Working Together To Bring A Purple Heart Home

More than 1,500,000 Purple Hearts have been awarded to American servicemen and -women since World War Two. The medals are among the military's top honors and are usually found proudly displayed on uniforms, resting places or in family homes. They're not the kind of items you'd expect to find in a thrift shop-and when one recently was, it sparked a cross-country effort.

Gene Dobos was browsing through a secondhand store in California when he came across a worn, heart-shaped medal mixed in with the knickknacks. It was a Purple Heart bearing the name "Frank N. Smith." Purple Hearts are awarded to American soldiers who are wounded by the enemy and to the next of kin of soldiers killed in action or who die from wounds received in battle. Dobos, who understood the significance of the medal, purchased it from the shop and helped set off a national search for its owner.

Dobos contacted the Military Order of the Purple Heart-an organization of combat veterans who work to honor the medal and its recipients. They call themselves the "Keepers of the Medal." Ray Funderburk, the group's public relations chief-who is a Vietnam veteran with two Purple Hearts himself-researched the medal and eventually found that Frank N. Smith was a private in the U.S. Army who died in Vietnam nearly 40 years ago.

Smith, who was 20 at the time, was in a convoy that was ambushed on December 17, 1968-just two weeks before he was scheduled to return to his home state of Ohio for good.

After learning Smith's story, Funderburk turned to an Ohio genealogist for help in tracking down Smith's resting place and surviving family.

"It looks as if the medal has been handled many times," said Funderburk. "I envisioned his mom and dad taking the medal out and holding it in their hands, thinking of their son."

Eventually, Smith's grave was found in a cemetery not far from his childhood home in Ohio. His parents had died, but his siblings were found using e-mails they had sent memorializing their brother at an online registry for fallen Vietnam War troops. They did not know the medal had gone missing and were "overwhelmed" that a group of strangers had worked so hard to return it to them.

Frank N. Smith was married and had a child shortly before shipping off to Vietnam (he enlisted voluntarily). After his death, his widow and daughter moved west, presumably taking the Purple Heart with them. It is not known how the medal landed in a thrift shop.

For Smith's sister Jonna, the return of the medal brought with it a flood of emotions-and she was not alone in her reaction. Funderburk, of the Purple Heart Order, was so inspired by the number of people who came together to return the medal to Smith's family that he penned a poem. His son-in-law helped him set the words to music and a CD was created that is being sold. Proceeds help pay for a scholarship program that joins young people with veterans who are bedridden and living in Veteran Affairs facilities.

The song's chorus reads:

Purple Hearts are won in battle; grenades explode, machine guns rattle; a soldier dies, a mother cries; that's how Purple Hearts are won.

The Order and Smith's family planned a small ceremony to be held in the cemetery. The Purple Heart will be encased in glass and attached to Smith's headstone.

Private First Class Frank N. Smith's legacy will be seen in every VA hospital in America as young people move among the veterans and tell the story of a young man who left Seneca County, Ohio to defend freedom-and who finally got his medal.

Wrong Blames Can Kill A Life

To blame means to accuse someone of doing something wrong. It is very easy to put blame on a person when things begin going wrong and hammer that person left and right for being responsible for all the mess. Let us look at this further.

Sometimes, in our personal relationships, when we say that things are in mess, the truth may be different. The situation may not be messy, but our viewpoint may have become messy. What we call as going wrong may indeed be going wrong, but not in the way we look at it. Let me try to explain. Some of us lie. We get caught, or feel guilty. We blame someone for exposing our lie and making a mess of something good. Can a lie be good? We wished our lies to flourish and keep us safe from the bitterness of truth, but our comfort zone got broken because of the exposure. Is this bad? Or our viewpoint was wrong to begin with? When we think more, we find that truth may be very bitter and highly discomforting, but it is always better than a lie. Is it correct to blame a person who exposed our lies? But we do that. Blame the other person for making us face the music. What the other person did was correct but since it hurts us, we accuse.

Let me tell you something. What if someone accuses you of crimes never committed by you? What if the accuser himself/herself was the guilty party, but targeted you because you are a soft target? Between a couple this happens. If one of the partners is a compassionate person, the other partner can develop the habit of blaming him/her all the time of all the crimes realizing well, that no retaliation will occur.

Many of us act like brutes at times and then we suffer in the guilt for a lifetime. Some of us, who are evil people never, suffer any guilt. But some of us carry the guilt of having done something wrong forever in our life. This guilt will never go, because the deed was indeed done. Why not to desist doing wrong? Why to travel on a wrong path? Why to torture others with blames that they never deserve?

Year in review - Top 12 News stories of 2005

As yet another New Year dawns, it is time for us to look back on 2005 and view from the outside all that happened. There were joys, triumphs, and tears. That everything that happens is a learning experience is quite true.


Among the many occurrences of 2005 news stories that were significant were:


1. Google made history in June 2005 as its share price made it the most highly valued media company.


2. Hurricanes of great intensity hit the US disrupting life in all its aspects. Of these Katrina was the worst and the long predicted nightmare for New Orleans came true. Attributed as an effect of global warming
scientists are making all efforts to protect the country from disasters of this kind.


3. In research among the many achievements was the sequencing of the chimpanzee genome. Bringing mankind a step closer to understanding himself.


4. Oil prices skyrocketed to reach $3.07 a gallon in September. The rising demand for crude in the US and China contributed along with the hurricane along the Gulf coast to rising prices.


5. That Michael Jackson was a wacko was proven at court.


6. As promised by President Bush, Iraq went to polls on Dec 15 to vote in a constitutional parliament.


7. The investigation into the CIA leak resulted in Bush adviser Karl Rove being brought before the grand jury four times and the resignation after indictment of former chief of staff Lewis Libby.


8. President Bush was sworn in for the second term in January. He stressed the need to improve economy, provide reliable energy, improve student achievements, and improve health care. He emphasized that the US was working for good throughout the world.


9. The Chicago White Sox won the World Series. Their last wins were in 1906 and 1917—this win came after 88 years.


10. The life-or-death battle came to the forefront with the case of Terri Schiavo who was severely brain damaged. With a raging national debate, 20 states introduced or passed bills to state clearly the defining terms of consent and guardianship in relation to life-prolonging medical procedures.


11. Pope John Paul II died in April after having led the Roman Catholic Church for 26 years.


12. Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines the nations no 3 &4 carriers filed for bankruptcy. High labor costs and spiraling fuel prices put the carriers in bankruptcy court along with United Airlines.


It was a year of great contrasts. There were triumphs and tears. In every field of endeavor be in business, entertainment, science, politics, or law there were ups and downs. There were valuable lessons to be learnt in many things as also a time for retrospection—are we headed in the right direction?

You Cannot Go Wrong With A Chocolate Gift

Life provides all too many occasions to purchase gifts for family members and friends. We celebrate with the ones we love for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, the birth of babies, graduations and many other significant events. Don't get me wrong, I love to celebrate with people. I love being a part of people's lives and walking with them through life's best moments. Sometimes, however, it gets stressful trying to find appropriate gifts to bless your friends and family with. I have recently learned something that has liberated my stress about gift giving: a chocolate gift is always the perfect gift.

I never would have considered myself one to give food or treats as gifts, but once I started buying different kinds of chocolate gifts for the events and celebrations of my family and friends I couldn't stop. They loved their gifts, and I loved the ease of purchasing and giving them. I am sure that giving a chocolate gift for every occasion will not be something that I do forever, but for now, while it works, I'm sticking with it.

What I love about giving a chocolate gift is that everyone I know loves getting gifts and they love chocolate. What could be more perfect than combining the two? Giving a chocolate gift is a great way to celebrate with something useful and something enjoyable.

Another thing that I have grown to love about giving a chocolate gift for almost any occasion is how much variety there is. I never would have imagined all the creative ways I could use chocolate products to make chocolate gifts. For example, when my ten year old daughter came home and needed the perfect birthday gift for a party that evening, I thought quick and came up with a great chocolate gift. My daughter and I prepared a bag filled with homemade brownie mix and we attached the cooking directions on the bag with a ribbon. My daughter loved the idea because she knew her girlfriends were just starting to get interested in baking. I loved the idea because it was quick, simple and creative all at the same time.

If you are looking for great ways to bless the people in your life, look no further than giving chocolate gifts. Your gifts will be the talk of the parties you attend, and you'll be able to share or keep your chocolate gift secrets as you wish.

You Know Boo Is Coming, So Bake a Cake

If you are having a Halloween party this year, you might want some other dessert besides fun sized candy bars. A Halloween cake makes a great dessert, and can also be a fun centerpiece on your dinner table while the meal is being served. Here are two creative Halloween cakes that you can try on your own. Don't feel pressured to limit yourselves to these – you can always create your own Halloween dessert masterpieces.

The Happy Pumpkin

You can easily turn your everyday cake mix into a pumpkin creation with the help of bunt pans and decorative icing.

Take 3 boxes of your favorite white or yellow cake mix, and mix according to package decorations. Pour the batter into two bunt pans, and bake according to package decorations. Allow the cakes to cool completely and remove from the pan.

While you are waiting for the cakes to cool, empty three cans of vanilla frosting into a mixing bowl. If you are pretty practiced with cake decorating, 2 may be enough, but three cans will allow extra to work out unevenness and fingerprints. Add red and yellow food coloring to the frosting, stirring until the frosting becomes the desired orange color for your pumpkin. Frost the flat side of the bunt cakes, and then stack on top of each other to create your pumpkin shape. Then continue to frost the sides of the cake until you have an orange pumpkin.

