Alabama Bankruptcy - 3 Facts You Must Know

For anyone thinking of filing personal bankruptcy in the "heart of Dixie", as Alabama is affectionately nicknamed by its residents, this information is for you.

In Alabama (as well as the other 49 states), the two types of bankruptcy commonly filed by individuals are Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. In a Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding, a court-appointed bankruptcy administrator takes possession of any nonexempt assets, sells them, and then uses the proceeds to pay creditors. The discharge is generally entered a few months after the petition is filed.

In a Chapter 13 bankruptcy proceeding, the individual filing bankruptcy proposes a plan to repay debts over a three to five year period. This plan must be approved by the Court, and plan payments are paid to the bankruptcy administrator, who then disburses the payments to creditors based on the terms of the approved plan. The discharge is not granted until the conclusion of the repayment plan.

If given a choice between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13, most people will pick Chapter 7 because it requires no repayment of debts and is over much quicker. However, bankruptcy laws enacted in 2005 place conditions on who can actually file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition, which brings us to...

Alabama Bankruptcy Fact #1

The bankruptcy laws enacted in 2005 impose a means test to determine if a person can file Chapter 7 bankruptcy. There are two ways to pass this means test.

The first way is to compare the household income of the person filing to the state median income. The annual income, calculated using the average gross income for the six-month period prior to filing, must be below the state median. Currently, the median income for a family of four in Alabama is $55,424.

If household income exceeds the median, a person can still file Chapter 7, based on the results of a means test calculation. Bankruptcy Form 22A is used for this calculation.

Additional information regarding the bankruptcy means test can be found on the U.S. Trustee Program's Website at http://www.usdoj.gov/ust.

Alabama Bankruptcy Fact #2

As stated earlier, the bankruptcy administrator in a Chapter 7 proceeding will take possession of nonexempt assets and liquidate them in order to pay creditors. The next obvious question - what exactly is exempt in Alabama?

Unfortunately, the answer is "not much". As of this writing, Alabama allows a $5,000 homestead exemption and a $3,000 personal property exemption. If the homestead is jointly owned by a husband and wife, each may separately claim the homestead exemption. There are other exemptions, and the laws may change at any time, so make sure you consult an attorney before you file bankruptcy, which brings us to...

Alabama Bankruptcy Fact #3

Many people who file bankruptcy without counsel do so because of the belief that they cannot afford an attorney. Truth is, bankruptcy is a complicated legal matter and you can't afford not to have an attorney. In addition, for those who really can't afford a lawyer, there are sources of free help. It's just a matter of tracking it down.

Start by calling your local bar association. They will be able to refer you to local attorneys and organizations that may be able to help you. If your local bar is unable to help, contact the Alabama Bar. Their contact information is available at http://www.alabar.org.

Discrimination Against Older Workers (Ageism)

Discrimination against older workers is out there, and none of us will ever know (for the most part), whether we were discriminated against because of our age.

During my many years on this planet (60), I've never gave any thought to ageism. But, years ago, I couldn't understand why I was having so much trouble finding work...including temporary work. During my entire lifetime, I have had no use for racists and bigots, so the issue of ageism never crossed my mind.

Then one day, I read an article in the local newspaper about the subject of ageism. It said that discrimination against older workers was the number ONE COMPLAINT at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). And, the article went on to say that complaints were rising at a rate of 15% per year over the past three years! At this time, I was over 50 years old, and after I read this article, I started to pay more attention to the subject of ageism. And, that's because I had to find a better paying job!

A few months later, I read another article that came over the Internet, and was written by a writer at a business magazine. It gave some frightening numbers, with respect to discrimination against older workers. It said that a survey was conducted by an employment agency, who specializes in recruiting and placing executive personnel. Their survey showed, that an incredible 88% of those over 40 who responded, felt they had been discriminated against when it came to getting a job! And, a chilling 92% of those who already had a job...felt they had been discriminated against, when they were up for promotion! The question was asked in the article, "Could boomers be discriminating against other boomers?

Anyway you slice it, these are terrible numbers! So, after I saw these numbers, I sat up and took notice! After I read the two articles, I began to think back, as to how ageism could have been one of my problems in my job search. Over the past decade, I have been laid-off from SIX jobs...all for legitimate reasons like companies closing or moving; defense cuts; the economy and so forth. I have never been let go because of poor attendance or an attitude problem. Over the years, I've just had my share of bad luck!

My first job lay-off came, when I worked for an engineering company, where I had worked for over ten years. This company also moved out of town and was eventually eaten by a bigger fish! This lay-off happened when I was in my late forties. After working several months as a temporary employee, I got a job, which lasted about four years, before the company closed...and, another lay-off! It was about this time that I really started having trouble...not only finding a regular job, but getting temporary assignments as well. This period of time was a very difficult for me!

After I lost my third job, and like many others, I had to work as a temporary employee, until something permanent came along. But, what will always amaze me, is the fact that I had to sign up with 24 temporary agencies...that's right...24 temp. agencies to survive! As I said earlier, I didn't give ageism a thought, but after reading the two articles, I had to wake up and smell the coffee and get my head out of the sand!

Of the 24 agencies I signed up with, only 12 of them ever called me for work, and those assignments were only for a few days...never any long-term assignments. And, never did I get any Temp-to-Hire jobs either! The sign-up dates for most of these agencies had gone back three to five years...and NOTHING...NO CALLS! Even if I called in available every week, I GOT NO CALLS!

After the 9/11 crisis, is when things really got bad for me, with the economy almost falling apart! At that miserable time, I had to start living off credit cards to pay the rent; buy groceries; buy gas, etc. I called the agencies twice a week, to get on the "available list," as my life headed downhill fast! Being as naive as I was at that time, could it be true that people would discriminate against me and others? Later, I would find this to be true, as this horror story would unfold!

One day in October, I was called by a temp agency to go work at a printing company, which was to be a three day assignment. I took it because there was nothing else! This is where I got the answer to the possibility about ageism, and how it affected me, etc. The answer came in about three months when this assignment was over!

The three days was to have ended the assignment on Friday afternoon, and the supervisor came to me and asked if I could come back the next week, and I said yes. They had me all over the production floor, helping other regular employees. The following Friday came along, and the same thing happened...I was asked to come in the following week.

This went on for THREE MONTHS...as I was asked to come back week after week. The job started in the middle of October and ended in the middle of January. I worked the day shift; the swing shift; overtime; on week-ends; came in at 3:00 in the morning to get special orders out, etc. So, I did everything they asked me to do! This was a temp-to-hire position, meaning that after a certain period of time working there (usually 60 days), I would be eligible to be hired on, and I was happy about that!

So, after three months of being called back to the company, my work record would speak for itself, which was very good. As it turned out, when this job was over, I could either get hired on as a regular employee by the company, or there would be another assignment waiting for me by the temp agency! But, it was not to be! After the assignment was over in January, this is where I can really point the finger to ageism! I was NOT hired on by the company, despite my good record as a temp and perfect attendance for over three months. (They hired someone off the street)

After the printing company job, I got another assignment elsewhere. But, just to do a little experiment on the subject of ageism, to satisfy myself, I called the temporary agency, who sent me to the printing company. I called in (available) every week, for about three months...AND, I NEVER HEARD FROM THE TEMP AGENCY AGAIN!

I'll give you an example of a scenario that may happen, at a temporary employment agency. Three people call in available for work...and all are qualified to do the job...one is 25 years old; another is 35 years old, and the third is 55 years old...who do you think is going to get the job? I can assure you that it's not going to be the 55 year old! I'm pretty certain of that! So, why did I get the job at the printing company? Because the job was supposed to be for only three days, and there was probably nobody else around they could send...so they sent me! (it's called left-overs!)

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE, I KNEW THAT AGEISM PLAYED A PART IN MY DOWNFALL!

Because of so many job lay-offs, I had worked as a temporary employee longer than I would have liked. And, as I thought back at some of the incidents that happened during this long period of time, at the companies, as well as at the temp agencies, I could tell that ageism played a part, and I would never know by who; where, and I would never be able to do anything about it!

Because of my experiences, I prepared about a 30 page booklet about my work history, that went back about a decade. In the booklet, I talked about how the temporary industry has grown, and the government has to be more watchful as to what's going on. I hand-carried the booklet to the EEOC downtown, and guess what? I never heard from the EEOC concerning the matter!

* * *

Bigotry in this country is doing well and fine, in my view, and, there's not much any of us can do about it! If I were a writer on a popular series, and was in my early fifties, I would flip-off the bigots and find something else to do with my life!

Discrimination against anyone in this country, is a big black eye for America! In other countries, the elderly are respected and revered. In this country, many of the elderly are called names, put out to pasture and forgotten! In many cases, not even their own kids want them, because they're a burden, which is appalling! And, the numbers on senior abuse continues to rise, which is another black eye for America! It's a shame that bigots exist anywhere in America, and especially in the work place, where it is important for all of us to make a living!

America's Stonehenge - A New Theory

The America's Stonehenge archaeological site is located on the summit of Mystery Hill in North Salem, NH. It consists of enigmatic stone chambers, standing stones, niches, drains, and astronomical alignments. Who built these stone structures and for what purpose?

The professional archaeological community has long argued that the site was built by an eccentric farmer who built his house on the hill between 1825 and 1850. Other researchers have proposed that the site was built by Irish Monks. Both of these theories, although quite popular, have been disproven by the archaeological evidence. Stone tools used to quarry the bedrock and shape stones for the some of the earliest structures were C-14 dated to 3000 years ago. This means the site began construction well before Irish Monk starting building religious communities, and certainly predates any 19th century farmers by over three thousand years. Who else could have built this site?

