As a parent, you know the difficulty of juggling all the balls in the air at the same time, everything from soccer practice, to church, to the special events at school all fall on your shoulders. If you are a single mom the pressure is even worse and this is all on top of trying to maintain a job or career. Sadly, for some parents, especially moms the battle for a work/life balance just isn’t a possibility.

In the real world a CareerBuilder.com survey, that encompassed 1,124 women, employed full-time, with children under age 18 who still live at home suggested that forty-four percent of working moms say that they would take a up to a 10 percent of their salary to enable them to better balance their career with their family life. That is nearly one-in-ten of working women who are feeling pulled in too many directions and feel that their family suffers as a result.

Of working moms who are not the sole financial provider, nearly half (49 percent) say they would leave their job if their spouse or significant other made enough money for the family to live comfortably.

Many of these moms (32 percent) miss out on quality time with their kids, spending less than three hours per day with their kids, with twenty-three percent reporting they have missed three or more significant events in their child’s life in the last year.

Career moms should keep in mind that compensation isn’t the only thing that is negotiable in the job market. Flex scheduling is also an option in many fields. As companies are faced with a shrinking labor pool of qualified employees many companies are reshaping their criteria to include mom’s rooms and hours that allow you to handle your family responsibilities. With many companies it is becoming commonplace to see job sharing and onsite daycare to encourage employees to balance work and family life. Thankfully nearly four-in-ten working moms report that their place of employment offers flexible working arrangements.

If you are employed by one of the businesses that has not opened itself up to some of these more family friendly alternatives you many want to approach your boss with a game plan describing your recommendations. The plan needs to be well thought out with a strategy that demonstrates how you’ll be more productive in a flexible work scenario. Make sure your plan is complete and adequately shows a workable solution that can meet the company’s needs.

Another point to keep in mind is that you need to ease into your presentation. Do not come on so strong that you make your boss defensive. You may suggest initiating the plan in stages to make it more acceptable to your employer’s financial fears.

Knowing this make sure that you are prepared and have practiced for your presentation so that your nerves don’t derail you. Anticipate any questions that your boss might present you with and have a plausible answer/solution readily available. Then you must be prepared to negotiate.

To work on the balance from the family side husbands must plan to share in child-rearing as it is no longer possible for moms to be super moms without it taking a toll on their physical and/or emotional health. Currently one-in-four working moms state that they are dissatisfied with their life balance and the fairness in their family responsibilities.

To keep you in key with your mate you should arrange a date night where you can have some quality time with your partner since quantity may be limited. For your kids schedule special activities with each one alone as often as possible. This allows you to start traditions, create special memories, and remind your kids how important they are to you.

Lastly, remember that it is often easier to cancel a special time with your child than with a client so keep a complete calendar of your scheduled activities, that includes obligations to family as well as to your clients, so you won’t find yourself inconveniencing or hurting either type of relationship. In doing this it is essential that if you want your family time to work that you commit vacation days and days off to getting away from the job. Don’t take your cell phone with you unless it is for emergencies that you incur. Don’t use it as an apron string to your business. Spend time focusing on relaxing and enjoying your family and you will find yourself in a much better frame of mind to get back to work and deliver than you would be if you never took a real break. Good luck Moms out there. You can do this.

Tags: schedule, flex hours, working moms, mom’s rooms, on-site childcare, employee options, supermom, job sharing, approach your boss, family balance, employee options

BRADLEY’S The Magdalene Mandala is a wonderfully written thriller with a twisting plot that may lead one to believe that the descendents of Jesus Christ’s bloodline now walk among us. Bradley’s extensive research and expertise regarding the Holy Grail allows him to present an epic novel that takes you from the archeological digs in Vermont, Quebec, Niagara, Ontario and elsewhere setting a rapid pace for this action-packed saga that will leave you on the edge of your seat. In fact, the entire novel is something like James Bond taking a part in the Da Vinci Code.  

Presented in a techno-survivalist manner the tale of the Holy Grail takes on a modern day appearance with its revelations of Christianity’s struggle for existence within the current energy crisis. Within this splendid work Bradley demonstrates how Christianity has been secretly preserved since the Ice Age in Ancient Egypt and in Megalithic Europe’s holiest places. Bradley even goes so far as to suggest that the reason behind the bloodshed and hatred towards the Christian world is caused by politically and religiously inspired determination by those in the Mid East to suppress the West’s genuine Christian legacy by destroying the damning evidence of the Holy Grail and those whose lives it has touched.  