If you would like to turn your pumpkin into a jack-o-lantern, simply use some black icing to draw your eyes, nose, and a mouth. You can also consider decorating a small cupcake with brown or green icing to create a stem. If you are very practiced in cake decorating, consider some pumpkin vines down the sides and back. Your company is sure to be impressed.

The Creepy Spiderweb

If you want something a little spookier for your Halloween party, consider a creepy spider web cake. A little frosting and a chocolate muffin can help you make this creepy cake.

Take one box of your favorite chocolate cake mix and mix it according to the package decorations. Bake in two round pans and allow to cool completely.

While the cakes are cooling, scoop 2 cans of vanilla frosting into a large mixing bowl. Combine yellow and blue food coloring (or yellow and green) until you come up with a spooky green color. Spread a layer between the two cakes, and the cover the rest of the cake with frosting.

Draw a spiderweb on the top of the cake using black icing. You can start by drawing lines straight across as though the cake was a clock – from12 to 6, 1 to 7, 2 to 8, etc. Then starting at the center of the cake, draw larger circles working their way outwards until the web is complete.

Take a chocolate muffin or cupcake and cut of the “stem” so you are left with the top. Frost the entire thing with chocolate frosting and then roll in chocolate sprinkles. Set onto the “web” and attach small pieces of black string licorice to be the legs.

If you would like to get even more creative, you can extend your web down the sides of the cake, and draw on bugs using different colored icing.

Young Philanthropist Discovers Joy of Sharing

Philanthropist Ellie Guettler of Atlanta recently wrote a $500 check to help Heifer International fight hunger. Her gift provided two milking water buffaloes for an impoverished family. What is unusual about that? Ellie is only 5 years old. Ellie is not alone. Children are responsible for contributing more than $1 million a year to Heifer International, which has been providing cows, goats, chickens, sheep and other animals to families in 50 countries around the world for more than 60 years. These animals allow the families to have milk, eggs, wool honey, and many other benefits.

Ellie's parents say they want to teach her the habit of sharing by contributing to Heifer because it is a simple, concrete way of helping to end world hunger.

"We want Ellie to do a service project every year as her birthday gift back to the world. She picked Heifer since we live in the city and she can't have farm animals of her own," said Katrina Guettler, Ellie's mother. "So she sent a birthday letter to all our neighbors and friends asking them to save their change."

Ellie collected $660 in quarters, nickels, dimes and pennies. As a thank-you gift for their contribution, she gave each person a handmade candle.

"We both learned that people are generous and want to make a difference, but sometimes they don't know how or they need motivation," Guettler said. "She also learned that a little bit of change, which we take for granted, can collectively make a big difference for someone with less opportunity."

Ellie likes to read the bestselling picture book "Beatrice's Goat" by Page McBrier that tells how a goat from Heifer International changed the life of a young girl in Uganda, and she knows the story by heart.

"I feel bad that so many kids don't have food and can't go to school, so I hope that if I help a Heifer project, they can have food and go to school like Beatrice," says Ellie.

Children can participate in raising funds for Heifer International by reading books, making and selling bookmarks, hosting bake sales, or making donation cans with pictures of animals from Heifer's holiday catalog to help collect money toward the purchase of gift animals.

They can also see farm animals and learn about solutions to world hunger on visits to Heifer's three hunger education centers in Arkansas, Massachusetts and California.

Young Tsunami Survivors Find New Start At Shriners Hospitals

When the Indian Ocean tsunami crashed ashore on December 26, 2004, many things were lost. Homes were swept away, belongings gone forever. Hundreds of thousands of people lost their lives in the disaster. And many of those who survived, including children, literally lost a part of themselves.

Seven-year-old Tara Aulia and 11-year-old Hamdani survived the tsunami that ripped through their villages in Indonesia's Aceh province, but along with their homes and family members, both children lost a limb.

Despite the horrors Tara and Hamdani experienced and the steep odds they faced at obtaining proper medical care, they had reason to celebrate less than a year later. Both children were given a new start and new prosthetics at Shriners Hospitals for Children - Philadelphia.

Tara, whose right leg had to be amputated when it became infected from an injury sustained during the tsunami, immediately adjusted to her prosthesis.

"It's wonderful to see a child adapt as well as she has so quickly," said Jeff Eichhorn, director of orthotics and prosthetics at the Philadelphia hospital. "She will be able to do anything."

Hamdani was playing soccer when the tsunami swept him away. He grabbed onto a boat, and as he clung for his life with his left arm, an uprooted tree surged past, severing his right arm above the elbow.

Tara and Hamdani came to the Philadelphia hospital through the Global Medical Relief Fund, a charitable organization that provides transportation to the United States and housing to children injured by war, natural disaster or illness.

With the help of Shriners Hospitals, which, as always, provided all services at no charge to the children or their families, Tara and Hamdani have been given a new start.

"Without this help, I don't know what she would do, how she would live," said Tara's father, Sulaiman Aulia.

Your Corporation Can Help Fight World Hunger

Today, corporate philanthropy and employee giving are among the most rewarding and valued employee benefit programs companies can offer. It is a way to share success, to invest in the future and to give back to society.

Heifer International, a world hunger organization, is catching the attention of many businesses looking for an alternative gift for clients during the holiday season.

For 60 years, Heifer, recently noted as a leader in world hunger solutions by Forbes and Worth business magazines, has provided gifts of livestock and agricultural training to malnourished families, enabling them to become self-reliant. In return, these families in 50 countries promise to pass on the gift of offspring of their animals and training to other families in their communities.

The Wood Agency in San Antonio, Texas, is an advertising business that chose Heifer International as a source for alternative client gifts.

Skip Wood, president of the Wood Agency, decided to skip the gourmet baskets and instead honored his clients and business friends by making a donation in their name to Heifer. The honor card they received explained how the goats, heifers, flocks of geese and hives of honey bees would help impoverished families have better, healthier lives.

"I did this at the urging of my wife, Sandy, who loves getting Heifer's mailing of 'The Most Important Gift Catalog in the World' because the gift of a farm animal is a sustainable solution that really changes lives," Wood said. "I agreed to do it because it was easy. Then we started getting phone calls, cards and e-mails from those who received an honor card explaining our donation, and they were very appreciative, excited and really impressed with the idea behind Heifer's gifts."

Heifer now offers the "Most Important Business Gift Catalog in the World" for those planning for corporate gift giving.

Zodiac Signs and Horoscopes: Who am I compatible with?

Love and compatibility with another is something that we all strive for. It is something that is talked about in every social circle and in every walk of life. This notion of love and compatibility is always a hot topic when discussing your “sign” with someone. One of the main reasons for a person to read their horoscope is to find out about their past, present and future love life. So it’s only natural for us to wonder which zodiac signs are compatible with one another. So who are you compatible with?

Aries – is most compatible with Leo & Sagittarius, compatible with Aquarius & Gemini and opposite from Libra.

Taurus – is most compatible with Capricorn & Virgo, compatible with Cancer & Pisces and opposite from Scorpio.

Gemini – is most compatible with Aquarius & Libra, compatible with Aries & Leo and opposite from Sagittarius

Cancer – is most compatible with Pisces & Scorpio, compatible with Taurus & Virgo and opposite from Capricorn

Leo – is most compatible with Aries & Sagittarius, compatible with Gemini & Libra and opposite from Aquarius

Virgo – is most compatible with Capricorn & Taurus, compatible with Cancer & Scorpio and opposite from Pisces

Libra – is most compatible with Aquarius and Gemini, compatible with Leo & Sagittarius and opposite from Aries

Scorpio – is most compatible with Cancer & Pisces, compatible with Capricorn & Virgo and opposite from Taurus

Sagittarius – is most compatible with Aries & Leo, compatible with Aquarius & Libra and opposite from Gemini

Capricorn – is most compatible with Taurus & Virgo, compatible with Pisces & Scorpio and opposite from Cancer

Aquarius – is most compatible with Gemini & Libra, compatible with Aries & Sagittarius and opposite from Leo

Pisces – is most compatible with Cancer & Scorpio, compatible with Capricorn & Taurus and opposite from Virgo

(please note that this is only a suggestion as to the traditional compatibility traits of certain ‘signs’. This should not be followed as a make or break rule to follow in your love life as there are many factors that come into play when in a true relationship. These suggestions should be taken as such, as mere suggestions.)

All of your horoscope and zodiac information in one place at Horoscope

Tracking Tractor Ease For Farmers To Lower Costs For You

How much and what kind of food is at the store-and how much the store has to charge for it-depends on how well America's farmers can do their work.

That can depend on how comfortable and efficient our great growers can be on the job. After all, the modern farmer spends much of the 1,200 to 3,100 hours a year it takes to run a farm in the seat of a tractor. In fact, farmers are often in the tractor for 12 hours or more at a stretch during busy planting and harvesting seasons.

Tractors today not only have to be rugged and dependable, they have to be as comfortable as possible to keep farmers safe and productive. Many have air conditioning, stereo, on-board computers, GPS tracking, automatic transmission and a way to smooth out shocks from rocks in the ground or rough soil. The "torsional vibration dampers" once exclusive to the most expensive tractors are now available in more kinds of tractors, including less expensive ones. That's because one of the world's largest producers of the dampers, Voith Turbo, discovered how to eliminate much of the costly metal-cutting that went into the devices.