Archaeology has discovered two groups of artifacts and other evidence at the site. The first group of artifacts dates from the 1800's though the early 1900's. All this evidence is associated with the Pattee homestead on the site (circa 1825-1850) and later picnickers from the early 1900's. The second group of artifacts and other evidence spans from 3000 years ago through the 1600's. All of this evidence is associated with Native American activity on the site. It consists of various stone tools used for quarrying, shards of Native American pottery made and used on the site, petroglyphs (rock carvings), pecked & abraded grooved drains, and other Native American artifacts. The evidence overwhelmingly points in one direction - the site was built by Native Americans.

What was the purpose of these stone structures? Like all cultures worldwide, the Native Americans had their own religious traditions. These religious beliefs involved holding ceremonies with various spirits. They created astronomical alignments to mark the date that a ceremony was to be held and also as a means to call the Sun Spirit into their ceremonies. They carved drains in the bedrock to pour sacred water into during ceremonies. They built stone chambers to hold other important ceremonies.

The theory that America's Stonehenge was built by Native Americans is based upon an exhaustive four year study of the site. This study is carefully documented in the book America's Stonehenge Deciphered.

Not sure what theory to believe? Then take a tour of the site and see for yourself. America's Stonehenge is open year round to visitors (admission fee is charged). For an in depth self-guided tour of the site based upon this new research checkout A Guide to America's Stonehenge pamphlet ($4.95) before your trip. Can't travel to the site in person? Take a tour of the site with a 40 minute documentary film, America's Stonehenge: The History of a Sacred Place

What Are We Doing To Each Other as a People?

I believe what President Bush was talking about, is what we are doing to each other as a People! The hate; racism; road-rage; rudeness; the killing; gossip; put-down of others; domestic violence; child/senior abuse; substance abuse; rape; felonies; the manner-less/inconsideration; greedy/selfish; the disrespectful; racial slurs, etc. All is having an adverse effect on this society!

Following the incomprehensible shootings at Virginia Tech on Monday April 15, 2007, the large headlines in the Albuquerque Journal read, "WHY?" Educators; parents; school administrators; business people; students; social scientists; judges; statisticians and employees all across the country are asking the same question...WHY?

Here in Albuquerque, New Mexico (USA), where I live, we had a similar incident happen a few years ago, only not of the scale of the tragedy of Virginia Tech. But, it's a tragedy if only one human being is slaughtered senselessly! And, that's what happened in Albuquerque, as televised on Dateline NBC on Sunday April, 15, 2007. Five people were shot to death that awful day, including two police officers by John Hyde, a mental patient, and the two police officers were shot only three blocks from where I live!

After the killings, there was a small memorial placed in the concrete on the corner of Gold and Ash streets, and I've walked by there several times. And, every time I walk past there, I stop to say a little prayer for the fallen officers, and take a little time to say...WHY? What are we doing to each other as a People?

The school shootings of recent years are a big black eye for America, as innocent children have been murdered in our schools. Because of this, many of our schools have increased security and look like fortresses, which is a shame! In my view, the finger has to be pointed at the parents, who are not teaching their kids manners, values, and two of the most important words...mutual respect! There are many people out in society who should have never become parents! Hate, racism and bigotry has to start someplace...and it usually starts in the home and in the streets. Kids are taught to hate!

But, parents are not all at fault, in my view, because of the way things are today in this society, and it all revolves around GREED! Greedy corporations only looking at the bottom line, whereby both parents have to work to make a living, and one parent can't stay home to raise the kids, etc. Kids at a young age need guidance, and discipline, and sadly, for the most part, there is not a lot of guidance in the home these days! As a nation, we are producing latch-key kids, who come home to a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and the streets...and THIS is where the kids get there guidance!

Today, a couple has a child, and the first thing that happens, is to give that child to a baby-sitter or somebody else to take care of and help raise, etc. Children need their parents, especially at a young age and in their formative years! Children learn from adults...good things...and bad thing, too! If a child is raised by a negative person...a racist; bigot; a person of put-down and hate...that child is going learn from that adult, and I don't care if that person is a family member or not! Ever wonder why the suicide rate among young people is so high?

Parents get themselves in huge debt...and many times they can't handle the load with beg mortgages; a couple of gas-guzzlers in the driveway; credit card debt; furniture; keeping up with the Jones'...and that means working longer hours, and that means less time with the kids, etc. They shouldn't have had kids in the first place...all they're doing is damage to the kids!

I was standing in a concert line one time, waiting to get tickets and I had a conversation with a woman who was also waiting for tickets. And, we were talking about these very issues, and she told me that her top priority and goal in life, was to raise her children and grand-children in the proper way...teaching them respect for others; values; manners and the imp0rtance of integrity. This woman had her priorities in the right place. But, there are many parents who don't have priorities like this woman. They're more concerned about themselves; their projects; money; materialism and keeping up with the Jones,' and the time they devote to their children amounts to nothing more than tokenism.
After all, the toughest job in the world, is to be a good parent!

All of us know, that national surveys can be pretty accurate. I read a national survey recently, whereby, parents were asked the following question, "If you had it to do all over again, would you have children?" A whopping 72% said they would NOT have children if they had to do it all over again! I was astonished with this number! Sadly, there are children all over the U.S. who are simply not wanted. They're rejected right from the start, and become a burden to a family, and I think that is one reason domestic violence is on the increase! Child abuse...senior abuse and domestic violence are all on the rise in this country.

My ex-wife of nineteen years, spent her adult life working as a social worker in the Human Services Department of the state of New Mexico. Here, she has seen the horror of babies thrown in a dumpster like they were trash; kids beaten black and blue by their parents or some other member of the family. There aren't enough foster homes across the nation to take these unwanted kids, and this is a huge black eye for America! The killer at Virginia Tech, was probably such a kid, who was unwanted right from the beginning, and shunned and rejected by society!

Another tragedy came in Pennsylvania at the Amish community where five little girls were murdered one by one, by another mindless individual who had no place in this society. What makes this story even more tragic, is the fact that this mindless individual had every intention of raping these little girls before he killed them, but police came on the scene too fast and interrupted his wicked act. Just when you think you've seen the ultimate crime, that can't be topped by another crime...along comes another crime that leaves you asking...WHY? What are we doing to each other as a People?

Here in New Mexico, bad behavior is everywhere! Corruption; scandals in state government and in school systems, etc. In the state Treasurers office, three were convicted of fraud and a scandal in the construction of a County courthouse, two of the employees pleaded guilty to money laundering and a former Mayor has pleaded guilty to the same charges. You'd think that people in high places would be a role-model for our children, but DWI in Albuquerque is at an all-time high. Judges; school administrators; teachers; television people; athletes...DWI is everywhere! A two-time welter-weight champion of the world was caught on tape throwing up out of his car in the streets! (a disgrace!)

After five job layoffs over a decade, I worked as a temporary employee longer than I would have liked. I worked at this one company, where the company put out a memo to its employees, stating that there was too much gossip and put-down of others going on in the work place, and it had to stop! At a bank I worked at, a woman was crying in the lunch room one day, and she told us that there was a clique in the building, and she was being harassed. We never saw the woman again!

When I was in school, I was teased and put down, because I didn't speak the English language well. Because of this, I refused to give oral book reports or participate in class discussions. This had a negative on my education for years to come. Students and employees can be hateful to each other, and everyone has their own story about the hate that has been generated their way, etc.

Recently, we've seen national figures on radio, on television and in the movies, have gotten themselves in trouble because of their mouths and/or actions! These are people we want to be role-models and mentors for our children? I don't think so! The senior President Bush was right...we do need a kinder, gentler nation! Whether it be in Albuquerque, Pennsylvania or at Virginia Tech or any place else...we all have to ask the same question...WHY?

The History of a Private Investigator

In 1833 a French soldier called Eugène François Vidocq, a French soldier, criminal and privateer, founded the first known private detective agency, "Le Bureau des Renseignements Universels pour le commerce et l'Industrie" (Office of Intelligence) and hired ex-convicts.

Official law enforcement tried to shut it down many times. In 1842 police arrested him in suspicion of unlawful imprisonment and taking money on false pretences after he had solved an embezzling case. Vidocq later suspected that it had been a set-up. He was sentenced for five years with a 3,000-franc fine but the Court of Appeals released him. Vidocq is credited with having introduced record-keeping, criminology and ballistics to criminal investigation. He made the first plaster casts of shoe impressions. He created indelible ink and unalterable bond paper with his printing company. His form of anthropometrics is still partially used by French police. He is also credited for philanthropic pursuits - he claimed he never informed on anyone who had stolen for real need.

After Vidocq, the industry was born. Much of what private investigators did in the early days was to act as the police in matters that their clients felt the police were not equipped for or willing to do. A larger role for this new private investigative industry to was to assist companies in labor disputes. Some early private investigators provided armed guards to act as a private militia.

In the U.S., the Pinkerton National Detective Agency was a private detective agency established in 1850 by Allan Pinkerton. Pinkerton had become famous when he foiled a plot to assassinate then President-Elect Abraham Lincoln. Pinkerton's agents performed services which ranged from undercover investigations and detection of crimes to plant protection and armed security. It is sometimes claimed, probably with exaggeration, that at the height of its existence the Pinkerton National Detective Agency employed more agents than the United States Army.

During the labor unrest of the late 19th century, companies sometimes hired operatives and armed guards from the Pinkertons and similar agencies to keep strikers and suspected unionists out of their factories. The most famous example of this was the Homestead Strike of 1892, when industrialist Henry Clay Frick hired a large contingent of Pinkerton men to regain possession of Andrew Carnegie's steel mill during a lock-out at Homestead, Pennsylvania. Gunfire erupted between the strikers and the Pinkertons, resulting in multiple casualties and deaths on both sides. Several days later a radical anarchist, Alexander Berkman, attempted to assassinate Frick. In the aftermath of the Homestead Riot, several states passed so-called "anti-Pinkerton" laws restricting the importation of private security guards during labor strikes. The federal Anti-Pinkerton Act of 1893 continues to prohibit an "individual employed by the Pinkerton Detective Agency, or similar organization" from being employed by "the Government of the United States or the government of the District of Columbia."