The story itself includes a British linguist, an American ex-mercenary, their courageous French friends and their unsuspected Stewart allies, whose duty it has been to preserve the shocking secrets of a priceless parchment. The action centers around ensuring the survival of historical truth regarding the Western world’s oldest religious heritage and protecting the lives of Marc Rennsalaer and the two women he loves. To be successful these allies must fight against all odds to escape from Rennes-le-Chateau and Cathar-bloodied Carcassonne by fleeing along the beautiful Canal du Midi of southern France to reach the hallowed Glastonbury in England.  

As I read the book I felt that it was far superior to the Da Vinci Code as Bradley eloquently based his setting on his own experience along the Canal du Midi and included the latest archaeological discoveries and interpretations of Neolithic Europe.   Bradley was so thorough that he even included shocking admissions from Dr. Hyam Macoby, professor of Talmudic Studies at the Leo Baeck Institute in London. However, one plus that will make this exciting readers for some is that the novel includes graphic violence and torture scenes along with high-tech survivalist weapons and characters so three dimensional that you feel like you are right there beside them. While The Magdalene Mandala focuses on the Holy Grail, it  is no Da Vinci Code knock-off: The author is an established expert in the study of the Holy Grail and has been writing on the subject since the 1980s and actually served as a consultant for The Da Vinci Code movie. So, perhaps we will see The Magdalene on screen in the near future but I don’t think that any movie will be able to do justice to this book which will definitely take you for a ride on the wild side.

Tags: action, novel, holy grail, christianity, ancient secrets, spies, fiction, michael bradley, da vinci code, the magdalene mandala, neolithic europe, holy places

Many phrases are being used to describe the situation in Darfur, including “humanitarian crisis: and “genocide”. Yet there are still people that remain uneducated of the horrific events which are taking place in the Darfur region of Sudan and effecting millions of Darfur natives. Genocide is defined as the systematic killing of all people from a national, ethnic, or religious group, or an attempt to do so.

The Darfur region is divided into North, West, and South, and lies in the western portion of the Sudan, the largest country in Africa. Located in the Northwest part of the continent it is divided into several states. Throughout history, there has always been incongruity between the northern and southern provinces of Darfur. North Darfur is home to integrated Muslims and nomadic Arabs. Arab s came into Sudan and established ties with the Islamic people, opening trading channels throughout Sudan and eventually becoming a dominating power, much to the displeasure of the African South, who were subjected to slave raids and constant endeavors of conversion from their African culture to the Arab or Muslim religion.

In the early 1900’s it was determined that North and South Dafur should be administered separately. During this time, Christianity was introduced to the Southern region of Darfur further dividing the state. How the states were separated left the South being neglected and isolated and receiving little assistance with poverty and other issues. However, before South Dafur could gain independence, the policy of separate administrations was reversed, and a goal for the unity of the state was established. The melee between the two sides escalated to armed warfare with the fight continuing until the South eventually become self-governed, however, violence never ceased between the North and South.

The current military-based government of Sudan is led by President Omar Al-Bashir who began the genocide campaign against the South in 2003. Throughout the past thirty years, Arab  tribes formed alliances and gained political dominance evolving into paramilitary forces around 1989, at which time they began waging war against the African villagers. In retaliation to the oppression, rebel groups formed, specifically the Sudan Liberation Army/ Movement (SLP/M) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).

This in turn resulted in the Sudan Government empowering the violent Arab militia (the “Janjaweed”) and granting them with unsurpassed power to squelch the rebellion. This in turn has resulted in the eradication of entire villages with all of its suggested horrors.

Civilians of Darfur find themselves unable to even trust UN and International humanitarian attempts at assistance due to subterfuge by the Arab militia that have painted their own planes as replicas of UN humanitarian aircraft in an attempt to confuse the masses.

In May 2005, the Darfur Peace Agreement was signed by the Sudan’s gove3rnment leaders and the SLP/M, however, just three months later the government forces once again assaulted the northern region of Darfur. It has become increasingly difficult to get the opposing forces together to negotiate, due to the disunity of the rebels and the government hostility toward these groups.

