Students Of Success

The number of parents that choose to enroll their child online for home schooling is expanding. Its popularity among other parents and parents-to-be is vastly increasing. Some parents want it because it is more convenient when it comes to the financial aspects. Some parents do not have enough money to be able to send their children to private schools.

With each passing year, tuition fees are soaring. No wonder many parents insist on not bringing their child to school but there are more reasons. There are some advantages as well as disadvantages to home schooling. But it is still up to you which school to choose. One reason why many people enroll their children to this kind of schooling is that they have more control. Control on what? It is control on the subjects and lessons to learn and the control on whom you want to influence your children.

Quality education is every parent’s desire for their kids. Some people think that they will be able to teach their child more when he’s taught at home rather than in the school itself. Moreover, some say that they could choose the subjects to focus on and properly incorporate them in their children’s minds.

After all, some schools have that lack of input and other factors as well that could hinder their learning needs. In addition, some parents point out that they can be in charge of the curriculum, as well as go to the easy lessons and focus on harder subjects. Furthermore, some schools do not have very efficient teachers with appropriate teaching methods.

Aside from the control over the educational process, some parents who have chosen to home school their child believe that they are actually getting a far more enhanced course of education. In this way, they are given assurance that they are properly and effectively taught and educated. Moreover, they believe that the parent-children bond is strengthened and the family ties are kept intact. They believe that it enriches their relationship with one another.

On the other hand, some people say that home schooling may harm or endanger a child’s social interaction as well as their emotional relationship with other people. They believe that there are opportunities that may cause certain social problems. With those mentioned above, there are many schools that are computer-aided. Various associations and organizations have created home schooling that provides computer-aided instruction. You can visits some sites online and to find these organizations. It is good that you canvass first and be aware of their rules, policies, and regulations.

Look for their accreditations. See also if they have activities and events that may give you more information on their curriculum and with this, you can make your decision. It is predicted that home schooling will be become more popular and will be utilized more towards achieving quality education that every child needs and wants.

Alison Palmer has an interest in Family & Children related topics. To find out how you can become successful at home schooling your child please visit this Home schooling related site.

Loving relationships exhume our most intense feelings and emotions, as individuals invest so much of themselves in their lover. It seems that the more important the relationship becomes in one’s life, the greater the risks involved if the relationship breaks down. Yet it is no surprise that with all of the time spent and personal intimacy one shares with their lover, this is where some of the greatest conflicts arise from. A loving relationship is often characterized by its “ups and downs” we like to say; the happiest moments to the most conflicted. So social psychologists often observe the human response to conflict and the nature of human behavior during a conflict. While every reaction is obviously distinctly different, there are general patterns of behavior that can be identified by social psychologists. While the two different paradigms of Cognitive Social Psychology and Symbolic Interactionism have differing conclusions about human behavior regarding conflict, both paradigms have valid points. Both paradigms can be analyzed and applied through a hypothetical conflict in a loving relationship. While Cognitive Social Psychologists emphasize ideas like game theories like mixed motive and the prisoner’s dilemma in conflict, Symbolic Interactionists will tend to stress ideas like strategic interaction and expression games.

To give some background on the loving relationship that will serve as the lab-rat for this paper, the conflict should be explained. Robert and Stephanie have been dating for three years now, as they met while attending graduate school at Brown University. They found that they had many of the same interests, and immediately had a mutual connection that they could not put into words. After a period of flirtation that lasted several weeks, the pair began to officially date. Both were experienced with intimate relationships, but neither had felt so confident about a relationship as this one. After eight months dating, they began to say “I love you” to one another and they truly meant every word that they said. However, it wasn’t until a full year of dating until Robert met Stephanie’s parents.

As expected, the in-laws just didn’t get along with Robert’s dogmatic ways and felt he was a bad influence on their precious daughter. Yet Stephanie was able to ignore their urging for a breakup and they have been dating for two more years since that first incident. However, the problem of dislike still lingers between Robert and Stephanie’s parents (the Franklins). For some reason lately Robert and Stephanie have been arguing all the time over the most trivial issues, and both of them know that in the back of their mind it’s probably due to the stress that the Franklin’s put on their “possible future together.” So it comes as no surprise that when deciding on where to go for Thanksgiving, a conflict arises. The Franklin’s have invited the couple over, yet Robert knows that he will be miserable as they degrade him the whole time and attempt to push Stephanie away from his loving grasp. But Stephanie hasn’t seen her family in four months and desperately wants to be around them again. The final decision is given to Robert, so should go to spend Thanksgiving with Stephanie’s parents, Robert’s parents, a mutual friend, or just home together amongst themselves? The conflict is quite tough to resolve, and will be reviewed from several different angles.

