Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in adamrpferguson's InsaneJournal:

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Friday, June 24th, 2011
10:54 pm	Cherry Tree Myth First off: George Washington did NOT chop down a cherry tree. The fable had young Washington 'fessing up to "barking" his father's prized sapling. However, the whole story is a moral lesson invented by the patriot's first biographer - a former Anglican pastor and itinerant Bible salesman named Mason L. Weems. Known throughout the country as "Parson" Weems, he wrote several books on good conduct to supplement his Bible tracts. His most popular book was: "The Life of George Washington with Curious Anecdotes Equally Honorable to Himself and Exemplary to his Young Countrymen." The book was published a year after Washington's death in December 1799. It contained a good deal of factual information, but it also launched several legends, which made our first president appear somewhat priggish. I found that this blogger showed this nicely on this Cleora Lanois blog post. This is regrettable because the myths have obscured the real personality of our first president. He was a man of great dignity, but a vital and emotional man. He was ambitious, hard working and sensitive to others. Washington's integrity was recognized by all whom he met. Yet, he labored throughout his life to curb a quick temper. There is no documentation for Weem's charming tale of the cherry tree. He writes that he heard the story from "a distant relative close to the family." Close relatives asserted they had never heard the tale. Nonetheless, the alleged incident is in character with Washington's childhood personality. He was tutored until age 11 by his father, Augustine. The elder Washington stressed honesty and obedience - as George's marked textbooks and copy papers still in existence testify. After his father's death, young Washington taught himself the art of surveying. By age 15 he was actively engaged in that occupation. This trade took him constantly into the frontier as far west as Ohio and Kentucky. In 1754, Washington was sent by the governor of Virginia to drive out a French force occupying a fort at the fork of the Ohio and Allegheny Rivers, now Pittsburgh. The young American major was defeated and forced to sign a humiliating surrender paper. It was the start of the French and Indian War. In later campaigns, George Washington vindicated himself and was chosen for several important military assignments. Washington was 44 and a successful tobacco planter when the American Revolution started. As such, he was reluctant to challenge the mother country militarily. Nevertheless, he obeyed the call of the Continental Congress to take charge of the small army in Boston that had withstood the besieging British at Breed Hill - not Bunker Hill as popularly related. It took an honest man to face up to the realities of an irrevocable break with Great Britain--to undertake the dangers and hardships of creating a new nation against armed might. The War For Independence is now remembered as the Revolutionary War. As a matter of fact, it was our most unpopular war -- the Civil War and Vietnam War notwithstanding. Many colonists were loyal to England and bitterly opposed to separation. Washington's patience and perseverance made a resounding success out of a bad war. He justly deserves the sobriquet: "Father of Our Country." It is unfortunate that his real talents and achievements are obscured by the do-good image foisted on his memory by a well-meaning Parson Weems. For example, here is the complete cherry-tree tale as told by the enthusiastic Weems: I Cannot Tell A Lie "When George was about six years old, he was made the wealthy master of a hatchet, of which, like most little boys, he was immoderately fond, and was constantly going about and chopping everything that came his way. "One day, in the garden where he often amused himself by hacking his mother's pea sticks, he unluckily tried the edge of his hatchet on the body of a beautiful, young English cherry tree, which he barked so terribly that I don't believe the tree ever got the better of it. "The next morning, the old gentleman (Washington's father), finding out what had befallen his tree - which, by the way, was a great favorite - came into the house. With much warmth he asked for the mischievous author, declaring at the same time that he would not have taken five guineas for his tree. "Nobody could tell him anything about it. Presently George and his hatchet made their appearances. 'George,' said his father, 'do you know who killed that beautiful little cherry tree yonder in the garden?' "This was a tough question, and George staggered under it for a moment but quickly recovered himself. Looking at his father with the sweet face of youth, brightened with the inexpressible charm of all-conquering truth, he bravely cried out, 'I cannot tell a lie, Pa. You know I can't tell a lie. I did it with my hatchet.' "'Run to my arms, you dearest boy,' cried his father in transports. 'Run to my arms. Glad am I, George, that you killed my tree for you have paid me for it a thousand fold. Such an act of heroism in my son is of more worth than a thousand trees though blossomed with silver and their fruits of purest gold!'" I know you was here Parson Weems apparently was not satisfied he had adequately described all of Washington's virtues. He embellished it in the same book with another myth: "One day Mr. Washington went into the garden and prepared a little bed of finely pulverized earth. In it he wrote George's name in full, large letters. Then he strewed in plenty of cabbage seed. He covered them up and smoothed all over nicely with the roller. "This bed he purposely prepared close along side a gooseberry walk which he knew would be honored by George's visits when the fruits were ripe "Not many mornings had passed away before in came George with eyes wild rolling, and his little cheeks ready to burst with great news. "'O Pa! come here, come here. I'll shew you such a sight as you never saw in all your life.' "The old gentleman, suspecting what George would be at, gave him his hand which he seized with great eagerness; and tugging him along through the garden, led him point blank to the bed whereon was inscribed in large letters -- and in all the freshness of newly sprung plants -- the full name of GEORGE WASHINGTON. "'There, Pa,' said George, quite in an ecstasy of astonishment, 'did you ever see such a sight in all your lifetime? Who did make it there? "'It grew there by chance, I suppose, my son.' "'O Pa, you must not say chance did all this. Indeed somebody did it; and I dare say now, Pa, you did it just to scare me because I am your little boy.' "His father smiled and said, 'Well, George, you have guessed right. I indeed did it; but not to scare you, my son, but to learn you a great thing which I wish you to understand. I want to introduce you to your true Father.' "'High, Pa, ain't you my true father, that has loved me, and been so good to me always?' "'Yes, George, I am your father, as the world calls it. I love you very dearly too. But yet, with all my love for you, I am but a poor good-for-nothing sort of father in comparison of one you have.' "'Aye! I know well enough whom you mean, Pa. You mean God Almighty, don't you, but where is God Almighty? I never did see him yet.' "'True my son; but though you never saw him, yet he is always with you. You did not see me when ten days ago when I made this little plant bed where you see your name in such beautiful green letters. Though you did not see me here, yet you know I was here.' "' Yes, Pa, that I do. I know you was here!'" * * * So much for poetic license. Truth needs no embroidery. Washington was that rare, historical figure - the right man at the right time in the right place. His whole life was a dedication to the greatest good for the greatest number. It did not come easy for him, but he worked to discipline his shortcomings - replacing pride with honesty, temper with duty. His life is an example more inspiring to our own imperfect natures than the preachments of moralists. In lumping his birthday with that of Abraham Lincoln in a convenient Presidents' Day - to give us another long weekend -- we may be losing the real lessons these great heroes left us. (Comment on this)
