According to John Eidsmoe, the US Constitution was heavily influenced by Christianity. That is the thesis of his book Christianity and the Constitution. Published in 1987 by Baker House, the book is 415 pages in length.
The book leads off with a survey of various philosophical schools popular in the 18th Century, not least of which was Calvinism. Mr. Eidsmoe states that a majority of Americans were Calvinist, but fails to demonstrate its influence on the Founders.
The book deals briefly with "John Locke's social contract theory," which is said to be the "secular expression" of the covenant. Mr. Eidsmoe equates the two, a usual tactic of Christian Federalists to explain away the obvious secularism of the US Constitution.
For example, he glosses over Locke's humanism with the assertion that he was "a Puritan by background" who "based his political theories on Rutherford's Lex Rex." Thus he excuses Locke's humanism and Latitudinarianism to arrive at an very tenuous conclusion. John Locke was a Puritan prodigal, not a faithful son.
Mr. Eidsmoe's repeated confusion of social contract theory and Bible covenant is his biggest problem. He naively mistakes the preamble of the US Constitution as a commitment to Bible covenantalism, instead of the godless social contract which it is. This confusion is typical of Christian Constitutionalists, who frequently equate the Constitution and the Word of God.
Another chapter looks at aspects of 18th Century Puritanism such as optimistic eschatology and the application of Biblical law to all of life. The author wants his reader to draw the conclusion that these were incorporated into the US Constitution. But this does not follow. The first Great Awakening of 1742 is described as a revival of Puritanism. This tenuous conclusion supports the non sequitor that Puritanism was built into the US Constitution of 1787.
Several aberrant philosophies of the time are also discussed, including Freemasonry and Deism. Freemasonry is introduced and then waved off as an innocent social club, useful for political and business networking. Mr. Eidsmoe simply ignores the anti-Christian oaths integral to Freemasonry.
It is hard to summarize all the problems in the chapter on "Law and Government". For one thing, Mr. Eidsmoe presents Montesquieu as a champion of Biblical law. In reality Montesquieu took the Bible as but one among many authorities, with all subject to natural law.
Likewise Blackstone's Common Law is presented as a compendium of Biblical law par excellence. The fact of the matter was it had morphed into a barnacle- laiden anachronism by the 1750s. For example, some 200 mostly petty crimes carried the death penalty. Most juries refused to enforce it because it was so obviously unjust.
In reality Blackstone rarely even mentioned the Bible in his Commentaries. We assume Mr. Eidsmoe has read Blackstone, so he should be aware of that.
Returning to Locke, Mr. Eidsmoe justifies his humanism and "blank slate" theory of the mind, which denies original sin. Again he draws the faulty conclusion that Locke's "social compact theory is similar to the Calvinist idea of covenant." This is a misleading statement because the two ideas are diametrically opposed. They represent the authority of man versus the authority of God.
All of these misperceptions color the religious biographies of the founders which comprise most of the book. For example, of John Witherspoon he notes that "He devoted his life to instilling the principles of Holy Scripture into the minds and souls of young men who then used these principles to shape America."
It is difficult to see how anyone who has read Witherspoon's class notes for his moral philosophy class could draw such a conclusion. Moral philosophy was the culminating class of the curriculum that Witherspoon taught personally to all the graduating seniors at the College of New Jersey. They are an exposition of natural law and secular social contract theory, with very little reference to Holy Scripture.
Typical of Christian apologists for the US Constitution Mr. Eidsmoe spends a good deal of time arguing that the Founding Fathers were all solid Christians. The usual assumption is that if we can prove the founders were Christian, the document they gave us must of necessity be Christian. But this is a non-sequitor. Space does not permit us to say all that could be said of these biographies.
At the end, Mr. Eidsmoe lists all of the alleged biblical principles he has found in the US Constitution. But most of what he cites is Enlightenment theory of the natural rights of man, egalitarianism, and natural law. The "consent of the governed" is the source of governing authority rather than God.
Mr. Eismoe is correct in concluding that knowledge of the sinfulness of man prompted the Constitution's limited, delegated powers. This is the one point at which the Founders got it right, and we have Witherspoon to thank for that. But overall the complexities of this book should limit its use to the advanced student who is well-versed in the issues involved.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Have We Gone Pet Crazy?
Although I've always had pets myself, it seems that we've gone pet crazy today. It is difficult to differentiate the love and compassion that some people have for their pets vs. that for their own children. We spend billions on our pets, including health care, pet insurance, and even auto-injury insurance. Some pets even received the H1N1 vaccination when many high-risk humans hadn't yet received it.
Animal activists are concerned about the methods of animal euthanasia, when a dog pound become over-crowded. On one episode of "Grey's Anatomy," surgeons used body parts from pigs in order to correct ailments in humans, then the story centered on a heart-broken doctor who had to kill the pigs after they had served their purpose.
People were outraged with Michael Vick, and rightly so. However, when he was convicted, most of their concern was about his cruelty to animals instead of his involvement in an illegal interstate dog fighting ring. Even after he had paid his debt to society by serving 18 months in prison, people wanted him banned from professional sports.
A recent news story in Dallas reported on an intruder who had burglarized a house and stole the family dog. The reporter ended the report by commenting that the dog was "...the only thing they really valued." That statement seems a bit extreme.
Genesis 1 tells us that we are to fill the earth, subdue it, and rule over the animal kingdom. Does this give us the right to be cruel to animals? Of course not. This is obvious from the many other Bible verses that command us to be compassionate and good stewards of all that God has given us. Of course it's wrong to abuse animals. However, our priorities have become unbalanced. There's a certain television commercial by a humane society that shows abused animals, and asks for donations to help stop animal abuse. Aren't there more pressing (human) issues where these millions of dollars could be spent?
Another television news report told about animal abuse' at a pig farm. Pregnant pigs were being housed in small pens. Well, farmers have always kept pigs in small pens. This simply an economic choice so that we Americans can continue buying pork at reasonable prices, and this does not not constitute animal abuse.
We just need to keep things in perspective. We have to be reasonable, especially since our pets don't have the intelligence to do so. We should first be more concerned about human abuse before animal abuse. After all, what is worse: to keep pregnant pigs in a small pen, or to torture and kill human children by aborting them from a pregnant human mother?
Animal activists are concerned about the methods of animal euthanasia, when a dog pound become over-crowded. On one episode of "Grey's Anatomy," surgeons used body parts from pigs in order to correct ailments in humans, then the story centered on a heart-broken doctor who had to kill the pigs after they had served their purpose.
People were outraged with Michael Vick, and rightly so. However, when he was convicted, most of their concern was about his cruelty to animals instead of his involvement in an illegal interstate dog fighting ring. Even after he had paid his debt to society by serving 18 months in prison, people wanted him banned from professional sports.
A recent news story in Dallas reported on an intruder who had burglarized a house and stole the family dog. The reporter ended the report by commenting that the dog was "...the only thing they really valued." That statement seems a bit extreme.
Genesis 1 tells us that we are to fill the earth, subdue it, and rule over the animal kingdom. Does this give us the right to be cruel to animals? Of course not. This is obvious from the many other Bible verses that command us to be compassionate and good stewards of all that God has given us. Of course it's wrong to abuse animals. However, our priorities have become unbalanced. There's a certain television commercial by a humane society that shows abused animals, and asks for donations to help stop animal abuse. Aren't there more pressing (human) issues where these millions of dollars could be spent?
Another television news report told about animal abuse' at a pig farm. Pregnant pigs were being housed in small pens. Well, farmers have always kept pigs in small pens. This simply an economic choice so that we Americans can continue buying pork at reasonable prices, and this does not not constitute animal abuse.
We just need to keep things in perspective. We have to be reasonable, especially since our pets don't have the intelligence to do so. We should first be more concerned about human abuse before animal abuse. After all, what is worse: to keep pregnant pigs in a small pen, or to torture and kill human children by aborting them from a pregnant human mother?
Public Spending - They Haven't a Cutting Clue
The "C" Word
Suddenly the 'c' word has become the most popular word in British politics, with Cameron, Brown and even the pointless Nick Clegg vying with each other to see who can use it most convincingly and most often. As Britain sinks rapidly towards bankruptcy, our politicians are rushing round like headless chickens trying to find something to cut. But one thing is obvious, as almost none of them has ever had a proper job, they haven't a clue about what needs to be done.
Having actually had a real job and having worked on over 100 efficiency programmes in the public and private sectors in 15 countries, I'd like to suggest to our current and would-be leaders how they could give us much better public services at a much lower cost.
New Labour's management madness
The first step in effective cost reduction is to understand why our public sector has become so bloated, inefficient and expensive. It's not because we have too many nurses, doctors, carers, police officers, binpersons or teachers. In fact, while public spending has more than doubled under New Labour from £322bn to about £700bn, the number of frontline workers in the NHS, policing, local government and education has only gone up by about 10 per cent.
But in the wonderful world of public-sector management, it's a quite different story. In the NHS, for example, the number of managers has doubled under Chancellor and then Prime Minister Brown at the same time as the number of hospital beds has been slashed. In 1997 we used to have over twelve beds per manager, now it's about four. Even in 2008, the first full year of recession, we got 2% more medical staff and over 10% more managers. The situation is similar in services like education, the probation service and policing - ever less being achieved by ever more managers. In local government, the figures are even more worrying - under Brown, the number of people in councils earning over £50,000 a year has shot up by a factor of eleven from 3,300 to 38,000, while in the economy as a whole it only went up by a factor of three. As for our mostly useless quangos and regulators - the figures are astounding. The bungling Environment Agency now spends more than £1.1bn compared to £590m in 1997; the ineffective Ofcom has more than doubled its budget from £57m to £125m; and the hopeless Financial Services Authority's budget has rocketed up from £21m to almost £400m.
Dealing with the real disease
Once any organisation has built up layer upon layer of unnecessary and wasteful bureaucracy, it's difficult to cut costs without severely reducing vital services. Normally the many levels of management cannot see that it is actually they who are superfluous. So the only way they can think of reducing costs is by cutting away at usually lower-paid, frontline staff - the people who do real work. We're already seeing this in the police where the numbers of frontline officers is being reduced at the same time as middle and senior managers are giving themselves bonuses for political correctness above and beyond the call of duty. Over fifty years ago, Cyril Northcote Parkinson taught us that bureaucracies expand by 5% to 7% a year irrespective of the amount of work (if any) to be done. Under New Labour, our bureaucracies have grown even faster than Parkinson could have foreseen. Unless we attack the real problem with public spending, the relentless rise of self-serving bureaucrats, the politicians' cuts are going to devastate our essential services while preserving all the costly and wasteful bureaucratic empires that have caused the massive and unproductive explosion in public spending in the first place.
Of course, there are many worthless spending progammes like the NHS computer system, ID cards which should be scrapped and others like the 2012 Olympics which should have their budgets slashed. But unless we deal with the underlying cause of overspending - the massive, arrogant, overpaid, self-serving New Labour new bureaucracy - we will never bring public spending under control.
