Archive for November, 2007

The Tsunami: A Wake-up Call

Tuesday, November 27th, 2007

By Johann Christoph Arnold In looking back on the year that has just endeda year filled with the horrors of war and of natural disasters such as last falls hurricanesone would have to be callous not to mention the earthquake and tsunamis. The devastation seems to get worse every hour as new reports, images, and statistics come in. Yet from the moment it happened the day after Christmas, one felt that in spite of the tremendous destruction that was unleashed, God was and is at work, even if his plan has not yet been revealed to us. The sheer magnitude of this event cannot be comprehended by the human mind. So let us not get caught up in the number of the dead, the injured, the missing and the homeless. We need to become quiet in order to really take in what has happened; we need to ask ourselves, What is it that God is saying to the whole world? The tsunamis show us that we are not in control of our lives, though God is. Death snatched away rich and poor, tourist and native, with no respect for who they were. There was no time for final goodbyes. Having been in India, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysiaall nations that have been hit by the tsunamisthis disaster affects me personally. I have seen the poverty these people live under even in the best of times. What hits hardest is the untold number of children who died. Many of them will never even be found. Picture their parents grief! As tens of thousands of bereaved families mourn the loved ones they have lost, one wonders, Why does God allow this to happen? Why, if death is his mortal enemy, does he allow it to destroy so many people? In this life we may never find a satisfactory answer to that question. Yet we must still hang on to our faith that God is Love, and that no dark power can ever overcome him, even though, at a time like this, it looks as if that is the case. We must remember Gods promise that one day, every tear will be dried. Only time will tell if this disaster is a taste of similar things to come. One cannot but think of the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth that are foretold in the Book of Revelation. One thing is certain: we cannot just go on living as usual. Life is too precious, and as this event has shown us, it can be over in an instant. We do not need to weep for those who have died. They are all with God, as we are told: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord They will rest from their labors, and their works will follow them. We need to weep and pray for all those who remain alive, for the millions who are suffering hunger and thirst, and facing diseases such as cholera and malaria. Many will surely suffer excruciating deaths. Meanwhile, we ought to ask ourselves how much time we are still spending considering the meaning of this disaster and praying about it. Only a week has gone by since it occurred, but many people have already returned to petty pursuits like hunting for post-Christmas bargains at the mall. Even on the news, this event is beginning to fade–its back to Janet Jackson. We care so little about the rest of the human race. Nothing matters as long as it isn’t us. Yet it could be us next time; it is an eleventh-hour warning. So few of us take that to heart. World leaders have criticized our president for his initial lame pledge of support for the countries stricken by the tsunamis. What would happen if we counteracted their justified concern by pulling all of our troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan, and sending them on to southern Asia to provide disaster relief? Our supposedly Christian nation pumps billions of dollars into military-related technology and into the war against terror. Yet if we would have spent a fraction of that on a wave warning system, millions of lives could have been saved. In this case, animals were smarter than human beingsthey sensed what was coming and headed to higher ground. It is true that dozens of relief organizations and national governments are now pouring aid into the affected region. Yet even all that will only be a drop in the bucket. May all of us who live in relative comfort be stirred to action and remember that in Gods eyes, every deed of love to our neighbornear or faris of utmost importance. In light of this disaster, what does that mean? Are we grateful for what we have? Do we and our children thank God every night for a warm house, for food, and work? A word of comfort to those who have lost loved ones, or are still searching for them: I believe the sky above the Indian Ocean was filled with angels bringing all these souls to God. To me, the fact that this earthquake struck just a day after Christmas is significant. It reminds us that we need to re-learn what it means to bow to the Child in the manger. Herod and the powerful of Jerusalem were so frightened of this little child, that he ordered the slaughter of innocent children. In light of the current world situation, we could be frightened too. But as we are reminded in these lines from Psalm 46, we have a place to turn: God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble.Therefore we shall not be afraid, even though the earth be removed;and though mountains are carried into the midst of the sea though its waters are troubled and roar; though mountains shake with its swelling; though nations rage, and kingdoms are moved. Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations! The Lord of Hosts is with us forever. The God of Jacob is our refuge. You may reprint this article free of charge providing you use the following credit box:Article by Johann Christoph Arnold (http://www.christopharnold.com/). Arnold is senior pastor of the Bruderhof - an international communal movement dedicated to a life of simplicity, service, sharing, and nonviolence. (http://www.bruderhof.com/). Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Johann_Christoph_Arnold http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Tsunami:-A-Wake-up-Call&id=10684 buy xanax no prescription buy xanax online without prescription buy xanax online from us pharmacy xanax from the us no prescription