While better tractors can help cut costs at the grocery store, you can save even more if you heed a few hints available from the United States Department of Agriculture:

• Check newspaper ads for coupons and specials.

• Eat something before you go shopping and try to avoid shopping when tired or rushed.

• Go it alone. You'll probably spend more if you are distracted by your kids, your spouse or your friends.

• Read labels so you know what you're paying for.

• Use unit pricing and food labels to compare cost of similar food items.

• Use coupons wisely. If you don't need it, you won't save anything by buying it.

• Stick to your list. Studies show that without a list, you can spend almost twice as much. If you see something on sale, however, that you know you use, buy it even if it's not on your list.

• Stock up on sale items you use often and can store safely.

• Don't go down every aisle.

Tractor Competition Serves As Rewarding Learning Experience

Growing up in small town Wallis, TX, where the farmlands flourish and tractors play a key role in everyday life, it seems only right that restoring old tractors would become a passion for local Future Farmers of America (FFA) teens.

Inspired by that passion, two Wallis teens entered the 2005 Chevron Delo Tractor Restoration Competition, making it all the way to the event's finals at the National FFA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. The Tractor Restoration Competition rewards the determination, mechanical skill and business savvy of high school-aged FFA members from around the country. Students are required to submit a workbook that details the entire restoration process. The skills learned through the competition help develop the participants into future leaders in the agricultural community.

The teens, members of the Brazos, TX, FFA, share an aptitude for mechanical repair and an interest in vintage tractors, as well as one other thing: Tyler and Jordan Raska are brother and sister.

While the scenario might have turned into a sibling rivalry, the Raskas instead took an alternate approach to their restoration projects. Rather than battling to beat the other, Tyler and Jordan worked on their tractors together, providing support and encouragement along the way. Throughout the long hours spent revamping their tractors and carefully documenting the entire process, the brother-and-sister team bonded amid the grease, paint and rusty tractor parts.

In the end, however, there could only be one winner. Hard work, dedication and mechanical savvy paid off for 18-year-old Tyler Raska, the individual winner of the Chevron Delo Tractor Restoration Competition.

A senior at Brazos High, Tyler is no stranger to tractor competitions. He has been restoring tractors for four years, and had a particularly successful year in 2005, winning the eight shows he attended with his Grandpa's 1959 John Deere 630, including a national competition and three state competitions.

Tyler, who has a learning disability, has benefited greatly from participating in the tractor competitions. They have helped him focus on his strengths and build confidence, improving his project management and public speaking skills. And each year his knowledge of tractor parts has grown.

"I like to take an old tractor and make it as good as new, if not better than the original," said Tyler. "This year was especially rewarding because I worked in the garage with my Grandpa and restored something that was special to him."

While falling a bit short in her quest for the title, the experience was an immensely positive one for Jordan, the only girl from the Brazos FFA to enter the competition. Tired of being the "go-fer girl" for Tyler as he worked on his tractors, Jordan decided to conquer her own restoration, a John Deere 420.

Jordan, in her first year showing tractors, initially drew inspiration from an unlikely place-the music video for "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy," by country group Big and Rich. The music video showcases Gretchen Wilson driving a "cute" tractor and Jordan decided she wanted to restore one like that.

Working side by side with her brother and her dad, Jordan's knowledge of tractors increased tremendously over the course of the project. She did as much of the work by herself that she could and then consulted the men for explanations and hands-on demonstrations when necessary.

"I highly recommend the Chevron Delo Tractor Restoration Competition to others," Jordan said. "It's an incredible learning experience that helped me develop skills for life. Plus, I've had the opportunity to work alongside my brother, meet new people and make great new friends."

"Chevron sponsors the Delo Tractor Restoration Competition knowing that the skills and lessons learned during the restoration process benefit the teens for life," said Nicole Fujishige, commercial automotive lubricants marketing manager, Chevron Products Company. "We consider it one of our more vital and important sponsorships, one that helps ensure that the industry's future leaders have the tools to succeed."

Currently, both Tyler and Jordan are restoring tractors for the 2006 Chevron Delo Tractor Restoration Competition. They each have their own tractor, plus they're working on one together. With another year of experience under their belts, the teens are looking forward to next year's event-and maybe a different Raska on the winner's podium.

The Benefits Of Radar Detector

If you are anything like me, then your life is really busy and there is not enough time in the day to get everything accomplished. Busyness may be reflected in many ways in your life, such as choosing fast food over a home cooked meal or not getting enough sleep. One thing that my busy lifestyle has meant for me is fast driving. I know, it isn't safe, and I've really been working on my schedule to allow enough time for safe driving, but in the meantime I've discovered the best thing of all: a radar detector.

Basically, a radar detector is something you can buy and install in your vehicle that allows you to be made aware of when their is a police car near you. Why is this helpful, you ask? Well, for those of us who drive even a little bit over the legal speed limit, a radar detector allows us to be warned whenever there is a cop that could potentially pull us over for our bad behavior.

I know, it sounds horrible to use a radar detector because it basically allows you to break the law without getting caught for it. I have learned, however, that inspite all of my efforts to just slow down, that life is going to continue at a fast pace and hence that I need to rely on a tool like a radar detector if I have any hope of keeping my driving record clear. There have been probably fifteen instances in the past year alone where I have been speeding along from one activity to the next and my radar detector has suddenly alarmed me that their is a cop near me. I can immediately slow down to the speed limit and remove the risk that I might get caught.

Obviously, if having a radar detector were legal than every driver would have one and no one would ever get caught speeding on the roads. Not everyone has learned the secret of the radar detector yet, so that is why I am trying to enlighten other fast drivers and make it possible for a few more of us to get by without tickets. Yes, radar detectors cost money, and so not everyone will be able to purchase one. The way I look at it is that a one time purchase of a radar detector is much more reasonable than paying for an endless number of speeding tickets. So here are your options: either slow down and drive the speed limit or purchase a radar detector to protect you from getting caught in your bad habit.

What Is Ethanol

The use of ethanol as an alternative fuel is becoming increasingly popular by ever conscious consumers wishing to do their little bit for the planet. It may even be a better alternative to bio fuel, it seems that it is a lot more pleasant to make at any rate.

What is Ethanol?

Ethanol is a grain alcohol, or plant mass formula derived from the natural sugars found in bio mass, or vegetation such as corn, wheat, barley, potatoes and sugar cane. This is then processed to make a renewable form of fuel or fuel additive, which is both cost effective and good for the planet. Many cars are able to run on Ethanol and gasoline mixtures. Although at the moment, the mixtures are only a ratio of 10% Ethanol, to 90% fossil fuel.

Benefits of Ethanol

There are many benefits of using an alternative fuel such as Ethanol, for starters it is a renewable resource, fossil fuels used to make gasoline is not renewable, so one day they will run out, it is because of this that people, have become more aware of alternative fuels and additives. Another good reason for using an alternative fuel such as Ethanol is the reduction of pollution, we only have one planet and if we keep polluting it we may very well find ourselves with nowhere to live. Any steps that we can make toward reducing pollution is a positive. Another good reason to consider a fuel alternative such as Ethanol is that it is far more cheaper to use and make, the main cost involved in making Ethanol is in the processing method.

How is Ethanol Produced?

The process used consists of 8 stages, corn is the main product used in this method, Milling the corn, to make it into a fine powder, or meal Liquification, which is mixing the meal with water and Alpha-amylase, then heating it at temperatures of 120-150 deg Celcius, the heat reduces bacteria. Saccharification, is the process of cooling the mash, and adding glucoamylase, this converts the starch to dextrose, Fermentation, is where the yeast is added to ferment the sugars to convert it to Ethanol. This process consists of the mash going through several different tanks, and takes about 48 hours.

Please note that this procedure is risky and I do not recommend making biodiesel without further research of the process, these are just general guidelines of the making process, if you wish to actually make your own bio diesel please consult expert companies or professionals.

Distillation, the mash now contains about 10% alcohol and 90% non fermentable solids, the solids are now separated from the alcohol, to reach about a 96% strength of alcohol.

Dehydration, is where the last of the water is removed to make the alcohol about 200 proof.

Denaturing, is used then to make the alcohol unfit for human consumption, this is done by adding a small amount of gasoline, like 2-5%.

There are 2 co products derived from this process as well. The first is the non fermentable product, this is used as a livestock feed, the second is the carbon dioxide which is collected from the process and sold to other industries.

There are many reasons to use Ethanol as either an additive or an alternative fuel; one of the main reasons is the reduction of pollution. Regular fossil based fuels are not only damaging to the environment they are a non-renewable resources; once they are gone they can never be replaced, or regenerated.

Your Corporation Can Help Fight World Hunger

Today, corporate philanthropy and employee giving are among the most rewarding and valued employee benefit programs companies can offer. It is a way to share success, to invest in the future and to give back to society.

Heifer International, a world hunger organization, is catching the attention of many businesses looking for an alternative gift for clients during the holiday season.

For 60 years, Heifer, recently noted as a leader in world hunger solutions by Forbes and Worth business magazines, has provided gifts of livestock and agricultural training to malnourished families, enabling them to become self-reliant. In return, these families in 50 countries promise to pass on the gift of offspring of their animals and training to other families in their communities.

