Fatal Choice Written By Charles E Rickard

"Fatal Choice" is an excellent awakening of The United States as seen through the eyes of the author. It is frightening, alarming, eye awakening, thought provoking, and a look into your possible future life in The United States. Charles Rickard takes no prisoners nor does he hold back his punches. I read Fatal Choice with an open mind not knowing how bad, or good, things would get as the story unfolded in the near past, the present, and mostly the future. As you read from the first page on I guarantee you will shake your head as to how our nation is now playing into the hands of some of the actions Mr. Rickard described. Some of the authors thoughts might be stretched but how do we, the citizens of The United States, know what lies ahead seeing so many laws of our nation being, or attempting to be changed drastically? We don't, which makes the authors descriptive actions so worrisome. Liberals and Conservatives and anyone in between need to read this book with an open mind and then make up your mind as to how possible the scenarios might be in Fatal Choice.

The prologue gives us a good read on what to expect when a bizarre incident in Dallas just after a wedding where many important officials attended. As the wedding party left the church there was killing galore until all were killed. This leads into what goes on in the book. President Madison was a president that acted like he was a dictator, not a president of the world's largest republic. What he said or thought just had to be, and those that opposed would find themselves isolated from the government or possibly even six-feet under. He had been easing the nation into his ways over some time. He had those he considered close to him, those that he wasn't sure of, and those that had to be eliminated who still wanted our nation as it was meant to be. I am not going to fill this review with names. I choose to give the story of what is going on instead of giving you more names to distinguish.

There were those that recognized what Madison was doing and they were attempting local, area, and national organizations to try to combat the government takeover that was taking freedom from citizens constantly, even from elected officials if they didn't agree with Madison. Cabinet members meant nothing except for their rubber stamp of Madison's orders. Madison also controlled Law enforcement or, in some cases they had no power. Madison hired private agencies to enforce his ways. News media was reduced to several newspapers and several radio and television networks and even these were reduced farther until only Madison's word was placed out there for people to hear. No government was effective for freedom loving citizens, only Madison's government rule. His goons were there to control everything and everyone. Eyes and ears were everywhere. Privacy was gone as were the actions of people.

Some who were fighting Madison were slowly getting organized with much secrecy and with some methods that were used in past years because all new communications were blocked. Some areas of the United States were better able to organize mainly because of the ability of people in that area to come up with ideas of how to organize safely or, as safely as possible. Several nations assisted those opposing Madison in every possible way. Canada and Mexico were of the utmost importance with their adjoining locations. This still didn't mean the "underground" was safe. Many times they were discovered one way or another and were eliminated. One well known man, George Barnes, who had been so well known and liked with his news broadcasting, went to work broadcasting messages and news through a very secret communications setup. The network was almost impossible to stop due to its many areas in and out of the nation.

Don't get too connected with your heroes as you read. They might not be there in the next chapter. I think by now you have the gist of this powerful book. The irony of it is that much of the subject matter mentioned has been occurring or appears set up to happen. Our nation is a great place to grow up in and raise a family. We have freedoms that many people over the earth can only dream of having. They have never known what the word means. If we don't fight for what we have people like President Madison could take over our nation and take our freedoms away before we realized it. Don't let your government control you their way.

Thank you Charles Rickard for this book of warning. I look forward to the next book and can only hope this first book will awaken us all.

Reader review by Cy Hilterman of a book supplied by the author.

View the original article here

Blessed Unrest - Insight Number One

Published in 2007, Blessed Unrest by Paul Hawken has not only maintained relevance over time, but has actually increased in importance as the world now struggles to deal with tough issues of hunger, poverty, social justice, warfare, climate change and economic crisis

The message of the book is two-fold. It details a set of initiatives that need continued and increased involvement from citizens of the world, and it also describes the miraculous movement that developed in support of those initiatives. Separate topics indeed, yet inseparable when we strive to understand the vital need for changing/saving the world.

Introduction

Paul Hawken, who also wrote The Ecology of Commerce, is a bestselling author, self-proclaimed environmentalist, entrepreneur, and journalist. As stated on the book's opening page, he has given nearly one thousand talks about the environment over the past fifteen years and has traveled the world in his quest to raise awareness of the human and environmental issues that plague this planet.

The two-fold message referred to above is best expressed on the inside of the book's dust jacket:

"The dawn of the twenty-first century has witnessed two remarkable developments in our history: the appearance of systemic problems that are genuinely global in scope, and the growth of a worldwide movement that is determined to heal the wounds of the earth with the force of passion, dedication, and collective intelligence and wisdom."

In the first chapter Mr. Hawken discusses his numerous encounters with hundreds of individuals and organizations who are working on a multitude of local, regional and global issues. Coming from all walks of life, and not realizing they were part of a much larger movement, they collectively provided him with countless bits of knowledge that, after a time, coalesced into the foundation of the book's premise.

As Mr. Hawken considered these encounters, and mentally connected the dots, it became apparent that there was a powerful movement of sorts underway, though not one that could easily be recognized as such. Wanting to understand the phenomena more deeply, he began counting the number of organizations, large and small, that were working on similar social projects. His conclusion is that there are well over a million such organizations, and what also became apparent was the direct connection between issues related to society and those involving the environment.

Insight #1

"A Native American taught me that the division between ecology and human rights was an artificial one, that the environmental and social justice movements addressed two sides of a single larger dilemma."

"The way we harm the earth affects all people, and how we treat one another is reflected in how we treat the earth."

These two quotes, which lay the groundwork for much of Blessed Unrest, resonated with me as cornerstones to the philosophy of Global Patriot, as our dedication to the planet, and our ultimate need to defend the planet, is fundamentally based on how we should treat each other, and how we should treat the earth. This interplay, that we can more easily see on a local level (assuming we pay attention) has been happening on a global scale.

The realization that technology - transportation, computers, communication - has bridged the gap between continents and cultures begins to illustrate how connected we all are. The fact that this blog can be read by anyone with access to a computer and a browser, regardless of location, is profound. There's no incremental cost, and (in most cases) no corporate or government filter in the way. And it is just this shift in technology that has allowed the worldwide movement described in Blessed Unrest to develop and flourish.

Blogs provide global access to information and opinion while email allows for instant communication with anyone, anywhere. And if you're on Twitter (twitter.com/globalpatriot.com) you know how rapid the flow of information can be, as news is broadcast long before the news media has heard about it.

In subsequent posts I will continue with highlights of Blessed Unrest and further Global Patriot commentary. I invite your comments and questions, especially from those who have read the book, and encourage those who haven't to do so soon.

Are you participating in a social movement dedicated to improving the world?

Mark Lovett is focused on promoting the belief that everyone deserves to live on a healthy planet, in peace and prosperity, using sustainability, compassion and respect as our guiding principles. Please visit the Global Patriot Blog and leave comments as a way to foster intelligent conversation on important topics. You can also join the Global Patriot Foundation on Facebook.

View the original article here

Hate Crimes Book Review - Part 1

Specific hate crimes are usually tied to gender, race, ethnicity, religion, poverty, politics, sexual orientation, Anti-Semitism, environmental protection, and several other social conditions. The book touches on each of these issues and provides controversial and contradictory information so that the reader can have different points of view. Therefore, one can make their own decision and can start critically thinking about the various issues.

The author places importance on not only reasons for hate crimes but possible solutions such as expanding the current laws to include many types of hate crimes. In addition, the writer brings out the flip side of each argument by showing the opposing view point. For example, in the first chapter he stresses how serious hate crimes are in the world today. Then, in a later chapter he states these crimes may not be that serious and are over exaggerated. The writer explains that the Uniform Crime Reporting System (UCR) was formed to collect data against hate crimes. However, many enforcement agencies don't use the UCR. This makes it extremely difficult to get true statistics on these crimes. The author in this book has to base his arguments on many different methods since there is a lack of statistics. The book Hate Crimes was brought together by combining different types of research such as newspapers, periodicals, other books, government documents, and publications of organizations.

One of the author's main debates is whether stricter laws should be enacted against hate crimes. By enforcing stricter laws against hate crimes, minority populations would be more protected. As a result, less people would be victimized. On the contrary, enforcing these laws would be unconstitutional because it goes against our freedom of speech. The author points out that people can have prejudice thoughts and speak their mind. That is part of our First Amendment. Thinking, believing, and even hating is not something government can punish. Yet, on the other hand, people may believe that the expression of hateful and prejudice ideas causes harm to others even if there is no criminal misconduct.

Stricter hate crime laws may actually increase prejudice rather than reduce it. This happens because a person won't change their bigoted ways after being convicted of a hate crime. Many times that person is now viewed as a hero or martyr among their peers. Now, others will follow suit and show hatred against other groups to increase their standing among their friends. So this vicious cycle continues and produces more hate crimes rather than eliminate them. More importantly, sending people to jail without reform doesn't create positive change. Jails are the most prejudice places in our society.

Another main contention is about the extent of hate crimes and violence against women. Violence Against Women's Act (VAWA) was passed in 1994 to protect women from violence. Since men are typically stronger, women are more vulnerable and needed this act to protect them. The author then showed that the VAWA Act was anti-male. Some women made false claims but were atomically believed. Many feminists tried to play on people's emotions and allege violence when in many instances it didn't occur. The worst injustice is that millions of dollars were given to VAWA to help provide free legal assistance to victims but accused men could not receive assistance. Our Constitution is based on innocence until proven guilty. Men did not receive this right.

