Wisdom From the Universe: Do You Value Your Life?


By Dr. Bruce A. Johnson

Have you ever found life so challenging that you wondered if you could continue to survive the ongoing challenges being faced?

Do you find your career has become stagnant and you cannot make it change no matter how hard you try to progress, and now you struggle to find meaning and purpose in the work you are doing every day?

Has the weight of many years of hopes and dreams become so heavy it now feels as if you are carrying a burden which cannot be lifted, and the future seems to hold no promise of improvement or immediate relief?

When someone has struggled in any capacity of their life for any length of time, it can have a damaging effect on their psyche, demeanor, and overall well-being. There can be a number of reasons why a person begins to feel this way and those reasons may or may not all be valid; however, it is the culminating effect of negativity which causes the long-term damage. This is the result of a belief which is built up over time, often established as a result of circumstances that have been perceived or experienced, and through emotional reactions, a person has felt pain, grief, stress, anxiety, or any other of similar negative emotions.

One example is the person who has never had enough money and struggled throughout their life to make ends meet and create a better life. If their hard work and effort could not make circumstances change, this person is likely to experience some form of emotional reaction and one which is negative in nature. Rarely does someone feel good in this type of situation, especially if it has been going on for a long time.

Another example is someone who feels as if they are stuck in a dead-end job or career and they have worked hard to develop new career goals and options. If time has passed by and nothing has changed, the mindset of the individual may turn from hope to frustration and then to despair. It becomes a heavy weight the person carries as they struggle to understand why life cannot be bargained with or leveraged according to what is desired or wanted, especially when they are putting in the time and effort.

Anyone who has faced hardship in their life, whether personal or career related, they understand the emotions experienced. You can feel balanced one day and then upset the next, when you look at your bank account, reflect upon your life, or think about all of the goals you have set for your life but could never fulfill. Those emotional triggers are difficult to predict as it can be something as simple as seeing someone else who is perceived as having more or getting an easier ride in life.

When strong, negative emotions set in and are cultivated for any length of time, a person may begin to question the value of their life. Now if a person believes strongly enough that their life should no longer exist, they should seek out immediate psychological counseling. But for the person who simply does not understand why they would have to live a life filled with struggle, hardship, and/or unending challenges, this is the person who questions the value of the life they are living. It has to do with the purpose of the life they have and how they are supposed to find meaning.

This is the subject I wanted to learn more about as I was connected to the Collective Consciousness of mankind and Universal Wisdom. As a teacher of Laws of the Universe, I wanted to know how I could explain to those who have a challenging life, how they can find value and meaning in their life.

A universal truth is this: Mankind has taught its members to determine individual value based upon status, what is owned, a person's station, the amount of wealth accumulated or lack thereof, physical characteristics or deformities, and other similar, visual characteristics and qualities. Humans can only assess one another based upon what they can see, measure, and evaluate. Innate qualities are admirable but not redeemable as to what can be purchased, stored, or retained for future value.

As time has gone on, the quest for the pursuit of physical objects and physical beauty has only intensified as technology has made it possible to manufacture, create, develop, and/or deliver products and services at a much faster rate, along with making it possible to promote these same products and services at a relentless pace across multiple media platforms. The average individual's senses are inundated every day with reminders about what should be owned if they are to feel good, look good, and retain their standing in society, or at least attempt to live up to the expectations of society.

The idea of value also extends to a definition of normalcy by societal standards. There is an ideal of who is considered to be normal, in terms of not only looks and characteristics, but also behaviors, what is worn, and sexual preferences. Should someone deviate from these societal norms, not only are they labeled with offensive and degrading names, they are now considered to have a lower value than others who are deemed normal by society. For example, most religions deem heterosexual males who wear male clothing to be normal and have the most value. A gay male, and a male who should prefer to wear anything which might be gender flexible, would not be considered normal by these definitions and somehow lesser in human value.

The Damaging Effect of Normalizing Individuals

Society attempts to normalize individuals in order to establish boundaries, rules, and regulations. It is also done as a means of population control and heavily is influenced by religious institutions, which is based upon outdated and out-of-touch teachings. While society has continued to evolve, and the boundary of normal has moved over time, there is still a negative current which exists against those who do not adhere to strict definitions of male and female, wealthy, popular, successful, and charismatic. Those who fall within the gray area between absolute compliance and non-compliance find themselves at odds with society and often feeling as if they do not fit in with others.

It is religious institutions which continue to push for normalization of individuals in society, with its leaders deeming themselves to hold the highest authority possible to make these judgement calls and establish these boundaries. It is expected that no one will question what these leaders proclaim as they have the authority of a supreme being on their side. Yet this is all a form of societal control, built upon a system of monetary dictatorship. The masses will not follow unless they feel belittled and in need of being given direction by someone who is deemed superior to them. Religious institutions spent centuries developing this superiority approach, until it was engrained as part of society.

For those who fit the definition of normal, and are willing to be told how to live their lives, they can accept this form of mind control. But for anyone else who is outside of the boundaries of normal, and/or someone who is not willing to be told how to think, act, and behave because someone else has proclaimed themselves the supreme authority, they will venture away from these institutions. And this only serves to create a further sense of separation from society as they have now become outcasts, looked down upon by society and religious institutions, because they are unwilling to fit in or attempt to change their very nature.

When someone does not fit in, has not achieved a certain level of success or status, has not acquired significant personal belongings, does not have an impressive bank account or job, and/or does not fit the precise definition of a male or female, they are going to feel as if they have little value, either personally, in society, or both. The long-term effect of feeling this way is extremely damaging as a person internalizes negative rhetoric and begins to believe they truly are less than in some sense. When a person finally sees little value left, because their future seems so bleak, this is when negativity may finally take over in the form of despair, depression, suicidal thoughts, and more.

Determining Your Value

The only way for a person to determine their value is to awaken to the realization that there are no conditions to their inherent value. Every single person, which means every single human being, is a valuable creation and part of the living universe. Every person is connected to the source of life energy while here on Earth in a physical form, which means every person has access to the Collective Consciousness of mankind. This is never cut off by any human being or controlled by any supreme being. Every person can strengthen their connection by learning to listen for this connection through reflection. Through quiet moments a person will receive insight and wisdom, and this is how renewal, strength, vitality, and determination can be experienced. This is all part of the Laws of the Universe.

The only reason a person would ever need to feel they have any less value is if they decide to listen to anyone else and use someone else's opinion to create negative feelings within them. Any form of negativity from within can create blockages, which interrupts the flow and connection to the source of life energy. It will not cut if off, as a person can never be cut off from it, but it is possible to create a mental blockage. What this means is that a person becomes so negative in their thoughts, all they think about are the negative thoughts and events, not allowing themselves to find the insight and wisdom which is coming through to them.

You are a valuable living being. You are as valuable as every other living thing in this universe. You are as valuable as the planets and the stars. You matter as much as the rivers and the oceans. You decided to come into physical form to experience the physical world and learn from it, and in doing so, you help to expand the Collective Consciousness of mankind, along with Universal Wisdom. Your value can never be determined by anyone else. If you allow yourself to feel the value which is natural to you, it will be possible to feel happy no matter what conditions or rules or guidelines society may put into place. Your value is already determined and is never in question. If you can accept who you are and what you contribute, you will know happiness.

Dr. Bruce A. Johnson is an inspirational author, writer, and teacher. His advanced education, background, experience, and training are within the field of adult education and distance learning. Dr. J now shares his most important work with his unique ability to gain insight and wisdom as a teacher of Laws of the Universe. Dr. J's new book, Discover Laws of the Universe: Your Guide to Personal and Spiritual Transformation, is now available.

To learn about Dr. J's work with Laws of the Universe, including his new book and the free resources available, please visit:    https://readandbelieve.blog

White Flag Ministry for Acceptance in Failure and Brokenness


By Steve Wickham

Dido's White Flag (2003) came to be an anthem for me in a season of musical anthems. I can't be sure whether the words resembled my heart or if my heart grew to accept the words of the song. Little did it matter.

What mattered, alone, was that the pain of accepting my loss was more pleasurable than the bitterness I could have chosen in resenting my ex-partner.

The very weird thing in this was the agreement I made with the will of God; the vulnerability of simply saying, 'I give this person up who I so desperately want... I don't want to give her up... but I must give her up.'

This is White Flag's hauntingly committed chorus:

I will go down with this ship,

and I won't put my hands up and surrender,

there will be no white flag above my door,

oh I'm in love and always will be.

This song is astounding in what it conceives as possible in the realm of emotional management.

The lyrics speak of a person so smitten with their ex-partner that they cannot war with them even though the relationship is over.

It speaks of the peak of love

in the peak of grief.

And the weirdest thing about the faith involved in balancing two seemingly opposed purposes is it's possible, and not only that, but so very purposeful. It's when grief takes a life all its own and energy is given instead of being sapped.

A white flag ministry is an absolute imperative

in a season of failure and brokenness.

Such a ministry is discharged solely between two entities - us and God - even if a third party is centrally involved. And it is God's therapy to us in our aloneness, in our second-guessing, in our head-and-heart struggle, in our teary meltdowns, and in our narcissistic aloofness, that shows us that we must attend to this fractious and feverish season face up and head on.

The only way we can manage to do that

is through a courageous honest vulnerability.

This white flag ministry with God, where His Spirit ministered to me in a way no human being can, showed me that the only answer to the hell I was facing was to raise the white flag whilst refusing to show it.