The Wood Agency in San Antonio, Texas, is an advertising business that chose Heifer International as a source for alternative client gifts.

Skip Wood, president of the Wood Agency, decided to skip the gourmet baskets and instead honored his clients and business friends by making a donation in their name to Heifer. The honor card they received explained how the goats, heifers, flocks of geese and hives of honey bees would help impoverished families have better, healthier lives.

"I did this at the urging of my wife, Sandy, who loves getting Heifer's mailing of 'The Most Important Gift Catalog in the World' because the gift of a farm animal is a sustainable solution that really changes lives," Wood said. "I agreed to do it because it was easy. Then we started getting phone calls, cards and e-mails from those who received an honor card explaining our donation, and they were very appreciative, excited and really impressed with the idea behind Heifer's gifts."

Heifer now offers the "Most Important Business Gift Catalog in the World" for those planning for corporate gift giving.

Zodiac Signs and Horoscopes: Who am I compatible with?

Love and compatibility with another is something that we all strive for. It is something that is talked about in every social circle and in every walk of life. This notion of love and compatibility is always a hot topic when discussing your “sign” with someone. One of the main reasons for a person to read their horoscope is to find out about their past, present and future love life. So it’s only natural for us to wonder which zodiac signs are compatible with one another. So who are you compatible with?

Aries – is most compatible with Leo & Sagittarius, compatible with Aquarius & Gemini and opposite from Libra.

Taurus – is most compatible with Capricorn & Virgo, compatible with Cancer & Pisces and opposite from Scorpio.

Gemini – is most compatible with Aquarius & Libra, compatible with Aries & Leo and opposite from Sagittarius

Cancer – is most compatible with Pisces & Scorpio, compatible with Taurus & Virgo and opposite from Capricorn

Leo – is most compatible with Aries & Sagittarius, compatible with Gemini & Libra and opposite from Aquarius

Virgo – is most compatible with Capricorn & Taurus, compatible with Cancer & Scorpio and opposite from Pisces

Libra – is most compatible with Aquarius and Gemini, compatible with Leo & Sagittarius and opposite from Aries

Scorpio – is most compatible with Cancer & Pisces, compatible with Capricorn & Virgo and opposite from Taurus

Sagittarius – is most compatible with Aries & Leo, compatible with Aquarius & Libra and opposite from Gemini

Capricorn – is most compatible with Taurus & Virgo, compatible with Pisces & Scorpio and opposite from Cancer

Aquarius – is most compatible with Gemini & Libra, compatible with Aries & Sagittarius and opposite from Leo

Pisces – is most compatible with Cancer & Scorpio, compatible with Capricorn & Taurus and opposite from Virgo

(please note that this is only a suggestion as to the traditional compatibility traits of certain ‘signs’. This should not be followed as a make or break rule to follow in your love life as there are many factors that come into play when in a true relationship. These suggestions should be taken as such, as mere suggestions.)

All of your horoscope and zodiac information in one place at Horoscope

You Can Examine Your Shock Absorbers

Bouncing down the road one day it occurs to you that things are just not what they should be. The road you are riding on is as smooth as glass, yet your car is jostling up and down like nobody’s business. You enter an upcoming curve in the road and quickly learn that the control you had over your car was lost just moments before. Suddenly, the vehicle careens off the road, goes down through a ditch and up an embankment before coming to rest against a fence adjacent to Tony’s garage. You are in luck: you aren’t dead and your car is at Tony’s, who happens to be your favorite mechanic.

Yes this story is ridiculous, exceedingly so. All joking aside, your shock absorbers [or struts in the case of some cars] plays a vital part in your vehicle’s suspension system. When certain signs of wear and tear become apparent, you must replace your shocks or otherwise you can put yourself in danger and/or damage your car.

A shock absorber works by damping the compression and extension of the vehicle's suspension springs to prevent ongoing movement. Shocks work to diminish road impact, prevent excessive bounce back, reduce sway, and improve general road handling. When your shocks are functioning properly your vehicle grips to the road whether you are braking, negotiating a curve in the road, driving on uneven roads, or experiencing powerful side winds. When worn out, shocks can play a part in you losing control of your car putting you and everyone else in harm’s way.

How often should you replace your shocks? One manufacturer suggests no less than once every 50,000 miles, but that depends on whether you frequently drive on coarse roads [in this case it will need to occur sooner] or it could even be much later if you do mostly local driving, the roads are well maintained, etc.

There is a simple test you can perform on your car to establish whether your shocks need replacing. It isn’t absolute, therefore you may want to take your vehicle to a garage to make certain:

Take hold of a corner of your vehicle’s bumper.

Press down on the bumper with all of your strength and then let go.

Your shocks are probably okay if the bumper drops down and returns in place without rebounding again. Slight movement is okay, but if it continually moves, then that particular shock is no longer effective. Duplicate the test on the remaining three corners of your vehicle.

Other telltale signs of shock wear can be observed through leakage [although a leak is not always indicative of wear] and by observing tire wear patterns. Finally, if you are simply experiencing motion sickness every time you go for a ride, then that can be the best indicator that your shocks or struts need replacing. No kidding here!

You Can Install A Performance Exhaust System

If you are considering replacing your vehicle’s exhaust system, a performance exhaust system can be an ideal choice, offering to you many benefits over a stock exhaust system. Let’s examine the benefits of installing a performance exhaust system versus a stock exhaust system.

1. More Power – One of the obvious benefits of a performance exhaust system is more power for your car. Using catalyst back [cat-back] technology, additional horsepower is freed up, with horsepower increases of 5%, 10%, and even 15% possible. Exactly how does a cat-back system work? By keeping all the key emissions components in place, a cat-back system brings in large width exhaust pipes and low restriction performance mufflers for your car resulting in a lowering of exhaust back pressure. One nice side benefit is the deeper, throatier pitch created by the exhaust system. Since your vehicle’s engine is in essence an air pump, a cat-back system helps the engine to pump and flow air with less disruption.

2. Better Fuel Economy - You will achieve better fuel economy as a performance exhaust system allows your engine to run more effectively, thus consuming less fuel.

3. Long Lasting – Some performance exhaust systems are designed to outlast the life of your car. Depending on the system you acquire, you may be able to install a performance exhaust system that comes with a one million mile guarantee. How so? Because, the part is made of a certain grade of stainless steel, the same grade used to produce aircraft! You will pay more for the parts, but it can easily be the final exhaust system your vehicle will ever need.

4. Better Resale Value – Better parts on your vehicle will mean that its value will hold up. Sport versions of many models command a premium price over standard models.

With a Haynes or Chilton repair manual at your side, you can replace your exhaust system yourself and save plenty of money on parts and labor. By installing a performance exhaust system yourself, you likely will pay only slightly more for the system over a dealer installed stock system, thereby maximizing the gains you will realize in electing to go with the performance exhaust system over the stock exhaust system.

You Can Save Money On Car Expenses

Gas prices remain at historically high levels and the long term trend is indicating that they will stay high. If you own one or more cars, you understand that saving cash somewhere, somehow is important to helping you preserve your budget. The following are some important tips to help you manage your car expenses.

Look over your insurance. If your car is between two and three thousand dollars, consider canceling your collision coverage. The money you save could then be set aside by you toward a down payment on your next vehicle.

Keep your tires suitably inflated. Your gas mileage will fall if your tires are under inflated. Keep your tires at the suggested pressure amounts and your gas mileage should stay stable.

Do not change your oil too often. Unless you drive entirely in the city you do not need to change your oil every 3000 miles. Most cars can last up to 7500 miles between changes. You will, however, still need to change your oil twice yearly even if you drive infrequently.

Do some minor maintenance yourself. You can change your wipers, the air filter, battery, and replace a tire yourself. If you rely on others, your costs will climb considerably.

Use regular gas. If your car requires regular gas, do not indulge in premium. Your car probably will not run any better and you will have paid as much as 25 cents extra per gallon extra.

Don't purchase an comprehensive warranty. The amount of money you pay for an extended warranty is usually more than what the warranty is worth. If you feel that a particular car model requires an extended warranty, perhaps you should consider shopping for a vehicle that is much more dependable.

You can save plenty of money by washing and waxing your car yourself. Treat yourself to the services of a car wash no more than 2-3 times per year.

Follow the manufacturer's recommendations. The manufacturer of your vehicle will know how long parts should last. Change your timing belt before it becomes a problem, your fuel filter as required, and keep an eye on your brakes, tires, and shocks. Most cars built today do not need a complete tune up for as long as one hundred thousand miles, so do not put down the $250 for a tune up before one becomes a necessity.

Use a private garage. No, you do not have to take your Chevy to the Chevrolet dealership for service. If you have a decent, local garage that knows your make and model you can typically save money by using them instead.

We aren’t likely to see gas prices below $2 per gallon again, while $3 per gallon may soon be the rule. Supply and demand cannot be controlled, but you can take the above steps to make certain that your car does not cost you more than it should.

Your Auto Warranty: What To Look For

When deciding which car to buy, make sure you check the auto warranty that comes with the vehicle. In this article we will help you sort through all the auto warranty-related issues. After all, not every new car warranty is created equally. Some will cover all the non-wear items on the car up to only three years or 36,000 miles. Others will cover repairs all the way up to 10 years or 100,000 miles. The strength of the coverage that is included will help you decide whether to buy an extended auto warranty.

It's important to understand the different parts of an auto warranty as it is good to know the difference between a new car warranty and an extended auto warranty.