The paradigm of cognitive social psychology sees meaning as inherent with the individual’s job being to find this meaning. Researchers in this paradigm ask questions of “why?” They explain that conflict can turn into hostility when feels vulnerable and has a weak sense of self. By using game theories like that of mixed motive games where there are at least two options during each turn and the options and outcomes aren’t always clear, researchers can study the human response to conflict. A classic example is the prisoner’s dilemma, where two prisoners are given a chance to confess about a crime they committed together. The consequences come out that 1) if both confess, the sentence is mediocre 2) if one confesses but not the other, the confessor is given no sentence while the other is given a heavy sentence 3) If neither confesses, they both receive a light sentence. The results of the game showed why people act in conflict, as the best route would have been for both to remain silent yet because they aren’t trusting they usually take a worse road. Gender differences that were shown through research imply that females are less cooperative, retaliate more, prefer accommodation, and use the “tit for tat strategy” more often. (Elliott Lecture, November 18th) The tit for tat strategy basically says that “I’ll cooperate as long as you do, but if you turn on me then I’ll turn on you too.” So by exploring various game theories, cognitive social psychologists can learn information about “why” people act the way they do in conflict.

The whole game theory idea can be applied to Robert’s dilemma with Thanksgiving, as shown below (assuming that the Franklins can express interest in having Robert over or not express any interest):

Franklins’ Choice

Express interest in No interest in being together

Being together

- Franklins see Rob as caring about Stephanie

- Stephanie happy

- Rob unhappy because he is with Franklins

- Chance to work on things and better relationship - Rob sees Franklins as offensive

- Stephanie is upset

- No chance to work on things

- Franklins see Rob as offensive

- Rob happy because he’s not around Franklins

- Stephanie is upset

- No chance to work on things - Both parties offended

- Rob happy he’s because not around Franklins

- Stephanie is upset

- No chance to work on things

The best course of action for both parties is clearly to express interest in being together. The only negative here is that Robert is unhappy, yet with the prospect of working on things it is the only option that allows a bright outlook on the future too. Robert is a male so his tendencies in playing the game may not be quite as aggressive as if the choice was given to Stephanie and the situation was that the Thomas’ disliked her. Yet Robert must still be mature and choose to express interest in being together with the Franklins, and they must in turn do the same thing. This mutual course of action clearly has the best outlook for the future.

Symbolic interactionists view the individual as a process, with the surrounding world having no inherent meanings as we must assign meanings to everything. We are always adapting and changing; we are dynamic, not stagnant beings. Symbolic interactionists are always asking questions involving “how”, attempting to define the world around them. When a conflict arises, strategic interaction is a way that individuals will act and think, that is closely identified with symbolic interactionism. Strategic interaction is a method of behavior whereby individuals examine the world around them, identify actors involved, possible courses or action, and then use all accessible information to act based on projected outcomes. Erving Goffman in his book The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life discusses this idea in depth identifies its various characteristics. He defines strategic interaction’s conditions where, “Two or more parties must find themselves in a well-structured situation of mutual impingement where each party must make a move and where every possible move carries fateful implications for all parties involved.” (Goffman, 1959)

To apply this to the situation of Robert and Stephanie, look at how their interactions affect so many separate individuals. No matter what course of action Robert decides to take, more than just he and Stephanie will be affected. If they decide to go to the home of the Franklins’, Robert will be viewed as caring by Stephanie and possibly even by her parents. But regardless, they will still abuse him at every possible chance and put him down behind his back to Stephanie. If they decide to go to the home of Robert’s parents (the Thomas’), Stephanie will be upset about not seeing her family and the Franklins will surely talk badly about Robert to Stephanie because he is “being selfish.” If they decide to stay home alone then the Franklins perceive Robert as taking their daughter away from them, and if they visit mutual friends then both sets of parents are offended. It seems that every path will encounter problems; just through strategic interaction Robert can take the path where he faces the least amount of dilemmas. He should examine each possible course of action, place priorities on certain actors and decisions, and go from there.

Another term that Goffman identifies and goes on to describe in his book is referred to as expression games. In these games, the actors have different roles and take turns making moves against their opponent. There are various terms that should first be explained so that the game theory is completely understood. Each actor can be a party, player, pawn, token or informant. A party is anything with a “unitary interest to promote” and can often be a combination of several of the above terms. Individuals are referred to as players when they exercise intelligence by assessing their situation and following through on a selected course of action for the party. Pawns are those individuals whose social or bodily welfare is in jeopardy and can become the interest by which the stake of the game depends on. Tokens are simply those people who openly express the position that the party has taken. Lastly, informants possess information and pass this on to other actors involved. (Goffman, 1959) Next, there is the issue of a turn versus a move. Turns are the opportunity that an actor is given to take a course of action, whereas moves are the actual course of action that is completed. Turns are merely opportunities, while moves are the acts that exemplify usage of that opportunity. Expression games are based on different actors taking different turns to make moves, all of which will have some influence on the other actors within the game.

