Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), also known as 'Myalgic Encephalomyelitis' (ME), is a form of illness in which the sufferer continuously feels fatigued and is not aided by sleep or rest. Whilst there is no recorded cure for CFS, there are plenty of treatments available to soothe the symptoms. Though the effects will cease over a prolonged period of time, the symptoms associated with CFS can be quite restricting to the victim, and some are listed here:
As with many illnesses, one of the earliest indicators of CFS is nausea; it's likely that the onset of CFS will inflict flu-like symptoms on the sufferer, quickly followed by a persistent fatigue that will not go away. These are the first signs of the syndrome starting to act and there are a number of additional effects that it can cause, with some people experiencing more than others.
The term 'myalgic encephalomyelitis' means pain within the muscles and inflammation of the brain and spinal cord; so another effect of the syndrome is particularly sore muscles throughout the body, rendering the victim unable to do much in terms of daily chores and activities. This lack of social activity can cause psychologically-jarring effects as well, such as depression, irritability, anxiety and panic attacks. The isolation from family and friends means that the victim usually won't even be able to get out of bed, due to tired and aching muscles and the lack of motivation.
Other short term effects include loss of concentration and in some cases, loss of memory for specific periods. Physical effects can range from migraines to sore throats, the usual symptoms of a bad cold/flu; however the addition of rest does not hinder these symptoms, which can cause further issues with more important organs.
Palpitations, an increased heart-rate and shortness of breath in certain situations is likely to occur in more severe cases and the body is sometimes unable to adapt to sudden changes in temperature or the victim may begin to suffer from allergies which they have not experienced before.
In regards to long-term effects, many symptoms of CFS begin to clear up with the passage of time, but the illness can still take its toll. Though the fatigue may not be as persistent, it's likely that it will still remain and be activated after strenuous activities and excessive assertion. Away from the physical effects, and in addition to the social problems it can lead to, CFS also affects those who cannot earn a living and have to get by on disability benefits. Younger sufferers may have problems at school and have to be independently educated which can naturally affect their social growth as well as their academic balance.
CFS can affect anyone, at any age, of any background; though the effects and symptoms can vary, the social and personal hindrance it sets on the victim is the most drastic. It is an unusual illness which can work in very unusual patterns and this can really affect a person's life and work. Though it can't be cured, it can be softened through treatments, special diets and pain managements, and it doesn't have to control your life.
Friday, July 6, 2012
How to Tone Your Abs - Some of the Best Exercises for Abs for Women
Strengthening your abdominal muscles not only gives pleasing visual results but can often have many other benefits -The muscles of your abs stabilise your torso to maintain good posture.Strong abs and back muscles are crucial for preventing lower back pain and injury. Everything you do; walk, bend, sit, stand, reach, and lift, involves your abs and back. If your torso isn't strong or is imbalanced, you'll quickly become one of millions of people with chronic lower back pain.
So abdominal exercises really are your arsenal at sculpting and toning your tummy, follow the steps below to be on your way to getting washboard abs, and increasing the strength in your back.
There's no need for fancy gym equipment, costly memberships or exercising uncomfortably in front of people at the gym. These are all great exercises for abs at home. All you need is a yoga or gym ball, a yoga mat and a workout buddy after all its always fun to work out with a friend.
A. BALL BUSTERS: Lay on your back on a yoga ball with your knees bent at a 90 degree angle and have your workout buddy holding your feet down firmly. Lean all the way back holding a small 5 pound or 2.5kg weight behind your neck crunching up and actually curling your torso inwards towards your belly button and at the same time turning your pelvic muscles up.
B. THE PENDULUM: Lay on a yoga mat on the floor whilst holding your work out partner's ankles. Bring your legs up and have your partner push them down to the floor and then snap your legs back up-the key is to use resistance when your legs are being pushed down, the resistance created is similar to that of using bulky gym equipment.
C. HANGING KNEE RAISES: Although at first the arm straps, may look like a torture device when putting your knees through but hang in there and your abs thanking you! Hang in 2 arm slings with elbows bent and locked, and gently raise your knees into your chest.
Although the information above are some of the best exercises for abs for women its always important to check with your doctor or GP before starting any new exercise routine, this is especially important is you have an existing injury as the last thing you want to do whilst trying to tone your abs is having an injury and be unable to train.
To experience more great abs exercises and more information on how to tone your abs click here http://www.jennifernicoleleesexybodydiet.com
So abdominal exercises really are your arsenal at sculpting and toning your tummy, follow the steps below to be on your way to getting washboard abs, and increasing the strength in your back.
There's no need for fancy gym equipment, costly memberships or exercising uncomfortably in front of people at the gym. These are all great exercises for abs at home. All you need is a yoga or gym ball, a yoga mat and a workout buddy after all its always fun to work out with a friend.
A. BALL BUSTERS: Lay on your back on a yoga ball with your knees bent at a 90 degree angle and have your workout buddy holding your feet down firmly. Lean all the way back holding a small 5 pound or 2.5kg weight behind your neck crunching up and actually curling your torso inwards towards your belly button and at the same time turning your pelvic muscles up.
B. THE PENDULUM: Lay on a yoga mat on the floor whilst holding your work out partner's ankles. Bring your legs up and have your partner push them down to the floor and then snap your legs back up-the key is to use resistance when your legs are being pushed down, the resistance created is similar to that of using bulky gym equipment.
C. HANGING KNEE RAISES: Although at first the arm straps, may look like a torture device when putting your knees through but hang in there and your abs thanking you! Hang in 2 arm slings with elbows bent and locked, and gently raise your knees into your chest.
Although the information above are some of the best exercises for abs for women its always important to check with your doctor or GP before starting any new exercise routine, this is especially important is you have an existing injury as the last thing you want to do whilst trying to tone your abs is having an injury and be unable to train.
To experience more great abs exercises and more information on how to tone your abs click here http://www.jennifernicoleleesexybodydiet.com
Understanding Frozen Shoulder Pain
The risk of having a frozen shoulder is becoming more common with each passing day. The bad news, however, is that the main cause of the problem is not yet known. The good news, on the other hand, is that the problem can be treated and the pain dealt with. Nonetheless, to achieve the best results you should not rely on your own diagnosis of the problem but should seek professional support in order to get the best care. The first step in handling the frosted shoulder pain lies in proper understanding.
Frozen shoulder is a syndrome that is quite painful and associated with the shoulder just as the name depicts. The problem is often characterized with severe pain, and stiffness with almost any movement. The arm becomes immovable in practically any direction partly because of the pain and partly because of the immobility of the shoulder. This condition can be quit distressing especially when considering the fact that the primary causes are unknown to man. The problem can result from practically anything that causes stress to the joint.
Different things happen in the frosted shoulder. The first thing that happens is the contraction of the shoulder joint. This leads to an increase in friction that leads to the scarring of the surrounding tissues which results in pain emanating. The symptoms of the frozen shoulder are all related to pain. They include deep pain at night and when waking, inability to lie in the side of the injured shoulder and restricted arm movement especially from the shoulder. However, it is important to understand that some of these symptoms can easily be confused for other illnesses or injuries. This is one of the reasons that it is important to seek professional help. If unattended to, the frosted shoulder pain can needlessly last for months. You also need to understand that the problem can result from an underlying disease.
There are several things that you can do to manage the frozen shoulder. The Internet will provide you with tons of information that you can turn to in learning more about frozen shoulder pain management. The problem is that most of the information will lead to more problems than helping. If you have to learn of the tips and tricks of handling the problem, you should consider seeking help from a reputable source. Either way, consulting an expert is always the best path to take.
So, how long does it last? There are basically four phases to the frozen shoulder problem. However, in the absence of proper treatment, the problem can last for up to thirty months or longer. The four phases of the frozen shoulder are Pre-freezing, freezing, frozen and thawing. Pre-freezing is a condition that can last up to four weeks. Freezing is the main deal and can take one to eight months depending on treatment. And frozen is the severe stage that starts from nine months to sixteen. Depending on the phase you are in, different treatment to the frozen shoulder pain will be administered. It is always a great idea to seek help in the initial stages.
Tired of struggling with frozen shoulders? Then get pain relief and find out about the treatment options at www.frozenshoulder.ca. Led by the world famous Dr Allan Gary Oolo Austin - the founder of Trigenics.
Frozen shoulder is a syndrome that is quite painful and associated with the shoulder just as the name depicts. The problem is often characterized with severe pain, and stiffness with almost any movement. The arm becomes immovable in practically any direction partly because of the pain and partly because of the immobility of the shoulder. This condition can be quit distressing especially when considering the fact that the primary causes are unknown to man. The problem can result from practically anything that causes stress to the joint.
Different things happen in the frosted shoulder. The first thing that happens is the contraction of the shoulder joint. This leads to an increase in friction that leads to the scarring of the surrounding tissues which results in pain emanating. The symptoms of the frozen shoulder are all related to pain. They include deep pain at night and when waking, inability to lie in the side of the injured shoulder and restricted arm movement especially from the shoulder. However, it is important to understand that some of these symptoms can easily be confused for other illnesses or injuries. This is one of the reasons that it is important to seek professional help. If unattended to, the frosted shoulder pain can needlessly last for months. You also need to understand that the problem can result from an underlying disease.
There are several things that you can do to manage the frozen shoulder. The Internet will provide you with tons of information that you can turn to in learning more about frozen shoulder pain management. The problem is that most of the information will lead to more problems than helping. If you have to learn of the tips and tricks of handling the problem, you should consider seeking help from a reputable source. Either way, consulting an expert is always the best path to take.
So, how long does it last? There are basically four phases to the frozen shoulder problem. However, in the absence of proper treatment, the problem can last for up to thirty months or longer. The four phases of the frozen shoulder are Pre-freezing, freezing, frozen and thawing. Pre-freezing is a condition that can last up to four weeks. Freezing is the main deal and can take one to eight months depending on treatment. And frozen is the severe stage that starts from nine months to sixteen. Depending on the phase you are in, different treatment to the frozen shoulder pain will be administered. It is always a great idea to seek help in the initial stages.
Tired of struggling with frozen shoulders? Then get pain relief and find out about the treatment options at www.frozenshoulder.ca. Led by the world famous Dr Allan Gary Oolo Austin - the founder of Trigenics.
Teens: A Call to Action
You're a teen. Everything seems to be going wrong.
You're a parent. You kid is messing up every way they can.
You're a teacher. Everyone expects everything but won't give you what you need to get it done.
You're a failure. No!
You're a messup. No!
You're a loser. No!
Don't accept it.
Don't buy into it.
The great ones.. Einstein. Edison. Ford. Gaga? Yes. Gaga. You name them. Everyone said they were crazy. Everyone said "get a life".
Everyone told them they were out of step. Out of touch. Out of luck.
You could say who has the last laugh now but do people really laugh at stuff like that when they're doing well finally. Is it a regular laugh? Or one of those crazy "Joker" laughs from the last batman. Who cares! It's not about laughing. It's about loving.
Love yourself. Believe in yourself. Have faith. Yeah. It's exam time. Yeah, you messed up some. So what. Just start tomorrow. Don't do it for anyone else but yourself. Help someone off the ground. Get them back on their feet. Do your thing. Slowly. Little by little. Put everything you have into it but don't tell anyone. Just do it.
I'm tired of the amazing kids I see starting to do great things and someone tells them it's not enough. I'm tired of seeing bullies and sadists spotlighted for awful things on the news. Why aren't the amazing small acts of courage being shown on the news. Why isn't the kids whose afraid to say two words in public, why isn't her face blazed across Mcleans magazine for standing up in class and giving her first answer aloud instead of some alleged murderer who wanted his poison shown to as many people as possible.
I believe in this generation. I believe in social media. I know that this generation is itching to make a difference. I know that the teachers and the parents really want to help them make a change. Let them! Let's honor every person who wants to try something to get this generation to find it's center. To find it's greatness. If they fail. That's ok. Just try. Just let them try. And if you fail a thousand times. Keep doing it. Keep believing. Try another way.
I believe in you. I don't care what your marks are. I don't care if you messed up. Start now. Change the world for the better even if it's the smallest thing and no one will notice.
Don't let the people who victimize be the ones we celebrate. Don't let the bullies be the ones we celebrate. Let's celebrate the kids, the parents, the teachers. Let's get every kid who wants to make a difference together and vote. Yes. Vote. Scare the politicians into caring about you guys. You have no idea what power you have. I love the protests but I need you to care. To pick a cause and go after it but make it one that creates good in the world.
Here's my promise to you. Pick something. Anything. That will change the world for the better. Stand up for it. Spend 30 minutes a day working on it. Get all your friends involved. Get their friends involved. Vote. Stand by your convictions but make sure it's positive. If you run a rally against something I won't be there but if you run a rally for something, something that will make the world better. I'll be there and I won't be alone.
How do you do it?
The antidote to discrimination and stigma is proximity and education - Dr. Catherine Zahn
1) Pick something you care about; homelessness; mental illness; discrimination; child poverty; elder abuse.
2) Do research on it. Find out enough that you could talk to anyone about it for 10 minutes and make them want to join in and help.
3) Go visit three places that presently help people in your cause. Learn about it.
4) Volunteer once or twice a week at a place that represents the best of helping your cause.
5) Ask people in the know, what is the one thing that would help this group thrive?
6) Pick that positive point and go and talk about it with everyone that will listen.
7) Write down the names/contact info of the people who are moved by the idea.
8) Set up a meeting with all those people (real or virtual) and decided on the one thing you want your politicians to change.
9) Talk to local politicians and ask them what is required to make that change happen and if they would endorse it. Find out what level of government can help.
10) Use all that you have learned to make this a platform for change in upcoming elections at the proper level.
11) Get all your friends involved. Create a Facebook page. Create a twitter account and get politicians to contribute information on the topic.
12) Vote!
13) See what happens.
Even if you do the first four on the list, you are making a difference. Anything after that and you are changing the world.
Gandhi was for something. Mother Theresa was for something. MLK was for something.
Go! Do it. Don't let your mistakes define you. Don't let the destroyers define us. We're waiting. We're waiting for you and we want to believe. And you know what? I already do believe in you and I am not alone either. Plenty of us believe. Go for it. Now!
Send me your thoughts on what we should do and I'll write about it.
What if there was a tried and true new way to bring out the best in young people not thriving. Join Ken's free newsletter and receive a weekly link to that week's article on the subject.
http://www.reallifecoaching.ca/RealLifeCoaching/Free_Newlsetter_for_Teen_Problems.html Please come and visit Ken's website http://www.reallifecoaching.ca
You're a parent. You kid is messing up every way they can.
You're a teacher. Everyone expects everything but won't give you what you need to get it done.
You're a failure. No!
You're a messup. No!
You're a loser. No!
Don't accept it.
Don't buy into it.
The great ones.. Einstein. Edison. Ford. Gaga? Yes. Gaga. You name them. Everyone said they were crazy. Everyone said "get a life".
Everyone told them they were out of step. Out of touch. Out of luck.
You could say who has the last laugh now but do people really laugh at stuff like that when they're doing well finally. Is it a regular laugh? Or one of those crazy "Joker" laughs from the last batman. Who cares! It's not about laughing. It's about loving.
Love yourself. Believe in yourself. Have faith. Yeah. It's exam time. Yeah, you messed up some. So what. Just start tomorrow. Don't do it for anyone else but yourself. Help someone off the ground. Get them back on their feet. Do your thing. Slowly. Little by little. Put everything you have into it but don't tell anyone. Just do it.
I'm tired of the amazing kids I see starting to do great things and someone tells them it's not enough. I'm tired of seeing bullies and sadists spotlighted for awful things on the news. Why aren't the amazing small acts of courage being shown on the news. Why isn't the kids whose afraid to say two words in public, why isn't her face blazed across Mcleans magazine for standing up in class and giving her first answer aloud instead of some alleged murderer who wanted his poison shown to as many people as possible.
I believe in this generation. I believe in social media. I know that this generation is itching to make a difference. I know that the teachers and the parents really want to help them make a change. Let them! Let's honor every person who wants to try something to get this generation to find it's center. To find it's greatness. If they fail. That's ok. Just try. Just let them try. And if you fail a thousand times. Keep doing it. Keep believing. Try another way.
I believe in you. I don't care what your marks are. I don't care if you messed up. Start now. Change the world for the better even if it's the smallest thing and no one will notice.
Don't let the people who victimize be the ones we celebrate. Don't let the bullies be the ones we celebrate. Let's celebrate the kids, the parents, the teachers. Let's get every kid who wants to make a difference together and vote. Yes. Vote. Scare the politicians into caring about you guys. You have no idea what power you have. I love the protests but I need you to care. To pick a cause and go after it but make it one that creates good in the world.
Here's my promise to you. Pick something. Anything. That will change the world for the better. Stand up for it. Spend 30 minutes a day working on it. Get all your friends involved. Get their friends involved. Vote. Stand by your convictions but make sure it's positive. If you run a rally against something I won't be there but if you run a rally for something, something that will make the world better. I'll be there and I won't be alone.