A typical new car warranty has two parts: the "bumper to bumper" warranty, which covers everything except the "wear" items such as brakes and tires; and the power-train warranty that covers all the parts that make the car move, such as the engine and transmission.

Bumper to Bumper

Few extended vehicle warranty plans cover absolutely everything on a vehicle. Read the warranty contract and find out exactly what is and what is not covered. If the contract says it covers everything except for X, Y, and Z; that's a lot more coverage than a contract which lists 10 or 20 items which are covered. Keep in mind your own history with vehicles and what repair/maintenance you expect to have in the next few years to your car.

Wear and Tear

Many extended vehicle warranty plans cover parts that break, just as they cover those that wear out. Once again, read the contract to understand the differences and how they may affect your final cost.

An extended auto warranty can be purchased to prolong the coverage of the bumper-to-bumper warranty. Most people are familiar with the extended warranty that is sold at dealerships. This is sometimes called a "factory warranty" because factory-trained technicians perform the required work on the car. There are also "third-party" warranties, which can save consumers money but are generally less convenient to use. Many third-party warranties require out-of-pocket payment for repairs before reimbursement. Weigh all these factors carefully before you make your choice.

By looking carefully at your auto warranty before you buy, you will save yourself much potential future problems.

Your Essential Guide To Auto Transport & Vehicle Moving

Have you ever bought a car in one state and needed shipped just on the other side of the country? Or maybe, have your car sent to your ex-wife, who happens to live in Canada? Or, why not, bought your car on-line, from San Francisco and need it in New York? I’m sure that, if this hasn’t happened yet, it will probably happen sooner or later. So here are a few tips in transporting your car within USA, or between USA and Canada, no matter the distance.

Scheduling

Bearing in mind that the whole process can take quite a while, especially on long distances, schedule your auto shipping at least 4 weeks before you move, giving enough time to arrange for a car mover carrier to pick up your vehicle. Basically, the more advance time the better. If you are not available, you should arrange an alternative authorized party such as neighbor, friend or relative you can trust to transfer the car to the car mover. Most automobile shippers offer door-to-door service.

The cost

When working with a Car Mover, confirm what the total cost of the shipping will be. As you obtain quotes from several car transport and auto shipping companies (some links included lower), be prepared to provide:

·Origination/destination;
·Approximate departure date;
·Type of vehicle(s);
·Type of car transport service desired (e.g. door-to-door car transport vs. terminal-to-terminal);
·Special car mover or auto shipping requests (e.g. deliver at a location other than your home vs. at your home).

Payment method

While some car transport and auto drive-away companies may not require payment in advance, others require a deposit (10-25% of the total cost), or full payment in advance. If a deposit is given, amount due is always required at time of delivery – oftentimes with a cashiers check or cash. Sometimes a surcharge of 2-3% is required when using a credit card with a car transport or auto drive-away company.

Licenses

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration must license auto shippers, transporters with a valid MC# or US DOT#.

Insurance

The car Transport Company or auto drive-away should insure your vehicle against damage and theft. ASK FOR A COPY OF INSURANCE COVERAGE. Ask if the carrier's insurance is PRIMARY or SECONDARY to your own insurance in the event of damage during car transport. Also, ask if there is damage deductible – VERIFY ALL IN WRITING. In addition, your own car insurance may cover your vehicle in transit – check with your car insurance company to verify.

Inspect your car before shipping

It is advisable that in addition to receiving a condition report document from your car mover detailing any pre-existing damage to your car, that you take photographs of the car, date the photos, and attach them to the condition report provided by the car mover for your records. You must have a detailed description of the condition of your car prior to shipping. The condition report or other document used by the car mover should include current mileage, pre-existing damage of any type including as glass, scratches, paint, dents, and so on. This report is important in case any disputes arise.

Accepting your vehicle for delivery

At the time of delivery, inspect your vehicle SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY and compare the condition and mileage against the "Original Inspection Report" provided by your car transport company at origination (ALSO INSPECT THE ROOF AND UNDER FRONT AND REAR BUMPERS). If there are inconsistencies, note them as exceptions and be sure the driver signs it. NEVER ACCEPT YOUR VEHICLE AT NIGHT IF YOU CANNOT VERIFY ITS CONDITION – without being viewed and signed by the driver, you have little recourse if damage had occurred during transit.

Unresolved Disputes

Always try to work out your dispute with the car mover or auto shipping company first. They often work on a referral basis and are motivated to working out problems. However, if you feel you have reached a dead end or that you have not been treated reasonably, you have the option of filing complaints with multiple agencies (BBB, State and or Federal Department Of Transportation, Interstate Commerce Commission) as well as seeking legal counsel.

As I hope everything will turn out all right with your delivery, I’m giving a few links to some major auto-transportation companies. There you should find responses that are more comprehensive to your questions and to the money and work involved in shipping your car from one place to another.

www.carmoves.com -A AAAdvantage Auto Transporters (800) 233-4875
www.dasautoshippers.com -Dependable Auto Shippers (800) 763-4165
www.afldir.com -A Florida Direct Auto Transport (888) 432-4708
www.btransport.com -B&T Auto Transport (866) 849-3700

Your Guide To Towing – Know Before You Tow

If you love to camp, hike, fish, water ski and enjoy the great outdoors; chances are there will come a time when you want to tow a boat or camping trailer. Know before you tow with this guide to towing.

Here are some terms you should be familiar with and what you need to check. The Base Curb Weight + Cargo Weight + Passenger Weight = GVW or Gross Vehicle Weight. The GVW + Loaded Trailer Weight = GCW or Gross Combination Weight.

The GVW must not exceed the GVWR which can be found on the safety Compliance Certification label. The GVWR is the maximum weight allowed on a fully loaded vehicle. This includes passengers and cargo. Once you have this information, you will be able to figure out what size trailer a vehicle can tow.

There are two different types of hitches on the market. A weight carrying hitch is common for small to medium size trailers. Use a good weight carrying hitch that properly distributes the weight. You’ll find a label on the hitch that provides the weight carrying and weight distributing capacity of the hitch. Don’t exceed the rating.

The weight distributing hitch uses a hitch platform to distribute the tongue load to all the wheels of the towing vehicle and trailer. It is the required type of hitch for most Class III and IV trailers. This type of hitch is welded or bolted to the frame of the vehicle and it has equalizing arms that are connected from the hitch to the trailer’s frame.

Besides the GVWR and the correct type of hitch, you also need to make sure your braking system is adequate. If your load is more than 1500 pounds, the law requires a separate braking system. There are two types on the market.

Electronically controlled brakes provide both automatic and manual control of the trailer brakes. The tow vehicle needs to be equipped with a controlling device and requires some wiring. Surge brakes are independent and are activated by a master cylinder that is located at the junction of the trailer tongue and hitch. Make sure your braking system conforms with all legal requirements.

The trailer will also need to be equipped with trailer lights that meet government regulations. Do not connect the trailer lights directly to the vehicle’s lighting system. They need to be installed with a proper wiring harness. See your dealer to ensure you have the correct wiring harness for your vehicle.

Safety chains should always be used when towing. They provide a connection between the trailer and the vehicle should the hitch fail. Cross the chains under the trailer tongue to stop the tongue from connecting with the ground if the hitch fails, and leave only enough slack to allow for a full turn.

A trailer is a great investment. It will take you from the mountains to the valleys and from the river to the lakes. If you haven’t towed before it’s natural to feel overwhelmed about choosing a vehicle and trailer to tow safely. This guide to towing will have you confidently towing in no time!

Easy To Read Articles

Article writing does not need to be difficult. The information about writing articles presented here will do one of two things: either it will reinforce what you know about article marketing or it will teach you something new. Both are good outcomes.

When writing articles, make sure to keep your readers in mind. Studies have shown that most Internet readers tend to scan a page to find the information they are looking for, rather than reading the entire page. This means having good titles, a lot of subtitles, and making use of bullet points to help your readers easily scan your page. Readers prefer a site like this that is easy to use and will be more willing to come back to your site time and time again. The more that your readers return, the more opportunities you will have to get them to click on each one of your affiliate links. Failing to write your articles in this manner, or to have them written this way, could turn your site visitors away before they even have a chance to see what you have to say or to learn what your affiliate links are all about. Keeping your articles organized as recommended will keep your visitors returning and enable your site to continue making money for you.

Making money with articles can be fairly easy for anyone. If you are a quick learner and great reader, then you can learn everything you need to know right from the Internet without any previous training needed. This is probably the best fact about niche website Internet marketing.

Hopefully the information presented so far has been applicable. You might also want to consider the following:

If you are new to the business, your best bet is to ease into it. If you jump in before you know what you are doing, you have a good chance of losing money and having nothing to show for it. There are several things that you need to make sure you know how to do before you begin creating your first site.

• Create your own great articles or hire someone to do it for you
• Optimize your website for search engines
• Find reliable web hosting
• Pick a catchy URL
• Create a small site that is easy to navigate, have one created for you, or pay to use a What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) website builder.

It never hurts to be well-informed with the latest on article marketing. Compare what you've learned here to future articles so that you can stay alert to changes in the area of article marketing.

The day will come when you can use something you read about here to have a beneficial impact. Then you'll be glad you took the time to learn more about article marketing.