Step 1 - The 4-day week
A few of us might remember Edward Heath's 3-day week, brought in at a time of national emergency - a lack of power. Now we have a new national emergency - a lack of money. The government should immediately implement a 4-day week for all public-sector managerial and administrative staff who are not directly delivering services to the public. This would include all council executives and managers; all executives and managers in the NHS; all executives, managers and most administrative staff in the main government departments like Health, Education, Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (or whatever it's called this week), Environment and many others; and almost staff working for regulators and quangos like the Equalities Commission. Administrative staff processing things like driving licences, passports, benefits, pensions and so on should be exempted, but their managers should be put on the 4-day week. Probably the least disruptive solution would be to make them take every Friday off.
Moving to a 4-day week should immediately bring real cash savings of £100m a week, worth about £5bn a year without any redundancy packages or any early retirement payments. We will probably find that frontline workers actually succeed in continuing to deliver the same if not better services with the army of policy advisors, executives, managers, communications professionals, diversity officers, community relations specialists, involvement officers and others of their ilk. After three months, at least half these people should be put on a 3-day week.
Step 2 - Liberate frontline workers to help
The people who know how to deliver much better public services for less money are, of course, frontline workers. But they are prevented from making any changes or from even suggesting any improvements by layer upon layer upon layer of managers all keen to protect their often badly-run empires from prying eyes. We must unblock this logjam.
One option is to split the lumbering, politically-subservient National Audit Office (NAO) into two parts. Responsibility for auditing the accounts of government departments should stay with a greatly slimmed-down NAO. However, a separate group focusing on value for money (VfM) should be formed working directly for the Chancellor. Frontline workers should be encouraged to report opportunities to improve services or save money in confidence to VfM unit. Any frontline workers reporting opportunities should be entitled to taxfree payments of say five per cent of any savings achieved up to a maximum of perhaps £100,000. These payments should not be available to managers, as it is their job to identify and make continuous improvements. An almost trivial 2% saving in direct spending would give another £10bn a year.
Step 3 - Pass a False Claims Act
It is common practice for companies selling to the public sector to push up their prices by ten to twenty per cent because, as one supplier said to guffaws of knowing laughter during a recent conference, public-sector buyers are 'inexperienced and incompetent'. Since the American Civil War the USA has had a law rejuvenated by Congress in 1986 called the False Claims Act. This allows ordinary citizens with evidence of fraud or corruption against government contracts or programmes to sue, on the government's behalf, in order to recover any money taken illegally. As a reward, whistleblowers are given somewhere between fifteen and twenty five per cent of the money recovered or saved. Just one partner in a US consultancy, which works extensively throughout Britain's public sector, stood to gain $10m for revealing how his employer had been cheating various US government departments over travel expenses.
The False Claims Act protects taxpayers' money in two ways. Firstly, it encourages whistleblowers to take action. Secondly, and perhaps much more importantly, it has a strong deterrent effect - it discourages individuals and companies from overcharging or defrauding government departments because they will always know that they run a serious and real risk of being sued by any concerned or even disgruntled employee who knows what they are up to. Just a 2% reduction in purchasing costs from a False Claims Act would net another £3.4bn a year.
It's not a tough decision
As the politicians survey the disastrous state of our public finances, we're beginning to hear the expressions 'tough decisions' and 'difficult choices'. Over the coming months, these will be repeated many times as our leaders try to make us understand how hard it will be to reverse their uncontained, managerially-inept profligacy of the last twelve years or so. Yet most of the actions I'm proposing won't be tough at all. In fact, they will make our lives better by bringing this country back from the brink of insolvency.
Suddenly the 'c' word has become the most popular word in British politics, with Cameron, Brown and even the pointless Nick Clegg vying with each other to see who can use it most convincingly and most often. As Britain sinks rapidly towards bankruptcy, our politicians are rushing round like headless chickens trying to find something to cut. But one thing is obvious, as almost none of them has ever had a proper job, they haven't a clue about what needs to be done.
Having actually had a real job and having worked on over 100 efficiency programmes in the public and private sectors in 15 countries, I'd like to suggest to our current and would-be leaders how they could give us much better public services at a much lower cost.
New Labour's management madness
The first step in effective cost reduction is to understand why our public sector has become so bloated, inefficient and expensive. It's not because we have too many nurses, doctors, carers, police officers, binpersons or teachers. In fact, while public spending has more than doubled under New Labour from £322bn to about £700bn, the number of frontline workers in the NHS, policing, local government and education has only gone up by about 10 per cent.
But in the wonderful world of public-sector management, it's a quite different story. In the NHS, for example, the number of managers has doubled under Chancellor and then Prime Minister Brown at the same time as the number of hospital beds has been slashed. In 1997 we used to have over twelve beds per manager, now it's about four. Even in 2008, the first full year of recession, we got 2% more medical staff and over 10% more managers. The situation is similar in services like education, the probation service and policing - ever less being achieved by ever more managers. In local government, the figures are even more worrying - under Brown, the number of people in councils earning over £50,000 a year has shot up by a factor of eleven from 3,300 to 38,000, while in the economy as a whole it only went up by a factor of three. As for our mostly useless quangos and regulators - the figures are astounding. The bungling Environment Agency now spends more than £1.1bn compared to £590m in 1997; the ineffective Ofcom has more than doubled its budget from £57m to £125m; and the hopeless Financial Services Authority's budget has rocketed up from £21m to almost £400m.
Dealing with the real disease
Once any organisation has built up layer upon layer of unnecessary and wasteful bureaucracy, it's difficult to cut costs without severely reducing vital services. Normally the many levels of management cannot see that it is actually they who are superfluous. So the only way they can think of reducing costs is by cutting away at usually lower-paid, frontline staff - the people who do real work. We're already seeing this in the police where the numbers of frontline officers is being reduced at the same time as middle and senior managers are giving themselves bonuses for political correctness above and beyond the call of duty. Over fifty years ago, Cyril Northcote Parkinson taught us that bureaucracies expand by 5% to 7% a year irrespective of the amount of work (if any) to be done. Under New Labour, our bureaucracies have grown even faster than Parkinson could have foreseen. Unless we attack the real problem with public spending, the relentless rise of self-serving bureaucrats, the politicians' cuts are going to devastate our essential services while preserving all the costly and wasteful bureaucratic empires that have caused the massive and unproductive explosion in public spending in the first place.
Of course, there are many worthless spending progammes like the NHS computer system, ID cards which should be scrapped and others like the 2012 Olympics which should have their budgets slashed. But unless we deal with the underlying cause of overspending - the massive, arrogant, overpaid, self-serving New Labour new bureaucracy - we will never bring public spending under control.
Step 1 - The 4-day week
A few of us might remember Edward Heath's 3-day week, brought in at a time of national emergency - a lack of power. Now we have a new national emergency - a lack of money. The government should immediately implement a 4-day week for all public-sector managerial and administrative staff who are not directly delivering services to the public. This would include all council executives and managers; all executives and managers in the NHS; all executives, managers and most administrative staff in the main government departments like Health, Education, Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (or whatever it's called this week), Environment and many others; and almost staff working for regulators and quangos like the Equalities Commission. Administrative staff processing things like driving licences, passports, benefits, pensions and so on should be exempted, but their managers should be put on the 4-day week. Probably the least disruptive solution would be to make them take every Friday off.
Moving to a 4-day week should immediately bring real cash savings of £100m a week, worth about £5bn a year without any redundancy packages or any early retirement payments. We will probably find that frontline workers actually succeed in continuing to deliver the same if not better services with the army of policy advisors, executives, managers, communications professionals, diversity officers, community relations specialists, involvement officers and others of their ilk. After three months, at least half these people should be put on a 3-day week.
Step 2 - Liberate frontline workers to help
The people who know how to deliver much better public services for less money are, of course, frontline workers. But they are prevented from making any changes or from even suggesting any improvements by layer upon layer upon layer of managers all keen to protect their often badly-run empires from prying eyes. We must unblock this logjam.
One option is to split the lumbering, politically-subservient National Audit Office (NAO) into two parts. Responsibility for auditing the accounts of government departments should stay with a greatly slimmed-down NAO. However, a separate group focusing on value for money (VfM) should be formed working directly for the Chancellor. Frontline workers should be encouraged to report opportunities to improve services or save money in confidence to VfM unit. Any frontline workers reporting opportunities should be entitled to taxfree payments of say five per cent of any savings achieved up to a maximum of perhaps £100,000. These payments should not be available to managers, as it is their job to identify and make continuous improvements. An almost trivial 2% saving in direct spending would give another £10bn a year.
Step 3 - Pass a False Claims Act
It is common practice for companies selling to the public sector to push up their prices by ten to twenty per cent because, as one supplier said to guffaws of knowing laughter during a recent conference, public-sector buyers are 'inexperienced and incompetent'. Since the American Civil War the USA has had a law rejuvenated by Congress in 1986 called the False Claims Act. This allows ordinary citizens with evidence of fraud or corruption against government contracts or programmes to sue, on the government's behalf, in order to recover any money taken illegally. As a reward, whistleblowers are given somewhere between fifteen and twenty five per cent of the money recovered or saved. Just one partner in a US consultancy, which works extensively throughout Britain's public sector, stood to gain $10m for revealing how his employer had been cheating various US government departments over travel expenses.
The False Claims Act protects taxpayers' money in two ways. Firstly, it encourages whistleblowers to take action. Secondly, and perhaps much more importantly, it has a strong deterrent effect - it discourages individuals and companies from overcharging or defrauding government departments because they will always know that they run a serious and real risk of being sued by any concerned or even disgruntled employee who knows what they are up to. Just a 2% reduction in purchasing costs from a False Claims Act would net another £3.4bn a year.
It's not a tough decision
As the politicians survey the disastrous state of our public finances, we're beginning to hear the expressions 'tough decisions' and 'difficult choices'. Over the coming months, these will be repeated many times as our leaders try to make us understand how hard it will be to reverse their uncontained, managerially-inept profligacy of the last twelve years or so. Yet most of the actions I'm proposing won't be tough at all. In fact, they will make our lives better by bringing this country back from the brink of insolvency.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Do Our Politicians Really Think We Are That Stupid?
Our elected officials on both sides of the political aisle must really think we, their constitutes, are dumber than dirt. That is how we are being treated. The congressional political process seems to be filled with more and more "corruption" in each new session - regardless if Republicans or Democrats are in the majority. The Health Care Reform Act (HCRA) is just the latest program to highlight the self-serving, narcissistic practices of our Senators and Congressmen - doing the American public a gross disservice.
First, I do not believe anyone can legitimately argue against the fact that our health care system needs to be reformed. Too many people are left without coverage, astronomical cost increases are passed along to consumers who can ill afford it each year by insurance companies, and malpractice insurance premiums are driving doctors out of business.
