creative commons. This type is now easier than ever to find now that Yahoo and others have come out with a search engine designed specifically for content that is in the creative commons.
An affiliate program is critical to maximum traffic and sales. Lots of internet marketers don't take advantage of this powerful traffic-generating technique. An affiliate program allows you to have your own personal salesman spread all over the web. The best part about it is that there is absolutely no risk involved but tons of traffic and sales to gain. Your website simply cannot grow to its full potential without an effective affiliate program.
Banner Ads
John Reese advocates the use of banner ads during a time when they are largely an untapped marketing source. Banner ads are one of the most overlooked sources of targeted traffic online.
Also, banner ads are now one of the cheapest sources of targeted traffic. In the late 1990's during the dot-com boom, people were selling banner ads for $40 and $50 CPM. Then the dot-com bubble hit and these rates hit the floor. You can now buy banner ads dirt cheap, at $1 to $1.50 CPM. This is $1 for 1,000 banner impressions. The key here is to find the perfect place to advertise that will send targeted, willing to buy customers to your site.
Create viral reports that can quickly spread around the internet. This method works best when you have an affiliate program. Allow others to brand your report in order to encourage its distribution.
A quality free report can be a powerful promoter when passed around the internet. This same phenomenon can occur when you submit your articles to article directories and popular newsletters.
Take advantage of your virtual real estate.
Take advantage of the different parts of your website. Don't let any of your web pages go to waste. You can do this by adding a link to another one of your web sites or pages on your thank-you or sales confirmation pages. If you have articles on your site, place links to related articles on the bottom of the page. The longer you keep a visitor at your web site, the more valuable they become.
It is very important to funnel traffic from within the multiple sites you may have.
Continually seek out other web sites to link to you. Now, we're not just talking about any kind of link here, but powerful, traffic-generating links from respected sites. Here are some quick suggestions:
Send a related web site an article that you have written and allow them to display it on their website with a resource box at the end. Offer to exchange articles and tell them about the benefits of doing so.
Allow multiple, related web sites to distribute your free e-book or report. All web masters are looking to add value to their web site, why not make it easy for them.
There are unlimited possibilities, be creative!
Online group participation can produce a no-cost stream of traffic and sales.
Get involved in email discussion lists, online groups and forums that are related to your target market. Becoming involved in discussions makes you very credible. Traffic from forums can produce a much higher sales conversion rate.
This method can produce quite a bit of sales for you just by helping others out. Not to mention, you'll learn a lot along the way.
John Reese stresses the need to track where all traffic comes from and at what cost. It is crucial to know exactly how many sales, newsletter sign-ups, or other leads your particular marketing campaigns generating. This enables you to work smarter and not harder. By tracking all traffic to your site you can make twice as much while working fifty percent less.
Content is King
On the internet, people are searching for one thing....... Content! Load your website with as much content as possible. Then, continuously add content. Search engines love information and they will love your site if you've got lots of it. There's plenty of free content for the taking on the internet. You can load up your site with articles from article directories like ezinearticles.com. Or, you could be like John and use content from the public domain. Or, you can use content that is in the creative commons. This type is now easier than ever to find now that Yahoo and others have come out with a search engine designed specifically for content that is in the creative commons.
An affiliate program is critical to maximum traffic and sales. Lots of internet marketers don't take advantage of this powerful traffic-generating technique. An affiliate program allows you to have your own personal salesman spread all over the web. The best part about it is that there is absolutely no risk involved but tons of traffic and sales to gain. Your website simply cannot grow to its full potential without an effective affiliate program.
Banner Ads
John Reese advocates the use of banner ads during a time when they are largely an untapped marketing source. Banner ads are one of the most overlooked sources of targeted traffic online.
Also, banner ads are now one of the cheapest sources of targeted traffic. In the late 1990's during the dot-com boom, people were selling banner ads for $40 and $50 CPM. Then the dot-com bubble hit and these rates hit the floor. You can now buy banner ads dirt cheap, at $1 to $1.50 CPM. This is $1 for 1,000 banner impressions. The key here is to find the perfect place to advertise that will send targeted, willing to buy customers to your site.
Create viral reports that can quickly spread around the internet. This method works best when you have an affiliate program. Allow others to brand your report in order to encourage its distribution.
A quality free report can be a powerful promoter when passed around the internet. This same phenomenon can occur when you submit your articles to article directories and popular newsletters.
Take advantage of your virtual real estate.
Take advantage of the different parts of your website. Don't let any of your web pages go to waste. You can do this by adding a link to another one of your web sites or pages on your thank-you or sales confirmation pages. If you have articles on your site, place links to related articles on the bottom of the page. The longer you keep a visitor at your web site, the more valuable they become.