How do you do it?
The antidote to discrimination and stigma is proximity and education - Dr. Catherine Zahn
1) Pick something you care about; homelessness; mental illness; discrimination; child poverty; elder abuse.
2) Do research on it. Find out enough that you could talk to anyone about it for 10 minutes and make them want to join in and help.
3) Go visit three places that presently help people in your cause. Learn about it.
4) Volunteer once or twice a week at a place that represents the best of helping your cause.
5) Ask people in the know, what is the one thing that would help this group thrive?
6) Pick that positive point and go and talk about it with everyone that will listen.
7) Write down the names/contact info of the people who are moved by the idea.
8) Set up a meeting with all those people (real or virtual) and decided on the one thing you want your politicians to change.
9) Talk to local politicians and ask them what is required to make that change happen and if they would endorse it. Find out what level of government can help.
10) Use all that you have learned to make this a platform for change in upcoming elections at the proper level.
11) Get all your friends involved. Create a Facebook page. Create a twitter account and get politicians to contribute information on the topic.
12) Vote!
13) See what happens.
Even if you do the first four on the list, you are making a difference. Anything after that and you are changing the world.
Gandhi was for something. Mother Theresa was for something. MLK was for something.
Go! Do it. Don't let your mistakes define you. Don't let the destroyers define us. We're waiting. We're waiting for you and we want to believe. And you know what? I already do believe in you and I am not alone either. Plenty of us believe. Go for it. Now!
Send me your thoughts on what we should do and I'll write about it.
What if there was a tried and true new way to bring out the best in young people not thriving. Join Ken's free newsletter and receive a weekly link to that week's article on the subject.
http://www.reallifecoaching.ca/RealLifeCoaching/Free_Newlsetter_for_Teen_Problems.html Please come and visit Ken's website http://www.reallifecoaching.ca
Education Divides Rather Than Unites Society
The quality of education being delivered varies across private and public schools. Private schools being more costly can only be afforded by the relatively affluent class, whereas, public schools aren't a burden on the wallet and therefore preferred by the common man. Although some public schools do manage to impart education of a high standard, most pale in comparison to private schools. With more funds to invest in the education of its pupils, private schools enjoy a better reputation than public schools. The reputation of the school matters a lot when it comes to college admissions where once again public school students are at a disadvantage.
In some developing countries, such as Pakistan and India, women in general and the rural woman in particular, are discouraged from attaining education. Male children are given preference when it comes to sending children to school, particularly if the household has a limited budget. Even educated individuals make such absurd choices and such practices have secluded women not only from schools but also from the workplace.
The living conditions of an individual dictate whether he/she would be able to complete his/her education or not. Therefore, for a person, who can not even fulfill his basic necessities attaining education is a much more difficult objective than it is for a person living a relatively luxurious life. Children belonging to such impoverished families find it increasingly difficult to pursue education while trying to earn bread and butter for their families. Most of them are unable to complete their primary education, not because they chose to do so but because circumstances dictated so. In such circumstances education is not assisting such individuals from breaking through the poverty cycle and thus leading to a wider gap between the rich and the poor, the educated and the uneducated.
Education standards also differ across geographical boundaries, across continents and across poles. The West is generally envied by the East for its quality of education, the reason why a number of students from the East choose colleges in the West (only the rich are able to do so). Similarly those living in rural areas do not have access to the same quality of education as those who reside in urban areas. Improvements in technology have to a very limited extent countered this issue. However, the pace at which technology is improving is remarkable and soon enough location would not be an issue.
Attaining an education might be a difficult journey for some and indeed for others an impossible one, but education does play a pivotal role in guaranteeing higher chances of employment and better paying jobs. If education is made more accessible and the quality that is imparted more uniform such that the rich are not advantaged and the poor not disadvantaged and that gender does not determine one's chances of becoming educated and that an individual's location doesn't dictate the quality of education he/she is to receive, then only can education unite society.
A surface level assessment rather than a deeper analysis suggests that education is bridging the inequality gap. Such an opinion is arrived at without considering the roles gender,class and ethnicity play in determining whether an individual will successfully complete his/her education or not.
Has it ever occurred to you why certain individuals are more likely to attain an education while others constantly struggle to maintain their academic performance. Whether an individual's circumstances dictate the degree of success he/she is to achieve? How our educational system has failed to bridge the inequality gap?
In some developing countries, such as Pakistan and India, women in general and the rural woman in particular, are discouraged from attaining education. Male children are given preference when it comes to sending children to school, particularly if the household has a limited budget. Even educated individuals make such absurd choices and such practices have secluded women not only from schools but also from the workplace.
The living conditions of an individual dictate whether he/she would be able to complete his/her education or not. Therefore, for a person, who can not even fulfill his basic necessities attaining education is a much more difficult objective than it is for a person living a relatively luxurious life. Children belonging to such impoverished families find it increasingly difficult to pursue education while trying to earn bread and butter for their families. Most of them are unable to complete their primary education, not because they chose to do so but because circumstances dictated so. In such circumstances education is not assisting such individuals from breaking through the poverty cycle and thus leading to a wider gap between the rich and the poor, the educated and the uneducated.
Education standards also differ across geographical boundaries, across continents and across poles. The West is generally envied by the East for its quality of education, the reason why a number of students from the East choose colleges in the West (only the rich are able to do so). Similarly those living in rural areas do not have access to the same quality of education as those who reside in urban areas. Improvements in technology have to a very limited extent countered this issue. However, the pace at which technology is improving is remarkable and soon enough location would not be an issue.
Attaining an education might be a difficult journey for some and indeed for others an impossible one, but education does play a pivotal role in guaranteeing higher chances of employment and better paying jobs. If education is made more accessible and the quality that is imparted more uniform such that the rich are not advantaged and the poor not disadvantaged and that gender does not determine one's chances of becoming educated and that an individual's location doesn't dictate the quality of education he/she is to receive, then only can education unite society.
A surface level assessment rather than a deeper analysis suggests that education is bridging the inequality gap. Such an opinion is arrived at without considering the roles gender,class and ethnicity play in determining whether an individual will successfully complete his/her education or not.
Has it ever occurred to you why certain individuals are more likely to attain an education while others constantly struggle to maintain their academic performance. Whether an individual's circumstances dictate the degree of success he/she is to achieve? How our educational system has failed to bridge the inequality gap?
Thursday, July 5, 2012
The JFK Limos: Marking the 50th Anniversary of John F Kennedy's Assassination
Next year will mark the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy's assassination, where the nature of American politics took such a sudden and ultimately tragic change in course. A stark memento of that occasion emerged in the news last week, as it was revealed that 2 limousines from the Kennedy White House motor pool are set for sale at some point during 2013. Owned by Connecticut resident John Reznikoff, the vehicles have recently being prepared for auction and showcased at the Classic Car Gallery to help drive interest and commemorate that seismic day in the fall of 1963.
The Vehicles and Their Place in History
The first vehicle in question is the 4 door 1963 Lincoln Continental limousine, which both John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy used for a parade in Forth Worth, Texas the day before the presidents tragic assassination. This classic black model is as striking today as it was back then, and has benefited from extremely effective level of maintenance and personal attention to ensure that it runs as smoothly today as it did 4 decades ago. The 2nd is the less vaunted 1960 Lincoln Mark V Limousine, which provides a stark contrast to its partner with crisp white paintwork, a simplified design and an underrated visual aesthetic.
Both cars were themselves purchased in auction by John Reznikoff, who procured them from the eclectic and unusual Museum of American Tragedy. Given that they remain in almost mint condition to this day, aside from minimal wear to the interiors of each vehicle, their grandeur presents a fitting visual representation of the era and a physical memento of an incredibly emotive and tragic day. As they are currently being displayed in full public view before their proposed sale at auction, their presence is providing an interesting foot note ahead of the 50th anniversary of the assassination next year.
Delivering a Fitting Tribute for the 50th Anniversary
Despite owning the iconic JFK limo and a second vehicle from the Kennedy White House motor pool for more than a decade, John Reznikoff's decision to sell them will play a significant role in providing a fitting tribute for next years 50th anniversary commemoration. By preparing them for sale in conjunction with technical staff at the Classic Car Gallery, he is creating media interest at an ideal time and drawing a sharp focus towards one of the most momentous days in American history.
The JFK limo remains one of the most iconic vehicles in modern history, and its sale will generate worldwide interest in one of America's most infamous events.
The Vehicles and Their Place in History
The first vehicle in question is the 4 door 1963 Lincoln Continental limousine, which both John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy used for a parade in Forth Worth, Texas the day before the presidents tragic assassination. This classic black model is as striking today as it was back then, and has benefited from extremely effective level of maintenance and personal attention to ensure that it runs as smoothly today as it did 4 decades ago. The 2nd is the less vaunted 1960 Lincoln Mark V Limousine, which provides a stark contrast to its partner with crisp white paintwork, a simplified design and an underrated visual aesthetic.
Both cars were themselves purchased in auction by John Reznikoff, who procured them from the eclectic and unusual Museum of American Tragedy. Given that they remain in almost mint condition to this day, aside from minimal wear to the interiors of each vehicle, their grandeur presents a fitting visual representation of the era and a physical memento of an incredibly emotive and tragic day. As they are currently being displayed in full public view before their proposed sale at auction, their presence is providing an interesting foot note ahead of the 50th anniversary of the assassination next year.
Delivering a Fitting Tribute for the 50th Anniversary
Despite owning the iconic JFK limo and a second vehicle from the Kennedy White House motor pool for more than a decade, John Reznikoff's decision to sell them will play a significant role in providing a fitting tribute for next years 50th anniversary commemoration. By preparing them for sale in conjunction with technical staff at the Classic Car Gallery, he is creating media interest at an ideal time and drawing a sharp focus towards one of the most momentous days in American history.
The JFK limo remains one of the most iconic vehicles in modern history, and its sale will generate worldwide interest in one of America's most infamous events.
Obsessed With Success: A Lesson From American Idol
I just heard another American Idol contestant was kicked off the show for reportedly lying about his past. It seems nearly every season the show disqualifies a contestant for glossing over life details that violate the show's rules.
But as we know, in Hollywood, skeletons always come out of the closet. Reporters and paparazzi are paid to dig up dirt, so if it's there they're bound to find it. But that's not what really bothers me. What bothers me is what all of this lying and cheating represents. It's something that is becoming far too common in our society. In fact, I believe in many ways our culture is breeding it.
We're obsessed with success and taught to do whatever it takes to get there.
When fame and fortune are the goal, you must pull out all the stops. After all, it's a dog-eat-dog world and if you're not willing to do it, there's someone else nipping at your heals who gladly will. All you have to do is look around to find evidence of this no-holds-barred obsession with success, money, and fame everywhere.
It starts young...
From striving for gold stars on our elementary school assignments, to winning Little League trophies, kids are indoctrinated to the idea of competition from the moment they step into the classroom or onto a sports field. And, well-meaning teachers and parents are usually their biggest cheerleaders. I'm concerned we may not realize the long-term effects of what we're doing to our children.
We see it on TV...
Turn on the television and you find popular reality shows such as Lifetime's Dance Moms and TLC's Toddlers & Tiara's, going to the extreme coaching and grooming young girls to be winners. We may laugh it off as entertainment, but George Gerbner's Cultivation Theory suggests that what we watch on television shapes our culture. With reality TV shows occupying five of the top 10 ratings slots in the 2010-2011 season, one has to wonder what impact this is having on our world.
Our schools perpetuate it...
In many high schools more focus is placed on standardized test scores than on providing a well-rounded education. School has become a ratings game, too, yet it doesn't appear to be resulting in smarter students. Sadly, according to a 2006 Junior Achievement Teen Ethics Poll, 44 percent of teens feel a strong pressure to succeed in school, no matter the cost, with more than one in ten students believing they must cheat to be successful.
And, adults are not immune.
One only has to look around at the corporate greed scandals of recent years, and the collapse of the real estate and mortgage industries to find examples of adults so focused on money and success that they were willing to cut corners-and break laws-in order to achieve both.
We're raised with the message that if we want to succeed we must be willing to do whatever it takes. I've heard success coaches tell people they must live as if they are wealthy if they want to attract abundance (unfortunately this attitude has driven many into foreclosure and bankruptcy). The focus seems to be on getting there instead of living now. I worry that as a result we may be creating a competitive world rather than a caring one. A world where too many people are more focused on getting what's theirs rather than doing what's right.
Debbie LaChusa is a marketing consultant, speaker, blogger, and the author of three books including her latest, "Breaking the Spell" You can read more of her musings on money, success, and happiness, and get the first chapter of her book, "Breaking the Spell: The Truth about Money, Success, and the Pursuit of Happiness," for free at MoneySuccessHappiness.com
But as we know, in Hollywood, skeletons always come out of the closet. Reporters and paparazzi are paid to dig up dirt, so if it's there they're bound to find it. But that's not what really bothers me. What bothers me is what all of this lying and cheating represents. It's something that is becoming far too common in our society. In fact, I believe in many ways our culture is breeding it.
We're obsessed with success and taught to do whatever it takes to get there.
When fame and fortune are the goal, you must pull out all the stops. After all, it's a dog-eat-dog world and if you're not willing to do it, there's someone else nipping at your heals who gladly will. All you have to do is look around to find evidence of this no-holds-barred obsession with success, money, and fame everywhere.
It starts young...
From striving for gold stars on our elementary school assignments, to winning Little League trophies, kids are indoctrinated to the idea of competition from the moment they step into the classroom or onto a sports field. And, well-meaning teachers and parents are usually their biggest cheerleaders. I'm concerned we may not realize the long-term effects of what we're doing to our children.
We see it on TV...
Turn on the television and you find popular reality shows such as Lifetime's Dance Moms and TLC's Toddlers & Tiara's, going to the extreme coaching and grooming young girls to be winners. We may laugh it off as entertainment, but George Gerbner's Cultivation Theory suggests that what we watch on television shapes our culture. With reality TV shows occupying five of the top 10 ratings slots in the 2010-2011 season, one has to wonder what impact this is having on our world.
Our schools perpetuate it...
In many high schools more focus is placed on standardized test scores than on providing a well-rounded education. School has become a ratings game, too, yet it doesn't appear to be resulting in smarter students. Sadly, according to a 2006 Junior Achievement Teen Ethics Poll, 44 percent of teens feel a strong pressure to succeed in school, no matter the cost, with more than one in ten students believing they must cheat to be successful.
And, adults are not immune.
One only has to look around at the corporate greed scandals of recent years, and the collapse of the real estate and mortgage industries to find examples of adults so focused on money and success that they were willing to cut corners-and break laws-in order to achieve both.
We're raised with the message that if we want to succeed we must be willing to do whatever it takes. I've heard success coaches tell people they must live as if they are wealthy if they want to attract abundance (unfortunately this attitude has driven many into foreclosure and bankruptcy). The focus seems to be on getting there instead of living now. I worry that as a result we may be creating a competitive world rather than a caring one. A world where too many people are more focused on getting what's theirs rather than doing what's right.
Debbie LaChusa is a marketing consultant, speaker, blogger, and the author of three books including her latest, "Breaking the Spell" You can read more of her musings on money, success, and happiness, and get the first chapter of her book, "Breaking the Spell: The Truth about Money, Success, and the Pursuit of Happiness," for free at MoneySuccessHappiness.com
The Art of Thank You
Just when you have about given up on the younger generation, something happens which restores your faith in them. It's rare, but it happens. Such was the case recently when I met with a young man, about 28 years of age, who asked my advice on some business related issue. I had never met him before, but he had heard of me and hoped I could answer some questions for him. I arranged a face-to-face meeting where we sat down and discussed what was on his mind. I cannot divulge what we talked about but suffice it to say we got to know one and other and I was able to take care of his problem. To me, he appeared to be a sincere young man who had graduated from High School, survived a tour of Afghanistan with the Army, and was now beginning his professional life. In the course of the conversation we talked candidly and discovered our common interests even though there was a significant difference in our ages. He had started back to college and was working towards a degree in I.T. security. He also realized his education was important as he wanted to start a family soon.
A few days following our meeting I received a package in the mail which included a letter from him thanking me for my time and advice. Also included were a couple of cigars. Evidently, I had said something during the meeting about my passion for cigars and he had remembered it. Needless to say, I was impressed by his thoughtfulness, something you typically do not see anymore.
I told this story to a close friend who told me a similar story. Recently, he had driven his bus for a youth outing from his church. It took a few hours out of his day but he was glad to help. A few days later, he received a very nice thank you card in the mail from the youth group director who appreciated his efforts.
In this day and age of e-mails and instant messaging, my friend and I were genuinely surprised and touched by the gestures of appreciation. It is a sign of good grooming which is why I believe youngsters should get in the habit of learning to write thank you notes at an early age. Unfortunately, not too many do. Maybe this is something that should be taught in elementary school which would help promote penmanship to boot.