Senator Harry Reid's vote bribe to win Senator Ben Nelson's support of the HCRA is a travesty of the political process. To think that citizens of other states are not going to object to Reid's little $100,000,000 gimme to Nebraska, another $100,000,000 for Louisiana, other gifts and a hospital to Connecticut, Montana, and Texas. And for North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Utah - retaining higher payments to rural doctors because they know small towns will lose doctors when medicare payments are cut. Lose doctors serving medicare patients?
It is interesting that supposedly one of the big savings that is going to pay for the HCRA is a $270,000,000 reduction in payments to doctors of medicare patients contained in the bill. Tell us Congress and Mr. President, to our dumber than dirt faces, that doctors in ultra expensive markets like San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, etc. are going to keep medicare recipients as patients when they are forced to take a large reduction in their payments. This will never happen. So once again, what the government is proposing is a massive entitlement program - that the country has NO money to pay for. Shall we just ask Beijing for a check right now rather than waiting a year of two? That is the only way we will be funding it, with foreign government/citizen loans. And the sad part, loans to the US are looking more and more like a suckers bet than sound investments.
One of doctor's largest (and escalating) costs-of-doing-business is malpractice insurance because of frivolous malpractice lawsuits and huge jury awards. The HCRA contains a generic statement, with no teeth in it, to give states additional funding if they bring parties together to form a review panel administered by the HHS Secretary. The review panel is structured to ensure that trial lawyers are amply represented, with seats specifically reserved for "patient advocates," "attorneys with expertise in representing patients," and "patient safety experts." Again, most interested parties believe no saving will be attained - only escalating costs as we have seen for decades.
Another example, of the fraud perpetrated on us, is the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. This was to create 3.5 million jobs in the first year but we actually lost 2.6 million jobs. Now Congress and Mr. President are going to follow up on this success (sic) with throwing more good money (which we do not have) at this lackluster program. Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested that we had new-found money available from unspent TARP funds, just like she found money at the end of the rainbow - when in fact that money is borrowed from foreign investors as well. Just what was she thinking (or not). Just how stupid does she think we are?
The Republicans are really no better in the "pork barrel" department - voting for anything and everything to get themselves re-elected - looking out after the good of the country only as an afterthought. Their obstructionist tactics have not helped the health care debate nor have they presented a viable plan of their own.
This insanity must come to a halt. We are technically a bankrupt country, if any of our major creditors decided to call in their notes. We have already caused irrefutable damage to our nation's well-being that our children and grandchildren will be paying for for decades. To use a phrase from "Chicago politics" throw da bums out!
First, I do not believe anyone can legitimately argue against the fact that our health care system needs to be reformed. Too many people are left without coverage, astronomical cost increases are passed along to consumers who can ill afford it each year by insurance companies, and malpractice insurance premiums are driving doctors out of business.
Senator Harry Reid's vote bribe to win Senator Ben Nelson's support of the HCRA is a travesty of the political process. To think that citizens of other states are not going to object to Reid's little $100,000,000 gimme to Nebraska, another $100,000,000 for Louisiana, other gifts and a hospital to Connecticut, Montana, and Texas. And for North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Utah - retaining higher payments to rural doctors because they know small towns will lose doctors when medicare payments are cut. Lose doctors serving medicare patients?
It is interesting that supposedly one of the big savings that is going to pay for the HCRA is a $270,000,000 reduction in payments to doctors of medicare patients contained in the bill. Tell us Congress and Mr. President, to our dumber than dirt faces, that doctors in ultra expensive markets like San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, etc. are going to keep medicare recipients as patients when they are forced to take a large reduction in their payments. This will never happen. So once again, what the government is proposing is a massive entitlement program - that the country has NO money to pay for. Shall we just ask Beijing for a check right now rather than waiting a year of two? That is the only way we will be funding it, with foreign government/citizen loans. And the sad part, loans to the US are looking more and more like a suckers bet than sound investments.
One of doctor's largest (and escalating) costs-of-doing-business is malpractice insurance because of frivolous malpractice lawsuits and huge jury awards. The HCRA contains a generic statement, with no teeth in it, to give states additional funding if they bring parties together to form a review panel administered by the HHS Secretary. The review panel is structured to ensure that trial lawyers are amply represented, with seats specifically reserved for "patient advocates," "attorneys with expertise in representing patients," and "patient safety experts." Again, most interested parties believe no saving will be attained - only escalating costs as we have seen for decades.
Another example, of the fraud perpetrated on us, is the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. This was to create 3.5 million jobs in the first year but we actually lost 2.6 million jobs. Now Congress and Mr. President are going to follow up on this success (sic) with throwing more good money (which we do not have) at this lackluster program. Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested that we had new-found money available from unspent TARP funds, just like she found money at the end of the rainbow - when in fact that money is borrowed from foreign investors as well. Just what was she thinking (or not). Just how stupid does she think we are?
The Republicans are really no better in the "pork barrel" department - voting for anything and everything to get themselves re-elected - looking out after the good of the country only as an afterthought. Their obstructionist tactics have not helped the health care debate nor have they presented a viable plan of their own.
This insanity must come to a halt. We are technically a bankrupt country, if any of our major creditors decided to call in their notes. We have already caused irrefutable damage to our nation's well-being that our children and grandchildren will be paying for for decades. To use a phrase from "Chicago politics" throw da bums out!
Will Meteorologists Ever Be Able to Get it Right?
In my opinion, the best job on the planet to have is a meteorologist. It's the only job that I know of where you make a lot of money and your wrong 80% of the time and you still have job security.
Where I live we have three local channels where I will watch the news and all three weather people give you three different forecasts, and they're generally wrong. They can barely look out the window and tell you what's going on, and if that's not bad enough at the end of there forecast, they give us the 7 day forecast. They have the nerve to tell us what the weather is going to be like in the next 7 days when they can't tell us what is going to happen later in that day.
And not once have I heard any of them when they do the weather the next day say to us, "sorry for getting the forecast wrong". I know that predicting the weather is a hard thing to do and it's always changing but, if you can't tell us with any kind of accuracy what the weather is going to be like the next day, then why would they attempt to show us what the weather is going to be like in the next 7 days.
And every station claims that they have the most powerful radar around. Ours is bigger and better than yours. Bottom line is, no matter how big and strong they claim there radars are, they can't get the forecasts right.
Where I live we have three local channels where I will watch the news and all three weather people give you three different forecasts, and they're generally wrong. They can barely look out the window and tell you what's going on, and if that's not bad enough at the end of there forecast, they give us the 7 day forecast. They have the nerve to tell us what the weather is going to be like in the next 7 days when they can't tell us what is going to happen later in that day.
And not once have I heard any of them when they do the weather the next day say to us, "sorry for getting the forecast wrong". I know that predicting the weather is a hard thing to do and it's always changing but, if you can't tell us with any kind of accuracy what the weather is going to be like the next day, then why would they attempt to show us what the weather is going to be like in the next 7 days.
And every station claims that they have the most powerful radar around. Ours is bigger and better than yours. Bottom line is, no matter how big and strong they claim there radars are, they can't get the forecasts right.
I Say "Merry Christmas"
As a proud Catholic Christian, I think it's sad to see so many people bustling about this time of year spouting off phrases like "Happy Holidays" and "Season's Greetings." While there isn't anything inherently wrong with these phrases, it's usually the politically correct nature of their use that is disturbing.
Being a Christian, I celebrate Christmas. But, also as a member of this belief system, I follow one of the basic tenants of Christianity in recognizing, respecting and appreciating the belief systems and cultures of others. However, I should not be told by society that I cannot or should not say "Merry Christmas" and settle for a more secular, religion-neutral and culture-neutral greeting. This is especially true since our nation was founded on religious principles.
If somebody comes up to me and says, "Happy Hanukah" or "Happy Kwanzaa," I will happily and gladly reply with the same. I don't take offense to this, nor should I. The same should be true if I choose to greet somebody with Christmas wishes.
If people do get offended by this, there are two issues involved. First, that would be their problem and not mine. Second, if they seriously take offense to something like this, they really need to grow up. There are so many more relevant things in this world to cry about.
Our current culture is also very obsessed with the idea of diversity. That's all well and good but, when people are made to feel bad about, or even forbidden from, publicly acknowledging their faith or cultural traditions, this is the complete opposite of any respect for diversity.
So, as I see it, greet whomever you want, however you want, this time of year. And oh yeah, Merry Christmas to you.
Being a Christian, I celebrate Christmas. But, also as a member of this belief system, I follow one of the basic tenants of Christianity in recognizing, respecting and appreciating the belief systems and cultures of others. However, I should not be told by society that I cannot or should not say "Merry Christmas" and settle for a more secular, religion-neutral and culture-neutral greeting. This is especially true since our nation was founded on religious principles.
If somebody comes up to me and says, "Happy Hanukah" or "Happy Kwanzaa," I will happily and gladly reply with the same. I don't take offense to this, nor should I. The same should be true if I choose to greet somebody with Christmas wishes.
If people do get offended by this, there are two issues involved. First, that would be their problem and not mine. Second, if they seriously take offense to something like this, they really need to grow up. There are so many more relevant things in this world to cry about.
Our current culture is also very obsessed with the idea of diversity. That's all well and good but, when people are made to feel bad about, or even forbidden from, publicly acknowledging their faith or cultural traditions, this is the complete opposite of any respect for diversity.
So, as I see it, greet whomever you want, however you want, this time of year. And oh yeah, Merry Christmas to you.
You and the Environment
It is amazing how different we human beings can be, and yet how similar we really are. Across time and location, we establish different customs, cultures, standards, lifestyles. We formulate various theories, philosophies and religions. We agree and disagree about forms of government and nature of businesses. Yet some things remain the same. We are all people trying to "get by in our environment".
Our environment in this context may be human or natural, and to a large extent a combination of both. To "get by" we continuously learn, study and adjust to human behavior as well as to natural phenomena. While standards for success and failure in these endeavors may vary, one fact becomes obvious: we all depend on our environment for sustenance and subsistence; thus we must protect and preserve it.
In general terms, we can summarize our environment as a network of the relationship with fellow men on the one hand, and the relationship with nature on the other hand. Man-to-man, we have principles, rules, guidelines, laws, bye-laws, legislation, constitutions etc stemming from the realization that there are consequences for our actions, hence the need to regulate it. However man-to-nature... the story is not quite the same.
In our world today, success to a large extent means wealth. Along these lines, wealth means resources; resources means goods or services; these in one way or the other translate to harnessing the earth's potentials. We have been about this for quite a while with ever increasing penchant for "acquiring MORE". We talk of mass production, increased productivity and profitability, expanding markets, globalization, cutting edge technology...but what are the consequences of some of these activities on the natural environment?
They are obvious (whether or not we all agree on the extent)! Where we refuse to see, the environmentalists can inundate us with information. Some say "oh please it's all exaggerated", others call for global summits, some have dedicated their lives to the "green" cause, others say "what's it to me". The reality is that just as with human relationships, even with nature, there are consequences for our actions. So, what are the rules, what are the guidelines, what are the laws?