Whether you're buying a Nickel Shower Faucet or outfitting your bathroom with a fully Brushed Nickel Shower you want to make sure you do as much research and due diligence before following through with a purchase or contract worker to ensure you're happy with the end result. With so many products and options floating around, it can be difficult to make the right choice, but if you do enough looking around, then you're bound to make the right one!

View the original article here

Glenn Beck's Common Sense - The Case Against an Out-of-Control Government, Inspired by Thomas Paine

I recently read Glenn Beck's Common Sense: The Case Against an Out-of-Control Government, Inspired by Thomas Paine and I found the book to be a thought provoking read. Conservative political commentator Glenn Beck hosts a talk radio show and a television show. He's an author and an entrepreneur who has become well-known for his polarizing and controversial views but his book is filled with his own brand of common sense.

Thomas Paine was an author, inventor and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. In January 1776, he published Common Sense, a pamphlet that called for colonial America's independence from Great Britain. He thought government was a necessary evil. That British oppression was inevitable as was American independence. A copy of his pamphlet is included in the book. Glenn Beck compares that crucial time in history to the erosion of our freedoms today. 

His narrative is a reminder of how our rights are being constantly stripped away. Beck talks about unparalleled spending, special interest groups and insider corruption. He asks that we leave the Republican Party and the Democratic Party and devote our time and money to those who represent our values. He calls for a second revolution, but one that takes place in our minds and hearts. His book makes a case for getting involved and taking a stand for democracy and hopes his book will be a starting point for Americans to learn more about our country. A list of additional reading is included.

Glenn Beck's apocalyptic view of the future of America fuels his writing. He doesn't trust our elected officials, both Democrats and Republicans, to represent the people properly - the people who elected them and pay their salaries. In today's political climate, many people agree with him. Even if you don't agree with everything he says you may be inspired to take a closer look at our political parties and their role in government today.

Publisher: Threshold Editions; 1ST edition (June 16, 2009)

ISBN: 978-1439168578

Paperback: 192 Pages

Price: $11.99

Gail Pruszkowski reviews for "Romantic Times BOOKreviews" magazine and her work has been published in the "Cup of Comfort" Anthologies.

[http://write-juncture.blogspot.com/]

http://mysite.verizon.net/bookworm.gp/

View the original article here

A Disagreement In Idaho Written By Holt E Glenn

I can compare this book with the circumstances that have occurred in Arizona mostly during the past year regarding illegal immigration even though the bulk of "A Disagreement In Idaho" took place in the future. The story begins describing The late Governor Seabon Wilson of Idaho who, when in office, was faced with the ever growing problem of far too many illegal immigrants, along with many others in Idaho and elsewhere throughout the United States fighting or backing the illegals. An old time girlfriend of the governors brother, Josey Lawson, was running to escape those trying to find and destroy all records of the late governor so as to make that period in Idaho's history disappear. Josey was a very experienced backwoods person and that expertise is what allowed her to escape those tracking her down.

After a very descriptive beginning we move ahead to the time when Seabon Wilson was the governor of Idaho. He was a staunch believer in governing the way our forefathers had laid out in the constitution, including immigration. Seabon was well aware of the deepening problems created by so many illegal immigrants living in Idaho, working hard and sending much of their earnings back to their families in Mexico. Many employers, mostly farm owners, knew their help was illegal but since the labor was cheap they felt they were only helping the employees families in Mexico to survive. The constant battle between those that supported and those against illegal immigrants working in Idaho spread throughout the state and adjoining states also.

Juan Horanto was one of the hard working illegals that had been working as a laborer in Texas until the local authorities started a severe crackdown to find those that did not belong. This drove many either back to Mexico or to another state where pressure was not as strong. Juan was earning $15.00 an hour in Texas where in Mexico he would have been paid only about $2.00 per hour for the same work. He moved to other areas but eventually ended up in Idaho thanks to a friend. Realize that Juan was only one of many illegal immigrants working in the United States. As long as they could get away with it they would. The citizens and many organizations in Idaho started rebelling against losing employment of their own residents and the push was on to legislate and enforce laws to eliminate the illegals.

The book is intensely and extremely well written. There is so much discussion in the United States today on the subject of illegal immigrants. Most oppose the millions working in our nation, freely taking advantage of our own welfare system, medical facilities, Social Security, while hurting all of those that do pay for and provide all of these government programs. "A Disagreement In Idaho" gives a great perspective where a governor and some in his state leadership agree with controlling the illegals but the few that fought for the illegals caused a huge conflict that became dangerous and deadly. The incidents brought the President of the United States along with the Attorney General into the action whether they wanted to be a part or not.

I think that much of what occurred in Mr. Glenn's book is still ahead for the United States. The battle to give or not give amnesty has been an onward strife and will no doubt continue well into the future with much clashing between many citizens and government bodies. I have given you plenty of incentive to read this book and get engrossed as a participant on either side or down the middle.

Reader review by Cy Hilterman of a book supplied by the author

View the original article here

Is it Even Possible to Get Rid of the Bureaucracy? - A Book Review

When kids take classes on government in high school and college the picture painted is not actually what's really going on. Yes, we wish our citizens to submit to at least some authority, so we can run our civilization correctly, so everyone is on the same page, and that we all trust the government which we have created.

Still, the reality is that much of our government is inefficient, and it has become an overbearing bureaucracy. This happens with any large complex system, whether it is a corporation, agency, nonprofit, or even an army.

If you've ever wondered about all this, and wondered what we can do to fix the problem, there is a very good book I'd like you to read. This is book that I own personally, and one that I have had a chance to read several chapters and skimmed through the rest. The name of the book is;

"Banishing Bureaucracy; the Five Strategies for Reinventing Government" by David Osborne and Peter Plastrik, Addison Wesley publishing company Inc., New York, New York, 1991,(397 pp); ISBN: 0-201-62632-2.

You may recognize David Osborne's name, as he was also the co-author of; "Reinventing Government" and he has served as a senior advisor for VP Al Gore. This book is broken into three parts; "Part One; Is Finding Your Leverage, Part Two; Is the Five Strategies, in Part Three; Using the Strategies." In part one the authors discuss this similar principles of Sun Tzu for instance know yourself, and know your enemy, or in this case the challenges you face.

Part two discusses "the Five C's" which are "core strategy, consequences strategy, customer strategy, control strategy, and culture strategy." These strategies could work in almost any type of business, nonprofit or government agency. They might even work for a sports team, and perhaps this is why the book is so profound. The core strategies for any government organization are pretty cut and dry, and they have to do with the "mission statement" or the reason for the existence of the agency.

Unfortunately, there are many government agencies at many levels that are so far away from their intended mission statement that one has to wonder why they exist, what they are doing, and what their purpose, or usefulness really is anymore. The authors address this very issue.

The consequences strategy obviously has to do with what you hope to achieve, and all too often government agencies make rules and regulations or set forth procedures that are diametrically opposed to their mission, worse they are almost impossible to follow, and they end up tying the agency into a situation where they become ineffectual. Luckily, after the authors explain this they give strategies to overcome it too.

When it comes to customer strategy, the authors suggest that since a government agency is working for the people, the taxpayers, and the constituency, that it needs to listen, and there is no sense on providing what is not needed, wanted, or ill afforded. The authors give case studies to address these points. The control strategy are mechanisms that must be put in place but cannot be overbearing, which brings us right into the culture strategy of working to change the mindset of the employees in the agency.

It is my belief that you should read this book, and also follow it up with some philosophy from Ludwig Van Misses, and his famous work called; "Bureaucracy" and in doing so I believe, you will begin to understand why government is needed, why it's not working, and what we can do to fix it. Indeed, hope you'll please consider all this.

Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank. Lance Winslow believes in efficient government.

View the original article here

A Nation in Shadows by Michael Q Irwin

A Nation in Shadows by Michael Q Irwin, is a refreshing departure from the evangelical "apocalyptic" calva-baptist banter but is a work that should interest Christian, Jew, or anyone with a spiritual side that is interested in current events. And curious about the possible future of the United States. As political opinion and indictment seems to be raging back and forth these days, this opens a new arena in the debate of ideas. After all, the US was actually a spiritual revolution before it became a nation and its no great revelation that the first settlers (puritans) arrived to escape persecution for their religious persuasions. So why not go back to the roots of American civilization to find out what is going wrong today? As nobody seems to know how to solve our social and thus political problems, any opinion is worth considering.

The book is well researched, at times preachy but balanced with many unconventional yet credible insights. It has a few typos due to being a self published work but while verbose at times is well written. It seems Irwin attempted to include many avenues of thought when researching his subject and he does succeed in making it completely irreligious or non denominational. The knowledge of the Almighty is subconscious instinct not political religion he states. He confronts skepticism, secularism, anti-Semitism, racism, and historical totalitarianism.