The Greatest Barrier to Loving Relationships: Self-Esteem

Monday, November 26th, 2007

By Amy Barnes 1. Watch what you tell yourself and what others tell you. Stop the negativity. Remember the old childrens story, The Little Engine that Could? I think I can, I think I can instead of I cant or I should. We always have choices. Dont put your self down. Dont let other people put you down. Instead of, I could never have that job. Think, what could I do to prepare myself to have the job or career I really want? 2. How do you limit yourself? You need to be realistic about what you can and cannot do. Yet most of us tend to limit ourselves by restrictions we have come to believe about ourselves. These beliefs whether from ourselves or from others may no longer fit who we are 3. Take care of your body. Exercise; eat well, drink water, get regular check ups. Weve heard it all before, but do you like yourself well enough to take care of yourself? I plan to live a very long and healthy life and I want to everything in my power to stay active and healthy. 4. Connect with others. People with multiple friendships live longer and have healthier lives. We all need friends we can call at 3 in the morning. Ten years ago 700 people died in Chicago from the heat. Most were older people who lived alone and had no one to call. 5. Take calculated risks. Expand your comfort zone. Try something new. It doesnt have to be huge just a little bit outside your normal range. Take a dance lesson. Invite a new friend to lunch. Try something new. 6. Do something you have put off. Make a decision; get your finances in order. Take care of a long standing problem or make a call you have been putting off. You will feel relieved and positive about yourself. 7. No addictions. Addictions come in all types: alcohol, marijuana, drugs, also shopping, exercise, working, or anything done to access. Addictive behavior in any form is not healthy. Dishonesty, manipulation, and not dealing with feelings are all part of addictive behaviors. 8. Deal with clutter: Unfinished projects, stacks of paper, piles of things or the clutter in your mind of unmade decisions. All this clutter tends to keep us stuck, from seeing the world clearly. Clear you mind and your environment so you are ready to move forward. 9. Stop sabotaging yourself. What keeps you from having the life you want? Make the decision to figure out what keeps you from having the life you want. Do something different today. 10. Permit yourself to dream. Take time to really discover what you want out of your life without limits. Stop making excuse for you life and be willing to take action. 11. Be responsible for your life. If you dont like your life, change it. It may be time to take a good look at what you are doing to create the life you have and make a conscious decision to make changes in your life. 12. Build others self esteem. In every word, action, glance, thought or shrug of the shoulder you have the opportunity to build up or tear down anothers self esteem. If you tear down anothers self esteem you are also tearing down your own self esteem. If you build up anothers self esteem you are also building up your own. Take action! Just wishing for healthy self esteem wont make it happen. What is one thing you could do today to feel better about yourself. Just do it! Please email me, amybarnes@lifeoptions.us with what has made a difference in improving your self esteem. Barnes diverse background includes a seminary degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and Pastoral Counseling and a license as a Mental Health Counselor providing a foundation for her extensive experience and training in marriage counseling. Barnes has taught divorce recovery programs for six years and has written numerous articles on relationships and divorce as well as given a variety of talks and led workshops on divorce and relationships. With a focus is on relationships, both personal and professional, Ms. Barnes is considered a gentle, compassionate listener who assists individuals, couples and families in finding practical solutions. She helps people develop their own strengths and find greater possibilities and options for their lives. For more information go to: http://www.lifeoptions.us Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amy_Barnes http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Greatest-Barrier-to-Loving-Relationships:-Self-Esteem&id=245896 cheap prescription ultram without buy prescription ultram without order ultram with no prescription pay pal buy ultram