Pinkerton agents were also hired to track western outlaws Jesse James, the Reno brothers, and the Wild Bunch, including Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The Pinkerton agency's logo, an eye embellished with the words "We Never Sleep," inspired the term "private eye."

It was not until the prosperity of the 1920s that the private investigator became a person accessible to the average American. With the wealth of the 1920s and the expanding of the middle class came the need of middle America for private investigators.

Since then the private detective industry has grown with the changing needs of the public. Social issues like infidelity and unionization have impacted the industry and created new types of work, as has the need for insurance and, with it, insurance fraud, criminal defense investigations and the invention of low-cost listening devices. In a number of countries, a licensing process has been introduced that has put criteria in place that investigators have to meet: in most cases, a clean criminal record. This has combined with modern business practices that have ensured that most investigators are now professional in outlook, rather than seeing the PI world as a second career opportunity for retired policemen.

http://www.dcinvestigators.co.uk

Getting and Keeping My Confidence

Confidence: (definition) belief in one's own abilities

All of us need confidence in our lives, to try to excel at the things we do, and to survive as well in a fast-pace society!

Self-respect: This is where it all begins, and these two words, could be the two most important words in the world. As I said previously, I took many, many hits from the migraine headaches, which nearly shattered my life, but despite the headaches and the gloom and doom, I have always had self-respect for myself! At my lowest and darkest moments, I have always liked myself, and I have always felt that I have a lot to offer, and can be a productive citizen, just like anyone else. I have had respect for myself and nobody can ever take that away from me!

For those people out there, who have been told over and over again that they are worthless and will never amount to anything, they have to find a positive/honest person, who they can trust, and they have to start working on getting your self-respect back. Getting back your confidence won't be easy, and will take time and patience.

Honesty: In recovery, a person MUST be honest with himself or herself! This is imperative! You can't be in denial about the things that have crossed your path, and that you are responsible for. Blaming everyone but yourself, is the easy way out, and you will never recover. If you can't be honest with yourself...who can you be honest with? If you lie to yourself...you're finished!

Negativism: Get rid of the negative people surrounding you, that are bringing you down! I don't like and I won't tolerate negative people around me...it's that simple! These people dwell on what they can't do...instead of what they can do. Many times, they're people of "put-down," and make no apologies for it. Jealousy. resentment...are what they bring with them, and I don't need these people to ruin my life!

Failure vs. set-back: I've never failed at anything! Although it took many years to get my confidence back, my confidence is high, because I never like to use the word, "failure!" Instead, I like to use the words "set-back." I do this, because I've never failed at anything...as long as I TRY...and, that's the most important thing...that I TRY! If I try, and don't make it, it's just another set-back! For the people who never TRY...they're the losers and failures of the world...not me!

I remember back, when I participated in all those arts and crafts shows, not everything was peaches and cream! I had my share of bombs! But, I did not fail at these shows...they were only set-backs! I was able to bounce back in the future, and win my share, etc. In life...you win a few and you lose a few!

Smart/Creative people: I've always liked to be around smart and creative people that I can learn from. And, this alone requires confidence. I've never been the fastest horse in the race...but, I'm not exactly a candidate for membership in the American Dufus Association, either!

Learner and a doer: I can proudly say, that I have always been a learner and a doer, and how important is that today, with all the technology and the rapid changes. "Jerry, can you solder?" No, but I can learn. "Jerry, can you run that machine over there?" No, but I can learn. "Jerry, do you know how to assemble these parts?" No, but I can learn!

Praise: Praise is never given out for free...it has to be earned. Over the years, I have completed three writing courses in my 40's at a cost of a few hundred dollars and 18 months; I have participated on over 40 arts and crafts shows; I have promoted 6 of my own; I have built an award-winning website, and have received the praise that goes with it, from hundreds of people around the world. But, in doing so, there's no free lunch; no pie in the sky and no magic dust, either. You're going to have to get out there and earn that praise! When people like you and your work, it builds your confidence level, etc.

You can't please everybody...so, don't try! Trying to please everyone is a confidence-BUSTER for sure! My ex-wife was a person, who tried to please everyone, and she was headed to the mental institution...she did not pass GO and she did not collect $200.00. If people like what I do...fine. If not, they can find somebody else's time to waste!

Humor is the best medicine: I've been in the humor business for over 50 years, and it has been humor that has helped me to keep my chin up during those difficult times. There is not a greater satisfaction than to put a smile on somebody's face and I've done it countless times. Because of the humor, I make friends easily, and because of this, I can tell the people with skeleton's in their closets, to hit the road, etc.

All of us are going to have to choose which road to take...the high road or the low road in life. Many years ago, I chose to take the high road...and you may have guessed that my confidence in very high. So, much so...that I can even walk on water...as long as the pond is frozen over!

The History of the Tomato - America's Favorite Garden Vegetable

Tomato history is an interesting one. Historians believe the origin of tomatoes can be traced to the coastal highlands of Central and South America where they grow wild in the countries of Ecuador and Peru. They were cultivated in ancient Mexico.

Name Origins

The name tomato comes from the word 'tomatl' in Nahuan, the language of the Aztecs of Central America (Aztecan). Interestingly the word 'chocolate' has Nahuan origins as well.

Introduced to Europe

Spanish explorers are credited with introducing the tomato to Europe in the 1500s, where it was called pomodoro, Spanish for "golden apple". This suggests that the first tomatoes brought to Europe were yellow. The earliest recorded mention by a European was by Venetian Pietro Andrea Mattioli, a doctor and naturalist who in the year 1544 recommended seasoning with salt, pepper and oil. The addition of tomatoes to the Italian cuisine in the 18th century gave us the current form of the pizza.

In the northern part of Europe, however, the history of tomatoes tells of a plant that was grown in greenhouses as an ornamental, one that was unhealthy at best and possibly poisonous. An English newspaper published a story in 1864 claiming research showed the tomato was not only edible, but had health benefits. A short time later some growers were already producing tomatoes for consumption and export. By the 1880s greenhouses built specifically for raising tomatoes were already dotting the countryside around Guernsey, which used to be famous for its tomato exports.

Colonel Johnson's Tomato Stunt

Tomato history includes an episode dramatized in a 1940s CBS radio broadcast. Colonel Robert Gibbon Johnson of Salem County, New Jersey, had first introduced the tomato to the United States from abroad in 1808. After offering an annual prize for the largest tomato, he promised a public demonstration to prove that the tomato was safe to eat and not merely ornamental. In 1820 on the steps of the Salem courthouse a crowd of cheering spectators gathered to watch the poor fellow die from consumption of the poisonous fruit. Colonel Johnson bravely told the crowd he would eat an entire basketful and survive. To the possible chagrin of the eager crowd the colonel consumed an entire basket of tomatoes without keeling over or suffering any ill effects whatsoever. Whether the tale is true or not, we do know that the tomato began to become a staple of the American kitchen.

Thomas Jefferson's Garden at Monticello

The third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, recorded planting tomatoes in all the years he carefully wrote in his "Garden Kalendar" (1809-1824). Tomatoes commonly appear in the Jefferson family recipe collections. Two of his favorite varieties were the "dwarf" and the "Spanish". Today if you visit his homestead at Monticello, Virginia, tours of the vegetable gardens are available, and a tomato tasting contest is conducted each year. Recent top finishers include the Sun Gold, Black Cherry and Rose.

The Tomato's Popularity Today

The tomato is the most popular garden vegetable today. This could be because they are easy to grow in the family garden, and just a few plants provide an adequate harvest. The flavor of the homegrown tomato surpasses any you can buy at the local market or grocery store.

Sam Snead

You may not have heard of "Slammin Sammy" by name, but chances are that nearly every golfer has been influenced by his contributions to the sport. Throw away those titanium reinforced clubs, virtual reality training courses and swing secretes - Sam Snead rose to the top of the game as an amateur from Hot Springs, Virginia on the basis of hard work, talent and creativity.

Over his career, Snead won seven majors, including three Masters and PGA Championships tournaments, putting his reputation up there with the all time greats of the game. Turning professional at age 22, he developed his own unique swing that many players tried (but failed) to imitate and was famous for playing barefoot in a straw hat, outplaying competitive who were buttoned up and insulted by his casual attire. While his opponents were frustrated, he would only play lights out - winning over 80 PGA tour events over his career, and becoming one of the single best golfers in the 20th century.

A Virginia Golfers Tees it Up

Take a drive across the Virginia landscape and stop by any of the local golf courses in the Center of the state. If you were to ask any of the local professionals at Sam Snead, they could tell you dozens of legendary stories - if they were about anyone else you might doubt the story, but in the case of Sneak they are entirely true. Snead rose to become a legend by working as a caddy at the Homestead Country Club and gradually rose to become a top amateur player. He never rose above his local origins, continuing to visit his hometown courses and maintaining a home in the area even as he rose to a top professional golfer.

Earning his way onto the PGA tournament at the age of 23, Snead won his first event as the Greensboro Open in 1938. Never one to settle for an isolated title, Snead won that event seven more times in his career, along with countless other events, including 11 PGA tour titles in 1950. As one of the top American golfers, he played on Ryder Cup teams from 1939 to 1959, serving as captain three times. Even as he aged, Snead continued to play at the top of his game, winning the very first Senior PGA (Champions) Tour event he participated in during 1938.

