NewsWire

West Texas Can Become A Major Clean Energy Region

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 08:06:00 -0800

The growing urban areas of Texas have placed new demands on energy suppliers. The entire nation is now embarking upon the development of Green Energy programs. Texas has always been a leading state in both energy production and energy use. The western areas of Texas, such as the areas surrounding Big Bend National Park, the towns of Marfa, Alpine, and Presidio have all the conditions for clean energy production. There are consistent winds normally most active in the late evening and night hours and suitable for wind plant, a high number of sunny days for solar panels, and millions of acres of open range land that can be used for the installation of such clean energy technology. The roads leading through these areas can be pathways for off road power lines to carry the clean energy to more populated areas where it is increasingly needed, while also supporting the growth of business and population in the western areas themselves. A fund of $500 million could be established for the creation of these clean energy installations along with training of personnel to maintain them and staff the power management offices needed.

West Texas has enormous potential as a region for power production. Already, electric companies in West Texas have planned to replace old power lines with new ones, connecting several West Texas towns. These power lines can be used to transmit energy produced by wind turbines and solar panel farms. Much of the land in the area is open grazing land. Many landowners will no doubt be pleased to offer easements for new power lines or to make agreements for energy production installations. Manufacturers on both sides of the Texas / Mexico border can set up factories in the area to construct clean energy technology such as wind turbines and solar panels. This will have the benefit of jobs creation, with the jobs created paying a minimum of $10 per hour. The income generated by this will help the families of the region to join in building better communities with greater attractions for other types of businesses to become established there. With the corollary use of energy efficient lighting in homes and businesses, conservation and recycling programs and efficient waste management, the region can become a powerhouse of clean energy and a paragon of low consumption / high output for the rest of the nation to emulate.

Farouk Shami "We Could Learn Alot From Tech Town"

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 20:53:00 -0800

Michigan is at the center of one of the worst recessions in the past century. However, for businesses that are located in Wayne State Universities Tech Town, things are looking quite a bit brighter. Tech Town is a business incubator that was started by Wayne State University, and has given funding to businesses that could lead the state and country into the future.

Tech Town not only allows news businesses to grow, but also educates small business owners on how to be successful. Sometimes a prospective business owner would know what they want to do, but not have the business skills to put it together. If that were the situation, then the mandatory training courses provided through Wayne State University would give them the tools that they need to be successful.

There are over 160 tenants located in Tech Town, and more are on there way. DEEN or Diversity Employment and Educational Network is employing fifty people, doing advertising contracts for the United States military in minority brands. Carla Walker Miller, also learned a lot from Tech Town. She was able to learn how to gather venture capital, and has built a bio diesel plant in Detroit. This plant is providing 150 jobs and possibly up to 350 more this year thanks to her training. The State of Michigan has also projected that over 5,000 jobs are going to be created in the next three years thanks to Tech Town.

This program has been so successful that over 900 individuals have signed up to take Fast Track courses. These are the courses that you need to take in order to get into Tech Town. They may last anywhere from 14 days to two years, but in the long run, they give individuals the training that they need in order to be successful. Not only has Wayne State University put up a large amount of funding for this program, but they are responsible for taking on the process of making this program work. They are already on track to beat their goal of 400 companies started within three years, and may make it as high as 1,000+. This program is going to lead southeastern Michigan to become the new small business leader in the United States.

The Birth of The Beer Belly

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 19:57:00 -0800

As soon as we see someone with a big belly, we automatically assume that they are a beer drinker due to society’s perception. However how much truth is there in that statement? At www.AwakenYourBody.com the answers to this and many more questions are answered.

Drinking regular beer at night has proven to have a huge effect on a man’s waist region. Research has shown that having fat around your abdominal region can be much more dangerous than that found in your lower body region. It is known to cause heart diseases and be the number one cause for diabetes. The amount of alcohol that you consume will determine the effect that it has on your body. Drinking it occasionally will more or less give you apple shaped body from your waist down. However drinking on a more consistent basis will see your ending up having a more “grumpy” shape that effects your stomach region the most. This is known to be severely dangerous and is a huge risk for heart disease and diabetes.

Now if you were a cartoon character or someone that couldn’t care less, then having such a body type is no big deal. In actual fact, if you were such a person, you would be happy with what you have. However if you are someone that wants to do something about your weight, then it is about time that you start to take action by getting on the weight loss road. There are various ways to lose weight. What you have to realize is that our body is known to store fat in those regions more that have stout cells. These are found in high numbers in both the upper and lower midsection. So what does that mean? Where your fat ends up is based on a specific enzyme in your body.

Drinking excessively that result in your body being over weight is known to have numerous consequences. Drinking alcohol isknown to prevent your body to be able to heal it self against infections and other related problems for a period of at least 24 hours. Drinking regularly has also known to play a huge role on an individual’s immune system. Alcohol is known to last in ones body system for more than 24 hours in some cases. This is known to cause slow responses of the body.

Research has concluded that there is some truth to the perception that beer drinking does cause “beer belly”. Drinking alcohol isknown to disrupt your digestive system which in result causes your body to store more fat in your lower stomach region. This is known to increase your appetite for late night meals as well.

For more information please visit

www.AwakenYourBody.com

Loral Langemeier "Do You Come Up Short When The Ink is On The Line"

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 19:50:00 -0800

You have been working so hard to succeed in your money making venture yet you see your competitors winning the deals you want, the deal you need to reach your goals. You don't know what the problem is, you have a better line of products, you have a better array of services and your prices are more fair than what they are offering for the same level of good and services. Why aren't you beating them over the heads with sales invoices every single day. The truth is the problem may not be your business it may be you. You may be missing a fundamental component needed to make the most of what you have to offer. You might not be selling yourself and your distinctions.

In a new book by Loral Langemeier, “Put More Money in Your Pocket”, she addresses this concept of selling yourself and your distinctions as an integral part of any success plan. She explains that this is the way to make your mark, to maximize the first impression with any new potential buyer and to ensure that even if you don't walk away with the cash in your hand right then you will probably win them on the backside.

The secrets the most successful use to get the deal to close every time they go out of the gate includes the idea of “sell yourself and your distinctions”, a concept that Langemeier has taught successfully to thousands of guests at her seminars for years. The idea to sell yourself and your distinctions before going into the sales pitch for your product or services may seem foreign at first but as you see the difference it can make to the outcome of the deal you will become a believer.

In this ebook Langemeier shows you how to make the most of what you have readily available to you to make the biggest impact on your potential buyers. She calls this concept, making a big impact in little ways. She will teach you how to instill in your buyers mind that being the biggest and the first does not make you the best. She will teach you how to approach a situation with confidence and to convince the buyer to go with you in such a way that they will feel it way their idea all the time

New York Times best selling author and award winning speaker, Loral Langemeier will teach you the same concepts that she teaches in her personal financial success seminars all over the country. You will learn how to sell yourself and your distinctions smoothly and with confidence. You will learn how to present your message in a concise and simple way that at the same time is informative and memorable to the potential buyer, so that even if your do not get the deal sealed today you have the first shot at getting it sealed when the time to make a purchase decision comes for the buyer.

If you find yourself just coming up short when it comes time to seal the deal take a good look at your approach and then read “put More Cash in Your Pocket' by Loral Langemeier. Take control of your own financial future destiny and become independent. Stop worrying about your bills and make the extra money you need and earn the recognition you deserve, today.

Zeons comunity based convenience

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 19:41:00 -0800

In recent months, there has been a lot of importance given to the environment in general. Many green activists have raised questions against many governments and industrial companies in relation to their responsibility to the environment. Believe it or not, we all have a responsibility to take care of the environment that we live in. That we don’t do is a completely different argument. We have been so caught up with advancements in technology and trying to progress with more success towards the future without taking into consideration the environmental implications that our actions are bringing along with them.

Now, like many you may be saying to yourself that it’s all well and good for one person to raise a voice, but something can only be done about it when something “big” happens. Well that moment has now arrived and it is called Zeons. Now you may be asking yourself what Zeons is. Zeons is basically a retail store that provides community based convenience. You may be asking yourself what exactly does that mean. To put it as simple as possible, Zeons is a new company that deals in the retail business by providing numerous facilities to the consumer market. The thing that makes Zeon’s different from any other retail outlet is that all the services provided to the consumer market are known to fall under the “green” category.

