Students Of Success

Whether Katrina is seen as a disaster, a scourge or a purge it is hard to believe that it can dislodge the deep culture and uniqueness that makes up this city known as New Orleans. From its long history in the hands of the Spanish the French and then the Americans it has formed a character that cannot be compared to any city in the entire nation.

Every thing is different in New Orleans. This is the City of Lagniappe (something extra), romantic paddle boats, the French Quarter, muffelattas and Mardi Gras. Even the street names speak of New Orleans unusual character. Names like Tchoupitoulas, Melpomene, Chef Menteur, and Terpsichore.

The dialects and colloquialisms spring from Creole, French, African, Irish and many other tongues too numerous to mention. Perhaps most noticeable of all is the common Brooklynese spoken by most New Orleanians as a result of Brooklyn middle school teachers being imported to New Orleans over a hundred years ago to help educate New Orleans children.

Nothing in New Orleans is like any other city in our nation but that also includes its susceptibility to the ravages of Gulf storms and hurricanes. Parts of the city are only three feet below sea level and others are up to twenty feet below sea level. Ducks may love water but this city was a sitting duck for more water than it could ever handle. I knew that like everyone else living there but I thought preparations and contingencies had been properly made.

As the water begins to recede and people are evacuated and the dead are counted another storm has begun. The storm of criticism now rages throughout the nation. FEMA, the President, the National Guard are all coming under intense scrutiny for their performance or the lack of it.

For those of us down here we didn’t mind seeing Jesse Jackson cut short by our news commentators as he flew into tirade about President Bush’s slow or inadequate responses. We stand behind Mayor Nagin even though it is reported that he vented a great deal of anger towards both Governor Blanco and President Bush.

We don’t blame Sheriff Jack Stephens of St. Bernard Parish for wailing at the FEMA rep who showed up days after his deputies had worked alone and under the worst of conditions and exclaimed he was there to make an assessment. We felt like crying when we saw Governor Blanco holding back her tears as she described the situation in the first hours after Katrina danced its dance of death.

We are listening to our local leaders and our President not to the nay Sayers and critics who comment from afar and above sea level, seeking to further the interests of their party or their own profile. Contrary to what is being said we both hear and see that the help is flowing in and the effort is quite real. Even as I write this article I have stepped outside at the beckoning of my wife to see convoys of military vehicles, electric utilities, tree utilities, passenger busses and police all streaming toward the city of New Orleans down Highway 190 in Baton Rouge. If I had a flag I might have chosen to go out and wave it as I cheered them on.

Critics at this point are like salt on the wound. Hey, its America so they have the right to say whatever they want, but discretion might be calling for a little better timing. Hold off until the dust has settled, or in this case at least until the water recedes.

Between this paragraph and the last my wife and me went to a little church in a small town near Baton Rouge called Erwinville. The Sharon church, a tiny little congregation nestled between fields of sugar cane and soy beans were praying for victims of Katrina when we walked in. With only a small number of people they had already raised over twelve hundred dollars to help feed people staying in a local civic center housing Katrina refugees. They had bought uniforms for children of the victims and helped to enroll them in school classes. Additionally they were bringing supplies and funds to the red cross in New Orleans. These are Louisianans helping Louisianans and that alone made going to church an inspiration.

I have made my own situation known in more detail on my website. But just in case you think this is the opinion of just another outsider looking in, then I should tell you this. Our church, our house and the houses of almost all our friends and relatives are under ten feet of water as I write this article. We escaped the wrath of Katrina by a hair and were able to bring out an older gentleman who surely would have perished if we had not.

I will not criticize anyone who has made an effort to help us down here from the President to the kind soul who put a dollar in an offering plate set for the relief for Katrina’s victims. Some of the people and agencies who responded to this crisis may have been a bit slow, confused by poor communications and caught off guard by the shear enormity of the disaster but from their first intentions to their long journey to the deepest part of the deep south they have shown themselves to be good neighbors. On behalf of thousands of us beleaguered at this hour in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama I offer not criticism but thanks.