In simpler words, I learned that I had to do two things that seem opposed at the same time: 1) give up on the relationship that only I wanted, and 2) not give up on my love for her.

And the only way to rationalise and reconcile the enigma presented in that was to agree to love the person I could not have. I would need to love her through my prayers in wishing for her the love she sought that I, at that time, was unable to give.

That kind of sacrificial humility can come only from God,

through trust, which necessitated the need to be close to Him.

We cannot give up that which we would insist on keeping

without drawing close, clung as it were, to God.

It takes a lot to recognise and reconcile our

human frailties in our human strength,

but it is easy to accept our human frailties

in God's power and have Him overcome them.

That is why I say this white flag ministry is an absolute imperative. It's why the gospel is needed in every person's life. It's why the world needs to know and be converted to Christ. Everyone ought to know that the secret to everything in life is that life must have been, at one time, lived authentically through loss. It is the golden gateway to the only proper selfhood.

Our conceitedness must be crucified with Christ

before we can live the Christian endeavour.

This gospel power makes reconciling loss in a way that's possible - it turns what is impossible in human strength into a possibility through God's power.

Steve Wickham holds Degrees in Science, Divinity, and Counselling. Steve writes at: http://epitemnein-epitomic.blogspot.com.au/ and http://tribework.blogspot.com.au/

Classical Fencing: The Flying Guard


By Walter Green

A quick search of Morton's Martini A-Z of Fencing and Evangelista's The Encyclopedia of the Sword reveals that the word "flying" has been used to describe a variety of blade and footwork actions over the last 200 years, ranging from parries to fleches. Maitre d'Armes Claude La Marche, one of the founders of the epee as a fencing discipline, adds to the list the "flying guard." In doing so, he harks back to a technique taught by Laboessiere fils and recommends it for the epee fencer of the 1880s and 1890s.

The Flying Guard is intended to achieve three tactical goals:

1. To close the distance with an opponent who believes himself or herself to be at a distance that makes an attack unlikely,

2. To disguise the effort to close the distance, and

3. To allow a fast attack once a suitable distance is reached.

The Flying Guard is executed by:

1. Coming on guard, ready for offense or defense.

2. Taking several very small steps, each ending with an appel. These appels are taken to ensure that the fencer maintains balance and that the legs are ready to act. At the same time the weapon is held in a relaxed manner to ensure a fast reaction if needed.

3. Then make a loud appel combined with a shout to distract the opponent, as you

4. Bring the rear foot forward, keeping the leg well bent to avoid any body movement that would disclose the change in foot position, to close up to the front foot (gaining approximately 7 inches of distance), and

5. Execute the attack with a lunge.

It is an uncommon thing to think of a guard as being "flying," especially when compared to other uses of the term in fencing. In this case, the series of step-appel-step-appel-step-appel seems to be slower rather than faster. However, this action does provide an interesting combination of two of the uses of the appel, as a balance check and as a distractor.

The flying guard must be viewed in the context of epee at the time (La Marche cautions that half lunges would usually suffice to carry the attack forward) and of the broader practice of classical footwork. We know from accounts of professional bouts that the appel and shout combination was used in the 1870s and 1880s. Combined with the distance steal of bringing the rear foot forward, this makes the flying guard an interesting action worth practicing for the required coordination and as a surprise action that might be useful once in a classical bout.

Walter Green is a Classical Fencing Master Trainer credentialed by the Classical Academy of Arms and certified as a modern Maitre d'Armes by the International Fencing Coaches Association and the Academie d'Armes Internationale. He serves as the director of the Classical Academy of Arms ( http://classicalacademyofarms.org ) and manages the Academy's online credentialing program. He currently is managing the Academy's self-study for accreditation as a center for coaching education by the National Committee for the Accreditation of Coaching Education.

Copyright 2018 by Walter G. Green III.

Classical Fencing: The Command Lesson


By Walter Green

Fencing texts, from as early as Rondelle to as late as Lidstone, commonly included detailed tables showing the sequence of commands the trainer would use in teaching a technique. Listed with the commands are the responses to those commands by trainer and student. We know that these commands were actually used because authors, as early as Siebenhaar to as late as Crosnier in his Fencing With The Foil in 1967, included discussions of the specifics of how commands were to be given.

However, the command lesson has generally been abandoned as a teaching tool. Modern texts, including the United States Fencing Coaches Association's original National Training Program, do not address the use of commands.

There are a number of reasons that may account for the general abandonment of the command lesson:

• This is an old technique, in use for a prolonged period of time before the development of modern technique and the increased athleticism of fencers.

• There is an emphasis in the training of Fencing Masters on the use of blade and footwork cueing in individual lessons, and teaching by blocked repetition and training by presentation of options (actually opposite to the most effective use of both repetition and options).

• The prevalent belief in games theory in which athletes are allowed, even encouraged, to find their own way to the execution of a technique. This is not to denigrate games theory; the incorporation of games theory in specific phases of training is highly desirable.

• The command lesson demands a greater attention to the segmentation of technique into its parts, requiring detailed consideration of the sequencing and chunking (the progressive combination of parts into the whole) of all of the elements of the technique. In other words, teaching this way requires thought and disciplined performance and work by the trainer.

However, for the classical fencer, and for specific uses for all fencers, the command lesson has important benefits:

• For classical fencers it allows the current practitioner to learn the way fencers in the classical period actually learned to fence. It is thus a window into the ethos of the sport. Much as language communicates the nature of a culture, how you learn to fence communicates the nature of the sport.

• The commands provide a discipline to execution to ensure that the student does the drill, not what the student might want to do, an outcome critical to the development of technique and response time.

• Many techniques require specific sequencing of actions. Left to their own devices, students have an unreasonably high probability of not getting the sequence right, developing an ineffective habit pattern, and requiring significant effort to fix the habit. The commands can be tailored to the develop the needed sequence.

• Deliberate training and part-whole training are enhanced.

As a Maitre d'Armes, I had generally abandoned the use of command based lessons. In the development of the Classical Academy of Arms credentialing program, I included command based instruction because of its demonstrated presence in Salles in the classical period. But then, I had a class of modern fencers that wanted to improve their accuracy and control. After 30 minutes of work, first with commands for each element of the straight thrust delivered by lunge, and then with progressively larger chunks of the technique, I saw a definite improvement in accuracy, sequencing, and movement precision in their attacks. The command lesson is not the only solution, but it should be part of any classical fencing training and be considered as a specialized tool for modern fencing training.

Walter Green is a Classical Fencing Master Trainer credentialed by the Classical Academy of Arms and certified as a modern Maitre d'Armes by the International Fencing Coaches Association and the Academie d'Armes Internationale. He serves as the director of the Classical Academy of Arms ( http://classicalacademyofarms.org ) and manages the Academy's online credentialing program. He currently is managing the Academy's self-study for accreditation as a center for coaching education by the National Committee for the Accreditation of Coaching Education.

Copyright 2018 by Walter G. Green III.

Why Biblical Advocates Against Abuse Deserve Church Support


By Steve Wickham

I was perplexed recently when an advocate for victims of abuse said that 'very few men and very few church leaders actively endorse and promote' her work. As I pondered my response, God said to me, 'There are too many reasons why this is all wrong. Write on that.'

So, this is an attempt to analyse the depth of the problem and the amount of reasons why there is a lack of support for this and other advocates for victims of abuse:

This particular advocate is widely read, knowledgeable, biblically astute, with a wealth of personal and direct experience of others to draw from. This is true of most advocates. Because of what they've seen and gone through, they devote their lives to doing what they do. They live and breathe it. They leave no stone unturned. And they're constantly learning and engaging with their network. The church needs people like this to lead, to be given a prophetic voice, for that's what they are.

Advocates stay the journey, for they believe they have a purpose in putting a spotlight on something the world and the church would rather pretend doesn't exist. Advocates deserve a hearing simply because they bear a terrifically negative burden for the years of their lifetime. Advocates won't go away. They simply won't bow to the injustices that have and continue to take place. And they suffer the constant indecency of being undignified.

Advocates are like prophets, and we know how poorly prophets are treated; we only need open our Bibles to discover this historical truth. The prophet's voice is often received abysmally when it's a rebuke. And despite the elements against it, advocates continue courageously delivering words from God. They deserve a hearing simply for the toll being ignored must take.

It's concerning that the church does not generally want to promote the work of a person who will inevitably speak into many lives. A church of 200 must have at least 30 people who've suffered abuse.

Point 4 needs to be elaborated. The advocate I have in mind has not only had a long experience of domestic abuse, that account was exacerbated by worse than poor support from the church. Today's church is being damned for its re-traumatisation of abuse victims through, in many cases, of not taking claims of abuse seriously and not investigating (though there is far more to it than this). So that is ever more reason for the church to endorse and promote this work. It doesn't at its peril. It's the role of the church to champion these kinds of issues.

How can the most obvious reason fall to number 6? It's easy to answer that. These are all obvious reasons. The most obvious reason is the support they lend to those who have similar if not the same stories. They're guides for healing ultimately, but initially they're human resource centres, sounding boards, confidantes, believers-in-victims, and even human shields. I know an advocate personally who has put her health at risk and on the line many times to stand in the gap for those individuals coming behind her.

This is the last reason, for seven must surely prove the point. There are more, and I will add them as they come to mind and as I have time. The seventh reason is simply the recognition that for return on investment (normally a financial term) the advocate experiences far less encouragement and far more ostracization contrasted with the deeper work they do as compared with other ministers (and I mean deeper in the spiritual warfare realm).

