Common Sense

Dan Rather on Super PACs

2012-01-17T02:20:00.001-06:00

http://video.msnbc.msn.com/the-rachel-maddow-show/46018440#46018440

Homemade Lip Gloss and Lip Balm: From Simple Two Ingredient Recipes to The More Advanced

2012-01-14T03:53:00.000-06:00

Homemade Lip Gloss and Lip Balm: From Simple Two Ingredient Recipes to The More Advanced

Another Reason to End the War on Drugs

2012-01-12T05:33:00.000-06:00

Nearly everyday you can read about non-violent drug offenders being sent to prison or a police officer injured or killed trying to stop a drug-related crime, or a drive-bu shooting tied to warring gangs.

Today, the news is that more than 47,000 people have died from drug violence in Mexico in the past five years -- since President Felipe Calerdon began using the military to deal with drug cartels.

Not an American problem you say? If the war on drugs ceased in our country -- and if we decriminalized drug use -- who do you think would be clamoring to buy drugs from the Mexican drug cartels with the profit margin enjoyed by drug dealers in America?

Eliminate the profit margin in drug dealing...make it illegal for anyone other than government-approved sites to sell drugs...and the drug trade in our country will dry up.

But, oh my gosh, everyone in America will then be on drugs! Not so, at least not in countries who have already decriminalized drugs have found.

It is human nature to seek anything that is forbidden. When drugs are legally accessible, it removes some of the desire for it.

And let's be real. There are lots of people in America already doing drugs. If drugs were legalized and their manufacture and sale regulated, there would be fewer people using dirty needles or syringes. Dirty needles and syringes lead to HIV/AIDS infection and hepatitis.

I believe this is the common sense answer to the current drug problem. What are your thoughts? Have I gone off the deep end?

Here's a link to a news story provided by LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition) on the topic of drug war deaths.

Let's Start the Bandwagon Rolling to Repeal the Patriot Act

2012-01-11T18:59:00.000-06:00

Repeal the Patriot Act Petition

The recent change in student loan payments, lessening the payback burden for recent graduates, began with a citizen's petition to request a change. That's power in the pen and the combined voices of like-thinking citizens.

Call me naive, but I want to believe the democratic process works, even in this time of politicians who are often unresponsive to the dictates of those who elect them.

I believe the Patriot Act should be repealed. I felt it was wrong when it originated and feel just as strongly that that is so today.

Even as our president at the time of the 9/11 attacks promised terrorists would not realize their goal of making Americans live in fear, the Patriot Act was being formulated. The very name of the law suggested anyone who opposed its passing was un-American.

The Patriot Act requires all citizens to give up some of their freedoms for the sake of national security. No one can guarantee that the forfeiture of such freedoms will make us any safer than without this intrusive act.

I've initiated a citizen's petition that will be delivered to the White House when enough signatures are gathered. If, like me, you believe the Patriot Act should be repealed, will you please electronically sign the petition? Will you consider forwarding it to at least 3 of your friends or family members for their consideration?

Repeal the Patriot Act Petition

The All American Store: The Antithesis of Walmart?

2012-01-10T03:18:00.000-06:00

Brookville, Ohio may well go down in history as the birthplace of the store that put "Made in America" popular again. Brookville is the site of The All American Store, a corner store that harkens back to the day of the general store.

While Walmart and other big box stores sell products and goods made in China, The All American Store sells products and goods that are American-made -- or at the very least, American assembled. And the concept is working; the Brookville store saw a 15 percent increase in sales last quarter.

Wouldn't it be great to go back to the time when "Made in the USA" was something we could find on the items we buy?

I'm Trying to be a Pescatarian

2012-01-01T17:39:00.000-06:00

The article linked to this post explains in depth what a pescatarian is and how one person is dealing with the change in her eating habits. As it turns out, a pescatarian is someone who eats everything except beef, pork, lamb and poultry.

I am giving this lifestyle choice a serious consideration because I believe it is a healthy way of eating. It is close to a Mediterranean style diet, a style I've researched to find has many health benefits. The big problem for me? Red meat. Not sure I can be satisfied never eating beef again.

Why don't you give the article a read and let me know your thoughts?

I'm Trying to be a Pescatarian

FDA Backs Off On Preventing Antibiotic Use In Animals for Human Consumption

2011-12-25T00:53:00.001-06:00

As an American citizen, I'd like to believe that governmental agencies are working for the best interests of myself and millions of other Americans just like me. When I read information such as the fact that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has reversed its stand on disapproving the use of antibiotics in food-producing animals, I have to wonder just who is being protected and why.

Just a year and a half ago, the FDA took the stance that it would act on withdrawing its approval of the use of antibiotics in these animals because of the preponderance of evidence available that this use of medications is creating antibiotic-resistant organisms in the meat that is then passed to humans.

I have to think that big-money interests have influenced the decision of the FDA on this matter -- and that idea is repugnant to me. Without the FDA providing replicated scientific studies that refute the fact that the use of antibiotics in animals is not detrimental to the health of humans, I cannot think of any other plausible reason for this federal agency back-pedaling on this issue.

I may not have all the facts, so I'd like to know your thoughts on this issue. Do you have strong feelings on the use of antibiotics in animals in our food supply or is this a non-issue for you?

Obama Backs Off on Veto Promise

2011-12-16T20:07:00.000-06:00

President Barack Obama had promised to veto the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 -- that is until wording in some statutes were changed. I thought the president and I and many other concerned Americans were on the same page on this issue.

I thought the president's concern was about the wording addressing the indefinite detention of American citizens by the military in the absence of charges or a trial. Turns out that wording doesn't bother the man who is also a constitutional lawyer. It was other wording, wording that the Commander-in-Chief felt threatened the Oval Office's powers to deal with terrorists.

Despite the president's change of heart in using his veto power on the Congressionally-approved NDAA, I have still written the White House with my concerns about what I see as provisions that place American civil liberties at risk.

Don't take my word for what this legislation entails. Read Glenn Greenwald of Salon.com who details the three myths about indefinite detention of American citizens on U.S. soil.

Where do you stand on this issue?

Politics As Usual...And They Stink

2011-12-08T23:50:00.001-06:00

It never ceases to amaze me what our elected officials choose to find important at any given moment. Right now, Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH)has decided to arm wrestle the president into an untenable position on the payroll tax cut Obama has been lobbying for.

The payroll tax cut would be a continuation of the decrease in Social Security taxes that those employed pay from the usual 6.2 percent to 4.2 percent. The current tax cut is set to expire on December 31 unless a new measure is signed into law.

Members of the House have tied additional issues into the measure, seeking to force the president to sign the legislation that would also give the go-ahead for the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline project. President Obama has wanted a different route created for the proposed pipeline, set to carry crude oil from Canada to the Mississippi gulf. The president's hesitance has to do with concerns of underground water being adversely affected by the current route. House Republicans are poo-pooing such concerns, saying it's time for the pipeline now.

Also added to the payroll tax cut measure by the House Republicans include removing EPA restrictions on emissions from boilers and small incinerators, a move the EPA reports will cause over 8,000 premature deaths each year.

Obama has promised to veto the payroll tax cut bill if the pipeline go-ahead is attached to the measure, causing Congress to work into its intended holiday recess.

It's my hope that the Senate will be the voice of reason in this issue; few believe that will happen. If it does not, I support the president if he carries through the veto he has promised.

What are your feelings on the issues? Do you support the Keystone XL pipeline project as it is? What about the payroll tax cut continuation? How about the politics of the whole she-bang?

Obama Must Fulfill Promise of Veto

2011-12-03T20:46:00.001-06:00

Former FBI Special Agent Coleen Rowley: Obama Should Veto Empire Over Republic

More Thoughts on Indefinite Detention of American Citizens

2011-12-02T17:06:00.001-06:00

Bruce Bowers blog entry on the National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2012.

Medicare Adds Preventive Services for Obesity

2011-11-30T16:10:00.001-06:00

Today the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced today that it will begin covering payment of screening for obesity, a nutritional assessment for those who qualify and counseling services through primary care providers.

Obesity is a large problem in the United States (no pun intended) and unabated can lead to many chronic illnesses, not the least of which are heart attack, stroke and diabetes. This preventive program is another measure via the Affordable Care Act and is a good weapon to have in the preventive services arsenal.

Like so many things in life, prevention of illness or disability is preferred to treatment of the same. Motivated obese Medicare recipients will likely reap the most health benefit from these newly covered services.

What I think is unfortunate is that the medical aspect of obesity treatment is not being linked to the mental health aspect of it. The way the system is currently designed, payment for these services will only be provided when a person goes through a primary care practitioner, which means a physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant or clinical nurse specialist in a family medicine, internal medicine, or geriatric medicine.