The sciences and general observation help us to understand the flow of nature, such as the perpetual formation, growth, maturity, decay and decomposition leading back to fresh formation. The plants and animals, the air and the water bodies, even the rocks and land mass have their own patterns operating independently yet simultaneously. They result in an exotic array of beauty, wonder, and life sustaining resources from which man takes his pick.
From this standpoint, all living things are (at least should be) symbiotic neighbors. Just as nature provides for man, so should human activity enhance and promote nature's patterns. Apparently, we have not fully incorporated and integrated these into every facet of our developmental activities, therefore our activities result in the toxic pollution of the air, land, and water bodies. Furthermore, there is exploitation, depletion and outright destruction of the earth's valuable resources etc
Contrary to what skeptics think, this is in no way a call to halt human development, since development is an intrinsic necessity for all human beings on the physical, mental, emotional, and even spiritual levels. Rather, it is a call to re-examine and develop better ways of achieving our objectives such that we further ourselves while preserving the natural environment in accordance with its own rules. We cannot continue to impose blindly even to our own detriment.
Already, many individuals and groups are working in this direction with admirable and sometimes astonishing results. Depending on the economic implication and political will, Environmental Treaties and Agreements are upheld, circumvented or out rightly violated. In this sense, this call appears to be a moral challenge in which every human being is involved and responsible both collectively and individually. The question therefore goes out to everyone "how concerned are you?" "How objective can you be?" "What efforts and changes are you willing to make at your own level?" "Do you require coercion, or do you choose freely to adjust your activity simply for the sake of preserving the natural balance?"
The drama of human development is enacted on the stage of our environment which is simultaneously impacted: positively or negatively. We cannot ignore all the current negative signals. We can all take little steps that make the bigger ones easier. We must protect and preserve our environment.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Your Best Holiday Season Ever!
For many people the holidays are depressing and/or stressful. They get so busy that even forget to enjoy themselves. Don't be one of them! Don't neglect yourself just because it is the holidays. Follow these simple tips.
1. Treat yourself every day.
This year make sure that you take time for yourself, that you have something to look forward to every single day. Yes, you hear me right, every single day. Treat yourself with a bubble bath, a great book, a nice walk... You name it. It doesn't have to be expensive or take a long time (ten minutes will do, although if you can afford more go for it). Just do it! And you will see the difference.
2.Use the Joy Filter.
Do only what brings you joy. Sounds easy to do but it's not. We tend to accept invitations we don't really want to go. Or we immerse ourselves in activities that not only don't bring us joy but stress us out. Accept only the invitations you know you are going to enjoy. Ask yourself, "Is this going to bring me joy?" If not, decline. Stop doing things you don't want to do (yes, I'm talking about sending holiday cards or preparing a dinner for twenty! Unless you love to do it, of course!) If you do only what brings you happiness and joy you will really enjoy this holiday season. Guaranteed!
3. Forget about perfection.
Let go of your perfectionism. Everything isn't going to go according to plan so do your best and don't freak out if your cousin doesn't like his gift or the dinner doesn't turn out as you expected. Remember the point of the holiday is having fun. Keep the perspective.
4. Rediscover the holidays.
What things make the holiday really special? Ask your loved ones (and yourself) what they love and enjoy about the holiday. You may find that no one enjoy having turkey for dinner or sending cards, but love baking cookies or decorating the tree. Focus on it and forget about the rest. You will simplify your holiday, be less stressed and enjoy it much more.
1. Treat yourself every day.
This year make sure that you take time for yourself, that you have something to look forward to every single day. Yes, you hear me right, every single day. Treat yourself with a bubble bath, a great book, a nice walk... You name it. It doesn't have to be expensive or take a long time (ten minutes will do, although if you can afford more go for it). Just do it! And you will see the difference.
2.Use the Joy Filter.
Do only what brings you joy. Sounds easy to do but it's not. We tend to accept invitations we don't really want to go. Or we immerse ourselves in activities that not only don't bring us joy but stress us out. Accept only the invitations you know you are going to enjoy. Ask yourself, "Is this going to bring me joy?" If not, decline. Stop doing things you don't want to do (yes, I'm talking about sending holiday cards or preparing a dinner for twenty! Unless you love to do it, of course!) If you do only what brings you happiness and joy you will really enjoy this holiday season. Guaranteed!
3. Forget about perfection.
Let go of your perfectionism. Everything isn't going to go according to plan so do your best and don't freak out if your cousin doesn't like his gift or the dinner doesn't turn out as you expected. Remember the point of the holiday is having fun. Keep the perspective.
4. Rediscover the holidays.
What things make the holiday really special? Ask your loved ones (and yourself) what they love and enjoy about the holiday. You may find that no one enjoy having turkey for dinner or sending cards, but love baking cookies or decorating the tree. Focus on it and forget about the rest. You will simplify your holiday, be less stressed and enjoy it much more.
Tapping Away the Holiday Blues With EFT
The holidays can be a wonderful time of year, full of love and happiness and family and friends. The holidays can also be difficult, if all is not well in your life. If you're having people problems, money problems, health problems or pretty much any kind of problem and just can't seem to connect with any holiday spirit, EFT can help to move you to a better place.
Christmas is a perfect time to celebrate and give thanks for all the positive things going on in your life. Your initial reaction to that statement might be along the lines of "Are you kidding? My life stinks!". If that was your response, you are focused on the negatives in your life, and completely ignoring the positives. Wouldn't you feel better about yourself and about life in general if you could turn that around, and recognize that your glass is really half full, not half empty? EFT can help you to make that change.
If you're feeling sorry for yourself because your salary doesn't allow for extras, and you won't be able to spend a lot on Christmas, how about considering how many people are out of work, and don't have any salary at all? You may not be rich, but if you have a regular paycheck and can take care of the basics, you're in much better shape than all of those who are unemployed.
Perhaps you've recently gone through a divorce, have lost a close friend, or have moved to a new area where you don't know anyone yet. You're feeling very isolated and lonely as Christmas approaches. You may still be acutely feeling that loss, but there really are different and better ways of looking at the situation. This is the start of a new chapter in your life, with infinite possibilities. Instead of looking back and grieving the loss, how about trying to look ahead at your new beginning with anticipation and excitement?
Christmas is a time when family conflicts tend to bubble to the surface. You may have had a falling out with a family member that would normally be a part of your celebration, but won't be there this year. You may be spending more time with a family member that is difficult to cope with, with feelings of stress and anger building by the day. When there are conflicts within the family, there is nearly always some guilt associated with those conflicts. After all, this is your family, and you're all supposed to love each other and get along, right?
The Christmas holidays are often a time when we have unrealistic expectations for 0urselves and others. Many people look forward to the "perfect family Christmas" and ignore the fact that there isn't much in life that's perfect. Expecting to have the "perfect Christmas dinner" or to receive the "perfect Christmas gift" is unrealistic, and you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Why not lower your expectations, and accept that we're all just human, just sort of go with the flow, recognizing that just as you have holiday stressors, so do all your family members?
The tapping scripts below was created to help you deal with the various issues that arise during the holidays, and to find positives where you formerly found only negatives. They are each meant to be a starting point. Add your own words and feelings as appropriate.
Christmas Blues Tapping Scripts: Choose the one(s) appropriate for you!
Finances: Setup - Karate chop:
* Even though I wish I had enough money to buy terrific presents for the people I love, I know in my heart that Christmas isn't about money or gifts, and I'm making a choice to enjoy this Christmas and to be grateful for what I have, and not worry about what I don't have, and I deeply and profoundly love and accept myself.
Reminders:
* Eyebrow: I wish I had more money to spend on Christmas
* Outside eye: But I know that Christmas really isn't about money
* Under eye: People won't love me less if I don't buy them expensive gifts
* Under nose: Loved ones around me, a beautiful Christmas dinner
* Chin: I can take great joy from those precious things
* Collar bone: I'm making a choice to celebrate Christmas in the best way I can
* Under arm: I'm letting go of those feelings that I have to spend money for Christmas to be good
* Top of head: And I'm embracing the knowledge that Christmas can be joyful, even without money or gifts.
Family Conflicts: Setup - Karate chop:
* Even though ___________ is getting on my last nerve this Christmas, and I'm find it hard to enjoy and celebrate the holiday, I know that ____________ has demands on him/her too, and maybe I should be a bit more patient and accepting with him/her, and I deeply and profoundly love and accept myself and __________.
Reminders:
* Eyebrow: _________ is really getting on my nerves
* Outside eye: I'm angry because I feel like he/she is ruining my Christmas
* Under eye: I'm open to the idea that I'm being too hard on ________
* Under nose: Maybe it's time to cut _________ some slack
* Chin: And while I'm at it, maybe I should cut myself some slack too
* Collar bone: I'm ready to start letting go of this anger
* Under arm: A little at a time, in a way that feels comfortable to me
* Top of head: Letting go of the anger and bringing some healing to this
Loneliness: Setup - Karate chop:
* Even though I'm feeling lonely and isolated this holiday season, I'm open to the idea that there are actions I can take to interact with others, and I choose to seek out and celebrate the positive things in my life, and to start letting go of those feelings of loneliness, and I deeply and profoundly love and accept myself.
Reminders:
* Eyebrow: I feel so all alone at Christmas
* Outside eye: Nobody to celebrate with except myself
* Under eye: But maybe I need to take another look at this situation
* Under nose: Maybe I can participate in holiday activities and meet new people
* Chin: Maybe I can reconnect with people from my past
* Collar bone: There ARE things I can do to change this
* Under arm: I'm going to do my best to make this a good Christmas
* Top of head: I'm going to stop feeling sorry for myself, and celebrate
Unrealistic Expectations: Setup - Karate Chop:
* Even though I have high expectations for myself and others in my life this Christmas, I'm open to the idea that those expectations may be unrealistic, and I'm ready to embrace more realistic expectations, and to stop being so hard on myself and my loved ones, and I deeply and profoundly love and accept myself and others just as we are.
Reminders:
* Eyebrow: I'm not cutting anyone any slack this Christmas
* Outside eye: Not even myself
* Under eye: I expect this to be a perfect Christmas
* Under nose: But is there really such a thing?
* Chin: I'm open to the possibility that this can be a good Christmas
* Collar bone: Without being perfect
* Under arm: Maybe I can just relax and enjoy the holiday
* Top of head: And take all that pressure off myself and everyone else
Christmas is a perfect time to celebrate and give thanks for all the positive things going on in your life. Your initial reaction to that statement might be along the lines of "Are you kidding? My life stinks!". If that was your response, you are focused on the negatives in your life, and completely ignoring the positives. Wouldn't you feel better about yourself and about life in general if you could turn that around, and recognize that your glass is really half full, not half empty? EFT can help you to make that change.
If you're feeling sorry for yourself because your salary doesn't allow for extras, and you won't be able to spend a lot on Christmas, how about considering how many people are out of work, and don't have any salary at all? You may not be rich, but if you have a regular paycheck and can take care of the basics, you're in much better shape than all of those who are unemployed.