It's astounding when churches don't give overt support to advocates for the abused, but I think this could be about to change. I thank God for the #MeToo and #ChurchToo campaigns. The church must advocate for the abused, not be part of the problem.

As the prophet Amos said, 'But let justice flow like water, and righteousness, like an unfailing stream.' (Amos 5:24)

Steve Wickham holds Degrees in Science, Divinity, and Counselling. Steve writes at: http://epitemnein-epitomic.blogspot.com.au/ and http://tribework.blogspot.com.au/

Ecommerce Versus Bricks and Mortar Shopping


By Pat McMurray

One can't ignore 95,000,000 monthly visitors to Amazon. And, one cannot ignore the fact that 95% of Americans shop or will shop at Walmart. Ecommerce is set to grow 200% over the next five years. It has grown 38% over the past three months in the USA alone, in comparison to Walmart's online rate of just 11%. Macys, Sears and Walmart are closing stores citing competition from Amazon as a major factor of declining sales. However Nordstrom have taken up the challenge, 25% of their business is online and they have set the bench mark for other traditional bricks and mortar retailors to follow. Ecommerce is an opportunity not a threat, it's not a passing trend and it's here to stay. The number of people that venture into stores to touch and feel is shrinking. Transport costs and parking fees continue to rise and access becomes more time consuming. Anti-social behaviour in and around the cities and shopping malls continues to worsen, all of these factors are driving more and more customers online.

Amazon has taken another gigantic step buying a bricks and mortar super market chain for an estimated 34 billion. The sole reason for this decision is to improve the online groceries service by guaranteeing two hour delivery. Groceries will be delivered from the closest store according to zip code. In addition to this brave move they are trialling a supermarket with no check outs in Seattle, after the technology has been trialled and perfected Amazon will roll this out into all stores. Rather than setting themselves up against well-established competition they have used innovation to drive them beyond any competition. Another example is Elon Musk; his fearless approach to the future via technology has opened new consumer doors. His electronic cars will have a dramatic effect on traditional gas powered vehicles. We have to break from the shackles of the of mentally "if it aint broke don't fix it"

When it comes to ecommerce, Australia lags more than a decade behind and it will take another decade for them to catch up. Many local brands have gone into administration over the past two years, Herringbone, Marcs, David Lawrence, Rhodes and Becket, Oroton. British retail Giant, Top Shop and Top Man, failed and after two years of poor trading their closed their doors. The two and only department stores are struggling in the face of online competition. Myer shares have dropped from $4.00 to 53 cents in four years and David Jones shares have dropped 45% in three years. Myer's online business equates to less than 1% and David Jones is currently at 2.6%. Both online stores are clunky, awkward to navigate and out of date and delivery times are greater than delivery times from stores in the USA and UK. The rule of thumb is at least 10% of your retail business must be online. Both are competitor focused and mimic one another. There is no sign of innovation, just one sale after another; they have become bargain basement style. Recently Textile Traders have announced they will close all stores and trade purely online, similarly Airflex will close all but flagship stores and focus more attention online. And, finally let's be honest, service standards in Australian department stores are way below average. Under staffed, poorly trained, poorly paid and managed under archaic hierarchy mentality. You may as well put a large sign in the window saying shop online

A customer in Australia can purchase $1,000 worth of articles from Nordstrom in the USA and have it delivered to the door within 5 days; you pay no duty or tax and get a lot more for a lot less. [http://www.bagsamurai.com]Shop online at Amazon and the choices are infinite and the service is simply amazing. The psychology behind online shopping is there are no human barriers to confront you, you simply choose, click and pay and wait for the surprise.

So what are your choices? drive to the local mall, search thirty minutes for a parking spot that's probably going to set you back about $25.00, argue with your wife, get served by some pushy commissioned based sales person with no product knowledge. More than half the day is gone and it's been a waste of time. We've all had this kind of unpleasant experience. Now, you can save a lot of time and money by shopping online and use the time and money you have saved to take your family out for a pleasant lunch and enjoy some quality time together.

Bag Samurai specialises  men's bags including gym bags and shoulder bags in a variety of designs and materials such as leather, canvas and nylon.

Tips to Improve Your CIBIL Score


By Pravindra Singh

A good CIBIL score can help you in achieving many of your life goals with ease. Whether its that dream house that you have been planning or the dream vacation, you have been coveting, access to credit can ease the process substantially. A bad CIBIL score on the other hand can make access to credit very difficult. But there are ways in which you can improve your CIBIL score and achieve your goals.

Some of the ways in which you can improve your score are

Pay EMIs on time

The cardinal rule of good credit history is to maintain your payments in time. This factor plays a crucial role in your score and any delayed payments adversely affect your score. Make sure that your bank account is funded well in advance of the EMI due date, so that there are no bounces and unnecessary penalties due to the bounces.

Using your credit limit

Use your credit limit on your credit card prudently, because over utilisation or maxing out your credit card month on month can affect your credit score. Also not paying your outstanding due amount every month and just paying the minimum amount due monthly can affect your score. For example, if your credit limit on your card is Rs. 50,000 then make sure your are not spending more than 50% of the same ie not more than Rs. 25,000 on your credit card.

Credit Hungry Behavior

Any credit hungry behavior ie applying for too many credit cards or loans within a short span of time can affect your score adversely. Plan your credit requirements in advance. If you are planning to buy a house, make sure that you don't apply for any other types of credit like personal loan or car loan in the preceding 3 months, so that getting an approval for your home loan is easier and smoother and your eligibility is higher. Too many enquiries in your credit report is a sure way to get your loan application rejected by lenders.

Check your credit report periodically

It is a good practice to check your credit report periodically. Check for details like loan closure etc are updated correctly. Some banks fail to update the bureau in which case it might show erroneously on your report thereby reflecting on your score. Get issues like this sorted by raising the issue with the bank and bureau and sorting it out immediately. Sometimes, loans and credit cards which you have never taken might also reflect in your credit report, in which case, it is best to highlight the issue to the bureau and get it resolved so that it doesn't impact your score negatively.

CIBIL score of 700+ is usually considered good enough for getting your loan application approved. Follow some of these rules and you can see a positive impact on your score within a few months.

If you want to read more articles about improving your credit score and    Personal loan home Loan, Business etc. Visit http://www.loanadda.com

5 Popular Styles of Engagement Rings


By Leo Eigenberg

In the process of choosing the perfect engagement ring it is essential to find a design that matches the personality and lifestyle of the wearer. Also, the daily activities should be a consideration factor to make sure the ring is able to stand up to its everyday wear and tear. Let's take a look at a few of the most popular options:

Classic and elegant

One of the most timeless styles is the classic solitaire that is very effective at showcasing the centrally set diamond. The rings with a single diamond are typically the most popular. Typically, the metal band will be plain and in a metal like gold. Even with its timeless style, there is still the option to add extra style touches, such as using a basket or trellis setting for holding the diamond. Additionally, the use of peekaboo diamonds or other accent diamonds can help to add an extra touch of glamour.

Stylish and glamorous

The most stylish rings are likely to feature pav�-set diamonds on a band that has the diamond a lot higher than normal. Additionally, the settings with a halo design are a very attractive option. This type of setting has the main diamond surrounded by an extra circle of diamonds which not only help to create a lot of sparkle, but also makes the main diamond standout.

Nature and outdoors

The person that loves to be outdoors will certainly have plenty of ring style options. There are many ring settings that incorporate a variety of natural elements such as flowers, vines and leaves. The ring design with a low set diamond is certain to benefit the most active people. Also, there is the option to have an extra metal band or bezel setting to help protect the diamond and make sure it stays in place.

Timeless and romantic

For the partner in search of the timeless and romantic style of ring, there are many different setting options to consider, such as the intricate galleries, scrollwork patterns, and milgrain details, as well as the dainty bands. Also, for those that really want a unique style of ring, there is the option to buy an antique ring for the one-of-a-kind look.

Contemporary and modern

A great option for the contemporary look is the rings with non-traditional forms, such as the sculptural rings. One of the most striking options is the bezel setting. Also, a detailed wide band ring is certain to appeal to those in search of something different to the central diamond. However, it is still possible to have sparkle by adding in a series of gemstone accents.

Discover the most effective options to    create your engagement ring online.

Make a Statement With Cat Rings Jewelry


By Tom Wingis

Wrap your Feline Friend Around your Finger

Everyone's going ga-ga over cat rings jewelry. One look at these adorable little silver-plated rings will make you want to buy the entire collection for yourself. Wear them with any kind of outfit - whether an elegant evening dress or a summer frock - with your snazzy and sleek cat rings jewelry, you'll be sure to stand out no matter what you wear. Pamper those beautiful fingers of yours with some good old cat love and show the world that you're always ready to embrace those cuddly kitty cats by flaunting your inner feline nature. Nothing makes a bold statement like these lovingly crafted pieces of art, and there is no better way to show off your quirky style than to put on one of these playfully stylish cat rings.

One Size to Fit All Fingers

No longer do you have to worry about whether the ring you order will fit your finger. There are many absolutely beautiful rings that are adjustable and are suitable for all finger sizes. Simply bend these cat-themed rings into shape around your little finger, and experience the comfortably snug fit that will instantly remind you of your little feline friend at home. These adjustable cat rings will surely bring back memories of you and your furry cat cuddling together. Each time you put on a cat ring from your jewelry collection, you can carry your love for your favorite pet on your finger all day long. Wear them on your ring finger, or on all fingers if you like, and show off your crazy cat lady side.