I entrust my health care to practitioners in these specialties. In fact, I have always chosen a family practitioner because of their broad knowledge base. But I think counseling, even for obesity, belongs in the realm of mental health. The problem of obesity is a complicated one and, it seems to me, to call for the integrated services of a medical practitioner and a mental health practitioner for the most positive outcome for the individual.

As a taxpayer, I understand that the cost of mental health services in some areas may be cost prohibitive at this time. As an individual who understand you don't change a lifetime of habits overnight, I lament this well-meaning but inadequate decision.

How do you feel about these newly covered services?

American Citizens May Soon Find "Battlefield" Is Their Own Home

2011-11-28T14:40:00.001-06:00

I'll be the first to admit I don't always agree with stands the American Civil Liberties Union takes, but I am still open to learning their ideas. In today's news the ACLU has made public proposed legislative changes to the National Defense Authorization Act.

The proposed changes would allow the military to indefinitely confine persons suspected of violations of the NDAA without charges or trial any where in the world -- including American soil.

What is now under the authority of the Department of Justice would be transferred to the jurisdiction of the military including custodial and prosecutorial authority. The provisions, section 1031 and 1032 of the NDAA for 2012, were proposed in secret and passed through a closed-door committee meeting without a single hearing.

It's frightening enough the powers the police have at times without enabling the military to be able to wield its authority on civilians.

You can check out more information here at the ACLU site and contact your senators on this issue if you wish directly through this link.

To read more about this issue, visit here.

Learning About Mental Health From an Experienced Source

2011-11-26T23:12:00.001-06:00

There are a fair number of illnesses and conditions who have overcome public stigma, such as epilepsy and leprosy. Attitudes toward mental illness have softened somewhat over time, but there is still much misunderstanding and fear surrounding those people who are diagnosed with a mental illness.

The misunderstanding of mental health issues by the general public isn't surprising; this is one area of medical science where there remain more questions than answers. The fear that people feel about those with mental illness is borne of the same misunderstandings and misinformation that used to surround minority groups of people.

With understanding often comes acceptance, so it is understanding of mental health conditions that we must seek.

The New York Times is in the midst of a series of articles about people with major mental illness diagnoses. The articles provide insight from these people who have come forward to share their experiences in a positive light.

There is no better way to overcome stereotypes and misunderstanding than to hear information straight from those who know mental illness best -- and that would be those who are living their lives with the conditions.

What word comes to mind first when you think of mental illness?

I Believe in the American System of Government

2011-11-12T22:57:00.000-06:00

I believe in the democratic process in general and believe it can and does work in the American government. I believe it is a system that can work. Call me naive or uninformed; it's okay with me.

The political system in the United States may be hobbling on a bad leg these days, but it is yet fixable. First of all, people who are eligible to vote need to do so. Few nations have as poor a voter turn-out as America does. Voting is a right, but its also a privilege not afforded to some citizens in other parts of the world.

Women and people of color, I would think, would fill voting booths in droves. These groups are the ones who most recently gained the right to vote. Put it to good use.

In addition to using your voting power, contact your elected officials once they are in office. Use the phone, email, or the good ole United States Postal Services to mail a letter -- it doesn't matter which form you use -- just keep your representatives apprised of your views on issues.

Stay abreast of current issues or pending legislation. Voice whatever your views are in a courteous and matter-of-fact manner. Rants aren't likely to be taken as seriously as well-thought-out reasoning. Even when you agree with the way an elected official is doing something, take a moment to say so to him/her. Positive messages are as important as dissenting or negative messages.

For some reason, presidential elections have a better voter turn-out than more locally-based elections. No doubt the media hoopla for a least 12 months preceding a presidential election spurs voters to action, but the truth is, local elections affect your life in more upfront and personal ways. Don't discount their importance.

In summation, it doesn't matter what your politics are -- or if you have any at all. As a citizen with voting privileges it is your duty to make this democracy work -- as much, if not more, than the elected officials.

Earthquakes in Oklahoma?

2011-11-08T18:49:00.000-06:00

You've got to be kidding me. Who ever heard of earthquakes in Oklahoma, of all places.

To paraphrase a song from The Music Man: "I say there's trouble right here in Oklahoma. Trouble with a capital T. That rhymes with E and that stands for earthquakes." "T" of course, is for tornadoes, that windy spectacle of Mother Nature's glory. Folks here in the Red Man state expect a bustling tornado season each year and many have taken precautions for safety from the twisters.

Earthquakes, now -- that's another story. It seems the state has something like an average of 50 earthquakes a year, but they've generally been small by quake standards and only noticed by people near the epicenters. The weekend of November 5th and 6th changed all that with a introductory tremblor of 4.7 magnitude in the wee hours of Saturday night and then the "big one," a 5.6 quake late Saturday night. Ten or more aftershocks were felt throughout Sunday.

The bigger earthquake established a record here in the state, and wasn't far behind the magnitude of the August 2011 quake on the East Coast that produced cracks in the Washington Monument.

Fortunately, there was only one reported injury in connection with the quakes, and sadly, that was of a man who was scrambling to get outside his house and tripped and hit the wall.

Minor damage has been reported to some homes and buildings and Highway 62 buckled in three places. It turns out a conventional home owners insurance policy doesn't cover earthquake damage. A separate earthquake policy or addendum is required, as with flood insurance. Tulsa area insurance companies reported they were inundated with earthquake insurance calls. I can only begin to guess the price on it after these sizable quakes.

Seismologists have no explanation as to why these quakes occurred, so it would seem they won't be able to predict future tremblors with accuracy either. Common sense dictates that Oklahomans become familiar with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Disaster Preparedness for Earthquakes.

Graphic Pictures on Cigarette Labels Banned...For Now

2011-11-07T12:13:00.001-06:00

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in its wisdom and aching desire to rid the nation of cigarette smoke, had issued new guidelines for warnings required on cigarette packages and advertisement, set to go into effect September 2012. The guidelines require the inclusion of graphic images on packaging and advertising material of the effects of smoking, including a body in the morgue, a mouth with cancer and a man with a tracheotomy.

I applaud the underlying goals of the graphic image warnings: to keep kids from smoking and encouraging smokers to quit. I think the method chosen to do this is inappropriate. Today, U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon agreed, blocking the measure from going into action until a lawsuit brought by tobacco makers can be heard.

Tobacco companies have filed a lawsuit against the requirement for graphic images based on the First Amendment's right to free speech.

Imagine if every bottle, can or pitcher of alcohol contained graphic pictures, such as mangled cars and bodies. Would Twinkies and other junk food soon contain pictures of obese people, clogged arteries and fatty livers?

Whatever your stance is on tobacco smoking, how do you feel about the use of graphic images on packaging?

Killing People to Save Money?

2011-11-06T15:23:00.001-06:00

Okay, "killing" is a strong word; it would be better to say "allowing to go undiagnosed and untreated for conditions that often result in death." Who is doing this, you ask? The United States Preventive Services Task Force, a part of Health and Human Services. Sounds fishy? I wish it were so. Steve Forbes of Forbes has already explained it succinctly in an editorial here. I've had my suspicions about what the government and insurance industries were going to do with the millions of baby boomers now reaching their senior years. I suspected euthanasia might become legal and suggested for that generation. It seems that the first step is to suggest folks not get important tests for early diagnosis of prostate and breast cancer. Yep, that would reduce the senior population in pretty short order.

Southern-Style Smoked Pork Loin Recipe

2011-11-06T01:27:00.000-06:00

Southern-Style Smoked Pork Loin Recipe

Myth Busting Campaign Promises

2011-11-03T18:13:00.002-05:00

These candidates are certainly not the first to "talk trash" during a campaign; politic hopefuls from both parties and even independent parties make promises based in fiction.

It's interesting that most of the mainstream media who cover these candidates, "news" anchors and talk hosts are not pointing out the factual error of anyone's promises.

As citizens, we can either stay mum and allow the politicians to believe we accept blatant false promises as being okay, or we can make our voices heard that this type of behavior and grandstanding is unacceptable. On which side of the issue do you stand? How do we let the political machine know our thoughts on the subject?