There are chapters on Nostradamus, Shoah, social issues, and uses alot of history to compliment the theme of the book. He does little to differentiate between governments born of socialist maxims. Nazism and Marxist regimes are the same to him of which might seem absurd on the surface, but he makes a respectable argument explaining their philosophical parity-and equal degeneracy. While not scholarly, he does display a respectable knowledge of history, religion and the bible in particular with a clear sympathy for Judaic philosophy. It's a scary narrative at times and makes it clear as to what is responsible for the breakdown and madness in western particularly US government.

The book is more of a quasi-philosophical/spiritual treatise and he makes an effort to condemn ideas as opposed to people themselves. Nevertheless it is written to "pick a fight" if read by insecure people. Regardless of spiritual or non religious orientation, its an interesting read and would be of some lasting use in a personal library. His bibliography is interesting too. Its a recommended read and has some inspirational guidelines and advice to "save America" in the later chapters. Its definitely NOT the typical evangelical read (most would probably disagree with much of what he says) but he does accept Jesus -he calls him Yeshua- as Messiah and the Son of the Eternal but most churches might have problems with his messianic/rabbinic Judaism. There is no visible attempt to proselytize or convert and has some humanistic overtones that encourages the reader to use his/her own moral honesty when confronting spiritual issues. He shows considerable admiration for the Jews and is clearly a Zionist although he has some warm words for Arabs of which he calls the other "covenant people of Abraham".

View the original article here

Ann Coulter - "Treason"

No one has a stronger command of the English language when attacking the evils of unbridled liberalism than Ann Coulter.

Her analytical, strongly logical, vituperative commentary is as much remarkable for its content as its delivery.

Kudos to her for the first time equating liberalism with treason and worse - stupidity.

Far from being a party platform or idealogy, liberalism is painted as a deep-rooted disease that has all but undone, if not shaken, the foundations of our great nation.

The United States succeeds in spite of liberalism, not because of it.

Despite the betrayals and coverups by a liberal governing body through the Truman and Roosevelt administrations, the nation has somehow managed to remain strong and get back on course. One wonders, though, how much stronger it might have been.

Coulter rightly questions the strange bedfellow relationships between Hollywood, the media and politics.

Why Hollywood has never created a major motion picture depicting the horrors of the gulag and the Stalin 'show trials' is a question that most likely may continue to go unanswered.

Liberalism in the media, motion pictures and politics, seems to be the safe road for imbeciles. We now know positions of high power are reserved for those of limited brain power of the privileged class, and Coulter paints a gritty, alarming picture of how and why this is so.

Liberals do not only not believe what they see, they don't see things correctly.

Perhaps this is a byproduct of the innate persistent desire of rose-colored sensibilities, a reluctance to see things for what they really are.

A most representative sampling, from P.81 of Treason:

Owen Lattimore, poor beleaguered victim of "McCarthyism, hailed Stalin's murderous show trials as "the sort of habitual rectification" that would encourage others to tell the truth. As he put it, "That sounds like democracy to me." Russia was awash in the blood of this Felliniesque hoax. But Lattimore gushed with admiration. Lincoln Steffens said famously after a visit to Stalin's Russia, "I have been over into the future - and it works." Theodore Dreiser wrote of the abject poverty in the Soviet Union: "There is poverty. There are beggars in the streets. But, Lord how picturesque! The multi-colored and voluminous rags on them!

From his hideout in Mexico, Trostky denounced the show trials as a 'frame-up,' saying the confessions "contain such inherent improbabilities" as to convince "any unprejudiced person that no effort was made to ascertain the truth." American liberals were not the "unprejudiced" witnesses Trostky had hoped for. In 1992, the Times referred to "recent revelations about Stalin's purges and other Soviet deeds." Who was hiding that from the Times?

While tens of millions were being executed, torn from their families, subjected to forced starvations as a matter of government policy, packed on trains, and sent to Siberian gulags in the glorious USSR, about two hundred people in America were blacklisted from a single frivolous industry. They could still go to Paris or sell real estate or do any number of things. They just couldn't work in the movies. That was the only price they paid for shilling for a mass murderer.

- J. Wilson, Vegas Buzz

Jerry Wilson, a.k.a., James B. Wilson, is Editor/Publisher of Vegas Buzz ("What Happens in Vegas") - http://www.vegasbuzzz.com/

Search Words: Vegas Buzz, Vegas Buzz News, Vegas Buzz News Network

View the original article here

Book Review - "The Dumbest Generation" by Donald Baurlien

If the main topic of The Dumbest Generation were a human with an ailment, the results would have been the equivalent of an MRI. Subtitled "OR, DON'T TRUST ANYONE UNDER 30," Mark Bauerlin casts the glare of outspoken contempt on what he defines as a peculiar kind of illiteracy.

Within this 2008 publication, Baurlien raises a warning flag about the "Millenial" generation. He decries a youth mentality spawned of electronic kids toys and the Internet.

The virtual world requires a spacial kind of thinking. Thought patterns required for reading books leans toward a more linear type of thinking.

Baurlien's documentation covers an age group that reaches from infancy up to 29 years old.

He tells of an intolerance towards reading books, and how easily a kid can get bored. The fast pace of electronics is to blame.

This read did force me to take a hard look at the outcome of the electronic revolution. I also felt the plight of tired moms coming home from work using "electronic baby sitters."

Rather than having kids in the kitchen while she works, mom gets to completely sidestep tripping on kid's toys. (At this point this reader stumbles upon more citations.) It seems infants as young as three months old watch television with remarkable concentration.

Challenging the educational qualities touted by Internet enthusiasts, Baurlien continues. The "new bibliophobes" carry cellphones, and have their own computers. Read on for more statistics about our nation's youth.

1.) On top of the basic techno gadgets, 25% of kids in the group of third to sixth graders sport digital cameras. This figure moves to 43% within the sixth through twelfth grade range.

2.) Video cameras echo of similar stats for both of these groups. DVD burners - 31 to 59%, with video game players taking a whopping 55%.

3.) Also referred to as the .net generation, these kids see themselves as unique. Evidence supporting this phenomena shows up in a 367% growth rate for MySpace in one year, and something close to that for the previous three years.

Comparing the Hippie revolution to the techno generation movement brings out a few similarities. Yet there's a profound departure when it comes to the virtual world.

"They play rock and roll and hook up at parties just like Boomers, and Xers did, but their parents never loaded a thousand songs into a palm sized gadget..." says Baurlien.

The bulk of Millenial kids have all the electronic trappings in their own bedrooms. The social networking and close bonding with friends creates a powerful group element as never seen before in history.

I can't deny the massive undertaking of this publication. Almost encyclopedic, this book has indeed provided a contribution to humanity. I can also understand, as a writer, why a sensational title is necessary, but . . . why so mean sounding?

The Dumbest Generation grabs attention, and provides food for thought - a basis showing the need for literacy damage control concerning our nation's youth.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/89692/carolgibson.html

I have published 100 articles on this website. Photos accompany many of them. I treat my work here as if I'm a columnist with a wide range of subjects.

My favorite feature is a monthly moon sign horoscope prediction. This brings quite a good number of views to my page. My understanding of astrology interprets daily trends with the closest planetary body to the earth. Truly, the moon has an incredible impact on daily life. The moon can pull the tides. Why wouldn't it affect people just as much?

Other articles include nutrition, how-to, a few op eds, some short stories, book reviews, and personal experience essays.

Sometimes I call myself a Jacqueline of all trades - master of some.

I'm also interested in computer graphics. I like to use special effects, and create collages.

Hopefully this blurb will lead readers to an interesting experience in reading. Most of the articles are around 400 words.

View the original article here

Everyday Justice

I hope you're not drinking a cup of coffee right now. If you are, it may not taste as good by the end of this paragraph. Did you know that most coffee sells for a much lower price than the cost of production? If that fact has an impersonal, financial ring to it, here's what it looks like in reality: Tatu Maseyni, a mother in Tanzania with six children, made $15 for her entire yearly crop of coffee. In the book, Everyday Justice, Julie Clawson explores how our daily decisions affect people like Tatu Maseyni. Everyday Justice gives a basic overview of topics like oil consumption, sweatshops, eating ethically, and modern day slavery.

After waking up, most of us get dressed, eat something, drive somewhere, and at some point during the day, we throw something away. These are things we typically have to do, but Julie Clawson helps us examine how we do them. She explains the global consequences of our daily actions. In a conversational and matter of fact tone, she reveals the connection between chocolate and slavery, refugees from Bangladesh and filling our car with gas, tomatoes and abused workers in Florida. While Clawson exposes overwhelming injustices, she doesn't leave her reader in a hopelessly shocked state. She breaks down the issues by explaining the causes, which often involve a brief history lesson in some sort of international economic policy. She then gives a biblical basis for why we should car about each specific issue and continues with ideas on how we can make the most loving, ethical decisions.

I appreciate the accessible tone of the book. I think it would be appropriate and enjoyable reading for students in high school too. Clawson gives a broad overview of each topic and makes it personal. She shows us that we don't have to be extremists to be a part of reversing these injustices. We can simply choose to make choices each day with an awareness of others, like Tatu Maseyni. When we purchase fair trade coffee, a pretty simple decision made in the grocery store aisle, we are choosing to give farmers a fair price for their work, instead of saving ourselves two dollars. If you look really hard, you may even be able to find a couple dollars in your sofa cushions, but that would be 13% of Tatu's yearly income.