In reference to Robert and Stephanie, it is very possible to apply expression games to their specific situation. In this case Robert acts as his own party, and is a player, pawn and token within this party. He represents his own party whose interests are to please those around him while strengthening his weakened loving relationship with Stephanie. He acts as player by making a specific move when deciding where they should spend Thanksgiving, yet he is a pawn because his own social welfare (his loving relationship) is at stake. Lastly, he is a token because he must announce to all those awaiting his decision what course of action the couple will take. Another example of a party involved is portrayed by the Franklins, as their interests involve the separation of their daughter from her relationship with Robert. These two parties appear to be the most significant in regards to the current dilemma.

While expression games explain the roles of the actors involved, it also explains how and why the actors will make their moves. As with any game, there will always be an opponent. In order to outplay one’s opponent, actors use a few pieces of knowledge about their opponent that they may gather. These include the opponent’s operational code, resolve, information state, resources, gameworthiness and integrity. Here is how Goffman defines each of these terms:

• Operational Code- “the orientation to gaming that will diffusely influence how the opponent plays… the opponent’s preference pattern…”

• Resolve- “the opponent’s determination to proceed with the game at whatever price to himself.”

• Information state- “the knowledge the opponent may posses about the important features of his own situation and of (his opponent’s).”

• Resources- “the stuffs that the other as a party can draw upon in his adaptations to the situation”

• Gameworthiness- “the intellectual proclivity to assess all the possible courses of action and their consequences from the point of view of all the contesting parties…the ability to think and act under pressure… the ability and willingness to dissemble about anything…”

• Integrity- “the strength of their propensity to remain loyal to the party once they have agreed to play for it…” (Goffman, 1959)

By evaluating and calculating each of these characteristics within one’s opponent, it becomes possible to determine the best possible course of action. Knowledge of one’s opponent gives an individual a major advantage, as he or she can think moves ahead of the present. By determining the strengths and weaknesses of the opponent, individuals can better estimate how a course of action will be received so that they may make the most successful move.

While there are clearly many parties involved in the current conflict that Robert and Stephanie face, it is clear that the party of Robert is faced with an opponent represented by the Franklin’s. Stephanie may also be considered a part of Robert’s party, yet her loyalty to the opposing party of the Franklin’s may be greater than her loyalty to Robert’s party. She also is a semi-informant to Robert as she surely tells him some of the information she knows about her parents and even their opinions of him, yet she definitely withholds a lot of information as well. When deciding where to spend Thanksgiving, Robert needs to first examine his knowledge of the Franklins so that he can predict their response to his move. Their operational code is against Robert, as they are always protective of Stephanie and critical of Robert. Their resolve to deface Robert appears to be without end, yet their information state about Robert is very limited because they never want to hear anything but the negative aspects of his life. However they do know that they have a great influence over their daughter. The resources they have are pretty much limited to Stephanie, and their integrity is without fault and they are highly loyal to each other and their daughter. Also, Robert must have great respect for the gameworthiness of the Franklins, as they are obviously willing to put up a fantastic fight to win their daughter back.

Robert is armed with all of this knowledge of his opponent, so he must utilize this to make his decision. To be successful in this game (of winning over the Franklins and Stephanie) his move should be to attend Thanksgiving at the Franklins’. All other parties involved (their mutual friends and the Thomas’) will not be greatly offended if the couple doesn’t join them for the holiday, so their relationships won’t be jeopardized. The only way that another party won’t be truly offended is if Robert and Stephanie will go the Franklin home. This move will show the Franklins that Robert cares about their daughter’s desires and needs, and the well-being of their family as a unit. Their integrity and resolve for their daughter to be happy are strong and will not change. Yet their information state about Robert is quite small and their resources will grow if they spend more time with him, so perhaps by interacting with the family he can make some minor movement towards winning them over. This is the most prudent move for the time being, so now the Franklin party must decide how to respond to Robert’s gesture once the couple arrives at their home for Thanksgiving. The game will be truly kicked into high-gear then.

One thing is for certain among all of these differing paradigms and opinions- conflict promotes growth. While conflict is thought of with a negative connotation, it is actually beneficial to life. Without conflict individuals would not face the underlying problems that each person faces, nor would they proceed into future development. (Elliott Lecture, November 18th) Conflict is a necessary and automatic part of daily human behavior, and individuals learn and develop through its eventual resolution.

Whether from the vantage point of a cognitive social psychologist or a symbolic interactionist, it is irrefutable that love is “fertile grounds for conflict.” (Essay prompt) With so much of an individual being invested into this one relationship, there is almost no way for there not to be a conflict at some point in time. The example of Robert and Stephanie’s dilemma shows an example of the little quarrels that loving couples experience, and the varying ways that they are resolved and acted through. Symbolic interactionists like Goffman use strategic interaction and define expression games to navigate the “hows” of human behavior through conflicts. Cognitive social psychologists will attempt to explain “why” specific behaviors occur in people when conflict is present, through the observation of various game theories. The most important concept is that universal idea that conflict cannot be ignored and only serves to strengthen individuals. It should not be observed as a negative event to be avoided, it is truly beneficial and essential to an individual’s maturation.

Works Cited

Elliott, Professor George. Lecture. November 18th, 2002.

Elliott, Professor George. Lecture. November 20th, 2002.