An Amazing Range of Designs and Styles

   Cat rings jewelry is available in so many styles and patterns, you'll have a hard time deciding which one to pick! If you find the idea of wrapping a cat tail around your finger appealing, then you might want to consider an adjustable ring that features a long cat tail. Or, if paws and ears are your fancies, then you could choose a ring that shows off these adorable parts of your cat. If a sphynx cat is what catches your fancy, then you might want to pick one of that style as well, for good measure! Whether you want a glossy finish or matte, silver or rose-gold, there is a jewelry piece for every cat-loving woman out there. So, bring out your playful side, slip on one of these babies and get rocking! With the mind-boggling range of patterns available you can wear a different ring for every day of the year if you like!

Dangle those feline-graced fingers wherever you go, show off your cat rings jewelry collection to all your friends, and watch them turn green with envy at your effortless style. Who knows, your sense of fashion may start a long line of copycats!

How to Correctly Use a Prosthesis


By Pan Wang

1) First, how long after an amputation can a prosthesis be installed?

If, when removing the stitches after an amputation surgery, the wound heals well, and there is no inflammation or edema, an amputee can consider installing a prosthesis.

2) Second, what should prosthesis users pay attention to?

Lower leg amputees should focus on strengthening the flexion and extension of the knee muscles, and especially the muscle strength of the extensor (quadriceps). This will help lower leg amputees walk forcefully when wearing a prosthesis. Prosthesis users should first do standing balance training, then step training, followed by walking training, ascending and descending stairs training, slope training, and then do other adaptive training.

For amputees who are using a prosthesis after an amputation, here are the following recommendations:

1. Maintain a stable weight. Weight gain or loss that exceeds a certain range will result in a prosthetic socket that is too tight or too loose.

2. Prevent muscle atrophy of the residual limb. The amputee should do residual limb muscle training based on guidance from a physical therapist.

3. Keep the residual limb skin and prosthetic socket clean, protect the residual limb skin from inflammation, folliculitis, boils, ulcers, dermatitis, allergies and so on.
Amputees must always clean their stump and keep it dry and clean.

4. Protect the prosthesis from large external extrusions, collisions and high temperature or humidity, etc (except for waterproof prostheses).

5. If you are aware of abnormalities when wearing a prosthesis, you should immediately stop using it and promptly contact a hospital. You should not let any individual handle it or repair it yourself, as this will help avoid accidents.

3) Third, preparation before using a prosthesis.

1. Physical Preparation
(1) Improve the movement area of the upper limb joint to (eliminate contracture) and increase muscle strength.
(2) Enhance the skin strength of the residual limb (especially the weight-bearing skin).
(3) Eliminate edema in the residual limb.
(4) Enhance the muscle strength of the healthy lower and upper limbs and trunk.
(5) Improve the feeling of balance.

2. Mental Preparation
(1) The amputee should establish the idea (motivation) of using an artificial limb to walk or retrieve objects.
(2) The amputee should understand the necessity of and methods for stump care (to prevent contracture, swelling, scratches and infection).
(3) The amputee should understand the structure and function of prostheses.
(4) The amputee should understand the necessity of and methods for prosthesis maintenance.
(5) The amputee should understand the training procedures, content and purposes.

4) Fourth, the requirements for prosthesis assembly on the residual limb.

1. Residual limbs should have the appropriate length to ensure that there is sufficient leverage and good muscle control force (for forearm or upper arm amputation, 1/3 of the middle and lower border is better; for lower leg or upper leg amputation, 1/3 of the middle and lower border is better).

2. The remnant joint should retain as much of its original physiological function as possible, without exhibiting any contracture deformity.

3. The stump should not have tenderness, bone spurs, or neuromas.

4. The residual limbs should have a good skin condition that is healthy and level, with less scar adhesion and no ulcers. The skin also should have appropriate mobility and
flexibility.

MEDI GLOBAL ASSISTIVE DEVICE CO., LTD is a world leader in the development, design, manufacture and distribution of orthosis,prosthesis, diabetic shoes, compression garments,wheelchairs and so on.

Our website: http://www.medi-rehatek.com

The Hidden Benefits of Tomatoes


By H. Maxwell

Question:
Why do you eat tomatoes?

Answer:
Because it makes my soup look mild and taste great.

That is the reply most women we ask the above question gave until we let them see more valid reasons why they should eat tomatoes. They have been eating tomatoes simply because they were brought up to do so.

Are you among them?
If you answer either 'Yes' or 'No' continue reading and you will see valid reasons why we should eat tomatoes.

Here are 7 good reasons that make tomatoes worth eating

1. Tomatoes help prevent cancer
Although not all types of cancer but cancer such as breast, colorectal, prostate and stomach cancer. This is because of lutein, zeaxanthin and the high level of lycopene which is a natural antioxidant that have the ability to fight cancer causing cells.

2. Tomatoes are good for your heart
Tomatoes lowers blood pressure and also reduces cholesterol level because of its Vitamin B and potassium. It also prevent life threatening heart problems such as high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.

3. Improve your vision
Macular degeneration can be prevented using lutein, lycopene and zeaxanthin. The only carotenoids found in the rectina and lens of the eyes are lutein and zeaxanthin, these two carotenoids apart from filtering light also remove rays that can damage eye tissue and eye related diseases. No cause for alarm, lutein, lycopene and zeaxanthin are found in tomatoes

4. Fight inflammation
Quercetin and kaempferol are two major flavonoids in tomato skin, that have the ability to counter inflammation.

5. Makes hair healthier
The appearance and texture of your hair can be improved by drinking tomato juice. Tomato juice revitalize hair growth and strengthen tufts of hair.

6. Increases capacity to burn fat
Carnitine is an amino acid that has the ability to increase the capacity for the body to burn fat by about 30%. Tomatoes with all stimulate the production of carnitine.

7. Fights constipation
When you eat foods that are high in fibre and water content you will have regular bowel movement and you will be well hydrated this fighting constipation. Tomatoes are high in fibre and water content.

Nutritional composition of tomatoes
Calories 18
Water 95%
Protein 0.9 g
Fiber 1.2 g
Fat 0.2 g
Saturated 0.03 g
Carbs 3.9 g
Sugar 2.6 g
Monounsaturated 0.03 g
Polyunsaturated 0.08 g
Omega-3 0 g
Omega-6 0.08 g http://www.maxhplanet.blogspot.com

The Delicious Smoothie


By Debora J Reckley

So, what is a smoothie? In Wikipedia: A smoothie (occasionally spelled smoothie or smooth) is a thick, cold beverage made from puree raw fruit (and sometimes vegetable) blended with ice-cream or frozen yogurt along with other ingredients such as water, crushed ice, fruit juice, sweeteners, (e.g. honey, sugar, Styria, syrup) dairy products ( e,g. milk, yogurt or cottage cheese, whey powder) plant milk, nuts, nut butter, seeds, tea, chocolate, herbal supplements or nutritional supplements.

A smoothie containing dairy products is similar to a vegetable milkshake, though the latter typically has less fruit and often has ice-cream or frozen yogurt.

As you can tell by the definition you sure are able to do a lot about the ingredients you choose to put in your smoothie. But not all ingredients blend well together. Acid fruits like grapefruit and other citrus pineapples, pomegranates, sour apples, plums, strawberries, and tomatoes don't blend well with sweet fruits such as grapes, prunes and dates. Ingredients can very as much as the purpose of the smoothie you've chosen to make. For a protein energy boost, weight loss, health, breakfast drink or just refreshment.

Here are some delicious quick and easy recipes that you and your family can enjoy.

Razzy Blue Smoothie

Ingredients

1 Banana

16 whole almonds

1/4 cup rolled oats

1 tbsp. flaxseed meal

1 cup frozen blueberries

1 cup raspberry yogurt

1/4 cup Concord grape juice

1 cup 1% butter milk

Directions

Peel banana and cut into 1/2-inch chucks. Chill in the freezer until solid, about two hours. Place the almonds, oats and flaxseed meal into a blender; pulse until finely ground. Add frozen banana, frozen blueberries, yogurt, grape juice, and buttermilk; blend until smooth. Enjoy!

Strawberry banana Smoothie

Ingredients

3/4 cups fat-free milk

1/2 cup of frozen strawberry fat-free yogurt

1/3 cup of Post bran flakes

1/4 strawberries

1/4 cup bananas

Directions

Place milk, yogurt, bran flakes strawberries and bananas in the blender on high-speed until smooth.

Lemon berry Crush Smoothie

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups milk or fat-free milk

1 1/2 tsp. Crystal light lemonade flavor drink mix

8 oz Breyer's Smooth & Creamy Vanilla Cream yogurt

1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

1 cup ice cubes

Directions

Blend ice and then the rest of ingredients in the blender on high-speed until smooth. Yum!

Mix the rest of the Crystal light soft drink mix with 4 cups of water to create a simple and delicious pitcher drink.

I hope you like the delicious and healthy smoothie recipes. There are lots of products that include blenders for making many things such as smoothies. Check out all the new products at www.classiccookingstore.com. today

What The Magician In Tarot Cards Mean To You


By Marcus C. S. Tan

The Magician is the second card in the 22 Tarot trump cards (Major Arcana) and is associated with the number 1. It represents the action and motivation behind all creative forces. If the card is drawn in a reading, it is a strong indicator that luck, talent and skill are on your side and it is the first real steps towards the start of a new cycle of growth and achieving your goals.