Counting Cards: How to Escape Detection

It is not a secret for anyone that casinos do not like blackjack counters and frequently ask them to leave or to play another game. Here, we will describe how casino management detects counters and how to act when caught. We also describe the countermeasures that casinos use against skilled players but most of all we show you how to count cards while not getting caught.

Do Casinos Object?
Most casinos have strict policies that ban any player from counting cards when playing blackjack, but some like those in New Jersey do not pay any attention to such players.

How Do You Know Whether A Casino Minds?
You do not. But you had better act as if they all do and thus save yourself the embarressment of being shoved out if they do mind and if they catch you red-handed.

How to Count Without Getting Detected?
Always keep in mind that since card counting is something that one does silently, the only method to detect it is through observing you and the manner you play. Thus, look out for the following:
1) Do not stare at the cards of other players. Glance once, count, and then move on.
2) Do not stare at the cards that have been discarded. Look quickly and then slowly move away by shifting your gaze nonchalantly from player to player.
3) Change your pattern of betting occassionaly.
4) Change the amount of betting money each round.
5) Even though you know it, loose a round or two. Do not bet big on those rounds. But likewise do not bet too small too. If the casino notices that you are always winning big and losing small, they might get suspicious.
6) Buy chips of different colours and then mix them around while playing to confuse the dealer.
7) Talk to the other players while playing, but this is especially difficult so practice this at home before trying it at a casino.
8) Pick your seat carefully: either the first chair or the third one so that you won't have to twist your head around as the cards are dealt.
9) Dress casually because smart and elegant clothes cause the dealers to think you are intelligent and they might watch you more closely.
10) Order an alcoholic drink and pretend to sip it because they are looking for those non-drinkers who are staying sober to count the cards.

The common denominator of all these is that you must never forget that the casino si watching you and how you play. Act accordingly!

Supposing that the Casino Catches On, What Should you Do?
Stay calm if the casino catches you counting cards and abide by their wishes quietely. Do not make a fuss. If they ask you to leave, do so. The faster you leave, the easier it will be for you to return later. Remember that if you make a fuss, they will all remember you, so desist from any unfriendly behaviour. Note that after shifts change, the new personnel won't know you so all you have to do is wait for that and then you can start playing again. You could also just enter the next casino and start earning money there instead of risking casino personnel from recognizing you.

Craps: Books for Beginners and Advanced Players

Although craps is not a very complicated game, many people find themselves confused by its strange terminology and large numbers of betting options. This article focuses on the most recommended craps books available in the market including beginners books, strategy books for the advanced player and books that introduce the concept of dice control.

1) Craps for the Clueless: A Beginners Guide to Playing and Winning by John Patrick
As its name indicates, it provides basic information on playing craps. The book is written in simple language that makes the terminology easy to understand even if you have never seen a craps table before. In addition to the object of the game, Craps for the Clueless, reveals the winning secrets of professional gamblers.

John Patrick is a professional gambler, an author of many gaming guidebooks and the former host of the TV show "So You Wanna be a Gambler", which was aired on national cable network for over a decade. According to Patrick, a successful gambling is a result of four essentials, he calls "The Big Four", which are a proper use of the bankroll, knowledge of the game, money management and discipline.

2) Beat the Craps Out of the Casinos: How to Play Craps and Win by Frank Scoblete
This book supplies useful information for the newbie as well as for the experienced player. The book explains how the game can be beaten including explanations on which bets can lower the house edge and which bets should by avoided by the smart player.

Frank Scoblete is one of the top selling gambling authors in the US and the director of Golden Touch, which offers seminars on craps and blackjack. Other recommended books by Scoblete are "The Captains Craps Revolution", "Forever Craps" and "Get the Edge at Craps".

3) Craps: Take the Money and Run by Henry J. Tamburin
Take the Money and Run focuses on how to make fast profits from playing at casinos. In addition to introduction on the mechanics of the game and recommendations on best bets, the book offers the Increased Odds craps betting system and the Take the Money and Run discipline, which both promise to maximize the profits. The book also provides a special chapter on using the pass line bet for maximizing your profits. Take the Money and Run has special chapters on tournaments and new variations.

Dr. Henry J. Tamburin has been playing for over 25 years, and his betting system and discipline are based on his winning experiences.

4) Dice Control for Casino Craps by Yuri Kononenko.
This guide book offers an easy to understand introduction to the concept of dice control from the mathematical and mechanical points of view.

Other recommended books that teach how to gain advantage over the house by using dice control are Frank Scoblete's "Golden Touch Dice Control Revolution" and "Craps Underground: The Inside Story of How Dice Controllers are Winning Millions from the Casinos", which offers a fascinating inside look on the game system.

Conclusion:
Unlike poker or blackjack, this game is not very popular, but in that lies the biggest opportunity. The casinos focus on getting a profit from the popular games. Take advantage of this, and make your profit at this game instead.

directory of driving schools

Resources for learner drivers and driving schools are widely available. There are two main sources, the local transport authority as well as the internet. Information can be accessed from both categories easily on safe driving. Catalogues and booklets offering resources are available both at the local transport authority office and on the internet. Some of these resources are also available for free. A fully developed guide for learner drivers and driving schools comes at a price.

The 'Driver's Record', brought out by Driving Standards Agency, will be of great assistance. This catalogue offers tips to driving schools to train learner drivers is a must. Every driving school should have a copy of this catalogue. Every approved driving instructor should necessarily keep this catalogue in the vehicle while training learner drivers.

The first and foremost tip is to drive safe. The learner has to be at least 17 years old to qualify for training. Some of the most important instructions to be followed by the learner driver are: the learner driver should possess a valid provisional driver license; obtain insurance to drive the vehicle; meet the vision (eye sight) standards; drive vehicles that display the board L (this is to caution other drivers that this particular car is being driven by a learner).

It is easy to obtain a provisional driver license. All learner drivers should possess a provisional driver license. Only people, who are 17-years-old, will be granted the provisional driver license. A provisional driver license holder should drive a vehicle bearing the board (L) only on the roads. They are not permitted to drive on speedways or motorways.

After obtaining a provisional driving license, contact the nearest approved driving training schools, which employ certified driving instructors with sufficient experience. It is easy to locate such driving training schools since they are registered on the internet and in the yellow pages. They also advertise their services in the neighborhood. After ascertaining the credibility of the driving training school, register yourself for the training session.

There is no fixed training duration for training drivers. It depends on each individual's learning and grasping skills. Ideally, every learner driver should undergo training for not less than 15 hours over two weeks. However some research has found that a total of 50 hours are required for a trainer driver to completely undergo all categories of training to become eligible to drive on freeways.

Once the learner driver completes the training, a test has to be cleared to obtain a driver's license. The test includes both theoretical test and practical test to ascertain the expertise of the driver.

Why

Many articles supply answers, but here I do not. Here, I ask the questions. If you want to rack your brains for finding the answers to these life conundrums. But, I warn you. Beware. These are not easy, and though somewhat hilarious and funny, they are real and true to life.

Should I begin? Ok, here I go:

1) How come Tarzan has no bears even though he grows up with wolves in the jungle?

2) Why does glue not stick to the insides of the tube or can that it comes in?

3) Why do they use sterile injections when executing someone who is condemned to death?

4) Why do we press down harder and harder or the remote controls even though we know that the batteries are low?

5) Why is it that when someone hits us in the ankles with his supermarket trolley and then appologizes, do we say that everything is ok? I mean, things are not really fine. Why is it that we do not say that it hurts?

6) Why is it that whatever the color of the bath soap, the bubbles are always white?

7) Why is it that you will never find a day when mattresses are not on sale?

8) Why is it that online casinos always offer big prize money for their tournaments but never reveal the real name of the winner after the competition is over?

9) If human beings evolved from monkeys, why is it that there still are monkeys?

10) Why did the Japanese Kamikaze pilots wear helmets during the second World War?

11) Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest but, then, duck when the empty gun is thrown at him.

12) Why do banks charge a commission when you go into debt even though they know that there is no money in that account?

13) Why do people go back again and again to the refrigerator hoping that something new to eat will appear there?

14) Why do people move their vacuum cleaner over a thin thread lying on the floor, bend down, pick it up, examine it, and then, place it on the floor again and move the vacuum over it again?

15) Why do people believe it when they are told that there are more than four billion stars, but when they see a sign that says wet paint, they have to touch and check?

16) Why does a plastic bag not open at the end where you first try to open it?

17) Why do you never hear jokes about father in laws?

18) Why are there dead insects inside enclosed electric lamps?

19) Why is it that in winter we try and keep the house as warm as it was during the summer when back in the summer we hated the heat?

20) Why is it that every time you try and catch something that is about to fall off the table, you always hit something else and drop that instead?

Conclusion:
Life has many oddities and conundrums: some funny, some less. I have mentioned but a few. Think of more? Send them to me.

Why casinos need 24 hour day care

Recently in the news across the USA there have been several reports of parents leaving their children locked in their cars, while the parents sit in a casino and gamble.

A great way to stop this from happening would be to legalize online gambling so that parents that can not afford a baby sitter will not do something as stupid as locking a small child in a car alone for several hours.

Another solution would be for the casino industry to take responsibility of the people they lure in with promises of riches beyond belief. If the casinos all offered 24 hour free daycare for all casino players those parents who are so far gone in their addiction will not have to make the decision of what to do with their children, they can just take them to the casino and let them be watched after in the casinos daycare centers.