Perhaps you've recently gone through a divorce, have lost a close friend, or have moved to a new area where you don't know anyone yet. You're feeling very isolated and lonely as Christmas approaches. You may still be acutely feeling that loss, but there really are different and better ways of looking at the situation. This is the start of a new chapter in your life, with infinite possibilities. Instead of looking back and grieving the loss, how about trying to look ahead at your new beginning with anticipation and excitement?
Christmas is a time when family conflicts tend to bubble to the surface. You may have had a falling out with a family member that would normally be a part of your celebration, but won't be there this year. You may be spending more time with a family member that is difficult to cope with, with feelings of stress and anger building by the day. When there are conflicts within the family, there is nearly always some guilt associated with those conflicts. After all, this is your family, and you're all supposed to love each other and get along, right?
The Christmas holidays are often a time when we have unrealistic expectations for 0urselves and others. Many people look forward to the "perfect family Christmas" and ignore the fact that there isn't much in life that's perfect. Expecting to have the "perfect Christmas dinner" or to receive the "perfect Christmas gift" is unrealistic, and you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Why not lower your expectations, and accept that we're all just human, just sort of go with the flow, recognizing that just as you have holiday stressors, so do all your family members?
The tapping scripts below was created to help you deal with the various issues that arise during the holidays, and to find positives where you formerly found only negatives. They are each meant to be a starting point. Add your own words and feelings as appropriate.
Christmas Blues Tapping Scripts: Choose the one(s) appropriate for you!
Finances: Setup - Karate chop:
* Even though I wish I had enough money to buy terrific presents for the people I love, I know in my heart that Christmas isn't about money or gifts, and I'm making a choice to enjoy this Christmas and to be grateful for what I have, and not worry about what I don't have, and I deeply and profoundly love and accept myself.
Reminders:
* Eyebrow: I wish I had more money to spend on Christmas
* Outside eye: But I know that Christmas really isn't about money
* Under eye: People won't love me less if I don't buy them expensive gifts
* Under nose: Loved ones around me, a beautiful Christmas dinner
* Chin: I can take great joy from those precious things
* Collar bone: I'm making a choice to celebrate Christmas in the best way I can
* Under arm: I'm letting go of those feelings that I have to spend money for Christmas to be good
* Top of head: And I'm embracing the knowledge that Christmas can be joyful, even without money or gifts.
Family Conflicts: Setup - Karate chop:
* Even though ___________ is getting on my last nerve this Christmas, and I'm find it hard to enjoy and celebrate the holiday, I know that ____________ has demands on him/her too, and maybe I should be a bit more patient and accepting with him/her, and I deeply and profoundly love and accept myself and __________.
Reminders:
* Eyebrow: _________ is really getting on my nerves
* Outside eye: I'm angry because I feel like he/she is ruining my Christmas
* Under eye: I'm open to the idea that I'm being too hard on ________
* Under nose: Maybe it's time to cut _________ some slack
* Chin: And while I'm at it, maybe I should cut myself some slack too
* Collar bone: I'm ready to start letting go of this anger
* Under arm: A little at a time, in a way that feels comfortable to me
* Top of head: Letting go of the anger and bringing some healing to this
Loneliness: Setup - Karate chop:
* Even though I'm feeling lonely and isolated this holiday season, I'm open to the idea that there are actions I can take to interact with others, and I choose to seek out and celebrate the positive things in my life, and to start letting go of those feelings of loneliness, and I deeply and profoundly love and accept myself.
Reminders:
* Eyebrow: I feel so all alone at Christmas
* Outside eye: Nobody to celebrate with except myself
* Under eye: But maybe I need to take another look at this situation
* Under nose: Maybe I can participate in holiday activities and meet new people
* Chin: Maybe I can reconnect with people from my past
* Collar bone: There ARE things I can do to change this
* Under arm: I'm going to do my best to make this a good Christmas
* Top of head: I'm going to stop feeling sorry for myself, and celebrate
Unrealistic Expectations: Setup - Karate Chop:
* Even though I have high expectations for myself and others in my life this Christmas, I'm open to the idea that those expectations may be unrealistic, and I'm ready to embrace more realistic expectations, and to stop being so hard on myself and my loved ones, and I deeply and profoundly love and accept myself and others just as we are.
Reminders:
* Eyebrow: I'm not cutting anyone any slack this Christmas
* Outside eye: Not even myself
* Under eye: I expect this to be a perfect Christmas
* Under nose: But is there really such a thing?
* Chin: I'm open to the possibility that this can be a good Christmas
* Collar bone: Without being perfect
* Under arm: Maybe I can just relax and enjoy the holiday
* Top of head: And take all that pressure off myself and everyone else
How to Apply the Emotional Freedom Technique to Your Life
The Emotional Freedom Technique, or EFT, is growing in popularity for one very specific reason - it works for a variety of problems. If you want to enjoy the benefits of EFT, however, you must learn to apply EFT to your life.
There is an actual process for doing this. First and foremost, you need to learn the basics of EFT. This can be done with the EFT Manual, written by the founder of EFT, Gary Craig, which is available for download free of charge. Even though this manual is free, it will give you invaluable insight into what EFT is, how it works, and how to apply the basic principles of EFT to your own life.
The Emotional Freedom Technique can be used to cure many phobias, stress and tension, social anxiety, anxiety, depression, and insomnia, as well as many other issues. However, if you have or have been diagnosed with a more serious illness - whether that illness is physical or mental in nature, you absolutely must speak with your doctor before forgoing medication or other prescribed treatments. Often, doctors will recommend EFT be used in conjunction with treatments that are already in progress.
Do not be in a rush to learn all that there is to know about EFT. Take your time reading through the manual to ensure that you are actually absorbing the information. Otherwise, you may not apply EFT correctly, and your results will be poor at best.
It is important to understand that not all people are able to apply EFT to their lives on their own in the beginning. If this is a problem for you, make an appointment with a Certified EFT Practitioner. The practitioner will help you to apply EFT to your life through a number of sessions, and eventually, you will get the whole picture and be able to apply EFT to your life without help.
It is important that you first try the free resources available to learn the basics of EFT, and then get help from a Certified EFT Practitioner. By this time, you will already see that EFT is having a positive affect on your life and your health, and at that point, you may want to learn even more about EFT with a full blown EFT course.
The Emotional Freedom Technique is considered to be very powerful, and it can be applied to your life as a whole - not just health issues. The deeper you get into the techniques used, the better your life will become as a whole.
There is an actual process for doing this. First and foremost, you need to learn the basics of EFT. This can be done with the EFT Manual, written by the founder of EFT, Gary Craig, which is available for download free of charge. Even though this manual is free, it will give you invaluable insight into what EFT is, how it works, and how to apply the basic principles of EFT to your own life.
The Emotional Freedom Technique can be used to cure many phobias, stress and tension, social anxiety, anxiety, depression, and insomnia, as well as many other issues. However, if you have or have been diagnosed with a more serious illness - whether that illness is physical or mental in nature, you absolutely must speak with your doctor before forgoing medication or other prescribed treatments. Often, doctors will recommend EFT be used in conjunction with treatments that are already in progress.
Do not be in a rush to learn all that there is to know about EFT. Take your time reading through the manual to ensure that you are actually absorbing the information. Otherwise, you may not apply EFT correctly, and your results will be poor at best.
It is important to understand that not all people are able to apply EFT to their lives on their own in the beginning. If this is a problem for you, make an appointment with a Certified EFT Practitioner. The practitioner will help you to apply EFT to your life through a number of sessions, and eventually, you will get the whole picture and be able to apply EFT to your life without help.
It is important that you first try the free resources available to learn the basics of EFT, and then get help from a Certified EFT Practitioner. By this time, you will already see that EFT is having a positive affect on your life and your health, and at that point, you may want to learn even more about EFT with a full blown EFT course.
The Emotional Freedom Technique is considered to be very powerful, and it can be applied to your life as a whole - not just health issues. The deeper you get into the techniques used, the better your life will become as a whole.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Finding the Right Hiking Boots For You
Hiking boots, what kind do I get? Tough question to answer. Finding the right hiking boots just right for your feet can be a difficult job. With hiking becoming one of the favorite weekend activities in America and needing to find good foot apparel well there's lots to choose from.
Do I want a waterproof boot or not? Mid boots or high boots? I guess it all depends on where your going to be doing your hiking. Is the area generally wet or dry? Are the trails flat or mountainous?
If its wet you'll want waterproof boots. Waterproof high boots will most likely be best suited for this kind of area. I know when I've gone hiking on local trails I just wore a good set of running shoes. If you just had some good rains in the past while or its early spring you'll be wishing you had a waterproof pair. In dry areas you could likely get away with wearing a mid size non waterproof pair of boots. Also the non waterproof boots breath better and are much lighter.
You can find hiking boots online at different websites or go to a local camping outfitters store where can choose from many brands and clerk will be more then happy to help you. Do remember it is the duty of every hiker to safeguard nature and do our best not to disturb her. Don't forget to take a plastic bag for garbage you may find while hiking. Help keep tails looking beautiful and take your camera for those great nature shots.
Climbing Challenging Mount Kenya
The tallest of all the mountains in Kenya, Mount Kenya is a towering volcanic peak. It is also the second-highest mountain in all of Africa, second only to nearby Tanzania's renowned Mount Kilimanjaro.
The mountain is known to be around three and a half million years old and at one time stood at an even greater height above sea level than its present 5,199 meters. What we see today, an unusual silhouette of jagged crests, is the impressive remains of what the mountain actually used to be during prehistoric times.
Many people justifiably dream about climbing this mountain, which is located in the appropriately named Mount Kenya National Park.and its contrast of slopes and lofty summits only add to its wonderment. Climbing Mt Kenya is like entering two different worlds at the same time...
Grassland covers its base to the north and west. South and east is more grass, along with low trees. A dense forest of cedar and yellowood covers the slopes, followed by bamboo and heathers up higher. But life exists even higher yet, with rare mosses and lichens known to grow only on this mountain and a few others in East Africa surviving near the top. You might even see the "water-holding cabbage" or the "ostrich plume plant."
Mount Kenya is an equatorial mountain but its peak is covered with snow. Joseph Thomson, a young Scottish traveler, revealed this phenomenon to the western world, but few people believed him at first. After all, it was difficult to believe that a snow-capped mountain could possibly exist in Kenya's tropical heat. Some people even thought Thomson was hallucinating from altitude sickness.
As the years passed, other people ascended the slopes of Mt. Kenya and discovered the same thing, and we all know the truth now. Local Kikuyu and Masai tribes have long lived and worked amid the forests and grasslands of the mountains in Kenya, growing crops and hunting game. In fact, Mount Kenya's 3 highest peaks - Batian, Nelion and Lenana - are named after important leaders in the Masai tribe's past.
Climbers have four main routes to choose from: the Naro Moru trail is the quickest ascent but it is also by far the steepest; the Burguret trail is considered one of the toughest climbs with much forest trekking; the Sirimon trail is known for giving nature lovers the opportunity to see monkeys, lizards, antelopes and other wildlife; and the picturesque Chogoria trail offers the most beautiful scenery.