To read more ways to live out social justice in your daily life, check out http://www.dosmallthings.com.

Julia Phillips blogs regularly about social justice issues and parenting at http://www.dosmallthings.com/.

View the original article here

Landmark - The Inside Story of America's New Health Care Law and What It Means for Us All

Book Review: Landmark - The inside story of America's new health care law and what it means for us all

Landmark is a collection of essays written by various reporters, editors and national staff of 'Washington Post' followed by the actual text of the bill. It provides a comprehensible summary of the legislation and examines its impacts on Americans on various categories and on health care system as a whole. In addition to this, it gives a very rich historical background and perspective. Such as how the legislation came together, the events and negotiations, the political challenges and obstacles, etc etc

The book has a systematic structure and is divided into three sections. The first section provides behind the scene reporting about the way the law came up. The second section highlights the effects and impacts of the new law whereas the third section is a summary of the legislation.

For a lot of people, the presence of the historical background makes it a worthwhile read as it also covers a lot about the national healthcare coverage. People also find it a worthwhile read because it gives a proper and detailed coverage as compared to the fragmented and sensational media coverage.

Although the bill seems to be corrupted in a few places, the authors still manage to convince you that the law will change the way doctors make business and also mark a change in the patients experiences.

This book will increase your knowledge on the issues related to this bill and your ability to discuss and debate on the issue will also be enhanced. This book provides a very balanced perspective and should be read by all.

Landmark is a well written analysis of the new health care reform bill, all of the contributors clarify specific areas of the bill, recommended.

If you would like to read a chapter of this important book click here

For your chance to get a free iPad or amazon kindle do check out http://powerfulreviews.com/ thanks.

View the original article here

2012 Ebooks - What Are They About?

On the internet there are a lot of 2012 Ebooks now a days but a lot of them are not even worth looking at, so which one is the best? Read on and find out what exactly can be found written in those Ebooks.

I'm sure you know and feel it yourself. There is something happening in 2012. There are some facts, theories as well as some reliable predictions about the 2012. But the hardest thing to figure out is what is the truth and what not? To get an idea of what will happen, you will need to learn all about the Mayan calendar, Niburu, Nostradamus, crop circles etc. Many ebooks mentions the following topics and questions that are related to the 2012 subject:

- The Inca people and their 2012 prophecy.
- Is our Universe going to get sucked into the black hole in the center of our galaxy?
- Will a pole shift occur in 2012? What if it does happen, what are the consequences?
- What are the Annunaki? Will they come in 2012?

Why is it of great importance to know about these topics? It doesn't make sense on first sight as these are so diverse. In the end they can be all related to each other which might have the outcome of what is going to happen. If The earth will end in 2012 we cannot say for sure but it is definitely interesting to learn about all there is concerning 2012 in order to be prepared if something does happen.

If you'd like to find out more about 2012 then you can visit 2012 Secrets Exposed [http://2012secretsexposed.info] as well as 2012 Ebook Secrets

View the original article here

Literature Post Printing Press

Far more people found themselves becoming literate post the invention of the printing press. The price of books dropped to a point where the average person could afford literature that interested them. One could argue that the economics and the free market made his point more relevant in present day than at any point before. For the simple reason that the popular literature among the masses was published at a much higher rate than other works.

Fiction that uses basic language, rhetoric, and style has a far higher chance of commercial success. Reason for this is generally considered to be the readers ease in consuming a specific text. Literature using high style and complex verse is much more difficult to enjoy while reading. To enjoy such work requires a trained mind. Although less work receives acclaim through high style, there is certainly still a niche of people who love this kind of work. Shakespeare did not write fiction novels but he can be looked at as an author who is appreciated to this day as a master. His published work featured more unique words than any other writer can boast in the history. Shakespeare is not read by the general public. It has been scholars who have kept his work alive because they have found it such a beneficial learning tool.

On the other end of the literature spectrum is work with significant commercial appeal like Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling uses very simple language and found great financial success. How does something low brow like Harry Potter gain such undeniable popularity? The answer has many folds and requires further analyzing. Rowling's limited repertoire did not hinder her ability to describe vividly, a fictional world of wizardry.

View the original article here

Mansfield Shares Story of Faith of Obama

"This book is...written in the belief that if a man's faith is sincere, it is the most important things about him, and...it is impossible to understand who he is and how he will lead without first understanding the religious vision that informs his life..." -Stephen Mansfield

I think reading The Faith of Barack Obama by Stephen Mansfield after the 2008 election is over has allowed me to better absorb the wealth of understanding this book provides. Mansfield, who has also written of Churchill, Booker T. Washington, George W. Bush, et. al. has a gift for honing in on, and creating a well-documented text that speaks directly to and clearly presents the defining points of the person about whom he has written.

It is not the first time Mansfield has written about the faith of men. It perhaps, though, is the first time that his book is published immediately before the election of that man as president elect. Obviously, the biography may well become a must-read for all Americans, as we look toward the time of change that Obama has promised. I believe the book covers essentially all of the issues that drove this year's election and helps lay a foundation that will guide our understanding of the future.

One of the major highlights of the book was a comprehensive, comparative analysis of the "Four Faces of Faith" for those individuals who were the primary participants in the 2008 election: George W. Bush as the individual who was leaving the office and then Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain as the leading candidates. Each of these individuals has openly discussed their faith during the election. Reading the comparison however, clearly focuses on how the candidates' profession of faith may have been perceived by citizens.

Mansfield begins his book, naturally, with a look at Obama's early life. Considering the diversity of influences from his major role models-his parents, grandparents, and his stepfather?it is somewhat amazing that he was able to intellectually work through the breadth of his experience and arrive at a point where he chose to follow Christ. Then, as various political campaigns were undertaken, Obama was constantly attacked from a faith standpoint; however, being under fire, actually worked to forge his beliefs into both rhetoric as well as actions that in turn fired his growing numbers of followers.

"We worship an awesome God in the Blue States," declared Obama at the 2004 Democratic Party Convention speech. Quite willing to claim that democrats were Christians too, Obama has in essence "founded" a Religious Left that has met the needs of the millions who soundly rejected that only the Religious Right were true Christians. "We, too, have faith...Those of us who believe in a woman's right to choose an abortion, who defend the rights of gays and who care for the poor... It was a conscious attempt to reclaim the voice of the American political Left."

Mansfield clarifies issues regarding Obama's early teachings in Islam, and his relationship with Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., as well as a discussion of the black church experience, which historically has provided a method for hearing the news, dealing with issues and planning for the good of the community. His inclusion of a perhaps little-known issue, of the "Tuskegee Syphilis Study," lends credibility to his discussion and forces us to better understand the fear and anger of a large part of our population!

In closing, Mansfield highlights a number of healers-those who are able to bring about change for the good. Will Obama be such a healer? Mansfield seems to imply that he just might be. He has been forced to share and has willingly stood on what he believes, while at the same time, admitting, for instance, when he is unsure of his position on abortion, that "I don't believe such doubts make me a bad Christian. I believe they make me human, limited in my understandings of God's purpose and therefore prone to sin." (From The Audacity of Hope) May this reviewer add her personal "Amen" to that!

Needless to say, I highly recommend The Faith of Barack Obama by Stephen Mansfield!

"No matter how religious they may or may not be, people are tired of seeing faith used as a tool of attack. They don't want faith used to belittle or to divide...Because in the end, that's not how they think about faith in their own lives." --Barack Obama

The Faith of Barack Obama
By Stephen Mansfield
Thomas Nelson
ISBN: 978-1-59555-250-1
164 Pages

G. A. Bixler is co-owner of an online review site of Independent Professional Book Reviewers. She has over 40 years experience in educational administration and publishing. New or well-known, self-published, or small press authors are all welcomed! Compare our prices to other professional book review sites!

http://www.bookreviewers.org/

View the original article here

Buried Alive - The True Story of Kidnapping, Captivity, and a Dramatic Rescue by Roy Hallums

Buried Alive - The True Story of Kidnapping, Captivity, and a Dramatic Rescue by Roy Hallums is the compelling story of a man's will to survive. It's a white knuckle ride as you follow the author's unrelenting physical and psychological torment at the hands of Iraqi insurgents. Roy Hallums book provides a behind-the-scenes look at what it means to be kidnapped in Iraq and forced to suffer imprisonment and beatings.

It was November 2004 and contractor, Roy Hallums was working late at his office in Iraq at the Saudi Arabian Trading and Construction Company. The office was supposedly well-protected by armed security guards but four kidnappers broke in and hauled him and a co-worker away at gunpoint. For three hundred and eleven days, the men were held hostage and moved frequently. Eventually they were taken to a farmhouse and thrown into a concrete pit under the floor with only a pipe in the ceiling to provide oxygen. They were forced to wear masks and endured hunger, heat and cold. The confinement is described in chilling detail including beatings and psychological torture. His family dealt with the nightmare back home and they never gave up on him. When his location was finally verified, he was successfully rescued by the US Military.