10:45 pm	Where to Find Free Printable Family Tree Templates I've been climbing my family tree for many years, and I have to tell you that it used to be much harder than it is today - - thanks in part to the many free family tree templates available on the Internet. Once you start entering names in each generation you'll be pleasantly surprised at how much easier it is to keep track of everyone. I found that this individual explained this simply on this Randy Gorri web page. Since climbing your family tree (called genealogy) is about connecting one generation to the previous generation (i.e. you to your parents, your parents to their parents) it's critical to make sure each person is entered on the correct branch of the tree. Although you may think keeping track of everyone is easy, consider this: The number of your direct ancestors doubles with each generation (2 parents, 4 grandparents, 8 great-grandparents). And this doesn't even include aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters. By the time you go back 10 generations you have over 1,000 direct ancestors. Keeping all those people straight without having them on a chart or tree template is almost impossible. There are two basic types of charts that you'll want to download. The first is a pedigree chart. A pedigree chart tracks your family back generation by generation, starting with you. The second is a family group sheet. This chart contains information about a single family unit (husband, wife, kids). The pedigree chart is like a wide-angle lens - it gives you the whole picture; a family group sheet is like a zoom lens because it zooms in on one small bit of the tree. If you own genealogy software you probably already have access to free family tree templates. But if you don't have software you can easily find templates by using your favorite search engine and looking for search phrases such as "family tree templates", "family tree forms", "pedigree chart", or "family group sheet". Or, you can download these two forms plus lots more for free over at the website for Family Tree Magazine or Family Tree Templates. Once you really get into climbing the family tree you'll probably want to download even more templates for things like a research log (keeps track of websites you searched) a correspondence log (keeps track of who you e-mailed for information) cemetery form (write down tombstone inscriptions) scrapbook forms (to make family tree scrapbook pages) circular, bow tie, and hourglass forms (pedigree charts) One of the best things about getting started in genealogy is having a high level of excitement and anticipation about who and what you'll find. Use templates to record your finds and you'll be on your way to climbing higher and higher up the family tree. (Comment on this)
Thursday, June 23rd, 2011
5:29 pm	Best Palm Trees Kentia Palm Kentia palms are beautiful plants native to the Lord Howe island of Australia. Now, these plants have reached almost all parts of the world from this small island. A benefit of keeping kentia palms as indoor plants is their ability to work as air purifiers. Parlor Palm Also known as the Neanthe Bella, the parlor palm is a low-light plant. Native to Mexico and Guatemala, these plants can reach a maximum height of 8 feet with average height being about 4 feet. Ponytail Palm Beautiful plants native to the semi-desert areas of Mexico. This beautiful plant doesn't require much care at all. Just plant it at a sunny location and forget it. They have thin and long leaves that give affect of a ponytail and thus the name ponytail plant. Like the sago palm, this plant is also not a true palm. Chinese Fan Palm Great for sunny locations of your lawns. The lawn must have some space because they can have a big width. These palms have huge coarse fan-like leaves and thus they are one of the fan palms. Triangle Palm Native to the rainforests of Madagascar, the triangle palm is a medium sized plant that works as an excellent air purifier. They can reach to a maximum height of 30 feet and can get about 15 feet wide and need a lot of space. I found that this web page explained this nicely on this Paul Sayres blog post. Pindo Palm Pindo palms are known for the fruit they bear and this fruit is used in the production of jams and jellies. They can grow 25 feet tall and 15 feet wide. Bamboo Palm Also known as reed palms, the bamboo palms are one of my favorite plants. Unlike many other palms, they have delicate stems and soft delicate leaves. They don't grow very tall and are commonly kept as houseplants. Being native to rain forests, they like to be watered regularly and require protection from direct sunlight because they grow as shrubs under the shade of thick forest trees in their native range. Coconut Palm One of the most commonly grown palms and it is also grown on the commercial level for its fruit. It makes the list of my favorite palms due to its fruit. They can grow really tall and can reach to a maximum height of about 80 to 100 feet and can attain a maximum width of 20 to 30 feet. These trees are best grown in sandy soil. (Comment on this)
Friday, June 10th, 2011
8:17 pm	Hitler and the Maybach Car Adolf Hitler was the dictator of Germany from almost 12 years. Though the Nazi's had envisioned a 1000 year regime yet, they collapsed like a pack of cards in a very short time. But somethings have endured and that is still there for all to see. To start with the Volswagon car, autobahns and developments in rocketry and aircraft have survived Hitler and his regime. When Hitler was in full and complete control of Germany, he had grandoise dreams of becoming a world conqueror. Thus his policy was tailored to put that into effect. He laid great stress on giving presents to people who he thought could help him seize the initiative in Asia. In this he used the powerful German auto industry as a conduit for his plans. In this he planned to use the luxury car Maybach as part of his scheme. The Maybach as is well known is a car that is a step ahead of the Rolls Royce and a tribute to German engineering skills. In 1935 he agreed to have a meeting with the Maharajah of Patiala, Bhupinder Singh. His purpose of meeting the Maharajah was two fold. Firstly he wanted a ally against the English rulers in India and secondly he assumed that the Maharajah who was chairman of the Princes Chamber in India, would be a help in his dream of world domination and exit of the British rule over India. he assumed the Maharajah would swing the other princes against the English. I found that this site demonstrated this simply on this Vanita Mogollon page. It is on record that this meeting from 10 minutes got extended to one hour and Hitler also invited the Maharajah for lunch the next day. During the lunch Hitler presented a Maybach car to the Maharajah. The Maharajah was delighted and being an auto buff( he owned 27 Rolls Royce) readily accepted the gift. Hitler was thus using a present of the Maybach car to further the interests of Germany. Hitler presented two more Maybach cars.This was not out of any altruist ideas, but to further German interests. he presented one car to the King of Nepal and another to King Farrukh of Egypt.. In both cases he assumed that presenting a Maybach car will give Germany political mileage. The King of Nepal was specially cultivated as he had an independent Kingdom and Hitler assumed that it would be a good idea to get a foothold in central Asia through the King. Hitler was a shrewd man and understood the politics of presents very well.It is another matter that he lost the war and his presents of Maybach cars had no effect on the History of India during that period. (Comment on this)