Is Free Checking for You

Saturday, November 24th, 2007

By Martin Lukac When it comes to checking, free sounds great. Hey, we all want to spend less. But you should understand how it works before you sign up. Banks offer free checking as a way for you to save money. You won’t have to pay the service charges every month. In order to sign up, you usually have to make a small deposit to open the account. Most free accounts have no balance minimum requirements. Some will even offer you free checks with your free checking account. The best free checking accounts have the following features: No minimum dollar amount on transactions Unlimited checkwriting No low balance fees Free ATM card No charge for direct deposits Free online access to your account Free checks, either unlimited or so many a month free online bill payThere are even a few free checking plans that offer: Overdraft protection plans No charge to use your bank’s ATMs Reimbursement of ATM feesIt is rare to find all of these features in a plan, but the more you find, the better the plan. Shop around and look at the different types of free checking available to you. Look at how you use your current checking. If you overdraft occasionally, you may really need that overdraft protection. If your paycheck is on direct deposit, you will need to have free direct deposits. List your requirements and look for an account that works for you. When you sign up with a free checking account, there are a few things you will not receive. You will not be paid interest on your checking account. You will have to choose a different type of account in order to earn interest on your checking — which will be minimal anyway. You may not be able to see your checks after they have been paid. Some accounts will have the images online, but most will not return your checks to you. Most people do not need this service on personal accounts. You can use duplicate checks (these are usually not free), keep good records or look to your online images. If you need a copy, you can always order it from your bank for a small fee. When you have free checking, you no longer have free stop payments and cancelled check return. Most people never really use these services. If you do, ask your bank for an account type that includes them for free. The fees for these services can often add up to more than you are saving by taking a free account. Free checking accounts are great for those who carry small balances in their checking accounts. Banks offer these accounts in order to bring in business. They are hoping that you will do additional business with them, such as loans and investments. When considering a free checking account, look at both what you get and what you don’t get before you sign up. Martin Lukac http://www.MartinLukac.com , represents http://www.RateEmpire.com , an Internet consumer banking marketplace. RateEmpire.com is a destination site of personal finance, investing, taxes and mortgage rates. RateEmpire.com provides mortgage guides and financial rates and information. RateEmpire.com also operates a financial portal #1 American Financial, found at http://www.1AmericanFinancial.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Martin_Lukac http://EzineArticles.com/?Is-Free-Checking-for-You&id=391811 buy cheap phentermine no prescription phentermine 30 mg no prescription purchase phentermine cod where can i order phentermine

Interview Expenses: Should You Be Reimbursed ForThem?