One of the stories you're likely to hear about the legend is how he returned to his home course in Hot Springs to shoot a score of 60 on a par course at the age of 71 - breaking a course record at an age when most of his contemporaries had retired. Snead continued to work as a teacher, instructor and advocate for the game as it rose to prominence. Never one to rest, Snead continued to actively play in tournament events into his 70s. While his name might be as well known as the biggest names in the sport, his accomplishments and approach were second to none.

The Assassination of a President! (1963)

Why would anyone want to kill someone in such an open theatre, such as happened in Dallas, TX in 1963, to cause such a spectacle, such as the Kennedy assassination?

"Grief cannot be shared. Everyone carries it alone...his own burden...his own way!" Anne Morrow

Highlands University is a small school, located in Las Vegas, New Mexico (USA), and is about 150 miles northeast of Albuquerque, New Mexico, where I live. While attending the school, I lived in the dorm (Salenger Hall), and at the time, most students didn't own a television set, because they were not affordable, etc. For our music and news, we all listened to the radio.

It was the week before Thanksgiving, 1963, and most students were preparing to go home for the holidays over the long week-end...but not me! I had fallen behind in my studies, and I decided to stay at the school over the holiday week-end to get caught up, and prepare for upcoming exams, etc.

It was about 11:20 on a Friday morning, and me and my roommate had just finished the morning classes, and we were back in our room, cleaning up and preparing to go to lunch at the dining hall at 11:30. A couple of pals from next door, came by and joined, and we would all go to lunch together.

All of a sudden, I heard something on the radio...that Kennedy had been shot..."Be quiet...s-h-h-h-h I want to hear what has happened!" Everyone in the room quieted down, so we could hear what was going on...something happened to President Kennedy! We all listened to the radio intently, as the news came over! It didn't take long to find out that President Kennedy has been shot in Dallas, and it didn't take long, for the four of us to scamper out of the room, down the stairs and across the campus, to the Student Union Building (SUB) where there were a few television sets!

When we got there, the place was packed with hundreds of students...all gathered around the television sets, to find out what happened in Dallas! As I looked around the room, there was not a dry eye in the room...all I saw was dis-belief on the young faces...blank faces...and tears coming down the faces of many! Some young people were down on the floor crying and sobbing, as we all learned the President Kennedy had been shot...and I too, felt hollow and empty inside!

How could something like this happen in a civilized society? Or, maybe we were not a civilized society after all! All of us students watched intently, as the events unfolded in Dallas that morning, and there was not a dry eye in the room! I think the best word to describe what was going on was "numb"...we were all numb...the feeling of helplessness!

How could the President of the United States be shot? I think we all had that question in our minds. And, I remember a young reporter for CBS, by the name of Dan Rather doing the reporting for CBS news and Walter Cronkite was the anchor back in New York. Both were having trouble keeping their composure, I might add.

"Assassination is the extreme form of censorship!" George Bernard Shaw

It was an awful scene at the SUB, as there was crying and sobbing everywhere! And, you couldn't blame the young people for coming apart at the seams! There were tears streaming my face, too! There really wasn't anything I could do for the students, except to comfort some of them where I could. How could something like this happen?

There were two other reasons why this assassination added to the gloom of the time...the holidays were just around the corner...Thanksgiving and Christmas. And, the two little kids in the White House...Caroline and John-John who were about 5-7 years old...were adored by the American public...and now they were without a father...made things even worse! How could somebody do this?

A catastrophe was unfolding right before us in Dallas that ugly morning!

THE WARREN COMMISSION REPORT: Stated that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the assassination of President Kennedy. More than 80% of the American people found the report to be flawed, including myself! To this day (2008) I don't believe that Oswald was the lone killer, or may not have been the killer at all. Additionally, 70% of the American people think the assassination was a plot...not a lone gunman acting alone.

"A desperate disease requires a dangerous remedy!" Guy Fawkes

Over the years, there have been dozens of conspiracy theories, as to who or how Kennedy was shot, much to lengthy to go into here. But, in the year 2003, I saw a documentary on PBS, which was a behind-the-scenes look, as how all of this could have come together. It was reported in the documentary, that Joseph Kennedy, the father of John and Robert Kennedy, went to Chicago, to meet with the Teamsters Union, to try to get the Teamsters to vote for his son, John, in the upcoming election with Richard Nixon.

The broadcast showed Joseph Kennedy entering and leaving the hotel in which the meetings took place. In short...the deal was...to have the Teamsters vote for John Kennedy, and in return...the President (if elected) would lay off the mafia! I don't know how Joseph Kennedy or anybody else, can go around making deals with shady characters so close to the mob! I was incensed when I saw this piece! You know...somebody doing wheeling and dealing...in a smoke-filled room behind closed doors, in a matter that was so important. That is, to elect the next President of the United States!

The Presidential race was one of the closest in history between John Kennedy and Richard Nixon, and a Teamster vote could put John Kennedy over the top, etc. By a razor-thin margin, John Kennedy won the race, and one of the first orders of business for John Kennedy, was to appoint his brother, Robert Kennedy as Attorney General of the United States.

And, one of the first things Robert Kennedy did as Attorney General, was to begin hearings on activities of the mafia. The reader in the year 2008, has to remember that the mafia in those days was a big deal; unions were powerful and courted by Presidents and others. And, it was a time of Communism and the Cold War!

The reader can see what's happening here. By starting up the hearings on the mafia, Robert Kennedy could be opening a can of worms...and could even be in a position to betray the mafia, and it depended on what he knew about his father's activities. Nonetheless, if the mafia thought that they were betrayed by the Kennedy's...it could mean John Kennedy's life! I don't think you want to betray the mafia, because if you do, you can start shopping for a casket! But, none of use know what was discussed in those meetings between Joseph Kennedy and the Teamsters, etc. And, maybe the Kennedy brothers didn't know what was discussed in the meetings, either!

Knowingly or unknowingly...the Kennedy brothers may have betrayed the mafia, and now John's life could be in jeopardy! When I saw this documentary, this is the most plausible scenario as to what might have happened in the Kennedy assassination! This is something I could believe, and the picture now gets clearer for me, etc.

In my view, Lee Harvey Oswald did not kill Kennedy by himself, as the Warren Report suggests. There are three conclusions that I come to; the United States government acted alone; the mafia acted alone; or the U.S. government and the mafia conspired to do it together. Lee Harvey Oswald was just convenient and, in my view, nothing but a scape-goat for the government!

"An assassination has never changed the history of the world." Benjamin Disaeli

For the first time in my life, and I hope the last...I witnessed a murder, live on television, when Jack Ruby killed Oswald viewed by millions on television! Another unthinkable act, that added to the chaos of the time! The grieving and mourning would go on for months and years...after these unthinkable acts of violence!

MY TWO-CENTS:
The fox guarding the chicken coop: Do you really think that government people investigating other government people, can be objective to get the truth? (laugh here until your sides hurt!)

In 2008, the U.S. Congress has earned...that's right...has earned its lowest ratings in trust and credibility from the American people...which is a SHAME! The people in the Congress, are nothing but a bunch of self-serving, over-paid greedsters just looking out for themselves! The only reason there was more interest in 2008, was because there was a new face in government that might bring NEW HOPE into this dismal administration and waste of a Congress!

I don't care how many Commissions are appointed by a sitting President or any other President, to get to the bottom of this Kennedy matter,etc. As long as the finger is pointed at Lee Harvey Oswald, who is a dead man, and never had a chance to defend himself...the cover-up by the U.S. government will continue...period!

Beekeeping Equipment - The Essential Tools You Need For Your Homestead Hive

Having the right beekeeping equipment is crucial for the successful homestead beekeeper. If you are thinking of having a colony or two of bees on your property, here is a list of some of the tools you will need:

Bee Smoker and Fuel

A bee smoker consists of a fire chamber, bellows and a nozzle. Point the smoker at the entrance of the hive, squeeze the bellows and smoke is forced in. This dulls the receptors of the guard bees. They can't send out an alarm odor that would normally alert the older bees - who have the most venom - to defend their home.

Also, the smoke triggers other bees to gorge themselves on honey - something they do instinctively in case they have to flee and find a new home elsewhere. What this means to you is a lot less stings. That is why a good smoker is an essential part of your beekeeping equipment. At the time this article was written, the cost of a smoker and fuel ranged between $60 and $85 American dollars.

Beekeeper Suit

This will also protect you from stings and is well worth the investment. It keeps the bees from crawling into your clothes. It will also mask your scent - bees get really ticked off if you have a strong body odor. Also, these suits are usually white. Bees are more prone to attack people in darker colors.

The suit should also provide a hat and veil and long gloves. The gloves should be leather, good fitting and have long sleeves. The cost at the time of writing this ran from $85 to $130 in American dollars.

Tending your hive can be a messy business, and your gloves will get dirty. You will need to clean your gloves each time after you use them. One way to clean them is to wear them and wash your hands under warm water. Then dry them immediately and rub them down with olive oil. Afterward, remove as much excess oil as possible.

Hive Tool

This is a simple pry bar, with a notch on one end for pulling nails and scraping cappings. A necessary part of your beekeeping equipment and only $6 to $10 in American dollars, depending on where you purchase it.

Frame Lifter

This tool allows you to grab a single frame with only one hand. This is handy, but be aware that it will take some hand strength. Cost for this is generally between $12 to $14 in American dollars.

Pollen Trap

Not only can you eat pollen, but it is loaded with vitamins and nutrients. Very few people are allergic to bee pollen, but it can cause the same reaction as allergies do, so taste a little before eating a lot of this.

Bee pollen is perishable, so store your fresh pollen in the refrigerator or freezer if you don't plan to use it right away. In 2008, a pollen trap cost between $35 and $65 American dollars.

Magnifying Glass

This will help you look closely at the bees, inspect them for mites and look closely at larva and eggs. Just be aware that magnifying glasses can cook your bees, so make certain the sun isn't behind you when you use this. Magnifying glasses can generally be found in drug stores.