Friday, May 27th, 2011
9:44 pm	Why Rent an Independent Holiday Cottage in Wales? Rent an independent holiday cottage in Wales and be treated to a country famous for its countryside, the rugged coastline of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Britain's only coastal National park the wild moorland of mid Wales, and the sandstone peaks of the Brecon Beacons National Park a well known haven of peace, tranquillity and natural beauty. For holiday makers renting an independent holiday cottage in Wales there are over 180 miles of coastal paths and walks to enjoy the sandy beaches and quiet coves that were once the haunt for smugglers. Rent an independent holiday cottage in Wales and be treated to Idyllic harbours, sandy beaches, secluded coves fascinating ports and fishing villages together with traditional resorts provide an unrivalled coastal attraction. I found that this individual described this simply on this Carson Rook blog post. Those who advertise a holiday home in Pembrokeshire offer a paradise for nature lovers with foxes and badgers and numerous bird species and plentiful rare types of fauna and flora to enjoy. Independent holiday cottages in Wales offer the discerning holiday maker over 2000 years of fascinating history to inspire and explore, with a wealth of magnificent castles, the most famous being Caernarfon, Harlech, Beaumaris and Conwy. There are many others, some are still intact, but many are romantic, crumbling ruins giving just hints of their glorious past. The Georgian Market towns and Iron Age Hill forts are other fine examples of times gone by. For visitors renting an independent holiday cottage in Wales, a trip to the capital - Cardiff, is a must! With its superb castle, fully restored cathedral - and intriguing docks area which contain many heritage sites and museums, it's a must for lovers of history and heritage. Gower peninsula in South Wales is home to some of the most fabulous beaches in the country, with so much cottage advertising in this area, you are bound to find the perfect rental for you. Independent holiday cottages in Wales who advertise cottages in this area offer not just great accommodation but magnificent scenery and some of the most exhilarating walks in the UK. There are many areas of outstanding natural beauty, with the famous Pembrokeshire coastal walk starting at Amroth and continuing for 186 miles right around the coastline till St Dogmaels, along it encompasses, rugged cliff tops, sandy beaches, hidden coves and some of the most beautiful scenery to be found. Rent a holiday cottage in Pembrokeshire and the Gower peninsula and be treated to many attractions besides the beaches to keep the whole family entertained from theme parks to adventure and activity based attractions. Rent a holiday cottage in Carmarthenshire and indulge in what is known as known as the Garden of Wales, due to its rolling landscapes and headlining horticultural attractions. Home to the ultra modern Botanic garden of Wales, with its beautiful 16th and 17th century gardens. Carmarthenshire with its beautiful gardens and clean dandy beaches offers plenty of opportunities to get back to nature with walking cycling fish and bird watching or simply relaxing - the perfect holiday cottage destination. (Comment on this)
Wednesday, May 25th, 2011
2:38 am	What is an EOS Blood Test? EOS or eosinophil is a type of white blood cell that helps your immune system. These white blood cells increase when you have allergies, parasite infections, asthma, and reactions to drugs such as inflammation. Eosinophils represent only a small percentage of the total cell population in your body but they are important indicators in determining if you are battling any of the diseases mentioned above or to diagnose other medical conditions like early stage Cushing's disease or acute hypereosinophilic syndrome. I found that this page described this amazingly on this Sammy Kolinski webpage Normally, blood test like CBC or complete blood count will include information about the amount of eosinophils in your blood. In particular, a complete blood count includes a WBC (white blood cell) differential. The WBC differential checks the different types of white blood cells including eosonophil, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, and basophils. The functions of the other wbc's differ from each other but their common function is to protect the body from infections. The results of a WBC differential will indicate the presence (in percentage) of the five different types of white blood cells, whether each type has increased or not. Another blood test that involves identifying eosinophils is the Absolute Eosinophil Count. Similar to the CBC, a blood sample will be taken from you and tested. The presence of eosinophil is determined using a stain called eosin. Under a microscope, a blood smear is stained with eosin (a red dye) and the technician counts the number of eosinophils for every 100 cells. The absolute eosinophil count is computed by multiplying the eosinophil count and the total white blood cell count. This specific test is not normally done or requested by your health provider primarily because it is very specific to eosinophil. However, if a previous blood test result showed certain abnormalities and your health provider suspects the possibility of a certain diseases, he may ask you to undergo an absolute eosinophil count. The Absolute eosinophil count, for example, helps diagnose the early stages of Cushing's disease and acute hypereosinophilic syndrome. (Comment on this)
1:03 am	Passing That DMV Practice Test To some people, it is just so discouraging to fail their very first DMV practice test when they have already prepared for it. You might have conquered your fear and had braved the storm that is the practice test of the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), but you are not just ready to accept the harsh reality that you did not make it on your first try. I found that this site described this intelligently on this Chung Fronczak post A lot of test takers pass it from the get-go but not all do. For those who did not, the solution is to try harder and learn from your mistakes. That say that one should do whatever it takes to pass and practice the DMV test whatever means possible. Don't let your initial failure get you down, but keep in mind that as a driver you have to pass that test so you can have your driver's license. But fear not for you will still have many chances of taking the test again. Note that there is no limit on how many times you want to take the test. The most important thing you have to remember, though, is to learn from your mistakes and never to repeat them again. You have to constantly ask yourself where did you go wrong, and from there work on it to improve your prospects of passing the DMV practice test. No matter how bad you felt after not making it to your first practice test, you must adopt a positive mental attitude and believe in yourself that you can do it. Never fail to think that there are a lot of people who doesn't pass the DMV test the first time they took it. After all, failure is just a minor inconvenience that you expect before passing the test. Look back and recall the parts of the test that you a hard time answering. Read the DMV guidelines for a few more times if you must, never leaving out every single detail. It is certain that you have also been given pointers from experienced drivers, if that is the case, commit these to memory. You might have felt nervous, too, during the test proper and it contributed to your not getting the passing result. Or maybe the DMV examiner had given you a really difficult time. Whatever is the case, you have to improve your performance the next time around because obtaining a driver's license starts with getting it right. (Comment on this)