Friday, November 23rd, 2007

By Carl Mueller Should you get reimbursed for interview travel expenses? I’ve helped a number of job searchers who had to travel a fair distance to get to an interview. In most cases the hiring manager I was dealing with would cover reasonable interview expenses. In some cases it was a fairly easy answer especially when it involved flying a person in. In this case, I have never had an experience where a company required someone to fly in for an interview and didn’t pick up the costs ie. I have never had a job searcher have to pay out of their own pocket to be flown in an interview. A reasonable company would cover the costs for flying someone in for an interview, I believe, if they were really interested in the person and were interested in gaining a reputation as a reasonable company. It doesn’t take long for companies to get a reputation for doing things the “wrong way” and this case, being cheap if they force potential employees to pay for their own airfare, hotel, etc! But what if you need to incur interview travel expenses for out of town interviews that you drive to? This is probably a case of dealing with this situation on a case by case basis. Of course I’m not talking about requesting interview travel expenses for driving across town for an interview and expecting that the interviewing company will pay for your gas or parking. I wouldn’t expect that although I have heard of some hiring managers who offer to take care of parking expenses. I’m talking about a situation where you have to drive a longer distance, perhaps several hours or longer, and one that might require you to stay overnight. I had one client who was a 4 hour drive away from where I worked and since most of the job candidates I was sending this client lived in my city, most of these people were taking an 8 hour trip (return) to attend the interview. Some had to go back for a second interview. This company generally only covered driving expenses for people who had to drive back for a second interview since they tried to interview people over one day to avoid having to ask the interviewee to come back again. Would I recommend asking a potential hiring company if they would pick up your interview travel expenses if they don’t offer to do so? Unfortunately this question is not one that necessarily has a black or white answer because it really depends on specifics. The best thing you can do is look at things on a case by case basis and use common sense. You don’t want to lose out on a job for asking to be reimbursed for $20 in gas, do you? If the travel costs are significant and you’re working with a recruiter, you might ask them if their client picks up travel expenses and get their help. If you’re dealing directly with the company without a recruiter, it will probably be a judgment call on your behalf. Mind you if these travel costs are significant and the company doesn’t offer to pay or refuses to pay for them, it might be a not-so-subtle indication of how this company treats people. We dont live in a perfect world unfortunately. Certainly if you need to be flown in for an interview I’d be surprised if the company did not pick up the expenses but if you’re driving in, the company may treat things on a case by case basis or simple expect you to cover them. Carl Mueller is an Internet entrepreneur and professional recruiter who has written an ebook for career-minded individuals: http://www.RecruiterSecretsRevealed.com Recruiter Secrets Revealed sheds light on job search and career management “secrets” that you can use to supercharge your career and distinguish yourself from other job searchers. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carl_Mueller http://EzineArticles.com/?Interview-Expenses:-Should-You-Be-Reimbursed-ForThem?&id=194166 ultram prescription mexico online buy ultram 120 buy cheap tab tramadol tramadol no prescription needed

Heart Attack: Can I Get Social Security Disability in Virginia?

Thursday, November 22nd, 2007

By Jerry Lutkenhaus A heart attack can result in a serious impairment. However, it is not necessarily disabling. Social Security has a strict set of guidelines regarding heart ailments. Social Security will consider your remaining functional capacity for work after your heart attack. 1. Your age can be a very important factor. If you are under age 50 and can still do some form of work such as clerical work then your heart ailment will probably not entitle you to benefits. 2. Your age can work in your favor. If you are over 55 with only a high school education and a past history of manual labor, then you would have a very good case for disability if your heart ailment now prevents you from doing manual labor. 3. Your past work experience is an important factor. As noted above, a past history of only manual labor can make your case for disability much easier. 4. Conversely, a past history of only clerical work may mean you can easily return to that type of work despite your heart attack. This is so because clerical work is usual considred very light work. 5. The skill level of your past work is also important. As a general rule the more skills you possess the more difficult it is going to be to obtain disability benefits. This is so because a skilled worker can transfer his/her skills to many different occupations many of which may be light enough to do even after a heart attack. 6. When it comes to a heart ailment, an opinion from a cardiologist regarding one s functional abilities can be decisive in a disability case. But a simple statement that one is “disabled” is not enough. It is better if the physician prepares a comprehensive statement describing how ones abilities to lift, walk, sit, etc. are compromised by the patients heart attack. In my cases I almost always have a Cardiac Functional Evaluation completed by the treating cardiologist or if one is not available then the claimant’s primary treating physician will have to do the report. 7. The heart impairment listings are found at 4.01 of Social Security’s Listing of Impairments. If a cardiologist says your impairment meets or equals one of these listings then your case for disability will be very strong. 8. An important measure of your remaining functional ability is a stress test. A cardiologist can measure your remaining functional capacity with this test. However, if your heart is too weak to take such a test then a cardiologist can also note this for you. If you are denied on your initial application, you should consult an attorney who specializes in Social Security Disability. You can review my other article on “How to Find the Best Virginia Social Disability Lawyer” for some tips on finding an experienced Social Security Disability attorney. This may be considered AN ADVERTISEMENT or Advertising Material under the Rules of Professional Conduct governing lawyers in Virginia. This note is designed for general information only. The information presented in this note should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. Jerry Lutkenhaus is a practitioner of Social Security Disability law in the Richmond, Virginia area for over 30 years He was given an “AV” rating by Martindale Hubbell in 2003. For more information, see our websites at http://www.geraldlutkenhaus.com and http://www.virginiadisabilitylawyer.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jerry_Lutkenhaus http://EzineArticles.com/?Heart-Attack:-Can-I-Get-Social-Security-Disability-in-Virginia?&id=116744 order propecia on line pharmacy group propecia order propecia now cheap propecia order online