There has always been a large debate on whether or not alcohol should be sold at retail convenient stores. Some argue that it should, seeing that everyone is at freedom of liberty to make their own choices. Other begs to differ due to various reasons including religious and social beliefs. A recent survey showed that 90% of the police calls that happen in the country are solely down to alcohol related problems. Now you may find this hard to believe, but Zeons will be one of the first retail businesses that will not be offering alcohol for sale.

Obviously there will be some people that would be against the idea; however you have to understand the purpose behind their decision. Zeons motto is to provide a community based convenience store. Even though many other retail outlets abide by the same name, how many of them are actually known to live up to their expectations. Zeon believes that it has a responsibility to the public to provide a safe environment where shopping for goods is easy and safe to do, thus the term convenience store.

When Zeons initially originated in the year 2006, it was taken up by a few companies to provide fuel. From their early years they had a vision of providing “clean and affordable energy for all”. This vision has now turned into reality with them being able to implement the perfect business plan that will not only benefits the society at whole, but will also benefit the environment that we live in. If we do not have the ability to do something as big ourselves that can help both the environment and the society together, the least we can do is support those that are trying to do so.

Islamic Christian Alliance

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 19:04:00 -0800

The Islamic-Christian Alliance (ICA) is a grass roots effort to explore the similarities of the Islamic and Christian faiths. The main purpose of this alliance is to foster peace between Christians and Muslims by allowing believers to better understand each others' faiths. The focus of the ICA is on providing the tools for believers in local communities to interact profitably with one another.

The Principles of the Alliance

The main goal of the Islamic-Christian Alliance can be summed up in one three-word phrase: “Peace through understanding.” The ICA encourages encounters between believers at a community level, and desires to lift up what the Islamic and Christian faiths both hold in common. The ICA hopes that those who learn of the common ground between the two faiths, and who participate in interfaith dialogue within their communities, will encourage greater understanding and tolerance of the beliefs of the world’s two great monotheistic religions.

Islam and Christianity do indeed hold many beliefs in common. Both believe fervently in the unity of God. Both trace their beginnings back to the promises made to Abraham, the Iraqi desert wanderer who found himself following God's direction to Palestine. Both uphold the same basic moral tenets, and encourage the same three basic spiritual practices of tithing, fasting and regular prayer. Both believe the creation of the universe and the origin of life to be the work of God alone, and trace the origin of human life in their sacred scriptures to the creation of Adam and Eve in the Garden. Islam even acknowledges the prophetic nature of Jesus, his virgin birth from Mary, and his special place in creation as God’s Messiah, even if they do not share the Christian belief in his divinity and in his role as redeemer and savior. The similarities between the faiths are often glossed over by the media, who tend to put all world religions on the same level and fail to highlight the common roots they often share.

The ICA will bring together groups from these two faiths to communicate with each other and learn together of these similarities that constitute the common ground between the faiths. From this, a new understanding will develop to pave the way for peace, harmony, and a cultural exchange of ideas, and better relationships between both Christians and Muslims in communities in the United States and, hopefully, around the world.

Online Component

Extensions, Inc., a social network search engine development company, has chosen ICA as a candidate for a new micro social network that will make use of EXT's networking tools and technologies. EXT social networks were developed specifically to take social change-oriented causes and to develop an interactive social network and data repository to help move that cause forward.

EXT will create a network around the ICA’s concept of developing peace through understanding between Christians and Muslims at a local level. Members of the network will use it as a place for discussion, to coordinate the work of volunteers, to generate awareness, and to combine the many grass roots efforts currently underway across the United States and abroad to support dialog between Islam and Christianity.

Real Life Component

Peace, tolerance, understanding, and unity are powerful ideas that have been the rallying cry of many movements, from the abolition of slavery to the GLBT rights movement. The ICA will foster the growth of peace and tolerance in the Muslim and Christian communities by providing a number of cause-oriented teaching materials and organizational tools.

Some of the materials the ICA hopes to produce include Christian and Islamic video information series, subscription materials in the form of electronic newsletters and journals, protocols for meetings, forums, and joint prayer opportunities, and testimonials both written and on video of successful encounters between Muslims and Christians.

The ICA will also equip local organizers to host and conduct their own forums and meetings. Some of the events the ICA encourages and can provide advice on include informational speaker series, community meetings between churches and mosques, cultural exchange programs, and Q&A sessions about Islam and Christianity. They also hope to use the new EXT social networking platform to form local ICA groups in different localities across the United States, especially those areas where Muslims and Christians live in close proximity and in large numbers.

Farouk Shami "How Green Jobs Will Put Texans to Work"

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 12:22:00 -0800

Just as the technology boom led to one of the largest periods of economic expansion in the nation’s history, alternative energy, or green, jobs will not only employ a countless number of Texans, but will help to drive and grow the Texas economy. As the state that has long been considered to energy capital of the United States, Texas is well positioned to maintain this leadership role as the green transition occurs. Rich in the resources necessary to lead – a surplus of wind, sunshine, and well trained and strategically located workers – the state’s economy should find growth in this arena.

Wide Spread Employment Potential

Green jobs offer growth potential across the education spectrum, making it an industry that can integrate a workforce. Requiring a workforce as capable of making technological breakthroughs and accomplishing feats of engineering design as installing solar panels and providing support services, alternative energy is a comprehensive industry. Due to this diversity of skill levels, the industry is ideal to appeal to various levels of Texans. Unlike certain highly specialized industries that will only be able to absorb a limited number of highly skilled workers, the variety here is significant.

Already able to claim the second highest number of green energy jobs in the nation, if Texas is able to provide targeted and affordable training (particularly at the lower end of the earning spectrum), there is little reason the state cannot become the clear leader. Texas can leverage its existing infrastructure to expand various programs and rocket ahead. The state’s vast resources should be targeted to achieve this goal, given the huge and important impact it will have on the Texas workforce.

Growth in the Texas Economy

The single most direct way to stimulate a state’s economy is to reduce unemployment. Not only does a projected rise in alternative energy help to curb unemployment by offering quality jobs to able Texans, it increases the state’s production. As each of these factors becomes more significant, the state’s economy will be well positioned to experience significant growth. Reduced unemployment means that not only will the state need to spend less, more consumer dollars will be channeled into the economy to stimulate increased growth. Increased production also benefits the state economy by attractive capital investment from outside of the state and providing additional infrastructure upon which to rely. Green jobs will employ countless numbers of Texans and, in turn, help to grow the economy.

A Press Release Service with a SEO Kicker

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 10:58:00 -0800

Newswire (www.newswire.net) is the only service with a patent pending process that guarantees all press releases submitted through Newswire will be followed up by a article. While press releases aren't a new concept, the guarantees that they give the client are. While the ideas surrounding SEO press releases and internet marketing strategies aren't new, their guarantee has a patent.

Their guarantee is in fact a concept that many internet marketers have come to be quite familiar with, articles. Newswire guarantees that every press release package purchased will have a follow up article published also. These articles will be authored and published within 10 business days of the date of the press release, or the purchase amount will be refunded. They have promised what no other has yet, done.

Erin Saxton CEO of Newswire.net inc., stated "we believe that the press release should only start the interest in the subject, and that following the press release with an article will carry this conversation to a more targeted audience.” This guarantee is given with no extra charges being accrued for the services purchased. For more information on how there press release and articel guarantee works, go to their website at: http://www.newswire.net/pages/index.html.

This strategy in itself is not new, internet marketers have used this method to increase traffic on a given website through back-linking between press releases and articles. This back-linking also helps in improving the search engine rankings for a given website, increasing website traffic dramatically. Newswire asserts that your press release will be distributed to more than 3,500 search engines, websites, internet social networks, and industry specific publications. Top that off with a completely professional article about your company with appropriate back-links, and your search engine rankings will improve dramatically.

Their services are designed with every size of business in mind, up to the corporate giants. The technology they use allows the finest bloggers, journalists, and writers to publish their work to thousands of news outlets and publications worldwide. Their distribution engine provides not only potential of becoming the world's largest free speech community, but also the most relevant, a key to any SEO strategy. With the size of their network, your content can go worldwide within 10 working days, with the best SEO strategies available. Content being issued from Newswire.net must be interesting, grammatically correct, spell-checked, and most of all, original. All this is guaranteed to be done using very strict ethics and editorial controls, something many companies promise, but few deliver.