Saturday, May 21st, 2011
11:08 pm	What Makes People Happy? 5 Important Factors That Bring Happiness Different people have different opinions on what makes people happy. Some would say it's getting a raise. Others would say it's having a wonderful and meaningful life. There have even been quite a few who have more specific answers pertaining to their personal life. All of these answers hit home, of course. While everyone has their own opinion, some universal things like the ones below might be considered as what makes people happy. 1. Family and friends One of the things that make people happy is the company of family and friends. The emotional support these people give you is priceless. You probably don't enjoy being smothered by your mother or your father, but attending family reunions or getting together for a barbecue once in a while pumps up your happiness level. Having people around you that you love, trust and care for makes you feel that you're not alone. 2. Giving back Helping others, whether in small or big ways, uplifts a person's spirit like nothing else. Doing something for nothing might be completely opposite of what you have been taught, but acts of generosity always leaves you with a warm, fuzzy feeling. Sharing your wealth or time with others puts you in the position to receive the same positive energy back from others. Besides, making a difference in somebody else's life has a way of coming back to you. I found that this site demonstrated this incredibly on this Pattie Mundell web post 3. Meaningful work A job with a corresponding high salary isn't always what makes people happy. In fact, these jobs often make people miserable (unless your heart is in what you do). Unfortunately, not everyone can afford to pursue their dream job. And not everyone finds meaning in their work. You could try to compensate for this by volunteering at hospitals or environmental causes in your spare time. By finding meaning in what you do, you will feel fulfilled and have a sense of purpose. 4. Freedom It's impossible to become truly happy when you don't have even a small ounce of freedom in your life. Whether it's being able to express yourself creatively or being able to make a choice for yourself, personal freedom is important. Suppressing yourself only brings forth a lot of negative emotions and discontent. 5. Success Who doesn't want to succeed? People who have achieved personal or professional success in their life are more inclined to pursue other goals and try new experiences. They become more content with the direction their life is taking and are generally happier in the long run. These are just some of what makes people happy. Not everything is about materialism. There's happiness to be found in even the simplest, intangible things. (Comment on this)
Monday, May 16th, 2011
9:51 pm	What Do Rats Eat? Rats eat a wide variety of food. They have voracious appetites and will eat almost anything. They are true omnivorous scavengers, but mostly prefer grain, livestock feed, and meat. Rats have also been known to eat soap, leather, furs, candy, milk, meat, vegetables, poultry, eggs, grain, seeds, fruit, nuts, snails and other rodents. A rat can eat a third of its body weight each day. The rat's main important consumption is water, as it cannot survive long without it. Rats need 1/2 to 1 ounce of water daily. Two main types of rats, brown rats and black rats eat about the same things. But there are slight differences in preferences between the two. Brown rats or Norway rats eat nearly any type of food, but they prefer high-quality foods such as meat and fresh grain. These rats require 1/2 to 1 fluid ounce of water daily when feeding on dry food. Rats have keen taste, hearing, and sense of smell. Roof rats or black rats generally prefer vegetables, fruits and grain, and consume 1/2 to 1 ounce food per day from various sources. They do not readily accept meat or fish. They like cereal grains, chopped apples, sweet potatoes, melons, prunes, pineapple, cookies, doughnuts, sweet chocolate candy, peanut butter, and tomatoes. They also consume an ounce of water per day. I found that this blogger showed this really well on this Jerrold Duval website Rats are nutritionally a little better than mice. Unlike the mouse that nibbles a little at a time, rats eat much more food in one sitting. Like mice, rats can live in freezers and they love to eat frozen food. Rats have a habit of gnawing when they eat. Their chewing ability helps them to chew and gnaw through almost anything. They gnaw anything softer than their teeth. They gnaw papers, clothes, wood, plastics, water pipes, electric cables and other building materials. Their habit of gnawing causes immense damage to mankind such as fires, power shortages and flooding. (Comment on this)
Sunday, May 1st, 2011
10:04 pm	Dine In Another Country Tonight! So you may not be able to afford a trip around the world but you can certainly bring the flavor of other countries into your home. The whole family can get involved in shopping, preparing and cooking dinners from around the world. Always wanted to go to France but can't afford it? Bring it into your home by setting up a little bistro in your house. Wish you could visit Mexico but it is just not in your future? Get the whole family involved in a Mexican fiesta. Love Italy but the cost to go there is not happening? An Italian night is one of the most affordable you can enjoy. I found that this weblog explained this smartly on this Palma Uran article. The key to celebrating another culture is to try to make it authentic. If you have children they can learn a lot and will enjoy the evening more if they research the culture and find simple things you can do to make the night more fun. They will be able to find recipes and other dishes that lend the flair to the evening. Many supermarkets have a wide variety of foods from around the world, so you can stock up on things to eat and at an affordable price. You will also find some food items you may never had heard of, so this is a great time to try new things. Setting the tone for the mood can be as simply as turning on some music that is typical of that country. Or finding a radio station that has that type of music. Then add some festive touches depending on what country you are visiting. You can add candles, colorful napkins, items from those areas, what ever suits your fancy. A fun evening out is no fun if you have to spend most of your night in the kitchen cooking and cleaning so try to use tools that will make the job much easier and clean up a breeze. Some of the newer things on the market can take a lot of the work out of cooking and cleaning. Having a night in another country can be a great learning experience for everyone in the family and it is a fun thing to do. So even if you can't afford to go to the country, bringing a little bit of it home with you will help make for a fun evening, a great learning opportunity for everyone and a chance to appreciate another culture! (Comment on this)