Feel Too Old and Chubby for a Gym - Lose Weight and Gain Energy at Home With an Exercise DVD

Wednesday, November 21st, 2007

By Ellen Miller It doesn’t seem like a place that you go to specifically to exercise and get fit should make you feel old, clumsy and chubby, but it happens all the time. It seems like no one else in the whole gym is dealing with the same weight and fitness issues you are. Instead, they all look like poster children for perfect bodies Well, the reality is that some of them could be - but most of them were once just like you, uncomfortable, embarrassed and reluctant to show their physical flaws to the world. Chances are, the only “weight” you lose will be from your wallet, as after two or three sessions with all the “perfect bodies” gawking at you, you’ll stop going and just give up. The better approach is a home exercise DVD. Assuming you actually do the exercises, it will work where gym membership fails. Before you rush out to buy any old exercise DVD, you need to think about your specific goals. Exercise DVDs can range from high-impact, sweat-and-pain producing workouts to slow stretching exercises designed to get your body ready to get into shape - you’ll want to buy one tailored to the type of exercise you need and to your fitness level. While just buying the DVD won’t get you fit and trim, taking the simple action to acquire it actually can help with motivation. After all, no one really wants to think they threw money away on something they never even tried, right? So, buying an exercise DVD and placing it in plain sight on the coffee table or on a shelf near the television can be the first step toward getting in shape. Every time you see it, you’ll be reminded that you want to lose weight and have more energy - and that achievement of that goal is sitting right there at your fingertips. Once you have the DVD, you can fit your exercise routine into your own schedule, using it whenever it suits you. The gym may not be open late at night - but maybe that’s your best time to stretch out and slim down. The availability of an at-home workout also allows you to exercise on “nasty weather” days, when the last thing you’d do is to leave home to go to a gym. Buying an exercise DVD instead of a gym membership makes keeping up with your routine so much easier to do. You can do it whenever you’re motivated, and no one is watching or judging you. At home, you can commit as much or as little time to exercise as you want and determine for yourself what results you get. In a short while, when your clothes are a bit looser and your confidence a bit higher, you can join those other hot bodies at the gym. Owner of IsoBreathing Inc. and creator of IsoBreathing(R) Ellen has been teaching life style and fitness over 20 years and is a certified fitness practitioner and personal trainer. Find out about Isometric Exercise, Weight Loss Exercise or buy her Exercise DVD - visit http://www.isobreathing.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ellen_Miller http://EzineArticles.com/?Feel-Too-Old-and-Chubby-for-a-Gym—Lose-Weight-and-Gain-Energy-at-Home-With-an-Exercise-DVD&id=427851 buy carisoprodol cheap online buy no online prescription soma buy online rx soma without soma online without a prescription