Unless you are an experienced mountain climber though, don't try to climb the Nelion and Batian peaks. Take the easier Point Lenana summit instead. It is equally beautiful but does not present the hardships of the other two summits, which are extremely steep and have a minimum of a grade IV climb.
But if you'd like to try those two tougher peaks, you should join the Mountain Club of Kenya before attempting to conquer them. The advice that club's mountaineers can give you may be crucial to your health and safety. Even the easier Lenana will require calves of steel and strong willpower, but with some prior training, it is fairly accessible to people of all fitness levels. It won't disappoint you, even though it is a bit easier.
You should consider the extreme weather conditions and the effects of the high altitude that you'll encounter, especially when you reach 4000 meters and higher. You can expect freezing temperatures, harsh winds, thin air, daily rain or snow, and mists all around you.
Trust me, you will need to prepare well to withstand the mountain's rigorous conditions. Never underestimate the need to use special equipment such as an ice axe and crampons. The best months to tackle the mountains in Kenya are February and August.
Don't be put off by the possibility of bad weather or altitude sickness. The feeling of victory and achievement that you will experience will stay in your heart for a very long time after you leave Mt Kenya. Don't be deterred by the cost, either, because you will soon forget it when you realize that conquering Mount Kenya is among the most
How to Maintain a Bike's Tire Pressure For Good Performance
There are a myriad of advantages to having a tire with just the right pressure. You can avoid flat tires, which usually happens when you over inflate your tire. You can have a smooth and flawless travel that usually happens when it has been incorporated with just the right amount of pressure. Best of all, the right amount of tire pressure can keep you well away from tire damages.
I am sure you have heard all these before. So how exactly can you maintain a good amount of tire pressure and what exactly is the right amount of pressure for your tire? The right pressure will actually depend on many things. You will have to take into consideration the setup of the tire, the weight of the rider and the also where and how you intend to use your bicycle.
You can pretty much start with a higher pressure. Inflating your bicycle tire to around 40-50 psi if you are using 2.2-2.3 inch tire size is a good starting point. You have to consider using smaller tires if you are a bit on the heavier side. You can lessen this pressure depending on where the wheels will most likely tread. Experiment until you find the right one.
And when you do find the right one, here is what you can do to maintain that bike pressure:
Step 1: Purchase a reliable floor pump. You can purchase the portable, smaller, frame-mounted as you can bring them with you when you for emergency roadside repair situations.
Step 2: If you still haven't figured out the right pressure settings for your tire, you can start by the recommended setting from the manufacturing company. It is usually inscribed on the sidewall of the tire so you might want to look for the tire you have bought for such information. Whatever you do, do not exceed the maximum pressure identified there.
Step 3: If you are using your bicycle for dirt riding, the recommended inflation maximum is up to 40 psi. You can go as high as 50-60psi if you are only using it on pavements. Remember that your tire naturally loses up to 10 psi every week so there is a need to tweak it every now and then. A weekly inspection is called for.
So here is how you can maintain a good tire pressure for an efficient riding experience. Remember to check your tire before using the bicycle.
I am sure you have heard all these before. So how exactly can you maintain a good amount of tire pressure and what exactly is the right amount of pressure for your tire? The right pressure will actually depend on many things. You will have to take into consideration the setup of the tire, the weight of the rider and the also where and how you intend to use your bicycle.
You can pretty much start with a higher pressure. Inflating your bicycle tire to around 40-50 psi if you are using 2.2-2.3 inch tire size is a good starting point. You have to consider using smaller tires if you are a bit on the heavier side. You can lessen this pressure depending on where the wheels will most likely tread. Experiment until you find the right one.
And when you do find the right one, here is what you can do to maintain that bike pressure:
Step 1: Purchase a reliable floor pump. You can purchase the portable, smaller, frame-mounted as you can bring them with you when you for emergency roadside repair situations.
Step 2: If you still haven't figured out the right pressure settings for your tire, you can start by the recommended setting from the manufacturing company. It is usually inscribed on the sidewall of the tire so you might want to look for the tire you have bought for such information. Whatever you do, do not exceed the maximum pressure identified there.
Step 3: If you are using your bicycle for dirt riding, the recommended inflation maximum is up to 40 psi. You can go as high as 50-60psi if you are only using it on pavements. Remember that your tire naturally loses up to 10 psi every week so there is a need to tweak it every now and then. A weekly inspection is called for.
So here is how you can maintain a good tire pressure for an efficient riding experience. Remember to check your tire before using the bicycle.
The Railway Guest House in Birmingham
The Railway Guest House is located on Station Road, Whitacre Heath, Coleshill (NEC) Birmingham. The Water Orton, Marston Green, Wilnecote (Staffordshire), and the Lea Hall trains stations could be used to get to the hotel and The Birmingham International Airport is the nearest airport to it.
The guests can benefit from The Old Market Hall, The National Motorcycle Museum, The Berkswell Village Museum, The Atherstone Heritage Centre & Museum and The Nuneaten Museum and & Gallery which are around if not near the guesthouse. From hotels around we can The Lea Marston Hotel, The APH Birmingham Hotel, Waterpark Lodge and the Ye Olde Station Guesthouse. The Wheatsheaf, The Adderly Restaurant and The Bull are among the eating places in the vicinity of the guest house that can be mentioned. Being located on the countryside you will not feel far from the green as The kingsbury Waterpark, The Belfry and The Hore Park Children Farm are close to it furthermore many places are there that provide the facilities for golf like The Maxstoke Park Golf Club, Oakbridge Golf Club, Purley Chase Golf Club and the Autherstone Golf Club.
The Railway Guesthouse is a three-star bed & breakfast with four rooms in total which classifies it among very small bed and breakfast. Althoug being a small hotel does not mean small in services and facilities.
It is a non-smoking, pets allowed accommodation with car parks available to the guests. Wi-Fi and broadband in the rooms and all rooms have coffee/tea making facilities with TV and Radio.
Discover Brahmaputra
Discover Brahmaputra
The Brahmaputra is in the north eastern part of India which is known to be the biggest river of the country. It enters India from the far eastern state of the Arunachal Pradesh after traveling hundreds of miles across the Tibet as the Tsangpo from its birthplace near the holy lake of Mansarovar. Brahmaputra is the world's largest river on the scale of Indus, Mississippi and the Nile. It flows through the Tibet where it is known as Dihang. The basin covers the part of Tibet, China, India, and Bangladesh. The long course of the Brahmaputra are through the dry and the flat region of the Southern Tibet before it starts to break in the Himalayas.
History of the Brahmaputra
The Brahmaputra has its own history to flow through the dense forest and the tribal settlements of the people. The river gives the picturesque view, excellent white water and the vibrant wildlife which is less visited corner of the Indian subcontinent. The Brahmaputra is the only source of the Mount Kailash and it transverses the entire Tibetan plateau and it makes the bend to the Indianand it cuts to the deep canyon to the world.
The major tributaries are the Amochu, Raidak, Mans, Sankosh, Dibang and Luhit. Till the mouth of the Bay of Bengal the length is the 2850 kilometers. Within the borders of the Bangladesh the length of the Brahmaputra- Jamuna is 276 kilometers long of the river is only 69 km. The course in Tibet is known as Tsang-po. Here the river flows through the plains which is known as the Lhasa.
The Geography of the Brahmaputra
The Geography of the river indicates the flood plains and the fresh alluvium deposits. The river is one of the key rivers of the eastern part of the India. During the monsoon season thats in the month from the June to October, flood seems to be occurred every year in the areas thats near the river.
Religious Importance of the Brahmaputra
As the river starts from the origin in the Mount Kailash, till the lower flows. Brahmaputra is counted in the major rivers in the whole continent with having the religious importance. The word means the "Son of Brahma" in the Sanskrit language. It originates from the Mount Kailash in the Himalayan Mountain in the western Tibet which passes through China and then it flows to the sea in the Bay of Bengal and it flows for 2900 kilometers. There are different types of name of the river in the different country like its is called as the Tsangpo in Tibet, Luit or Brahmaputra in Assam, Siang or Dihang in Arunachal Pradesh and the main branches is called is called as the Jamuna in Bangladesh. Three countries of the world is covered by the course of the Brahmaputra river that is India, Tibet and Bangladesh.
Garbage Disposal Repair - Simple Solutions For Simple Problems
I hate to admit it but my wife taught me how to fix a garbage disposal. First, she taught me what not to put in there. And if you want to keep from having to mess with your food waste disposal, you might also want to know what not to put in there. And while some disposers are advertised as being able to handle about anything, it is probably best not to test it just to see. First, you shouldn't put stringy vegetables in there. Two, any kind of grease or lard can also cause problems over time. And three, bones should not be put in a disposal.
Ok, so you forget or someone else (like the kids) puts something in there that shouldn't be in there. Or you stuff too much in at a time (it's best to put one thing in at a time). Or a fork or knife accidentally makes it way in. You flip the switch and no action. And all you get is a hum. What do you do? This is a problem that my wife taught me to fix on my own. It really is not that hard.
On my disposal there is a red reset button near the bottom of the unit. The hum means that the unit has tripped out due to the clog. You can wait just a few minutes, push the reset button and then turn the disposal on to see if it is working properly again. Often it will, but sometimes it will not.
So, there is a second step you can try that I learned when you've got a major obstacle jamming things up. And it might be a good idea to unplug the unit for this activity. Using some tongs, you can take out any large items in the disposer. Then with a long screwdriver, stick it down in there into one of the holes on the top of the unit. You might be able to break the jam lose by moving the screwdriver back and forth. If it works, take the screwdriver out, plug the unit back in (don't forget that one!), push the reset button, turn on the water and turn on the disposal. You should be back in business.
There can be some other problems with disposals that will require calling a plumber. It really depends on how good you are working on things and how patient you are. If it requires much true plumbing or electrical work, I will call the pros.
By the way, as far as preventive maintenance another trick I have learned is to put ice and citrus rinds in the disposal from time to time. It helps to keep the blades sharp, reduces the bacteria and makes it smell better.
Ok, so you forget or someone else (like the kids) puts something in there that shouldn't be in there. Or you stuff too much in at a time (it's best to put one thing in at a time). Or a fork or knife accidentally makes it way in. You flip the switch and no action. And all you get is a hum. What do you do? This is a problem that my wife taught me to fix on my own. It really is not that hard.
On my disposal there is a red reset button near the bottom of the unit. The hum means that the unit has tripped out due to the clog. You can wait just a few minutes, push the reset button and then turn the disposal on to see if it is working properly again. Often it will, but sometimes it will not.
So, there is a second step you can try that I learned when you've got a major obstacle jamming things up. And it might be a good idea to unplug the unit for this activity. Using some tongs, you can take out any large items in the disposer. Then with a long screwdriver, stick it down in there into one of the holes on the top of the unit. You might be able to break the jam lose by moving the screwdriver back and forth. If it works, take the screwdriver out, plug the unit back in (don't forget that one!), push the reset button, turn on the water and turn on the disposal. You should be back in business.