Referring to the Rider-Waite image of the card, you will see that one hand is pointed to the earth while the other is pointed to the heavens. It is suggesting that you are aspiring to do something great and yet grounded. It is saying to you not to take a big jump to greatness without doing preparation and hard work.

The four suits of the Minor Arcana can be seen on the table. A Cup which represents emotions, a Sword for mental thoughts, a Wand for Action, and a Pentacle which represents Money. He is a reminder that you also have the ability to make use of the resources of the universe to make your dreams manifest.

Perhaps you are in a dilemma in life where you are required to think quickly on your feet. You could also be thinking of changing your job, looking for a new company to work with, a relationship decision or even a personal change to your daily habits. Ask yourself if there is more you can do to achieve your dreams. Sit down and evaluate what you can bring to the table to your partner or your new boss during interviews,, Or even to yourself if you are your own boss. If you are currently satisfied in your current job, it may be possible that a job expansion may be coming up. However, this does not apply to only job applications, it could be also be applicable to your studies, such as expansion of knowledge to be more employable in the job market.

Just remember to apply the Universal Laws such as the Law of Attraction and the Law of Gratitude to align your emotions, thoughts and actions into a good plan, and you will have the drive to get to where you want to go to create the life that you want if you think outside the box. When that is achieved, learn to let go of the past and old beliefs while embracing new adventures and opportunities.

Marcus C. S. Tan is the founder and owner of OnlineStoreSG.com/TellingFortune.

Click on the link above to be aware of your destiny today, to improve your life and well-being of tomorrow.

Visit OnlineStoreSG.com on tips on eCommerce and Fortune Telling.

What Is the Benefit of Social Media and Digital Marketing?


By Palak Khandelwal

For the lives of today's generation, social media has actively become an important part. With the advent of time, it is continually evolving and growing. People are very much attracted towards the marketing through which they can explore and expand their business.

It is considered as the most accessible and accurate medium to find the survey of your business, as it has completely changed the pattern of interaction between business and its customers. Throughout the marketplace, it has become the most innovative tool that can be used on various platforms like public relations, marketing or customer service.

Most of the business owners are utilizing their time of social media and digital marketing for the increase in traffic and sales of their respective business houses. Also, 90% of the marketers all around the world have declared that social media is generating immense exposure for their company.

For every marketing strategy, it is the substantial part which is cost-effective and offers phenomenal marketing opportunity. Below mentioned are some methods of digital and social media marketing where your business can be improved easily.

Increased Brand Awareness: It is considered as the most cost-effective digital methods that can organize the content and increase the visibility of your business. By implementing this strategy, the brand recognition of the business could be improved that have the potential to engage a large number of consumers.

Free availability: The creation of the social media or digital marketing platform is free to start and operate. If required, a person can make use of options like paid advertising that can be a great tool for the business expansion and inform a large number of users or audiences. But these means are not mandatory for some companies.

Target your ideal buyers: This platform allows you to ensure that the right consumer is visiting your content and the business. By using methods like SEO, you can reach to your target audience by determining their searching content and topics. Based on demographic information and general characteristics, it is easy to identify the target audience for the products and services of organic website SEO companies.

Brand Loyalty: Through some research, it has been found that around 53% of the people rely on brands exposed on social media. Customer engagement is the important aspect as it can influence them to be more loyal to towards your brand. Consumers instantly and quickly respond to the social media content when compared to various other platforms

Open communication: Social media is the platform where the user can easily interact and communicate with their buyer or other users through Professional Web Design. This digital marketing place is the two-way communication methods where a message from both sides can be easily resolved which creates a great range of trust and reliability on the business from customers' point-of-view.

Profound Capital Markets for Renewable Energy - Eco-Plant Corporation


By Zena Winn

Investing in Renewable and Efficiency Energy is on the verge across the world. Individuals are becoming more sensible towards their environment, which resulted in more businesses adopting environmentally friendly business practices and becoming a sustainable green business. Converting into green business has been a wakeup call for many companies and for some companies it was already a mentioned market trend which was recognized by them quite early.

Following the global financial crisis, a more varied funding market is emerging in many countries. Established investors are assisting in filling the funding gap missed by the shrinkage in bank lending in the rouse of the crisis, particularly in long-term financing for infrastructure projects, and sitting alongside banks to offer a wider pool of capital to developers.

The economic climate overcoming the financial crisis of increased regulatory supervision and persistently low rate of interest led to pension funds and insurance companies in seeking an alternative source for a long-term stable investment.

Abundant number of pieces of evidence shows that renewable energy and energy efficiency are booming sectors for business. According to a report, 190 of the fortune 500 companies together saved around 3.7 billion dollars through their energy efficiency initiatives and collective renewable energy.

With the growing streak of this trend around the world, there is an increase in debt finance in the market from established investors mostly for an infrastructure project and more conventional renewable energy assets including solar PV, onshore wind and Bioenergy. Established investors that are on a quest to match long-term investments, index-linked liabilities and higher secure returns as compared to currently available bonds, are attracted by stable, long-term and index-linked type of assets.

A considerable amount of investment has been made in operating assets through which increasing capacity of risk has been taken by the investors. However, similar to banks, there seems to be a very little appetite for development risk factors. Established investors are moving faster towards banking counterparts in being able to provide reimbursement profiles and staged drawdown facilities that are suitable for this kind of financial markets.

Investments from non-bank institutions have often been through the purchase of participation in the secondary debt trading market or bond markets. However, a market of debt facilitates private placement (PP) which is a small group of sophisticated investors has been slowly developing.

Private placement market will entirely substitute other forms of finances for renewable projects. There are already long-established private placement market groups in many countries for corporate debt. Since the financial crisis, smaller national markets have also developed. To help encourage the development of private placement market, loan market association published a suite of standardizing the documentation for private placements across many countries for providing a proper framework. It is hoped that these suit will help to raise confidence in the market and will encourage investment by reducing the time and costs often associated with current private placements in certain countries.

Certain efforts are taken to simplify and make the process more transparent by turning towards more private placements. Governments across various countries have announced a tax exemption for private placements, this will help in encouraging both borrowers and institutional investors to invest in the capital market.

Many countries now support the growth of renewable energy sector and help in encouraging to further invest in energy infrastructure, renewable power and fossil fuels. Attracting cross-border investment and minimizing dependency on traditional bank debt, will further encourage institutional investment for key sector helping to stimulate growth and aid resilience in various economies.

Banks are also returning to the market which showed a substantial increase in long-term debt facilities offered by banks for renewable energy projects. In addition, many banking facilities are likely to preserve a significant role together with established investors by providing them ancillary facilities and deposit services. This includes catering to letters from credit facilities and working capital which non-banking investors are not able to provide the investors with. Likewise, the role of the bank is to provide trustee and agency with services in case the funds are ill-equipped.

Predictable sustained growth in Institutional Investment, alongside returning bank debt and other innovative funding structures, is creating a deeper impact on the capital market for renewable energy projects. Investors looking to invest in green business are coming across greater opportunities from future perspectives which is just a matter of time. Clean energy is just the tip of the iceberg. A recent study shows that companies could earn around 12 trillion dollars by 2030 in business revenue and saving by adopting sustainable, low-carbon business models. Investors all over the world are taking a note, as green bonds are increasingly seen as smart investments.

For more refer: http://ziglerfinancial.com/

The Girl Scouts Saved My Life


By Ricky Taylor

"Would you like to buy some cookies, Mister?"

I turned to see the girl scout. She was about eleven years old, her auburn hair pulled back in a ponytail. She wore a dark green shirt and khaki pants. A light green sash decorated with pins and medals was draped across her chest. She smiled up at me, showing braces. She stood behind a table loaded with boxes of Girl Scout cookies. I stopped at the table and examined the boxes.

"Do you like cookies?" I said.

Her smile broadened.

"Everybody likes Girl Scout cookies," she said. "Want to buy some?"

"What's your favorite kind of cookie?" I said.

She looked down at the boxes of cookies on the table.

"I like thin mints the best. But they're all really good. My mom likes the Samoans."

"Samoans?" I said.

"Yeah," the girl scout answered, "the kind with chocolate and coconut in them."

I pulled a twenty-dollar bill from my wallet.

"A box of thin mints, then," I said, handing her the money, "and a box of Samoans."

The girl scout took the twenty-dollar bill, picked up a box of thin mints and a box of Samoas, which are delicious, unlike Samoans, the natives of the Samoan islands, who are delightful people, but do not taste very good. She held them out to me. I shook my head.

"They're not for me," I said. "They're for you. And you can keep the change."

She stared down at the twenty-dollar bill and the boxes of cookies in her hands. Her eyes grew wide.

"Really, Mister?" She said. "But why?"

"Really," I said, smiling down at her. "And if you must know the reason, it's because I never did say thank you."

"Thank you to me?" She said. She looked confused. "Thanks for what?"

"I owe all the Girl Scouts a thank you," I said. "You don't know it, but a long time ago, long before you were even born, the Girl Scouts saved my life."

I was seventeen years old when it happened. The church I attended had an annual campout, and my friend, Sean, a petty officer in the navy, a young man with a light complexion and a military regulation haircut, talked me into going. I threw the only camping gear I had, an old green army sleeping bag with a broken zipper, into the back seat of Sean's little blue car.