To Cheat or Not To Cheat

Tuesday, November 20th, 2007

By Vaughn Pascal You know I am getting fed up with people who cheat. That seems to be the norm these days. I am having a hard time trusting right now. My friends are getting cheated on and I have recently been the victim of it myself. People who cheat really hit a nerve with me. Why can you not just be honest? I mean are you afraid someone is going to be upset if you dont want to see them anymore? Well how the hell do you think they are gonna feel when they catch you cheating?? How are YOU going to feel then? The guy I was seeing got off a little easy in my opinion. Now I have forgiven him, but I no longer see him either. And trust me I have not forgotten. I hate seeing anyone hurt, especially my friends. I will include myself in on that too though. I have been asked out by two very married men lately, and what gets me is they know that I know they are married. That is an insult to me. That they would think I would go for that blows my mind. Because I am not like that and I would never lower myself to do that, sorry! This one guy asked me out and I asked him up front, are you married and are you seeing anyone else right now? The answer was no and no. I had my suspicions, he never wore a wedding ring thought so I agreed. I went out with him once and only once. Because he couldnt keep his hands to himself and I knew what he was after. Getting smarter the older I get. One week later, after that date I found out he was very married and had two kids! I found out from no other than his babysitter. He didnt know I knew her, and now who feels like an idiot and a jerk? It isnt just men either, women cheat a lot also. I will not chase another womans man or husband. I have never done that. I dont believe in it. I would like to think no woman would do that especially since it is done to us so much, but guess again. That really irks me too, if I dont do it, I expect the same respect. It seems to me that younger women do this because they get a little kick out of it, if the men take the bait they are just as bad. I have had some friends of mine set their men up just to see if they would fall for it, and usually guess what? They do. I just dont understand why you cant be honest about your feelings. If you dont want to see that person anymore than just tell them. If you want to see them and see other people too be honest and let them know you dont want to be serious with one person. That way they can decide if they want to stay involved or not. It really isnt fair to the other person for them not to know what is really going on. Yes if your honest they may decide to not see you anymore but if your honest they may change their mind later on down the road. Dont cause somebody to have trust issues because you cant be honest. If you lie and they find out, more than likely your done and over with, and you deserve what you get. I detest being lied to and played, you get one chance with me. Cheating becomes a vicious cycle. You play then they play, then that person plays, around and around we go. It will come back on you what goes around comes around. It is wrong and we all need to stop doing it. We need to look out for each other. Just consider what I am saying. Take care and God Bless, Vaughn Pascal To Dakota: I love you. Hi, My name is Vaughn Pascal. I am a 31 Yr old, single, parent of a beautiful son. Most of my articles are opinion based and as you can see I do have alot of opinions. My articles are a look into my life and life in general, reading them will allow you to get to know me and my friends and family and the daily struggles we all deal with, thanks for reading me! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vaughn_Pascal http://EzineArticles.com/?To-Cheat-or-Not-To-Cheat&id=42509 buy xanax valium xanax is it legal to buy valium in turkey without prescription valium without prescription buy diazepam without prescription