There can be some other problems with disposals that will require calling a plumber. It really depends on how good you are working on things and how patient you are. If it requires much true plumbing or electrical work, I will call the pros.
By the way, as far as preventive maintenance another trick I have learned is to put ice and citrus rinds in the disposal from time to time. It helps to keep the blades sharp, reduces the bacteria and makes it smell better.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Bathroom Shower Doors
You just realized that your shower doors could use some rest. Wondering how to go about the new doors? You should focus on key considerations, before you could replace your shower door. To make sure that you do not disappoint yourself with your purchase, we have a lot of tips for you. You can start with taking a general gauge of the market. Using online shopping cartels can be of much use, as these could get to you the right idea of all that is available in the market. You may find a lot many options such as the slider and pivot with interactive pages on the website. Make a check on the distance between the door and the wall, before you decide upon your purchase. A slide system will need around 4 feet of distance between the wall and the swing of the door. However, this particular type of door will depend on the format of your bathroom, over everything else.
Take a physical measurement of the swing of your door. Also, keep a tab on the height and the breadth, so that your placement of the product could be exact. While browsing for products, it is important that you set a budget in the beginning. It is quite possible that you would do more things to your bathroom setup other than the cube door replacement. There will be broken tiles, or misplaced tapestry, which could use some of your attention in repair. In addition, it would be wise if you consider professional help in the installation of the cube doors. This would ensure a lot of clean work and some discount on the service, and save you from lots of headache and disappointment.
Remember that pre designed showers have doors which come as a part of them. If you wish to install doors for bathtubs, there are many worth considering. The door could be made of all kind of material such as plastic or frosted mirror. It would be nice if you choose durability over everything else. While some of the doors, use the swing in and out technique, there are some which fold back.
Shower doors are designed differently for steam showers, such that their design does not allow any of the generated steam to escape out. Using the shower curtain is another smart way of decorating the bathroom and keep water from seeping out, but nothing would match the utility of a good shower door in all the efficiency, which comes with it. In the end, remember, that your budget and your requirement is what should drive the whole purchase to a good conclusion. The variety and bards serving the market are almost countless and will become a distraction to your motive if you do not focus yourself by concentrating properly on the right kind of purchase.
Take a physical measurement of the swing of your door. Also, keep a tab on the height and the breadth, so that your placement of the product could be exact. While browsing for products, it is important that you set a budget in the beginning. It is quite possible that you would do more things to your bathroom setup other than the cube door replacement. There will be broken tiles, or misplaced tapestry, which could use some of your attention in repair. In addition, it would be wise if you consider professional help in the installation of the cube doors. This would ensure a lot of clean work and some discount on the service, and save you from lots of headache and disappointment.
Remember that pre designed showers have doors which come as a part of them. If you wish to install doors for bathtubs, there are many worth considering. The door could be made of all kind of material such as plastic or frosted mirror. It would be nice if you choose durability over everything else. While some of the doors, use the swing in and out technique, there are some which fold back.
Shower doors are designed differently for steam showers, such that their design does not allow any of the generated steam to escape out. Using the shower curtain is another smart way of decorating the bathroom and keep water from seeping out, but nothing would match the utility of a good shower door in all the efficiency, which comes with it. In the end, remember, that your budget and your requirement is what should drive the whole purchase to a good conclusion. The variety and bards serving the market are almost countless and will become a distraction to your motive if you do not focus yourself by concentrating properly on the right kind of purchase.
UK Holiday Park Bargains and How to Get Them
With many families looking for a bargain holiday in Britain this year, holiday parks offer value for money, with good facilities, entertainment, and great locations too. But with a bit of luck, and knowing where and when to shop around, you can save even more on their prices.
1) Check the newspapers in the New Year for special offers on park holidays
Many of the regional and nationwide British papers publish discount holiday offers in the New Year. Often these are cut price bargain breaks at selected holiday parks throughout the UK. So keep an eye on the papers after Christmas and in the first couple of weeks of January. You'll need to collect a series of tokens, and the sooner you can start the better, because you have to send in your choices of holiday dates and locations in order of preference, and popular choices will soon be filled up.
2) Enter competitions on the holiday park websites
Some holiday park websites have competitions where you can win a free holiday in exchange for signing up for a brochure and answering some questions. It may be a long shot, but you won't win if you don't enter.
3) Check travel websites for discount codes
If you check the travel websites which advertise park holidays, you will often find discount codes. These may apply to a specific holiday park, a certain number of days or a particular time of year. So you may find a bargain break in a resort you hadn't thought of before.
4) Plan your holiday in the off-season
If your family circumstances allow you to avoid the school holidays, you can make big savings by going on holiday in the off peak holiday seasons. So if your children are younger, make the most of it while you can!
5) Camp in your own tent or campervan
Some holiday parks allow camping in tents or campervans as well as their own static caravans. So if you have you own tent or campervan, this can work out to be a cheaper option for budget accommodation, while still allowing you to use all the holiday park's facilities.
1) Check the newspapers in the New Year for special offers on park holidays
Many of the regional and nationwide British papers publish discount holiday offers in the New Year. Often these are cut price bargain breaks at selected holiday parks throughout the UK. So keep an eye on the papers after Christmas and in the first couple of weeks of January. You'll need to collect a series of tokens, and the sooner you can start the better, because you have to send in your choices of holiday dates and locations in order of preference, and popular choices will soon be filled up.
2) Enter competitions on the holiday park websites
Some holiday park websites have competitions where you can win a free holiday in exchange for signing up for a brochure and answering some questions. It may be a long shot, but you won't win if you don't enter.
3) Check travel websites for discount codes
If you check the travel websites which advertise park holidays, you will often find discount codes. These may apply to a specific holiday park, a certain number of days or a particular time of year. So you may find a bargain break in a resort you hadn't thought of before.
4) Plan your holiday in the off-season
If your family circumstances allow you to avoid the school holidays, you can make big savings by going on holiday in the off peak holiday seasons. So if your children are younger, make the most of it while you can!
5) Camp in your own tent or campervan
Some holiday parks allow camping in tents or campervans as well as their own static caravans. So if you have you own tent or campervan, this can work out to be a cheaper option for budget accommodation, while still allowing you to use all the holiday park's facilities.
Top Family-Friendly Restaurants in Austin
Dining out with your family should be an event you look forward to instead of a stressful experience. If you know just where to go around Austin, it can be that fun experience you're looking for. Here are a few top choices for family-friendly restaurants that are affordable and have a diverse menu so you'll find something for even the littlest member of your family.
Gatti's Pizza - Started in Texas more than 40 years ago, this popular pizza place offers signature recipes, a pizza buffet, and a game room that's perfect for the kids. It has more than 15 locations in Austin, for the ultimate in family fun.
Cost: Less than $10 per person
Kerbey Lane Cafe - Kerbey Lane has been an Austin landmark since 1980. It has a large menu that includes American favorites, an all-day breakfast, and several choices for kids age 12 and younger. Meals are reasonably priced and are created from fresh ingredients and all-natural meat. There are four locations throughout Austin.
Cost: Less than $10 per person
Salt Lick Barbeque - A well-known barbeque spot in Austin, Salt Lick is a must for families. The restaurant has locations in Round Rock and Driftwood - they serve both delicious plates and all-you-can-eat family style dining at a reasonable price. There are special deals for children 12 and under, and those 4 and under eat free.
Cost: $10 - $15 per person
Frank and Angie's Pizzeria - Frank and Angie's offers a friendly, festive atmosphere and is known for their delicious thin-crust pizza. They also have sandwiches, salads, and desserts that promise to satisfy the whole family.
Cost: About $10 per person
Waterloo Icehouse - A great gathering place for friends and family, Waterloo Icehouse offers seven locations throughout Austin. The restaurant features occasional live music and an extensive kids menu that offers everything from mac & cheese to mini corn dogs.
Cost: $8 - $12 per person
EZ's - Located in North Austin, EZ's is a great choice for a quick-and-easy family meal. They're known for their wood-fired brick-oven pizzas, delicious burgers and plenty of kids' menu options.
Cost: $5 - $10 per person
Next time you're looking for a delicious spot for your family dinner, check out one of the above restaurants. They're sure to please every member of your family.
Gatti's Pizza - Started in Texas more than 40 years ago, this popular pizza place offers signature recipes, a pizza buffet, and a game room that's perfect for the kids. It has more than 15 locations in Austin, for the ultimate in family fun.
Cost: Less than $10 per person
Kerbey Lane Cafe - Kerbey Lane has been an Austin landmark since 1980. It has a large menu that includes American favorites, an all-day breakfast, and several choices for kids age 12 and younger. Meals are reasonably priced and are created from fresh ingredients and all-natural meat. There are four locations throughout Austin.
Cost: Less than $10 per person
Salt Lick Barbeque - A well-known barbeque spot in Austin, Salt Lick is a must for families. The restaurant has locations in Round Rock and Driftwood - they serve both delicious plates and all-you-can-eat family style dining at a reasonable price. There are special deals for children 12 and under, and those 4 and under eat free.
Cost: $10 - $15 per person
Frank and Angie's Pizzeria - Frank and Angie's offers a friendly, festive atmosphere and is known for their delicious thin-crust pizza. They also have sandwiches, salads, and desserts that promise to satisfy the whole family.
Cost: About $10 per person
Waterloo Icehouse - A great gathering place for friends and family, Waterloo Icehouse offers seven locations throughout Austin. The restaurant features occasional live music and an extensive kids menu that offers everything from mac & cheese to mini corn dogs.
Cost: $8 - $12 per person
EZ's - Located in North Austin, EZ's is a great choice for a quick-and-easy family meal. They're known for their wood-fired brick-oven pizzas, delicious burgers and plenty of kids' menu options.
Cost: $5 - $10 per person
Next time you're looking for a delicious spot for your family dinner, check out one of the above restaurants. They're sure to please every member of your family.
Tents - Finding the Right Ones
With so many different types of tents out there how do you go about choosing the one that is best for you? Well it is quite simple actually if you follow the right methods and steps when you are going to stores and finding the one that will fit your style of adventure the best. To begin, a tent is basically your shelter that you will be using, they are always used in many different ways that depends on the type of camping trips you are usually taking on average. Each camping trip will be of course different but there is always an average on the types you go on.
For instance if you go on weekend camping trips you are looking for a dome tent, if you are going on a month's camping trip you are looking for an expedition tent. So you see all this depends on the style of camping trips you are taking. The first thing you want to do is go to a store whether it is online or in your local area and figure out the types of camping tents they are selling. If you have decided that your average camping trips are for weekends usually, start looking at dome camping tents and see the types they are offering. Looking at the many places you will want to check that are sensitive.
Sensitive tent places are located in the places that can break the easiest. For instances the wiring around the tent, which is recommended to be the strongest possible is one of the weak points if you are not getting quality tents. Another places is the lining that usually tears, these places are important because if you constantly open and close your tent, without having a quality lining it can break off really easily. Also you want to check the zippers and make sure they are durable themselves. These places are important because they are your life source in a way, if anyone of these gets broken your trip is going downhill. So make sure you follow this step by step plan and see yourself to the best tent out there!