President Al-Bashir does a great deal to weaken support to help civilians of the state. The international community and government of Sudan finally agreed to deploy a hybrid of UN and AU (African Union) peacekeeping forces in three phases. Al-Bashir allowed the first phrase, which involved 160 UN advisors, to help the African Union forces already in  Darfur to progress and agreed to let the second phase, which includes 3,000 United Nations military and police logistics, enter Darfur within the net six months. He has not, however, even considered phase three to pass. Phase three would let 10,000 more peaceful protective UN-UA troops into Darfur. President Al-Bashir has set strict limitations on who he lets enter the Darfur region, restricting anyone from diplomats to journalists to enter in hopes of quashing the spread of news of what is occurring in Darfur.

This genocide has claimed over 400,000 lives due to disease, starvation and direct violence at the hands of the Janjaweed. However, whatever the situation in Darfur may be called, there is no denying the violence and senseless killing that is taking place. People are dying every day at the hands of a totalitarian militarism of a repeatedly undermined society of peasant African farmers. To help them you can support the AU who helps patrol villages and protects the African civilians, the Save Darfur Coalition (SDC), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the World Health Organization (WHO) who are also monitoring events occurring in Darfur.

Tags: darfur, genocide, unicef, united children’s fund, world health organization, who, save darfur coalition, sdc, african union, au, janjaweed, arab militia, muslim, president al-bashir, sudan, darfur peace agreement, sudan liberation movement, slp, m, justice and equality movement, jem, africa, omar al-bashir

While we are all aware that substances like drugs, alcohol and gambling have a terrible grip on many people did you realize that many more of us are addicted to television and the Internet? Of course, you may then ask yourself how you can possibly hope to keep up with the current trends and the latest gossip if you are not connected to these devices. After all it is fun to keep up with the misery of Hollywood celebrities, as well as, the rich and famous.

To determine if you are an electronics junkie, aka addict, ask yourself how many times you check your email a day. Be truthful.  If you said more than twice then you qualify as a legitimate Internet junkie. However, if you said only once a day or not at all then you classify as a redneck or illiterate so you can see it is a very fine line.

If you have decided that you would be classified as an addict then ask yourself why you would need to get information more often than once a day.

Now let’s look at television. There should be a law against 24-hour television as it not only keeps people from going to sleep at a reasonable time at night but also uses electricity that especially in California is a precious commodity. After all, when I was a kid they only had three network channels and PBC which mostly came in looking like they were being filmed in the middle of a snowstorm. Since that was the case watching television was a rarity not an hour by hour occurrence. Of course, during those years the FCC only allowed programming to be broadcast between the hours of 6am and midnight and if you think about it that more than enough television for anyone.

That brings up another question. Who lobbied to get the FCC to change their criteria? Or should I say who paid them off so that we would be infiltrated by 24/7 programs that include nightly non-stop infomercials and televangelist broadcasts?  Between the two, Americans are being hit up for and taken for more cash than they could lose in a gambling casino. Maybe the infernal begging and selling would end if America’s insomniacs joined together to file a class action suit against the networks doing the broadcasting. Another, possible positive side effect of this suit would be that many insomniacs might find that they are cured when they have no noise invading their eardrums or lights flickering to distract them from sleep. 

Then while we are at it maybe we could think about suing Bill Gates for carpal tunnel syndrome which can be caused by the constant emails, texting, and mouse clicks that his windows program requires.

So, give the stars in Hollywood a break, turn off your televisions, and shut off your computer and maybe, just maybe, you will be able to overcome your electronics addiction.

Tags: electronics, junkie, addict, television, internet, computer, bill gates, windows, carpal tunnel, insomnia, televangelists, infomercials, tv broadcasts

According to Alan Greenspan on 60 Minutes on September 17, 2007, Hilary Clinton is competent enough to be the next president. The question is if she would be the right choice for America, at this time. Given my respect for Greenspan I took another look at Clinton as a 2008 presidential candidate.

I am fortunate enough to live next door to people who have lived in Arkansas and have met the Clintons. Their view is that Bill and Hilary are both intelligent, capable people and that they have been slandered since they first ran for office.

After talking to them I was forced to sit back and take a look at Bill Clinton’s presidency. Except for two things America thrived well under his presidency. One was the black eye America got as a result of his affair with Monica Lewinski and the other was his not reacting to the terrorist threat that existed during his tenure as president. However, one must wonder if his failure to act was due to the unreliability of the CIA and intelligence network, as we saw with President Bush’s War in Iraq that was based on obviously erroneous information regarding weapons of mass destruction.