Writing a letter and saying "thank you" graciously is becoming a lost art. Even with today's sophisticated electronic communications, people seem to have trouble expressing their gratitude, thinking it is more of a waste of time than anything else. Have we become so jaded that we cannot express our appreciation for anything? Saying "thank you" is one of the little things in life that make it worthwhile. It is a courtesy that doesn't go away unnoticed.
Years ago, when I was involved with computer societies, I was often responsible for securing speakers for meetings. I would call them on the telephone to invite them, followed it up with a letter detailing the meeting and checking on their requirements; afterwards, I would send them a note thanking them for speaking at the event. I did this regularly. So much so, I never had a problem securing a speaker, simply because I made sure they knew they were appreciated. I was always mindful of the old idiom, "You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar."
This is why I was particularly glad to see thank you notes still around. They may be rare these days, but they certainly haven't disappeared and are very gratifying.
Tim Bryce is a writer and management consultant located in Palm Harbor, Florida.
http://www.phmainstreet.com/timbryce.htm
He can be contacted at: timb001@phmainstreet.com Copyright © 2012 Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.
A few days following our meeting I received a package in the mail which included a letter from him thanking me for my time and advice. Also included were a couple of cigars. Evidently, I had said something during the meeting about my passion for cigars and he had remembered it. Needless to say, I was impressed by his thoughtfulness, something you typically do not see anymore.
I told this story to a close friend who told me a similar story. Recently, he had driven his bus for a youth outing from his church. It took a few hours out of his day but he was glad to help. A few days later, he received a very nice thank you card in the mail from the youth group director who appreciated his efforts.
In this day and age of e-mails and instant messaging, my friend and I were genuinely surprised and touched by the gestures of appreciation. It is a sign of good grooming which is why I believe youngsters should get in the habit of learning to write thank you notes at an early age. Unfortunately, not too many do. Maybe this is something that should be taught in elementary school which would help promote penmanship to boot.
Writing a letter and saying "thank you" graciously is becoming a lost art. Even with today's sophisticated electronic communications, people seem to have trouble expressing their gratitude, thinking it is more of a waste of time than anything else. Have we become so jaded that we cannot express our appreciation for anything? Saying "thank you" is one of the little things in life that make it worthwhile. It is a courtesy that doesn't go away unnoticed.
Years ago, when I was involved with computer societies, I was often responsible for securing speakers for meetings. I would call them on the telephone to invite them, followed it up with a letter detailing the meeting and checking on their requirements; afterwards, I would send them a note thanking them for speaking at the event. I did this regularly. So much so, I never had a problem securing a speaker, simply because I made sure they knew they were appreciated. I was always mindful of the old idiom, "You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar."
This is why I was particularly glad to see thank you notes still around. They may be rare these days, but they certainly haven't disappeared and are very gratifying.
Tim Bryce is a writer and management consultant located in Palm Harbor, Florida.
http://www.phmainstreet.com/timbryce.htm
He can be contacted at: timb001@phmainstreet.com Copyright © 2012 Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.
The Perfect Mix of Traveling Abroad and Volunteering
Most of us like to travel. The idea of seeing new places and learning different things fascinates us all. But have you ever thought of making your trip truly worthy? Try volunteering while traveling and see the fun escalate skyward.
Traveling abroad gives us a chance to see foreign land, appreciate foreign culture as well as the people's way of life. There is a way with which you can transform your trip from worthless tourism to meaningful volunteering work too. Gain merit and self-satisfaction while you discover the sights, sounds that a foreign company has to offer.
If you decide to travel to another country armed with the purpose to volunteer and work for a good cause, then your entire trip will turn into a lifetime experience. Whether you are moved by the cause of helping the poor, feeding the needy or even saving the environment, every good deed can be combined seamlessly with a tourism plan.
To give you a clearer perspective on how you can combine traveling and compassion by means of volunteering work abroad, here are a few examples. If you plan to see the great Indian tiger, then you would fly down to India and head straight to the natural tiger reserves. Now, mostly near these forested areas, natural conservation work is being carried out by the Government and private agencies. You can choose a destination and then can apply for placement in a conservation program. This will serve a dual purpose as you will be able to see some of the fascinating wildlife and landscape of a new place while serving to protect the wildlife.
The same approach will work for a holiday planned to visit the forests or explore marine life. Where ever in the world you want to go, from Asia to Europe to Africa, people in need of help await you; as does the nature's handiwork. Forest and marine life all over the world are in grave danger and you can select which part of the globe you would like to volunteer in. A brief on what all you can do while on a natural holiday:
* Do your bit. Conserve forests by volunteering to undo the damage habitats by planting trees with the assistance of the concerned departments.
* Restore the park with some extraordinary species of plants growing in them.
* Learn about the animals endangered and think of ways of safeguarding these animal species.
This case about working in national parks is just one of the many things you can do while you visit a place. Sign up for teaching underprivileged kids living in the old world city you decided to visit. A few hours of your time and you will contribute for a greater cause. Volunteer groups also provide you a purpose in life and at the end of your trip you will the sense of achievement and satisfaction. While the world is progressing, issues like poverty, illiteracy are still pressing concerns for many countries. This means that when you will sign up for volunteer work abroad, you will be joining a cause dedicated to help and serve people. While you volunteer, you will be able to acquire new ideas from a new culture and other beliefs of people. Dual benefits are awaiting you, give volunteering tourism a shot!
The writer is associated with Volunteer in India, an organization dedicated to inspire people to come down to India and volunteer India orphanage and other social centers are always supportive and caring for all their volunteers lending a hand.
Traveling abroad gives us a chance to see foreign land, appreciate foreign culture as well as the people's way of life. There is a way with which you can transform your trip from worthless tourism to meaningful volunteering work too. Gain merit and self-satisfaction while you discover the sights, sounds that a foreign company has to offer.
If you decide to travel to another country armed with the purpose to volunteer and work for a good cause, then your entire trip will turn into a lifetime experience. Whether you are moved by the cause of helping the poor, feeding the needy or even saving the environment, every good deed can be combined seamlessly with a tourism plan.
To give you a clearer perspective on how you can combine traveling and compassion by means of volunteering work abroad, here are a few examples. If you plan to see the great Indian tiger, then you would fly down to India and head straight to the natural tiger reserves. Now, mostly near these forested areas, natural conservation work is being carried out by the Government and private agencies. You can choose a destination and then can apply for placement in a conservation program. This will serve a dual purpose as you will be able to see some of the fascinating wildlife and landscape of a new place while serving to protect the wildlife.
The same approach will work for a holiday planned to visit the forests or explore marine life. Where ever in the world you want to go, from Asia to Europe to Africa, people in need of help await you; as does the nature's handiwork. Forest and marine life all over the world are in grave danger and you can select which part of the globe you would like to volunteer in. A brief on what all you can do while on a natural holiday:
* Do your bit. Conserve forests by volunteering to undo the damage habitats by planting trees with the assistance of the concerned departments.
* Restore the park with some extraordinary species of plants growing in them.
* Learn about the animals endangered and think of ways of safeguarding these animal species.
This case about working in national parks is just one of the many things you can do while you visit a place. Sign up for teaching underprivileged kids living in the old world city you decided to visit. A few hours of your time and you will contribute for a greater cause. Volunteer groups also provide you a purpose in life and at the end of your trip you will the sense of achievement and satisfaction. While the world is progressing, issues like poverty, illiteracy are still pressing concerns for many countries. This means that when you will sign up for volunteer work abroad, you will be joining a cause dedicated to help and serve people. While you volunteer, you will be able to acquire new ideas from a new culture and other beliefs of people. Dual benefits are awaiting you, give volunteering tourism a shot!
The writer is associated with Volunteer in India, an organization dedicated to inspire people to come down to India and volunteer India orphanage and other social centers are always supportive and caring for all their volunteers lending a hand.
The Powerful Role Of Women In Peace Building
On October 7, 2011, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to three formidable women: Tawakkul Karman, a leader of anti-government protests in Yemen; Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa's first democratically elected female president in 2005; and Leymah Gbowee, also of Liberia who campaigned against the use of sexual assault as a weapon of war.
Karman, 32, was the first Arab woman to win the peace prize. The award was bestowed in recognition for her role in peace activism in Yemen, long before the 2011 Arab Spring revolution, and for initiating positive change in political oppression and the role of women in the rise of new democracies. The two Liberian women (Sirleaf, 72, and Gbowee, 32) were the first sub-Saharan African winners of the peace prize since Kenyan Wangari Maathai won it in 2004 for the fight against deforestation by mobilizing women to plant trees. Maathai died in 2011 at the age of 71. Sirleaf was seen as a reformer and peacemaker in Liberia, campaigning to end government corruption and to work for reconciliation after fourteen years of civil war. Gbowee, in Liberia, organized hundreds of female protesters throughout Monrovia to demand disarmament of fighters, forcing attention on women combatants exploited and sexually assaulted by warlords. She was honored by the Nobel Committee for mobilizing women across ethnic and religious dividing lines to bring an end to the long war in Liberia, and to ensure women's participation in elections. Sirleaf campaigned for peace within the government (in the country's top leadership role), whereas Gbowee and Karman worked as individuals -- Karman with limited support from her government.
It was the Norwegian Nobel Committee's hope that the prize for the three women would shine a light on the great potential for democracy and peace that women can represent.
Pakistan set an example by holding a four-day International Islamic Women Police Conference in November 2011 in Islamabad to unite women police officers from more than ten Islamic countries to build synergies and discuss context-specific gender issues. In 2010 Pakistan female law enforcers comprised less than one percent of all law enforcers. In comparison, female officers comprised a third of the total Australian Federal Police workforce. The Pakistan government now has a policy to integrate women in the mainstream police force, which is an increasing international trend in Muslim countries. Research has shown that women police officers bring a public-friendly image of police as they are much less likely than men to use extreme methods of control, such as threats, physical restraint, search, and arrest.
Richard Sennett, professor of sociology at New York University and the London School of Economics, in his book "Together: The Rituals, Pleasures and Politics of Cooperation" (2012) contends that "living with people who differ -- racially, ethnically, religiously, or economically -- is the most urgent challenge facing civil society today." That's because people tend to avoid engaging with people who are different from themselves by acting in a tribalistic manner which, he says, "involves thinking you know what others are like without really knowing them" resulting in an "us-against-you" mentality. Sennett promotes social cohesion that requires commitment to community and empathy with others: from polite social civilities such as saying "please" and "thank you" to mutual communication. It's not just about talking and listening; it's about sympathy, empathy, and above all, shared and familiar dialogue. It's a concept that women understand, naturally and innately.
Women in governments and individual women can work side-by-side to influence, promote, and sustain local, country, regional, and global peace. As governments look toward contributing to peace building, they should look no further than the women in their own communities. Without meaningful participation of women in peace processes there are less chances of durable peace. Women as peace-builders are often leaders in recovery and rehabilitation activities as post-conflict nations, such as South Sudan, transition to stability. The importance of women in peace dialogues and social cohesion cannot be overstated, not only for post-conflict countries, but also for local communities.
Healthy economies support peaceful existences. Investing in women can yield a significant gender dividend through three essential means: (1) women as workers; (2) women as consumers; and (3) women as voters.
Women make up the majority of small business owners across the globe, thus narrowing the gap between male and female employment rates. Women also often influence up to eighty percent of buying decisions in households. In addition, the number of women earning six figure salaries is increasing at double the rate of men earning large incomes. Women can affect economic competitiveness, fiscal health, and sociopolitical stability. Therefore governments that nurture female talent and decision making can become more competitive and can subsequently hasten economic growth -- which is becoming increasing more urgent in times of global financial crises. Industries that understand women's buying preferences and how to market them as consumers, through employing women in leadership positions, can substantially increase their market share. Women are therefore not a niche market -- they are the power players in the market.
A 2010 McKinsey & Co. survey found that the majority of executives believed that gender diversity would improve their company's financial performance. For years males have been dominant in executive boardrooms. In 2010 in America only fifteen percent of board members in large firms were on their boards, thirteen percent in Australia, and ten percent in Europe. This represents a squandered opportunity. Emerging is evidence that mixed-gender boards make better decisions than monolithically male ones. Mindful of this, European countries are also passing laws that would force companies to promote more women to the executive suite. A new French law requires listed firms to reserve forty percent of board seats for women by 2017. Norway and Spain have similar laws; Germany is considering one. Viviane Reding, the European Union's justice commissioner, says she wants European boards to be thirty percent female by 2015 and forty percent by 2020.
There are two main arguments for compulsory quotas. One is that the men who dominate corporate boards promote people like themselves. The second argument is more subtle. Talented executives need mentors to help them climb the ladder. Male directors mentor young men, but are reluctant to get chummy with young women, lest the relationship be misconstrued. Quotas will break this vicious cycle. The lack of role models is no longer the main obstacle to women's careers: children are. One study found that two-thirds of American women had, at some point in their career, switched from full-time to part-time or flexible time to balance work and family needs. But in doing so, they made it harder for women to gain the experience necessary to make it to the very top, and to be appointed as board members.
Some argue that quotas are too blunt a tool to solve the problem because quotas may force firms either to pad their boards with token non-executive directors, or to allocate real power on the basis of sex rather than merit. Neither is good for corporate governance. Norway started enforcing quotas for women in 2006. A study by the University of Michigan found that this led to large numbers of inexperienced women being appointed to boards. However, firms that addressed the issue by appointing women with a career path that enhanced their skills and promoted gender diversity, were more likely to reap the financial rewards.
The economic gender dividend can be reflected in increased sales, expanded markets, effective recruitment and retention of staff, and a marketing strategy that actually responds to the market. Hence, collectively, the diverse perspectives -- of men, women, youth, aged, disenfranchised, and minorities -- can lead to more effective economic growth, financial stability, social cohesion, diversity of leadership, and peace.
Dr. Martina Nicolls has 25 years of experience as a humanitarian aid development evaluator and advisor for international governments on education, child labor, peace, science, community development, gender, and management. In addition to numerous academic articles, she is the author of The Sudan Curse; Kashmir on a Knife-Edge; and Bardot's Comet. For more information, please visit http://www.martinanicolls.net or http://sbpra.com/MartinaNicolls.
Karman, 32, was the first Arab woman to win the peace prize. The award was bestowed in recognition for her role in peace activism in Yemen, long before the 2011 Arab Spring revolution, and for initiating positive change in political oppression and the role of women in the rise of new democracies. The two Liberian women (Sirleaf, 72, and Gbowee, 32) were the first sub-Saharan African winners of the peace prize since Kenyan Wangari Maathai won it in 2004 for the fight against deforestation by mobilizing women to plant trees. Maathai died in 2011 at the age of 71. Sirleaf was seen as a reformer and peacemaker in Liberia, campaigning to end government corruption and to work for reconciliation after fourteen years of civil war. Gbowee, in Liberia, organized hundreds of female protesters throughout Monrovia to demand disarmament of fighters, forcing attention on women combatants exploited and sexually assaulted by warlords. She was honored by the Nobel Committee for mobilizing women across ethnic and religious dividing lines to bring an end to the long war in Liberia, and to ensure women's participation in elections. Sirleaf campaigned for peace within the government (in the country's top leadership role), whereas Gbowee and Karman worked as individuals -- Karman with limited support from her government.
It was the Norwegian Nobel Committee's hope that the prize for the three women would shine a light on the great potential for democracy and peace that women can represent.
Pakistan set an example by holding a four-day International Islamic Women Police Conference in November 2011 in Islamabad to unite women police officers from more than ten Islamic countries to build synergies and discuss context-specific gender issues. In 2010 Pakistan female law enforcers comprised less than one percent of all law enforcers. In comparison, female officers comprised a third of the total Australian Federal Police workforce. The Pakistan government now has a policy to integrate women in the mainstream police force, which is an increasing international trend in Muslim countries. Research has shown that women police officers bring a public-friendly image of police as they are much less likely than men to use extreme methods of control, such as threats, physical restraint, search, and arrest.
Richard Sennett, professor of sociology at New York University and the London School of Economics, in his book "Together: The Rituals, Pleasures and Politics of Cooperation" (2012) contends that "living with people who differ -- racially, ethnically, religiously, or economically -- is the most urgent challenge facing civil society today." That's because people tend to avoid engaging with people who are different from themselves by acting in a tribalistic manner which, he says, "involves thinking you know what others are like without really knowing them" resulting in an "us-against-you" mentality. Sennett promotes social cohesion that requires commitment to community and empathy with others: from polite social civilities such as saying "please" and "thank you" to mutual communication. It's not just about talking and listening; it's about sympathy, empathy, and above all, shared and familiar dialogue. It's a concept that women understand, naturally and innately.
Women in governments and individual women can work side-by-side to influence, promote, and sustain local, country, regional, and global peace. As governments look toward contributing to peace building, they should look no further than the women in their own communities. Without meaningful participation of women in peace processes there are less chances of durable peace. Women as peace-builders are often leaders in recovery and rehabilitation activities as post-conflict nations, such as South Sudan, transition to stability. The importance of women in peace dialogues and social cohesion cannot be overstated, not only for post-conflict countries, but also for local communities.