It is very important to funnel traffic from within the multiple sites you may have.
Continually seek out other web sites to link to you. Now, we're not just talking about any kind of link here, but powerful, traffic-generating links from respected sites. Here are some quick suggestions:
Send a related web site an article that you have written and allow them to display it on their website with a resource box at the end. Offer to exchange articles and tell them about the benefits of doing so.
Allow multiple, related web sites to distribute your free e-book or report. All web masters are looking to add value to their web site, why not make it easy for them.
There are unlimited possibilities, be creative!
Online group participation can produce a no-cost stream of traffic and sales.
Get involved in email discussion lists, online groups and forums that are related to your target market. Becoming involved in discussions makes you very credible. Traffic from forums can produce a much higher sales conversion rate.
This method can produce quite a bit of sales for you just by helping others out. Not to mention, you'll learn a lot along the way.
Why Russian girls?
Russian brides have always been considered to be the best brides in the world. Indeed, their cultural background makes them perfect for creating a happy strong family. They are caring, faithful, loving and devoted. And this attracts men all over the world.
By their personality, Russian girls are tender and at the same time they are diligent, strong and hard-working, especially, when they do something for their family and people they love. All in all, feminism didn't touch the Slavonic women. They are mostly family-oriented and traditionally, they obtain the knowledge of keeping a happy family nest from their grandmothers. Those clever old-ladies teach their granddaughters how to be kind, loving and caring with their future family. The grannies pass on to their lovely descendants the secrets of cooking, sewing, knitting and house-holding. At the early childhood they start reading Russian national fairy-tales to their granddaughters. And those old and kind folktales mostly teach the morals and show the attitude of a Russian beauty to her man.
Most of the other folktales narrate about the importance to stay inside the house all the time, as it is the only safe place where the future life can be regulated. All these fairy-tales for children are considered as a very powerful educating stuff. Because all the information that kids percept from their adult relatives stay in their minds forever.
If we are talking about Russian women living in Kazakhstan, it's very important to mention that here, in this Central Asian country, the ladies with Russian background are influenced by the Eastern culture. This fact, makes them even more attracting for westerners, so as it occurs as a perfect chance for them to find the greatest love and create a happy family life.
Russian lady is as beautiful inside as outside. Her outer beauty reflect her wonderful inner world. She lives dreaming about the time of love and happiness with her beloved one. So, they wait for a miracle to happen in their life and wait for the moment, when they could be happy in love. Even though, sometimes some of the girls start getting fussy. This thing happens to them because it is well known, that the population majority in most of the Russian-speaking countries is the females, when for example, in the United States the male population is dominating. As it was told before, Russian girls in Kazakhstan are influenced by Oriental culture. Thus, the girls living here are a happy medium between these two cultures. One of the some agency's Russian brides, in her letter to the American fiance says that she, being a Russian woman has learnt from her Eastern girlfriends how to be patient and docile with the men. And the foreigners married to Russian women are endlessly happy and are pretty much enjoying their choice. They say it was an absolutely perfect option for them to meet and marry their spouses. Those joyful husbands describe their sweethearts as nice, honest, not spoiled and more sincere. They are amazed by the fact that Russian women are fearless in showing their feminine side.
The girls from Kazakhstan are happy that they were born there. Local Russian ladies claim this place gave them a great chance to become unique by their personality. They still hold old traits for marriage and wanting children, as well as a good life for them.
However, it is also worth mentioning that the Russian girls are more intellectual and active than their Eastern girlfriends. They are independent, clever and hardworking enough to gain success both in their personal life and in their carrier.
One thing that is clear and unchangeable and it's about everyone's desire for a perfect love relationship and a wish to find a real soul mate that will stay beside forever.
By their personality, Russian girls are tender and at the same time they are diligent, strong and hard-working, especially, when they do something for their family and people they love. All in all, feminism didn't touch the Slavonic women. They are mostly family-oriented and traditionally, they obtain the knowledge of keeping a happy family nest from their grandmothers. Those clever old-ladies teach their granddaughters how to be kind, loving and caring with their future family. The grannies pass on to their lovely descendants the secrets of cooking, sewing, knitting and house-holding. At the early childhood they start reading Russian national fairy-tales to their granddaughters. And those old and kind folktales mostly teach the morals and show the attitude of a Russian beauty to her man.
Most of the other folktales narrate about the importance to stay inside the house all the time, as it is the only safe place where the future life can be regulated. All these fairy-tales for children are considered as a very powerful educating stuff. Because all the information that kids percept from their adult relatives stay in their minds forever.