Elliott, Professor George. Lecture. November 22nd, 2002.

Goffman, Erving. The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. New York: Anchor Books. 1959.

Patrick Flaherty
ClassNotesOnline
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Looking for a design that’s chic and at the same time
unconventional? Try your luck at animal jewelry. Far from being
tacky or inelegant, animal designs are actually rather
distinctive. Finely crafted jewelry with animal motifs lends a
mysterious air to the person who wears them.

Graceful jewelry patterns can be achieved with animal motifs.
Dolphins, snakes, swans, and other beautiful beings of nature
depict naked beauty and mysticism, and including images of them
in jewelry inspires this “look.” Moreover, the carnal appeal of
wearing nature-themed jewelry should not be bypassed; sporting
nature-themed accessories speaks of someone who is in tune with
an “inner animal.” If we’re going to talk sex appeal — well,
animal jewelry may just be an understated way to achieve it!

Animal jewelry is also a great way of encouraging environmental
awareness and love of nature — even among children. A child who
has a favorite pet may appreciate having animal jewelry to
remind him or her of that pet. In fact, if the pet were
domesticated enough to sport a little jewelry as well — like a
cat or a dog — it might be great if master and pet could have
matching pieces! Like a pendant for the collar for Poochie,
which could also be worn as a bracelet charm for Nancy.

In fact, not only children would appreciate jewelry that would
remind them of favorite pets. If one had a favorite animal, a
pet, a totem spirit or just an animal with whom s/he identifies
with, a piece of charm jewelry would be a great gift. An
accessory that reminds one of a pleasant thought is always
something that makes one glow.

The inner strength one derives from inspiring motifs is one of
the best things about animal jewelry; when a person is calmed or
energized by the sight of a familiar animal, it affects one’s
mood and the way one looks at things. In fact, Native American
tradition believes that animals can give you strength and
guidance. Jewelry symbolizing these animals may serve as a
reminder for someone who desires to be stronger in one
particular aspect. For example: the dragonfly symbolizes
illusion, the deer symbolizes gentleness, the bear means power,
and so forth.

A person may select his/her ensemble based on his/her
philosophies, or simply the feelings of the moment. A person who
wishes to give another the gift of animal jewelry may consider
which particular animal/s the recipient brings to mind. This
requires a personal touch, and this in itself makes the act of
selecting animal jewelry a cherished moment indeed!

If you’re in need of a personal injury lawyer, it means that you’ve already experienced something terrible - either you or your loved one has been hurt. This doesn’t change throughout the USA, and so it is true also for Atlanta - a personal injury lawyer is hired only by people who have already experienced a kind of psychological earthquake. The point is that in such stressful situation you simply have to choose the best one. Not an Atlanta personal injury lawyer, but THE Atlanta personal injury lawyer. You must avoid all possible problems you can have with a lawyer (you probably have enough of your own ones) and this means you have to choose the best lawyer you can find.

How to tell which personal injury lawyer is the best

The main problem in finding a good attorney in Atlanta is personal injury lawyer’s abundance. There are simple too many lawyers in this city to check all of them personally. Fortunately we have the Internet, so you should start from sifting them through your search engine. Simply type “Atlanta personal injury lawyer” and choose first ten sites you’ll see. The other law companies are probably either too small or not diligent enough to build the proper website for themselves. Then have a good look at the site you found. Reject those with too much apparent “search engine-oriented” content - long articles about nothing mean only that the lawyer is witty, but not intelligent. After that you should have only four or five possibilities left. The number is low enough to visit the lawyers personally. During the visit watch them carefully - you don’t want professional optimists, there are lots of them in Atlanta. Personal injury lawyer you look for should be serious, down-to-earth and not too open. You need the lawyer for the court, not for friendship.

The most common problems

There are many possible problems, but they have only one source - dishonesty. I don’t mean the situation when your lawyer is telling you white lies. I think of the situations when he will keep telling you “everything is going to be all right” whatever the situation will be. There are plenty of such attorneys in Atlanta. A personal injury lawyer that will tell you “I am not sure if can win” is a rare bird indeed, but the most precious one, too.

Dave Hoffman is the founder of Personal Injury Atorneys a website providing information on personal injury law

If your child is missing, time is of the essence! Take a deep
breath and try to remember the last place you saw your child. If
your child is missing from home, search the house quickly, check
the closets, basement, and laundry, under beds, where ever else
you think your child may crawl or hide. Check the doors and
windows, do you see any way somebody got in. Yell out their
name. Remember all this must be acted on as fast as possible! I
can’t stress that enough!

If you still cannot find your child, immediately call your
police department!

Be ready to have as much as possible details for the police. Try
not to panic as the police department will need your help .Grab
as much recent photos of your child as possible. They will need
to know vital information of your child. When you call the
police, provide your child’s name, child’s age, height, weight,
and any other unique identifiers such as eyeglasses and braces.
Tell them when you noticed that your child was missing and what
clothing he or she was wearing. Supply them with the photos and
if there is any signs of a break in.