Healthy economies support peaceful existences. Investing in women can yield a significant gender dividend through three essential means: (1) women as workers; (2) women as consumers; and (3) women as voters.
Women make up the majority of small business owners across the globe, thus narrowing the gap between male and female employment rates. Women also often influence up to eighty percent of buying decisions in households. In addition, the number of women earning six figure salaries is increasing at double the rate of men earning large incomes. Women can affect economic competitiveness, fiscal health, and sociopolitical stability. Therefore governments that nurture female talent and decision making can become more competitive and can subsequently hasten economic growth -- which is becoming increasing more urgent in times of global financial crises. Industries that understand women's buying preferences and how to market them as consumers, through employing women in leadership positions, can substantially increase their market share. Women are therefore not a niche market -- they are the power players in the market.
A 2010 McKinsey & Co. survey found that the majority of executives believed that gender diversity would improve their company's financial performance. For years males have been dominant in executive boardrooms. In 2010 in America only fifteen percent of board members in large firms were on their boards, thirteen percent in Australia, and ten percent in Europe. This represents a squandered opportunity. Emerging is evidence that mixed-gender boards make better decisions than monolithically male ones. Mindful of this, European countries are also passing laws that would force companies to promote more women to the executive suite. A new French law requires listed firms to reserve forty percent of board seats for women by 2017. Norway and Spain have similar laws; Germany is considering one. Viviane Reding, the European Union's justice commissioner, says she wants European boards to be thirty percent female by 2015 and forty percent by 2020.
There are two main arguments for compulsory quotas. One is that the men who dominate corporate boards promote people like themselves. The second argument is more subtle. Talented executives need mentors to help them climb the ladder. Male directors mentor young men, but are reluctant to get chummy with young women, lest the relationship be misconstrued. Quotas will break this vicious cycle. The lack of role models is no longer the main obstacle to women's careers: children are. One study found that two-thirds of American women had, at some point in their career, switched from full-time to part-time or flexible time to balance work and family needs. But in doing so, they made it harder for women to gain the experience necessary to make it to the very top, and to be appointed as board members.
Some argue that quotas are too blunt a tool to solve the problem because quotas may force firms either to pad their boards with token non-executive directors, or to allocate real power on the basis of sex rather than merit. Neither is good for corporate governance. Norway started enforcing quotas for women in 2006. A study by the University of Michigan found that this led to large numbers of inexperienced women being appointed to boards. However, firms that addressed the issue by appointing women with a career path that enhanced their skills and promoted gender diversity, were more likely to reap the financial rewards.
The economic gender dividend can be reflected in increased sales, expanded markets, effective recruitment and retention of staff, and a marketing strategy that actually responds to the market. Hence, collectively, the diverse perspectives -- of men, women, youth, aged, disenfranchised, and minorities -- can lead to more effective economic growth, financial stability, social cohesion, diversity of leadership, and peace.
Dr. Martina Nicolls has 25 years of experience as a humanitarian aid development evaluator and advisor for international governments on education, child labor, peace, science, community development, gender, and management. In addition to numerous academic articles, she is the author of The Sudan Curse; Kashmir on a Knife-Edge; and Bardot's Comet. For more information, please visit http://www.martinanicolls.net or http://sbpra.com/MartinaNicolls.
Volunteer Week Supports Organizations
The idea of Volunteer Week may confuse people. If participants are volunteering, they expect nothing in return, no pay, no compensation, just the satisfaction of giving to the cause and helping out. So the act of handing out gifts and throwing celebrations for volunteers may seem a bit contradictory. Regardless, organizations set aside budgets for National Volunteer Week, spending on locations, decorations, and gifts for volunteers. The value in doing so is not as obvious to outsiders but it is very real, and comes in the form of recruitment, retention and promotion.
Keeping volunteer organizations stocked with capable and motivated volunteers is a goal of every coordinator and director. Outreach to communities, schools and the public can come in the form of a public celebration of Volunteer Week. Seeing a group of volunteers who are being honored, listening to testimonials from beneficiaries who may speak and receiving a gift of appreciation can influence someone to inquire about the organization. This display of satisfaction and reward can be very attractive to someone who is curious about volunteering and may be on the fence. Recruiting these potential participants is critical to injecting new blood into the organization, and in turn can spark existing members to new enthusiasm.
Retention is the second biggest personnel issue facing coordinators. Volunteers may become bored or disillusioned with the cause of an organization over time. After years of giving to the same group, interest may naturally wane. Holding a Volunteer Week celebration can remind the veterans of why they volunteered in the first place. With the event including a lunch or dinner where representatives may hand out years of service awards and speak highly of the contributions of the group or guests who may have benefited from the work of the organization relating how much they appreciate the group, members can be refocused. A special volunteer gift of budget friendly promotional item can be kept as a reminder of their noble work, while keeping event costs low.
Volunteer groups are held to the same requirements as any business or organization, having to promote themselves to the communities, supporters and government. A properly planned Volunteer Week event can provide great public relations value, educating the public on the accomplishments of the group and what their goals are. Volunteer Week gives supporters and politicians the ability to associate themselves with the organizations while they don a t-shirt, cap or other promotional product with the logo or slogan of the group. Local news organizations, social media and websites will go out of their way to report on the event, highlighting the presence of public officials and philanthropists.
So while the volunteers may be the immediate beneficiaries, receiving gifts and praise from their constituents, the added value to the organizations that produce the Volunteer Week event validates its expense. Carryover effect on volunteer recruitment, retention and public relations come as a benefit of the celebration, supporting the organization and furthering its cause.
Michael Lerner is a recognized expert in the field of promotional products and volunteer recruitment techniques.
Keeping volunteer organizations stocked with capable and motivated volunteers is a goal of every coordinator and director. Outreach to communities, schools and the public can come in the form of a public celebration of Volunteer Week. Seeing a group of volunteers who are being honored, listening to testimonials from beneficiaries who may speak and receiving a gift of appreciation can influence someone to inquire about the organization. This display of satisfaction and reward can be very attractive to someone who is curious about volunteering and may be on the fence. Recruiting these potential participants is critical to injecting new blood into the organization, and in turn can spark existing members to new enthusiasm.
Retention is the second biggest personnel issue facing coordinators. Volunteers may become bored or disillusioned with the cause of an organization over time. After years of giving to the same group, interest may naturally wane. Holding a Volunteer Week celebration can remind the veterans of why they volunteered in the first place. With the event including a lunch or dinner where representatives may hand out years of service awards and speak highly of the contributions of the group or guests who may have benefited from the work of the organization relating how much they appreciate the group, members can be refocused. A special volunteer gift of budget friendly promotional item can be kept as a reminder of their noble work, while keeping event costs low.
Volunteer groups are held to the same requirements as any business or organization, having to promote themselves to the communities, supporters and government. A properly planned Volunteer Week event can provide great public relations value, educating the public on the accomplishments of the group and what their goals are. Volunteer Week gives supporters and politicians the ability to associate themselves with the organizations while they don a t-shirt, cap or other promotional product with the logo or slogan of the group. Local news organizations, social media and websites will go out of their way to report on the event, highlighting the presence of public officials and philanthropists.
So while the volunteers may be the immediate beneficiaries, receiving gifts and praise from their constituents, the added value to the organizations that produce the Volunteer Week event validates its expense. Carryover effect on volunteer recruitment, retention and public relations come as a benefit of the celebration, supporting the organization and furthering its cause.
Michael Lerner is a recognized expert in the field of promotional products and volunteer recruitment techniques.
West Layton Village Will NOT Be a Daybreak, Says City Planner
Over 160 years ago the beautiful city of Layton, Utah was settled by pioneers seeking to establish farms along the streams. The area spans from the banks of the Great Salt Lake on the west to the beautiful Wasatch Mountains on the east. Throughout most of the year these picturesque mountaintops remain snow-capped. Within a year of arriving in the area the settlers began planting crops and building cabins for homes. Back then there were almost 300 people living along the banks of the local streams. Most that immigrated to this area were working class but for a few that were farm laborers in the homelands. As a result, the skills to farm this desert land were learned firsthand.
As the area grew a city center was built near the present day Main Street. In the years to come there were mercantiles, railroads, a sugar factory, an air force base, and a hospital built to the north and to the east of Main Street. To the west the farmers continued to farm and support this area, its troops and its neighbors. This west Layton farming community has remained relatively unchanged until the last few decades. These rural farms are found up and down Gentile St. During the summer months there are roadside stands that abound and fields where people can pick their own fruits and vegetables. Others produce tree saplings and flowers that are grown with great care and pride. These fresh and local produce stands are what most urban cities are trying to re-invent with farmers markets.
The beautiful area has been supported by farmers and the area has in turn shown support for these farmers. In the last few decades as family farms have changed hands and land here and there has been developed the area has changed little by little. The area has grown and continues to embrace the farming heritage. The new residents love the country feeling just minutes from the freeway. Farmers can be seen riding their tractors down the streets. Neighbors push wagons down the sidewalks with recently purchase trees and flowers. The heart of the area is still very much thriving in the new and old residents' hearts.
Nearby these present day farms lies some farming and commercial land that may forever change this area. In 2006, about the same time as a few of these farms were converted into neighborhoods with single family homes, there was a large land developer that fought to convert 40 acres of commercial property into a large portion of high-density residential with apartments and condos. This was fought with much resistance from the surrounding neighborhoods. The area didn't want to change and the housing market couldn't sustain the growth.
After half a decade the forces outside the area are seeking to build again. Riding on the coattails of burgeoning developments like the Daybreak community south of Salt Lake, developers and city planners are yet again planning to bulldoze the heart of the community. Layton city and land owners are seeking to rezone the above mentioned 40 acres as well as another 107 acres of land currently owned by the LDS Church. The plan, as stated by the city's planner," will NOT be a Daybreak". The plan is to take the area and rezone it as Village Center zoning for a plan they call West Layton Village. They have laid out an openly-interpretable plan leaving broad ranges of zoning possibilities up to the developer. The plan allows for 40-70% of this open farm land to be plowed asunder and rebuild as 2 - and 3-story apartments, condos, large commercial, convenience stores, etc.
If allowed this wide open space, just a mile away from the nature conservancy/bird refuge, could be rezoned to allow over 100 acres of high-density residential housing, hotels and other urban areas. Is this area lacking in housing? No, in fact there are still quite a few vacant homes and partially-filled subdivisions that have sat since the housing bust a few years ago. Would this threaten farmers in the area? Yes, farmers and single-family homes would butt up right against this West Layton Village Center. When was the last time you saw a tractor drive around an apartment or sub-division to get to its field? It wouldn't be built if the neighbors didn't want it, would it? Well, that is up to you the neighbors. The city has done such a poor job of interacting with the neighboring farms and sub-divisions that most don't even know anything about it. Those that are well-versed in the 70-page plan to re-face the area have filled city meeting halls to voice their concerns and dislike for the area. These pleas have so far fallen on deaf ears as Planning Commission members checked their watches and told the residents that they had "heard enough of the same complaints and wanted to hear something new".
What's the next step? Express your thoughts and concerns about how this area should be developed or remain as farmland. Contact your elected city council members and let them know what you think. You should even take the time to contact as many of them as possible.
Many West Layton, Utah residents attended recent city meetings to voice their concerns about West Layton Village being developed. 40-70% high-density residential areas right next to your farm land or 2 1/2 & 3-story apartments, hotels and commercial/retail areas may block out your views. Low-quality housing under high voltage power lines may affect your home's resale value.
Whatever plan you would like to be developed in your backyard be sure to voice your opinions to all of Layton city's council members. This area has a rich heritage with over 160 years of farming and supporting Layton. What do you want to see in your West Layton?
As the area grew a city center was built near the present day Main Street. In the years to come there were mercantiles, railroads, a sugar factory, an air force base, and a hospital built to the north and to the east of Main Street. To the west the farmers continued to farm and support this area, its troops and its neighbors. This west Layton farming community has remained relatively unchanged until the last few decades. These rural farms are found up and down Gentile St. During the summer months there are roadside stands that abound and fields where people can pick their own fruits and vegetables. Others produce tree saplings and flowers that are grown with great care and pride. These fresh and local produce stands are what most urban cities are trying to re-invent with farmers markets.
The beautiful area has been supported by farmers and the area has in turn shown support for these farmers. In the last few decades as family farms have changed hands and land here and there has been developed the area has changed little by little. The area has grown and continues to embrace the farming heritage. The new residents love the country feeling just minutes from the freeway. Farmers can be seen riding their tractors down the streets. Neighbors push wagons down the sidewalks with recently purchase trees and flowers. The heart of the area is still very much thriving in the new and old residents' hearts.
Nearby these present day farms lies some farming and commercial land that may forever change this area. In 2006, about the same time as a few of these farms were converted into neighborhoods with single family homes, there was a large land developer that fought to convert 40 acres of commercial property into a large portion of high-density residential with apartments and condos. This was fought with much resistance from the surrounding neighborhoods. The area didn't want to change and the housing market couldn't sustain the growth.
After half a decade the forces outside the area are seeking to build again. Riding on the coattails of burgeoning developments like the Daybreak community south of Salt Lake, developers and city planners are yet again planning to bulldoze the heart of the community. Layton city and land owners are seeking to rezone the above mentioned 40 acres as well as another 107 acres of land currently owned by the LDS Church. The plan, as stated by the city's planner," will NOT be a Daybreak". The plan is to take the area and rezone it as Village Center zoning for a plan they call West Layton Village. They have laid out an openly-interpretable plan leaving broad ranges of zoning possibilities up to the developer. The plan allows for 40-70% of this open farm land to be plowed asunder and rebuild as 2 - and 3-story apartments, condos, large commercial, convenience stores, etc.
If allowed this wide open space, just a mile away from the nature conservancy/bird refuge, could be rezoned to allow over 100 acres of high-density residential housing, hotels and other urban areas. Is this area lacking in housing? No, in fact there are still quite a few vacant homes and partially-filled subdivisions that have sat since the housing bust a few years ago. Would this threaten farmers in the area? Yes, farmers and single-family homes would butt up right against this West Layton Village Center. When was the last time you saw a tractor drive around an apartment or sub-division to get to its field? It wouldn't be built if the neighbors didn't want it, would it? Well, that is up to you the neighbors. The city has done such a poor job of interacting with the neighboring farms and sub-divisions that most don't even know anything about it. Those that are well-versed in the 70-page plan to re-face the area have filled city meeting halls to voice their concerns and dislike for the area. These pleas have so far fallen on deaf ears as Planning Commission members checked their watches and told the residents that they had "heard enough of the same complaints and wanted to hear something new".
What's the next step? Express your thoughts and concerns about how this area should be developed or remain as farmland. Contact your elected city council members and let them know what you think. You should even take the time to contact as many of them as possible.
Many West Layton, Utah residents attended recent city meetings to voice their concerns about West Layton Village being developed. 40-70% high-density residential areas right next to your farm land or 2 1/2 & 3-story apartments, hotels and commercial/retail areas may block out your views. Low-quality housing under high voltage power lines may affect your home's resale value.
Whatever plan you would like to be developed in your backyard be sure to voice your opinions to all of Layton city's council members. This area has a rich heritage with over 160 years of farming and supporting Layton. What do you want to see in your West Layton?
What's the Future for Printed Press?
Right from its beginnings in the rudimentary versions of the manual press to the latest inkjet, laser and digital printers, printed content has served to present daily happenings and events to the public. However, today, printed press across the world are undergoing a tough time mainly because of the competition from the widely popular online media and the advent of free-publications and newspapers that offer the public the very same information absolutely free of cost. Does this simply mean that the days of the conventional printed press are numbered? It may not really be the case as the future of the printed press wholly depends on the innovative concepts and technology adopted by its patrons and promoters to achieve a fine balance between conventional and contemporary processes associated with the print medium.
Virtual Vs Real
The internet today serves as a vast store of free information accessible from anywhere across the world. News traverses geographic boundaries at relatively lower or no costs when compared to conventional print media that literally soaks tons of money on infrastructure, stationery and staff, not to mention costs involved in keeping pace with new generations of printers and their paraphernalia including expensive refill ink cartridges.
The new online medium serves to expose journalists and the publication industry in general to new presentation formats that help to enrich content. Social networks and blogs have contributed in their own unique way to improve journalism. Another interesting aspect of accessing news online is the fact that the reader can easily move from one related news item to another, and access other important references almost instantly to get a complete picture of a given situation.
Paid Vs Free Editions
Although opting for unlimited free space on the internet that offers a much wider reach at lesser costs may be a tempting alternative, it may not really serve to make sufficient money out of the business. Journalists and writers may gain instant popularity, however the reach is still limited to the tech-savvy readers and well-connected regions of the world. Why would readers pay money on a daily basis to get access to information that is available freely both on the internet as well as the free printed editions of news?