Log Book

This is a simple, yet important part of your beekeeping equipment. Every time you inspect your hive, you will want to take notes. That way you have an accurate record of what your bees are up to. By observing them on a weekly basis and keeping notes, you will begin to recognize when your bees are not behaving normally and be able to treat them accordingly.

Capel Rugs

Only in America: From GeeHaw Plow Lines to Capel Rug Lines

In 1917, Henry Ford, who had been raised on a farm, made a momentous decision and, against the wishes of the Ford Motor Company's board of directors, decided to form the Ford Tractor Company, thinking that his tractors could mechanize farm work the same way his Model T had mechanized transportation for the average American family.

In 1917, A. Leon Capel, the owner of GeeHaw Plow lines, producer of rope plow lines with which farmers guided the horses and mules pulling their plows, read of Henry Ford's decision. Reading, simultaneously, the handwriting on the wall, he began looking for a new way to use the stock materials he had intended to twist into ropes for those plow lines.

He bought some braiding machines; his rope materials were fashioned into braids; and his braids were stitched by sewing machine into concentric circles. The result was a machine-produced version of that most American of floor coverings, the braided rug.

Henry Ford's tractors did indeed mechanize the world of farming, and A. Leon Capel, who named his new rug-braiding enterprise New Departure Rugs, found his process so successful that, within nine years, he purchased his own looms to manufacture yarn, and in 1927 the first "Old Homestead" line of Capel rugs--the original braided chenille rug--appeared.

Within a decade, and in the middle of the Depression, Capel's rugs were so much in demand that he re-opened a textile mill which had formerly belonged to his father, and that mill became the foundation for Capelsie Mills, Inc.

Every Capel rug produced in America today is born of the same hands-on production method that A. Leon Capel practiced. And, in addition to continuing its own line of braided, knotted, and woven Capel rugs, Capel began, in 1963,a rug-importing business.

Beginning with Spanish needlepoint Capel rugs, Capel gradually expanded its imports to include Dutch and Belgian wool Capel rugs, and today, about 65% of Capel rugs are imported. Capel is also one of the largest importers of rugs from India.

With the real estate boom of the past few years, American rug manufacturers found that many homeowners who had previously opted for wall-to-wall carpeting preferred area rugs as a way to showcase the hardwood and tile floors of their new homes. Capel rugs, both domestic and imported, were more in demand than ever, and Capel, Inc. was constantly looking for innovative ways to set its rugs apart.

When, in the late 1990's, aromatherapy and scented candles reached new heights of popularity, Capel introduced prototype Capel rugs which contained either pine or floral-scented filaments within their cores. While these were not commercially marketed, Capel expanded its braided rug lines to include both square and rectangular shapes, and runners, in non-traditional colors ranging from spring pastels to midnight blues and black. Aand synthetic Olefin Capel rugs are now produced domestically.

Capel has also transitioned from being the wholesale supplier to ten thousand retailers of Capel rugs, to opening, in 2005, a Capel rugs "superstore" in Schaumburg, Illinois; there are plans for the eventual opening of ten such retail stores.

A. Leon Capel, by the way, was seventeen years old when he saw the wisdom of getting out of the plow line business, and into the rug line business. Only in America!

The Very Versatile Look of Mission Style Kitchen Cabinets

If you're a person who loves the rich look of wood grain and classic, simple lines, you're bound to like Mission style kitchen cabinets. These beautiful cupboards are done in the Amish style, much like Mission style furniture. Usually constructed of either beautifully-grained light or dark oak, they look both hand-crafted and elegant. Many of the top American cabinet makers offer lines of mission style cupboards, accessories, and pantries which will make your kitchen look great.

As you probably know, Amish furniture is highly prized for its fine craftsmanship and meticulous attention to details. This is the style that cabinet makers are striving to emulate when they design their lines of Mission style cupboards. The design has been in vogue since early in the 20th century, and its straight, classic lines and natural simplicity has kept it popular ever since. Following the Victorian era of overabundance of design elements, carvings, and flowery figurals, designers were looking for something that was completely the opposite when Mission style was created.

Mission style cabinetry, with all it's square or rectangular look, manages to incorporate subtle decorative elements, such as leaded glass inserts or hardware that appears to be handcrafted. When you decide to include more decorative accessories, however, you don't want to go overboard. Mission styling is all about simplicity and understated elegance.

One of the nicest things about Mission style cupboards is that they will fit easily into many types of décor and be the perfect match for numerous different appliance finishes and furniture styles. You don't have to keep everything stark and simple for the look to be effective. Use the glass fronts to show off Oriental porcelain for a beautiful, serene look, or spice everything up a bit with pieces of bright Fiestaware. You aren't stuck with being able to use only one color of appliances, either, because many appliance finishes will look really nice provided you keep the look of the entire kitchen cohesive.

If you've always wanted a rustic-looking or country kitchen, Mission style cabinets will be the perfect match. You can leave them with the gorgeous wood grain showing, or you can paint them white for an effect like Grandma used to have in her kitchen. You will find lines of cabinet hardware that have been specifically styled for the Mission look. You can do some browsing on the Internet where you'll find pictures of many kinds of hardware. If you find something you like, you can always print out a copy of it to hold up against your cabinets and see how you like the effect.

Famous American Clock Companies

Although clock making began in the Orient and in Europe long before America was ever discovered, the United States has still had its fair share of great clock companies. Although there was a definite lack of clock makers up until the mid 18th century, in the years preceding the Revolutionary War, Thomas Harland, a Connecticut clock maker who had immigrated from England, brought his skills into play in the American Colonies. Harland was responsible for training other men in the art of clock making which created the basis for the American clock industry.

In 1851, the Ansonia Clock Company was started in Ansonia, CT. However, that arrangement didn't work out, so the company was moved to New York City in 1877. By 1886, there were 225 different clock models in the Ansonia line; this was expanded to 440 by 1914. The company specialized in high-end clocks for the wealthy which included statue clocks, swinging clocks, and other types of novelty clocks. They also manufactured more than 10,000,000 watches between 1904 and 1929. Unfortunately, this pioneer in the American time industry ceased operation completely in 1929.

Another early clock manufacturer was the Waterbury Clock Company which was established in 1857. This company produced over 400 different clock models and added pocket watches to their repertoire starting in around 1890. By 1915 it was the largest clockmaker in the U.S. One of it's most famous achievements is to have introduced the Mickey Mouse watch which became an icon in the watch industry. The Great Depression and World War II caused the Waterbury Clock Company to be sold to Norwegian investors.

One name that is synonymous with fine clock making is Seth Thomas. His business began as a partnership in 1810 and ran until 1813 when Thomas decided to go into business on his own. He started a manufacturing plant in Plymouth Hollow, CT where he built tall case clocks that had wooden movements. Apparently Thomas didn't have many inventive skills, because his clocks were slow to evolve. He liked to let other clock makers try new designs and see if they were successful before going into making similar clocks himself. He was, however, a great businessman which is what brought his company into the world market.

Elias Ingraham, who possessed great engineering skills as well as an eye for appealing design, was given 17 patents for his clock case designs and the way they were manufactured. His son, Edward, was also quite innovative and created a method of applying black enamel to clock cases which resulted in the huge number of black mantel clocks produced during the 19th century. The Ingraham company was sold to McGraw-Edison in 1967, and clocks are still being made using the Ingraham trademark.

This article only provided you with a sampling of the great clockmakers that have graced the American stage. Many others, such as Howard Miller, Westclox, New England, and Chauncey Jerome, also made their mark on the clock making industry. In fact, during the heyday of clock production, the era between about the mid 1800s and 1920, there more than 30 clock companies operating in the United States.

The American Bald Eagle - A Symbol of Life and Freedom

The United States congress adopted the American Bald Eagle in 1782 as the national emblem. Native Americans considered these birds to be holy and their feathers sacred adorning themselves with feathers to show their rank in the tribe or their prowess in battle. Not everyone thought these birds to be so honorable. According to myths and stories, they were hunted and slaughtered without regard, reducing their number from the thousands to only a few hundred nesting pairs. Although Congress enacted the Bald Eagle Protection Act to protect the symbol of our nation and to prevent these beautiful birds from becoming extinct, other battles were still to be fought in the war of survival before this magnificent bird started the uphill climb to recovery.

Americans grow up with a mental picture of the American Bald Eagle because it is used as a symbol on some currency, flags, and memorials as well as being a popular model for paintings to adorn our walls. It is easily recognized with a dark body and white feathers on both the head and tail. The female eagles are larger than the males, weighing up to fourteen pounds, while the males generally weigh seven to ten pounds. Their lifespan can be more than thirty years in the wild. Mating for life, they often nest within a hundred miles of the nest where they were reared; laying a clutch of two or three eggs yearly in a nest they expand year after year, the nest sometimes reaching ten feet in diameter. Both parents participate in the incubation of the eggs, a process which will take between thirty-four and thirty-six days (hatching usually a day or two apart). A young eagle or fledgling will leave the nest between seventy and ninety-eight days of age. Bald Eagles will breed beginning in February through July away from human disturbances in open areas. Eagles will migrate from Northern area further south for the winter, gathering along waterways with an abundant food supply.

Habitats for the bald eagles include waterways or estuaries, large lakes, seacoast area, reservoirs, and major rivers, but ample food source is not the only requirement for the large birds. They must also have perching and nesting areas to accommodate this species.

Much of the bald eagles original habitat has been lost since the Europeans arrived in North America due to deforestation for towns, farms, and for lumber to support the growth. This deforestation has destroyed perching and nesting sites, forcing the raptors to seek other roost such as the top of a high voltage electric pole.