Roy Hallums story is captivating. I was hooked on page one and could not put it down. He will amaze you with his perseverance, hope and survival skills. The first person narrative is very well written. The fast pace keeps the pages turning. It's a gripping tale that will give you insight to events in the Middle East. I highly recommend it.

Disclaimer: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program. The opinions are my own.

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

ISBN: 978-1595551702

Hardcover: 256 Pages

Price: $25.99

Gail writes romance, paranormal and otherwise as Gale Stanley.
CALL OF THE WILDS - Available now at Amazon & Bookstrand
SILENT KNIGHTS - coming October 2010 - Silver Publishing
MATING CALL - coming November 2010 - Siren-Bookstrand
POINT OF BEGINNING - coming January 2011 - Silver Publishing
http://galestanley.net/
http://galestanley.blogspot.com/

View the original article here

Ninety Miles - Cuban Journeys in the Age of Castro by Ian Michael James

Although Cuba is only ninety miles from Key West, Florida, the ideological split between the United States and Cuba has been insurmountable since the beginning of Castro's revolution. In this book, the author Ian Michael James concentrates on the lives of three displaced Cubans as he intertwines their stories through the pages. Yet, while doing so, James brings to the forefront the tragic story of a divided country under a dictator's fierce regime where family members have to take heartrending decisions and separate from each other.

With the initiation of a regime that was supposed to free the Cubans but failed miserably to do so, families separated for reasons of political oppression, economical circumstances, or the fear for their lives. This in turn led to the Cubans' different and complicated ways of looking at the events in their lives and those of their compatriots.

Of the three people whose lives are brought to view, the story of Eloy Gutierrez Menoyo is the most political. Eloy fought together with Castro and many other men to bring freedom to his people from the Batista's corrupt regime. When the revolution succeeded and Castro became the new tyrant, Eloy turned against the new government and Castro turned against Eloy. Barely avoiding execution, Eloy spent twenty years in prison. When he came to Miami after being released in 1986, Eloy had mellowed. He thought a dialogue with Castro could be possible. Later on, he could not live away from his fatherland, and he moved back to Cuba.

Paquito D'Rivera was very young when Castro took over Cuba. He had some freedom later on as a musician but not enough opportunities for the achievement he desired as a jazz saxophonist. He defected, leaving his family behind. It took many years for him to see his family again.

Nancy Lledes Espinoza, a chemical engineer, was born in 1962, three years after Castro's revolution. She grew up believing in Castro and his regime. After she fell in love and got married, however, she and her husband started seeing things differently. Eventually, Nancy and her husband defected, although separately, putting their lives in danger and leaving their families behind. Nancy's mother was and still is a staunch defender of Castro.

After an the ink-drawn map of Cuba in its beginning and a preface by the author, Ninety Miles: Cuban Journeys in the Age of Castro holds sixteen chapters, in which the lives of these three people are told, not one by one but all at the same time and interlinked with the chronological events. Still, the story is not confusing because of the masterful narrative and effective language.

The book is in hardcover, 216 pages, and with ISBN-10: 0742540421 and ISBN-13: 978-0742540422.

The author, Ian Michael James, a graduate of Duke and Stanford universities, is a correspondent for The Associated Press and currently their bureau chief in Venezuela, according to the biography given on the inside cover of the book.

This book is written with deep historical and political insight, highlighting the trauma of the Cubans. In addition, it is an exemplary piece of journalistic achievement, and it reads like a suspense story, capturing the reader from its beginning to its end. I highly recommend Ninety Miles: Cuban Journeys in the Age of Castro to anyone who has any amount of interest in this subject.

Joy Cagil is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Writers

View the original article here

Global Ecology and Our Future - A Book Review

When we talk with futurists, especially those that are serious environmentalists they want to shock us about what is going to happen in the future. Take Al Gore's famous docudrama about global warming, and you begin to see what I'm talking about. It is true that we need to pay attention to our environment and the ecology issues of our time. After all, we have to drink the water and breathe the air.

The oceans also grow our food, and they are ultra-important for human life. If the air becomes too polluted we cannot breathe it without having health issues. And these are all things we must consider. If you are a "far left environmentalist" I can tell you of a great book to read that you will love. If you are a right wing conservative and get tired of all the environmental overblown doom-and-gloomers then perhaps, you might like this book too, and it might stop and make you think.

The book that I like to recommend to you is one that I read because it was recommended by the World Futurist Society or WFS. The name of the book is;

"Building a Sustainable Society; We Have Not Inherited the Earth from Our Fathers, We Are Borrowing It from Our Children," Lester R. Brown, 1981, published by the world watch Institute

The author is very well known in futurist circles and this book is actually fairly decent. It talks about the challenges ahead with regards to ecology, and the environment challenges such as; expanding farmlands, water, nutrients and poor soil, expanding deserts, deforestation, overconsumption, oil coal, nuclear, food issues, genetically modified crops, runaway inflation in prices, and global competition.

He also talks about solutions for energy such as; cellulose ethanol, bio-waste, Hydro, ocean wave energy, solar, geothermal, and wind. And there are chapters on better transportation, smarter cities, and urbanization, and how to put it all together to help the Third World along with potential R&D programs, which he believes should be priorities. Indeed, I hope you will please consider this.

Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank. Lance Winslow believes in smart thinking.

View the original article here

"American Medicine Mismanaged Care" by Dr. Carter V. Multz - Book Review

American Medicine MisManaged Care

by Carter V. Multz

Infinity Publishing (2005)

ISBN 0741425157

Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (1/07)

Dr. Carter V. Multz recalls three surgeries on a bleeding ulcer and how the last two could have been prevented with proper treatment. The original surgery and biopsy showed that bacteria caused the ulcer. Treating Dr. Multz with an antibiotic would have prevented future difficulties. His cardiologist adjusted his medication but the order was missed. "No harm ensued," but these incidents show the need for better communication between patients and their physicians.

"Big Business has taken over American Medicine. Doctors have been driven out of business, hospitals closed, and access to patients has been limited. Corporations are out to make money and care little for the patient. Doctors now respond to insurance companies not the patient. Insurance costs are out of control. Patients cannot afford insurance and yet cannot afford to be without it. The pharmaceutical industry must also accept their share of responsibility in the quagmire of American Medicine.

Dr. Multz suggests that citizens and medical professional should be involved in decisions about healthcare, especially those that restrict or ration any element of care. What are we willing to pay for as a group? Such as, what forms of cosmetic surgery should we, as a group, be willing to pay for? Citizens should be involved in pricing and availability. A commission should be formed in a capacity of advisory and review.

Dr. Carter V. Multz calls on his vast experience to suggest improvement in the American Medical system. He speaks his opinions plainly and simply enough that even I could understand them. I think he has several wise proposals. The cover of this book is well done, a flag and a broken symbol of the AMA, what could speak louder to the condition of our medical system. I highly recommend "American Medicine MisManaged Care" for all concerned with the state of medical care in the United States.

View the original article here

Can Free Trade and Capitalism Solve the Middle Eastern Peace Problem? Book Review

Wouldn't it be great to have peace in the Middle East? Indeed, that would be a wonderful thing, and more than a few people believe that the answer will come through free-market trade and capitalism. One of the best arguments for Middle Eastern Peace using the flows of money and trade comes from Vali Nasr, a professor who has written a very good book, which will definitely get you thinking about the realities, ramifications, and real world potential. The book is called;

"Forces of Fortune - the Rise of the New Muslim Middle Class and What it Will Mean for Our World," by Professor Vali Nasr; Free Press a division of Simon & Schuster; NY (2009); (256 pages); ISBN: 978-1-41658-968-6

Professor Nasr uses the rise of Dubai's economy as an example of how this might work, of course that is on a large scale, but on a smaller scale he suggests that if wealthy businesses owners with power and control receive a good bit of their income and success from trade, they will make sure to protect their income by insisting that government leaders and diplomacy moves ahead in a positive way. If not the products they sell or the services they receive to help them continue their businesses will disappear.

Nasr shows with lots of examples throughout the book that this can stop extremism. After all, jobs are also part of the equation because if those business people are not hiring people because of political tensions or lack of trade, then the middle classes also realizes their jobs are tied to good diplomacy and peace and working with instead of against the West. See that point? Anyway, he did a very good job in this book. No, not all his examples were perfect, as historically speaking history is not perfect either, but it sure makes you think. Thus, I highly recommend this book.

Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank. Lance Winslow believes we need to think these things through, so think on it. Note: All of Lance Winslow's articles are written by him, not by Automated Software, any Computer Program.

View the original article here

Non Fiction Book Review on a Reality Check Topic in Our Society

Many folks are upset at bogus science that is used by policy makers and politicians to justify their decisions. And a good many are upset that even our colleges and university research departments are paid by industry and subsidized by the government only to come up with results that are desired by those that are paying, rather than based on truth. The list of scientific abusers and wink-wink deals is overwhelming and extremely alarming.