Failure To Diagnose Mesothelioma Lawsuits

Monday, November 19th, 2007

By Kristy Annely Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer located in the thin mesothelium, which is a slight protective tissue spreading over most all of the internal visceral organs inside the human body. It can be either benign (non cancerous) or malignant (cancerous), but is generally malignant. Most of the people who develop mesothelioma tumors have occupations where they get exposed to asbestos particles. About 2000 new cases are reported annually in the country. The annual diagnosis rate is referred to as incidence of mesothelioma, or simply the number of instances of mesothelioma diagnosed every year. The incidence rate in the nation is just about 1 in 106,571 people or about 2,552 persons per year. The relatively low numbers are attributed to failures to diagnose the disease. Lawsuits have been filed when the person gets to know that the time of filing the case is too late and death is near. Most of the cases are filed at the “nothing-can-be-done” stage of the disease. Family members or friends are the ones to approach the court based upon the notion that any case such as theirs could be an eye-opener to the others and prevent more deaths from this disease. A recent survey by the health department says that nearly 80% of diagnosed mesothelioma cases never go to the court. This is because it’s too late for someone to go to trial when the person who is affected is counting his days of survival. As the disease is also to be blamed for not displaying symptoms until a very advanced stage of the growth of the tumor, some people still approach attorneys for lawsuits. These failure-to-diagnose cases attract extra attention to the disease, and the organizations and policies responsible for it. Many lawsuits have been filed suing companies and manufacturers for millions of dollars and, again, attorneys offer great services. Some attorneys operate on a no-fee basis where the attorney only collects a part of the compensation if the client’s case wins. If the records of the person prove him/her right, there is no stopping the case from winning. Mesothelioma Lawsuits provides detailed information on Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawsuit, Failure To Diagnose Mesothelioma Lawsuits, Mesothelioma Lawsuit Attorneys, Mesothelioma Lawsuit Directories and more. Mesothelioma Lawsuits is affiliated with Mesothelioma Law Firms. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kristy_Annely http://EzineArticles.com/?Failure-To-Diagnose-Mesothelioma-Lawsuits&id=277247 buy cheapest tramadol online buy hydrocodone tramadol free online consultation online pharmacy tramadol pharmacy prilosec tramadol without a prescription next day fedex

Plans Aren’t Wine, And They Don’t Always Age Well

Saturday, November 17th, 2007

By Molly Shomer The following crossed my desk recently. The author gave me permission to share her story: “Please alert people to something we’re experiencing right now - having to clean up the mess of someone not naming more than one person as beneficiary on a life insurance policy. We are having an impossible time trying to get the funeral expenses paid for my sister and my mother. They died within four days of each other, and they left each other as beneficiary of their life insurance policies. ‘If the person listed as a beneficiary dies, the insurance benefit goes into their estate. ‘The problem is, neither of them had a will, either.” (Aside: This means that both estates, the mother’s and the daughter’s, will have to be probated by the Court, and the Court will decide who gets what. The process can be lengthy, and it can be expensive. The family might not see the funeral money for a while.) “Also, please alert people to be sure that the person they choose to be their medical decision maker - the person who has Medical Power of Attorney - is willing to do what they would want done. Review the mental capacity of the appointed person regularly. ‘My 85 year old Mother couldn’t bring herself to honor my sister’s Living Will that said she wanted to be allowed to go. The doctor wouldn’t write a letter stating Mother wasn’t capable of making these decisions for my sister, who was in a coma. ‘So, my sister was put on life support, even though there was no hope that she would ever awaken or live a productive life. She lingered for months on a ventilator. ‘My family and I wish we had thought about all these things sooner. We are taking a closer look at our own papers now.” She is soooo right. Life insurance is something we all tend to forget about. When you started that new job, you made out your employer’s insurance beneficiary papers on the first day. Have you thought about them since? What about your Medical and Financial Powers of Attorney (you do have them, don’t you?). If you’ve designated your spouse on one or both, what happens if you’re in an accident together? Is there a secod person named who can step in? If you made arrangements for your children when they were babies, are there things you should change now thatthey’re older? Now that several years have gone by, would you still appoint the same people to care for your children in the event of a catastrophe? Do you have a will? If not, some stranger in a black robe is going to be making decisions for you one day. What about your parents? If one of them has passed away, has the survivor made the necessary changes to legal documents? If one parent is in poor health or getting confused, is he or she still the only one legally appointed to make decisions for the other? This doesn’t really have anything to do with your age. Everyone over the age of 18 should give some thought to these questions, and then take action. Should you do something about it right now, before something goes tragically wrong? You Betcha! About The Author 2004 Molly Shomer, All Rights Reserved. You are free to use this article as long as you include complete attribution, including live web site link and email link. Please notify me where the material will appear. The attribution should read: “Molly Shomer helps when you’re struggling with eldercare. Find articles, resources, tools and support at http://www.eldercareteam.com molly@eldercareteam.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Molly_Shomer http://EzineArticles.com/?Plans-Arent-Wine,-And-They-Dont-Always-Age-Well&id=20292 cheap phentermine online no prescription phentermine com online buy phentermine pharmacy where can i buy phentermine without a prescription