The bald eagle was adopted by the U.S. Congress as the national emblem in 1782. At that time, the number of eagles was estimated as high as seventy-five thousand. By 1940, the number had reduced so drastically that Congress enacted the Bald Eagle Protection Act. This act made it illegal to harass, kill, or possess the birds or any bird or any bird parts without a permit. Although this act offered a promise for the future of the eagle, the struggle for survival was far from over. Farmers and ranchers viewed the eagle as a threat to their livestock but their primary prey is fish although they will eat waterfowl, small mammals or rodents, and carrion.

The chemical era for agriculture and pesticides after World War II ushered in new problems for the troubled population of eagles while fighting the war on insects. DDT and other pesticides applied to lawns and crops washed into the nations' water sources and contaminated water plants, fish, and small creatures, supplying a deadly dose to the eagles as they ate the fish where the chemicals concentrated in their tissues. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, DDT was originally used to control mosquitoes along coastal and wetland areas. DDT accumulated in the birds' fat as the DDT broke down in the birds' body and slowed the release of calcium into the eggshells produced by the females. These birds in turn laid eggs with thin shells that would be crushed by the parents incubating them.

The Secretary of the Interior in 1967 under the Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966 listed bald eagles south of the fortieth parallel as endangered. The population numbers had dropped to fewer than 500 pairs in the lower forty-eight states mainly due to habitat destruction, hunting, and the use of pesticides like DDT. Scientists determined the link between DDT and the lower number of eagles and the United States government banned its' use in 1972. Another battle had been won, but the war was still not over.

Although the bald eagle received protection first under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, it wasn't until after the Endangered Species Act passes in 1973, that conservation measures to protect the eagle were implemented. The Endangered Species Act allowed distinct populations of animal species to be listed and new categories of threatened species to be added. Endangered species are defined by the Act as any species in danger of extinction throughout a significant portion or all of its' range. A captive-breeding program to produce birds for release into the wild was started by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In addition to the captive breeding program, the National Wildlife Refuges and local raptor rehabilitation centers work to improve habitats or by rehabilitating injured eagles so they may be released back into the wild. Most of these organizations work through volunteers and are funded by donation, providing medical care for the birds and public education through presentations and exhibitions. These measures, coupled with law enforcement and protection of the nesting sites during breeding, helped the recovery of the species, but even with these measures there were still challenges ahead for the Bald Eagle.

Another cause of mortality has been lead poisoning with more than two hundred and twenty five cases diagnosed in the last 15 years. The National Wildlife Federation succeeded in the early 1980s in getting the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service to ban the use of lead shot nationwide in hunting waterfowl, Waterfowl that had eaten or been wounded by lead shot would cause lead poisoning in eagles, which could weaken or even kill adult eagles. Since the ban, waterfowl hunters use shells loaded with steel shot instead of lead. Although the change to steel shot has helped the problem of lead poisoning, it has not cured it since upland hunters can still use lead shot, while other reports show some birds have been poisoned from lead fishing sinkers. In order to reduce the risk, people should not leave solid debris such as lead sinkers in rivers and lakes where there is a chance they could be ingested by an eagle.

Another battle still being fought concerns the toxic effects of mercury affecting eagles with a variety or neurological problems that can alter motor skills and reduce the rate of eggs hatching. The source of the mercury has been identified entering waterways as air emissions from solid waste incineration sites as well as other sources. The impact on the bald eagle population in the Southeastern Region is under investigation.

In the first half of this century illegal shooting still posed a threat to eagles, this impact has been reduced through public education and law enforcement. Some deaths still occur on power poles and lines that have not been redesigned to protect raptors, although the poles are usually configured to reduce the occurrence of electrocutions.

Humans and their disturbances are still a long-term threat to the Bald Eagle. Recreational activity in nesting sites can impact the reproduction processes of these birds. Eagles prefer to breed away from human disturbance in the open and adult birds can be flushed from the nests during incubation and brooding periods. This can expose the eggs or young to adverse conditions. In order to reduce some of the problems caused by these disturbances, land management practices have included zones of protection restricting public access during crucial times. If an individual finds themselves in an eagle habitat, he or she should avoid disturbing the eagles by staying at least three hundred feet away and by keeping an obstruction between them.

Although each of these problems individually is no longer a serious threat to the existence of the Bald Eagle, collectively, they can cause serious problems if not monitored. On August 11, 1995, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Endangered Species, ruled that the American Bald Eagle would be removed from the endangered list but would remain listed as threatened even though the eagle has made a spectacular comeback to nearly 5,800 pairs. In a CBS new report on June 29, 2000 Cindy Hoffman stated that lawyers for the government were trying to determine if the birds' habitat would be protected by federal law if it is taken off the endangered species list. Due to all of these efforts, generations to come will be able to look up and see our national symbol flying overhead instead of just seeing in on our currency, stamps or flag poles.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will work with state agencies to monitor the status of the bald eagle for five years, a requirement of the Endangered Species Act. They are the principal federal agency responsible for protecting, conserving, and enhancing wildlife, fish, and their habitats while managing over 150 million acres, 550 units in the National Wildlife Refuge System, operating sixty-six national fish hatcheries and 37 wetland management districts. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service administers the Endangered Species Act, enforces Federal wildlife laws, conserves and restores wildlife habitats, manages migratory bird populations, and helps foreign countries with their conservation practices, while overseeing the Federal Aid programs to state fish and wildlife agencies. In addition to all of these duties, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service established the National Eagle Repository in early 1970 to provide feathers from the Golden and Bald Eagles for Native American ceremonial purposes located at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge in Denver, Colorado. The repository is a collection point for dead eagles. The Bald Eagle Protection Act prohibits the taking, transportation, barter, trade, import or export, sale of any part of and the possession of eagles. This Act makes it illegal to possess and eagle or body part from an eagle. Possession of an eagle body part, even a feather, without a permit, is a felony and can carry a fine up to $10,000 and/or imprisonment. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will issue a permit to a Native American to receive and possess eagle feathers from the Repository for use in religious ceremonies, but there is a large demand with thousands on a waiting list. The Repository receives around nine hundred eagles per year and it could take up to two and a half years for an order to be filled for even a single feather.

As of January 2009, The American Bald Eagle is still listed as a threatened species for certain populations in the Sonoran Desert (Region 2) but is listed as Taxon-recovered for the lower 48 states. Diligent observation is still required to maintain this recovery but proper steps were taken to provide the necessary protection for these magnificent birds.

The American people have risen to the occasion to protect the symbol of our nation and because of this dedication; the American Bald Eagle has made a spectacular recovery from near extinction. The story of the fight to save this magnificent bird shows the same courage and honor as we associate with the bird itself. It has been an uphill battle, but it is one the American people rose to meet head on. Maybe one day on the long drive to school, in the early morning hours, I can look up at one of those beautiful birds soaring high above the trees and feel pride in knowing it is there because we cared enough not to give up.

PEI - Anne of Green Gables

'Anne of Green Gables' is synonymous with PEI. Since the novel's publication in 1907, 'Anne of Green Gables' has enchanted readers worldwide with its portrayal of the life of Anne and the island's magic. Written by Prince Edward Island author, Lucy Maud Montgomery, the book takes readers into an idyllic world with endearing characters.

Inspired by beautiful PEI, the novel captures island adventures and a unique spirit that reflects the true nature of Canada's smallest province and its people. More than 50,000 copies of Anne of Green Gables have been sold since its publication. 'Anne' has thousands of fans around the world. If you love "Anne of Green Gables," no place in the world can be a better vacation spot for you than charming Prince Edward Island.

Lucy Maud Montgomery's home province celebrates "everything Anne." Tourists can visit Green Gables, meet Anne and her friends, and go on "Matthew's Carriage Ride." Prince Edward Island has all kinds of places, activities, and events honoring "Anne of Green Gables."

'Anne's Perfectly Scrumptious Wild-Rose Tea Party' is always a treat. This elegant event takes place in Ingleside, Lucy Maud Montgomery's family home. 'Anne' fans can see actual furnishings from the book including Magog (the china dog) and the Rosebud-Spray Tea-Set.

The 'Anne of Green Gables Children's Festival' is a favorite with the kids. Young or old, everyone can dress as 'Anne' and get their photos taken at Cavendish Figurines. Located at the foot of the Confederation Bridge, this 'Anne' haven is a favorite 'first stop' for many tourists.

From musicals to museums, from crafts to characters, Prince Edward Islanders show their love for "Anne," and the famous author, L. M. Montgomery, who brought her to life. 'Anne of Green Gables - The Musical™' will celebrate its 46th anniversary at the 2010 Charlottetown Festival. The renowned 'Anne and Gilbert - The Musical' will be on stage in Summerside.

The 'Anne of Green Gables Museum' at Silver Bush, Park Corner, is a 110-acre property owned by the Campbell family. Lucy Maud Montgomery referred to Silver Bush as her "wonder castle." She was married in the parlor of the homestead on July 5, 1911. Even today, couples come from around the world to be married in front of the fireplace in the same room.

Within the museum, visitors can even find personal items belonging to Lucy Maud Montgomery. A patchwork quilt, as well as her hand-colored, developed photographs, will take you back to the author's days in this home. The gift shop has a wide selection of licensed 'Anne of Green Gables' products.

A  Prince Edward Island vacation is a dream come true for all 'Anne' fans. They can enjoy the 'Anne' attractions and experience the beauty and charm of this island paradise. Visitors can choose from comfortable accommodations including PEI cottages and hotels, bed and breakfasts, or even secluded cabins for that romantic getaway. Wherever you go in PEI, you will always be near "Anne of Green Gables."