Newswire's journalists and writers are the top in the industry. They receive by-line credits, and help from the editors, but before becoming a Newswire journalist, every author must submit writing samples to be reviewed by the staff, then must sign an ethics policy before becoming a Newswire journalist. The reporter will then be issued a Newswire press pass, this pass is electronically verifiable and the reporter credentialed. All the writers have a profile page that contains photos, biographies, links to past work, and any articles they are presently working on. If you are interested in becoming a Newswire journalist then you should start an account on their website, create your profile, at www.newswire.net.

Newswire also offers services other than just the articles and press releases mentioned before. It is possible to have a journalist, photojournalist, or videographer present at your location, for a small fee. For more information about having a media presence at your events contact Newswire for a price quote.

Video One Productions puts its money where its mouth is

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:55:00 -0800

Yes, the premium video production site, Video One Productions puts its money where its mouth is with its new Ticket to Ride program.

What is the Ticket to Ride program? It is a participation program where you cover the only costs of the video production and they take care of making it happen in exchange for a piece of the action. Now that's an offer worth looking at. But first, let us take a look at who One Production is and what they have been doing.

One Production has been a leader in corporate communications services. They know that their videos have been successfully used to raise a hundred million dollars for various entrepreneurial ventures and they have all the expertise you need to help you become successful. You can relax knowing that your project is in good hands.

And whose hands are those? Well, let's start with Richard Crawford, producer, director and filmmaker, who has years of experience working with a variety of clients. Some of the more noted clients include NASA and the Air Force for the space program, as well as IBM, Ford, Nissan, Apple, Kodak, NCR, Ernst & Young; just to name a few.

One Productions has a full time staff that includes writers, artists, producers, designers, composers and directors along with technical production staff. Everyone on this team has one goal and that is to produce the best product possible for the client. They are creative and innovative and the finished product might just win an award, because many of their products have done just that.

Their portfolio of projects is huge and impressive. They have done commercials for products like Mamma Lammas, Piano Wizard, Road to Riches and Relax Station. Corporate videos include training and orientation videos for several corporations. In addition they did the humanitarian projects to include American Eagle, Code 30, Wiengart Center and Greater Life. With regard to documentaries, One Productions produced Lifetracks and Motivating the Teen Spirit, both of which were touching and inspirational. They have also done videos for many speakers and entertainment videos for Enchante, Protecting the King and Realm. Check out their website to see just how impressive it is.

I believe that you can see why One Productions has been so successful and will continue to be successful. It is this success and their entrepreneurial spirit that led them to offer the Ticket to Ride program.

They understand that the upfront costs may exceed what a small business can handle and that's why they have come up with this Ticket to Ride program. With this program, even the smallest business can enjoy big success using video media to drive sales and increase customers. Plus, One Productions are professionals in the field, not just some folks with a video camera. They are experienced in everything from simple training videos to major theatrical productions. Once you put a project in their hands, you can know that they operate ethically and will be on a mission to gain your trust. One Production will take care of everything including digital content creation, art direction and visual design.

How can this work for you? Well, let’s say you have a great new product and you want to get the word out there. Video is the number one way to get your message to the masses, however; it is expensive when you look at all that is involved. Think about it, you need a script, you need storyboards, you need a director and camera crew. Plus, you need to have the knowledge to make sure that it all comes together. If you were to attempt a project on your own contracting the different things that you need, you’d probably end up in bankruptcy before your video was complete.

One Productions has everything in place so all they need is for you to put the gas (cost) in their tank. This gets your video underway and before you know it, you have something that is very professional and you have One Productions vested in its success as well. Remember, you gave them a piece of the action in exchange for them taking care of everything at cost.

Now not only do you have an incredible video, but you have an entire team from a very successful company helping you beyond just the making of the video. This is truly an amazing opportunity to partner with success.

Serena Shapero Vision of Giving Children of Divorce a H.O.M.E.

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:41:00 -0800

Divorce sometimes is harder for children than it is for parents. However, children of divorce no longer have to struggle alone with their doubts and fears. Serena Shapero, a child of divorce herself, has created an online social network for children of divorce to communicate with one another. Serena Shapero has created a system called H.O.M.E, which means helping other mobilizing energy. Her site is organized around these principles to help children through their parent’s divorce.

There are several unique strategies that parents can employ to help their children through a divorce.

Social support is very important to a child after a divorce. The world that he or she knew before divorce is completely different. Aside from social networks online, there are other social environments that can also be used to help a child through divorce.

Relatives are great anchors during this time. They are able to add some familiarity in a child’s life. Some parents do not want their children to have any communication with their ex’s relatives, but this is not always the best course of action. Taking away people who are important to a child can disrupt their lives and fill them with doubt about their own lovability and self-worth.

Friends are another part of a child’s life that are very important during divorce. For the first few months it is a good idea to allow a child family trips with their friends. This helps a child realize that his or her life is stable in many different ways. Many children start wondering if other people in their lives are going to split up or leave, so the reassurance that comes through contact with friends is important.

School is another safe haven for children of divorce. Teachers should be notified of the divorce so that they can monitor children to see if there are any adverse affects on a child. They can also speak with a child in a reassuring manner. School councilors can also help with guidance. It is not a good idea to immediately remove a child from the school that he or she has been used to attending. As many parts of a child’s life should remain stable during a divorce, at least for a few months.

Some children seem more affected by divorce than others. These children are often depressed or angry. A medically trained health professional can help a child regain their previous disposition. Group counseling sessions or one-on-one therapy can be very helpful tools in seeing a child through a divorce. Additionally, social sites built for the support of children going through a divorce are a safe way for children to deal with their issues and concerns.

Children will react to a divorce in different ways. Serena Shapero’s site helps children deal with each kind of reaction to a divorce. Some of the common ways that children respond to a divorce include: anger, depression, anxiety, and traumatic shock or stress.

Anger will often show itself through a child’s actions. They may act out at school, question the authority of their parents, blame one parent for leaving the other, yell more, or even get into fights. This is normal for many children, but the anger should recede over time. If it does not, then a medical professional should be contacted.

Depression is another common side effect of divorce. Children may blame themselves for the divorce or believe that they are no longer lovable. A depressed child will avoid contact with other people and neglect things that used to interest them. Another sign of depression in a child is changed eating habits or unusual acting out. Depression should also be addressed by a trained health professional.

Anxiety is a common sign in children of divorce. They may become clingier to their parents, even asking to stay home from school. They might express concern over the relationships they have with other people. Anxiety can usually be addressed by a parent, caregiver, or support website.

Traumatic stresses are symptoms that occur because of how a child experienced the event. Sometimes it can take years for the symptoms to completely disappear. Usually these symptoms will arise during events that remind the child of the divorce. Usually the symptoms of traumatic stress include anger, anxiety, and depression.

The use of a social site for children of divorce will help to curb some of the symptoms that usually occur in a child’s life. Just knowing that someone else is going though the same process is a big help for most children.

H.O.M.E. BE HONEST WITH YOUR CHILDREN OF DIVORCE

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:39:00 -0800

Though I have not actually gone through the divorce paperwork process, I have been separated from my spouse for 7 years and am raising a 13 year-old-daughter. So far so good. Anka is now at an age where her hormones are starting to wake up, her mouth is getting slightly sassy, she’d rather chat with friends on line than do her homework and, now that she is a teenager, she is ‘trying’ to manipulate us for permissions and punishments. An example: “Dad, I really don’t want to go with you to visit Grandmommy over the weekend, I have a school party. Mom has a date but she said that if I can organize where to stay, don’t have to go with you. I talked to my friend, Dana and she said that I could spend the night. Her mom will take us to the party and pick us up.” On the other hand, my daughter has told me: “Mom, I didn’t want to spend the weekend with Daddy and Grandmommy, so I talked to Dana and she said that I could spend the night. Her Mom’s taking us to the party. ” I say, “Great honey, then its all set.”

Then I have my furious ex calling me. Over the phone you can hear the fumes coming out of his nose and mouth, and can feel fiery darts beating down on you all the way through cyberspace. “Why did you give her permission to go to Dana’s? She was with me not you. You had no right! You cannot give her permissions and change things on the days she is with me. In doing that then I am no more than a baby-sitter…just a place for you to dump her off when you want to go out.”