Beautiful Cigar Girl Murder Mystery - InfoBarrel

2011-11-03T16:06:00.000-05:00

Beautiful Cigar Girl Murder Mystery - InfoBarrel

Easy Broccoli and Cauliflower Soup Recipe

2011-10-27T15:10:00.000-05:00

Easy Broccoli and Cauliflower Soup Recipe

Blind Woman Quilter, Diane Rose in Waco, Texas

2011-10-27T15:04:00.000-05:00

Blind Woman Quilter, Diane Rose in Waco, Texas

Ultimate Gift For Cooks "Gourmet Garlic Grater"

2011-10-17T21:07:00.000-05:00

Ultimate Gift For Cooks "Gourmet Garlic Grater"

What You Need to Know Now About HPV

2011-10-07T11:11:00.000-05:00

What is Influenza or Flu and How to Prevent It

2011-08-29T01:52:00.000-05:00

What is Influenza or Flu and How to Prevent It

Kids and Physical Activity

2011-07-24T12:03:00.000-05:00

I just returned from a month-long hiatus, visiting my family and friends back home. It provided a much-needed break from my everyday routine, and even more, refreshed my heart and mind.

I've been concerned that when I drive through most neighborhoods, there is almost never any children playing outside. One would think that only adults live in the houses. It seems so different from when I was a kid, and even different from when my adult children were young.

Kids don't ask to go outside to play any longer and parental concern undoubtedly prevents parents from sending kids outside to play. Video games and computers occupy the minds of the young, and while that's not a bad thing, their bodies are vastly unused.

During my visit home, I was fortunate to spend time with my grandchildren. The kids and adults were outside much of the time--and the kids played and played. It was heart-warming.

Parents are busy people, often with both partners working outside the home. Relaxation time is at a premium. But if you have chosen to have kids, you need to spend some of that down time with them, and be physically active with them whenever possible.

The activity doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. Playing catch or throwing the football with mom or dad is just as rewarding to a child as any paid-for excursion. And you'll find it to be rewarding to you as a parent.

We don't have control over the experiences our children will remember later in life, but the more positive experiences you and they encounter, the more likely it is that the memories built will be positive also.

Besides the health benefits of regular physical activity for your children and for you, you'll be providing good parent-child interaction and building positive lifestyle choices for your children to continue into their adult lives.

2011-07-18T14:31:00.001-05:00

Parental Custody of Obese Children in Jeopardy?

2011-07-16T11:10:00.001-05:00

There's no denying that obesity and general conditions of being overweight are plaguing the United States and other countries who model the American lifestyle. Facts and research bear out that obesity leads to other chronic and sometimes life-threatening health conditions such as Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease--among others.

So then, does it logically follow that severely obese children should be taken from their parents, as Harvard pediatric professor and obesity expert David Ludwig, contends in the July 13, 2011 article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association contends?

Or is the American family already a casualty of a government that is overstepping its bounds into the personal lives of its citizenry?

There has to be other solutions to this problem other than yanking children from their homes--and placing them where? Would foster families be the answer? Already there are too few foster families available for children taken from homes where abuse or neglect is suspected. What training would foster families be required to undergo that their care would be superior to the care morbidly obese children could receive at home?

Surely the public health care system could--and should--be updated to address the needs of not only children with obesity, but also parents and adults with the same health issue. Supervision could be provided by local health departments, with the responsibility of care for the child remaining where it should be--at home.

Education and community resources need to be available to families of all income levels and physical abilities. If the government needs to step in at all, let it be to ensure that all school systems have physical education classes.

It's true that childhood obesity is an issue that needs to be addressed, but let's do so within the family system. The family unit has endured throughout time, whereas governments come and go. We must say "No!" to Big Brother making any more intrusions into the family.

Sources: Time; "Should Parents Lose Custody of Their Extremely Obese Kids?"; Bonnie Rochman; July 13, 2011
Journal of the American Medical Association; "State Intervention in Life-Threatening Childhood Obesity"; Lindsey Murtagh, JD, MPH and David Ludwig, MD, PhD; July 13, 2011

DEA Stonewalls Marijuana Reclassification

2011-07-10T19:29:00.000-05:00

For the third time in nearly 40 years, the Drug Enforcement Administration has refused to reclassify marijuana as anything other than a Schedule I narcotic, meaning it has a high potential for abuse and no known medical uses. That likely comes as a shock to the many people living in states where medical marijuana is available for the treatment or relief of any number of conditions.

It is unreasonable that the federal government continues to take such a narrow stance on a substance that sixteen states and our nation's capital have determined indeed contributes to an improved quality of life medically. Deputy Attorney General James Cole reversed the 2009 memo drafted by his predecessor that told U.S. attorneys not to focus federal resources on prosecuting individuals involved with medical uses of marijuana by stating that commercial operations involving cultivation, distribution or selling marijuana, even where authorized by state law are "fair game" for prosecution.

This is an unnecessary and unwanted intrusion into citizens of states that have decided to allow the use of marijuana for medical treatments. It's true that federal law trumps individual state laws, but enforcement only occurs when the federal government has an ax to grind. We are not looking at one or two rogue states that have taken a bold stand to allow the use of medical marijuana; over one-fourth of states have made that determination. More states are considering making the move, but concerns such as the loss of use of tax monies derived from the sale of medical marijuana hold back some legislation.

People who've been quietly advocating for the legalization of the use of medical marijuana or the decriminalization of marijuana need to take the time to make their voices heard, whether through a letter, email, or telephone call to their elected officials. We need the federal government to represent the views of the majority.

Personal Responsibility

2011-06-16T18:14:00.000-05:00

I consider myself to be an "average American" in many ways, and I suspect the health lesson I've recently learned has been and will be repeated by others like me. I've read--and written--about the important aspects of a health diet and regular physical activity for years. In times too numerous to count, I've thought to myself, "I'm going to change my habits--tomorrow."

You've probably guessed the rest of the story: "Tomorrow" never came. And I've recently found out that I have Type 2 diabetes, uncontrolled at this time. Add that to the obesity and hypertension I've already had for a number of years.

I did this to myself. I know the research, I see the ads--I had every opportunity to take advantage of health care advice. But I didn't do it. Now I must.

They say an addict doesn't change his behavior until he hits whatever is rock bottom to him. The same if true for me and my addiction to an unhealthy lifestyle. Being diagnosed with diabetes has hit me hard, and I am finally making my "todays" that "tomorrow" I had been promising myself.

You know what they say about reformed smokers--they are the worst when it comes to tolerating other people smoking. I am the new lifestyle nazi, talking to and advising those I care about to change their lifestyle choices. I'd like to help make a difference in their lives before it is too late, before they are diagnosed with a chronic health problem.

It really does come down to personal responsibility--good health, that is. Each of us could be at our best health if we just followed two little rules about lifestyle choices. So many of us didn't heed the advice. Now it's time to pay the piper.

Should Cops' On-Duty Activity Be Considered Private?

2011-06-10T00:26:00.002-05:00

Radley Balko, writer at HuffingtonPost.com, wrote about the Illinois attorney general's office prosecuting private citizens who video or audio tape police persons performing their duties. There is a law in Illinois that prohibits such recording without the recorded party's knowledge.

This wouldn't be so bad, except the citizens who are being prosecuted were recording activity or conversations by law enforcement officials who were either breaking the law or were alleged to have done so. It also wouldn't be so bad if the law enforcement officials in question were under investigation or even chastised for their actions.

One woman who had filed a complaint about a police officer touching her inappropriately continued to be given the run-around by department officials. When she visited the police station and was spoken to by an officer who tried to intimidate her out of making such a complain, the woman recorded the activity on her Blackberry. In doing so, she committed a crime. The officer who is alleged to have touched her inappropriately has been under review for more than 10 months with no action taken to date.

How can the common citizen protect himself or others from those sworn to serve and protect them? If making complaints to their superiors falls on deaf ears, what other than a recording might a person use to protect himself?

How to Keep Your Cool Without Air Conditioning

2011-06-01T10:26:00.001-05:00

A fellow freelance writer and blogging peer, Marie Anne St. Jean, wrote this common sense article.

Improve Your Thinking Skills with Brain Games

2011-05-31T20:54:00.000-05:00

Improve Your Thinking Skills with Brain Games

Looking for Revenue and Backlinks?

2011-05-30T22:46:00.000-05:00

I know a lot of freelance writers, including myself, are always on the lookout for new and additional methods to increase our revenue screen.

Just as important is finding legitimate venues from which to create valuable backlinks to published material. Legitimate backlinks can increase your material's credibility with search engines. If no one can find what we write, we can never hope to develop an audience or steady income stream.

A peer at HubPages.com introduced me to a site that addresses both of these issues: TipDrop.com. If you're interested in learning more about the site, click here. In addition to allowing each account holder to provide links to 10 articles/sites, this website shares 75 percent of Google Adsense revenue with account holders.

If you choose to look TipDrop over, I hope you'll take a moment to leave a post letting me know what you think.