4:31 pm	Crazy Good Social Network Review Crazy Good is a social networking site based out of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Their main goal is to help their members to enjoy their privacy with other members online in the community. I believe it is very vital and important that we keep online social networking safe, secure, private, and enjoyable for members that are looking to chat or find a sense of peace for their mindset. Crazy Good is the social networking site that provides this type of serenity and security. During my research on Crazy Good, I found out that this community is BBB accredited and they are affiliated with several different charity groups. I found that this webmaster described this really well on this Emile Maccoll blog post. That means they offer great content and value to new members that is not familiar with social networking. Now if you are familiar with social network and you are a member of any other communities online. I know that you have experience profanity, nudity, gossip, spamming on your page, and always somebody trying to sell you something. Crazy Good is set-up for you to have complete privacy because they will shut down any members account if they're using profanity, trying to promote nudity, if they are spamming or anything that will cause discord in the community. Crazy Good is self funded and focus on helping you get your story and pictures to the community with great value. Their goal is to build and grow the largest, safest, most secure social community on the internet. Their mission is to help you create a financial future for you and your family and also get your story online to your friends. Their program is a way for you to tell your friends that they can get paid by socializing online. The amazing thing about that is you can help charity groups all around the world that really needs your help. Crazy Good contributes their first 10% of revenues to charity, not the bottom line profits. They allow each members to identify the charity group that wish to give their contribution. This social networking site is a peoples person community and it is very safe, secure, private, fun, and profitable for their members. Crazy Good will only allow you to socialize with your friends and family that you personally invited and this will eliminate any information that you don't wont on your community page. You will be able to enjoy your friends, you will profit from your friends, and you will be able to be a blessing to someone really in need. I discover its only $10.00 to join and you pay that every a month and you get a $1.00 per friend you invite and your friends invite to the community. Crazy Good is a new revolutionize, secure, safe, private social network site of its kind. (Comment on this)
Friday, April 29th, 2011
3:21 pm	Telepresence Robots Light Up the Consumer Electronics Show A host of innovative robotic products were showcased at the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) earlier this year in Las Vegas. CES 2011 brought together over 140,000 industry professionals who were able to see the very latest technological products from the 2,700 companies exhibiting at the event. Among the most popular highlights from this year's event, were the new telepresence robot's by VGo, Anybots and iRobot. I found that this page demonstrated this intelligently on this Dianna Blain webpage. VGo gives you a virtual presence with the ability to move around freely in a distant location without actually being there. The experience is commonly described as having "your own avatar in a remote location." VGo's telepresence robot allows you to go beyond the boundaries of traditional video conferencing technology and actually be there in a physical sense! At a reported cost of around $6,000 it appears to be the most affordable solution on the market, although customers also have to take out an extra yearly service contract at $1,200. Silicon Valley start-up company Anybots, have just released their telepresence QB robot, featuring a webcam that shows the controller's face, meaning you can have a virtual presence even though you could be miles away. The QB robot, aimed at the business world, officially went on sale at the start of February this year, at a cost of $15,000. The QB is hailed as the first professional-quality telepresence robot to allow executives to work remotely through a simple interface. iRobot, best known as being the maker of the Roomba and Scooba lines of cleaning robots, have developed a working prototype that uses sensors similar to those used on Microsoft's Kinect, for seemless navigation. It moves using wheels and can be controlled using an iPad mounted on its adjustable head. AVA, short for "avatar," has two PrimeSense sensors as well as microphones, speakers, laser rangefinders, and bump sensors for obstacles which suit the robot's primary purpose: video telepresence. Although in a development phase, what industry experts are most excited about is the fact that iRobot AVA has an apps platform, allowing developers to incorporate new functionality into the interface. iRobot stress that this product is very much still a prototype and there's no word on a launch date or price just yet. So, the world of telepresence and video communications continues to develop at ground-breaking speed. No longer will CEO's have to make surprise visits to some of their under-performing locations. They can see, interact and find out what's going on without ever having to leave the office! It all sounds to good to be true and it's still too early to tell if telepresence robots will revolutionise the way we communicate and whether these companies can really create a market for the telepresence robot. Whether you're a skeptic or not, telepresence robots are here, and the presence of VGo, Anybots and iRobot at CES 2011 signals the start of the next generation of telepresence solutions, where our avatar robots will 'virtually' transport us all over the world! (Comment on this)
Thursday, April 28th, 2011
6:38 pm	Football Training for Kids Foot ball is a team game and loved by all, kids, youth and old. Come FIFA world cup season or the League cup season, every child in every country is playing football in the local ground, or at least loving to kick the ball. The football game players are icons and heroes, and every child has a favorite to imitate. Many parents encourage their children to join football training classes or football coaching. Coaching children is one of the most stressful and formidable challenges that one can undertake. It is not easy to make children (that too in numbers and groups) understand the rules and regulations, dos and don'ts, as well as teach them the skill and style. But, the flipside is the children of the resent times are exposed to the games much as the elders. So many have a fair idea as to what is a goal, what is a penalty, how to kick, and what is a foul. Since, they do not come with a blank slate, what many need to learn is, just the technique to handle the ball, and foot skills. Kid's football training classes include children from 6 years above. A few also allow children less than 6 yrs of age. Children are fast learners. And because of their tiny frame, they can be swift, once they practice. With kids as student, the training session will be pure fun, and noisy. A football training coach has to bring himself down to the level of the child to explain the little tips, to make the child understand. Besides, adding an element of fun to the trait, the child can grasp easier. With loads of energy, and enthusiasm, children are the noisy lot, who may be more demanding from the coach. Training kids, means controlling their running, and making them understand team spirit and the need to pass and share responsibility to win. It is always nice to present a football drill and demonstrate a dummy game for the kids to understand the game better. You can also encourage the child to raise question, and also make the demo a discussion to make them analyze why each step was taken and what was achieved at each pass as well as what can be the alternative moves. I found that this web page explained this well on this Johnathan Weil weblog. Many children feel dissuaded and discouraged when scolded in front of other kids. A word of encouragement and correction in a light manner will help resolve issues than the stern and strict ways. Besides, longer hours of drill can be boring too. The technique to have to ball in control totally and be in possession of the ball for longer time, and pass to the right teammate and quick foot skills can be achieved easily within a short time of 3 to 4 yrs. (Comment on this)