The truth is, I hadn’t given Anka permission to anything. It was a wakeup call; suddenly evident that this could become an ongoing problem. It is important to stop Anka from having the power to manipulate her father and I to get her way. However, in my case, I was proud of how Anka organized herself. She had been talking about this party for exactly one month. I had given her permission to go and so had her dad. So why did he have to take her away on a week-end that he knew was special for her? But she had lied in saying that I had given her permission. We needed to talk…seriously.
Since the day that I left my 9 bedroom home with Anka and moved into a tiny apartment eight blocks away, I have been honest with her about what is happening. My ex, on the other hand thinks that it is damaging to be so honest. But a child is curious; they want to know.

Q: “Do you still love Daddy?”
A: “Yes, of course but not that special love that you need to make you happy.”
Q: “Are you going to marry someone else?”
A: “I would love to...someday….if I meet someone and feel that special love.”
Q: “Why don’t you have that special love for Daddy anymore?”
A: “He’s a good person and would die for you but we all have flaws, and his flaws are really, really bad for me. They make me sad. I want to be happy.”
Q: “Why does he say ugly things to you? I hate him when he does that.”
A: “No, you mustn’t hate him or anyone. It’s very bad to hate. You have to love him because he’s your father and is good to you.
Q: “But why, Mom, why does he say ugly things to you?”
A: “I don’t know. It’s something that I’ve never understood. And that’s why I get sad and that’s why I don’t want to live with him anymore.”

I find it damaging to bad-mouth her father and pray that he bestows the same courtesy upon me.
Some say that it’s unhealthy but her father and I are not going through the whole custody thing. Though we would both prefer that she live full-time in our house, we have basically left it up to her to be where she wants to be. Usually, she is with my from Sunday night to Thursday morning. Then, because I have to travel on Thursday for work, she stays at her father’s Thursday and Friday. Saturdays are pretty much up to Anka. It all depends on what she has going on.

Now that Anka is older, we have some newfound kinks to iron out. Anka and I have a very open and honest relationship. Because of that, I am confident that we will.

How Newswire is Changing the News

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:36:00 -0800

If you pay attention to the news, chances are that you receive it one of three ways, from television, print or the web. Television and print media (and their respective websites) showcase professional journalists in a controlled setting. In each case the parent company chooses which stories should receive the most attention and displays them accordingly. The internet on the other hand provides the opposite. Most of the stories that can be found in blogs and other social sites provide information without a professional touch. These stories have a much stronger connection with the reader, but it can be hard to trust their validity. Newswire is a newly created company that is seeking to combine the far reaching powers of the web with the credible sources of a news company.

Erin Saxton, the president and founder of The Idea Network, Inc., has been appointed the CEO of Newswire to help build their reputation as a viable media outlet. She began her career as a production assistant at Good Morning America before moving on to work on The Barbara Walters Specials, The Rosie O’Donnel Show and The View. She worked as the head of the research department for Rosie, and then moved on to be a producer for The View, where she won four Emmys. Through her career, Saxton made many connections to the media and learned what it takes to create a good sales pitch, both to appeal to customers and to attract the attention of the media. As the head of The Idea Network, she helped companies and individuals receive a big boost to their image, including more face time on television and greater exposure through radio, print and the web.

According to the Newswire site, there are over 13 million independent writers online attempting to make a living as journalists. These writers are scattered through the world and have little connection to one another, much less credible ground to stand on. Newswire wants to harness these writers and distribute their work as viable news coverage. This approach will not only help writers to reach a wider audience, but it will also enable businesses to reach a wider variety of writers. In order to publish written work from around the globe, Newswire has developed its own code of ethics that writers must adhere to. This ensures that all of the content published through Newswire will be suitable for news consumption. Additionally, Newswire also has a full team of editors designed to critique every piece, providing further credibility. Newswire’s readers won’t have to worry about slogging through poor spelling and bad grammar to get to the meat of the story.

In addition to providing writers with the ability to publish their content credibly, Newswire also gives businesses the ability to reach out to writers. “Content is king,” Jeff Black, president of Extensions, Inc, Newswire’s parent company, said. Newswire gives websites the ability to find qualified writers without having to go through a complex hiring process or running the risk of receiving bad content. All of the Newswire writers go through the same process, so companies can be sure that the content they receive will be of the highest quality.

Newswire has constructed a platform that hinges on search engine optimization and targeted placement. With Saxton’s media connection, as well as a platform designed to put news where readers can access it, Newswire removes one of the biggest roadblocks faced by independent journalists. Currently, the internet allows reporters and bloggers to write whatever they want, whenever they want. However, due to the vast amount of information available, it is easy for important stories to get lost amidst an overload of information. Newswire allows journalists to funnel their stories through an organization that will place them in the location where they are most likely to be read. This gives independent writers what they didn’t have before, a solid base to stand on to ensure that their story is heard.

Thanks to Newswire, news companies no longer have to send a reporter to the scene; instead, firsthand accounts can be readily published through Newswire, providing faster updates and more timely stories. This ground level style of reporting, while still maintaining credibility and adhering to a code of ethics, makes everyone, at anytime, a reporter. News can now come not just from the newspaper or the television newscaster, but from your neighbor, your brother or even a person you’ve never heard of in Japan. The stories you read from Newswire will be credible and provide information on exactly what you want to know about.

Rethinking the Texas Border

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:31:00 -0800

The Problem:

The Texas/Mexico border is usually described by politicians with agendas as a chaotic warzone, where drug lords are in charge. Illegal Mexican immigrants are blamed for American job losses, but such blame games overshadow the complexities of the real situation.

Since 2005, Governor Perry and other officials (such as Mayor Bill White) have promoted spending hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to increase police efforts at the border - allowing local police to detain undocumented workers for deportation. Obsessively checking immigration status diverts attention from the real violent criminals. Racial profiling of Hispanics has also dramatically increased during routine traffic stops and in Hispanic communities where legitimate Hispanic immigrants have simply overstayed their visas.

Governor Perry has also argued for a “wall” being built along the Texas border. This wall would be a serious detriment to the environment, the economy, and efficient transit across the border. The Bush Administration's Homeland Security officials admitted that the wall would add at least 5 minutes to the normal travel time into and out of Mexico. All of these are temporary and ineffective solutions at best.

The Solution:

The current administration fails to mention that Mexico represents the second largest export market for the US and the third largest import market. Undocumented workers, contributing more via increased production and sales taxes paid than they utilize, prove themseves a net asset. Furthermore, the mythic drug war going on in Mexico is conducted by organized gangs operating in Mexico. Trying to fight the drug war by targeting undocumented workers in the US is simply misdirected. We should be promoting policies that grant legal status to undocumented workers that provide information leading to the arrest of gang members.

Farouk Shami proposes increasing border trade by building high skill operations on this side of the border and low skill, affordable labor across the border. He advocates improving the third world conditions of shack communities called Colinas - in which half a million Texans languish - with basics like clean water, roads, and doctors. Such increased infrastructure would also support new manufacturing plants. Increasing higher education funding in the Valley would also support the increase of highly skilled workers.

We must stop thinking of the border as a warzone and start thinking of it as an underdeveloped asset. With bold leadership like Frank Shoumi, it could become one of the most prosperous manufacturing areas in the country.

Writers Unite and Lead the Way to the News of Tomorrow

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:49:00 -0800

The world is clearly in the midst of a revolution in news reporting and consumption. A century ago the only reliable source for news was the newspaper and printed materials. This was how it had been for hundreds of years, almost since the invention of the printing press in the 15th century.

Then came radio, which many thought would replace newspapers, yet found its own unique niche. Radio, although giving more up-to-date information than papers, also provided news sequentially. One story followed another, and listeners had little choice as to what they were learning about or when they were going to learn about it. Newspapers still offered consumers a choice of what news to focus on and what news to pass over or read later.

Television, and in particular 24 hour cable news channels such as CNN, added a visual element that radio lacked, but in most other ways differed little from radio in the way the news was presented. Even with the addition of multiple cable news channels catering to different needs, most viewers are still captive to the stories anchors and producers want them to see. Since these networks are all in competition for viewers, many of them report on the same stories at the same time, ignoring all else in the rush to keep consumers from changing channels. Newspapers still fill a need not being filled elsewhere.