Popularity and Revenue
There are few newspapers that require a subscription to access their online content too. Free editions as well as online versions need not necessarily mean loss of revenue, because the publishers can still keep the money coming in by means of creative advertisement ideas, and still keep the readers engaged. There are still quite a few readers out there who prefer quality news that has been filtered and presented by trained professionals rather than access a vast free resource of unlimited news. Quality of journalism and crisp content still serve to capture the attention of time-conscious readers, irrespective of the medium in which it is presented.
Technology advancements, evolution of mobile devices, popularity of online content are here to stay - so are the age-old preferences of ardent readers looking for a physical copy of quality content from professional journalists. Battling with latest printing technologies and equipment, maintaining inkjet and other printers, print heads and optimizing use of refill ink cartridges are all part of the printed press industry, which may still go strong despite other competing media.
Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of Cartridge World, the UK's leading specialist in printer cartridges, including toner cartridges and ink cartridges.
Virtual Vs Real
The internet today serves as a vast store of free information accessible from anywhere across the world. News traverses geographic boundaries at relatively lower or no costs when compared to conventional print media that literally soaks tons of money on infrastructure, stationery and staff, not to mention costs involved in keeping pace with new generations of printers and their paraphernalia including expensive refill ink cartridges.
The new online medium serves to expose journalists and the publication industry in general to new presentation formats that help to enrich content. Social networks and blogs have contributed in their own unique way to improve journalism. Another interesting aspect of accessing news online is the fact that the reader can easily move from one related news item to another, and access other important references almost instantly to get a complete picture of a given situation.
Paid Vs Free Editions
Although opting for unlimited free space on the internet that offers a much wider reach at lesser costs may be a tempting alternative, it may not really serve to make sufficient money out of the business. Journalists and writers may gain instant popularity, however the reach is still limited to the tech-savvy readers and well-connected regions of the world. Why would readers pay money on a daily basis to get access to information that is available freely both on the internet as well as the free printed editions of news?
Popularity and Revenue
There are few newspapers that require a subscription to access their online content too. Free editions as well as online versions need not necessarily mean loss of revenue, because the publishers can still keep the money coming in by means of creative advertisement ideas, and still keep the readers engaged. There are still quite a few readers out there who prefer quality news that has been filtered and presented by trained professionals rather than access a vast free resource of unlimited news. Quality of journalism and crisp content still serve to capture the attention of time-conscious readers, irrespective of the medium in which it is presented.
Technology advancements, evolution of mobile devices, popularity of online content are here to stay - so are the age-old preferences of ardent readers looking for a physical copy of quality content from professional journalists. Battling with latest printing technologies and equipment, maintaining inkjet and other printers, print heads and optimizing use of refill ink cartridges are all part of the printed press industry, which may still go strong despite other competing media.
Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of Cartridge World, the UK's leading specialist in printer cartridges, including toner cartridges and ink cartridges.
Can Slow Children Signage Be a Risk to Kids?
Tom Vanderbilt, a writer for the famous "Slate" magazine submitted a piece this past year where he analyzed potential risks for kids caused by Slow Children traffic signs. You may be aware that there are actually many various kinds of Slow Children signs, but why don't we simply concentrate on the general sign without examining each and every sub-type.
While I never got the pleasure of getting together with Tom, I am certain he had the best motives while creating this editorial piece. But it's a different question whether or not what he professed in the article really is the case, let me just point out I do not believe him there. In this post Tom says that these Slow Children signs don't only have any influence on drivers, but basically lulls them to sleep, figuratively, since after cruising past all of these Slow Children signs for many years they never ever see any kids playing.
I am aware of just what Tom is saying. Actually, I know an old gal who put up one of these Slow Children signs on a street not far right from here (a non-USDOT authorized one, I may add) simply because fast-moving cars irritate her. Truth be told, there aren't any youngsters in that vicinity other than maybe on occasion when her grandkids come over. However, I know by personal experience that when I notice Slow Children signs in the area, I am much more alert, especially as I have small children myself.
Slow Children signs say to me, "Look out, just how would you feel if a child darted out in front of you and you drove into him or her?" And even though I may well see the same Slow Children signs every single day while driving about, they're a reminder, such as the radar detector on my own dashboard, to be wary. You never know whose grand kids will be in the neighborhood!
An additional point Tom makes in his op. ed. is that when you see Slow Children signs inside one area, and not another, are you going to for some reason assume there aren't any little ones in the Slow Children sign-less place? He believes this to be feasible. Let's say a child is run into by a car in a zone where there are no Slow Children signs? Would the city, state or even county be accountable? May they possibly be charged?
I do not want to head on down a rabbit trail right here on tort reform, nevertheless one tiny opinionated statement will not hurt. America, quit suing everybody about every little thing! OKAY, I am much better now.
Although I understand what Tom is attempting to convey about Slow Children signs, he provides no scientific proof that these types of signs inure the viewers to the probabilities of young children playing in the streets, but he does offer a bit of scientific evidence of the craziness of a 35 MPH speed restriction along with Slow Children signs. On this subject point I am in agreement. Tom reports that as a vehicle velocity move over 20 MPH, the probability of a fatality will increase exponentially. Therefore, with Slow Children signs, he suggests the practice adopted in several residential zones in the United Kingdom - 20 MPH speed limits.
In addition it may well be the case that as a result of this speed limit now all of the signs are disregarded, the Slow Children and the speed limit signs. Needless to say neglecting both signs as a result is definitely the worst case scenario. I say that it will not make a difference whether it be a Slow Children sign or some other sign, individuals who don't give attention to signs will certainly ignore this sign along with every other traffic sign. And naturally precisely the same would certainly happen with speed limit signs. Should we have surveillance cameras on all of the streets and venues and police officers watching on nearly every corner? Some might believe this is a good plan and others might avoid this concept strongly. It definitely would be the most suitable choice for the young ones, no doubt.
Barry Brown has been in the Sign, Banner, Decal and Display Business for over 20 years. It isn't what he thought he'd do with his life, but he says he knows too much now to do anything else!
He has been marketing these products online since 1998, and the company he was general manager of in 1998 was the first sign company to be listed on Yahoo!
Barry is a great resource for information regarding Signs, Banners, Decals, and Displays, and is also an outstanding source of information on how to shop online without getting ripped off.
He invites you to visit our website below, and call him if you have any questions regarding safely purchasing products from any site online, or regarding our company and product offerings.
http://www.visigraph.com
While I never got the pleasure of getting together with Tom, I am certain he had the best motives while creating this editorial piece. But it's a different question whether or not what he professed in the article really is the case, let me just point out I do not believe him there. In this post Tom says that these Slow Children signs don't only have any influence on drivers, but basically lulls them to sleep, figuratively, since after cruising past all of these Slow Children signs for many years they never ever see any kids playing.
I am aware of just what Tom is saying. Actually, I know an old gal who put up one of these Slow Children signs on a street not far right from here (a non-USDOT authorized one, I may add) simply because fast-moving cars irritate her. Truth be told, there aren't any youngsters in that vicinity other than maybe on occasion when her grandkids come over. However, I know by personal experience that when I notice Slow Children signs in the area, I am much more alert, especially as I have small children myself.
Slow Children signs say to me, "Look out, just how would you feel if a child darted out in front of you and you drove into him or her?" And even though I may well see the same Slow Children signs every single day while driving about, they're a reminder, such as the radar detector on my own dashboard, to be wary. You never know whose grand kids will be in the neighborhood!
An additional point Tom makes in his op. ed. is that when you see Slow Children signs inside one area, and not another, are you going to for some reason assume there aren't any little ones in the Slow Children sign-less place? He believes this to be feasible. Let's say a child is run into by a car in a zone where there are no Slow Children signs? Would the city, state or even county be accountable? May they possibly be charged?
I do not want to head on down a rabbit trail right here on tort reform, nevertheless one tiny opinionated statement will not hurt. America, quit suing everybody about every little thing! OKAY, I am much better now.
Although I understand what Tom is attempting to convey about Slow Children signs, he provides no scientific proof that these types of signs inure the viewers to the probabilities of young children playing in the streets, but he does offer a bit of scientific evidence of the craziness of a 35 MPH speed restriction along with Slow Children signs. On this subject point I am in agreement. Tom reports that as a vehicle velocity move over 20 MPH, the probability of a fatality will increase exponentially. Therefore, with Slow Children signs, he suggests the practice adopted in several residential zones in the United Kingdom - 20 MPH speed limits.
In addition it may well be the case that as a result of this speed limit now all of the signs are disregarded, the Slow Children and the speed limit signs. Needless to say neglecting both signs as a result is definitely the worst case scenario. I say that it will not make a difference whether it be a Slow Children sign or some other sign, individuals who don't give attention to signs will certainly ignore this sign along with every other traffic sign. And naturally precisely the same would certainly happen with speed limit signs. Should we have surveillance cameras on all of the streets and venues and police officers watching on nearly every corner? Some might believe this is a good plan and others might avoid this concept strongly. It definitely would be the most suitable choice for the young ones, no doubt.
Barry Brown has been in the Sign, Banner, Decal and Display Business for over 20 years. It isn't what he thought he'd do with his life, but he says he knows too much now to do anything else!
He has been marketing these products online since 1998, and the company he was general manager of in 1998 was the first sign company to be listed on Yahoo!
Barry is a great resource for information regarding Signs, Banners, Decals, and Displays, and is also an outstanding source of information on how to shop online without getting ripped off.
He invites you to visit our website below, and call him if you have any questions regarding safely purchasing products from any site online, or regarding our company and product offerings.
http://www.visigraph.com
Is It Realistic to Rid the Internet of Porn?
When the internet was still getting a foothold, whenever you would mention that name, the first thing to come into many people's minds was porn. However, as time as gone by, this notion has changed as people have found beneficial ways of using the internet and how they can build their business using it. Nevertheless, porn is still quite significant on the internet. In fact, with the high speeds of connection to the internet, downloading porn clips, videos and movies happens in a matter of minutes and someone can easily get a daily dose of the same. So as the topic of this article suggests: is it realistic to rid the internet of porn? The answer is a big NO! Pursuing such a cause would be a big waste of time.
One of the things that would make this cause difficult is the amount of money that is generated in the porn industry. This is why you will find thousands upon thousands of porn sites, whose clients are largely males, who spend a lot of their money looking for sex on the internet. Some websites offer free videos to entice their clients. Others allow 'homemade' movies to be uploaded. Whatever the case, you will still find people spending their money for sex on the internet.
The existence of pornography on the internet is not only determined by money but also by the freedom of expression and freedom of speech. In the early stages of the internet, the online world seemed to be 'morally pure' with people using words with restraint and being careful not to offend others. But as time has gone by and the allowing of people to speak what they think, pornography has ended up growing and enlarging its online territory. Nevertheless, porn has been, still is and will always be there in spite of the forms it may come in. What the internet has done is to make the access of porn fast and easy; it has cut down the embarrassment that one may have if they have to purchase a porn movie from an adult store.
The downside of this is that very young children can get access to this pornographic material. But thank goodness for the internet and its ability to put safeguards in place and ensure parents are able to control the kind of websites their children can access. This means that parents have the ultimate responsibility of making sure that their children do not have access to adult content on websites. The internet is not responsible for this.
One of the major problems of pornography is addiction. You will find so many people addicted to porn that they will always be looking for any opportunity to go online and download either pornographic video clips or photographs in a bid satisfy a craving that is hard to satisfy. Alcohol has always been there and so have alcoholics. The solution has never been to eliminate the alcohol but for the alcoholics to admit their problems. In the same way, eliminating pornography is not the solution; the porn addicts seeking help is the preferred solution.
One issue that may need to be addressed is that of child pornography. This issue has been able to slip into the internet even though there are law agencies that enforce the law against such practices. The internet cannot be regulated or legislated by laws of a certain nation. This is because each country has their own set of laws that they run with. For example, in China, the government has been able to close some websites that they have deemed unsuitable.
What really makes something pornographic? What are the acceptable and non acceptable forms of pornography? These are some questions which are quite difficult to answer as regarding what may be pornographic material and what is normal. Where the line is drawn is not known because people have their own various notions on pornography. 'Violent and extreme pornography' is considered a crime according to the British government. The problem is that what may seem extreme to someone may not be extreme to another.
Freedom of speech and expression should be allowed as long as it doesn't incite violence or conflict between parties. The internet seems to be the only place where this freedom can be maximized on. The internet shouldn't be considered a threat in a bead to rid it of pornography. Trying to do this will be a service in futility. What needs to be done is to put controls and measures.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aggrey_Mullwani
One of the things that would make this cause difficult is the amount of money that is generated in the porn industry. This is why you will find thousands upon thousands of porn sites, whose clients are largely males, who spend a lot of their money looking for sex on the internet. Some websites offer free videos to entice their clients. Others allow 'homemade' movies to be uploaded. Whatever the case, you will still find people spending their money for sex on the internet.
The existence of pornography on the internet is not only determined by money but also by the freedom of expression and freedom of speech. In the early stages of the internet, the online world seemed to be 'morally pure' with people using words with restraint and being careful not to offend others. But as time has gone by and the allowing of people to speak what they think, pornography has ended up growing and enlarging its online territory. Nevertheless, porn has been, still is and will always be there in spite of the forms it may come in. What the internet has done is to make the access of porn fast and easy; it has cut down the embarrassment that one may have if they have to purchase a porn movie from an adult store.
The downside of this is that very young children can get access to this pornographic material. But thank goodness for the internet and its ability to put safeguards in place and ensure parents are able to control the kind of websites their children can access. This means that parents have the ultimate responsibility of making sure that their children do not have access to adult content on websites. The internet is not responsible for this.
One of the major problems of pornography is addiction. You will find so many people addicted to porn that they will always be looking for any opportunity to go online and download either pornographic video clips or photographs in a bid satisfy a craving that is hard to satisfy. Alcohol has always been there and so have alcoholics. The solution has never been to eliminate the alcohol but for the alcoholics to admit their problems. In the same way, eliminating pornography is not the solution; the porn addicts seeking help is the preferred solution.
One issue that may need to be addressed is that of child pornography. This issue has been able to slip into the internet even though there are law agencies that enforce the law against such practices. The internet cannot be regulated or legislated by laws of a certain nation. This is because each country has their own set of laws that they run with. For example, in China, the government has been able to close some websites that they have deemed unsuitable.
What really makes something pornographic? What are the acceptable and non acceptable forms of pornography? These are some questions which are quite difficult to answer as regarding what may be pornographic material and what is normal. Where the line is drawn is not known because people have their own various notions on pornography. 'Violent and extreme pornography' is considered a crime according to the British government. The problem is that what may seem extreme to someone may not be extreme to another.
Freedom of speech and expression should be allowed as long as it doesn't incite violence or conflict between parties. The internet seems to be the only place where this freedom can be maximized on. The internet shouldn't be considered a threat in a bead to rid it of pornography. Trying to do this will be a service in futility. What needs to be done is to put controls and measures.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aggrey_Mullwani
The Right to Education India Act
The right to education in India has proved very beneficial to the economy of the country. The Right to Education Act has been made available through the use of India NGO programs that support free education in India. This was mostly necessitated by slum dwelling citizens who are unable to access the high cost of education. By bringing slum education to them, slum children are able to grow up to be responsible adults who have a purpose.
Right to Education Act ensures that all children between the ages of 6-14 should have free education in India. This is enforced through government agencies as well as India NGO initiatives. The Act also ensures that no child shall be expelled from school based on the fact that they are from poor backgrounds. The Act through India NGO companies ensures that a child who is above the age of 6 years and has not been admitted has a right to be admitted. This would mean that the India NGO programs ensure that the children reach the appropriate level.
Lack of proof of age does not mean that a child does not get free education in India. Once the student has completed the course a certificate is awarded. This shows that the India NGO programs follow up till the end. The Act also ensures that the student to teacher ratio is equal. This means that the Act ensures that there is quality education for slum children.
The Act also ensures that at least 25% of the poor people in India are provided with free education in India. The Act ensures that India NGO programs employ teachers who are well qualified. They should have degree level of education as well as five years experience in teaching. This means that free education in India is quality education for slum children who are willing to receive education.
The government also ensures through the Act that India NGO programs school infrastructure is up to per. The government also ensures that funds burden is taken care of by the state. This means that the India NGO programs will make use of the funds from the state to manage the schools. They also provide free education in India through use of CSR by corporate bodies. Corporate bodies give their contribution in order that they may support free education in India.
With this Act in place free education in India ensures that all those who are poor or slum dwellers have a right to education. This will mean that the slum child will have a bright future and be a responsible citizen. Education for slum children also ensures that they do not get into vices that they usually come across with no education and no activities to take up their time.
Children NGOs in India is on the increase in an effort to ensure that the economy of India is improved. The slum child is able to compete in the job market for a good job and live a better life. It is also towards this end that parents should be encouraged to take advantage of these programs. This is because a better life for their children will mean a dignified elderly life.
Adolfo S. is the author of this article on India NGO.
Find more information, about Ngo in India here.
Right to Education Act ensures that all children between the ages of 6-14 should have free education in India. This is enforced through government agencies as well as India NGO initiatives. The Act also ensures that no child shall be expelled from school based on the fact that they are from poor backgrounds. The Act through India NGO companies ensures that a child who is above the age of 6 years and has not been admitted has a right to be admitted. This would mean that the India NGO programs ensure that the children reach the appropriate level.