On a positive note, no one can deny that he was an economically positive force for the American economy managing the feat of nearly clearing our national debt, something that the Republicans and especially the current Administration has managed to undue in the last seven years. Another point in his favor is that if Al Gore had not had the presidency stolen from him in 2000 the American people would have continued to support the Democratic party, giving them power to continue what Clinton had started.

Regarding Hilary, she is a woman and I don’t know if America is ready to accept her but a positive on her side would be that she is married to a former president and would have his support and knowledge to draw from if she were elected. My opinion, is that this gives her more substance and experience to draw from than other females who might choose to win. Sadly, whenever a woman moves to the forefront of business or politics the first thought from many is that she is either a bitch (excuse my French) or wishes she was a man. I do not believe that to be the case with Hilary Clinton even though I am not sure if I would vote for her or not since I am unsure of her standing on some issues.

As time gets closer to the primaries I will do a complete finding on Hilary and give you my overall opinion. In the meantime, don’t rule Hilary out as she might just have something to offer America that America is in dire need of - a woman’s touch

Tags: hilary clinton, america 2008, primaries, bill clinton, 2008 presidential candidate, al gore, economy. american economy

While living in California I was diagnosed with Lupus despite the fact that I never got back a positive ANA test or other blood work to confirm that diagnosis. The doctors there chose to treat the diagnosed Lupus with high dosages of Prednisone (A corticosteroid), Plaquenil, and a host of symptom calming medications.

When we moved to Missouri, I was flabbergasted to have my new doctors tell me that they were certain that my problems were not Lupus and that many of my symptoms were the result of years of the wrong treatment. While they agreed that I must be fighting an auto-immune type illness they were convinced that the worst of my problems were exacerbated by the use of the corticosteroids which had in fact given me osteoporosis. In addition, this medication had thinned my skin to the point that it tears as easily as a 90 year olds even though I am only 55 and caused previous conditions to worsen.

One thing that has been brought up as a likely culprit of my problems is leaky gut syndrome. This is an inflammation of the lining of the gut that creates symptoms similar to Irritable Bowel Syndrome. It can develop from such culprits as prescription hormones (such as birth control pills and/or hormone replacement therapy) and prescription corticosteroids (such as hydrocortisone); antibiotics; and processed foods and drinks that contain parasites, mold or fungus. It is exacerbated by large amounts of refined foods including chocolate, store bought cookies, soft drinks, white bread products or an increase in the amount of caffeine or alcohol that you consume.

It seems, according to the doctors, that due to the changes that these items cause to the gut wall harmful microorganisms are able to enter the circulatory system. This in turn, can then lead to many systemic inflammatory and immune-related symptoms and conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, multiple sclerosis, eczema, Crohn’s disease, fibromyalgia, Raynaud’s disease, chronic urticaria (hives) and inflammatory bowel disease.

The symptoms of leaky gut vary but can include any of the following: facial swelling (when exposed to strong smells); gas, bloating and post-meal cramping; bouts of diarrhea and constipation; headaches; irritability; and lack of concentration. Individuals with leaky gut will eventually succumb to fatigue, and memory loss. Also, like irritable bowel syndrome, both conditions involve significant amounts of chronic abdominal pain and can mimic menstrual irregularities, pain with bowel movements, diarrhea, and/or constipation. Increased incidences of fibromyalgia have also been linked to this syndrome.

In Leaky gut what is occurring is that substances that normally pass through the bowels are able to enter the blood stream through the abnormally large spaces present between the cells of the gut wall. It is also acknowledged by health care professionals that leaky gut may have started after a yeast infection, and the possibility of Candida lingering in the intestine must be considered and treated if found. Gastrointestinal infections, like Candida, have the potential to damage the lining of the intestinal walls causing them to leak. Once this lining is compromised via infection, medication or chemicals, there is a greater likelihood that toxic substances will be absorbed into the system. Also because the most common substance in the digestive tract is food, nonabsorbable food can now be absorbed causing an immune reaction in the gut-associated lymphatic tissue.

To treat leaky gut syndrome you must first get treatment for candidiasis and other microorganisms that blood tests may reveal. Various medications including Diflucan or Lamasil may be prescribed or aggressive natural nutriceuticals may be given to fight the fungal infection. The hardest part of the treatment, however, is that to cure it the patient needs to eat fewer simple carbohydrates and replace them with more complex ones such as vegetables. The good news though is that the process is very effective in curing leaky gut and diminishing or eliminating symptoms. Remember, though that doctors will tend to prescribe medications that may not only make the condition worse but may actually be the cause of the syndrome so avoid NSAIDs, corticosteroids, prescription antibiotics, anti-histamines and immuno-suppressive drugs unless they are unavoidable to your condition.