Snakes in Early Ohio History

During the early 1800s, lands in Highland and Ross Counties, Ohio, along Paint and Rattlesnake Creeks, were sold by veterans of the Revolutionary War who had been granted them as war bounties. Settlers moved in, attracted by the opportunity to purchase 150 or more acres. They were hoping to acquire enough land for their children to settle around them, also. These early settlers discovered that their new paradise had unwelcome residents: spotted rattlesnakes. One pioneer reported killing eighty-four snakes in one day, when the creatures had emerged from their winter dens.

One pioneer family, the Carlisles, had a memorable encounter with Rattlesnake Creek's namesake, according to Highland County history. Their cabin had been built without windows and had been thoroughly chinked, eliminating any light. The family spent the days outside in good weather and only entered the cabin to sleep. Candles and oil were too expensive to waste merely to light their way to bed, so the family felt their way inside one evening. The daughter of the family went to bed after a discussion about snakes and felt something moving beneath her pillow. She was told it was her imagination, due to the conversation before bed, but she insisted something, either a rat or a snake, was there. She started to sit up, and something struck her head like a whip. She leaped up, screaming that she had been bitten by a snake. The snake rattled, and the entire family scrambled out of bed. Luckily, she had not been bitten, only struck with its tail as it tried to escape the pillow. They heard the snake rattling as it crawled toward a corner of the cabin, and in the pitch darkness pursued it until they were able to kill it in the yard. The idea of this family dealing with a deadly reptile in the dark reminds us of what a tough people these pioneers were.

Local pioneers turned their livestock loose to graze on the thick grasses near the creeks. When the time came to bring the animals home for work or for milking, a boy or young man would hurry out through the tall grass to fetch them. He would be barefoot or shod only in low moccasins and was understandably wary of the rattlesnakes along his route. The boy listened intently for the sound of his own cows' or horses' bells and leaped from log to log in an attempt to avoid the grass where snakes could be lurking. Once he reached his stock, he could ride one back safely to the homestead. Unfortunately, several of the area's settlers were bitten and, unless they could get treatment quickly, often succumbed to the snakes' venom.

Pioneers of Highland and Ross Counties, Ohio, found that spotted rattlesnakes did not make good neighbors. For many years in the early 1800s, men and women were forced to keep a sharp lookout for these deadly reptiles.

No Electricity for Weeks - What Would You Do?

My son and I have been watching the Little House on the Prairie series on DVD.

If you're not familiar with this icon of 1970s North American television, it's the story of a pioneer family in Walnut Grove, a tiny town in Minnesota in the late 1800s. We've watched them battle blizzards and crop failures, economic downturns and pandemics. And through it all, there's something staring the viewer in the face - there was a world before electricity. And a big, rich one at that. People were resilient - they knew how to look after themselves, and bounced back from calamity.

Of course, most of us find that life hard to imagine. The 'electrification' of North America fundamentally changed our society, family life, and the way we live. Whether that was for better or worse is a topic for another time.

So imagine for a moment what it would be like to be without power at your home for a week, two weeks, a month, 6 months.

Now, I'm no fear monger or doomsday-ist... doomsday-er? (is that even a word?). Nor do I identify with the 'survivalist' camp. Far from it. I believe that the massive changes we're currently experiencing across the planet will lead to a brilliant transformed society once we come out the other side, but that there will be some growing pains during the transition. It's those pain points where we can really make a difference by being prepared. Extended

Power Outages Aren't Fiction

Personally, I've never been through a power outage that lasted more than 2 or 3 days (at most). I find it hard to image what an extended outage would look like. But it we think it's an impossibility, we're sadly mistaken. Just ask anyone who has been through one, during war or disaster, and they'll tell you all about it.

So what could cause a power loss for longer than a few days?

Natural Disaster - You don't have to look far to find a lot of those the last few years. Floods, fires, earthquakes, tsunamis... all can disrupt electrical systems over wide areas for long periods of time. Even if you're not in the directly affected area, these events can really wreak havoc.
Weather Extremes - These are become more common as well, as the climate shifts and changes. Heatwaves can cause excess demand on fragile, antiquated power grids, as well as the conditions we saw across so much of the northern hemisphere in the summer of 2010 (and summers before that) that created massive wildfires, knocking out power over vast regions. And cold weather has the same effect on demand, with the added threat of freezing to death without adequate warmth should an ice storm or some other extreme event shut down power stations and distribution lines.
Solar Activity - Here's where you might think I've gone a bit 'woo-woo', but I've read many express concern that the next solar maximum is going to be a doozy, and there is potential for fragile power grids to be completely knocked out of service. For months. I don't know much (OK, anything, really) about how the sun's activity affects electrical systems here on earth, but I'm thinking NASA does. And they're concerned (NASA space weather link). They've even got a map of the US posted that shows the areas that could be most affected due to the way the grids are constructed. Bottom line: we can't do anything about this one but get ready.

What Would a Long-Term Outage Look Like?

So say the worst happens and we get bombarded by a super solar storm and the electrical grid goes down just like in that map (or even parts of that map), for weeks on end.

What would you do?

For the majority of people living in 'modern' (read 'electricity dependent') communities, it would look something like this:

You couldn't get money from a bank.
Hospitals would likely be unable to operate at normal levels (or some, even any level - they have back-up power systems, but those usually rely on fossil fuels, which might not be available if the electrical systems that run the pumps and distribution system fail).
Commerce as we know it would essentially cease - it would be virtually impossible to buy anything, anywhere.
You'd have no hot water.
You'd have no heat.
You couldn't fill your car with fuel.
Most transportation would cease.
There would be no internet, no DVDs, no movies.
In a mass failure, it would be unlikely you could use your cell phone.
You'd be unable to refill critical prescriptions.
You couldn't cook your food (But 'my range is gas', you say? As far as I understand, it's all distributed through electrically managed systems).
You couldn't go to hospital to take care of any injuries.
You'd have no refrigeration for your food.
Depending on where you live, you might have no running water.
Your plumbing systems might not work.
and the list goes on..

It's actually pretty frightening when you get past denial and let your brain go there.

In all honestly, it used to completely freak me out. And obviously it's freaked a lot of other people out too, because in the last couple of years there's been an explosion of websites dealing with 'prepping' and emergency supplies. At first I thought it was all the crazy 2012 paranoia, but the more I've educated myself, the more I realize that the possibility of a massive power failure isn't so crazy. Especially from the perspective of solar activity and natural disaster.

OK - Now What?

So what's a person to do?

Start small, and build from there.

Sit down and make a list of how your life would be affected should such an event occur. Buy some emergency supplies. Plan for cooking and warmth. Learn how to grow sprouts. Upgrade your first aid training. Buy a bike and trailer. Get to know your neighbours.

Most of all, do not go to a place of fear. There's nothing to be afraid of if you take the steps now to get organized. Educate yourself, but I recommend you avoid the fear-mongering, conspiracy-theorizing websites - there are a lot of them and frankly, I think they do more harm than help... but that's just my opinion.

My goal is to have us all empowered and feeling good about our knowledge and skills. Comfortable with living without electricity. Confident we can not just survive, but thrive should the worst happen. Bottom line: the more each of us are prepared, the less chaotic any major electrical grid event will be.

And really, what's the harm in being prepared, just in case?

Worst case: You are able to look after your family during an extended emergency, helping them stay comfortable and most of all, safe.

Best case: (Which I'm hoping for!) you have a tonne of great camping food and will be all cozy when the next snow storm takes out power to your house.

I can't really find a down side. Can you?

Funny thing is, in the days depicted on Little House on the Prairie, a doozy of a solar maximum would have probably had no effect whatsoever.

Interesting, isn't it?

Diabetes on the Rise!

The information in this piece, was taken from an article which appeared in the Albuquerque Journal (July, 2006), and was written by Lisa Roberts of the Orlando Sentinel. The article talks about the dangers of diabetes and what can be done to treat and prevent it. The newspaper article here has been quoted...I have paraphrased certain parts, and I have added my own two cents, etc.

* * *
One of the questions I always ask my doctor, when I go in to see the results of a physical examination every year...is if there is anything seriously wrong with the physical like cancer; diabetes or another life-threatening disease! I can wait for all that other stuff in the medical report. When he says, "no, everything is fine," I'm relieved, to say the least!

In the past, I have known two people who have died from diabetes. My Aunt Molly and the man who lived next door to my parents. Both of them met a similar fate...as they both became blind; both had a leg amputated, and both were in their early 50's when they passed away. (much too young!)

Before I got laid off from one of my jobs, I worked side by side with a fellow for over six years. He was overweight, and apparently didn't take enough care of the problem. One day, he went to the doctor for a check-up and he got the bad news...he had diabetes! I noticed the change of attitude right away. He became withdrawn; reserved; distant and he told me depression was beginning to set in. Because I like to be around people with a good sense of humor, I noticed that his sense of humor had changed as well...for the worse! (I can't blame him for that)

* * *

* Article: "If you don't know someone with diabetes, there's a good chance you will someday. A recent study found the occurrence of Type 2 diabetes has doubled over the last 30 years. Another estimated that a third of U.S. adults...more than 73 million...suffer diabetes or may be developing it. Simply put, it's an epidemic, and it's driven by sedentary lifestyle and obesity, the up swing of which closely parallels the growth of the disease, says Dr. Kimberley Bourne, a Orlando Fla., endocrinologist who treats diabetics."

* My two cents: In my article, "How I Lost 40 Pounds," the thought of getting diabetes was one of my main concerns and motivators, as I fear getting any life-threatening disease! And, because diabetes affects mostly people who are overweight. I knew when I stepped off that scale in the doctor's office, that I was going to lose the 40 pounds, which was my goal. And, I didn't care how long it took...6 months...a year or longer! THE WEIGHT WAS GOING TO COME OFF!