"Is that all you're bringing?" Sean said, looking at my sleeping bag. "You don't have a tent?"

"No," I said, "who needs a tent?"

"You're going to need one, knucklehead" he said. "It's cold in the mountains. You should at least bring a jacket."

"I'll manage," I said. "It's like eighty degrees outside."

"Okay," Sean said. "Don't say I didn't warn you."

We headed to the campground located in the mountains east of San Diego. The church had reserved about half of the campsites, and we were greeted by familiar faces. The campground was surrounded by hundreds of tall oak trees. Sean drove slowly, following the small asphalt road winding through the campground, passing church members near recreational vehicles and tents. Some rode bicycles, others busied their selves cooking over barbecue grills or putting up tents. They waved at us as we drove by, and we waved back. We passed the campsite of a group of girl scouts, all in matching green uniforms, scurrying in every direction, erecting tents, preparing a fire ring, setting up lawn chairs, all under the supervision of a brunette woman in her early thirties. I paid them little attention.

Sean parked at a campsite and began setting up his tent. He worked meticulously, paying attention to every detail, carefully hammering the tent stakes, evenly spaced, into the rich, dark earth, inserting the tent poles, raising the small, green tent to a perfectly formed A-frame. He unrolled his sleeping bag and laid it neatly out on the tent floor. He gathered stones and built a fire ring, digging a hole in the center of the ring to contain the fire. He removed firewood from the trunk of his car and stacked it in neat rows next to the fire ring. Finally, he hung an electric lantern on a small pole near the entrance to his tent.

I grabbed my sleeping bag with the broken zipper from Sean's car, and threw it on the ground next to the fire ring. Done. Sean grinned at me, shaking his head. I guess you could say we were opposites.

The day was warm and pleasant, lulling me into a false sense of security. Who needed a tent in San Diego, after all? But as night fell, so did the temperatures. Sean built a fire, and I huddled next to it. Campers from the church group roasted hot dogs and marshmallows over the fire and were generous enough to share with me. But, as the night grew colder, they retreated to the comfort of their tents and recreational vehicles. Near midnight, Sean also turned in, climbing into his tiny tent, leaving me alone by the fire, which by that time was little more than dying embers. I moved as close to the warmth of the fire as I could, lying down on half of the sleeping bag, covering myself with the other half. Somehow, despite the cold, I managed to fall asleep.

I awoke just after dawn to near freezing temperatures. The sun was coming up over the tops of the mountains, but it provided very little warmth. My muscles ached from sleeping on the cold, hard ground. My body shook, my teeth were chattering. My breath came out like steam in the freezing air. There was nothing left of the fire, but a few hot embers buried under gray ashes. No firewood remained. Wrapping my sleeping bag around me, I scoured the nearby area for anything that would burn; cardboard, soda boxes, paper towels, dry twigs, anything I could find. I blew on the hot coals until my small collection of flammable materials ignited. The warmth from the fire was wonderful, but fleeting, as the paper, cardboard and twigs ignited, flashing hot, then burning out. I searched for more items to burn, desperate to get warm, but soon ran out of flammable materials. The fire died.

I needed to burn something bigger.

Wrapped in my sleeping bag, I broadened my search, passing several campsites, including the site belonging to the Girl Scouts, to a nearby meadow, finding bits of wood, parts of fallen branches and more twigs. I brought them back, placing them in the fire ring, blowing on the coals until the fire sprang back to life. The bits of wood burned longer than the cardboard and twigs, but they, too, burned out, leaving me cold and miserable.

I needed to burn something much bigger.

I headed back to the meadow, my sleeping bag draped over my shoulders. I looked passed the small pieces of wood. Something bigger, I thought, something much bigger. That's when I saw it. An old, round log, two feet long and a foot and a half wide, lay on its side near one of the large oak trees. Surely that much wood would burn for hours. Gleefully, thoughts of a warm, roaring campfire in my head, I picked the log up. It was heavy and cumbersome. I struggled under its weight, carrying it in both arms, stumbling as I went, tripping over the sleeping bag, which was draped over my shoulders. I passed the campsite of the Girl Scouts. A large flip chart rested on a stand. The brunette scout leader flipped through the pages of the chart, preparing for a class, I supposed. I noticed the words Stop, Drop and Roll on the front page of the chart. A fire extinguisher sat on the ground next to the flip chart. A couple of girl scouts watched me as I passed by, stumbling under the weight of the log, tripping occasionally on the edge of my sleeping bag.

I made it back to the fire ring and dropped the log directly in the middle of the hot coals and waited for it to ignite. Smoke rose up from the log, and the part touching the coals turned black, but it did not catch on fire. I blew on the coals, and they turned red for a time, but still the log did not burn. I grew desperate, my hopes of a warm fire dissolving before my eyes. I remembered one of the church members at the campsite next to ours had a bottle of lighter fluid near his barbecue grill. I went to the campsite and "borrowed" the lighter fluid. The bottle was about half empty. I sprayed the log with lighter fluid and, bending over, blew on the hot coals. The log ignited in a blaze of blessedly warm fire. I stood as close to the fire as I could, soaking in the warmth. But, to my chagrin, the fire was consuming the lighter fluid, and not the log. As the fuel burned out, the fire died.

"That log will never catch fire," Sean said. I turned to see him standing up from the entrance to his tent. He stretched and yawned, wiping sleep from his eyes.

I poured the rest of the "borrowed" lighter fluid onto the log. The fire sprang up again, lapping up the fluid. I exulted once again in the warmth. Then, just as before, the fire died. The log was smoking, but it wasn't burning. Sean stepped up beside me, looking down at the log.

"It's too big, Knucklehead. You have to split it into firewood before you can burn it."

"Do you have an axe?" I said. He shook his head no.

I shook the empty bottle of lighter fluid and headed over to the other campsite looking for more. There, sitting on a folding table next to the church member's recreational vehicle, was the answer. Of course. A two gallon can of Kerosene. Now that would light anything. I "borrowed" the can of kerosene and headed back to the fire ring, feeling triumphant. Sean was on his knees, straightening the inside of his tent. The campground was coming to life, and a few church members were sitting in chairs not far from the fire. I unscrewed the lid from the top of the kerosene can and poured it eagerly over the smoking log. Nothing happened. I bent down and blew on the coals. They grew redder, but the kerosene did not catch fire. I examined the can. It was kerosene. The warning "highly flammable liquid" was written on the front of the can. So why wasn't it lighting? Frustrated, I tried once more. I poured the kerosene over the log.

PHUMP!

The kerosene lit with a small explosion, rippling the air around the fire ring and scorching my eyebrows. Everything seemed to slow. I watched, frozen in place, as the fire climbed from the log and up the stream of kerosene, entering the can. The can grew hot in my hands. Fire spewed from the opening. Someone once told me a can of gasoline would explode if it caught fire. I figured that was also true for kerosene. I saw the church members sitting nearby and worried the can would explode, injuring them. I had to get it away from people. Turning away from the church members, I tossed the can, using both hands, but stumbled just before tossing it. The can left my hands, spinning in the air, end over end, the fiery liquid pouring from the can as it revolved in the air, covering and igniting the ground, the nearby bushes and my right leg. It landed about five feet away from me. My right leg was on fire. The ground was on fire. The bushes and leaves around me were on fire. Thinking the can might still explode, I made the brilliant decision to kick it further away. I ran toward the can and kicked it hard with my right foot. It flew, spewing more fire, landing upside down in the top of the nearby bushes. The rest of the kerosene poured from the can, setting the bushes on fire. I stood, watching the fire as it grew, consuming the bushes and dry leaves. I felt no pain, but I smelled burning flesh. Acrid smoke enveloped me. Everything burned around me, and I was growing dizzy from the fumes. The world was on fire, spinning before me. My knees were going limp, and I felt myself falling. I was going down in flames.

"Stop! Drop! Roll!" A girl shouted.

Someone grabbed me from behind. I felt small arms around my waist, pulling me to the ground. I fell, landing on my left side. The girl behind me was covering my right leg with a wet blanket. Someone in front of me was using a fire extinguisher, putting out the fire.

"Stay down," the girl behind me said. "You will be okay."

Moments later, the fire was out. A girl of about twelve years old came into view, seeming to appear from the smoke and the misty white residue of the fire retardant. She had long, dark hair and wore glasses. A light green sash was draped across her chest, over her dark green uniform. Her pins and medals glistened in the morning sunlight. She carried a red fire extinguisher in her right hand. I craned my neck to see the girl who had pulled me down. She was a heavyset blonde girl, wearing a sash and uniform like the girl in front of me.

"We need to get him out of the smoke," the girl scout with the fire extinguisher said. She joined the girl behind me. Taking me by the arms, they pulled, dragging me away from the smoke. I heard clapping and cheers. Dozens of campers, drawn to the commotion, were applauding the brave actions of my two young rescuers. It must have been quite a sight; me, covered in soot, sitting in the dirt, my right pant leg, black and charred, the two girl scouts looking down at me with concern. And in the middle of all the commotion, my lungs still filled with poisonous smoke, I forgot to say thank you.

Sean drove me to the closest clinic. He was my friend, which meant, of course, he laughed at me the entire ride, and would, for many years, tell the story of the brave and stalwart actions of the Girl Scouts to everyone we knew.