Just in Time

2011-05-20T15:11:00.000-05:00

Have you ever noticed how things seem to come together just in time...for big events, small events, life in general? She got to the hospital...just in time to have the baby. He got his driver's license...just in time to take his father to the airport. I got this post finished...just in time for today's letter of the alphabet in the Z to A in May Blogging Challenge.

Okay, so I didn't get quite a few posts done at all, let alone "just in time." Some of the plans for the family reunion didn't come off as planned--there was no "just in time" there. I arrived at the post office just as the delivery truck was pulling away when I needed to mail my taxes before the deadline. Ouch, no "just in time" there, either.

One thing I've learned as I've grown older is to roll with the punches. Missed opportunities for one thing may offer alternate ones. Many details in life that used to leave me stewing are now recognized as mere details. I believe I have arrived at living the adage, "Don't sweat the small stuff." I am saying that wisdom and maturity helped me to arrive at this point. It might really be that I have less energy than in earlier years. The truth is, it doesn't matter so much how I arrived at this point, it's simply that I got here...just in time.

Top Way to Prevent Skin Cancer | Publishers Vault

2011-05-19T20:22:00.000-05:00

Top Way to Prevent Skin Cancer | Publishers Vault

Legislature: Part-Time in Oklahoma

2011-05-18T13:17:00.000-05:00

I'll confess that I haven't looked up the statistics on it, but right off hand, I don't know of another state that tries to get all its legislative business done in a half-year session.

Oklahoma's legislature gathers just six months out of the year. This means that all the necessary budget and financial issues must be taken care of and whatever time is leftover is allotted to new proposals. This seems inefficient to me and means some legislation never gets to the table.

Politicians' pet projects and causes come first after the necessary stuff. Despite what the polls show are the top concerns of the Oklahoma citizenry, legislators have found it important to deal with other issues, such as immigration. The output of new bills/laws would leave the rest of the nation believing that all of Oklahoma has its collective panties in a bunch over immigration or Shariah law, but that is not the case.

Perhaps in earlier times a part-time legislature was able to address all of the state's concerns, but in these times, I don't believe that is so.

Nasty, Negative, Narcissistic Newt

2011-05-14T18:20:00.000-05:00

Nasty, Negative, Narcissistic Newt

Research and the Media

2011-05-11T14:33:00.000-05:00

On May 4, 2011, a team of European researchers published the results of a study measuring the effects of amounts of sodium excreted in the urine with incidences of increased blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. The final conclusion reached from their study data indicated that lower sodium levels in the urine were associated with increased incidence of death from cardiovascular disease.

Attention from the media was immediate; this study's conclusion seemed to fly in the face of traditional medical wisdom that a low sodium diet promoted better control of blood pressure and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. And the media is correct in making this information available to the public.

The public--you and me--need to make use of our critical thinking skills when considering research studies and their conclusions. Not all studies are equal--some have few participants, others have many participants but are not representative of the general population. Some studies take place over short periods of time. And it's always good to keep in mind that the yardstick of scientific research is that the results must be replicable by at least one other study.

Some of the problems associated with the European study include only measuring sodium output in the urine, not sodium intake in the diet, a small group of study participants for this type of research, average age of participants was 40 at the beginning of the study, and only white Europeans were study participants. Other variables not measured during the research include weight, physical activity levels and diet.

As consumers of information, we should view single studies such as this one with interest, but not consider the conclusions reached to be set in scientific stone.

Unusual Headlines

2011-05-07T01:13:00.001-05:00

What if you picked up a magazine and it had not one article or photo of Brad and Angie? If you didn't have to read about Jennifer Aniston's agony over losing the love of her life? A celebrity rag without a single Kardashian in it...could that be possible?

I'm not into the celeb thing--I guess you can tell. But there are only so many ways to say the same thing, Celebrity "news" are the top-of-the-line keywords in the media. Celebrity hits number uno in SEO (search engine optimization).

What if you could pick up a newspaper and read about the quiet, selfless acts of people in your community? Real people who go to work every day, raise families and just try to make it paycheck to paycheck--they are the backbone of the community and the nation.

How about a program featuring people who are building their own homes, along with neighbors and friends, in the Habitat for Humanity program? Does it really have to be a million dollar mansion to get our attention?

If it isn't sensationalism, it doesn't seem to sell--at least that's what media moguls would have us believe. Would you pick up a magazine or newspaper that had articles about everyday people in it?

**Fellow freelance writers**: This blog entry is targeted at mainstream media. It is with their headlines and audio and video snippets that they show the public what is to be considered newsworthy. I neither intended nor meant to bash my freelance peers.

V Is for Victory

2011-05-06T22:48:00.000-05:00

Victory, a lot like success, can be defined in many ways. A small victory for me may be something you find to be a great accomplishment and vice versa.

I've remained silent on the topic of Osama bin Laden and his demise at the hands of Navy Seals. I find no fault with those brave men, or the minds of the CIA who determined the zealot's location. They were doing their jobs. I don't fault the president for making the decision that the time to strike was when they did, although I personally believe capture was preferential to killing.

I question just what kind of victory this really is--and how it will turn out to be in the days ahead. I do understand the anguish of those who lost loved ones connected with 9/11 and all other Americans, including myself, who will never be quite the same again. But I was saddened to see Americans take to the streets to celebrate this man's death. It is one thing to be relieved or even pleased, it is another to rejoice.

I think we should enjoy this victory for now, but do I really believe we have thwarted al-Qaeda or any other terrorist organization with this action? Not for a minute. What do you see as the potential outcome of bin Laden's death? Is it a victory--or is it something else?

Where Have All the Flowers Gone?

2011-05-05T12:22:00.000-05:00

Listening to the song in the title of this entry, it makes it difficult to believe that the song's composer, Pete Seeger, was ever under investigation by the House Un-American Activities Committee, but he was.

This poignant song resounds as loudly today as it did when written in 1956. It reminds us that "troops" are not just numbers--they are real human beings. Ten troops killed means 10 more men or women will never hold their children, will not grow older with their sweethearts, will not come back to enjoy the freedom for which they fought.

Flowers meant for beauty and inspiration are instead marking the graves of people far too young to have died. I hope you'll take a few moments to listen to the song and watch the video. It is inspiring.

Xenodochial

2011-05-04T00:00:00.000-05:00

I had to reach for today's "x" entry in the Z to A in May Blogging Challenge. Xenodochial, a word I've never heard in a sentence, means someone who is hospitable or kind to strangers.

The definition for xenodochial does not include "tolerance," but in my mind tolerance is what allows a person to be kind to others, among other personality traits. I think American society as a whole was more xenodochial in times past, when news reports weren't as prevalent about the strange and often criminal behaviors of some people.

Today it seems safer to be at least wary of people you don't know. While I do consider my safety, it's just part of my nature to smile at and initiate conversations with others. Some circumstances allow this in perfect safety, such as in public places, other circumstances such as one-on-one meet-ups offer greater safety risks.

On a positive note, a couple in Oklahoma whose home and possessions were destroyed by a tornado earlier this spring reported that people they had never met pitched in to help them for weeks after the devastation. Those helping folks were most definitely xenodochial.

Yellow-Bellied Sap Sucker

2011-05-03T00:00:00.001-05:00

The American public by-and-large have lost their creativity. In times past, when one person was upset with another person they would utter colorful phrases and epitaphs. In today's society, the f-word is more than likely involved in verbal confrontations.

In colonial times, one man might have insulted another by calling him the heel of a hyena or the jaw of a jackal. Cowardice was derided with yellow-bellied sap sucker.

Even in my youth, euphemisms used in anger were mild compared to what is heard these days. I remember when saying, "Your mama wears army boots," was a drastic insult. Of course, that was in a time before women were allowed in the military beyond medical positions.

There was a time when a man would not curse in front of a lady--and some gentlemen adhere to that. More often than not, though, any female within ear shot is not only likely to hear cursing, but be the object of the curse. And let's not leave the women out of it--some of them could turn a preacher blue in the face.

It takes hardly one brain cell to utter the f-word; it takes many more to think up a colorful insult. Maybe we've just become lazy. Whatever the reason for the trend, I hope we see a reversal in the near future.

Zip Codes--A New-Fangled System

2011-05-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

Well, zip codes were a new system back in 1963. The United States Postal System developed zip codes as a method to provide increased efficiency and organization to mail handling.

The original zip code system as instituted on July 1, 1963 was a five-digit system. The use of zip codes on mail weren't mandatory initially, by 1967 bulk mailers were required to use zip codes.

I was a child when the change came about. It wouldn't have been notable to me except that I wrote letters to my grandparents. The additional numbers didn't make any sense to me at the time, but I did as I was told and added the "mystery" code to the outgoing mail.