Let them know of any possible reasons your child may be missing.
Where there any friends or strangers in the home before? Are you
going through custody problems? Many missing children are
abducted by family members or known people.

The best thing to do is prepare your kids to help prevent theses
situations. Let them know over and over. Don’t speak to
strangers. If you feel threatened let somebody know as soon as
possible. If you are grabbed, yell out loud for help! No one has
the right to touch, grab or force you to do anything that feels
wrong. Tell them to bite and fight as much as they can. Many
times these simple things will scare of a would be abductor.

I casually glanced down at my hand, but instead of a wedding ring and an engagement ring, there was only the narrow gold band.

“Randy!” I yelped. “My engagement ring is gone.”

It was Valentine’s Day, and my husband, Randy, and I were on our way from my niece’s wedding, which had taken place in one town, to the reception, which was being held in another city about fifteen miles away.

If there hadn’t been other cars behind us, I think my husband might have been tempted to slam on the brakes.

Of course, one of the things I have always admired about Randy is his ability to remain unruffled during a crisis. Like that time one winter when the landlord had arranged for contractors to build a sloped roof over the flat roof of a house we were renting, and the next thing you know, the snow trapped between the two roofs started melting, and then gallons of water began dripping into the house and THEN the ceiling caved in…

Or that summer when I had agreed to help teach a one-week summer school course at the university for high school students and had come down with a terrible case of the stomach flu on Monday, and Randy had cheerfully agreed to take my place. All week he divided his time between teaching the class and then rushing home to see if I needed anything…

Or the Thanksgiving right after my father had died and we were hauling home some of my parents’ furniture—all that I had left in the world of both of them because my mother had died seven years earlier—and it had started to rain part of the way through our 250-mile journey. Randy stopped the pick-up truck we had borrowed from a friend to cut his shoelaces into pieces so he could tie the tarp down better to keep the furniture dry…

In each of those instances, my husband had been an unshakeable source of strength who came to my rescue.

And he didn’t disappointment me this time.

“Where did you have the ring last?” Randy asked as he calmly kept driving.

I thought back over the hectic events of the day —

Let’s see…just before we left the church, I was busy buttoning up my niece’s train…and before that I was occupied with watching the ceremony and trying not to cry…and before that I had been busy pinning on corsages and boutonnieres while the photographer impatiently breathed down my neck, never mind that he was late getting to the church…

When HAD I last noticed I was wearing the blue topaz ring with the delicate gold swirl around the stone?

That was part of the problem. I was not accustomed to seeing the ring on my finger. A few years earlier, I had decided I would only wear it for special occasions. Between cold weather in the winter and gardening in the summer, I put on hand lotion about ten times a day, but if I don’t take the topaz ring off every time, then the little crevices get all disgusting, and yet, I was afraid I would lose the ring if I kept taking if off…

“THAT’S IT!” I exclaimed. “Hand lotion!”

My husband gave me a sidelong glance. “Huh?

“Just before we got to the church, I took off my ring and laid it in my lap so I could get some more hand lotion, but I didn’t put it back ON.”

By this time we had nearly reached the reception hall.

“Check the floor,” Randy suggested.

I frantically thrust aside the floor mat…but there was no ring.

Then I groped under the seat. No ring there, either.

Randy quietly asked the next logical question. “Did it somehow fall into your purse?”

I hurriedly checked my purse. Nope. No ring.

“Could it have fallen into your coat pocket?”

My coat had big, horizontal pockets…but…no ring.

“All right,” Randy said, as he searched for a place to turn around, “that must mean it fell onto the ground when you got out of the car.”

Fell on the ground!

I could feel my throat growing tighter. “What if somebody drove over it?” I wailed.

“Don’t get yourself all worked up for nothing,” Randy said soothingly.

“For NOTHING? But — it’s my ring…the one you gave me when you asked me to marry you…”

Actually, Randy didn’t give me the ring. Santa Claus did. In a crowded mall. In front of a group of parents who were there with their kids. When Randy got down on one knee, everyone applauded…

“We’ll find your ring,” my husband said. “Don’t worry.”

Although the drive back to the church seemed to take twice as long, we finally reached the parking lot.

“Now, let’s see,” Randy murmured, “we were parked over there…”

And before I could manage to unbuckle my seat belt, he had stopped the car, thrown open the door and…

“Here it IS!” my husband shouted triumphantly, scooping the ring off the ground.

If I’d felt like crying tears of consternation before, I felt like sobbing with relief now.

“Happy Valentine’s Day,” Randy said with a smile. “Hold out your hand.”

As he slid the ring onto my finger, however, I noticed HIS hands were shaking. And not just a slight tremor.

I pointed this out to him.

“Yes, well,” he said, “it’s not every day your wife loses her ring in a parking lot and then you spend the next half hour hoping it didn’t get stuck in somebody’s tire treads.”

I stared at him in disbelief.

Oh, sure. For years I’ve been under the impression that the man didn’t have a nerve in his body — that nothing ever rattled him.