If we are talking about Russian women living in Kazakhstan, it's very important to mention that here, in this Central Asian country, the ladies with Russian background are influenced by the Eastern culture. This fact, makes them even more attracting for westerners, so as it occurs as a perfect chance for them to find the greatest love and create a happy family life.
Russian lady is as beautiful inside as outside. Her outer beauty reflect her wonderful inner world. She lives dreaming about the time of love and happiness with her beloved one. So, they wait for a miracle to happen in their life and wait for the moment, when they could be happy in love. Even though, sometimes some of the girls start getting fussy. This thing happens to them because it is well known, that the population majority in most of the Russian-speaking countries is the females, when for example, in the United States the male population is dominating. As it was told before, Russian girls in Kazakhstan are influenced by Oriental culture. Thus, the girls living here are a happy medium between these two cultures. One of the some agency's Russian brides, in her letter to the American fiance says that she, being a Russian woman has learnt from her Eastern girlfriends how to be patient and docile with the men. And the foreigners married to Russian women are endlessly happy and are pretty much enjoying their choice. They say it was an absolutely perfect option for them to meet and marry their spouses. Those joyful husbands describe their sweethearts as nice, honest, not spoiled and more sincere. They are amazed by the fact that Russian women are fearless in showing their feminine side.
The girls from Kazakhstan are happy that they were born there. Local Russian ladies claim this place gave them a great chance to become unique by their personality. They still hold old traits for marriage and wanting children, as well as a good life for them.
However, it is also worth mentioning that the Russian girls are more intellectual and active than their Eastern girlfriends. They are independent, clever and hardworking enough to gain success both in their personal life and in their carrier.
One thing that is clear and unchangeable and it's about everyone's desire for a perfect love relationship and a wish to find a real soul mate that will stay beside forever.
Senin, 09 April 2012
The Controversy Over Roadside Field Sobriety Tests
Copyright 2006 Lance Knowlton
Roadside field sobriety tests (FSTs), developed at the behest of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), are commonly employed by police officers during DUI stops to determine whether a driver is under the influence of alcohol.
FSTs generally consist of a battery of three to five exercises, such as walking and turning in a different direction, standing on one leg, nystagmus (using the eyes to track an object), touching the finger to the nose and reciting the alphabet.
The officer may subjectively decide whether the individual failed the test, or he may decide after applying recently-promulgated federal scoring standards. The NHTSA thinks these tests are a reliable way to gauge sobriety; however, there is mounting evidence that they are anything but.
Many FSTs are based on the concept of divided attention, which occurs when an individual must concentrate on more than one thing at the same time. A driver must divide her attention among various physical and mental activities to safely operate a vehicle, and her ability to do so is significantly reduced by the consumption of alcohol.
Ideally, FSTs evaluate the same mental and physical capabilities that a person needs to drive: information processing; short-term memory; judgment and decision making; steadiness, sure reactions; clear vision; small muscle control; and coordination of the limbs.
The most recently developed of the FSTs is the horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN) test. HGN does not test a driver’s ability to divide his attention, but it is thought to be an even more accurate means to detect whether a person has consumed alcohol because it measures involuntary eye movement.
Nystagmus is an involuntary oscillation of the eye, and it occurs naturally in human eyes when they focus too far off center (straight ahead). If a sober person tracks an object from side to side, the eyes will follow it smoothly up to a certain point, when they will begin to oscillate. If an intoxicated person tracks an object from side to side, alcohol will make nystagmus more pronounced, meaning the eyes will oscillate sooner.
However, alcohol is not the only cause of pronounced nystagmus. Nystagmus can be caused by inner ear problems, flu, strep throat, measles, syphilis, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, hypertension, glaucoma and epilepsy.
Temporary conditions such as motion sickness, sun stroke, eye strain or fatigue, and changes in atmospheric pressure may also result in nystagmus. Further, the consumption of common substances such as caffeine, nicotine, or aspirin can also lead to nystagmus. An individual’s circadian rhythms or biorhythms also affect nystagmus readings.
The integrity of the original research affirming the validity of the HGN test has been called into question, and in 2001 additional research indicated that the test is improperly administered by most police officers. HGN, however, is not the only FST to be called into question. The entire battery of tests appears to offer dubious evidence of intoxication.
The most obvious problem is that the conditions under which FSTs are given almost guarantee failure: usually late at night; along a graveled or sloped roadside; with unsteady lighting from passing cars’ headlights, the officer’s flashlight and patrol car’s strobe and headlights; and sometimes gusts of wind from intemperate weather or passing cars. The test is given to a person who is usually nervous and possibly frightened.