Nowadays, putting zip codes on envelopes happens without a second thought. But for those who were already adults in 1963, zip codes were the first of many innovations to come from the 1960s.

In telling my grand kids about the advent of zip code, they look at me quizzically. One of the older grandchildren even asked if I was around when the pony express was active. I seem to recall asking my grandparents the same question.

A to Z Blogging Challenge Reflections Mega Post

2011-05-02T02:10:00.000-05:00

The end of one challenge, the beginning of another...sounds a lot like life, doesn't it? Rarely do we think of day-to-day activities as challenges, but in reality, that's exactly what they are.

Each new hat we put on--student, parent, employee, spouse--brings new challenges our way. Some days we move blithely from one challenge to another; sometimes we plod along, dragging our feet along the way.

The A to Z Blogging Challenge was a personal challenge to me as a writer. It soon also became a challenge to me as a peer and a reader to check out other's blogs. I enjoyed accepting these challenges and did my best to meet them head-on.

Whether every person who began the challenge finished with 26 more blog posts is not as important as the community developed by those participating in the challenge. Life happens and sometimes blogging is the least of a person's concerns.

I'm looking forward to the Z to A in May Blogging Challenge as well as the A to Z article challenge at Y!CN. I'm hoping to find a few familiar faces and voices in each challenge and look forward to meeting new folks, too.

Zounds! We've Come to the End of the Alphabet

2011-04-30T17:17:00.000-05:00

With this entry I complete my twenty-six blog posts for the A to Z Blogging Challenge. Zounds! It's been fun and it's been motivating. On Monday, I'll begin the Z to A Blogging Challenge for the month of May, along with q number of fellow bloggers.

As human beings, I believe we are the better for recognizing, accepting and moving forward with challenges to our usual routines. Not all challenges are for everyone, nor are all challenges appropriate at all times. Challenges bring growth, even if we don't meet total success in facing the challenge. Having tried, that's the key.

It's often said that the things we regret in life are the things we didn't do--not the things we did. As I get older, I can see the wisdom in that statement.

I am thinking the last time I actually heard the word "zounds" used was in the campy "Batman" television program of my youth. Zounds and egads--that was a long time ago.

Your Support of Local Businesses Is Important

2011-04-29T21:31:00.000-05:00

It's always been part of American culture for family or individually-owned businesses to be part of the local landscape. In many instances, these locally-owned and controlled businesses become part of the local culture and lore.

In recent times, these small businesses have taken a hit from mega-corporations such as Walmart. Independent grocers and merchants who weren't able to compete with the prices and selection of the likes of Walmart, Target and others closed their doors for the last time since the 1980s.

Some independent small businesses were able to remain competitive, offering services the big chains couldn't match. Unfortunately for many people, service-oriented businesses just didn't have the same impact on dwindling budgets as the chain stores could offer.

Living as I do near many small towns, I have access to many locally-owned and run small businesses. Admittedly, I don't make large shopping trips to the local businesses--my budget doesn't allow that. But the convenience of being able to drive just down the road for a loaf of bread or gallon of milk is something I enjoy.

Granted, many times I am paying more for those items than I would at a chain store, but I've saved gas (and we all know how expensive that is), time and supported local merchants in doing so.

It's a great feeling to walk into a business and know the clerks by name--and they know you, too. You have a chance to develop relationships with local people, not just the clerks but the other customers who frequent these businesses. You'll find that the locally-owned businesses have a following of loyal customers.

By supporting local businesses, you are supporting your community and your neighbors. I'll wager you'll also find something in it for yourself. Try it and see.

Xeric Conditions Over in Oklahoma--At Least for Now

2011-04-28T23:27:00.000-05:00

As my fellow alphabet bloggers know, finding an "x" word for this challenge isn't easy. Finding an "x" word that you can write about is even more difficult.

"Xeric" is an adjective meaning dry or desert-like conditions. That's what it was like here in central Oklahoma before Mother Nature graced us with rain on Easter Sunday.

People in other parts of the country who have had rain nearly non-stop for weeks now probably have a tough time feeling badly for us Okies. I wish there were a practical way to divert some of their excess water towards this area.

I could complain about a few issues brought about by the drought here, but nothing I've experienced compares to the loss and damage from the wildfires that have been rampant in Texas and parts of Oklahoma. At least for the time being, the danger of fire is low and perhaps some of those folks can begin to put their lives back together.

Xeric weather conditions aren't just annoying, they can be dangerous.

Open Letter to Media Re: Donald Trump

2011-04-28T12:56:00.000-05:00

It is time to stop chumming the waters for the predatory activities of a single person who lives for the limelight. The attention this celebrity is receiving merely serves to shift the focus of both the American public and elected officials from the many real problems our nation faces to trivial issues.

If Trump cares about this country and its people, he would let the politicians move forward in their day-to-day work. There's already enough political grandstanding and partisanship to go around. His actions and rhetoric suggest to me that this man cares only for one thing, and that is himself.

The time to learn more about a politician is when that person is a candidate for office. All of this grandstanding and "investigation" once a person has been elected serves no real purpose, except for the person or forces that wish to disrupt the true national agenda for their own.

Shame on you for playing right into Trump's hand. Me, and much of the American public have had enough. Move on.

When You Wish Upon a Star...

2011-04-27T08:00:00.002-05:00

Can ya hear Jiminy Cricket warbling it now, "When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are..."
But there was a secret Jiminy didn't reveal. I guess that's because his intended audience was children and why spoil the innocence of childhood years?

As adults, we know that mere wishing doesn't accomplish a thing. My father, a charming and plain-spoken man, used to explain it to me thusly: Wish in one hand and poop in the other. See which one fills up first. Yep, that's how he presented that life lesson to me. I guess it stuck--fifty years later I still have it committed to memory.

Anyway, the point is that actions have to follow intent to get results. If it isn't an important enough wish for you to act on, little if anything is going to come from it.

I've begun the challenge Rose Kitchen initiated on her blog, Online Writing Opportunities. The challenge is to aim for $875.00/week in writing income for this last week of April and the month of May. If wishing would do it, I'd be halfway to my weekly goal by now. The spirit is willing but the mind is weak. I'm going to participate in the challenge. Even if I don't meet the challenge goal, I am certain I will be far more productive writing than if I had not followed my wish with action.

Could you enjoy earning $875/week or more? How about just increasing your productivity? Give Rose's challenge a read, if you haven't already, and join in.

Vintage Lifestyle: Bring Back the Good Old Days

2011-04-26T11:47:00.000-05:00

Vintage Lifestyle: Bring Back the Good Old Days

Veracity in Politics

2011-04-26T08:00:00.001-05:00

There is the truth and then there are versions of the truth. When our elected officials speak, do you sense they are being truthful? Are they saying what they think we, the people, want to hear?

In conversations with others about government in the United States, someone sooner or later will say, "But what do we really know?" I could put it down to cynicism if it was only the occasional person who voiced a distrust in politicians or heads of governmental agencies. But I think the skepticism has been a hard-learned lesson by the American public.

A line from one of Billy Joel's songs says, "Honesty is hardly ever heard and mostly what I need from you." The American people want that from their elected officials in all levels of government. It isn't a complicated request.

Politicians have been spinning stories for so long, it might be difficult for many of them to be truthful. Maybe each one is just waiting for the other guy to start being truthful before jumping on the train him/herself. Can a government felt to be dishonest such as ours is last long? How do we turn the tide?

Universal Truths

2011-04-25T08:00:00.001-05:00

Universal truths are unalterable facts. Mathematics is full of universal truths. The American Bill of Rights spells out exactly what the founding fathers found to be universally true. The fact that the only two things in life you have to do are pay taxes and die. Of course, since you don't have to work, you may not owe any taxes--yet.

For every action there is an opposite and equal reaction. I've seen this in action. As a kid, if I sat down to the dinner table and made disparaging remarks about the food on my plate, my mother would react by sending me to my room so I didn't have to consume said food.

What goes up must come down. Ask anyone on Wall Street about this truth. They may hem and haw, but after trying to confuse and influence you otherwise, those stock brokers will have to concede the truth.

All men are created equal. While that is a truth, don't believe that all women were created equal. But plastic surgeons are going to the bank daily, working to make every woman the same.

If you want the phone to ring, just go to the bathroom. I've tested this theory, and although many times I've found it to be true, I've discovered that sometimes you have to stay in the bathroom a mighty long time.

Meat Rubs and Marinades

2011-04-24T20:00:00.000-05:00

Meat Rubs and Marinades: "http://hubpages.com/hub/Meat-Rubs-and-Marinades"

T Is for Town Hall Chat

2011-04-23T08:00:00.001-05:00

Town hall chat as in the first-of-its-kind town hall chat with President Barack Obama held via Facebook social media on April 20, 2011.