And now this.

Then again, it also means that I have discovered one more reason to admire my husband. Even when he’s rattled, he can still think calmly in a crisis.

If only he could teach me to do the same thing.

About The Author

LeAnn R. Ralph is the editor of the Wisconsin Regional Writer (the quarterly publication of the Wisconsin Regional Writers’ Assoc.) and is the author of the book, Christmas in Dairyland (True Stories from a Wisconsin Farm) (August 2003). She is working on her next book, Give Me a Home Where the Dairy Cows Roam, which will be available later in 2004. Share the view from Rural Route 2 — http://ruralroute2.com

bigpines@ruralroute2.com

It was time to leave Cooper Landing, and the friendly confines of “Camp Yuppie Fisher”.

It was time to head for Homer.

That’s Alaska not Simpson.

We had pre booked a Halibut trip out of Homer, the “end of the road” as Alaskans like to refer to it, but were a little concerned about the weather. We had heard of trips cancelled the same day we went Silver fishing with Alaskas’ very own “guide from hell” –Oscar the apron wearing Grouch. The trip was set up for Friday,and since this was Thursday, we had a full day to run amok, unchained, and unsupervised on the Kenai Peninsula.

What to do? Hmmm… I know!! Let’s go find somewhere to fish!!

There was a lot of real estate between Cooper Landing and Homer and that meant alot of rivers, streams, and creeks.Before leaving “Camp Yuppie Fisher” we asked around if anyone had fished much on the rivers between Soldotna and Homer, and evidently most of the Kenai guides were “homers” and didn’t fish many waters that didn’t feed off their home river.

We grabbed maps and hoped to find a river that had a little better Silver run going on, since the Kenai run had not really showed up yet. Other than that,we would just explore the 120 miles between destinations.

Off we went in the Chevy Malibu fishmobile we had rented, in search of our own Alaskan river.

The problem with doing your own self guided fishing trip in an unknown territory, is the “scout time” involved when trying to decide the where’s and how’s. Past rivers like the Kasilof(too big), the Ninilchik(too small), Deep Creek( too fishless), we would hop out and check out fishability of each river that had looked hopeful on the map. Finally we reached the Anchor river, and this one looked juuusssst right. Plenty of access, fish present, and a nice managable flow of water.

AND the Silvers were in!!

Not alot of Silvers, but they were there. So were Pinks and rumor has it, some Steelhead.

Greg and I found a nice access point and saw a few fishermen working a nice pool filled with Salmon. Then I saw a fly fisherman walking back upstream with a chrome bright Silver dangling by his side and had my usual reaction. With big eyes and the excitement of a Labrador retriever I ran to meet the fisherman halfway back and gave him a hearty greeting.

I refrained from wagging my tail and sticking my “muzzle” up the backside of his waders, although I am not above that if it means I am going to catch chrome bright Silvers!!

Anyway, the fish was at least twelve pounds, and I had already used my stealth CIA like moves to shift my eyes from fish to fly in order to unlock the mystery of the Anchor river Salmon hatch.

It’s usually much more fun to feel like you have covertly discovered what to use on an unknown river, so when the fishermen said: ” use any green wooly bugger or pink fly”, I felt my James Bond glow fade away.

That was enough chit chat for me. I was off to the car to get suited up for battle.

Greg decided he was going to scout out what the back of his eyelids looked like, so I would be stalking Silvers solo.

I waded across the Anchor river,spying on Salmon that were moving up over the shallow rocks just below the big pool, mainly Pinks were heading up, but I could spot several Silvers in the big pool. The three or four fishermen that were working the pool were tossing lures, and occasionally they would snag a Pink.

I walked upstream about fifty yards above the big pool and decided to work the far bank where I had seen some Salmon rolling. About sixty yards further upstream another fly fisherman had hooked into a nice fish, and when I saw bright silver leaping from the water I knew what it meant.

It meant I was getting impatient–and I hadn’t even casted yet!

I tied on the new “rock star” of our Alaskan fishing trip-Pink Floyd- and within minutes had…what else…..a nice Humpy hooked.

That was nice, but I was after PURE SILVER BABY!!

I decided to go “green” and pulled out a green leech pattern that works pretty well for Steelhead on the North Umpqua in Oregon.

For about thirty minutes I had nothing, even though I was casting right over the slot where all the fish were rolling.

The Anchor river this time of year is more of a large creek and is easily wadable and quite fisherman friendly. In fact in most places if you happened to snag a branch or get hung up on a rock, you could wade right over and pull yourself free.

Not wanting to lose one of the few “green flies” I had–I exercised this option a couple of times.

I worked the slot up and down and then suddenly my line stopped. Like any Steelhead fisherman would do I set the hook.

Watch out!!

The line came tight and this time there were shoulders pulling back beneath the surface. Then the line peeled off in the direction of the underwater bearer of broad shoulders, and then out of the water flew the prettiest sight, a big beautiful Silver. Tail dancing across the surface once and then twice, I held tight and let the rod and reel do it’s stuff. It reminded me of Steelhead fishing and for the next fifteen minutes I was in fishing bliss as I fought that bright Salmon.