In 1991, Clemson University conducted a study on the accuracy of FSTs. Police officers were shown videotapes of individuals performing six common FSTs and asked to determine whether they were too intoxicated to drive. The officers concluded that almost half of the people were too drunk to drive; however, unknown to the officers, none of them had consumed any alcohol.
Given the questionable reliability of FSTs, it is no wonder they are surrounded by controversy and DUI defense attorneys often advise people not to submit to them.
Roadside field sobriety tests (FSTs), developed at the behest of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), are commonly employed by police officers during DUI stops to determine whether a driver is under the influence of alcohol.
FSTs generally consist of a battery of three to five exercises, such as walking and turning in a different direction, standing on one leg, nystagmus (using the eyes to track an object), touching the finger to the nose and reciting the alphabet.
The officer may subjectively decide whether the individual failed the test, or he may decide after applying recently-promulgated federal scoring standards. The NHTSA thinks these tests are a reliable way to gauge sobriety; however, there is mounting evidence that they are anything but.
Many FSTs are based on the concept of divided attention, which occurs when an individual must concentrate on more than one thing at the same time. A driver must divide her attention among various physical and mental activities to safely operate a vehicle, and her ability to do so is significantly reduced by the consumption of alcohol.
Ideally, FSTs evaluate the same mental and physical capabilities that a person needs to drive: information processing; short-term memory; judgment and decision making; steadiness, sure reactions; clear vision; small muscle control; and coordination of the limbs.
The most recently developed of the FSTs is the horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN) test. HGN does not test a driver’s ability to divide his attention, but it is thought to be an even more accurate means to detect whether a person has consumed alcohol because it measures involuntary eye movement.
Nystagmus is an involuntary oscillation of the eye, and it occurs naturally in human eyes when they focus too far off center (straight ahead). If a sober person tracks an object from side to side, the eyes will follow it smoothly up to a certain point, when they will begin to oscillate. If an intoxicated person tracks an object from side to side, alcohol will make nystagmus more pronounced, meaning the eyes will oscillate sooner.
However, alcohol is not the only cause of pronounced nystagmus. Nystagmus can be caused by inner ear problems, flu, strep throat, measles, syphilis, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, hypertension, glaucoma and epilepsy.
Temporary conditions such as motion sickness, sun stroke, eye strain or fatigue, and changes in atmospheric pressure may also result in nystagmus. Further, the consumption of common substances such as caffeine, nicotine, or aspirin can also lead to nystagmus. An individual’s circadian rhythms or biorhythms also affect nystagmus readings.
The integrity of the original research affirming the validity of the HGN test has been called into question, and in 2001 additional research indicated that the test is improperly administered by most police officers. HGN, however, is not the only FST to be called into question. The entire battery of tests appears to offer dubious evidence of intoxication.
The most obvious problem is that the conditions under which FSTs are given almost guarantee failure: usually late at night; along a graveled or sloped roadside; with unsteady lighting from passing cars’ headlights, the officer’s flashlight and patrol car’s strobe and headlights; and sometimes gusts of wind from intemperate weather or passing cars. The test is given to a person who is usually nervous and possibly frightened.
In 1991, Clemson University conducted a study on the accuracy of FSTs. Police officers were shown videotapes of individuals performing six common FSTs and asked to determine whether they were too intoxicated to drive. The officers concluded that almost half of the people were too drunk to drive; however, unknown to the officers, none of them had consumed any alcohol.
Given the questionable reliability of FSTs, it is no wonder they are surrounded by controversy and DUI defense attorneys often advise people not to submit to them.
Minggu, 08 April 2012
The Kitchen Rebellion
“If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies, we are determined to foment a rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation.” -
Abigail Adams, Former US First Lady
In the book “The Animal Farm,” George Orwell wrote about the peculiar human phenomenon of rebellion. The animals led by the pigs rebelled against the Manor Farm and their human master, Mr. Jones. These animals rebelled because they wanted equality, or more appropriately, equality with human beings. In the end, they were able to attain victory and decided to run the farm all by themselves.
Today, there is a rebellion that is heating up much like what the animal characters conspired to do in the said book. This uprising is the “rebellion of women” in society. Today's sexist society has limited women by confining them within the bounds of the kitchen, beauty pageants, and prostitution. These women are often abused physically and are often the butt of many jokes. Society, men in particular, have had their share of nasty jokes pertaining to women.
The society that is dominated by men practices double-standards when it comes to women. For example, if a woman gets drunk and gets raped, she is to be blamed because she asked for it. The women is to be blamed and not the man who cannot and did not even try to control his libido. A wrong deed is wrong no matter how beautiful we present it. In culture, the self-esteem of the typical male is defined by his trophies—the women he has gone to bed with. The females, on the other hand, are defined by their virginal virtues. Perhaps, calling for equality between men and women is not too much to ask.