Then came the internet. Now consumers finally have a means of accessing the news they want on the topics that interest them. The internet is a written, auditory, and visual phenomenon, combining the best of all these mediums in one. Newspapers had at last met their match. For the first time major newspapers such as the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, and the Washington Post began bleeding red ink.

But for the internet to truly fill the void that may soon be created by the death of the printed press, one obstacle needs to be overcome. The obstacle is that of veracity. The issue of truth in reporting was raised when fraudulent stories were uncovered in papers such as the NY Times. The issue cannot now be avoided by internet news sources, either. How can we be sure the news we are reading is true?

Houston-based Extensions, Inc., developers of the EXT social network, are taking aim at the challenge of internet news distribution with their new Newswire social network. The network will harness the talents of some of the 12 million independent writers already blogging and reporting on the news over the internet, but who do not have the backing of a news agency. Because these independent writers have no credentials or status, their work is often suspect, and they also have a harder time than their credentialed peers in getting access to news sources, press conferences and other information.

Newswire will review five pieces of original work from everyone who wishes to be part of their social network. After a writer's work has been evaluated for content and quality, a writer will be asked to review and agree to Newswire's code of conduct. Any writer that is found to have broken that code can be disciplined or removed by Newswire's editors. Approved members of the network will receive proof of their status as Newswire journalists, and will have the backing of Newswire's editorial board who can vouch for their status.

By being a member of Newswire, writers will have access to paying work writing press releases for businesses and organizations. At the same time they will be able to continue their freelance work with the added benefit of being able to establish a certain level of trust with their audience. Essentially Newswire will have provided a level of legitimacy and credibility to the writers who are the future of the world's news: independent journalists and reporters.

What has driven newspapers under is their high overhead costs, including salaried journalists. What has stood in the way of the internet filling the void that will be left by those papers is concern over the truthfulness of news written by "freelancers." Newswire will be the market leader for internet news gathering services that will build trust with consumers and provide them with an even wider variety of news than they could previously receive.

Radio and television competed against newspapers, and found their own nitch. Newswire will combine the best of radio, television and newspapers to become the next great media outlet.

Extraordinary Women

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:47:00 -0800

We are currently in a ground breaking adventure. The adventure is, obviously, centered around political figures. And, we women can see a good cat fight and enjoy it because we have the leisure to do it when our work is done. The two kitties in the ring who are bearing their claws while being ostensibly on the same side, of course, are Hillary Rodham Clinton and Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro Pelosi.

At this moment, Hillary Clinton is running a weak second in first women categories. Nancy Pelosi is not only the first woman speaker of the house, but she is also the first Italian American speaker of the house and the first Californian speaker of the house. That's a lot of firsts there for even Hillary Clinton to overcome. And, to add salt to the wound, Pelosi and her family own most of the real estate in San Francisco. That, together with her husband's interest in Apple computers and a California vineyard, makes Nancy Pelosi one of the wealthiest members of Congress.

Now, you might say that Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi have never actually sparred in public. But, then you might only be looking at the couple's suit feuds. If you are looking for the best dressed between the two, a daily rating can be given on whose suit is snappier and whose jewelry actually goes with the suit. Most women who are enjoying the cat fight would rate Nancy Pelosi as beating Hillary Clinton hands down in tastes in clothing, jewellery and accessories. Of course, Nancy Pelosi has a sophisticated, wealthy dress style probably due from her background of being the pampered pet of a doting political and real estate venture family.

Hillary Clinton comes off as needing to fire her seamstress. We are almost thinking that she has her clothes made from simplicity patterns and drawn on a graphic board.

What is really fun copy is to watch the facial expressions of both women who have crashed through the glass ceiling. Both Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi have frozen faces. When a smile breaks on one of their mirror trained masks, it is as if their was a crack in their make up. In that category of stony faced poker players, both women come out evenly matched.

But, in the cat arena of femininity and softness, Nancy Pelosi wins. She is naturally graceful and her reactions on screen ,at least, do not look contrived. When she talks to the cameras she does not look like she is running for office since she already has an office. Hillary Clinton looks like a female Nixon with arms straight up at the sides and basking in the adulation of the people because she's a genius and works harder than all of them. Nancy Pelosi is a born leader who approaches her public appearances as part of her role in communicating with her followers who know that she is somebody who works in the public sector because of choice and not because her husband did not bring in a big enough pay check. We all really heard Hillary Clinton use that reasoning in letting us know why she was condescending to work so hard for all of us.

Seems that the cat fight between Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi is only a secret because no reporter wants to be clawed by getting caught like the monkey in the middle. But, politically speaking, when Hillary Clinton was going to use her new position to try and impeach, get it impeach (as in getting even with the Republicans and Ken Starr for trying to impeach her husband, Bill Clinton) George W. Bush for what trumped up charge we don't know, Nancy Pelosi had the breeding to put a stop to it. Seems like Hillary Clinton has a get even attitude whereas Nancy Pelosi has a natural instinct to stop situations that are like the ridiculous becoming a farce.

Teaching people how to think

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:44:00 -0800

In the words of Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's creation and arguably the finest example of a fictional detective: “...when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth...” The lesson in this obvious – albeit elusive – concept is implied in the premise: What is the process of elimination required to find the truth? And how does one either learn or acquire the requisite skills?

The answers are as varied as the methods used to train every investigator. The complete skill set is similar to a tool kit. If the tool necessary to accomplish a task is present, then the task is simple. Lacking the required tool does not necessarily mean the task can't be completed; however, while failure is always an option, it doesn't accomplish the mission. Improvisation solves many problems, usually through an abuse of technology. When it works, it's called “thinking outside the box.” A common misapplication of technology is knowing exactly which wrench to use to pound in the proper screw. While not an elegant solution, it does the job.

Thinking outside the box is not a gentle process. The most difficult part is getting from the inside to the outside where it can be observed in its entirety, from all angles; and, most often it's in a cold, harsh, hard light. Breaking out of the box can be an easier process if the investigator can assume a persona, an alter-ego or a character. There is a reason detectives use disguises. People will relate to a complete stranger some tidbit of knowledge they would not otherwise disclose, simply because they feel more comfortable with the persona of the character they are talking with than they would having the same conversation with a professional investigator.

Learning the fine art of disguise is more of a mental process than a physical transformation. The simpler the disguise, the easier it is to maintain. Latex full-head disguises and cheesy accents make for great escapist TV fiction, but are next to impossible to use in the real world. It can be an eye-opening experience to an urban dweller of the northeast to talk with a real country cowhand, just visiting the Big City. Even if the farthest south that “cowboy” ever lived was the South Bronx. A change of clothes, a couple of hours of listening to a country-western radio broadcasting out of Texas, and some minor alterations in speech patterns will give an investigator a character they could hang a hat on.

Once information is gleaned from several sources, it is time to analyze the data. Analysis is the application of logic and critical thinking processes to produce workable results. This can be done on-the-fly while in persona, but for some, reflection and introspection is the better solution. When thinking in a time-sensitive situation or when snap decisions are necessary, the best investigators rely on a trait usually called “gut-instinct” or some similar term that describes the formulation of an answer given insufficient or misleading data.

One of the more frustrating obstacles to critical thinking is the separation of belief from experience. Belief is based on faith. Experience is based on observation. As much as one may believe Mack trucks do not exist, experience suggests it would be unwise to test that theory in the middle of an Interstate highway. Common sense isn't common: Intelligence is knowing better, wisdom is doing better. The converse is also valid. Simply because something has not been experienced personally, does not necessarily imply it isn't true.

Teaching people how to think is not simply learning to exercise the muscle between one's ears. It's necessary to learn how thinking works, what processes work better than others, unlearning bad or misguided thought patterns and breaking habitual assumptions.

Character-based role playing games (RPGs) have been popular for decades. From the earliest tabletop games, it wasn't long before Live Action Role Playing (LARPs) appeared sporadically. With advent of the internet and the online community, it wasn't long before the RPGs and primitive game software was integrated with LARPs. Now, the next logical step is the integration of LARPs and social networks at the real-world community level.

With limited time constraints, a local environment, with tangible rewards and goals, a simple game can and is a useful vehicle to educate, train and exercise thought processes required to become a true life detective. With practice, patience, and practical application, the student can become the master.