Not too long ago, I read an interesting book on this topic and I like, I suppose anyone whose read it has felt, I became even more alarmed. This current event topic threatens our entire civilization to the point that we can no longer trust science, experts, or researchers. Trust is a huge issue in research for humanity, and especially here in the USA. I'd sure like to recommend a very good book to you:

"Doubt is Their Product; How Industry's Assault on Science Threatens Your Health" - by David Michaels; Oxford Press, New York, (2008); ISBN-13: 978-0195300673

The author discusses FDA research fraud that has to do with big-pharma, GM foods, livestock lobbies, and it's even worse than you thought. He talks about chemicals in every part of our lives, and the EPA challenges with industry. He also covers another hugely debated and hot topic, and all the research behind it, as he discusses global warming and how the media can help the global warming alarmists by citing each study and who funded it, regardless of which side of the debate they are on, acknowledging that there is still a debate despite media reports.

The author suggests something must be done and states that we need a "Sarbanes Oxley type" set of regulations for research and science, with peer review mandates. Each piece of research must past the smell test prior to using it in any decision making process. Please consider this book.

Lance Winslow - Lance Winslow's Bio. Lance Winslow is also Founder of the Car Wash Guys, a cool little Franchise Company; http://www.carwashguys.com/history/founder.html.

View the original article here

Detroit's Meltdown Started Years the Prior - A Book Review

What the heck happened with the US Car Industry and why did our elected leaders pay so much of our money to bailout two sinking ships? These are all questions that leave us scratching our heads, but to get to the bottom of it all, you have to know a bit of the history and some of the recent history to understand what really happened and why.

For those who know the reality behind the "The Deming Years" in Detroit and watched as books like "Collision Course" hit the scene, then watched the fall of Chrysler and the US Taxpayer Bailout; you know the challenges that the Big Three have faced over the last 4-5 decades.

Of course, we all know who that story ended, and we are waiting for Part II of the Trilogy as we Taxpayers hold the bag yet again. But this is not your father's car companies anymore, and this was not Lee Iacocca's Chrysler or the GM we once knew and believed when we said; "What's good for GM is good for America!"

Let me recommend a very good book for you to read that will bring you up to speed on the Big Three Automakers, and how they battled through the last recession and emerged stronger, only to find themselves in a worse mess, the one we have now. The book is called;

"The End of Detroit; How the Big Three Lost Their Grip on The American Car Market," by Micheline Maynard; Published by "Currency Book" a Double Day Brand and Division of Random House Inc.; New York, NY; (2003); 327 pages. ISBN: 0-385-50-769-0.

This book is extremely well foot-noted and written by someone who knows all the inside information on Detroit, she has written extensively on the Airlines and Auto Industry, and highly published in News and World Report, NYTs, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Fortune Magazine. Interestingly enough, she is also the author of the book "Collision Course; Inside the Battle for General Motors." This book is really worth reading and understanding. Please consider it.

Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank. Lance Winslow believes you should always park your car in the Garage and then close the garage door. And if you need Garage Door & Repairs then do it before it's too late.

Note: All of Lance Winslow's articles are written by him, not by Automated Software, any Computer Program, or Artificially Intelligent Software. None of his articles are outsourced, PLR Content or written by ghost writers. Lance Winslow believes those who use these strategies lack integrity and mislead the reader. Indeed, those who use such cheating tools, crutches, and tricks of the trade may even be breaking the law by misleading the consumer and misrepresenting themselves in online marketing, which he finds completely unacceptable.

View the original article here

Howard Dean's Prescription For Real Healthcare Reform

Healthcare reform plays a major role in discussions and the media today, but it is confusing, overwhelming, boring and seemingly unsolvable to most people. Howard Dean presents the problems and solutions in plain language in his new book, Howard Dean's Prescription for Real Healthcare Reform.  

Hear someone utter the word Healthcare and the emotion that rises up and continues to spiral nearly out of control is anger. Dean writes, "according to a recent report from the Center for American Progress, in March 2009 alone almost 11,000 workers a day lost their health insurance." Do the math and the anger turns to outrage - 341,000 people lost their health insurance in a 31-day period.

There are "47 million Americans who don't have health insurance. But the healthcare debate should also focus on the fact that 25 million working-aged Americans have health insurance but still cannot' afford to see a doctor," states Dean in his introduction. Terrifying statistics compounded by information from the Commonwealth Fund, "many go without needed care, not filling prescriptions, and not following up on recommended treatment."

Howard Dean is eminently qualified to write about healthcare reform for several reasons. He is graduated from Yale in 1971 with a BA in Political Science. He received his medical degree from Columbia University during which he spent one month at the American Medical Association following Senators Jacob Javits and Ted Kennedy as they attempted to create a healthcare bill during President Carter's first term. His was elected the first Democratic Governor of Vermont since 1853. His efforts during his Governorship insured that 99% of Vermont citizens under the age of 18 had access to healthcare coverage, expanded prenatal care, community health centers and dental clinics in schools serving low-income children. 

But it is his one simple statement at the end of the preface that says it all. "All change grows from the grass roots. Real healthcare reform won't happen without you." He is clearly directing his thoughts at the everyman/woman - he is writing for the people who need healthcare insurance or worry that their insurance will come to an end due to loss of job or steep rate increases.

Dean clarifies, finally a politician that realizes what the people want to hear and how they want to hear it, the difference between healthcare reform and health insurance reform. "So, the real debate about healthcare reform is not a debate about how large a role government should play. The real issue is: Should we give Americans under the age of sixty-five the same choice we give Americans over sixty-five? Should we give all Americans a choice of opting out of the private health insurance system and benefitting from a public health insurance plan?"

He further states, brilliantly making his point absolutely current, "Americans ought to be able to decide for themselves: Is private health insurance really health insurance? Or is it simply an extension of thing that have been happening on Wall Street over the past five to ten years, in which private corporations find yet new and ingenious ways of taking money from ordinary citizens without giving them the services they've paid for?" Does the Madoff ponzi scheme ring a bell here? Money invested with absolutely no return on investment not to mention complete loss of all funds. Who hasn't paid for insurance month after month and not received coverage when they needed it the most?

Dean details the profit vs. care issue and succinctly discusses the problems with private, for-profit insurances companies that "must meet two obligations that are often mutually exclusive." These private behemoths are responsible for maximizing profits for their shareholders while shouldering the responsibility for good service to their customers. Is this even possible given the way private health insurance companies are structured coupled with the lobbyists who ensure that they have more or less free-reign with blatant disregard for the welfare of their enrollees.

Chapters cover the trials of small business owners and individuals and uses real-life examples to drive home the point. He strongly states that "America most shift from an illness-based healthcare system to a wellness-based model." He writes of the necessity to change the national lifestyle toward one of prevention and healthier living. A goal that neither political party nor business or individuals could argue with - who wouldn't want to be healthy?

Dean covers the challenges briefly but completely and spends a good portion of the book providing solutions. "Americans need real healthcare reform, not just insurance reform, and nobody should mistake the two," he states. "Real healthcare reform should offer coverage to the employed, the unemployed, the sick, the healthy, the young, the old. Everyone."

He puts forth five sound and achievable principles that "real healthcare reform must include." Everybody In, Nobody Out; No more Healthcare Bankruptcies: Take it to Go; Choose or Lose and Improved Care, Quality and Efficiency. He reviews President Obama's healthcare initiative; how to control costs; developing a revenue stream to pay for the initiative; and "who's been standing in the way."

Dean avows that change is possible through the citizens, calling for change and action. He writes of how this affects people in different walks of life and details, "What you deserve, and should fight for." He staunchly recommends how citizens can and should take action; educate themselves; contact their local and national officials; contact corporations and organizations and keep the conversation going until change happens.

The last sentence makes Dean's position clear, "Fights like this are won by ordinary people who decide that they care enough about something to fight for it." Prescription for Real Healthcare Reform should be required reading for every American over the age of 18. This is the most comprehensive and accessible presentation of a situation that deeply affects each one of us.

About Howard Dean: 

Physician Howard Dean is the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee. He served six terms as Governor of Vermont and ran for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in 2004. Dean founded Democracy for America, a grassroots effort that organizes community activists, trains staff and endorses progressive candidates.

Howard Dean

PRESCRIPTION FOR A REAL HEALTHCARE REFORM

ISBN: 978-1-60358-228-5

Charles Green Publishing

Atlanta-based freelance writer, Dindy Yokel specializes in luxury travel, food & wine, culture, fine arts and literature. She is also an expert on marketing, public relations and advertising. She is a contributing writer for byline National Geographic en Espanol and Arts & Opinion and National Geographic Traveler en Espanol. She has ghostwritten articles and essays about Southern African American Vernacular Art for el Palacios Magazine and Random House. Ms. Yokel covers Etiquette in the 21st Century for http://www.examiner.com/ and literature for examiner.com. Previously, she was the president/founder of an eponymous Public Relations & Marketing firm headquartered in Miami. A native New Yorker, Ms. Yokel travels back to her hometown regularly for a dose of high energy and cutting edge experiences that inform her journalism and creative writing. Passionately inclined to charitable endeavors, she has served and serves on arts boards and educational programs.

View the original article here

Meeting the Millennium Development Goals - Information Technology As a Tool For Development

As customary to my write ups, I try to reflect on sundry issues as it concerns Nigeria and the rest of the developing (sounding cynical; underdeveloped) economies. As we are still struggling to catch up with the rest of the world mostly the West on every issue that regards development of values. Laying credence to this fact can be seen in the way we use the internet, the GSM communication system and every other innovation that is Information Technology based. Now back to the issue that gave rise to this write up, the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).