3:27 am	How To Increase Muscle With Sport Nutrition How do you know which carbohydrates and fats are best for energy release in triathlons? What are the right foods to build muscle mass? If you have a medical condition, can you still participate in sports? An accredited dietician or nutritionist will help you to define your needs and plan your diet so that you are able to perform at your best. Many people embarking on a new sport will spend time and money on equipment and gym facilities but will not pay proper attention to their diets. Like an engine, the body requires the proper fuel to function for top performance. Which carbohydrates and fats are best for energy release, especially when doing endurance sport? Which are the best foods to help build muscle mass? Can a diabetic participate in sports and how can they eat appropriately to ensure that they too have the endurance needed to participate while still keeping blood sugar levels stable? Sports nutrition is so much more than carbohydrates and water intake. Pushing your body to the limit can have serious consequences and if you do not understand nutrition or do not understand what you are eating or why, you can seriously harm your body and possibly threaten your life. I do not exaggerate; nutrition is vital when undertaking a sports program. A case in point is the famous Comrades Marathon in South Africa. Each year people suffer and there are usually a few deaths related to this race. It is considered a major achievement jut to cross the finish line in the twelve hour limit. Most participants were not professional athletes and it was considered an honor just to finish the race in the twelve hour limit. Watched by the entire country, stragglers would cross the finish line in droves, urged and spurred on by their "comrades". Many of these runners land up in intensive care units with kidney failure or severe dehydration; some even die. Some even died. I mention this to illustrate the importance of understanding the value of good nutrition. It was never necessary for those people to lose kidneys or die from exhaustion and dehydration. With the right training and the right diet, the race is quite safe as many professional athletes have proved. If you are thinking of getting involved in sports seriously, you need to really understand the food you put into your body. It is the most important aspect and supersedes equipment,clothing or gym fees. I found that this person described this intelligently on this Gena Fiesel website. (Comment on this)
Wednesday, April 27th, 2011
12:30 am	Romance in the Workplace As we go further into the second millennium, more and more people are dating, and falling in love with partners they've met at work. Yet, coping with Cupid in the workplace can be a rather tricky affair because these romances have both positive and negative effects on work performance. A growing body of research has explored this phenomenon. One study conducted by Robert E. Quinn reported that over 60% of the people surveyed were either aware of an office romance or had been involved in one themselves. A more recent study by Lisa Mainiero, found in her book, Office Romance: Love, Power & Sex in the Workplace, puts the figure at 76%. These romances seem to be on the rise because people are spending more and more time at the office and they don't have the time to socialize outside of work the way they used to do. They are also attracted to those people who share the same daily successes and stresses as they do. The bottom line is that you're spending a lot of time around someone that you're physically and emotionally attracted to, these things happen, whether they're planned or not. There are many different reasons why people have office romances. Some just want a simple fling with no emotional attachments; others are looking for more serious romances; and some, to be blunt, are just looking for a promotion or a raise. These kinds of affairs can have both positive and negative consequences for not only the work performance of the two people involved, but they also impact the attitudes and performance of the people who are working with or around the couple. Quinn's study found that, in a little over 10% of cases, the romances seemed to result in increased coordination, improved teamwork and improved productivity. Almost one-third of his respondents reported negative effects such as slower decision making, lower morale and lower productivity. Given these kinds of potential risks and benefits, if you are thinking about the possibility of having an office romance, you should carefully weigh the pros and cons. Imagine what the best and worst case scenarios might be. Could you live with the worst case? If your job were on the line because of your romance, would you be willing to end the relationship or be transferred? Would you have no regrets about it? Don't forget to examine how the relationship will affect your partner's career as well. You also need to ask yourself how the relationship at its peak would affect your ability to get the job done. How would it affect your co-workers? Would they be positive and support the relationship or would they try to undermine it? Of course, one's heart tends to lead in these kinds of affairs, but you, at least, need to be aware of the potential consequences. These things should not be entered into lightly. If you are already in a relationship at work, the following steps in managing the relationship are recommended. The first thing to consider is whether or not you are willing to go public about the relationship. In Quinn's study, two-thirds of the people involved in an office romance tried to keep them secret. Yet, most of the people surveyed were well aware that a romance was, in fact, happening. In other words, they'll probably find out anyway. By being up front about it, you can more effectively deal with the feelings that your manager(s) and coworkers will probably have anyway. Mainiero suggests that you might consider writing a contingency plan with your partner about how the relationship will be handled by each of you and how it will be resolved if it ends. It should deal in a straightforward manner with the potential emotional fallout of the relationship. I found that this person described this simply on this Lesley Bowerman article. It is also recommended that you be particularly careful in the way that you relate to your partner when you're at work together. Don't express intimate feelings or use "pet" names at work. Avoid touching your partner in a suggestive manner. Don't schedule long lunches together or after-hour meetings at the office with just the two of you. Keep your office door open when you're together. Make sure that your manager and coworkers see that your work is getting done and that the relationship is not having a negative effect on your productivity. If you're a manager who has become aware of an office relationship, you should not shy away from the issue. Quinn's