For instance if you go on weekend camping trips you are looking for a dome tent, if you are going on a month's camping trip you are looking for an expedition tent. So you see all this depends on the style of camping trips you are taking. The first thing you want to do is go to a store whether it is online or in your local area and figure out the types of camping tents they are selling. If you have decided that your average camping trips are for weekends usually, start looking at dome camping tents and see the types they are offering. Looking at the many places you will want to check that are sensitive.
Sensitive tent places are located in the places that can break the easiest. For instances the wiring around the tent, which is recommended to be the strongest possible is one of the weak points if you are not getting quality tents. Another places is the lining that usually tears, these places are important because if you constantly open and close your tent, without having a quality lining it can break off really easily. Also you want to check the zippers and make sure they are durable themselves. These places are important because they are your life source in a way, if anyone of these gets broken your trip is going downhill. So make sure you follow this step by step plan and see yourself to the best tent out there!
Mastering Influence Can Change Your Life
Anthony Robbins created a guide about mastering influence. While it is predominantly a sales guide, this can show you how to get the most out of every relationship you have business or personal.
It will teach you how to effectively build rapport, and keep it for your long term goals. This is the key element when building good customer relationships. Not only will this work for customers, it will also allow you to be able to persuade any one know into anything you would like them to do.
Anthony Robbins guide will also teach you effective ways to use psychological tools with practical applications so you can persuade any one to become enthusiastic about your products the same way you are and get them to feel like they cannot live without it. This makes people not only want your product, but can also help find tell other people about it as well, increasing your sales.
Mastering influence also will teach you how to have greater confidence in yourself, since one of the things you must sell is you. He will show you how the harness your passion and use it as one of your most effective persuasion tools in your arsenal and channel your ambition into a success. By having these qualities, you can set a plan in motion, stick to it and achieve all of your goals.
The system will also teaches some of the tactics that sales people in the world know. His twelve CD set acts like your own personal coach to help you get the results you want. There also a booklet include a carry with you keep the tips at hand close at hand, as well as flash cards to embed them into your brain so you will be able to use these like second nature.
Mastering influence teaches you to be a better salesperson and can help you learn to your dreams using effective rules.
Happy Holidays !!!
Many English Christmas customs traveled to the United States with the English immigrants. Both countries share the hanging of stockings and mistletoe. People in both countries decorate with holly and ivy. While not as popular today, both the English and the Early Americans burned a Yule log,saving the remains for starting the next year's fire.
There is no Santa Claus in England. Instead, children receive gifts from Father Christmas.
At Christmas dinner, plum pudding is the dessert of choice. Coins are hidden in the pudding bringing good luck to those that find them.
Actors known as Christmas mummers present plays during the Christmas season to the delight of persons both young and old.
In some villages, churches "toll the Devil's knell" on Christmas Eve. The church bell is rung once for every year since Christ's birth; ending at midnight. The ringing is said to keep the Devil away from the village.
The English celebrate Boxing Day on December 26. On this day they give gifts to persons in service jobs, such as shop clerks or maids.
Guide to Martello Towers
Martello Towers are small forts that were first built at the beginning of the 19th Century along the coast in several countries belonging to the British Empire (and elsewhere in the world) in order to ward off an attack from Napoleon. Today, a number of these towers are still standing in various parts of Suffolk.
Appearance and Uses of the Martello Towers
Martello towers - also known simply as Martellos - are generally around 40 feet in height and have an unusual rounded shape with thick walls of solid stonework. The round, curved appearance of the Martellos was implemented to enable the garrison of soldiers and officers that inhabited them to have complete 360 degree views.
The wide roofs made an ideal stage to hold a cannon, which was placed on a pivot and so also to rotate 360 degrees. The thick, stone walls made the Martello a sturdy platform, and also highly resistant to enemy cannon fire. Some of the Martellos also had a moat around them as a further protection from attack. Often, a single doorway is found 5m off the ground that could only be accessed by a removable ladder.
British Martellos were typically 2 or 3 floors high, and a base of 24 men plus 1 officer occupied them. The men lived on the first floor which was divided into separate rooms for cooking and sleeping. There was a cistern within the fort to provide the men with water, which was refilled with rain via an internal drainage system that linked to the roof. A fireplace was built into a wall on the first floor for heating, bathing and cooking. The ground floor was used as a stock room, where supplies of ammunition plus food & drinking water were kept.
Origin of the Martello Towers
These curved forts were inspired by the Genovese defence system at Mortella Point in Corsica, which were first built in 1565. The Corsicans had originally built these towers on the coast of the island in order to protect their villages from pirates. The towers and their watchmen were paid for by local villagers, and whenever a pirate threat was seen, the watchmen would alert the villagers by lighting a fire on the tower's roof. Although the pirate threat subsequently dwindled, the Genovese built a newer generation of circular towers that were used to ward off later foreign invasions.
Bike Tours in Edinburgh
If you are the type of person that is looking for a great way of combining exercise with history and scenery then you may be interested in going on one of the many Edinburgh bike tours throughout Scotland's capital.
These bike rides are no doubt aimed at an active body and mind but even if you are starting out you can still give them a try as you will be introduced to a great way of staying healthy and seeing the great outdoors.
There are hundreds of articles out there that better describe the advantages and benefits to the people that ride bikes on a frequent basis but not only does it keep you very healthy it can also be a good way of meeting new people and socialising with them too.
Another good thing about going on an Edinburgh bike tour is the fact that you won't see the same thing twice. With the city always throwing up something new to the avid cyclist as well as the weather always changing you can be sure that you will be in for a few surprises along the way.
Some of the more familiar things you will see on your bike tour will no doubt be the famous Edinburgh castle and the now dormant volcano of Arthur's Seat. No matter what route you take you will no doubt go passed some of the many stunning buildings and landscapes Edinburgh has to offer.
For those with less than supple limbs you will be glad to hear that if you wish to go at a slower pace you can do so, simply ask the tour operators and you can have a more relaxed view of the city.
One concern that many wish to clear up before they book their tour is whether or not there is a booking limit on how many people can go on an Edinburgh bike tour at one time. Well thankfully as this is the great outdoors you will see no booking limits on most companies tours so if you need to book on 1 or 21 people you should be able to do so.
One thing you can also do before going on a bike tour in Edinburgh is ask some of the operators for testimonials of those who have been before them. Many people report back to having a great time and finding out there is a good balance to be found in both exercising and socialising.
Edinburgh bike tours are ideal if you are the sort of person who is looking at improving their health as well as taking in some historic culture and scenery at the same time.Recommended Campervan Parks in Queensland
Many people come to Queensland for the great outdoor culture here in Australia. There is no better way to experience the outdoor lifestyle than travelling in a campervan and experiencing everything this country has to offer. Here is some useful information and recommendations from campervan travellers this article is for the benefit of anyone interested in camping in Queensland. Here are a few of our favourite Queensland campsites which are campervan friendly.
Gold Coast Campervan Sites - One of the best camp sites on the Gold coast is Broadwater Tourist Park. Its great location is right on the water's edge. From $36.00 a night you can park your campervan on a powered site, it is in a fantastic location. Gold Coast Highway, Southport, Gold Coast, Queensland, 4215, Australia, 1800 444 474.
Brisbane Campervan Sites - Sharp park river bend campsite is a great campsite; you can also park campervans and caravans at this great Australian owned park. This is near to Canungra, a beautiful campsite with over five acres of land on the river. The river is great for fishing and swimming. The campsite provides toilets and showers and pets are welcome. 3069-3095 Beechmont Road, Canungra, Queensland, 4275, Australia, 04 0955 0745.
Southern Downs Campervan Sites - Bestbrook mountain resort, this Australian family owned campervan and Caravan Park is set in a scenic hilly location straddles the Gap Creek. It features a swimming pool. This park is right next to the Main Range National Park. A must visit campsite prices starting from less than $25 per night. 9790 Cunningham Highway, Maryvale Queensland, 4370, Australia, 07 4666 1282.
Toowomba & Golden West Campervan Sites - For in town camping in Toowoomba you can't beat the Jolly Swagman. The Toowomba caravan and Campervan Park is in town but in a garden setting. Prices are less than $20 per night and you can meet an interesting crowd of backpackers and other campers. 47 Kitchener Street, Toowoomba, Queensland, 4350, Australia, 07 4632 8735.
Sunshine Coast Region Campervan Sites - Kingfisher Caravan Park is a great cheapo camp site, all the necessary facilities are offered, close to the beach and for around $20 per night what a great way to have a campervan holiday in an unspoilt location in Australia.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Feelings - How We Fully Appreciate Life
In my past I could have been described as a really angry person. This may have been largely due to the type of lifestyle that I was living at that time. I used to smoke cigarettes to try and cope with my anger and I used to be a really mean person.
The best solution for dealing with anger would be to not get angry, but we know that never getting angry is impossible. But it is possible to not get angry as often, which would be the first and best possible solution. I have found that in order to keep myself from getting angry as often as usual I need to practice a great degree of self control. I try to always think about why I am getting angry before I do so then I ask myself this question, "what is getting angry going to solve?" Most of the time, if not all, the answer is nothing...
If I find that a situation has aggravated me so much that I simply cannot help but get angry these are the next key steps that I follow now. The first is to not let my anger be directed towards anyone, many times you can take out your anger on other people which is never fair. After that I try to practice techniques that I have found help me to relieve stress, such as exercise, and listening to music.
Now that I have shared the techniques with you that I use to prevent anger from loosing control, I will also share some that you should definitely not try. Smoking cigarettes or even worse using illegal drugs are definitely NOT a solution to anger problems. Basically anything that you do when you are anger that is not productive is not a really good idea.
I really hope that you can learn to control your anger issues through some of the simple steps outlined in this article, if you do not and anger issues persist. I would suggest that you seek professional help...
The best solution for dealing with anger would be to not get angry, but we know that never getting angry is impossible. But it is possible to not get angry as often, which would be the first and best possible solution. I have found that in order to keep myself from getting angry as often as usual I need to practice a great degree of self control. I try to always think about why I am getting angry before I do so then I ask myself this question, "what is getting angry going to solve?" Most of the time, if not all, the answer is nothing...
If I find that a situation has aggravated me so much that I simply cannot help but get angry these are the next key steps that I follow now. The first is to not let my anger be directed towards anyone, many times you can take out your anger on other people which is never fair. After that I try to practice techniques that I have found help me to relieve stress, such as exercise, and listening to music.
Now that I have shared the techniques with you that I use to prevent anger from loosing control, I will also share some that you should definitely not try. Smoking cigarettes or even worse using illegal drugs are definitely NOT a solution to anger problems. Basically anything that you do when you are anger that is not productive is not a really good idea.
I really hope that you can learn to control your anger issues through some of the simple steps outlined in this article, if you do not and anger issues persist. I would suggest that you seek professional help...
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