This fish was worth the price of admission.

If I had only caught one fish in Alaska, I would have wanted it to be this fish.

Self guided, existing fly out of my fly box, chrome bright fish on a river I had no idea had even existed before this afternoon and best of all, no grumpy burnt out guide around to get uptight and start mentioning tipping!!

Now I knew why most people like to catch Silvers up on the rivers in Alaska,especially on flys!!

By the time Greg figured out the inside of his eyelids pretty much look the same in Alaska as they do anywhere, I had a nice bright twelve to fourteen pound Silver clubbed and on the rocks.

I don’t smoke, but if I had a cigarette right then and there, I might have lit up–I was that satisfied!!

Whatever that means?

I fished for another half hour and caught another Humpy, but the fishing had slowed down and most people had left already. I was O.K. with that also–because this was a bonus fish and we were headed to Homer for some Halibut fishing…

to be continued…

A.J. Klott

Author, writer of fishing humor,and “fly tack” peddler.A.J. writes about the people,characters and modern day events that surround the fishing world. His first book is due out in December of 2005.
If you need a laugh or a fun gift, visit his website at:
http://www.twoguyswithflys.com

A home blessing meditation for charging a room:

Sit Straight with palms on lap, take deep breaths, relax, and move into a mental space where you activate your intuitive senses.

Imagine a cord of energy from your spine connecting you to the Earth, and channel energy from the Earth through it.

Silently ask for divine protection, guidance, and blessing.

Direct your psychic sensing outward, and feel lines of force coming out of your aura.

Note where the strongest energy is (check out the floor, ceiling, directions, etc.), Note spots that feel empty or dead, note places that feel full alive, focus on where you are sitting and how you feel at that particular spot.

Imagine a sphere of light and love energy at your heart, feel it pulsing outward with every breath.

Feel the radiance increase with every breath, feel your self as a star, continue to breathe deeply and send out the energy, letting it pulsate in the room.

When ready, start making power sounds representing the love and light you are channeling; use it to amplify the light you are weaving; and fill the room with the energy.

Then shift focus to sending a probe out into the room. Note the differences in the quality of energy and how you feel about it.

Repeat if necessary.

When done, feel the completeness of the work.

A room blessing involving elemental quarter invocations:

Face each direction (with arms out in appropriate elemental invoking gesture), and say, while channeling and visualizing elemental power:

Powers of (say direction).
Powers of (say direction).
Powers of (say corresponding element).
We great you, we honor you, we welcome you here!
Watch over and bless and protect this place.

After each invocation, shape the energy into columns of light by sweeping ones arms together until they are parallel and sweeping them up and down while channeling and shaping the energy.

When the energy is properly shaped, say so “mote it be.”

After you have done all four quarters, channel in spirit energy.

To return the energy to a more mellow state while energizing yourself, put your hands out and take in a bit of the energy into your self from each direction, going widdershins, hold hands to your heart and take in the energy (techniques also exist for bringing it into a stone and retrieving it when needed).

Peace to you, Cyann

Like this article? You can read more of my articles at The ES Press Magazine.

http://www.TheESPress.com

The ES Press magazine is a showcase of powerful inspirational works, writings and art. Come and experience all we have to offer!

About the Author

Cyann - Spiritual Counselor

I am an Empathic and Intuitive Mediator, Minister and Spiritual Counselor.

Through kindness, honesty and a dash of humor, I assist my clients in addressing their individual needs, wants and concerns.

I hope you will enjoy
my contributions to
The ES Press. It is truly
an inspired magazine.

http://www.TheESPress.com

With today’s advanced technology it has never been easier for someone to start their own publishing business.

You can create and market your own ebook (electronic book) for an unbelievably low price (sometimes free). Furthermore, because the ebook is not a book but a computer file, you can offer it for immediate download once the purchase has taken place. The computer file is then downloaded (or copied) to the purchaser’s home computer, but you still own the original (or copy).

You have a continual inventory, night and day, without having to re-stock. There is no office space required, no staff other than yourself, and a fully automated payment and delivery system which requires very little maintenance. This really is the perfect business. The ultimate business.

Consumers are hungry for information. And they want it now! Electronic products provide the information and have immediate access.

Here are four key points that I wish to make here.

1. The information is out there, and it seems that everyone is trying to sell it. The same information, sometimes packaged differently but not always. I’m sure you’ve seen the adverts. The identical adverts selling the exact-same-identical product. One of the ways to be successful in this virtually new arena is to provide “niche” products. Information that no-one else is selling.

I could not even begin to do the subject justice in a small article such as this. I have (quite literally, whilst searching for inspiration) just found a gem of an ebook on the subject of “niche” ebook publishing. I am not affiliated with this ebook in any way, shape, or form. I simply offer it to help you, and because the information contained within is just too good. http://www.ebookresource.info/pages/downpages/business.html#n.