survey found that over half of the managers who knew about an office romance did nothing about it. The best thing to do in this situation is to openly discuss it with the two people involved. However, you must approach the participants with sensitivity and empathy. Interview each person separately. Ask open-ended questions and allow them to talk. Quite often one or both partners are glad to get it out in the open because they realize they've entered into a difficult situation. If they decide they want to continue the romance, you must focus solely on their work performance. Make sure they are aware of the potential consequences of their relationship; i.e., if their work performance begins to suffer, they could be reprimanded, transferred or terminated. Explore with them the ways in which they should exercise caution. Finally, don't forget to review the situation periodically with them. Quinn's study acknowledges that where termination occurs, the woman is twice as likely to be fired as the man. Be particularly careful that you are not making the woman the scapegoat or you may be faced with a wrongful termination suit. Love in the office can be very difficult for all concerned. You can't really prohibit it. All you can do is attempt to be honest and open about it. That can go a long way toward resolving the problems that arise when you're coping with Cupid in the office. (Comment on this)
Tuesday, April 26th, 2011
8:05 pm	Helping Mom and Dad Decide If Their Home Is Still Appropriate - 5 Questions to Answer The answers you get to these questions will help you assess how well your parents are doing living in their home. It may be better to bring these questions up "in conversation" rather than as an interrogation! Your parents may be resistant if they feel you're trying to take control away or make decisions for them. 1. Is your home still OK for your needs? Maybe the home is too large, or the yard has become a burden to maintain. If there is a swimming pool, that could be a safety hazard. Does the home need a lot of work? Are the utility bills and maintenance costs becoming prohibitive? 2. Is it getting harder and harder to climb the stairs? Not only are stairs physically demanding, they can be a source of falls and injuries. A single story home can be a real benefit to someone with arthritic knees. I found that this website showed this really well on this Patti Zumstein blog post. 3. What safety hazards does your home have, and how easy will it be to get rid of them? Area rugs, sharp corners on furniture, slippery floor coverings, deep bathtubs and low wattage lights can all be dangerous. Ask about doors that have locks that stick closed and find out if it's possible for them to get locked in. 4. Could simple modifications make your home more convenient and safe, or will the work needed be too much? There are many, many ways to add convenience and safety to the home. Hand rails in the bathroom for the toilet and tub, along with raised toilet seats are obvious additions. Rearrange things in the kitchen to avoid bending and reaching, and use plastic tableware to cut down on breakage. Use higher watt bulbs throughout the home to avoid dark areas that might contribute to trips and falls. Discard area and throw rugs to avoid tripping hazards. 5. Have you thought about living somewhere else? Maybe the neighborhood isn't what it was when they bought the house. Ask them if the weather is a problem - maybe they would like to live somewhere warm and/or dry. Is the distance from you and other support getting to be a problem? Are the public services adequate? Getting answers to questions like this is very important when making lifestyle decisions, and the only way to get the answers is to talk it over with your parents. And the sooner, the better! It may well be much easier to talk about these issues before your parents get sick or begin to have trouble making decisions. (Comment on this)
6:37 pm	What Mum Didn't Tell You About Choosing To Feel Good! Good health is not based on coincidences, it is based on how we choose to live. Most illnesses and even chronic diseases are largely due to your own choice of an unhealthy lifestyle. Since these habits and behaviors are learned, we also choose to change them - even if it's not always as easy as it sounds. I found that this weblog demonstrated this simply on this Maryanna Lieder post. There are many "self-help books" available, but many of them are not always based on research. Many books are based on the authors own experiences, and how they were able to change their behavior, habits and lifestyles without any outside, or professional help. People should be able to stay away from medical care to the extent possible. Most people have many opportunities to control the factors that we know affects our health. It involves everything from how we choose to use our body, eat, have a stimulating social life, avoiding tobacco, drugs and alcohol. But it also about who we choose to be around and spend our time with in our daily lives. If you feel that your social life is effecting you in a negative way, choose to have other people in your life, that gives you positive energy. You should do what you can to avoid getting ill because of bad choices. Some research suggests that culture has a positive impact on our health and welfare, like going to a museum, theater and exhibitions, and listening to music have long been known to have a positive effect on our health and how we feel. Some people choose to eat and drink too much fast food, soft drinks and candy due to ignorance. Others know what they should do and what to eat, but find it hard to motivate themselves to change their behavior. Changing your behavior is based on how to "relearn" and motivation, as you realize that you become more aware of opportunities to move around and maybe lose weight, which also reduces the risk of diabetes. Unfortunately there are no short cuts or easy solutions, in the end, it is all about you. You must push yourself to make these changes and in many cases it is about setting up goals and keeping them. Start small and look no further than beyond the first month. If you can do that, then it gets easier as you move on. Be realistic with your goals, believe in yourself and feed your mind with positive thoughts. If you can control your thoughts you are well on your way. If you feel that you lose yourself or fail, start over, and over, and over, if needed. After a while your new habits are formed. (Comment on this)
Monday, April 25th, 2011
9:17 pm	What Is The Best Boat Insurance Company? There is no right answer when someone asks which boat insurance company is the best. There are so many choices available that it is hard to determine the very best. It really all depends on what the specific needs of the person wanting to insure the boat are. Facing the facts, there are pros and cons about every insurance company that you will deal with. After all, insurance companies are in business to make money, not to pay it out. This means that they will do anything in their power to not have to pay for claims, as this is the way they make money. If they do happen to pay for a claim then they will raise the rates on your insurance to help cover the loss or they will simply cancel the policy, whichever best suits their needs. For an insurance company to cancel a policy they have most likely determined that the policy is too much of a risk to continue to prevent any further claims. Having a policy cancelled can make it difficult to get insurance elsewhere. BoatU.S. has been insuring boats, and only boats, since they opened in the late 1960's. They are said to offer some of the lowest rates and best coverage depending on the craft covered. Their web site offers free