According to reports, violence against young girls and women is a major human rights and health concern. Physical, sexual, and psychological abuse takes place in the family, and in the general community. These may include battering, sexual abuse of children, rape and other practices degrading to women. It added that domestic violence is the most common form of violence that is linked to gender. Studies reveal that rape of women, whether attempted or consummated, is mostly perpetrated by a male intimate partner or former-partner. This form of sexual crime and abuse leads to stress and anxiety in the lives of women. The epidemic of sexual abuse had become so alarming that even celebrities had to take a stand to protect the rights of women. One such celebrity was the late Princess Diana, who as some would say, had become an advocate for women's rights and an inspiration to many abused women..including the the sick, the discriminated, and the homeless. She left a legacy that will be remembered for a lifetime. Her life became a channel through which coping with anxiety for women had become easier. Her compassion and good heart made her more beautiful in the eyes of the world. Sadly, she died almost ten years ago without seeing the wide acceptance of women's rights as a cause.
In George Orwell's book, the death of “Old Major” was used to convey the lesson about the perils of rebellion. He was well-respected by the farm animals because of his knowledge and wisdom. In the story, Old Major died three days after sharing his vision and teaching to the farm animal. His death became an inspiration to the farm revolution where the animals won.
Maybe the death of Princess Diana will be the spark of this revolution of women. The revolution that would free them of bounds of the kitchen, beauty pageants, prostitution, and abuse. The true essence of a woman will not be measured by her virginal values, her beautiful face, or the physique she displays. The true essence of a woman is her ability to share her love to others and the society she lives in. Women need not to be conformed to beauty contests or the kitchen. The kitchen rebellion will take place. And it will succeed.
Abigail Adams, Former US First Lady
In the book “The Animal Farm,” George Orwell wrote about the peculiar human phenomenon of rebellion. The animals led by the pigs rebelled against the Manor Farm and their human master, Mr. Jones. These animals rebelled because they wanted equality, or more appropriately, equality with human beings. In the end, they were able to attain victory and decided to run the farm all by themselves.
Today, there is a rebellion that is heating up much like what the animal characters conspired to do in the said book. This uprising is the “rebellion of women” in society. Today's sexist society has limited women by confining them within the bounds of the kitchen, beauty pageants, and prostitution. These women are often abused physically and are often the butt of many jokes. Society, men in particular, have had their share of nasty jokes pertaining to women.
The society that is dominated by men practices double-standards when it comes to women. For example, if a woman gets drunk and gets raped, she is to be blamed because she asked for it. The women is to be blamed and not the man who cannot and did not even try to control his libido. A wrong deed is wrong no matter how beautiful we present it. In culture, the self-esteem of the typical male is defined by his trophies—the women he has gone to bed with. The females, on the other hand, are defined by their virginal virtues. Perhaps, calling for equality between men and women is not too much to ask.
According to reports, violence against young girls and women is a major human rights and health concern. Physical, sexual, and psychological abuse takes place in the family, and in the general community. These may include battering, sexual abuse of children, rape and other practices degrading to women. It added that domestic violence is the most common form of violence that is linked to gender. Studies reveal that rape of women, whether attempted or consummated, is mostly perpetrated by a male intimate partner or former-partner. This form of sexual crime and abuse leads to stress and anxiety in the lives of women. The epidemic of sexual abuse had become so alarming that even celebrities had to take a stand to protect the rights of women. One such celebrity was the late Princess Diana, who as some would say, had become an advocate for women's rights and an inspiration to many abused women..including the the sick, the discriminated, and the homeless. She left a legacy that will be remembered for a lifetime. Her life became a channel through which coping with anxiety for women had become easier. Her compassion and good heart made her more beautiful in the eyes of the world. Sadly, she died almost ten years ago without seeing the wide acceptance of women's rights as a cause.
In George Orwell's book, the death of “Old Major” was used to convey the lesson about the perils of rebellion. He was well-respected by the farm animals because of his knowledge and wisdom. In the story, Old Major died three days after sharing his vision and teaching to the farm animal. His death became an inspiration to the farm revolution where the animals won.
Maybe the death of Princess Diana will be the spark of this revolution of women. The revolution that would free them of bounds of the kitchen, beauty pageants, prostitution, and abuse. The true essence of a woman will not be measured by her virginal values, her beautiful face, or the physique she displays. The true essence of a woman is her ability to share her love to others and the society she lives in. Women need not to be conformed to beauty contests or the kitchen. The kitchen rebellion will take place. And it will succeed.
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