As well as making sure children are not being neglected by their parents or legal guardians, the children in their care can be checked for signs of abuse and any parent that brings a child regularly to the casino can be talked to about gambling addiction.

Please do not get me wrong I feel the parents should be the ones taking responsibility for their kids, but gambling addiction is a disease, and at least this would provide a way for the government to monitor parents gambling habits, and to provide them with help if they need it.

Besides being the right move for the casinos to make for its own civic duty, it also makes good business sense. If the casinos offer such a service they also open themselves up to single parents that could use a little time for some adult fun, and by making the day care 24 hours a day there is no reason why a parent would leave their kid at home instead of at the casinos free daycare.

The parents could relax and have a little fun with the knowledge that their kids are being taken good care of.

This is not a new concept there are several casinos in Las Vegas that offer day care. These centers offer children of different ages fun things to do, such as all the popular videos, and games fro kids. This will appeal to people with kids. The parents get to gamble and have some adult fun and the kids get to do fun kid stuff.

By doing this the casinos will get more business and they are doing the responsible thing for their customers with gambling problems. I understand that the casinos are a business, but they should make sure that some of their less responsible gamblers do not put their children's lives in danger just to make an extra few dollars in a multi billion dollar a year industry

If enough people recommend this to their local casinos and state officials, casinos could be required by law to provide child care when they are open.

Why Do People Gamble? Reasons to Gambling Popularity

Gambling in its various forms has been popular for centuries in different cultures all over the entire world. Whether through the national lottery, in horse racing tracks or in casino table games, people are wagering their money hoping to win big time. Although the number of people who go home with life changing winnings is much smaller than the number of people who have left their money in the casinos, race tracks or bingo halls, the popularity of the pastime has not been reduced through the years.

Despite the low odds of stepping out as winners in most popular forms of gambling is a well known fact, even though gambling suffers from a bad reputation and even when it is illegal, gambling is still one of the most popular pastimes in the world. So, why do people gamble? The most obvious answer would be money, but it will not be a full answer. There are many other reasons that drive people to the nearest gambling facility. Here we will try to offer an answer to this disturbing question.

Luck: the irrational believe in luck is engraved in most of us. These unexplained gut feelings that a special day or a certain number is luckier than the others are sends a lot of people to gamble or even gamble on the same numbers over and over again.

Social Purposes: have you ever wonder how can a group of people beat the pants off someone in a poker game and remain best buddies? You can see it in bingo halls, casino bars and friendly poker games: many people see gambling as an opportunity to make new friends or spend time with old friends in addition to the chance of earning additional money.

Entertainment: many people visit casinos and play their favorite casino games simply because they love it and they are having a great time. In Las Vegas casinos for example, you will meet more recreational gamblers who see gambling as part of their vacation activities than professional gamblers who take gambling as a serious source of income.

Excitement: the act of gambling apparently can give you quite an adrenaline rush. Regardless of the money aspect, the anticipation of the outcome of the game while still not knowing whether it would match your bet is what makes all forms of gambling so thrilling and exciting.

Relaxation: as opposed to the accelerated adrenaline rush described by many gamblers, many gamblers find the gambling experience relaxing. When you think about it, what can be more relaxing than ending a busy work week in the comfortable casino atmosphere, playing your favorite game and served free drinks?

Boredom: whether exciting or relaxing, when the daily lives become an unbearable routine, gambling can serve as a way to escape reality.

Money: in addition to all the reasons mentioned above, gambling allegedly provides an opportunity to can earn unbelievable amounts of money within short time and minimum investment. Even if you are aware to the exact mathematical odds of beating each and every gambling game, if you are an optimist by nature, this slightest chance would nevertheless drive you to a casino, a bookie, a lottery terminal or a bingo hall.

Why I Killed My Muse-- And You Should Too

Last night, in the dark following midnight I killed my muse (suffocating her quietly with a pillow) and buried her in my back garden. Today I will plant a roses to hide the grave. No one will ever know and I will be free at last of her insidious hold and I will be able to write what I want.

Why did I resort to this deed? After all my muse was lovely and gave me many gifts over the years. She saw me through dark times and helped mark the joyous ones. Many times she inspired me to reach for more and push myself beyond what I thought I could achieve. Knowing all this why would I kill the very source of my inspiration?

Oh, I had my reasons...

It started out quietly. As I would sit at my keyboard or curl up with a notebook, she would perch on my shoulder as was her wont to do. "I don't think you meant to write that sentence," she would whisper in my ear. "That doesn't sound like the best description," she would snipe. "Is that the best you can do?" she would sneer.

I took to sneaking my writing in when I knew she was occupied elsewhere. She never could resist critiquing the writing in the morning paper if it was left spread on the kitchen table. That way I could sometimes write several pages before she began her commentary. "Surely you can find a better way to approach this topic," her mocking voice would interrupt. "That has been so done."

Soon I was spending more time arguing with her, defending my words, than I was writing. Then my production slowed to a crawl as I would overanalyze each word choice and sentence formation before committing it to screen or paper. All that did was give her more time to find fault with the few words I did write.

Despite urgent deadlines and simmering ideas, I started avoiding the computer and all writing materials. I cleaned my house. I read for hours on end. I made plans for a new garden. The need the write built within me but always my muse was watching me with those eyes -- so judgmental, so critical. I would turn away from my office with a sigh and find some other project.

When I could no longer suppress the urge to write I locked her in a closet and had a wonderfully productive morning. I was so happy with my work that I let her out as I went out the door to run some errands. That just made her mean.

She was waiting for me at the door when I came home. Her glasses had slid nearly to the tip of her nose and somehow she'd found a red pencil (I certainly never brought any such thing into the house). I shuddered at the sight of my happy morning's labor marred by vicious slashes of red. The red blurred before my eyes into a crimson haze and then...

Perhaps it is better that you don't know the details. Suffice it to say that I have selected several old-fashioned roses with luscious aroma and delicate coloring. I am sure they will provide both inspiration and comfort.

Despite my late hours and the physical toil involved, this morning I awoke early and have already logged in several hours at the keyboard. My fingers flew across the keys and after completing several long-stagnant projects I outlined notes for some new. Writing is joyful and rewarding again.

I think I might dedicate this next book to the memory of my muse. Perhaps it will serve as a warning to those other muses out there who are on the verge of going over the edge. Perhaps it will inspire those other writers out there who have let their muse stifle their creativity and shove them right into writer's block. Maybe my warning will mean those other muses and their writers will find a way to work things out.

Why Marijuana Should be Legal

Many Americans feel that Marijuana is helping fund the war on terror, but making a war on drugs and keeping Marijuana illegal has not stopped millions of Americans from smoking pot everyday. So what is the answer?

First, why is Marijuana illegal? In the 1930's William Randolph Hearst, who had significant financial interests in the timber industry testified to congress on the evils of marijuana, saying things like it make people insane and commit acts of cannibalism? at this time very few even knew what it was and to stop people from going insane Congress decided to make it illegal.

The truth is many paper manufacturers were thinking of changing from using trees to make paper to using hemp because it was cheaper and easier to grow and better for the environment, and Hearst stood to loose millions so he used his influence and testimony to help get marijuana banned in the USA.

So now that we know why it was made illegal, we can realize that not only would making it legal in the United States stop terrorist from smuggling it into the USA, but would give us another option to cutting down of millions of trees every year for paper products that can be made better from hemp.

Hemp has thousands of uses that we are unable to exploit because of its illegal status.

During WWII hemp was used for the rigging on parachutes as well as rope and material for uniforms.

Nowadays Marijuana can be used to relieve pain and some of the effect of cancer treatments and old age.

It has been proven to slow down the spreading of Alzheimer's, relieve the pressure behind the eyes from glaucoma. It also helps relieve migraine headaches and the side effect of cancer treatment.

But until the United States realizes how much money can be made from legalizing it, it will remain illegal.

This is much like the situation with online casinos in the USA. America was sending billions of dollars out of the country and the government needed to do something to keep the money here, so they banned Online Casino and just like online casinos and online gambling I believe one day the government will learn to take advantage of these things instead of just banning them.

Eventually the USA will realize that the best way to stop the flow of money out of the country is not to ban marijuana or online casinos, but to enter the market and compete.

If the USA did what Amsterdam has done the government would make not only billions in Taxes from the sales of Marijuana, but the economy would boom from all the tourism that it would bring in from all over the world.

The truth of the matter is that legalization is inevitable. The attitude of people has changed so drastically over the last 30 years, that eventually when the younger generations start to take over marijuana will eventually become legal because they understand the truth, and that is banning something only makes the market for it stronger.

Will the Democrats be able to Reverse the Online Gambling Ban

Many people were hoping that if the Democrats won control of Congress they would reverse the online gambling ban, but experts doubt they will even try or that if they do that the will be successful.

Once the bill was passed and signed into law by the president, it became much harder to reverse the law.

The democrats would need to bring up the law and get it to a vote, then after the vote passed it needs to go to the president for his signature. The problem with this is that the current president is the one who signed the bill into law in the first place.

Another problem is because the gambling ban was attached to another bill, it means that to reverse the law the entire bill needs to be reversed, but the other part of the bill is for an increase in port security, so any congressmen who recommends reversing this law, will be going on record as trying to reverse the increase in port security.

Because of this trying to get the law reversed could ruin a congressman’s chances of ever getting elected to public office again for the rest of their lives.