Lack of proof of age does not mean that a child does not get free education in India. Once the student has completed the course a certificate is awarded. This shows that the India NGO programs follow up till the end. The Act also ensures that the student to teacher ratio is equal. This means that the Act ensures that there is quality education for slum children.
The Act also ensures that at least 25% of the poor people in India are provided with free education in India. The Act ensures that India NGO programs employ teachers who are well qualified. They should have degree level of education as well as five years experience in teaching. This means that free education in India is quality education for slum children who are willing to receive education.
The government also ensures through the Act that India NGO programs school infrastructure is up to per. The government also ensures that funds burden is taken care of by the state. This means that the India NGO programs will make use of the funds from the state to manage the schools. They also provide free education in India through use of CSR by corporate bodies. Corporate bodies give their contribution in order that they may support free education in India.
With this Act in place free education in India ensures that all those who are poor or slum dwellers have a right to education. This will mean that the slum child will have a bright future and be a responsible citizen. Education for slum children also ensures that they do not get into vices that they usually come across with no education and no activities to take up their time.
Children NGOs in India is on the increase in an effort to ensure that the economy of India is improved. The slum child is able to compete in the job market for a good job and live a better life. It is also towards this end that parents should be encouraged to take advantage of these programs. This is because a better life for their children will mean a dignified elderly life.
Adolfo S. is the author of this article on India NGO.
Find more information, about Ngo in India here.
The Iran End Game - Nuclear Trouble in the Middle East
The Iran nuclear weapons issue is hovering over all other uncertainties besetting the world. In recent weeks it has become more pressing and more ominous. Both the United States and Europe are implementing additional sanctions even as military intervention chatter grows in the background.
Why? The U.S. is in an election year, a time when foreign concerns are usually ignored. Europe has many other problems, and generally takes a neutral stance on Middle East issues. Why would it reduce its own oil supply - and raise oil prices - when its economy is shaky?
The answer may well be on the Iranian side.
First, does Iran want the bomb? The evidence says it does.
If nuclear power generation were its goal, it could obtain reactors and fuel, at competitive prices, from at least five suppliers. More importantly, there is no non-military use for uranium enriched above 10%. Iran is at 20% and going higher. The "peaceful use" fiction is not tenable.
The timetable is the next unknown. In this area there are two options.
The first is sequential development: procuring the nuclear explosive; building an initial device, and testing it; designing a warhead; testing the delivery system, and finally deploying the weapon(s). This is the reliable route, with each step building on the experience of the previous one. It is also the longest path. Predictions of Iran being "years away" from a working weapon were probably based on this scenario.
The alternative is both faster and riskier. First one determines the date at which the weapon is to be ready. Then, working backwards from that point, one determines when the development of each system component has to start. All programs then proceed in parallel until a weapon is assembled and fielded on the pre-set date.
Management of such a coordinated program is more difficult, as many parallel schedules must be maintained and much more can go wrong. But a switch from a (slow) sequential development to a (fast) parallel one, if kept secret long enough, can shorten the time to deployment and thereby surprise a potential adversary.
In this matter Iran has two main opponents: Israel and its U.S. ally. Of these, only the United States has the military reach to destroy the entire Iranian nuclear program. Therefore, from the Iranian viewpoint, the program must reach its goal at a time the U.S. is least likely to react.
That means a presidential election year, when the United States is absorbed by elections and least likely to "rock the boat".
The next presidential term is not favorable to Iranian nuclear endeavors. If president Obama is the winner, he will be free of re-election concerns and at liberty to act forcefully. If a Republican wins, support for Israel will be even stronger and military action more likely.
So it is logical for Iran to have a ready nuclear weapon this year, before the election. To take potential delays into account the deadline would probably fall around midyear - say August 2012.
Past events show that Israel has a strong intelligence network inside Iran. It is likely they know what is going on in some degree of detail. This leaves them in a dilemma.
As mentioned earlier, only the United States has the military scope to "wipe out" the Iranian nuclear program with conventional armaments. Israel probably does not. A nuclear-armed Iran is a threat to Israel's national existence, and Israel has a nuclear arsenal of its own, complete with delivery systems. Given Iran's declared intention of "taking Israel off the map", that arsenal could, in extremis, be used in a pre-emptive strike.
A summary of the Israeli intelligence has probably been provided to authorities in Washington and other capitals. This would explain the sharp tightening of sanctions, driven by the hope that Iran would capitulate before the mid-summer deadline.
Maybe it will. On the other hand the "Iron Triangle" of Mr. Ahmedinejad's Presidency, the Revolutionary Guards and the Security Services might have grown strong enough to dictate to the top religious authorities.
This is the end game. It is our belief that Iran will be stopped. By what means, and at what cost, remains to be seen. We may see a very chaotic, and dangerous, summer.
Jacek Popiel was born in Poland and educated in Africa, Canada, and the US. His career spanned military service and international business development. He is currently a writer and his first book Viable Energy Now is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. For more articles and information: http://www.viableenergynow.com
Why? The U.S. is in an election year, a time when foreign concerns are usually ignored. Europe has many other problems, and generally takes a neutral stance on Middle East issues. Why would it reduce its own oil supply - and raise oil prices - when its economy is shaky?
The answer may well be on the Iranian side.
First, does Iran want the bomb? The evidence says it does.
If nuclear power generation were its goal, it could obtain reactors and fuel, at competitive prices, from at least five suppliers. More importantly, there is no non-military use for uranium enriched above 10%. Iran is at 20% and going higher. The "peaceful use" fiction is not tenable.
The timetable is the next unknown. In this area there are two options.
The first is sequential development: procuring the nuclear explosive; building an initial device, and testing it; designing a warhead; testing the delivery system, and finally deploying the weapon(s). This is the reliable route, with each step building on the experience of the previous one. It is also the longest path. Predictions of Iran being "years away" from a working weapon were probably based on this scenario.
The alternative is both faster and riskier. First one determines the date at which the weapon is to be ready. Then, working backwards from that point, one determines when the development of each system component has to start. All programs then proceed in parallel until a weapon is assembled and fielded on the pre-set date.
Management of such a coordinated program is more difficult, as many parallel schedules must be maintained and much more can go wrong. But a switch from a (slow) sequential development to a (fast) parallel one, if kept secret long enough, can shorten the time to deployment and thereby surprise a potential adversary.
In this matter Iran has two main opponents: Israel and its U.S. ally. Of these, only the United States has the military reach to destroy the entire Iranian nuclear program. Therefore, from the Iranian viewpoint, the program must reach its goal at a time the U.S. is least likely to react.
That means a presidential election year, when the United States is absorbed by elections and least likely to "rock the boat".
The next presidential term is not favorable to Iranian nuclear endeavors. If president Obama is the winner, he will be free of re-election concerns and at liberty to act forcefully. If a Republican wins, support for Israel will be even stronger and military action more likely.
So it is logical for Iran to have a ready nuclear weapon this year, before the election. To take potential delays into account the deadline would probably fall around midyear - say August 2012.
Past events show that Israel has a strong intelligence network inside Iran. It is likely they know what is going on in some degree of detail. This leaves them in a dilemma.
As mentioned earlier, only the United States has the military scope to "wipe out" the Iranian nuclear program with conventional armaments. Israel probably does not. A nuclear-armed Iran is a threat to Israel's national existence, and Israel has a nuclear arsenal of its own, complete with delivery systems. Given Iran's declared intention of "taking Israel off the map", that arsenal could, in extremis, be used in a pre-emptive strike.
A summary of the Israeli intelligence has probably been provided to authorities in Washington and other capitals. This would explain the sharp tightening of sanctions, driven by the hope that Iran would capitulate before the mid-summer deadline.
Maybe it will. On the other hand the "Iron Triangle" of Mr. Ahmedinejad's Presidency, the Revolutionary Guards and the Security Services might have grown strong enough to dictate to the top religious authorities.
This is the end game. It is our belief that Iran will be stopped. By what means, and at what cost, remains to be seen. We may see a very chaotic, and dangerous, summer.
Jacek Popiel was born in Poland and educated in Africa, Canada, and the US. His career spanned military service and international business development. He is currently a writer and his first book Viable Energy Now is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. For more articles and information: http://www.viableenergynow.com
Philanthropy in India
In India, philanthropy may be a recent development but the concept of giving is as old as the country itself. Derived from the Greek work Philanthropos, the term essentially means the love for humanity, thus denoting any selfless action that is intended at serving those in need. Such actions or donations have a completely humanitarian intent with the donors expecting no return rewards whatsoever.
People in India have always been strongly attached and committed to their surroundings and the communities to which they belong. Thus the upliftment and betterment of the same has been a core tradition of families who have enjoyed a much privileged status and financial position in society. In the past, business families have partaken in social good by contributing a part of their earnings to individuals, communities and organizations in need. This kind of giving is usually characteristic to a person's or family's cultural and personal value system and has constituted unstructured giving with no statistical tool to measure the social benefits of the activity.
A. Emergence of Philanthropy in India
The key principle of philanthropy is 'giving for a specific reason'. Such kind of giving is aimed at attacking the root cause of a problem, issue or social concern. Families thus focus on issues such as conservation of environment, education, health, disaster management, unemployment, preservation of heritage etc that may be out of their line of business.
As business families grew, they started formalizing their philanthropic giving, intended primarily at inclusive growth. Family or Corporate Foundations thus emerged giving it an institutionalized form and also ensuring that it stays alive and evolves over succeeding generations.
Family Foundations are set up with a charitable intent and are usually supported by investments and donations made by the family, friends and other partners. Initially managed entirely by the non working and female members of the business families, regardless of the skills they possessed, the Family Foundations are now being run as effectively as corporate organizations by highly trained and skilled professionals.
Corporate philanthropy in India has rapidly grown overtime to become a mainstream activity and concentrates more on the target group and on building its capacities. The new philanthropists are thus treading unexplored terrains of giving that are more aligned to current social realities while seeking to incorporate their company's mission and philosophy into the program. They are also putting to use a significant part of their resources and time into their chosen philanthropic activities.
B. Corporate Social Responsibility
As businesses grew, the kind of 'giving for social good' of corporate organizations also shifted towards being more organized and business related and viewed as strategic investments made to achieve a desired goal. Such organizations have a highly structured and professional CSR division that is responsible for taking decisions, implementing and mapping the company's CSR initiatives. The dedicated team of experts fulfil the set social prerogatives and objectives of the corporate closely associated with its line of business with prime importance given to improving the quality of life of the workforce and the local stakeholders. The CSR division of such organizations thus have a well defined resource base and a specially allocated budget to ensure such developmental activities can be carried out with least hindrance.
In recent years, corporate philanthropy has developed to include the concerns and expectations of the companies' stakeholders and communities at large, the results and outcome thus being measured on set parameters. According to the respondents of a survey conducted by McKinsey, companies should utilize the opportunities a family foundation offers to optimize the impact of their social development endeavours.
C. Bharti Foundation - The Philanthropic Arm of Bharti Enterprises
At Bharti, philanthropy is viewed as a "part of the family DNA" of giving back to society. With a strong belief that education is the most powerful tool for social and economic upliftment of the nation, Mr. Sunil Bharti Mittal, the Chairman of Bharti Group, set up Bharti Foundation in 2000 to contribute in a significant and meaningful way towards the overall education sector of India. Implementing and supporting programs in the field of primary, secondary and higher education, Bharti Foundation aims to bridge the existing extremities of the education divide in the country that would 'help underprivileged children and youth of our country realize their potential.'
The Satya Bharti School Program, the flagship end-to-end rural education initiative of Bharti Foundation was thus launched in 2006 to help underprivileged and marginalized children in the rural corners of the country develop into well rounded confident and employable citizens of tomorrow, deeply committed and responsible to their communities and the nation at large. The program delivers free quality education to thousands of underprivileged children in the rural pockets with special focus on the girl child. It also offers special student welfare schemes like free mid-day meals, uniforms, stationery etc. to facilitate education for children. It aims to use the program to develop scalable and sustainable components of 'quality education' which may be replicated by state governments and like-minded organizations working in the field of education.
The program envisions 500 primary and 50 senior secondary schools, reaching out to over 2,00,000 children at full capacity. Currently, more than 33,000 students are enrolled across 253 Satya Bharti Schools (236 primary schools, 12 elementary and five senior secondary schools) in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Contributing to the inclusive growth agenda of the country, 48% of students in the Satya Bharti Schools are girls, 0.5-1% of the children have learning disabilities and 76% of our students and 48% of teachers belong to the minority (SC/ST/OBC) communities. The program is also currently in the process of upgrading an additional 50 primary schools to the elementary level in partnership with Google.
Apart from its direct reach, the program also looks at the empowerment of the communities in which it works. Teachers for the Satya Bharti Schools are recruited from base and feeder villages in which the schools are set up. 'Didis' for the schools are also chosen from the villages and mid-day meal vendors are often mothers of the children who study in our schools.
Bharti Foundation is also the focal point for all CSR initiatives across the Bharti Group of Companies in India and Africa and drives and facilitates the CSR initiatives of the Group Companies through the CSR Council.
The author is a freelance content writer based in India. She can be contacted at contentwritingindia@gmail.com
People in India have always been strongly attached and committed to their surroundings and the communities to which they belong. Thus the upliftment and betterment of the same has been a core tradition of families who have enjoyed a much privileged status and financial position in society. In the past, business families have partaken in social good by contributing a part of their earnings to individuals, communities and organizations in need. This kind of giving is usually characteristic to a person's or family's cultural and personal value system and has constituted unstructured giving with no statistical tool to measure the social benefits of the activity.
A. Emergence of Philanthropy in India
The key principle of philanthropy is 'giving for a specific reason'. Such kind of giving is aimed at attacking the root cause of a problem, issue or social concern. Families thus focus on issues such as conservation of environment, education, health, disaster management, unemployment, preservation of heritage etc that may be out of their line of business.
As business families grew, they started formalizing their philanthropic giving, intended primarily at inclusive growth. Family or Corporate Foundations thus emerged giving it an institutionalized form and also ensuring that it stays alive and evolves over succeeding generations.
Family Foundations are set up with a charitable intent and are usually supported by investments and donations made by the family, friends and other partners. Initially managed entirely by the non working and female members of the business families, regardless of the skills they possessed, the Family Foundations are now being run as effectively as corporate organizations by highly trained and skilled professionals.
Corporate philanthropy in India has rapidly grown overtime to become a mainstream activity and concentrates more on the target group and on building its capacities. The new philanthropists are thus treading unexplored terrains of giving that are more aligned to current social realities while seeking to incorporate their company's mission and philosophy into the program. They are also putting to use a significant part of their resources and time into their chosen philanthropic activities.
B. Corporate Social Responsibility
As businesses grew, the kind of 'giving for social good' of corporate organizations also shifted towards being more organized and business related and viewed as strategic investments made to achieve a desired goal. Such organizations have a highly structured and professional CSR division that is responsible for taking decisions, implementing and mapping the company's CSR initiatives. The dedicated team of experts fulfil the set social prerogatives and objectives of the corporate closely associated with its line of business with prime importance given to improving the quality of life of the workforce and the local stakeholders. The CSR division of such organizations thus have a well defined resource base and a specially allocated budget to ensure such developmental activities can be carried out with least hindrance.
In recent years, corporate philanthropy has developed to include the concerns and expectations of the companies' stakeholders and communities at large, the results and outcome thus being measured on set parameters. According to the respondents of a survey conducted by McKinsey, companies should utilize the opportunities a family foundation offers to optimize the impact of their social development endeavours.
C. Bharti Foundation - The Philanthropic Arm of Bharti Enterprises
At Bharti, philanthropy is viewed as a "part of the family DNA" of giving back to society. With a strong belief that education is the most powerful tool for social and economic upliftment of the nation, Mr. Sunil Bharti Mittal, the Chairman of Bharti Group, set up Bharti Foundation in 2000 to contribute in a significant and meaningful way towards the overall education sector of India. Implementing and supporting programs in the field of primary, secondary and higher education, Bharti Foundation aims to bridge the existing extremities of the education divide in the country that would 'help underprivileged children and youth of our country realize their potential.'
The Satya Bharti School Program, the flagship end-to-end rural education initiative of Bharti Foundation was thus launched in 2006 to help underprivileged and marginalized children in the rural corners of the country develop into well rounded confident and employable citizens of tomorrow, deeply committed and responsible to their communities and the nation at large. The program delivers free quality education to thousands of underprivileged children in the rural pockets with special focus on the girl child. It also offers special student welfare schemes like free mid-day meals, uniforms, stationery etc. to facilitate education for children. It aims to use the program to develop scalable and sustainable components of 'quality education' which may be replicated by state governments and like-minded organizations working in the field of education.