Getting outside the box is the first step.

The Energy Gurus

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:38:00 -0800

Gurutej Khalsa has been studying energy and the most effective ways to use energy for years. Beginning the practice of yoga in 1969, Gurutej Khalsa has studied yoga for over 40 years and has become very knowledgeable about Kundalini yoga. Gurutej Khalsa brings lessons about energy to those who need it. The energy gurus work with every type of person, from individual people, to groups and corporate offices. Energy gurus also work with both men and women, individually and in couples, to help them replace the ineffective and negative ways they are using energy with more beneficial and healthy positive energy practices. There are different programs which are suited to different types of people which teach them to use their energy positively which help them to perform at their best potential.

Teaching individuals about positive energy practices can help them to realize their potential and create harmony in their life. Gurutej also teaches groups of people how to practice better ways of exercising positive energies so that each individual within the group effects another with their increased positive energy. These are great practices for groups, because everyone can realize together that they are all effecting each other, and take steps to effect each other in positive ways for the benefit of the entire group. Increased productivity, and a better environment for everyone are just some of the benefits to be reaped from practicing with the Energy Gurus. School groups, families, and corporate offices are just some of the types of groups which can use these methods to feel better about themselves and positively influence each other. Positive energy which emanates from one person is powerful, but grows more powerful if everyone in the group can practice positivity together. These practices also help to cultivate trust among everyone in the workplace, and can help everyone to learn to adjust to change quickly in a fast paced environment while still maintaining steadfast positivity and consistency.

The practices taught by the Energy Gurus are not difficult to learn or to practice. Many of the practices taught by the Energy Gurus are in fact easy to remember and can be done sitting at a desk chair, walking around a house or workplace, in the bathroom, or whenever the time and place is convenient. Stretching, breathing, and meditation exercises lay the foundation for beginning to practice these positive energy methods. Simply practicing these exercises for minutes a day can drastically improve the mental and physical health. Practicing these exercises in breathing, stretching and meditation can lead to a clearer head and thoughts, and reduced stress levels, which in turn boost the vitality and energy levels in the body. Increased energy and vitality not only brightens the mood and mentality, but also clears the air of confusing negativity leaving an open path ahead for a more productive present and future. Positive thinking is a key component to practicing positive energy, and is emphasized as a critical aspect of bringing positivity into life.

Gurutej teaches these practices to anyone, and everyone. As a young child, Gurutej felt it was her calling in life to lead other people to greatness. Gurutej continually reaches out to anyone who needs guidance to help them find positive paths in their life. Gurutej is so full of positive and fun energy, she has been able to accomplish great things for the community while at the same time expanding her knowledge and in every moment teaching and guiding others to find positivity. In addition to writing books, reaching out to the community, holding workshops, retreats, and conferences, she also regularly teaches yoga classes at the Blessings Center in Los Angeles, California. Gurutej is widely recognized by many groups and organizations as a leader of great things and fulfilling practices. Though this acclaim is vast, Gurutej holds true to the practice of Kundalini yoga and can still be found teaching classes in Kundalini yoga throughout the week. Other types of classes such as prenatal classes and Anusara class are taught by other instructors at the Blessigs Center as well. Everyone is always welcome to come in for the classes, with no prior sign up or reservation needed, just be sure to take off your shoes after you enter the Blessings Center.

Property Asset Investments- Unveils Solution to Convert Distressed Residential Properties into Productive Investments

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 07:23:00 -0800

Property Asset Investments, LLC (PAI) is a visionary company dedicated to converting distressed residential real estate into valuable assets. Founded in May 2009, PAI strives to serve investors, financial institutions and consumers through a broad and dynamic strategy focused on acquiring distressed properties and then returning them to the marketplace in an efficient manner, allowing new families to bring life to homes that were vacant due to foreclosure. PAI is able to purchase these abandoned properties at well below market value. The various properties are then either held for income production or resold at a substantial profit.

Property Asset Investment’s Unique Approach –

Foreclosures across the U.S. are at record highs, more than doubling in the past year. This unfortunate trend is expected to continue at least through 2010. These defaulted loans have resulted in an unprecedented number of homes, apartment buildings and other potential investment real estate being currently held by banks and other lenders, as real estate owned (REO) properties. Unable to successfully sell these REO properties via a foreclosure auction, financial institutions often release them at a substantial discount. After analyzing the various distressed properties that are available, those that meet strict PAI criteria are purchased at 30-35% loan to value (LTV).

Focusing on determining the “highest and best use” for each piece of real estate under consideration is a key tactic employed by the PAI team. Based on this determination, a profit-maximizing plan is developed and implemented for each property purchased, providing an excellent return for investors. PAI also provides freedom from non-performing loans for financial institutions, thereby freeing up capital for other purposes, and increased homeownership opportunities for consumers. This approach serves to revitalize communities, deterring the crime and alleviating the urban blight that is often pervasive in neighborhoods where many homes are vacant.

The PAI approach is unique. Targeting distressed real estate properties with the explicit intention of evaluating each and every one for profit maximization potential, and then marketing those properties complete with a comprehensive management plan already developed, provides investors with a wealth of information on which to base investment decisions. In addition, financial institutions and consumers benefit through an increase in the number of homes available for purchase and an easing of the foreclosure crisis.

Property Asset Investment’s Specific Strategies –

PAI is developing at least two funds. The first focuses on REOs in various markets that are expected to rebound and where on-site evaluation by members of the PAI team is feasible. Specific markets identified thus far include Houston, TX, Seattle, WA and Denver, CO. The PAI strategy includes working directly with mortgage holders in these markets to purchase distressed properties that will then be resold to real estate investment trusts (REIT), special-purpose acquisition companies (SPAC) and large hedge funds.

The second fund concentrates on bulk real estate portfolio purchases. These acquisitions are re-bundled, packaged with a suggested management plan, and sold to various types of investors.

Property Asset Investment’s Competitive Edge –

The PAI team is comprised of experts in all areas pertaining to real estate as well as professionals with experience in other pertinent fields such as finance. PAI also has access to sophisticated technology that provides the unique ability to not only effectively evaluate properties in the current market environment, but also to project values two years into the future. State-of-the-art software filters and assesses properties based on specific economic and demographic parameters. While other companies may be positioned financially to take advantage of today’s distressed real estate opportunities, no other company is currently able to do this kind of analysis, giving PAI a significant edge when considering various real estate investments.

PAI is able to achieve a high rate of return by purchasing properties at a substantial discount and then turning them over quickly, usually in 3-12 months. Available at an estimated 30-35% LTV, properties are resold at 60-100% LTV, generating an annual return on investment of 60-100%. Profits are reinvested to generate a larger pool of funding. Properties that are not sold are held and managed to produce a positive cash flow. Partner investors are chosen by PAI with the specific goal of developing an extended, profitable relationship. Employee Investment Fund investors are welcome to participate, as well.

Mission Adaptive Plans: A Tool to Harness the Internet for Good

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 07:21:00 -0800

The Mission Adaptive Plan (or MAP) is an idea that seeks to harness the power of the Internet and social networking media in an effort to help people realize their dreams, goals, and true potential. The MAP can really be described as social networking with a purpose.

When a person undergoes a new task, or when that person decides that it is finally time to start working on a long held goal, or when a person is met with a new challenge of which they have never dealt with before, certain things have to be accomplished. Those accomplishments on the way to completing a task, meeting a goal, or facing the challenge all meld together to form a process. This process, however, is what often scares most people away from facing an issue head on. People may feel that the process is too long, too confusing, or they do not think that they can face their issue alone. By harnessing the power of the Internet and social networking concepts, the Mission Adaptive Plan builds communities for those seeking to accomplish a goal or task and those who have already accomplished the goal or task. Those facing life challenges are put in virtual contact with others who are either facing those same challenges or those who have already faced those challenges.