It is more likely that it will have to wait till the end of George Bushes term in office and then get an amendment to the law that reverses only gambling ban part of the law.

So if you are on Online Gambling enthusiast and you were hoping that after the election the online gambling ban would just disappear I am sorry to say you were mistaken and that you are going to have to wait a little longer, but that does not mean you need to sit quietly by.

The key is to make sure that you are heard, write letters to congressmen, and attend protest rallies anything that will keep this issue in the front of the minds of the politicians so they know that just as the Republicans lost the house so can they.

The republicans used the online gambling ban to try to gain votes for them in the last weeks before the election, but it backfired on them and lost them more votes then it brought in.

Hopefully the Democrats will learn from the mistakes of the Republicans and will understand that banning something never works, and that it is only thru regulating the online gambling industry that will ensure that it is safe and honest to play and that no underage children manage to play.
Other wise I am sure that the Democrats will also see the wrath of the American voters when it comes time for the next elections.

The American people are tired of having the government controlling every aspect of their lives and I think this election may have made their point for them.

So if the question is will they try to reverse the law I am sure they will try, but how successful they will be is still up in the air, and no one can really know what the outcome will be.

Writing: Is It A Skill, Craft, Or Gift?

Whenever you gather writers together they talk about writing. There are many different types of writers. Those who prefer to compose in long-hand or can only write on an old-fashioned manual typewriter. Those who write to music, demand complete silence, or create best surrounded by noise. You have the writers who must plan and outline before they can begin and those who find even talking about a project before it is drafted can stifle their creativity. But one of the most controversial divisions among writers is about whether writing is a skill, craft, or gift.

I admit that I like to stir the fire a bit because I can argue all three points and depending on how my own writing is going at the moment I may find that one viewpoint carries more weight for me personally.

I know as a teacher of writing that writing is a skill. I have taken people, young and old, who loathed writing and believed they would never be able to write -- and provided them with basic tips and tools to become good basic writers. I have taken good basic writers and given them the support and direction they've needed to become skilled writers. I've watched skilled writers with practice and determination become proficient writers. I have seen this in the classroom, at writing conferences, and in newsrooms. I have witnessed this transformation enough to know that writing is a skill that can be taught and a skill that can be learned.

I know as a writer, editor, and reader that writing is a craft. As the definition reads to craft is "to make or produce with care, skill, or ingenuity". A skilled writer can capture our interest and convey information, but a writer can also craft a story, poem, or essay that touches our emotions as well as our brains. For those who have gone beyond simply skilled to be craftsmen and craftswomen they can rely on their knowledge, experience, and instinct to create writing that does more than simply delivers -- it also sings.

I know as a writer and reader that writing is a gift. Some writers simply possess a special quality that allows them to step beyond and above the huddled masses. For some it is a special ability to shape words into images and ideas and for some it is a unique vision of this world (or another) that speaks to our souls in a way others cannot.

Are writers born or made? Many people argue that some gifted writers are born, but I am not convinced. Perhaps you could have some predisposition but I believe that writers are made. They are made in the rocking chair when Mother reads "Goodnight, Moon"; they are made under the cover with a flashlight when you simply must finish "The Hobbit" for the first time; they are made when you proudly pocket your first library card; they are made when you fill your first notebook; they are made when you submit your first poem, article or story for publication; they are made when you receive your first rejection; and they are made when you turn the computer on every day to write.

I believe some writers are supremely gifted but even so does that mean it was a gift given to them whole or was it a gift developed through years of reading, writing, talking, and thinking about words?

So, I believe, writing is all three -- a skill, a craft, and a gift. Some writers find their ability spans all three while others never progress past the level of skill.

WRITING A BETTER STORY

Check below for hints and suggestions on how to organize your writing and make it a better read for your audience.

Story Summary.

State in one or two sentences the kernel of your book, story, or blog. Do not exceed thirty words total.

Outline Structure.

Provide yourself with a rough outline of the story’s structure as you see it now. This would include story arcs (beginning, rise, climax), character introductions, main themes, pivotal events, key information, plot points intended to maintain tension, etc.

In the beginning this doesn’t need to be extensive, but have it set aside to refer to, and flesh it out as important points occur to you. After you have a good outline to work with, you can use it like a map. Try to avoid adding ideas on small slips of paper. Instead, incorporate them into your outline. If you’re not sure where they go, guess, and mark them with an asterisk as a reminder to review them later.

Character Traits/Development Log.

List the vital statistics of your characters, leaving room to flesh out the information. As you think of back-story for them, traits, thoughts, etc., list them here. If they are main characters in a long piece, consider setting up separate documents for them, or even databases. Chart a time line for your characters as you go, noting development (growth or decline), change, conflict, back story, relationships with other characters, etc. These thoughts should work in tandem with the outline you are developing. REMEMBER, MOST CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE MADE THROUGH DIALOGUE. THIS IS THE MOST RELIABLE WAY TO CREATE VIVID CHARACTERS THAT THE READER WILL RECOGNIZE. A READER WILL OVERWHELMINGLY BELIEVE A SPOKEN CLUE TO CHARACTER OVER AN EXPOSITORY ONE.

Note: Characters can and probably need to be witty, but biting wit creates unsympathetic characters and the protagonist should not be unsympathetic. There are exceptions, but the rule is to keep your protagonist likeable.

Exposition

Use this as a device to increase tension and augment the dramatic tone of your work. Be careful to limit self-indulgent wallowing or too much repetition. Topics could include goals, plans, fears, and dreams. Exposition shouldn’t be long-winded, and should have variety. Build on previous revelations, and vary short and long sentences to give your exposition rhythm and punch.

Remember, when readers get tired or bored, this is the stuff they skip. Make your exposition as readable as possible. If you’re going to lose someone, this is probably where it will happen.

Conflict

Stories are about conflict. Conflict is an essential element of fiction. In your writing there should always be at least two things in your story that are sources of conflict. There should be one conflict which follows through the whole story and is only resolved at the end.

Secondary conflicts are necessary because they propel the reader through slower sections of the story and maintain tension and momentum. You should structure your work to include secondary conflicts where they will keep your writing moving at a pace that will make the reader keep the book in his hand. Try diagramming the story by conflict to see where the gaps are.

Have Fun

If you’re having fun writing, your reader will know it. One of the easiest things you can do to improve your writing is to enjoy it. Whatever your level of skill, you’re creating something. The more enthusiasm you have for the process, the better the end product will be.

Writing A Great Resume!

If you are looking for a job, then it is very important that you understand how to offer yourself in the best way to an employer.

This is done by writing a 'CV' (curriculum vitae - Latin for 'life story'), called in some countries a 'resume'.

Different countries may have different requirements and styles for CV resumes. So you must follow the correct practice for your culture and country.

What IS a resume?
A Resume is a self-promotional document that presents you in the best possible light, for the purpose of getting invited to a job interview. It's not an official personnel document. It's not a job application. It's not a career obituary! And it's not a confessional.

What Contents within the Resume?
It's not just about past jobs! It's about YOU, and how you performed and what you accomplished in those past jobs--especially those accomplishments that are most relevant to the work you want to do next. A good resume predicts how you might perform in that desired future job.

What is the fastest way to improve a resume?
Remove everything that starts with responsibilities included and replace it with on-the-job accomplishments.

Most common resume mistake made by job hunters!
Leaving out their Job Objective! If you don't show a sense of direction, employers won't be interested. Having a clearly stated goal doesn't have to confine you if it's stated well.

What's the first step in writing a resume?
Decide on a job target (or job objective) that can be stated in about 5 or 6 words. Anything beyond that is probably fluff and indicates a lack of clarity and direction.

Chronological resume or a Functional one?
The Chronological format is widely preferred by employers, and works well if you're staying in the same field (especially if you've been upwardly-mobile). Only use a Functional format if you're changing fields, and you're sure a skills-oriented format would show off your transferable skills to better advantage; and be sure to include a clear chronological work history!

What if you don't have any experience in the kind of work you want to do?
Get some! Find a place that will let you do some volunteer work right away. You only need a brief, concentrated period of volunteer training (for example, 1 day a week for a month) to have at least SOME experience to put on your resume. Also, look at some of the volunteer work you've done in the past and see if any of that helps document some skills you'll need for your new job.

Writing Exercise 3: This Could Get Dangerous

Defining your fictional characters' voices is important. What is equally vital, though, is grasping your characters' humanity, the core of their fictional soul.

A good way to learn how to do this is by observing an incident through another living person's eyes.

For this exercise, choose your spouse, a relative, or your best friend to play the fictional character in a 500-word dramatic scene. Write using either third person or first person point of view.

Traumatic situations force people to reveal their true self. In other words, actions speak louder than words.

How would your chosen person react in a traumatic situation, a blind date, for example, or a wildfire?

Don't be blinded by your feelings for the person. You love your spouse, but how would he or she truthfully react if faced with a wildfire?

Consider objectively what you know about the person, and then what you sense.

We react instinctively toward other people, though we often pay no attention to the quiet voice in the back of our minds. Listen to what your quiet voice tells you about the hidden humanity of your chosen person, and then weave the information into your fictional character.

The humanity you need to bring your character to life is hidden behind the friendly smile you see every day.

You might want to keep this exercise away from the eyes of your chosen person. He or she might not appreciate being made into a fictional character.

Do not use your chosen person's name for your character! Your life may be on the line.

Grasp your character's humanity and you will give your character a soul your readers can believe in.