As you may know, the town hall meeting was held at Facebook headquarters in California. Mark Zuckerberg hosted the meeting, which I thought made a viable and interesting pairing for the discussion. Both men are highly intelligent, although in different realms.

I would like to preface any future remarks by saying I give respect to anyone elected Commander-in-Chief of the United States. Barack Obama happens to be a man I not only respect as the leader of our nation, but I hold many of the same values as does he and I admire his steadfastness of purpose.

The town hall meeting should have been an exciting opportunity for me. When the president entered the meeting hall, my heart swelled with pride. It was only moments later that I had to prop up my head with my hand to stay awake.

It wasn't the topics of his rhetoric so much as the clarity that this meeting held in that medium was meant to engage young voters. And that's okay. I understand wanting to get and keep young adults engaged in the welfare of our country. I just wish the open invite to the town hall meeting had had a warning asterisk some where.

S Is for the Seventies

2011-04-22T08:00:00.003-05:00

Could there have been a decade better than the 1970's in America? As a teenager during that time, I was certain no time before or after would be as wonderful. In many ways I was right on the mark. There will be no other time in my life to compare with those years approaching adulthood.

Maybe I'm not the only one who watched "That 70s Show" and didn't see an enormous difference between life then and now.

Ah, let me take that back. There was an innocence in 1970s teenagers that is nearly impossible today. Unless you lived in a big city back then, you were pretty much sheltered from many of life's seedier happenings. Sure, you could catch the news at 6 and 11, but back then we weren't inundated with information coming at us at lightning speed 24/7.

I don't live for those years, but I live more richly today because of those times. I came of age during the 1970s and I don't regret a moment of it.

Renaissance

2011-04-21T12:09:00.000-05:00

In addition to Renaissance referring to the revival of the arts, the word renaissance means a renewal or revival of life, interest and energy. The dictionary also equates renaissance with rebirth. I maintain that each new spark of hope or optimism is a renaissance of the human spirit.

In general, the word is applied to grand or overwhelming circumstances where a person experiences a great epiphany or perhaps inspires those happenings in others. Specifically, any of us can experience our own renaissance at any given moment when we choose to discard worry, anger or hatefulness. Any time we exchange our egocentric beliefs for understanding the world from the perspective of others, we are experiencing a renaissance of thought and empathy.

True, no one is likely to write your life story because of such renewals, but that does not diminish their importance. Each time we choose to embrace understanding, forgiveness and tolerance, we become a greater light in the lives of those around us--and to ourselves.

What experiences have you had or choices have you made that allowed you to enjoy a personal renaissance? If nothing recent comes to mind, perhaps today is the day. It can be, if you allow it to happen.

Quixotic

2011-04-20T22:50:00.000-05:00

Tilting at windmills, so unrealistic some would say. Maybe, maybe not. Is it important to always be practical, to see the world for what it is and not for what you'd like it to be?

As an adult, my maturity level may be measured by onlookers by being realistic. Practicality and realism are two positive traits of a mature mind. But it's also important to have hope. Don Quixote represented an optimism and hopefulness that is all too often absent in the world of grown-ups. There seems to be so little time for laughter and imagination once over the threshold of adulthood.

I've tempered much of the idealism of my youth--but not all of it. And although my idealistic thoughts and beliefs sometimes bring frustration when confronted with reality, I hope to never lose them all. I still want to believe that positive change can happen because people care, because they take action based on their ideals and beliefs.

I want to absent myself from the vitriolic rants in the media. I want to believe the positive people in this nation are simply quieter than the negative thinkers. Call me quixotic if you like. I'll take that as a compliment.

P Is for Perhaps I Am Getting the Hang of This Blogging Thing

2011-04-19T18:57:00.000-05:00

It used to feel like a chore to me to first find something about which to blog and then to sit down and actually do it. But this blogging challenge has shown me that blogging isn't rocket science and it's not brain surgery. I believe I was taking it way too seriously. I also believe that another "P," perfectionism was getting in the way.

Sure, I'd like my blog to take off and be wildly popular, but that's not the reason I began blogging. I have to trust who I am as a person and a writer.

The proof will be in the pudding, as they say. And two more "P" words for today's entry.

At this point in time I can't imagine keeping up with more that one or two blogs at a time, but who knows? For those of you with more than two blogs, how do you manage? I'm sincerely interested.

My Heart Blogs To You: The Old and The Elderly – At What Age Do You FEEL Old?

2011-04-18T02:34:00.000-05:00

My Heart Blogs To You: The Old and The Elderly – At What Age Do You FEEL Old?

O Is for Opinion

2011-04-17T14:36:00.000-05:00

Opinions--yep, I've got a lot of those. In my blog, though, I try to express opinion based on some sort of logical conclusion. Now, whether my logic measures up to yours--well, that could be a difference of opinion!

Bloggers share all types of information, but for me the most interesting includes a mixture of fact and opinion. The opinions don't have to be ones that I share. I find I broaden my mind a little more when I read an opinion that differs from mine. I get to see the world from a different perspective.

I'm not quite bold enough yet to share my views on the more controversial topics in current events. I also think that those topics are talked about ad nauseum by mainstream media. There's no point beating a dead horse, that's what I say.

Who are some of your favorite bloggers who freely share their opinions?

N Is for Never Never Land

2011-04-16T11:44:00.000-05:00

Have you noticed how enticing a blank piece of paper or text block can be? That is, on the days your writing muse is with you and your fingers ache to get information out to the world. That same empty space thwarts you on the days ideas just won't come or real life invades your ability to be creative.

Once I begin typing, I am in another world. I am in Never Never Land--well, the writer's version of it anyway. It's the same sort of feeling I get when I am reading a good book. I can block out the rest of the world and concentrate solely on words, thoughts and ideas.

Have you ever gotten to the end of an article, blog entry or other writing project and wondered where exactly did all that come from? I am amazed at times as to what has flowed from my brain to my fingers. It's like when you're driving a familiar route, and get to Point B from Point A but don't remember the drive between the two.

Maybe it's being in the writer's zone; maybe it's the writer's Never Never Land--whatever it is, it would be difficult to describe to anyone who isn't a writer. I can't imagine I am alone in this experience; does it happen to you, too?

M Is for More to Come

2011-04-16T11:31:00.000-05:00

When I made up my mind to take on the A to Z Blogging Challenge, I'll have to admit there was some skepticism on my part as to what advantages there could be with it. Let's see--the great community spirit with fellow bloggers, finding new and diverse blogs to read and the (almost) daily habit of blogging. Not bad for an extra twenty minutes a day of writing!

Now I see I CAN actually blog each day and am thinking of doing an additional blog in the near future. I feel inspired and motivated to make my blog successful, even if that just means acquiring a modest following. Success can be spelled in so many ways; for me at this time, success is keeping after the goal I had when I began blogging.

For better or worse, there is much more to come. What has this blogging challenge meant to you?

L Is for Let it All Hang Out!?!

2011-04-14T13:53:00.000-05:00

Blogging is a much more personal experience than article writing--at least it can be. Blogging is where you can choose to be your authentic self or try on any--or many-personas. You can blog under your own name or a variety of pseudonyms.

The decision of how much of yourself you are willing to divulge to the world at large can affect your career, whether that be as a freelance writer or an x-ray technician. It can also be affected by age. Teenagers living at home, for example, may not want to blog freely about family matters or teen angst--at least not under their own names.

Just as Facebook entries have cost people their jobs or livelihoods, so can blogging. It's just something to consider as part of your determination for how much of yourself you are willing to reveal.

K Is for Keeping it Real

2011-04-13T11:15:00.000-05:00

I know that sex sells. So does any info about celebrities and juicy gossip in general. I don't have any problem with people who are interested in those topics writing about them to their hearts' content. I just can't do it for the most part.

For me, keeping it real means writing about topics in which I have an interest. I want to be able to relay that interest in my writing in the hopes of inspiring an interest in others.

For the sake of improved readership or page views, I've considered straying from my topics to those that I know will draw a large audience. For the most part, I haven't succumbed to that consideration. Not because I feel those topics are beneath me; I just know others can write about them more successfully and with more depth of knowledge than myself.

I believe the adage that says to "write what you know" and include "writing what I want to know more about." For me, that is keeping it real.

What I have to learn to do more successfully is learn how to reach the audience that has interests similar to mine to improve readership numbers. Anyone have advice in this area?