The program envisions 500 primary and 50 senior secondary schools, reaching out to over 2,00,000 children at full capacity. Currently, more than 33,000 students are enrolled across 253 Satya Bharti Schools (236 primary schools, 12 elementary and five senior secondary schools) in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Contributing to the inclusive growth agenda of the country, 48% of students in the Satya Bharti Schools are girls, 0.5-1% of the children have learning disabilities and 76% of our students and 48% of teachers belong to the minority (SC/ST/OBC) communities. The program is also currently in the process of upgrading an additional 50 primary schools to the elementary level in partnership with Google.
Apart from its direct reach, the program also looks at the empowerment of the communities in which it works. Teachers for the Satya Bharti Schools are recruited from base and feeder villages in which the schools are set up. 'Didis' for the schools are also chosen from the villages and mid-day meal vendors are often mothers of the children who study in our schools.
Bharti Foundation is also the focal point for all CSR initiatives across the Bharti Group of Companies in India and Africa and drives and facilitates the CSR initiatives of the Group Companies through the CSR Council.
The author is a freelance content writer based in India. She can be contacted at contentwritingindia@gmail.com
Charles Ross Kidnapping for Ransom - Pennsylvania in 1874
July one 1874, Charley (As he was known, only four at the time) and his five years old brother Walter Lewis were playing in front of their home in Germantown, an uppity section of Pennsylvania. A carriage stopped and the two boys were approached by two men who offered the boys candy and fireworks if they would take a ride with them. Walter was later left at a fireworks store in Philadelphia shortly thereafter and Charley was never seen again. Christian K. Ross, the boys' father, started obtaining ransom demands from the apparent kidnappers. The ransom demands came within the style of notes mailed from post offices in Philadelphia and surroundings, all written in odd and in a coarse hand writing, barely literate sentences with several easy and common words incorrectly spelled. The requests typically demands a ransom of $20,000, an exorbitant amount at the time.
The notes warned against police notification and threatened to kill Charley if Christian failed to absolutely cooperate. the thoughts of the abductors was that Christian Ross is wealthy since he owned an huge house, however he was really heavily in debt, attributable to the stock market crash of 1873, and he had no access to the amount of money that the kidnappers are demanding. With no other available option, Christian turned to the police. The kidnapping soon became a nationwide news. The press pushed the case daily and heavily across the country, some famous residents of Philadelphia employed the famous Pinkerton detective agency, who had countless flyers and posters printed with Charley's image. a famed song based mostly on the crime was even composed by Dexter Smith and W. H. Brockway, entitled "Bring Back Our Darling". Many attempts were made to pay the abductors with ransom cash as dictated within the notes, however in every case the abductors didn't respond. Eventually, communication stopped.
December, 1874, the Long Island house belonging to Judge Charles Van Brunt was broken into. Holmes Van Brunt, Charles' brother, lived around the corner, and gathered the members of his household, armed with shotguns to confront the intruders. As they entered Charles' house, they saw two lanterns turned off, after which a firefight ensue, by the time the gunfire was over, the 2 burglars are down. They were Bill Mosher and Joe Douglas, career criminals who had recently been released from jail. Mosher was dead on the spot. Douglas was seriously wounded, but managed to speak with Holmes. Most agree that Douglas said that there was no purpose in lying (as he was sure death is near) he admitted that he and Mosher kidnapped Charley. His further statements, if any, are lots of controversy. He either said that Charley was killed, or that Mosher knew where Charley was, presumably adding that he would be came to the Rosses in few days. In any case, he didn't provide any clues to Charley's location or different particulars of the crime, and died soon afterwards. Charley's brother Walter was taken to the large apple city to spot the bodies of Mosher and Douglas to verify if they were those from the carriage ride. Walter confirmed that they were the men in front of their home the previous summer. Mosher significantly was very identifiable as he had a distinctively malformed nose. but there's still no clue on where Charley is, and therefore the case is ways from over.
William Westervelt, a former Philadelphia policeman, a friend of Bill Mosher, was arrested and held in reference to the case. He was tried in 1875 for kidnapping. Though Westervelt was an exponent and perhaps a confidant of Mosher (while in jail awaiting trial he had told Christian Ross that Charley had been alive at the time of Mosher's death), there was on the subject of no proof to tie him to the crime itself. Walter, for one, insisted that Westervelt wasn't within the carriage that took them away. Westervelt, perhaps inevitably, was found to be innocent of the kidnapping. However, he was found guilty of a lesser conspiracy charge and served six years in jail. He invariably maintained his own innocence.
In 1939, a 69-year-old carpenter named Gustave Blair who had legally modified his name to 'Charley Ross' became the last of the thousands of would-be 'Charley Rosses'. The fate of Charley Ross remains unknown. CharleyProject.org, a leading missing persons database is named after him. The phrase "don't take candy from strangers" is purported to have resulted from Charley's case.
Howard Barnett is passionate about helping families find their missing loved ones. Read his blog to find more Kidnapping Stories and Famous Kidnappings.
The notes warned against police notification and threatened to kill Charley if Christian failed to absolutely cooperate. the thoughts of the abductors was that Christian Ross is wealthy since he owned an huge house, however he was really heavily in debt, attributable to the stock market crash of 1873, and he had no access to the amount of money that the kidnappers are demanding. With no other available option, Christian turned to the police. The kidnapping soon became a nationwide news. The press pushed the case daily and heavily across the country, some famous residents of Philadelphia employed the famous Pinkerton detective agency, who had countless flyers and posters printed with Charley's image. a famed song based mostly on the crime was even composed by Dexter Smith and W. H. Brockway, entitled "Bring Back Our Darling". Many attempts were made to pay the abductors with ransom cash as dictated within the notes, however in every case the abductors didn't respond. Eventually, communication stopped.
December, 1874, the Long Island house belonging to Judge Charles Van Brunt was broken into. Holmes Van Brunt, Charles' brother, lived around the corner, and gathered the members of his household, armed with shotguns to confront the intruders. As they entered Charles' house, they saw two lanterns turned off, after which a firefight ensue, by the time the gunfire was over, the 2 burglars are down. They were Bill Mosher and Joe Douglas, career criminals who had recently been released from jail. Mosher was dead on the spot. Douglas was seriously wounded, but managed to speak with Holmes. Most agree that Douglas said that there was no purpose in lying (as he was sure death is near) he admitted that he and Mosher kidnapped Charley. His further statements, if any, are lots of controversy. He either said that Charley was killed, or that Mosher knew where Charley was, presumably adding that he would be came to the Rosses in few days. In any case, he didn't provide any clues to Charley's location or different particulars of the crime, and died soon afterwards. Charley's brother Walter was taken to the large apple city to spot the bodies of Mosher and Douglas to verify if they were those from the carriage ride. Walter confirmed that they were the men in front of their home the previous summer. Mosher significantly was very identifiable as he had a distinctively malformed nose. but there's still no clue on where Charley is, and therefore the case is ways from over.
William Westervelt, a former Philadelphia policeman, a friend of Bill Mosher, was arrested and held in reference to the case. He was tried in 1875 for kidnapping. Though Westervelt was an exponent and perhaps a confidant of Mosher (while in jail awaiting trial he had told Christian Ross that Charley had been alive at the time of Mosher's death), there was on the subject of no proof to tie him to the crime itself. Walter, for one, insisted that Westervelt wasn't within the carriage that took them away. Westervelt, perhaps inevitably, was found to be innocent of the kidnapping. However, he was found guilty of a lesser conspiracy charge and served six years in jail. He invariably maintained his own innocence.
In 1939, a 69-year-old carpenter named Gustave Blair who had legally modified his name to 'Charley Ross' became the last of the thousands of would-be 'Charley Rosses'. The fate of Charley Ross remains unknown. CharleyProject.org, a leading missing persons database is named after him. The phrase "don't take candy from strangers" is purported to have resulted from Charley's case.
Howard Barnett is passionate about helping families find their missing loved ones. Read his blog to find more Kidnapping Stories and Famous Kidnappings.
Canadians Cross The Border Into the US to Buy Many Consumer Goods Because Of Favorable Prices
While many Americans scoff at the rising prices of most consumer goods, they really don't have a clue as to how lucky they still have it. In fact, this may come as a surprise to many Americans, but many people from Canada actually find products and services so much cheaper in the USA that they cross the border to America to save money on things they use every day. In fact, this isn't just a small group of Canadians, but is in fact a significant number of Canadians that happen to live on the Canada / US border.
What's interesting is that most of these trips are same day trips into the United States. Canadians aren't going to the US for tourism, they're going because products are significantly cheaper. In 2011, there were almost thirty million same day trips into the United States made by Canadian families. The total number of trips by Canadians into the United States was just shy of fifty million. That means that almost sixty percent of Canadian trips into the U.S. were single day trips, and the majority of them were for shopping purposes?
Why would a Canadian want to come to the United States to shop? Well, even the staple groceries are significantly cheaper in the United States than in Canada. In fact, many staple foods such as eggs, chicken, milk, bread, etc, are half the price of their Canadian counterparts. In addition to food, almost all other products are cheaper as well. From clothing to electronics and even airline tickets, the United States seems to be cheaper on just about everything. In fact, almost two million Canadians flew out of the Buffalo Niagara International Airport last year, instead of commuting to Toronto. Why is this? Prices were cheaper all around, sometimes by as much as 40-50%, and most Canadians agree that the facilities are amazing compared to Toronto.
For people wishing to cross from Canada into the United States in order to save money, there are some things they should know. There are many websites out there that address these rules, but any Canadian crossing the border would be wise to pay attention. There are sites out there that list stores by location, sites that list potential price savings, and even sites that have specific lists of things a person can or cannot bring across the border. While shopping across the border is a great idea for anyone interested in saving a buck, a person needs to make sure that what they buy cannot get them in trouble.
To learn more about this phenomenon, please visit this Grove City outlet mall page aimed at Canadians shopping in the US!
What's interesting is that most of these trips are same day trips into the United States. Canadians aren't going to the US for tourism, they're going because products are significantly cheaper. In 2011, there were almost thirty million same day trips into the United States made by Canadian families. The total number of trips by Canadians into the United States was just shy of fifty million. That means that almost sixty percent of Canadian trips into the U.S. were single day trips, and the majority of them were for shopping purposes?
Why would a Canadian want to come to the United States to shop? Well, even the staple groceries are significantly cheaper in the United States than in Canada. In fact, many staple foods such as eggs, chicken, milk, bread, etc, are half the price of their Canadian counterparts. In addition to food, almost all other products are cheaper as well. From clothing to electronics and even airline tickets, the United States seems to be cheaper on just about everything. In fact, almost two million Canadians flew out of the Buffalo Niagara International Airport last year, instead of commuting to Toronto. Why is this? Prices were cheaper all around, sometimes by as much as 40-50%, and most Canadians agree that the facilities are amazing compared to Toronto.
For people wishing to cross from Canada into the United States in order to save money, there are some things they should know. There are many websites out there that address these rules, but any Canadian crossing the border would be wise to pay attention. There are sites out there that list stores by location, sites that list potential price savings, and even sites that have specific lists of things a person can or cannot bring across the border. While shopping across the border is a great idea for anyone interested in saving a buck, a person needs to make sure that what they buy cannot get them in trouble.
To learn more about this phenomenon, please visit this Grove City outlet mall page aimed at Canadians shopping in the US!
Traditional Mezcal Production in Oaxaca Represents a Green and Sustainable Industry in Mexico
The stalk can be used as firewood to fuel ovens for firing pottery or for cooking beneath a grill or comal. It can also be employed to build log cabins, lasting up to 100 years if covered with cement. It can even be combined with corn to make tortillas, adding a bit of sweetness. What many assume is waste product, the quiote or stalk of agave espadín, which shoots up at the plant's maturity, is actually representative one of the greenest and most sustainable industries in all Mexico - making mezcal in Oaxaca.
Oaxaca is the state in southern Mexico which produces most of the country's mezcal (also referred to as mescal), the spirit derived from the agave or maguey plant. While over the past few years drinking mezcal made with different varieties of agave has become in vogue, such as in a select number of American markets, as well as in Mexico City and of course Oaxaca, it's agave espadín which is still used to make well over 90% of the mezcal produced in Mexico. Espadín is easy to cultivate, and a single plant is capable of producing a heart or piña (the part of the plant which is baked, fermented and distilled) which weighs up to 400 pounds.
If an agave espadín is earmarked for reproduction, at maturity the quiote is permitted to shoot up, extending up to 20 feet, reaching towards the heavens while producing up to 200 baby plants. The tiny agave are harvested. They can then be left untended for months while remaining viable for growth. After planting they require periodic watering for the first year or two, but if during the rainy season they are transplanted from their small starter beds into the fields, they require no further irrigation for the ensuing six to eight years; at which time they are mature and ready for harvest. Water is a scarce resource in most districts of Oaxaca, so the cultivation of a plant with no watering requirements after its initial growth stage is a gift from the gods.
It's not only the quiote which can be used as fuel. When the agave is harvested its leaves are cut off and have no further direct use in the mezcal making process. However, once dried they too are used to fuel pottery ovens and for cooking. They can also be used to make rope (ixtle, similar to hemp), woven into mats, employed as a needle and thread, processed into a green dye, and the list goes on. The leaves from pulquero varieties of agave (aguamiel [honey water] is naturally produced by these large, majestic agave, which ferments into the pre-Hispanic drink, pulque) are often used to add flavor when goat, sheep and beef are baked the traditional way in a sealed, in-ground oven over firewood and rocks.
The jury's still out as to whether fueling ovens for baking agave using firewood as opposed to a fossil fuel such as diesel or propane, is more environmentally friendly. But true artisanal mezcal continues to utilize firewood for cooking the agave, as well as for its distillation. The firewood can come from several kinds of tree. Second and third quality logs from the forestry industry which are preferably not used in home construction or for other uses requiring better grade lumber, are used as fuel for making mezcal. Similarly, the branches of dead, rotting trees found in fields and forests can be used as firewood in certain stages of the mezcal making process, such as for kindling.
The agave is baked in a sealed earthen pit over rocks piled atop the firewood. After about five days the agave is ready to be removed from this rudimentary oven. It's not ash which remains at the bottom of the pit, but rather charcoal. The charcoal is either sold commercially or used by the family of the palenquero (mezcal producer) for cooking - including making tortillas with masa made from corn, and yes the quiote of the agave. To this extent firewood used in this stage of the mezcal making process can be distinguished from commercially produced non - renewable energy sources.
After the carbohydrate rich baked agave is crushed, employing a beast of burden as custom dictates as opposed to motorized equipment, it's then fermented in large pine vats. The yeasts which work their magic are from the environment, rather than commercially produced. A relatively small amount of water is added, and fermentation continues for anywhere from seven days to two weeks depending on ambient temperature and other factors. The fermented liquid and crushed fiber are placed in a still, usually copper encased with stone or brick, and mud or cement as mortar.
Once the still has run its course and a batch of mezcal has been produced (generally mezcal is double distilled), there is waste; water and fiber which have had most of their nutritional value removed during distillation. The water is drained from the still and can be used for irrigating baby agave, or growing fruits or vegetables.
The fiber can be utilized as compost or mulch. When dry it can also be used as a fire starter. With the addition of mud and sand it can be employed to make adobe bricks. Adobe used to be the construction material of Mexico's indigenous poor, but it's now more expensive than clay brick and block, the middle classes having recognizing its insulation properties (particularly important during the country's hot times of year since the use of air conditioning is rare due to high hydro electricity costs), its pleasing aesthetics, and its significance within the context of sustainability.
Experimenting is under way utilizing the discarded fiber as the substratum for cultivating mushrooms, another important and sustainable industry taking hold in Oaxaca. With the passage of decades, no doubt additional uses for parts of agave espadín, by-products of the mezcal making process, will come to light, protecting Mexico's green environment for generations to come. When drinking true, artisanal mezcal, consider how you're supporting a green and sustainable Oaxacan industry.
Alvin Starkman takes couples and families to small, traditional roadside mezcal factories, and into the fields to harvest aguamiel. Alvin and his wife Arlene operate Casa Machaya Oaxaca Bed & Breakfast ( http://www.casamachaya.com ).
Oaxaca is the state in southern Mexico which produces most of the country's mezcal (also referred to as mescal), the spirit derived from the agave or maguey plant. While over the past few years drinking mezcal made with different varieties of agave has become in vogue, such as in a select number of American markets, as well as in Mexico City and of course Oaxaca, it's agave espadín which is still used to make well over 90% of the mezcal produced in Mexico. Espadín is easy to cultivate, and a single plant is capable of producing a heart or piña (the part of the plant which is baked, fermented and distilled) which weighs up to 400 pounds.
If an agave espadín is earmarked for reproduction, at maturity the quiote is permitted to shoot up, extending up to 20 feet, reaching towards the heavens while producing up to 200 baby plants. The tiny agave are harvested. They can then be left untended for months while remaining viable for growth. After planting they require periodic watering for the first year or two, but if during the rainy season they are transplanted from their small starter beds into the fields, they require no further irrigation for the ensuing six to eight years; at which time they are mature and ready for harvest. Water is a scarce resource in most districts of Oaxaca, so the cultivation of a plant with no watering requirements after its initial growth stage is a gift from the gods.