Rev Bresciani is the author of two books published by Xulon Press and Publish America. He is also author of many articles both in print and online. His website is americanprophet.org

If you are worried about telephone bugs, then you need to make
sure that you have the right counter surveillance equipment.
This will allow you to protect yourself from eavesdroppers who
want to listen in on your conversations. If you want to stay
private, then you need to be on the look out for telephone bugs,
especially since these bugs may work beyond just your phone
calls and May, in fact, also double as room monitors. The first
piece of equipment you need when searching out telephone bugs is
your eyes. You need to be alert and look around. Watch people
who enter your home. Do they show a great deal of interest near
your phone? Someone borrowing your phone to “make a quick phone
call” can easily bug it. Most people go into another room for
this sort of thing, protecting them from listeners as well as
from prying eyes. If you suspect someone may have been able to
tamper with your phone, you can take the phone apart fairly
easily to look for bugs (or just buy a new phone). Another thing
to look for when attempting to uncover phone bugs is innocent
looking contraptions nearby. Is there always a cell phone
charging near the phone? Do you have a new phone jack adapter?
These are tip offs that the equipment may be spy gear instead of
what it looks like. You can also use your eyes outside your
home. Does it look like there is an extra wire somewhere that is
tapping into your line? Check around for these sorts of
telephone bugs is also important. Telephone bugs often either
use some of the power used by the phone or transmit a signal. A
bug sweeper can help you locate these types of bugs. Some money
invested in a good sweeper can help you with your counter
surveillance needs as you locate intruding spy bugs. This
sweeper either detect an increase in power drawn by the phone
(to power the bug) or detects frequencies used to transmit
signals carrying your conversations. You need to be on your toes
if you want to protect yourself from eavesdroppers using
telephone bugs. (c) 2005 Copyright www.spyassociates.com. This
article is about: Telephone Bugs.

Kendo, which literally means “way of the sword”, is the Japanese art of fencing. Kendo was created by the samurai during the Kamakura period (1180-1230) so they could hone their skills without killing each other. It was originally grounded in Zen Buddhism. The teachings of kendo helped the samurai learn to disregard their own lives in the heat of battle. This is one of the main reasons it is considered the way of the sword.

Kendo was originally called kenjutsu however, as a result of the world war, Japan had to change its name to kendo. It is also known in some cultures (mainly korean) as kumdo. Kumdo is essentially kendo without the ettiquite and with different terminology.

In kendo there are 4 basic targets, the goal being to disarm/kill your opponent in one hit. The basic targets are the head (men), hand (kote), stomach (do), and finally, the throat (tsuki). There are combinations of the hits, one example being “kote-men”, in which you “cut off” their hand and cut their head open immediatly after.

In kumdo the targets are the same. However, kenjutsu is more of a “no rule/kill your enemy/not a sport” art.In kenjutsu, unlike kendo, it is not uncommon to “spar” with 4 or 5 people at a time.

Ettiquete is a very big part of kendo; kendoka must bow upon entering and leaving the dojo and must show respect to their sempai (older students including sensei).

Kendo, unlike other martial arts, has no external signs of rank. In order to know what rank another kendoka is, you must keiko against them and judge their skill. There there are 2 sets or rank: the Kyu (lower ranks) and the Dan (black belt). A kendoka starts at 1 Kyu and climbs up the kendo ladder to the 8 Dan mark.

International-kendo.com is an up and comming kendo website.

How many of us couldn’t use a hug on a daily basis———-well, when you get out of bed as part of your daily practice in the morning wrap your arms around yourself and just say “Good Morning—-What a Great Day to be Alive!!!!”

Your goal for the week ——–if you choose to accept it— is
to try to hug at least 10 people per day. You might just start with 5 but see if you can increase it to 10—-it is kind of like working out but instead of developing your physical body you are developing the emotional part of yourself. I do not know anyone who does not enjoy a hug——–it just makes a closer connection on a different level rather than just shaking hands.

When I meet people and they put their hand out, I usually tell them I am a “Hugger” and ask if I can give them a Hug. You will be able to notice how comfortable people are with hugging by the following:

The A-Frame Hug—-

It is the person who will just allow you to

hug from the shoulders, and keeps large spaces

between your bodies—-like the letter “A”.

The Teddy Bear Hug—-

Just a genuine hug that feels relaxed and

comfortable with very little space between

the two people—-like you use to hug your

“Teddy Bear”–it makes you happy and playful.

The Spiritual Hug—–

A hug where you greet each other in a

comfortable manner—breathe deeply

a couple of times to make an

inner connection and then separate.

What type of hugger are you? The more you practice the better you get. Start by hugging yourself and then at least 5 others per day and you will see how great you feel, and probably really make someone’s day by making a connection. Remember———————— “A Hug a Day Keeps The Doctor Away!!!!!”

Fran Buckless has been a coach and educator for over 30 years. She has just started a newsletter, “All About Caring”, on her website http://www.myallaboutcaring.com. Her goal is to remind people that there is someone out there that cares about them and their needs. Fran comes from a spiritual background, and believes in helping others through a variety of ways. If you need a “pick me up” or something that will make you “think”, read one of her articles. She is just like you, and will try to relate some of her experiences knowing that there are others who are going through the same thing. She is also committed to helping you find other people who come from integrity in a variety of fields—–people that you don’t have to search for but can trust. If you like honesty, you will like what she has to write about. She is truly inspirational, and has a bigger heart than anyone I know.