J Is for Just the Facts, Ma'am

2011-04-13T11:07:00.000-05:00

I'll confess that I am old school in a lot of ways. One of those is that I find myself writing articles based on researched facts. I am not so good at interjecting opinions along with those facts. This puts me at an underdog status in writing for many of the content sites.

Do you find yourself in the same boat? Some topics lend themselves to personal opinion more than others. I enjoy writing about health and health-related topics. Other than cautions about consulting your health care provider and insights about research conclusions, it seems inappropriate for me to interject opinion or even personal experience in a field that is always changing.

Is this something you have successfully conquered? If so, maybe you'd be kind enough to share with me how you made the transition.

I Is for Ischemia

2011-04-11T15:04:00.000-05:00

You may think I'm reaching with the medical term "ischemia," but follow my train of thought for a moment, if you will. Ischemia in terms of health refers to an area of the body receiving too little blood--the area becomes pale and can die.

The same thing can happen with your writing. If you run out of writing mojo, your writing projects may become pale and lifeless. It's tough because the bills and expenses keep piling up, but taking a day for yourself now and then may be just the thing you need to pump blood and life back into your writing.

You say there's no way you can take a day? Then take an hour or two and do something that re-energizes your batteries. For a whole lot of us, the best thing we can do is get some physical activity. Freelance writing is such a sedentary profession; physical activity is just what the doctor ordered--and maybe your writing muse, too.

At the first signs of writing ischemia, take a time-out.

H Is for Helpful

2011-04-09T15:29:00.000-05:00

I've already mentioned the importance of not burning bridges, but this post takes things one step further. Be helpful to one another. Lyn Lomasi is the first person who comes to my mind when I think of how being helpful to others builds bridges.

Lyn is generous and selfless when it comes to sharing what she knows. Because of this personality attribute of being helpful, Lyn has garnered a wide range of friends and goodwill. She has a positive reputation among her peers and is the go-to person when anyone has a question or concern.

I don't have the knowledge base that Lyn does, but if I ever have the opportunity to help someone else, I will do so happily. I know I am thankful for the people who have helped me along the way--and sometimes that help has been considerable.

Building bridges, better known as networking in the business world, is an important tool in any business venture, but particularly so for work-from-home people. It's easy to feel isolated and hopeless when you hit a snag and there seems to be no place to turn for answers.

As a whole, I've found the world of freelance writers to be a helpful place and I want to be a brick in that wall.

G is for Guarantee

2011-04-08T13:52:00.000-05:00

Few things in life are guaranteed, of that I am certain. I am just as certain that although success may not be guaranteed, failure can be. You may not be gigantically successful in your freelance writing career by writing, writing and more writing, but the absence of writing is a guarantee of failure.

You don't have to take my word for it; Stephen King, a far more successful writer than myself, admonishes the writer to read a lot and write a lot.

If you battle perfectionism as I often do, putting those first few words on paper is almost certainly the bravest act of your day. I am sometimes so afraid of failure that I struggle just to find the "perfect" topic, let alone author an article about it.

Thankfully, more and more often these days rational thinking overtakes the perfectionism tendency and I bravely forge ahead. This A to Z Writing Challenge is an example of this moving forward. I haven't spent hours agonizing over the word I want to use to represent each letter of the alphabet--but not because a part of me hasn't tried to. I've been making concerted efforts to go with my original instincts and move forward.

It depends on how each person measures success, but for me, making an entry each day of the challenge so far spells success to me.

Fortuitousness and Don't Burn Bridges

2011-04-07T19:09:00.000-05:00

As a freelance writer, you never know where your next lead for a great article or story may originate. Perhaps a career-changing project is just around the corner. But the thing is, from where or whom will it come?

It can seem fortuitous when an old acquaintance, peer or former client contacts you with an idea or a connection to a source unknown to yourself, but it takes more than good luck to bring such opportunities your way.

First, of course, it requires writing skill on your part that others would keep you in mind down the road. It also requires the building of successful relationships, both personal and professional. If you have this combination of skills and abilities, you can seem quite fortuitous to others--but you are really reaping the benefits of the seeds you've sown in the past.

This is one reason not to burn bridges along the way with an ill-thought phrase or poor timing in response to others. I'm not suggesting you pander to others, or be anyone but your authentic self. I am saying that thoughtfulness and the adage, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all," should be kept in mind at all times.

As you know, anything written and available on the Internet is available the world over and never really "dies." Thoughts and feelings of frustration or rejection sometimes fly too quickly from our minds to our finger tips. Proceed with caution. If you heed this warning, I believe your freelance career will have its share of fortuitous moments.

Endurance--Not Just for Racing

2011-04-06T14:45:00.000-05:00

When I think of endurance, the first thing that comes to mind is long-distance running or car racing. Endurance is certainly necessary in those areas, but it is of equal importance to freelance writers. Without the ability to endure--marathon writing sessions, inevitable rejections and the daily grind of finding suitable topics--the freelance writer is going to be hard-pressed to find success.

In writing, as in racing, pacing yourself is an important tactic to endurance and longevity. You may find you write better in short sessions done in intervals during the day; others may be more productive working in one or two long sessions. It doesn't matter which style you choose, as long as it's the style most suited to you and your situation.

You and I both know that there is productivity and there is putting words on paper. The latter of the two hardly shows your best effort. Productivity is when your mind and your fingers are in synch. That may not mean you're writing at 100 miles a minute, but it does mean that what you're writing has meaning.

Writing challenges such as this A to Z Blogging Challenge tests our endurance as writers. I hope to see you at the Z finish line.

Dedication to the Experience of Writing

2011-04-05T17:56:00.000-05:00

My first title for this entry was going to be "Dedication to the Craft of Writing." Maybe that's what the summons of this blogging challenge is for you; if so, that's great. I'm a little behind you on the road to good structure, grammar, form and function.

I'm still in the brainstorming stage of "bloggery." That's why following another letter of the alphabet each day until we finish out the month of April seems, for me, to be a call to use the shotgun effect of ideas. I'm going to throw bunches and bunches of ideas toward the target--dedication to the experience of writing--and see what sticks.

How does the A to Z Blogging Challenge effect you and what you do on your blogs? Does it make you wish you had fewer blogs to keep up with--or does it make you want to start at least one more? Does a word for the letter of the day skip out of your brain--or do you find yourself pondering the precise word you wish to use each day?

I think how we perceive the challenge to be for each of us effects the outcome of that to which we give our dedication. What is it for you?

A Cathartic Experience--The A to Z Blogging Challenge

2011-04-04T16:53:00.000-05:00

A cathartic experience is an experience of cleansing or purging. In the case of blogging, I believe the catharsis will be one of cleaning out dust webs in my mind and allowing creative rivulets to have their way.

I'm fairly certain I'm not the only writer who has become mired in the thick, tenacious muck of routine. Even freelance writing, as un-routine as it can be at times can still find the mind following the same tire tracks day in and day out.

The A to Z Blogging Challenge offers me a glimpse down as many paths as there are letters in the alphabet. Not one is less important than another. To leave any of the paths unexplored seems a waste of opportunity.

The opportunity is not just one of thinking and writing differently, but also to expose myself to other people's thoughts and meanderings. I'm going to explore the blogs of others during this challenge and open my thoughts to possibilities.

Spring is an opportune time for a mind catharsis.

Boy, Am I Sick of Donald Trump!

2011-04-02T10:55:00.000-05:00

I could handle The Donald and his wives and ex-wives. I could handle The Donald and his show, "The Apprentice." But I cannot tolerate Donald Trump pretending to be a serious presidential candidate. I've assumed from the beginning that Trump's political aspirations were being espoused tongue-in-cheek. After all, who could take The Donald seriously about becoming president of the United States?

All right, Mr. Trump, you've had your 15 minutes--and then some-- of fame in the political arena. Stop with the noise and get on to doing what you're good at. Which, by the way, we know isn't running a casino since yours went bankrupt. How does one lose money on a casino?

Anything else you've got to say is balderdash. I find it amazing that the networks give you air time for your political poppycock. It was amusing initially; now it's just plain annoying.

Attitude Says It All

2011-04-01T10:33:00.000-05:00

So many times, it may feel as if the world around us determines our attitude. But the truth is, attitude is a choice, albeit all too often an unconscious choice. When we allow circumstances and people in our lives to affect our own attitudes, we're merely making a knee-jerk reaction to those issues. Not making a conscious choice to determine our attitude is still making a choice.

Children are allowed this latitude; they don't have the luxury of taking themselves out of many situations. As adults, even though it may be difficult, we have choices every day. Instead of merely reacting to situations around you, use your time-given wisdom to extricate yourself from negative circumstances and people. The only day we are guaranteed is the day we wake up; don't waste it on negative attitude.