The Millennium Development Goals are sets of eight point Agenda aligned by the United Nations to see it's underdeveloped members with a low Human Development Index (HDI) and low per capita income (as most of these countries live an average of a dollar a day) to become developed by the target year 2015. The motion was adopted by 149 leaders from different parts of the Globe and adopted by 189 countries in the year 2000. These agendas or goals were derived from the United Nations Millennium Declaration in view of the various problems still plaguing the developing world

The millennium Development Goals are the world's answer and targets for addressing extreme poverty in various dimensions; such as income poverty; lack of adequate shelter, hunger; and disease among others, while at the same time promoting Education, gender equality and environmental sustainability.

Now to the crux of the matter, these millennium goals looking at our peculiar situations and conditions, how can it be attained? Now we are in the age of information and as such it is inherent that we look at how we can as nations yet to be

reckoned in world economy, use the information at our disposal to make this a reality by the target year 2015. The internet, GSM Technology etc, has come to stay with us, and information technology remains the only veritable tool that can be used to usher in a new dawn where the basic human right such as the rights of each person on the planet to health, education, shelter and security as well as gender equality and empowerment of women can be attained on a platter. It has been noticed that countries like China and India inundated with population explosion but embraced the IT idea as the only veritable tool to enhance their human development, has witnessed a geometric increase in their per capita income and overall human development index, available statistics and other forms of data and economic indicators can lay credence to this fact.

Now if I may digress a bit, I'll state here that for the millennium goals to be achieved by Nigeria and the rest of the developing economies; urgent steps should be taken to implement the following:
computer literacy programs beginning from kindergarten to all levels of the individual's development
funding of information technology institutes by the government as well as private sector
partnering with developed nations by encouraging exchange programs mostly at the tertiary institution level increased funding in medical researches and other IT based medical programs
The agricultural sector should experience an increment in funding of all its programs most especially IT based researches so as to report a massive output in production for local consumption as well as export.

The menace faced by the continent as a result of hunger and poverty, HIV/AIDS pandemic, depletion of renewable energy and resources etc, can be addressed as stated below if information Technology can be enhanced in every facet of our economy and the general polity.
POVERTY AND HUNGER ERADICATION: Poverty and hunger remains the biggest scourge ravaging the African continent, but with the advancement of technology, with information technology and the Internet, food produced in the United States, Canada, Europe and the Asian Tigers can be easily sent to Africa and other parts of the world where it is needed. During wars and strife, like experienced in the Nigerian/Biafran war that lasted between the periods of 1967-1970, there was a dearth of food and medical attention most especially on the Biafran side as a result of an information blockade by the Nigerian Government.

But with the improvement of Information technology, no matter where such problems are, the satellites will pick up signals and therefore do all that is required to be done to reduce the problems associated with lack of food and other supplements. As a local importer based in Nigeria or any part of the developing world, you can get hooked up with big time farmers based in Europe or the United States etc via the internet through the company's website and email address. Agricultural produce can be easily exported saving the cost that would have been originally spent on flight tickets, hotel booking and reservations, taxes etc and also eliminating the role of the middle man which greatly saves the cost of production and importation.

HIV/AIDS (PLWHA): The HIV/AIDS pandemic currently pervading the African continent with Nigeria and South Africa trailing India in that order, can be deduced from lack of adequate information, but with the recent development as regards information technology, this scourge can be well taken care of. The introduction of mobile clinics and diagnostic centers whose activities in remote and rustic areas most especially, was made possible by the information technology phenomenon, where a doctor in a far away clinic for example a doctor in John Hopkins University hospital in the United States can with the use of sophisticated gadgets diagnose and cure patients via a satellite and a modem installed both at the clinic in America and the remote location. With this development, HIV/AIDS patients or PLWHA (PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS) and other deadly illnesses can now be managed, as the constraint caused by distance has been removed with the advancement in information Technology.

POWER AND ENERGY: As part of the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations, power and other renewable forms of energy has been understudied over the past decade or so, since fossil fuel deposits continue to deplete with replenishing, it becomes pertinent for countries whose economies are centered on it to advance and diversify their economy so as to be among the league of nations with high human development index, and if one should ask, how else can this be achieved if not by information technology. Recently a group of scientist built an automobile that can be powered by air, amazing it sounds; one of the wonders of IT. More discoveries and innovations will be made, as earlier discoveries like space science has improved virtually all sectors of the economy of Nations like the United States, Russia, and Europe in medicine telecommunication, military, etc.

From the for going, one cannot overemphasize the importance of information Technology as a tool for human and resources development, just as the industrial revolution of the 18th century that ushered in a new dawn that has remained evergreen in the annals of history, so will it create an unprecedented and indelible mark that will remain evergreen in the sands of time.

Chinemere Onuekwusi is a young Nigerian passionate about change to put the country and the continent back to world reckoning, you can read more of his articles at his blog and make your comments on any of his articles. Feel free today and hit his blog site at http://www.chinemeremz.blogspot.com/
chinemeremz@yahoo.com

View the original article here

Futurecast by Robert Shapiro

Futurecast

Over the past few years a number of books have been released which attempt to predict future events in one way or another. Perhaps it is the coming of the Mayan prediction of the end of the world in 2012, or simply a tumultuous time in human history, but Futurecast by Robert Shapiro is written in that vein and looks at the world from a political and economic point of view.

Shapiro's work is generally written and grouped in a few broad categories. The overarching theme is that the world over the next one hundred years will continue to be dominated both economically and militarily by the United States. While the United States faces challenges, specifically when it comes to immigration and the cost of health care, the country's leaders are already working to combat these issues as best as they can. Other countries face more difficult transitions, such as China which faces a serious demographic crisis in that the three hundred million people living in the eastern portion of the country around Shanghai and Beijing are incredibly wealthy when compared to the other portions of the country in which many people have more in common with Sub Saharan African than New York, London or Tokyo. Shapiro goes so far as to predict the fragmentation of China within the next twenty years as the government in Beijing struggles to find balance between competing goals in separate parts of the country.

I found the most interesting part of the novel to be about demographics and the challenges these struggling demographics will pose for countries as time goes forward. It's interesting to note that Russia will be losing at least fifty million young men from the workforce over the next forty years and will not be able to have a military and police force the same size that they do currently.

Overall Futurecase is an interesting look at how one man views the future. It's not altogether positive, but it does provide a nice read and look into some of the serious issues of our time including health care, the environment and globalization.

Want more wine information? Want to join a real wine club that is interested in more then just taking your money for their real business? Use promo code EZine at Uncorked Ventures to take 10% off your first wine club order just for reading this article!

Wine Clubs

Wine of the Month Club

View the original article here

Listening Tour

The first widely observed national moment of silence occurred in Britain in 1919, in commemoration of the nation's inaugural Armistice Day. For two minutes, switchboard operators declined to connect telephone calls, subway cars and factory wheels ground to a halt, and ordinary citizens held their tongues. Within 10 years, the somber annual tradition had grown so popular that the BBC began to air the sound of the silence. One broadcaster mused that the communal silence served as a "solvent which destroys personalities and gives us leave to be great and universal."

While state-sanctioned silence was novel, the sentiment of the broadcaster was not. Silence has long acted as a leveler of ego. From the communal meditation that opens Quaker meetings to the lulling quiet that defines the lives of Buddhist monks, silence is central to various religious traditions. "For many people, silence is the way God speaks to us, and when we ourselves are in silence, we are speaking the language of the soul," observes George Prochnik, author of a previous book about Sigmund Freud and the American psychologist James Jackson Putnam. In his fascinating new book, In Pursuit of Silence, Prochnik sets out to understand the complicated reasons for silence's power.

Silence enriches the mental life of humans, but, as Prochnik shows, it ensures the very survival of some in the animal kingdom. By being silent, animals avoid detection by predators, and sharpen their wits. Prochnik highlights the intriguing case of the red-eyed tree frog, whose embryos are capable of distinguishing the vibrations of a raindrop from the movement of a hungry snake. When the vibrations are caused by a snake, the embryos prematurely launch themselves from their jellied clutch and attempt to survive in their underdeveloped state.

The inability to hear (or sense vibrations, a related skill) spells doom for some animals. But the biologically imposed silence of deafness, at least in humans, often results in an acute appreciation of the remaining senses. Prochnik points out that at Gallaudet University, the premier American institution of higher education for the deaf, faculty and staff cultivate Deaf Space, an appealing philosophy of architecture that emphasizes natural light, soft shapes, and colonnades and porches-"space that helps people remain in each other's visual embrace."

If silence has so many benefits, why are head-splitting rock concerts popular and iPods ubiquitous? In part because loud sounds have their pleasures. As explained by one partisan of boom cars-which sport subwoofers capable of producing more noise than is audible 30 feet away from a jet at takeoff-the sound he experiences is "sensual." Yet people also crowd their lives with noise, Prochnik incisively argues, because they are resistant to the virtues that silence exemplifies: contemplation, attention, prudence, and restraint.