The Mission Adaptive Plan refers to those seeking to meet goals and face challenges as "beneficiaries", because they are the ones who will benefit from the information. Through a network of volunteers, known as "contributors", the beneficiary is assisted with meeting their goal or facing their challenge. The process is initiated when a user signs up for a MAP social networking type of site and identifies his or her goal or challenge. From that point, the user's profile can be made public to allow others who wish to act as volunteers along the way show their support. Depending on the goal or challenge to be attained or faced, a "to do" type of list will display itself to the user and the volunteers, to track the beneficiary's progress. The checklist is where the role of the volunteer comes into play. If there are any items that need to be accomplished on the check list, but the beneficiary does not know where to begin, then the beneficiary can turn to any of the volunteers to ask for assistance. Because of the fact that the volunteers will often be those who have already faced the challenge or accomplished the goal, they are that much better suited to lead the beneficiary along the way and more able to relate to the confusion of the beneficiary. For example, if a task calls for a type of research, but the beneficiary is not able, for whatever reason, to accomplish the research, the beneficiary can ask a volunteer to conduct the research for them or point them in the right direction for getting the research done (i.e., offering helpful websites or a list of useful books for the beneficiary to look into).

Those volunteers who are helping the beneficiary along the way are allowed to see the "to do" list of the beneficiary. The reason that volunteers are allowed to see the personal "to do" list of the beneficiary is two fold. First, the volunteers are able to act as a support system for the beneficiary, offering more than just advice, but also words of encouragement. Those words of encouragement can be offered as needed, based on the progress of the beneficiary. The other reason that volunteers are given access to the "to do" list of the beneficiary is because it allows volunteers to look ahead on the MAP to see what tasks await the beneficiary. This allows volunteers to offer assistance by initiating what they can for the beneficiary before the beneficiary has to ask for help. This eliminates the need for the beneficiary having to ask for help (possible pride issues may get in the way) and saves time for the beneficiary in the long run, especially if the task at hand is time crucial.

When the beneficiary is completed with his or her task, or is fully prepared to face their own personal challenge, the "to do" list of the MAP will have been completed. At that point, the beneficiary becomes one who is no longer seeking information or assistance, but one who can offer information and assistance.

By displaying the necessary steps that need to be taken to accomplish a goal or task in a visual format, people are better able to track their progress and plan for further progress accordingly. The use of volunteers to offer advice, words of encouragement, and personal experiences allows those starting out on a task a support system that otherwise may not have existed offline. Mission Adaptive Plans harness the power of the Internet and seek to exploit available social networking formats to the fullest extent to help as many people meet as many goals and face as many challenges as possible.

Farouk Shami would be a breath of fresh air to The Texas Enterprize Fund

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 07:07:00 -0800

In politics, there are many different types of people. Some leaders come into politics after successful business careers where they learn important values and develop a sense of what works in the global economy. Others, however, are more career politicians than anything else. These individuals make it their job to get elected and they make it their business to stay in office. Though these individuals continue to win and wield power in their prospective regions, they do little to help out the people who they are charged with serving. In Texas, the Enterprise Fund is a perfect example of career politicians at work.

Texas Governor Rick Perry is one of the individuals in charge of handing out funds from the quickly depleting Texas Enterprise Fund. Unfortunately for the Texas economy, too many of the fund's dollars are going to help prop up corporate business interests. Career politicians have a way of helping out their friends at the country club, rather than serving the true interests of the people in their given district. This happens because most of these politicians need the continued financial and political backing of these individuals to get re-elected. Because they were not originally elected based upon their business merit or experience, they have very little to stand on other than the support of wealthy special interests.

With the Texas Enterprise fund, the idea was to hand out money to business in order to create new jobs. This was intended to boost the Texas economy, while enticing new businesses to locate in the state. Though it might sound good in theory, the execution has been poor, due in large part to the work of Rick Perry. The fund has given out money to many different businesses and few of them have lived up to their end of the agreement. Now, the governor's office is much more interested in muddying the job creation numbers, so that Texas residents won't know just how poorly the Enterprise Fund has been doing with its intended purpose.

Perry seems to be playing the political game to the best of his ability, but this is yet another example of how career politicians work for themselves and their friends, while not working for the majority of people in the state of Texas. The largest problem has been that Perry and company have allowed businesses to get away with not holding up their end of the bargain. Instead of sticking to the strict contracts written, the governor has let companies take government money, while delivering only a little bit on their promises to create jobs.

Of eleven companies handed government money in hopes of producing more jobs, the original target for job numbers was 6,472. When those companies failed to meet their goals, the Governor amended their contracts so that they only had to create just more than 3,000 jobs to keep on track. That more than 50% reduction is convenient for business CEOs, but it does little to help the more than 3,000 people who might have otherwise had jobs if the companies had stuck to their promises.

One of the biggest commitments was a $35 grant to Vaught Aircraft Industries, a company that promised to create 3,000 jobs back in 2004. As of 2008, the company had only created 821 jobs, failing miserably with the stated goal. That is not an uncommon result with the program, either. Company Texas Instruments received $50 million, as it pledged to create 1,000 new jobs. This was one of the grants that did not come with a real job creation requirement, though, so there was absolutely nothing to hold the company to its promises in using the public's money.

All of these things are an example of poor leadership brought on by a career politician with a lack of experience. A politician with a strong background would understand that the foundation of the state's economy is the small business industry. With that in mind, the money would be much better spent on those small business's with a solid working plan, which might provide them with the opportunity to promote the Texas economy. Unfortunately, a career politician like Perry would have no idea about this, as it does not directly benefit his closest friends and political contributors.

Farouk Shami, "Turn the Border into an Asset"

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 07:05:00 -0800

It is no big secret that the problems associated between the Mexican and Texas border is no better now that it was decades ago. This seems to be a subject that many politicians throughout the state of Texas do not want to talk about. This is widely due to the fact that over the past three years, the government of Texas has spent $220 million dollars to beef up police patrols along the border in hopes to decrease illegal immigrants from entering our country. This has been a failed plan over and over again. In fact, the majority of illegal immigrants that are in the United States are quite simply people who have overstayed on their visas.

Farouk Shami has a clear cut plan that will not only help to eliminate some of this chaos, it will also be utilized to make Texas a leader in the Going Green concept that even President Obama wants the country to embrace. Shami’s plan is very innovative and the concept is quite simple. We can get companies who are eager to embank on the Going Green program to bring their businesses to Texas. With this they bring high paying jobs that can be filled by the citizens of Texas who want to work. Low cost parts for the operation can be built by factories that we encourage Mexico to build along the Texas border. By giving the people of Mexico the opportunity to work, we are reducing the amount of illegal immigrants who come here because of lack of work in their own country. With the basic parts being produced at a lower cost in Mexico, we have the opportunities to give the citizens of Texas the opportunity to work jobs at higher wage levels.

Farouk Shami has also thought out how we can utilize the illegal immigrants who have entered our country. Shami shows how instead of intimidating them into not wanting confrontations with police and patrol officers, we can work with them to help find the people who are truly causing the problems. With them having first hand knowledge and of hearing about the people who are committing the crimes, we can use the information that they have can supply to local law enforcement officers to stop the violent criminals from entering our country.

Instead of using funds available on shot in the dark experiments, Farouk Shami shows us how to invest in the great people of Texas. With many citizens in Texas living in conditions equal to third world countries, he believes we need to provide them with training that would qualify them to work the jobs that the big companies would bring with them. Currently many of these people are living without water, homes, or food. This just should not be acceptable for any American citizen. The money would pay for education, training and economic developments. This would once again put the great state of Texas at the lead of helping to bring some financial security back to a country that has many problems with its current economy and truly needs it.

How Newswire is Changing the News

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 23:25:00 -0800

Farouk Shami at least has the courage to address the death penalty

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 23:01:00 -0800

Arguments for and against capital punishment, emotional as they are, should be an honest discussion based on practical, moral and fiscal merits. It should be a discussion that is thoughtful and farsighted in the hands and eyes of elected officials.

Instead, the death penalty is a “hot button” or wedge issue in today’s political arena. It is trotted out along with gun rights, abortion and gay rights to inflame the differing sectors of the nation. The delicate balance of private tragedies and political pandering is embarrassingly askew. Both the victim’s right to justice and the rights of the accused are demeaned and converted to inflammatory sound bites and misinformation to win the vote.

On one hand, there will be politicians like the current Governor of Texas, Rick Perry, who refused to grant clemency to Cameron Willingham because of an upcoming election and he didn’t want to appear to be soft on crime. On the other hand, there is Farouk Shami who is running for Governor of Texas in 2010 on the Democratic ticket. He stated recently that there are “lots” of innocent people executed in Texas.