Natural or Synthetic Fertilizers In the Vegetable Garden- What’s the Difference & Which Should I Use

Friday, November 16th, 2007

By Jim Kennard What does “Natural” mean, and what does “Synthetic” mean? And exactly what makes synthetically produced fertilizers, if there is such a thing in the first place, any worse for your garden than naturally produced ones? This is one area in which a lot of balony gets thrown around - and regrettably believed by many good people. The simplest and most natural of the commercial fertilizers is probably lime. It’s also almost universally recognized as important, and used by every kind of gardener who knows what he’s doing and has access to it. The world has an inexhaustible supply of limestone (calcium carbonate), and it’s simply ground to powder in powerful rock crushers, bagged, and sold to the public. We even receive much of our magnesium from the same process, when the raw material is dolomitic limestone (labeled as dolomite lime). All twelve of the other nutrients man can control are also mined from the earth. However, we have learned over time how to remove impurities, such as heavy metals, and increase the concentration ofthe individual nutrients, by running them through a simple concentration process. This is often just a sulfuric acid bath, which leaves us with a much higher concentration of the original nutrient, plus sulphur, which is itself a very important nutrient. This is one reason most of the nutrients come as a combination with sulfate (zinc sulfate, etc.). So, we benefit by getting a much higher concentration of the nutrient we want, plus sulphur, with no heavy metals, and it costs MUCH less to ship to our locations, because it weighs only a fraction of the original raw material. Are those fertilizers synthetically produced? I don’t think so, but perhaps they are by some peoples’ definition. Did you know that even nitrogen is mined out of the ground? This may surprise many people, but it actually is - in Chile, South America - where huge mines of sodium nitrate exist. But can you imagine the cost to get it to the USA, though? And what would we do with the sodium salts?? Thank goodness we have found a better, more efficient, and therefore far less costly way to produce nitrogen fertilizers. About 90 years ago two German scientists, Fritz Haber and Karl Bosch, discovered and commercialized the processes by which nitrogen could be separated from other elements in different compounds andmade available as fertilizer. These discoveries arguably served as the single most important component leading to exponential global agricultural growth, and the Haber-Bosch process is still the benchmark process used today. I believe the world owes much of what we have agriculturally today to the use of nitrogen that has been produced by the Haber-Bosch process, and whether or not it’s synthetic is, to me at least, irrelevant. I do believe there is a valid and important argument against the uncontrolled “synthetic” production of chemicals having to do with the garden, but I believe it should be limited to pesticides and herbicides. This is a more complex issue that will take more time to discuss, and we won’t go there at this time. I do hope that readers of this article are able to understand and appreciate the value and importance of mineral nutrients in helping us grow strong, healthy plants, and that you will not spend your time worrying about “natural” or “synthetic” fertilizers. Jim Kennard, President of Food For Everyone Foundation, has a wealth of teaching and gardening training and experience upon which to draw in helping the Foundation “Teach the world to grow food one family at a time.” Jim has been a Mittleider gardener for the past twenty nine years; he is a Master Mittleider Gardening Instructor, and has taught classes and worked one-on-one with Dr. Jacob Mittleider on several humanitarian gardening training projects in the USA and abroad. He has conducted projects in Armenia, America, Madagascar, and Turkey by himself. He assists gardeners all over the world from the http://www.foodforeveryone.org website FAQ pages and free Gardening Group, and grows a large demonstration garden at Utah’s Hogle Zoo in his spare time. Gardening Books, CDs and Software are available at http://www.foodforeveryone.org Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Kennard http://EzineArticles.com/?Natural-or-Synthetic-Fertilizers-In-the-Vegetable-Garden–Whats-the-Difference-and-Which-Should-I-Use&id=346009 where to purchase phentermine order phentermine with mastercard cheap phentermine free shipping phentermine online perscription