2. Duplicate your efforts. It is unlikely, but not unheard of, that you will stumble upon a product that everyone wants and will pay you huge sums of money to get their hands on. Duplication, or multiple streams of income, is the sure-fire way to success when it comes to selling information products online.

Write your first ebook and market like crazy, but don’t lose sight of the longer term. Have one eye focused on your next ebook project. For example, I had my first sales page up and working within a few short days, complete with affiliate scheme and shopping cart. I marketed my ebook like crazy. A few days later, I had my second ebook online and ready to go. I marketed my second ebook like crazy. Do you see where this is leading? It is highly unlikely that you will hit a winner with just one ebook, but multiply your efforts over a number of products and sell a few of each every week, and soon you will be reaping the benefits.

3. Offer something for free. On all my websites I offer a free ebook to download. I make sure that it is of the highest quality, because if it isn’t my customers will assume that the product I’m selling is of the same standard. A good place to get free etext to turn into an ebook is Project Gutenburg at http://www.gutenberg.org. Most of the etext here is out of copyright, but check the license of anything that you “borrow” from this site. The license is always included within the text file. For example, on my UFO Report site I am giving away a free copy of Jules Vernes’ “Around the Moon.” I downloaded this as a plain text file and converted it to a pdf file, making sure I had a link back to my website at the beginning and end of the ebook. I have also offered my free ebook to a number of ebook directories to give away. Not only am I giving away something free on my website, but I have my ebook listed on other websites across the web. With links back to my own site included, of course.

This is viral marketing, and it works incredibly well. On auto-pilot. Put a few hours work in at the beginning, then just sit back and reap the rewards. For years to come, with no more effort on your part. Let your free ebook guide people to your site. Another point to make here is that you should offer something free that is closely related to what you are selling. Thus, the people downloading your free ebook will already be predisposed toward the product you are selling.

4. Cross-promote your products/websites. However many products/websites you have, link them all together. Put a banner at the top/bottom of the page. Put a small, unobtrusive button down the left-hand side of the page. I always create a “Links” page for my websites, and try to gain exposure by linking to other websites in this way. It is important to remember that links to websites with similar subject material to yours will be of far greater value than links to unrelated websites. These are called “quality links” and most of the search engines love them.

I’m off to start work on my next project now. I wish you every success in your “niche” ebook venture.

This article is free for re-publishing.

Ian Basford is a successful ebook publisher. You can visit his free ebook website at http://www.ebookresource.info. He has associated with another hugely successful ebook entrepreneur, Jonathan Street. You can visit Jonathan’s niche ebook publishing website at http://www.ebookresource.info/recommends/protege.

Kicking Techniques For Street Fighting /Self Defense

This technique will also allow a good clinch set up from a kick combination. With some practice this combination can be so successful as to stop the attacker dead in his tracks. Just remember not to put all your eggs into one basket. Although this is a great technique there are many variations possible on the street and you need to keep an open mind and be prepared to adapt to any possibility’s.

Now lets get to the point.

For the set up we assume the attacker is facing you either square on (this would suggest two things, he is either very confident or very stupid) or more likely some sort of side on position (observably making it harder to attack his groin). He may or may not have his guard up.

In fact this is a really good point to discuss before we go on. Loads of people practice there so called street fighting / self defense techniques from a full on fighting stance you know arms up covering head and body with elbows protecting ribs and of course this makes good sense. But in reality most fights do NOT start from this position. In fact many fights are over before you can even form this position. So yes do practice from the guard but also practice from a variety of different standing positions and in between stance positions. Most street scum will not wait for you to square up and form your defensive posture first. Yes I know they all do this in UFC etc but that is nothing like a street fight.

Any way this time I promise to get to the point

So as we said the attacker is facing you. You are in a forward stance. Strike to his knee with your foot use the foot that is closest to the attacker. With this foot drive through his knee. Please note I did not say snap yes this will hurt but not cause that first class pain that stops the attackers brain function for a second or two. And a second is all you need to finish the whole thing. If you can make his knee lock full back on it’s self you may stop him there and then. But we will not rely on this.As soon as the front leg has finished attacking the knee. Strike with your rear leg as hard as you can with your shin or knee. Aim for the center of the thigh (that’s mid way between the knee and the hip) there is in fact a major nerve here you should try to hit him so hard the your knee or shin cuts through the muscle to the bone causing very extreme pain. This can cause enough pain to prevent the attacker continuing or even walking if done hard enough. To develop power in you shin or knee strike practice on a heavy bag or shield.

Depending on your existing skills

But yet again we will not rely on this alone. Now depending on your existing skills you can either use grappling skills like (As promised he is now in an ideal position for a clinch) sweeping throwing techniques. Or strong hand techniques to finish.

Not fixed to this technique.

Remember you are not fixed to this technique if you see another great opening take it. Or may be there is a chance to run if so then take it. No prizes for being the strong man on the street the only prize is if you are still alive any which way you can.

If you would like to learn street fighting techniques and moves for self defense then check my site out!