It's not only the quiote which can be used as fuel. When the agave is harvested its leaves are cut off and have no further direct use in the mezcal making process. However, once dried they too are used to fuel pottery ovens and for cooking. They can also be used to make rope (ixtle, similar to hemp), woven into mats, employed as a needle and thread, processed into a green dye, and the list goes on. The leaves from pulquero varieties of agave (aguamiel [honey water] is naturally produced by these large, majestic agave, which ferments into the pre-Hispanic drink, pulque) are often used to add flavor when goat, sheep and beef are baked the traditional way in a sealed, in-ground oven over firewood and rocks.
The jury's still out as to whether fueling ovens for baking agave using firewood as opposed to a fossil fuel such as diesel or propane, is more environmentally friendly. But true artisanal mezcal continues to utilize firewood for cooking the agave, as well as for its distillation. The firewood can come from several kinds of tree. Second and third quality logs from the forestry industry which are preferably not used in home construction or for other uses requiring better grade lumber, are used as fuel for making mezcal. Similarly, the branches of dead, rotting trees found in fields and forests can be used as firewood in certain stages of the mezcal making process, such as for kindling.
The agave is baked in a sealed earthen pit over rocks piled atop the firewood. After about five days the agave is ready to be removed from this rudimentary oven. It's not ash which remains at the bottom of the pit, but rather charcoal. The charcoal is either sold commercially or used by the family of the palenquero (mezcal producer) for cooking - including making tortillas with masa made from corn, and yes the quiote of the agave. To this extent firewood used in this stage of the mezcal making process can be distinguished from commercially produced non - renewable energy sources.
After the carbohydrate rich baked agave is crushed, employing a beast of burden as custom dictates as opposed to motorized equipment, it's then fermented in large pine vats. The yeasts which work their magic are from the environment, rather than commercially produced. A relatively small amount of water is added, and fermentation continues for anywhere from seven days to two weeks depending on ambient temperature and other factors. The fermented liquid and crushed fiber are placed in a still, usually copper encased with stone or brick, and mud or cement as mortar.
Once the still has run its course and a batch of mezcal has been produced (generally mezcal is double distilled), there is waste; water and fiber which have had most of their nutritional value removed during distillation. The water is drained from the still and can be used for irrigating baby agave, or growing fruits or vegetables.
The fiber can be utilized as compost or mulch. When dry it can also be used as a fire starter. With the addition of mud and sand it can be employed to make adobe bricks. Adobe used to be the construction material of Mexico's indigenous poor, but it's now more expensive than clay brick and block, the middle classes having recognizing its insulation properties (particularly important during the country's hot times of year since the use of air conditioning is rare due to high hydro electricity costs), its pleasing aesthetics, and its significance within the context of sustainability.
Experimenting is under way utilizing the discarded fiber as the substratum for cultivating mushrooms, another important and sustainable industry taking hold in Oaxaca. With the passage of decades, no doubt additional uses for parts of agave espadín, by-products of the mezcal making process, will come to light, protecting Mexico's green environment for generations to come. When drinking true, artisanal mezcal, consider how you're supporting a green and sustainable Oaxacan industry.
Alvin Starkman takes couples and families to small, traditional roadside mezcal factories, and into the fields to harvest aguamiel. Alvin and his wife Arlene operate Casa Machaya Oaxaca Bed & Breakfast ( http://www.casamachaya.com ).
Reverse Digital Media Pay Walls - No Way, You Pay Me, Bring It
As print media dies the death of a thousand needles, one has to ask if the merging of print and digital content is the proper and only long-term solutions, aka "if you can't beat them, join them" and yes, I for one wonder all this, but I still question this reality for the print media. We've watched many of the most well respected newspapers in our nation attempt to combine their print news desks with their digital editions. For some this has worked for others, not so well. Okay, let's look at some of the latest strategies going on in this new blurred reality of news shall we?
Now then, GIGOM (dot) had a cool article recently on March 26, 2012 titled; "Don't build a pay wall, create a velvet rope instead," by Mathew Ingram which told of a new concept to help print publications survive in the digital information world. Okay so, you know how many print publications charge you for digital versions of their articles, well, they call this a "pay wall" which means you, the reader, has to pay if you want that information to read.
Well now some publications are paying the reader to read their articles, and yes, the advertising too, which means more guaranteed readers for their advertisers and a way to account for who read what. This makes sense, as the news media outlet pays their readers to view their content, perhaps trading them for free-coupons from their top advertisers. The readers thus, read more online content, and the advertisers get important data of things such as; exact demographic data of who is reading their ads and what type of content their customers most prefer.
All of this data means that the targeted ads are much more effective, therefore worth more to the company placing the ads, and a higher price point for the media outlet, thus more money to split with the reader. Actually, a lot more money can be made this way than charging subscribers for the privilege of reading their content. So, this newest idea is quite wise, and thanks to big data and all the latest marketing tools, along with social networks, this could be an advertisers dream come true and actually save this hybrid business model preventing big bankruptcies in the print media.
More money to the news outlets also means better reporting, coverage, and therefore, better news. Something, I bet we'd all appreciate. What's that famous line; "everyone's a winner!" Okay so, please consider all this and think on it.
Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks on Interesting Internet Concepts. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net
Now then, GIGOM (dot) had a cool article recently on March 26, 2012 titled; "Don't build a pay wall, create a velvet rope instead," by Mathew Ingram which told of a new concept to help print publications survive in the digital information world. Okay so, you know how many print publications charge you for digital versions of their articles, well, they call this a "pay wall" which means you, the reader, has to pay if you want that information to read.
Well now some publications are paying the reader to read their articles, and yes, the advertising too, which means more guaranteed readers for their advertisers and a way to account for who read what. This makes sense, as the news media outlet pays their readers to view their content, perhaps trading them for free-coupons from their top advertisers. The readers thus, read more online content, and the advertisers get important data of things such as; exact demographic data of who is reading their ads and what type of content their customers most prefer.
All of this data means that the targeted ads are much more effective, therefore worth more to the company placing the ads, and a higher price point for the media outlet, thus more money to split with the reader. Actually, a lot more money can be made this way than charging subscribers for the privilege of reading their content. So, this newest idea is quite wise, and thanks to big data and all the latest marketing tools, along with social networks, this could be an advertisers dream come true and actually save this hybrid business model preventing big bankruptcies in the print media.
More money to the news outlets also means better reporting, coverage, and therefore, better news. Something, I bet we'd all appreciate. What's that famous line; "everyone's a winner!" Okay so, please consider all this and think on it.
Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks on Interesting Internet Concepts. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net
The Ocean Is Rising and Making Land Inhabitable Due to Global Warming, The Alarmist Claimed
Interestingly enough, the city I live in has been sinking down between eight and 12 inches over the last decade - it isn't stopping there apparently, it's still sinking. The reason is simple, because we have been taken water, that is to say groundwater, and pumping it out, then using much of that water to sprinkler all the golf courses out here in the desert. We aren't the only city that is sinking, as many other cities around the world are also sinking. Mexico City for instance is sinking for the same reason, removal of groundwater. Okay so let's talk about; sinking cities for second (try to say that three times fast).
In Louisiana the ground is sinking, just as it is in many places, so even if the ocean remains the same height during its natural tide cycles it appears to be rising. Indeed, there was an interesting piece in Science Illustrated, January/February 2012 Issue, titled; "Louisiana is Sinking," and this is a perfect example of a simple explanation which blows a hole right through the global warming alarmists theories or those who claim that it's all a result of human greenhouse emissions - it's not, not at all.
Now then, why might I bring all this up now? Well, you see, there was an interesting article on April 2, 2012 in Physorg (dot) com recently titled; "Scientists find slow subsidence of Earth's crust beneath the Mississippi delta," which now seems to state;
"The results provide valuable new insights about the factors that affect shorelines and other locations in the Gulf Coast area now and into the future," and their study shows "the basement underneath key portions of the Mississippi Delta, including the New Orleans area, has subsided less than one inch per century faster over the past 7,000 years than the more stable area of southwest Louisiana," and that the lower areas in the Southwest are sinking much faster.
We also know of the sediment challenges as the changes made to the Mississippi River have worked as a Jacuzzi jet challenging the normal delta landscape, thus allowing big storms to erode more, without the land buffer. You see, we shouldn't blame everything on global warming just because it appears that the tide is rising, there might be many other reasons for it. For instance, in Malibu California the beach has slowly been eroding away due to the pounding of the surf, it has nothing to do with rising ocean levels.
It is amazing to me how quickly the global warming zealots and alarmists will point to every single thing that happens as some sort of proof in their theory, especially when that theory is nothing more than hot air. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.
Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net
In Louisiana the ground is sinking, just as it is in many places, so even if the ocean remains the same height during its natural tide cycles it appears to be rising. Indeed, there was an interesting piece in Science Illustrated, January/February 2012 Issue, titled; "Louisiana is Sinking," and this is a perfect example of a simple explanation which blows a hole right through the global warming alarmists theories or those who claim that it's all a result of human greenhouse emissions - it's not, not at all.
Now then, why might I bring all this up now? Well, you see, there was an interesting article on April 2, 2012 in Physorg (dot) com recently titled; "Scientists find slow subsidence of Earth's crust beneath the Mississippi delta," which now seems to state;
"The results provide valuable new insights about the factors that affect shorelines and other locations in the Gulf Coast area now and into the future," and their study shows "the basement underneath key portions of the Mississippi Delta, including the New Orleans area, has subsided less than one inch per century faster over the past 7,000 years than the more stable area of southwest Louisiana," and that the lower areas in the Southwest are sinking much faster.
We also know of the sediment challenges as the changes made to the Mississippi River have worked as a Jacuzzi jet challenging the normal delta landscape, thus allowing big storms to erode more, without the land buffer. You see, we shouldn't blame everything on global warming just because it appears that the tide is rising, there might be many other reasons for it. For instance, in Malibu California the beach has slowly been eroding away due to the pounding of the surf, it has nothing to do with rising ocean levels.
It is amazing to me how quickly the global warming zealots and alarmists will point to every single thing that happens as some sort of proof in their theory, especially when that theory is nothing more than hot air. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.
Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net
What's With All of the Repeat News - Is There Just One Person or Machine Writing It All?
Okay so, I don't know about you, but many might consider me a news junkie, and yes, I'm up on all the issues all the time, day or night, I get the news alerts just like everyone else, and do my fair share of reading, and scanning the globe for interesting topics in the world media. One thing I've noted that is getting a little out of control is that local papers, regional papers, and even national papers often run the exact same story which was perhaps found in the Associated Press. It's as if everything is a re-run.
Interestingly enough, if you get your news minute by minute and second by second, by the time the newspaper is printed, it's already old news, and you are onto something else. In fact you are more likely than not to have already read that exact article online, or an abbreviated version of it on your smart phone, or iPad. Then there are all the syndicators which seem to swipe news stories, and put them online. Many of these in-depth going viral on the social networks, and can be found in the search engines.
Even though 300 newspapers in the United States have already gone to online subscriptions and pay walls, a good bit of their content is already available other places, and the reality is you don't really have to pay for it, and you probably will miss very little if you choose not to subscribe. Yes, it's true every once in a while you will miss some piece of information that you might wish to know, but generally it seems as if all the news is copied over and over again.
The other day, I was doing a little standup comedy routine for friends, and I stated that there must just be one person writing the news, or an artificial intelligent program, and then all the newspapers just gobble up the story, and there are no more reporters anymore. There's just one lonely person working in a back room typing away. If you doubt this is possible, there's been times when I have written 25 to 50 articles in a 24-hour period.
In any given newspaper there aren't generally more than 50 articles, therefore it is actually possible that one person, or perhaps just a handful are writing all the world news, and with the assistance of speech recognition software and artificial intelligence, they could do it too. The worst thing is none of us would ever know, would we? Indeed, I would like to leave you with that thought today, if you are wondering where our news industry is going, and what you can believe anymore. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.
Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks on Future Concepts. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net
Interestingly enough, if you get your news minute by minute and second by second, by the time the newspaper is printed, it's already old news, and you are onto something else. In fact you are more likely than not to have already read that exact article online, or an abbreviated version of it on your smart phone, or iPad. Then there are all the syndicators which seem to swipe news stories, and put them online. Many of these in-depth going viral on the social networks, and can be found in the search engines.
Even though 300 newspapers in the United States have already gone to online subscriptions and pay walls, a good bit of their content is already available other places, and the reality is you don't really have to pay for it, and you probably will miss very little if you choose not to subscribe. Yes, it's true every once in a while you will miss some piece of information that you might wish to know, but generally it seems as if all the news is copied over and over again.
The other day, I was doing a little standup comedy routine for friends, and I stated that there must just be one person writing the news, or an artificial intelligent program, and then all the newspapers just gobble up the story, and there are no more reporters anymore. There's just one lonely person working in a back room typing away. If you doubt this is possible, there's been times when I have written 25 to 50 articles in a 24-hour period.
In any given newspaper there aren't generally more than 50 articles, therefore it is actually possible that one person, or perhaps just a handful are writing all the world news, and with the assistance of speech recognition software and artificial intelligence, they could do it too. The worst thing is none of us would ever know, would we? Indeed, I would like to leave you with that thought today, if you are wondering where our news industry is going, and what you can believe anymore. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.
Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks on Future Concepts. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net
Global Media - Gee Whiz, Something is Terribly Amiss
In many regards it seems sometimes the media mettles too much into US politics. Often, they end up favoring a certain politician over another, and more often than not, it just happens to be the one which is spending the most money on advertising with that newspaper, their online version, or buying ads for the newspaper's website - convenient I'd say? Okay so, no revelation there, and as we grow older and watch the repeats of past history go around in circles every decade it tends to jade us and make us a tad bit cynical - but hey, that's politics and it's a messy business, as has been said.
Still, we do rely on our media to keep the politicians honest, and generally they love to stir up controversy which makes it a double-edged sword too. Freedom of the press therefore helps promote freedom and liberty, so that's a good thing, as long as those things I mentioned above don't get too far out of hand. Let's talk about this for a moment shall we?
The New York Times had an interesting article on April 4, 2012 titled; "In China Press, Best Coverage Cash Can Buy," by David Barboza which stated;
"China is notorious for censoring politically delicate news, but willing to print flattering news about businesses; if the price is right. Want a profile of your chief executive to appear in the Chinese version of Esquire? That will be about $20,000 a page, or get on a news program by state-run China Central Television? Pay $4,000 a minute, says a network consultant who arranges such appearances. A flattering piece in Workers' Daily, the Communist Party's propaganda paper $1 per Chinese character."
That same day there was another reminded of the cellular telephone scandal in the UK from one of their major newspapers. Couple that without our own challenges here at home and how our media seems to have become our fourth branch of government, often more powerful than the other three as it dictates policy and legislates from the pages. Where does all this go from here? Well, if we let it, that entire train could roll out of the high-speed station and leave us all behind, so, I'd say, let's not go there.
Still, how can we stop such things when the media has so much power, and the power brokers find ways to buy their way to political propaganda? That's a real catch-22 my friends, and with newspapers in the US hurting as bad as they are, they'd be more likely to take the money and confirm a little "I'll scratch your back, you scratch mine," at the expense of our nation's future, and our future liberty and freedom. Beware the industrial media complex. See my point? Please consider all this and think on it.
Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks on 2012 Global Politics. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net
Still, we do rely on our media to keep the politicians honest, and generally they love to stir up controversy which makes it a double-edged sword too. Freedom of the press therefore helps promote freedom and liberty, so that's a good thing, as long as those things I mentioned above don't get too far out of hand. Let's talk about this for a moment shall we?
The New York Times had an interesting article on April 4, 2012 titled; "In China Press, Best Coverage Cash Can Buy," by David Barboza which stated;
"China is notorious for censoring politically delicate news, but willing to print flattering news about businesses; if the price is right. Want a profile of your chief executive to appear in the Chinese version of Esquire? That will be about $20,000 a page, or get on a news program by state-run China Central Television? Pay $4,000 a minute, says a network consultant who arranges such appearances. A flattering piece in Workers' Daily, the Communist Party's propaganda paper $1 per Chinese character."
That same day there was another reminded of the cellular telephone scandal in the UK from one of their major newspapers. Couple that without our own challenges here at home and how our media seems to have become our fourth branch of government, often more powerful than the other three as it dictates policy and legislates from the pages. Where does all this go from here? Well, if we let it, that entire train could roll out of the high-speed station and leave us all behind, so, I'd say, let's not go there.
Still, how can we stop such things when the media has so much power, and the power brokers find ways to buy their way to political propaganda? That's a real catch-22 my friends, and with newspapers in the US hurting as bad as they are, they'd be more likely to take the money and confirm a little "I'll scratch your back, you scratch mine," at the expense of our nation's future, and our future liberty and freedom. Beware the industrial media complex. See my point? Please consider all this and think on it.
Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks on 2012 Global 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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