* Article: "Diabetes is a disease in which the body doesn't produce properly, or ignores insulin. The hormone regulates the metabolism of blood glucose...sugar...which fuels our cells. When diabetes takes hold, glucose can build up in the body and coat blood vessels and nerves. Left untreated, the disease can cause an array of devastating maladies, including blindness; cardiovascular disease; and kidney failure. When glucose interrupts impulses and blood flow to extremities, diabetics sometimes are unaware of things such as cuts, scrapes, and blisters, which may become infected. In severe cases, an amputation might be necessary."

* My Two Cents: The exercise for me consists of walking and jogging 10-15 miles a week in 1986, and in the year 2006, I still do my walking and jogging every week. I really didn't know very much about diabetes, until I read a few articles, and after I did, I knew I would stay with it for the rest of my life, as I hope I well be able to do so.

* Article: "Though the exact cause of diabetes hasn't been determined, research has repeatedly pointed the finger at OBESITY as perhaps the greatest risk of all. As weight increases, the pancreas pumps out more and more insulin to handle increased blood sugar," says Dr. Bourne.

* My Two Cents: For me, exercise is so easy, and can be done almost any time or any place. For example; There are times when I watch a football game on television, and I don't necessarily like to watch the half-time activities. So, it's easy for me to go outside and run a mile or so, and then walk back to cool off. That takes about twenty minutes, and when I get back, it's time for the second half of the ballgame to start. I get to watch the ballgame and get a little exercise at the same time.

In 2005, I was hospitalized for over three months, and I would walk up and down the hallways everyday to try to get some sort of exercise. I did it so much during the three months, that I can tell you just how many floor tiles are in Ward 5B and Ward 5C! (Isn't this exciting?) I pushed my little walker (beep-beep)...and, putt-putted my way around the hospital to get my exercise. But, I wasn't the only "crazy" person walking up and down the halls! Several of the other veterans would walk up and down the halls as well, etc. So, getting exercise is easy, and can be done almost anywhere.

* Article: "Prevention and early treatment of diabetes are paramount goals, says Mark Williams, CEO of Community Health Centers Inc., which operates a network of Central Florida clinics and offers diabetes screening. 'As a community, diabetes is one of those diseases that screams 'treat me early' so we can avoid complications, because complications are so very expensive.'"

* My Two Cents: The walking and jogging I do, takes care of the lower body, and I've been "pumping aluminum," to take care of the upper body. When I went to the sports section of a department store looking for the location of the dumb bells, I asked the clerk where the dumb bells were...and he just looked at ME!

* Article: "At the Florida Hospital Diabetes Center in Orlando, diabetics are proving that eating well and working out can help control the disease. Gym members test their blood before and after their workouts, and the difference they see in their blood sugar after exercising motivates them to keep on the move, says Paul Frickman, the center's exercise coordinator. It's not unusual to see blood sugar tumble from, say 140 to the norman range, which is between 70 and 100. The benefit of a workout lasts from 24 to 72 hours. Another bonus: 'When you exercise, sugar goes into your body without the assistance of insulin,' he says, so a diabetic's reliance on drugs may lessen."

*My Two Cents: I've never done exercise on a treadmill. I've always liked to go outdoors and "smell the roses," watch the sun rise and set on the horizon, and watch the leaves turn color, etc. We're becoming a country of concrete and asphalt , so I like to get a little dirt and grass under my feet once in a while.

* Article: "Talar Glover, a clinical nurse specialist at the center, says today's super sized meal portions and fat-and-sugar laden foods, as well as a variety of social conditions, are helping to fuel the disease. Through many believe diabetes is about eating excess sugar, 'it's not about sugars...it's about carbohydrates. They turn into sugar,' she says. That's why diets should be based on a balance of meat, fruits, vegetables, dairy produces and whole grains."

PRESCRIPTION FOR DIABETES: DIET AND EXERCISE.

For over twenty years, exercising has been a way of life for me, and my health has been my top priority. I have to get out and get my "fix" every week of running and jogging! "Sweat therapy," has help me to sleep better; reduce the stress in my life; be more creative; clear the cob webs from my head; get more ideas; and solve problems too, etc.

And, I'll keep doing what I've been doing over the past twenty years...that is...walking, jogging, and "pumping aluminum." But, as I grow older, I have to make some changes. I will now have to start "pumping aluminum foil," instead!

Artist William Merritt Chase

William Merritt Chase was born on November 1st, 1849 in Nineveh, Indiana. After joining and leaving the Navy in 1869, he decided to leave Indiana and head off to New York to study art. While there, he studied at The National Academy of Design. In 1870 he left New York to help support his family in St. Louis, he worked as a still-life painter and started to make a name for himself. The wealthy art collectors in St. Louis decided they wanted to expand his talent in Europe and they sponsored a 5 year stay in Munich in return for paintings.

Chase returned back to the United States in 1878 and opened a studio in New York City. He was a member of the Tilers, a group of artists including Winslow Homer, J. Alden Weir and Arthur Quartley. He often painted portraits of his family, his wife Alice and his 8 children.

Aside from painting portraits, William Merritt Chase also liked to paint landscapes. New York City parks and was often the subject for those landscapes, he used vibrant colors. William Chase enjoyed using oil paints to paint these paintings, he also used watercolors, pastels and etchings. His studio was filled with still lifes, portraits, landscapes, and cityscapes.

The portrait of "Lady in Black" is a perfect example of William Merritt Chase's style. It currently hangs in the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The brush strokes, although wide, don't hide the intricate details of the woman's face. It's a piece that leaves the viewer wanting more, and often left me wondering what the "Lady in Black" was thinking about.

Chase, who spent his summers in Shinnecock, would often use this setting as a subject "The Chase Homestead at Shinnecock" is a perfect example of his landscape technique.

William Merritt Chase was also famous for his teaching and artistic training. He had a strong following of young students in New York City and was a founding member of The Society of American Artists and in 1880 was elected president. Chase died on October 25, 1916 in New York City.

Best Hotels and Resorts in Virginia

The ancestry of contemporaneous city was mapped out in response to the beginning of the Virginia Colony in 1607. The city has a great historical background and boasts of different places to visit. Travelers can also join in celebrations and festivals of the town happening every year. Neptune festival is considered as one of the famous festivities in Virginia.

The town has many tourist spots, also deemed as historical landmarks of the country. One of these is the 1708 Galley. This place is mainly a benefit museum that gives chance to upcoming artists to have an exhibit of their different masterpieces. It is also an everyday gallery with stage plays, modern works of art and other displays. These are all held open to the public.

Virginia also built the Nightmare Amusement Park. It is established for children and adults for the enhancement of their inventiveness and understanding on how different things on earth are related to one another. A trip to Busch Gardens will be very relaxing. It is an extravagant place that lets visitors get a glimpse of outdoor Virginia while at the same time enjoying city life. There are shopping malls and restaurants inside Busch Gardens.

The Agrecoft Hall is an ancestral house built during the leadership of Queen Elizabeth I. This house features the historical memorabilia of Virginia. It gives a quick overview of Virginia's history. The city is also the home of luxurious hotels and resorts. These places provide premium services that can give ultimate satisfaction to the travelers. There are many hotel options for you in Virginia and some are enlisted here.

First is the Wingate Hotel. It provides services and facilities for vacationers and businessmen. The hotel is also situated at nearby tourist attractions. Then there is also Acorn Hill lodge, located at the center of business districts found in the city. It has a Southern motif and all the accommodations are complete with facilities.

There are luxurious accommodations like Baymont Inn. This hotel has nothing but first class facilities, amenities and services. Luxurious lodging is expensive but Baymont Inn guarantees total customer satisfaction. You may also opt for lodging close to nature like Jameson Inn. This hotel is located near the famous Jameson River. They provide their clients sumptuous cuisines and excellent services to satisfy the needs of the people. Jameson Inn is qualified as a budget hotel, meaning they offer more affordable rates.

There are also many resorts in Virginia. The Homestead is known as one of the worlds best resorts. The resort offers a lot of fun activities for the whole family that will prove to be good bonding moments among them. Homestead has modern facilities.

The Lansdowne Resort is perfect for the whole family. A lot of activities are offered in this place. There is an outdoor golf course, health spa, and an aquatic complex for indoor swimming. Landsowne also hold youth activities to entertain kids. This includes making crafts, guided swimming, and watching movies. For adults, Lansdowne invites them to their health club where regular classes are held, like yoga and strength training. Clients can also enjoy strolling along the shopping districts encircled in the fantastic resort on their free time.

The Spring Glades Resort is another world class accommodation option for you to relax, and enjoy and savor the Virginia experience. Clients will enjoy playing golf or tennis inside. There is an equestrian center, outdoor heated pool, fishing, rafting, and spa services. The restaurants inside offer different international cuisines like French, Italian and American.

Personal Growth Tips and Ideas

Have you ever thought that poverty is lack of options? When you are caught up in between issues and you have no alternative of solving any of the problems, then you're already poor. Never imagine that lack of money, food, a homestead is an indicator of being poor - it's when you lack options in life.

Poverty is in the mind, it's never in your pocket. Many people suffer because they don't understand that their fate or blessing may not be very far from them. Who would have thought that America would ever have an African American take the highest office in the land? America did not need a man or woman for that matter from any other continent but behold he was just within the states.

When you are driving and you get caught up in traffic and lack an option out of the situation, then you are poor in that circumstance. If you lack a way out of any situation you encounter then that lack of option is a state of being poor. When a nation doesn't have a way of creating jobs to its youth then the description of the same is that they lack option.

The way forward is to exploit our brains and stretch our way of thinking. Be creative like the way a potter sits down, or the architect thinks of a new design of a construction which has never been done by any other. With the various business opportunities online it would be sad if you never seize the chance to make money. Your financial freedom lies entirely in your hands. God created us as human beings who have the capacity to brainstorm options. The current global inflation must have an option; otherwise we will all go south.