In the United States, capital punishment varies from state to state and is usually reserved for aggravated murder. Over 1100 people have been executed in the United States since the federal reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976. Texas leads the country in number of executions performed. After reenactment, the first execution in Texas was in 1982. Since then, Texas has executed 449 people. Virginia runs a distant second with 105. Texas has executed over 40 percent of its death row inmates. A further breakdown of death row inmates show that 36 died before they could be executed and 222 were removed from death row. Of the 222 removals, 17 were exonerated by DNA which includes four who were acquitted, eight who had all charges dismissed, two were released and one had his sentence commuted to life in prison.

Out of the 449 executions performed, several cases have a heavy preponderance of innocence.

Carlos DeLuna was convicted in 1983 of the stabbing murder of a convenience store clerk. He was executed in 1989 even though another man, Carlos Hernandez, repeatedly confessed to the crime. All forensic evidence also pointed to Hernandez.

Ruben Cantu, was convicted in 1985 of a shooting death during an attempted robbery. He always proclaimed his innocence until he was executed in 1993. Now the state prosecutor, the jury foreperson, the state's key eyewitness and Cantu’s co-defendant have come forward to say that Texas executed a innocent man. The key witness, wounded in the robbery, was pressured by the police to identify Cantu as the killer. He now states Cantu wasn’t even there.

David Spence was charged with murdering three teenagers in 1982 in a contract killing gone wrong. He was convicted in 1984 and executed in 1997. No physical evidence ever linked David Spence to the crime scene. Both the police lieutenant and the homicide detective assigned to the case have come forward to publicly state Spence’s innocence. The case was pushed through by an overzealous narcotics agent who was granting favors to inmates in return for falsified testimony.

Gary Graham was 17 when he was convicted of a robbery and shooting outside a supermarket. His conviction was based on one witness’s testimony. The woman testified that she had seen Gary Graham’s face for a few seconds through a car window from a distance of 30-40 feet. The grocery store employees, who got a good look at the assailant, stated that it was not Graham who committed the crime. These eyewitnesses were not interviewed by Graham’s attorney nor were they called to trial. Gary Graham was executed in 2000.

Cameron Willingham was convicted of murdering his three children is an arson-sparked house fire in 1991. He was convicted on investigators' evidence of 20 indicators of an accelerant being used to set three separate fires in the home. Willingham refused to plead guilty to save himself and accept life in prison. He vehemently denied any guilt in the death of his children. Four of the country’s top arson experts repudiated the findings of the original investigators and the new evidence was delivered to the state’s highest court and the governor, Rick Perry. No clemency was granted and Texas executed Cameron Willingham in 2004. Later that same year, some of the same experts appeared in court and used the same information to exonerate and free Ernest Willis from death row.

The criminal justice system is vulnerable. It’s vulnerable to error because it consists of human endeavor. When the system includes the death penalty, people who are factually innocent are subject to execution. It is imperative that capital punishment be treated as the complex and highly charged issue that it is rather than a means to gain an upswing for a political victory.

Farouk Shami plans universal broadband coverage of Texas to improve rural jobs availability

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:57:00 -0800

The State of Texas is the second largest state in the USA. The population, geographic area and gross domestic products of Texas are only surpassed by California of all the 50 states in the Union. If Texas were a separate nation, its gross domestic product would rank it as the fifteenth largest GDP on the entire planet.

One of the challenges Texas faces is the large gap between their remote, rural areas and the large metropolitan areas with regards to availability of high paying jobs, affordable health care, broadband access, high quality public education and economic conditions that encourage small business growth. Farouk Shami, Democratic candidate for governor in the March 2010 election, has plans to reduce this gap between the large, densely populated cities and the larger but remote and rural areas of Texas.

One of the cornerstones of Farouk Shami's master plan for the State of Texas is to increase digital broadband access to internet service for all areas of Texas. His inspiration for this was a recent study done by Connected Nation, an internet service providers trade group. It concluded that Texas could develop 173,000 new jobs with universal access to broadband services. Mr. Shami will use his vision of expanded broadband service access to achieve the following goals.

First and foremost, Farouk Shami wants broadband service in rural Texas to improve public school access to all the learning tools and knowledge the world wide web offers students everywhere. Just like the rest of the American economy, K-12 education has expanded its outreach and quality of service to students who have access to it. Mr. Shami wants the education gap that holds back rural Texas to close. He knows the future of rural Texas requires a work force that has the knowledge and skills to succeed in the 21st century.

Second, Mr. Shami wants to encourage development and growth of small businesses in rural Texas. One of the few issues Democrats, Republicans and Independents agree on is the vital role that small businesses have in the American economy. With expanded broadband access, small business owners will be able to market their goods and services to more prospective customers over a much wider geographic range with more efficiency and effectiveness than possible before online and e-business came to the American economy. Small businesses also serve as subcontractors and vendors for larger manufacturers and industries. This encourages the next step to increased economic activity for rural Texas.

Large industries and manufacturers require broadband access to establish new plants in a rural area. The internet provides the rural plants with 24/7, low cost and efficient communications with their home office and their business partners worldwide. Large companies will not open a plant in a rural area unless it has broadband access readily available.

Last and not least, Farouk Shami wants expanded broadband coverage to improve the agriculture business. Agriculture is the second largest industry in Texas. Since most agriculture operations require vast acreage for crop growing and livestock grazing, it is done in rural areas. Mr. Shami wants Texas farmers and ranchers to have the increased access to market prices and trends, long range weather forecasts and research capability into the latest trends and operations methods in the industry.

In summary, Farouk Shami plans to increase broadband access to Texas so life is more prosperous and sustainable for rural Texans. He knows most Texans prefer wide open spaces to crowded urban areas. Rural areas are a part of Texas history and culture. Mr. Shami wants to preserve this intact for present and future generations of Texans, urban and rural.

Color and Soul at the Superbowl

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:48:00 -0800

Julie Edwards was invited to the Super Bowl to present her Color and Soul Mineral Cosmetics to the NFL Wives Association on Thursday, Feb 4. Be on the lookout for the new www.colorandsoultv.com coming soon to your computer screen with interactive internet TV programming that will bless and build lives.

Her breakthrough makeup line has changed the way women of color feel about their makeup and skin forever.

Launched in 2007, Color and Soul is the first ever mineral makeup formulated specifically for women with richly-pigmented skin. The light-feeling makeup soothes dry skin and can help heal acne and other skin conditions. It offers great coverage on all skin types, even for those with rosacea, acne, and vitiligo. Color and Soul is perfect for sensitive skin, and can even be worn to bed without any worry of clogging pores. It’s made entirely of crushed minerals, and is all natural.

Some foundations tend to look “ashy” on highly-pigmented skin, due to pink tones commonly used in other products. Women of color can have up to 38 skin-tone color variations, and need a more diverse selection. The difference in Color and Soul is that it uses a gold/yellow base and other pigments to create a wide selection of shades. Colors are all custom-blended, and there are even shades available for Caucasian skin.

In addition to the large shade selection, this mineral makeup has a high natural SPF. Micronized zinc and titanium dioxide block the sun’s rays which can cause skin damage and aging. This protection will also help in the healing process of acne scars, dark spots, and discoloration.

Color and Soul mineral makeup is lasts all day without fading, and feels like you are wearing nothing. It can be used as a foundation, concealer, and sunscreen all in one. A full size jar lasts up to six months, without the need for preservatives. Loose minerals may last for up to one year.

Mineral makeup is recommended by dermatologists and surgeons to speed up healing time after surgery of treatments. It allows skin to breathe, and goes on smoothly without caking. The sheer foundation can be mixed with moisturizer for a glowy look, or applied directly with a brush to create a perfectly flawless canvas. Levels of coverage can be adjusted by applying the makeup in layers.

Color and Soul also offers mineral eyeshadow, eyeliner, brow tint, blush, bronzer, and lip color to complement your look. Many services are available at the Color and Soul Cosmetic Café and Skin Care center in Camp Springs, MD. Makeup applications, consultations, personal or group lessons, facial treatments, and waxing are offered. Mineral makeup is custom blended to perfectly match your skin tone. You can find out more about these products, order online, and see before and after photos at www.colorandsoul.com .