instant quotes. National Marine Underwriters is another strictly boat insurance company. They offer insurance in the 48 contiguous states with some limited territory extensions from time to time. In business since 1983, they offer lower rates and comprehensive coverage for all risk factors. Progressive Boat, a division of Progressive Auto is one of the cheaper boat insurance companies but they are said to not offer nearly as many services and less comprehensive coverage. They do offer free online instant quotes and their staff is said to be one of the most knowledgeable and friendly groups in the business. American Boating Association is also an option in the boat insurance world. They offer competitive rates that are comparable to Progressive Boat but they are a little shy in the services area. Free instant online quotes are available. Quotes are also available by telephone but it you should expect a long wait on the line. Their staff is professional and friendly. To determine the best boat insurance for you then go to a site that offers multiple quotes from several different insurance companies. This will provide you with the best basic information about several companies at the same time which will save you time versus calling all the individual insurance companies. I found that this blog described this intelligently on this Augusta Vories website. Many sites offer guaranteed rates if you accept one of the quotes they provide but this is not a widely accepted practice. Keep in mind that insurance companies are not necessarily bound to a quote they provide. Insurance companies will want to verify all information provided to them before making a policy available for purchase. This is required to protect against insurance fraud, which is quite commonplace in this world sadly enough. (Comment on this)
Sunday, April 24th, 2011
8:09 pm	A Sensational Holiday Getaway to Johannesburg Johannesburg ranks itself as one among the largest metropolitan regions in the world. The city occupies a large area in the heart of South Africa and is the provincial capital of the country's richest province. Gauteng. Johannesburg has a number of travel and tourism companies that offer attractive Johannesburg travel packages. There are different categories of travel packages that include touring around most of the significant holiday destinations that are truly worth a visit. You are free to choose the type of travel package that is best suited for you and explore the city at your own pace. Even if you intend to tour around the city by yourself, you can obtain all the information online or hire travel guides to take you to places that interest you the most. Some of the recommended places to visit include The Johannesburg Lions Park, which is about 45 minutes drive from Johannesburg. You can spend your time leisurely inside the park. Johannesburg is known for its museums, especially the Apartheid Museum that not only clinches onto thoughtful and brutal reminders of the country's history, but also has an undeniable architectural design. Johannesburg also has many interesting galleries, one of which is the Kim Sacks Gallery, which is colorful and popular for its portrayal of riches and beauty. This gallery has a collection of splendid and wonderful quality handicrafts and is also is a great place to shop for a variety of items. Further, Rosebank is another interesting locality in the city's Northwestern suburb area, which will make your visit very delightful with its hotels and attractive local shops. Rosebank puts up a Sunday market with fun-filled shopping extravaganza wherein you can bag good bargain for unique African artifacts. Another beautiful destination is an observation deck and tower known as Top of Africa, a fascinating tourist spot that gives you wonderful view of the whole city. You can even visit Gold Reef City that offers unlimited fun through an amusement park, a casino as well as a historic village. This place has a tinge of history, along with a series of special rides that are purely enjoyable. I found that this website explained this well on this Nedra Ziernicki blog post. If you are planning your visit to Johannesburg, you can book your airline tickets online through genuine travel websites that offer all the information regarding Johannesburg flights. Choose airlines that operate cheap flights to Johannesburg and get to travel cheap to the city. Even if you decide to join your loved ones on a vacation in the last moment, you have an option to book last minute flights through sites that are particularly operated for this purpose. Opt for airline companies that are more popular and offer impeccable service to their passengers to reach the city in a convenient way. (Comment on this)
2:24 am	Game Copy Wizard Review Article The great game Copy Wizard is advanced software for people who need to make perfect copies of their favorite DVD movies music and even games. The software works with all game consoles from the first generation to the latest Wii consoles. The software comes with an extremely simple to use interface. The commands that are used are install, load and copy. It's as simple as that. For a short time it is retailing at $29.99. This is a huge discount from the original price of $ 49.99. Should you compare this with the cost of a new game, that's lots of savings. The process of copying the games is rather straight forward. You just install your DVD into your PC and allow software run. The overall game will be saved on your Computer and you can burn it on the DVD afterwards. Previously one needed a chip in order to copy games for your console. This is no more necessary thanks to Game Copy Wizard. The most recent version of this software program are Game copy Wizard 2.3. The program works with all Windows versions. I found that this page showed this intelligently on this Andria Robotham blog post. Playing the copied game is an excellent experience. You can't tell any difference between the original and also the copy. Full functionalities from the original games were copied exactly as they are. The sound and video quality is exactly the same. It's even feasible for you to definitely make more copies of the identical game and sell the originals on eBay. The Game Copy Wizard is also extremely fast. You are able to copy a DVD in around five minutes. Other programs will require about 20 minutes to complete the same job. And their copies are not the same as the originals. The overall game Copy Wizard customer care is superb. If you make an inquiry they'll react to you within 12 hours. And their responses aren't computer generated. They are customized to each individual customer. The employees also have a thorough understanding of their product. There are a numerous verifiable testimonials from satisfied customers. Other reviewers also have vouched for that product. Additional features from the Game Copy Wizard range from the capability to copy onto DVDs and CDs. You can also create your own DVD from any media file you might have like MP4 or even Divx and Xvid. Having this software protects your investment in games. How often have you lost valuable DVDs or had them stolen? Or these were scratched and can no more work? With Game Copy Wizard you have a secure feeling. Legally you are eligible to create copies of your DVDs but just for your individual use. You cannot make use of the copied DVDs for commercial purposes. Also you cannot make copies of somebody else's DVD or movies as that would be illegal. The product is extremely recommended and it is available on ClickBank. They have secure order forms and customers are guaranteed secure online payments. They also have a 2 month money back guarantee if you're not satisfied using the product. (Comment on this)