Garret Keizer, a contributing editor at Harper's, tackles essentially the same subject, but from the opposite end, in The Unwanted Sound of Everything We Want. Perceptions of noise vary, he notes-Swedish and Dutch scientists have found that people lodge fewer noise complaints about wind turbines when they financially profit from their use. Yet he points out that "noise took a quantum leap with industrialization," and the racket was compounded with the advent of the automobile and the airplane.

The volume in many places around the world is now objectively dangerous (one child in eight in the United States suffers from hearing loss), and Keizer argues that, saddled with poor infrastructure and fewer resources, people on the social margins are disproportionately affected. He acknowledges that when compared to poverty, violence, and disease, noise is a minor environmental issue. But with noise as his cause, he seizes the opportunity to decry America's "loud" political discourse and climate change stoked by noisy factories.

Both Prochnik and Keizer end their books with policy prescriptions. Prochnik would like to see more pocket parks in cities, while Keizer thinks that we should live closer together to reduce our support of the carbon-spewing automobile industry. These ideas aren't off the mark, but given how subjective noise is, the idea that we possess the power to shape our own auditory space is strangely missing. One can find internal calm in the cacophony of rush hour, after all, or be plagued with racing thoughts in a tranquil park. A quieter life is not just a matter of listening to our physical environments, but also to ourselves.

Originally published in The Wilson Quarterly (http://www.wilsonquarterly.com/)

View the original article here

Cyber War the Next Threat to National Security and What to Do About It

Book Review: Cyber War - The next threat to national security and what to do about it by Richard A. Clarke

Two of the most talked about issues are probably China and the cyber war. When it comes to both these issues, there seems to be developing some kind of a strong connection between the two with China's fast development and progress in all areas. Richard Clarke, who served as a counterterrorism to Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, turned his attention to a new potential security catastrophe which is terrorism through computers.

In his book on cyber war, he provides an insight on the issue and will probably change the way people think about China. It is anyway very tough to understand all aspects of cyber war without studying the political angle to it. Clarke highlights three most terrifying concepts in his book. They are as follows:

US pioneered cyber war:

Cyber warfare technology is not something new. It was used by the US in their war against the Soviet Union in the 1980s. In collaboration with the Canadian government, they inserted a logic bomb into their software which sabotaged the Russian pipeline operations. It resulted in the biggest non-nuclear explosion ever. During the Gulf War, China paid very close attention to US's warfare marked by high and advanced technology. They changed their own military strategy and started investing more in the battlefield of computers.

Economic warfare:

Billions of dollars is spent on funding the research. But with advanced technology and a few mouse clicks, China can steal these and take the results to the market. Most of America's corporate world remains unsecured and unprotected against these threats.

When technology is disadvantaged:

Economic disadvantages can often be converted into military advantages as in the case of North Korea and other nations that have minimal computer based infrastructure. After the Gulf war, China came up with a book describing how such countries can have an upper hand in the case of cyber war. Hence, in the example of North Korea, it proves how it could have the upper hand because it doesn't have computer infrastructure that could be turned off.

Cyber War has started the debate about the "new threat to national security" this simple to understand book will appeal to all readers but political and tech junkies and also futurologists and war heads will receive a stimulating fix.

If you would like to read a chapter of this stimulating book click here

For your chance to get a free iPad or amazon kindle do check out http://powerfulreviews.com/ thanks.

View the original article here

Hate Crimes Book Review - Part 2

These acts occurred in 140 cities throughout 39 U.S. states. Another statistic given was that the threat of being physically or sexually assaulted is 4 to 10 times greater to people with developmental disabilities than for other adults. Many more statistics were scattered throughout the book which made his arguments stronger.

One major weakness of the book was that the reading was somewhat confusing because the author went back and forth between different viewpoints. Instead of completely explaining one side of the argument, he flip-flopped between both viewpoints without enough clarification. In addition, the author was redundant because he repeated many ideas and arguments over and over again. Therefore, the organization of this book was on major weakness.

This series of books (including this one on Hate Crimes) has been important resources for librarians, teachers and students for many years. Chapters are focused around several key questions and are answered with diverse opinions representing all points on the political spectrum. This book gives different opinions encountered in society. From this book people will begin to develop critical thinking skills. The strong statistical data in the book from many sources made this book more convincing.

In the last few years I have seen a few movies related to hate crimes. Schindler's List and American History X are two of the main ones that come to mind. Both validated the author's viewpoints on racism and Anti-Semitism. The way the author portrayed the KKK, Skinheads, and Nazis were similar to the movies. After reading an article in Quest Magazine (Volume 15 No. 3) called "Crimes Against People With Disabilities", the same statistical data (the threat of being physically or sexually assaulted is 4 to 10 times greater for people with disabilities) was provided in that article and this book I have just read. This shows that the authors data is valid, accurate, and up to date. I also read an article from Street Spirit (March 2006) called "Epidemic of Hate Crimes Against Homeless People". The same example was also given in both this article and the book I read on Hate Crimes. This example was about a homeless man being beaten and left unconscious at a church in Fairfield, California. By finding the exact same example in two sources makes the author's view point valid.

Whether you're buying a Brushed Nickel Shower-Faucet or outfitting your bathroom with a fully Brushed Nickel Shower you want to make sure you do as much research and due diligence before following through with a purchase or contract worker to ensure you're happy with the end result. With so many products and options floating around, it can be difficult to make the right choice, but if you do enough looking around, then you're bound to make the right one!

View the original article here

2012 Contact Review - Is the Book Worth It?

This 2012 Contact review will reveal whether things are real or not and whether it's worth it to buy this book or not. You should read on if you care for your loved ones and after you are done this review of the book is either going to save you or lead you right into the path of death.

Most of you have heard about the theory that the world is going to end on December 21, 2012.

I began to look for as much info as I could and turned to the internet as there is much to be found there. The internet is full of information on this topic however there are not many true facts available. I have no problem digging as I am a researcher.

It was just recent that I came across a 2012 Contact review. I only read this e-book as there was a risk free offer. This is a good thing because without the risk-free offer, I would have dismissed the book as nothing more than the product of a clever sales pitch. I'm glad I did not. This e-book however differs from many others as it gives you tips on surviving Doomsday. This e-book is a resource that tells what to expect, what's going to happen and more.

This e-book is going to help get the word out and can help you live through this calamity. There are many other sources out there that are not supported with facts on this disaster making it hard to know the facts from the lies. There are 2 volumes of this e-book and the first volume is called 'The Build' and the second one is called 'The Survival Guide'. This book explains how the Mayans have predicted the end of the world and this is when their calendar stops. Not only are survival tips included for surviving the event but also before and after.

There are many resources that claim a true 2012 Contact review which makes it hard to believe what they all say. Try to dig and dig for information to help better prepare you.

Chris Mallory is a writer and researcher on 2012 Contact Review. You can save time and money by getting a FREE in depth review of this product and many others including discounts and best prices at Chris' blog: polarshift2012.net

View the original article here

Critical - What We Can Do About the Health-Care Crisis

I had high hopes for this book. Except for the one innovative idea, the creation of a Federal Health Board, this was an average book compared to the many available which detail the challenges of our dysfunctional healthcare system far better. The book is an easy read, doesn't cover much in depth, but highlights all of the key points one needs to know to speak intelligently about the healthcare system (and presumably to be Secretary of Health and Human Services).

It is unclear whether creation of a Federal Health Board will be able to provide the impetus needed to make the American healthcare system higher quality, less costly, and more inclusive with universal coverage. One thing is clear from his book and that is Americans want a better healthcare system than currently exists. It won't be a pure single payer government run system. It won't be a free market private industry program. It will be a hybrid. What type of hybrid? Time will tell.

The book is divided into five parts. Part One details the healthcare system in crisis filled with individual anecdotes on how it has bankrupted, failed, and at times killed people without adequate insurance coverage or financial means to pay for care.

Part Two talks about the history of healthcare reform, which covers the beginning of the twentieth century. It highlights efforts by President Truman, Medicare and Medicaid legislation, as well as attempts in the 1970s, 1980s, and the early 1990s.

In Part Three, Daschle looks at why reform hasn't occurred. He begins to build his case for creating a new entity, a Federal Health Board, which is modeled after the Federal Reserve as well as the British National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).

Part Four he focuses in on how the Federal Health Board would be structured (a central board with several regional boards). As an independent body, it would recommend that only medications, treatments, and procedures backed by medical evidence and not by marketing be covered under government run insurance plans. It would also determine what criteria and benefits private insurers must offer to participate in expansion of the FEHBP (Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan). This new market would insure those unable to get employer-based or government run insurance programs currently.

Finally in Part Five, he makes the case on the likelihood for healthcare reform.

The best part of the book is Senator Daschle's perspective on the healthcare reform attempt by the Clinton administration, particularly how excitement and momentum moved the country towards reform only to see external events, special interest groups, as well as political missteps, caused it to die. Without a doubt, future leaders who hope to forward any healthcare reform package would best learn what not what to do.

Davis Liu, M.D., is a practicing board-certified family physician and author of the book Stay Healthy, Live Longer, Spend Wisely - Making Intelligent Choices in America's Healthcare System. He graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He received his medical degree from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. Learn more about what you must do to stay well at http://www.davisliumd.com/ and at http://www.davisliumd.blogspot.com/

View the original article here