April Blogging Challenge

2011-03-31T13:09:00.000-05:00

Alex Cavanaugh and friends are sponsoring the A to Z Blogging Challenge 2011 for the month of April. I've taken up the challenge and hope you might be interested in giving it a try too. One blog a day, beginning with the first letter of the alphabet and working through the alphabet day-by-day. I see some creative brainstorming in my future.

Additionally, I've also entered the HubPages Writing Contest Challenge to produce one hub a day of at least 400 words. In addition to being considered for prizes each day you participate in the challenge, by the end of the month you'll have 30 more hubs from which to generate revenue. Sounds like a win-win situation to me.

Even if you've never blogged before or aren't yet a member of HubPages, it's not too late to join in. These are great ways to loosen up your writing chops. Hope to see you there.

What Are Eating Disorders?

2011-03-13T16:54:00.000-05:00

What Are Eating Disorders?

Dance Your Way to Better Health

2011-03-09T14:31:00.000-06:00

Dance Your Way to Better Health

Amber, A Cautionary Tale Of Surveillance By Corrupt Governments, Like OURS via NSA Project Echelon

2011-02-06T11:52:00.000-06:00

Amber, A Cautionary Tale Of Surveillance By Corrupt Governments, Like OURS via NSA Project Echelon

Vintage Lifestyle: Bring Back the Good Old Days

2011-02-04T18:25:00.000-06:00

Vintage Lifestyle: Bring Back the Good Old Days

Buying Meat? Watch Out for Food Additives

2011-01-31T23:37:00.001-06:00

If you're not avid label reader--or even if you are--you may not have noticed the labels on the underside of packages of fresh meat such as beef roasts, steaks, pork chops and loins and fresh chicken. At the grocery store when buying meat, I am mainly interested in the cost per pound and total cost of the package.

And just so it doesn't seem like the meat providers are trying to hoodwink us with the under-package labels, in very small print on the price label are the words, "Tenderness and moistness enhanced with up to 8 percent marinade." How kind of them.

The marinade though is not one you or I would typically use. On a bottom round roast I purchased today, the "ingredients" of the roast--ingredients? I thought it was a beef roast--are listed thus: beef, beef broth, potassium lactate, salt, potassium and sodium phosphates and natural flavor. Natural flavor? I thought the animal provided natural flavor. Who knew it had to be added? Does this sound like any marinade that's ever come from your cupboard?

Before you add a sprinkle of spice, a serving of this meat comes to you with 9 percent of your daily recommended allowance of sodium. And beef broth? That's just manufacturer speak for spiking your meat with liquid to add to its weight. Come on, it doesn't provide any benefit other than that because the liquid cooks out of the meat.

Have you wondered why when you cook hamburgers or pork chops, you'll see water in the skillet? Now you have the answer.

I don't know if the liquid is 8 percent by volume or weight. In truth, it doesn't matter to me. What I know is that I've thought I was paying X amount per pound of meat, not X amount per pound of meat and liquid. If you think bottled water is expensive, think how much that liquid injected into your meat is costing you.

What Is the Glycemic Index?

2011-01-26T23:22:00.000-06:00

What Is the Glycemic Index?

Hypothermia: Prevent One of Winter's Dangers

2011-01-19T14:04:00.000-06:00

Hypothermia: Prevent One of Winter's Dangers

Weighing in On Sarah Palin's Speech and New Sound Byte

2011-01-14T00:23:00.000-06:00

For a few golden days after the tragic shootings in Arizona, the airwaves carried no pearls of wisdom from Sarah Palin. It was a glorious silence. But all good things must come to an end and they did. On January 12, 2011, Palin treated the world to her thoughts on the shootings and the rhetoric that abounded afterward by media and many politicians. It was a mad man alone is responsible for the deaths and injuries resulting from the gun shots; in no way could all the sniping and angry accusations from one party to the other be held responsible for what happened that day.

I agree with Palin in part. Legally, one deranged individual must answer for the horrendous crimes committed that day. But as a nation, shouldn't we also look to the pervasiveness of considering those who think differently than us as our enemies? Many days the rhetoric coming from some elected officials and many of the media sound little different than the trash talk on WWE.

Palin, a woman known to twist a word or phrase more than occasionally, called what journalists and others had been saying since the Arizona shooting a "blood libel." I'm truly surprised she knew that phrase and even more surprised she used in a context that has nothing to do with the meaning of the phrase.

In Palin's speech she seemed to be saying that once again her detractors were making unfair statements about her. I am certain that Palin's map with crosshairs located on various congressional districts throughout the United States were not to be taken literally. But she can't correctly deny that such symbolism may be just the fodder a deranged thinker may need to be spurred into action. I'm not saying that's what happened, but I am saying the potential exists.

How have we come to such a place where people openly embrace a person who cannot see the incorrectness of using the metaphor of violence/shooting as the indicator of political strategy? I don't know who scares me more--Sarah Palin or those who follow her.

Decriminalization of Drugs: Support from Unlikely Sources

2011-01-12T00:01:00.001-06:00

The decriminalization of drugs has garnered new advocates from a source that can best be described as unlikely--the political right wing. On Dec. 16, 2010, Reverend Pat Robertson spoke out against jailing people for the use and possession of "a few ounces of pot." Robertson decried the unnecessary costs to people's lives and the financial burden to taxpayers.

Jan. 8, 2011 found another right-wing-er, Newt Gingrich, potential presidential candidate for the Republican party in 2012, speak out against the high costs of imprisoning people for drugs. Gingrich and Pat Nolan, vice president of Prison Fellowship co-wrote an editorial for the Washington Post speaking in favor of criminal justice and prison reform. As had Robertson, Gingrich and Nolan noted not only the financial costs of imprisoning people for drugs, but also the cost in human lives.

On Jan. 10, 2011 Georgia's newly-elected Republican governor, Nathan Deal, spoke out about the "unsustainable financial and civic burden" that jailing drug users placed on that state.

While I maintain that any law that criminalizes an activity that a person does to themselves, including drug use, is constitutionally wrong, I also realize that it matters not what the rationale is if we can successfully decriminalize drug use. The end result will be the same; it doesn't matter so much why we do it, but that we do it.

The United States' 40 year war on drugs is no closer to being won today than it was before hundreds of billions of dollars was thrown at the problem in an effort to control it. That money could be spent more prudently and to the advantage of citizens rather than incarcerating non-violent drug offenders.

There will be those along the way who oppose the decriminalization of drugs, not the least of which will be the private prison industry. Prison is big business. Twenty percent or more of those in prison in most states are there for drug-related offenses. Decriminalizing drugs will take a large portion of funds away from prisons.

Children of one or more parents who have been incarcerated are 75 percent more likely than other children to one day be incarcerated themselves. Decriminalizing drug use will prevent hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of children from that sad statistic.

On January 27, 2011 President Barack Obama, in response to a question about legalizing drugs, answered that it was a topic worthy of debate. For the complete story, including the YouTube video featuring the president and his comments, go here.

It is time to end the war on drugs--it's just common sense.

Choosing the Best Soap for Sensitive Skin

2011-01-05T18:23:00.000-06:00

Choosing the Best Soap for Sensitive Skin

Advance Directives Are a Far Cry from Death Panels

2011-01-03T11:10:00.000-06:00

It sets my teeth on edge to think that Sarah Palin's inept sound byte of "death panels" or "death squads" is being used by the media in reports about the new Medicare ruling that went into effect January 1, 2011. The new ruling allows health care providers to discuss with their patients advance directives once a year, with the yearly physical and be paid through Medicare to do so.

I've read accounts and comments that show people are likening this patient/provider discussion as if the topic were euthanasia. Folks don't seem to understand that advance directives don't give power to health care providers--they give power to the individual to make their wishes known ahead of time before a health care crisis or end-of-life situation. Advance directives empower the individual; they empower freedom of choice for the patient before there may come a situation where the patient has no voice.

The new ruling doesn't mandate that anyone has to complete any advance directives if they don't want to. It's about giving information to people from a reliable source. The yearly physical is merely the device through which the discussion can happen. If you're not interested, don't do anything as far as an advance directive.

In the absence of any advance directives, medical personnel will provide any and all care to keep your body alive, including respirators, feeding tubes and more. If this is the type of care you would want, then you don't need an advance directive at all.

Some people have strong feelings about being hooked up to medical devices to sustain their lives when in situations such as a permanent, vegetative coma. Other people make advance directives to remove the burden of health care decisions from their loved ones. Some folks may want feeding tubes but no ventilator. Advance directives are for these situations and many more.

If everyone would just calm down and find the facts before awfulizing a situation, there would be less fear-mongering and confusion--it's common sense.