At the clinic, the physician, a man in his early forties, removed my pantleg with a pair of shears. The skin on the inner part of my ankle had melted down to the underlying facia and came off with the pantleg. He removed the dead skin around the burn with surgical scissors and dressed the wound. Sean sat in the treatment room, watching the procedure. I winked at him.

"Doctor," I said, looking down at the dressing on my leg, "do you think I will be able to kick a field goal in a couple of weeks?"

Sean shook his head and smiled. The doctor thought about it for a few moments. He nodded.

"As long as you change the dressing as ordered, and keep the wound covered during the game, I'm sure you will be able to kick a field goal in a couple of weeks," he said.

I grinned at Sean.

"That's amazing, Doctor," I said. "I've never been able to kick a field goal before."

--Dedicated to the memory of Sean Mescher, my faithful friend--

The Future of the Gardiner Expressway


By Roger Tran

I. Background

For over 50 years, the Gardiner Expressway is a highway that has served automobile commuters in and out of Toronto. However, the elevated portion of the highway downtown has sparked considerable debate on whether to demolish it or whether to maintain and repair it. On one hand, the highway acts as an informal barrier between the waterfront and the rest of downtown Toronto, hindering potential development in the vicinity. On the other hand, the Gardiner Expressway is a vital transportation link that connects other suburbs and surrounding areas into the downtown area and with traffic congestion already a problem in Toronto, removing the Gardiner may negatively affect travel in the city. This report will clarify the various arguments and proposals.

In 2009, an environmental assessment was undertaken to decide the best option on the future of the Gardiner Expressway. The EA included four main options (City of Toronto, Waterfront Toronto, Dillon Consulting Limited, Perkins+Will, Morrison Hershfield, 2009). The first option would simply be to keep the elevated highway the way it is. That is, keeping the elevated highway and maintaining the infrastructure in a "state of good repair." The second option would demolish the elevated portion downtown and replace it with a major arterial road at-grade. A third option would "replace" the Gardiner by removing the existing structure and move the highway either underground or over the CN Rail line. The fourth option keeps the existing structure, but improving it by adding environmentally-friendly features and improving pedestrian access around the highway.

The attitude towards highways in Toronto is a factor to consider. Throughout recent history in Toronto, residents have opposed highway projects since the 1970s. The most notable cancellation is the Spadina Expressway, which was planned to be built from the present Allen Road Expressway down south towards the Gardiner. The cancellation marked the end of highway construction in Toronto (Robinson, 2011, page 320). It was a time when urban planning in Toronto changed from Rational Comprehensive Planning where planners were in full control, to an era where citizens had an increasing influential voice because modernist planning was considered "anti-democratic (Sandercock, 1998, p. 170)." This negative attitude towards highway development in Toronto will likely contribute to favouritism towards removing the Gardiner Expressway in downtown Toronto.

On the contrary, Toronto's road network is also something to consider. Along with the Don Valley Parkway, the Gardiner Expressway is one of only two highways that connect to the downtown core. The Spadina Expressway and the Scarborough Expressway were meant to support a unifying highway network connecting the downtown area with the outer suburbs. Both were cancelled due to opposition from residents in Toronto. However, since those proposed highways have been scrapped, both the Gardiner and Don Valley Parkway are taking in vehicle capacity far beyond their intended usage, receiving vehicle traffic meant for the expressways that were cancelled. Therefore, by removing the elevated portion of the Gardiner Expressway, it will put more pressure on Toronto's already-congested road network. Also, the proposed section of the Gardiner to be removed connects directly to the Don Valley Parkway, and by removing this portion, it would remove an important highway connection in the city.

II. Problems and Issues

The removal of the Gardiner Expressway downtown is controversial today because of the highway's decaying state and rising maintenance costs. For several months, chunks of concrete from the highway have fallen down, some even landing on vehicles. This has proposed a dangerous scenario for motorists and pedestrians walking and driving below the elevated Gardiner. Choosing to either fully restoring and repairing the Gardiner Expressway, or choosing to demolish it altogether would decrease costs, compared to short-term repairs.

III. Context and Perspectives

Removing the elevated portion of Gardiner Expressway is a very polarizing issue, with those supporting and opposing the demolition. Organizations such as Toronto Waterfront Viaduct and Waterfront Toronto support demolishing the Gardiner. An argument is that the highway is a hindrance to residential development that potentially could be built on the land the highway is currently occupying. For example, those lands may also be used for "use" value such as public parks and spaces (Young, 2010, p. 32). Population and developmental growth in Toronto has been increasing, especially in the downtown core where many residential condominiums are being constructed. Removing the Gardiner downtown can bring economic benefits to the city from subsequent development and tourist sites.

There is no formal group that opposes removing the Gardiner Expressway in downtown. However, there are some city councillors and members of provincial parliament that do not support removing it, mainly for road transportation issues. Again, the proposed section connects directly with the Don Valley Parkway, and removing an important highway connection can create more traffic congestion as a result. Therefore, traveling in and out of the downtown core with an automobile would be less convenient and slower.

What hasn't been mentioned in previous reports is the fact that removing the Gardiner can negatively affect other modes of transportation. While it's obvious that removing the Gardiner would likely create traffic congestion initially, the effects on public transit have been neglected and overlooked. When the city of London, England initiated the Congestion Charge Zone, many former road users took public transit to downtown instead because they could not afford the extra costs of driving downtown. Subsequently, bus ridership in London increased by 18 percent in the first year that the congestion charge was implemented (Santos, 2008, p. 192). The same results could happen in Toronto as well, where removing the Gardiner will detract road users to take public transit instead. While this is beneficial to city policy of increasing public transit ridership, the question is if our transit infrastructure can handle the sudden influx, since the Toronto Transit Commission system is already operating at high ridership levels.

IV. Recommended Course of Action

The recommended course of action is to demolish the elevated portion of the Gardiner Expressway and merge it with Lake Shore Boulevard. However, Toronto's public transit system must first be able to handle the new passengers that would likely switch to this mode of transportation, either by increasing service or by creating new rapid transit lines.

The reasons for removing the elevated portion of the Gardiner Expressway are far too beneficial to ignore. With the city already handling a large backlog of road repairs, it would likely become too cost-prohibitive in the long-term to maintain and repair the elevated expressway, rather than removing the structure altogether and replacing it with an at-grade arterial road. It's also clear that many citizens in the downtown area of Toronto oppose highway development or maintenance, as witnessed with the cancellation of the Spadina Expressway. The waterfront is becoming an attractive new area. The Distillery District and the Harbourfront Centre are examples of this. They both have attracted developers, tourists and residents alike, bringing economic growth to the city.

The third and fourth options are not alternatives that would be beneficial. The third option of replacing the highway and building a new one over the CN rail line or underground, would be just as expensive and costly to build and maintain as the existing elevated expressway. In Boston, the "Big Dig" was a large highway project that included burying the Central Artery highway, building a bridge over the Charles River and a tunnel connecting to the airport. Altogether, the Big Dig is expected to cost $22 billion, which has put the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority into financial burden (Haynes & Whipples, 2009, p. 73). This shows that it would be far too costly to replace the highway or bury it underground. With the fourth option, "greening" the highway would not solve the problems it is currently facing, which is becoming a barrier between downtown and the waterfront, and a safety hazard due to crumbling and aging infrastructure.

Subsequent traffic congestion may increase around the waterfront temporarily. However, a study was done in 1998 by Phil Goodwin, Sally Cairns and Carmen Hass-Klau on the phenomenon on "disappearing traffic." They concluded that "taking away roadspace from general traffic can cause overall traffic levels to reduce (Goodwin, Cairns, Atkins, 2002, p. 16)." While this phenomenon is still highly debated and contested, it's likely a similar situation would likely occur if the Gardiner is removed downtown, where drivers will find alternative methods of travel, such as public transit or traveling at a different time of day.

Several highway removal projects in other cities have been completed with success. In San Francisco, the Embarcadero Freeway was demolished due to damage from the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Initially, there was concern on traffic congestion if the freeway was removed, but not only has traffic accustomed, the city has been able to beautify the waterfront as a major tourist destination. This shows that highway removal can benefit high demand, high development potential areas. Our city can mimic those positive results, which is why this report recommends removing the elevated portion of the Gardiner Expressway downtown.

References

Atkins, S., Cairns, S., & Goodwin, P. (2002). Disappearing traffic? The story so far. Municipal Engineer, 151(1), 13-22.

City of Toronto, Dillon Consulting Limited, Hershfield, M., Perkins+Will, Waterfront Toronto. (2009). Gardiner Expressway and Lake Shore Boulevard Reconfiguration (EA Terms of Reference). Toronto, Ontario.

Goodwin, P., Hass-Klau, C., & Cairns, S. (1998). Traffic Impact of Highway Capacity Reductions: Assessment of the Evidence. London: Landor Publishing.

Haynes, W., & Whipple, A. (2009). Transportation megaprojects: comparing project management and oversight approaches: three recent, well-known initiatives--Boston's Big Dig, Denver's International Airport, and Colorado's T-REX--vary in methods and success. The Public Manager, 38(2), 72-77.

Robinson, D. (2011). Modernism at a Crossroad: The Spadina Expressway Controversy in Toronto, Ontario ca. 1960-1971. Canadian Historical Review, 93(2), 295-322.

Sandercock, L. (1998). The death of modernist planning: Radical praxis for a postmodern age. In M. Douglass & J. Friedmann (Eds.), Cities for citizens: Planning and the rise of civil society in a global age (pp. 163-184). Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons.