The plasma flat screen television was invented in the 1960s, and although it made a brief appearance in the market in the 70s, it did not quite catch on. Nowadays, the plasma flat screen television is defining what a home theatre should be, and most people who pride themselves on having a fine home theatre own a plasma flat screen television along with other high-tech innovations, such as surround sound speakers. The plasma flat screen television truly gives one the feeling of sitting in the cinema, and, if mounted on the wall, it can save a lot of space. Although the price was once out of the range of the average consumers, plasma flat screen televisions are slowly moving into the range of affordability.

A plasma flat screen television uses technology that is quite different from the typical cathode ray television. Neon and Xenon gases move between two flat panel glasses. These are inert gases and are not dangerous. The result is amazing color; the typical plasma flat screen television produces 16 million unique colors and provides great contrast between dark and light. The screen has a “perfect black” that gives it a cinematic feel. Although the plasma flat screen television is much larger than the conventional television, with all of its devices, it is usually no more than four inches thick. This allows one to install a plasma flat screen television on the wall to save space.

Although the cost of a plasma flat screen television keeps decreasing, you should take into account the amount of power these televisions can use when you figure out the cost in real terms. While there are many energy-efficient models, a larger plasma flat screen television uses a lot of electricity. However the technology of the plasma TV is being developed and improved constantly, and, before long, using a plasma TV will conserve energy.

One advantage to the plasma flat screen television is that it has a relatively long life; the typical set has 60,000 hours to half life (half-life occurs when the screen quality is reduced by half). When you purchase your plasma flat screen television, ensure that you have an excellent warrantee and that you can have it serviced for free or at a low cost.

One thing to be aware of with your plasma flat screened television is that it is quite delicate, and the slightest bump can cause problems. For instance, if a child throws a ball at the screen, hundreds of individual tubes can lose their ability to glow, and repair for this is expensive, if it is possible. It is therefore a good idea for parents to install their plasma flat screened television so that it is high enough to avoid such interference (and don’t let your kids play ball in the TV room!). There are tilt wall mounts that allow you to install your plasma flat screened television at an angle if you store it high.

Along with the plasma flat-screened television, you can purchase plasma furniture or special cabinets and stands for your plasma television. If you prefer the classic, hardwood look, there are home entertainment cabinets specially designed to hold plasma flat screened televisions along with other equipment. For a more contemporary look, you can find metallic curved stands with simple glass shelves or just a short stand to place on top of an existing cabinet or table.

An important tip to keep in mind when choosing plasma flat screened television furniture and supplies is that they should be well-tested for sturdiness, since a plasma TV cannot handle a bump, much less, a complete fall. Make sure that all surfaces and mounts are sturdy enough to hold your set or more weight, just to be on the safe side.

Author - Marcus Grant www.SigK.com
www.lcd-flat-screen-tv.com

With the vast expanse of the internet, it has become easier than ever to gain approval for a credit card instantly. This makes it extremely easy for those who have the need to pay off debts, take a vacation, or if they have an emergency to gain the credit card they want fast and easily. Of course, you can still go through the traditional methods of applying for credit card by filling out the forms, sending it with “Snail Mail”, and then waiting another four to six weeks before you even hear a reply. However, with today’s busy society many people opt to apply for their credit cards right online and receive instant approval.

It is extremely easy, fast, and possible to gain instant approval on a credit card thanks to the internet world. These approvals typically occur within one minute of submitting your application, since millions of people shop, do their research, and spend a great deal of time online in this day in age it just makes sense. There is no other method of applying for a credit card that is faster, easier, or more convenient than applying online. Think about it, if you were to fill out the application by hand, you have to take the time to fill it out, and it has to be done in ink, if you make an error you have to take the time to correct it in a manner that is legible. Another fallback of applying “offline”, is that fact that you have to take the time to drop it in the mail box, then you will have to wait to hear back which could take anywhere from four to six weeks.

By applying online, if you make any errors, the backspace on your keyboard works wonders, additionally once you hit the submit button, the wonderful world of the internet provides you with approval in minutes. Now it is just as important to investigate and thoroughly research all online credit card offers as it is for those you apply for by hand. You need know what kinds of fees and rates are charged to you, the percentage rates, any times of introductory offers or incentives the card offers you. The best and easiest way to do this is to go to a site that has the comparisons already outlined for you. This will allow you to view specific cards side by side and compare them to find which credit card works well for you.

Jeff Lakie is a contributing author at our website where
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