Santos, G. (2008, Annual). London congestion charging. Brookings-Wharton Papers on Urban Affairs, 177-207.

Young, D. (2010). GEOGRAPHY 311: Canadian Urban Development (Study Guide). Athabasca: Athabasca University.

Happy Fiftieth Birthday To The Biff Rose Album Children Of Light, A Forgotten Treasure


By Doug Poe

Math equations can sometimes be used to describe certain musical performers, and the formula actually helps to identify their particular sound. Pointing out the combinations of more familiar recording artists is the next best thing to getting to hear the unknown artist with your own ears.

With that in mind, take Randy Newman and connect him to Tom Paxton. Then add Loudon Wainwright with Phil Ochs, and your solution would sound something like Biff Rose.

Not much has been heard of the piano playing folk songwriter Biff Rose since he received some acclaim in the late Sixties, after the release of his first album Children of Light. That record, quite influential in spite of unremarkable chart success, hit the store shelves in 1968.

David Bowie was one of the biggest stars to pay tribute to him, as he quoted Biff Rose in one the early albums. The Bowie song "Fill Your Heart", just one of the many gems on the Hunky Dory album, is a cover version of a tune composed by Rose.

Rose had gone to Hollywood as a writer for comedian George Carlin in the Sixties, deciding soon after to become a recording artist. That decision brought about the debut album Children of Light, now fifty years old.

It is a smorgasbord of musical styles, blending ragtime with Vaudeville while also incorporating folk and classical. Lyrically, however, is where the album really stands out.

Most of the themes are left-leaning, as might be expected from a man who was en,edged in the hippie culture of the West Coast in the Late Sixties. The titles themselves indicate as much, especially "Communist Sympathizer" and "Colorblind Blues."

On the latter, which was recorded live at the Troubadour in Hollywood, Rose exhibits his characteristic wit.

"Black power, blue power, green power, purple, thanks a lot. At the end of the rainbow there is pot," he quips. "And I hear it's gold."

He parodies capitalism in "American Waltz", on which Rose's deft ragtime piano is backed by marching drums.

"The spirit of giving through selling and buying," he says of the Christmas holiday in the United States. "Cars shaped like bullets with people inside."

His humor is also apparent on "Ballad of Cliches" and "Ain't No New Day", but he proves just as gifted when it comes to serious tunes. "Son in Moon" offers a pointed reflection about man's abuse of the earth, and "To Baby" serves as a love ode to someone special.

The highlight, however, is the title track, which contains some of Rose's best piano playing as well as his most memorable lyrics.

"The man who's afraid will have all kinds of answers, law and order, law and order, we need more law and order," Rose snarls, perhaps as a stab at the political leaders at the time.

In April of 1969 Rose performed that song on The Smothers Brothers, appearing in the same episode as Ike and Tina Turner. A few months later on Dick Clark's American Bandstand he sang "Spaced Out" and "I've Got You Covered", the two tracks that are combined to close out the album.

Next came a memorable appearance on the Hugh Hefner weekly variety show, Playboy After Dark. Rose performed the title track before giving way to a future superstar, a twenty year old girl named Linda Rondstadt.

Not much was heard from Rose in the late Seventies, when he nearly disappeared from the music business. In 2018, though, folks hungry for nostalgia should celebrate his debut album's fiftieth anniversary by digging out this treasure of eleven songs.

Seven Family Vacation Ideas To Inspire Your Summer Travel


By Morris Raymond

It is that wonderful time of year when school is nearing the end, swimming pools are starting to get filled up, and people are cleaning the backyard grill. We're talking about the summer, and with any discussion about the summer there comes a need to discuss family vacation ideas.

Sure, everyone is prepping their home for all of the get-together, barbecues, and pool parties to be had, but everyone definitely looks forward to the summer because it is the time of year where everyone in the family is almost completely on the same page regarding free time. Schedules coming together means it's the right time to get the whole family together and just get away for a little bit. There is one problem, though - where do you go?

Perhaps the hardest part of planning a vacation happens to be deciding where you actually want to go. Everyone has an opinion and a reason for maintaining said opinion, but a decision has to be made. Otherwise, you might just forego the whole mess, and that's just not right. Maybe a better plan of action might be to think about what you want the vacation to accomplish instead of where you want it to be.

Stick with us here. Rather than try to give you specific places to consider for your family's summer vacation, it might be best to think of certain types of summer vacations that get your family excited about the possibilities. Nothing is worse than going on a trip and then being sort of "blah" when you're there. "Blah" tends to turn into "meh", which then makes doing anything on the trip pretty uninspiring. You want your summer vacation to have "oomph".

You also want to actually get away when you go on vacation. For the last few years, there has been a big push to enjoy a "staycation" and keep things close to home. While there's nothing wrong with that, there are limitations to the inspiration it can give your family. Traveling, on the other hand, is what inspiration is all about.

Here are seven vacation ideas to help inspire your family's summer travel:

Beaches - What's more invigorating than sand, sun, and the ocean? Also, remember that you don't have to travel somewhere exotic to find great beaches close to you.

State & National Parks - Maybe it's a little "old-school", but state & national parks provide a bevy of activities for the whole family and are a great backdrop to cool outdoor fun.

Water Parks - In case you weren't aware of it, the summer months are pretty warm. Beat the heat with a family vacation to a premier water park.

Agritourism - Visitors to these farms enjoy a quaint & unique overnight stay, all the while exploring agricultural life & even being part of the harvesting process. If your family is big on organic produce & the farm-to-table approach, this is a great trip idea.

River Adventures - Again, the notion of cool river waters against summer heat makes sense, plus get the whole family's adrenaline pumping!

Volunteerism - You may not think it, but volunteering not only does a lot of worldly good, but it also allows you to see the world. It's certainly a way to feed the soul.

Road Trip - Of course, you can't go wrong with the traditional road trip. They say the destination isn't as important as the manner in which you got there, and it definitely makes for some great memories.

Family vacation ideas should be all about wonder and excitement. They should be able to pull you out of the dreck that can sometimes best describe life & get you moving. Let this be the summer that sets the standard for your family's summer vacations from now on!

For other family vacation ideas in Texas, contact the Visit Brenham Texas CVB & Visitor Center.

Xiaomi 2018 Latest Smartphones - The Future Today


By Sarah HA

If you have never heard about Xiaomi mobile phones before then your mind is about to be blown away. They are one of the largest consumer electronics providers based in China and are pushing the limits of what is deemed possible from import technology. I will take you through some of the products they offer that are packed with amazing features at unbelievable prices. One of their two leading smartphone devices of 2018 is the Xiaomi Mi 6X and the Xiaomi Redmi S2

Xiaomi Mi 6X features

This amazing smartphone was launched in April of 2018 and it comes with a 5.99-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1080 x 2160 pixels. The Xiaomi Mi 6X runs on a 2.2GHz octa-core Snapdragon 660 processor with 4GB of RAM and also operates on 4G. The phone also comes with 64GB of internal storage. And as for its camera's, it comes with a 20-megapixel camera with flash, the primary camera on the rear of the phone and a 20-megapixel front camera with flash to suit all your selfie needs. This phone runs on Android 8.1 Oreo with an MIUI skin and is powered by a 3010 mAH battery. It weighs 168.00 grams or 0.37 pounds and measures 158.70 x 75.40 x7.30 (height x width x thickness). Connectivity options include Bluetooth, WIFI and GPS and sensors on the phone include Gyroscope, Ambient Light Sensor, and Proximity sensor. This device retails for around 316.78 dollars or 227 Euro but prices may vary depending on some certain factors.

Xiaomi Redmi S2 features

This incredible smartphone was launched in May of 2018 and comes packed with a 5.99-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 720 x 1440 at 18:9 ratio (269 ppi density). The Xiaomi Redmi S2 runs on a 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 Snapdragon 625 processor with 3 GB or 4 GB of RAM. The phone also comes with 32 GB or 64 GB of internal storage with the capability to extend it to up to 256 GB with a memory card. The primary rear camera comes packed with dual 12 Megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash and the secondary camera or selfie comes packed with 16 Megapixel camera with HDR and LED flash. The phone operates with Android 8.1 Oreo and powered by a non-removable Li-Po 3080 mAH battery. It weighs around 170g(6.00 Oz) and measures (6.33 x 3.04 x0.32) height x width x thickness. Connectivity options include WLAN, Bluetooth, GPS, Infrared port, Radio, and USB. This device retails for around 177.15 dollars or 150 Euro but prices vary depending on the model and certain factors.

Conclusion

As seen above both these devices are incredible and worth every penny. But if you are someone who likes viewing videos and movies through your mobile device then I would suggest that you opt for the Xiaomi Mi 6X this is because it has a higher resolution and pixel density that is bound to make your video or movie experience even more exciting. As for gaming, both these devices are well built to tackle any kind of light or heavy gaming but the    Xiaomi Redmi S2 will outlast the Xiaomi Mi 6X in terms of battery life. For the camera, both of these devices are seen to have very powerful camera's but if you're the type of person that likes taking pictures then you would opt to pick the Xiaomi Redmi X2 because it has better image processing capability. Overall they are both great devices that are bound to make your smartphone experience even more enjoyable, so don't be left out, join the Xiaomi family.

Nasib

Nasib Nasib Oliver Cadwell. Usia 25 tahun. Mengambil jurusan keuangan. 3 tahun pengalaman kerja. "Sempurna. Dialah yang kita butuhka...