Good luck and I hope that this gives hope to any of you out there who are feeling frustrated with what appears to be a hopeless illness.

Tags: leaky gut syndrome, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, corticosteroids, nsaids, simple carbohydrates, diflucan, lamisil, fungal infection, multiple sclerosis, lupus, candida, gastrointestinal infections, stomach pain, cramps, rheumatoid arthritis, crohn’s disease, ankylosing spondylitis, hormone replacement therapy

For those of you who believe that Russia is now America’s friend, think again. It appears that Venezuelan Dictator, Chavez is NOW getting a Russian Weapons Factory built by Putin. The first step in the process I admit is only to build AK-47 Kalashnikov assault rifles in Venezuela to give armament support to communist rebel groups throughout the Americas but what if that doesn’t temper their desire and they receive help to build long-range missiles. Most American’s are aware that if those missiles were built in Venezuela it would place the U.S. in the line of fire. You may wonder if this information is indeed factual. Let me assure you that according to Brazzil Magazine it is one hundred percent accurate.

According to Brazzil’s reporter, Alex Sanchez, on March 27, 2007, the Russian Federation has become one of the major weapon suppliers to Latin America … in fact, Moscow’s developing bilateral security relations in Latin America has become a matter of concern for most in Washington. However, it might be escaping President Bush’s notice as he continues to place great emphasis on creating CAFTA (Central America Free Trade Agreement) and pursuing the Grand Bargain or the North American Security and Prosperity Initiative which will result in the creation of a new political and economic entity that would supercede the constitutions of the various countries involved.

Like the EU (Euro dollar) the American Union would replace the independent currencies of the nations involved with the Amero and everything from environmental regulations to security would be brought in line with a common standard.

This is not just an economic decision it is a choice to go to bed with South American countries that are ruled by dictators, like Chavez, who would not hesitate to fire off long-range missiles at the U.S. if he felt it in his power to do so.

So what can we do about a contractual agreement between the Russians and Chavez? First is to stop the monies flowing into Venezuela that allows them to purchase such advanced knowledge and equipment. In addition to the 2006 statement by Venezuela that they had made a significant weapons purchase from Moscow which included 100,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles, 24 Sukhoi fighter jets and 53 military helicopters we know have to fear the continuous influx of Russian military personnel, such as pilots and technicians who are flying in both directions to receive training.

One source of Venezuelan revenue is Citgo gas. According to Defense News reports Venezuelan oil refineries are now working together with
Iran.  Through this connection, it is further reported that terrorist organizations have been infiltrating Venezuela, and Chavez’ past record indicates that he is willing to form alliances with anyone who is an enemy of the United States.

CITGO gas is has linked itself to PETRO EXPRESS to recoup losses from the sale of gasoline to US consumers. While it is unknown how deeply PETRO EXPRESS is into Chavez’ empire until such time as they find another contractual supplier it is in your own best interest to avoid their stations as well. Therefore every dollar you spend at either of these gasoline stations will be used to destroy your basic human rights and what is left of your freedoms. Knowing this one of the first American’s chains to pull their business from CITGO is the 7-11 chain. While this will impact Chavez economically don’t think for a moment that he is not a real threat to the stability of Latin America and US diplomatic and trade relations.

Overall, your best defense is to stop the money flow into Venezuela. Boycotting CITGO stations and any other Venezuelan owned or controlled companies in an attempt to temper Chavez’ influence. With the fear of terrorism ever present it is unnerving to find ourselves facing an enemy as close as Venezuela. On top of that if Bush’s super highway becomes a reality from the Mexican border to Canada, there will be no way of stopping our great nation from becoming one more statistic to the fall of freedom as we know it.

Tags: citgo, petro express, chavez, venezuelan dictator, venezuela, amero, super highway, russia, iran, defense news, brazzil magazine, current events, long-range missiles, boycott

Personal credit scores are at the heart of the U.S. economy and are used as a basis for lenders to determine who they will lend to and who they will not lend to. The scores were adopted in the 1960s by FICO (Fair Issue Corp.) as a way of alerting lenders of potential client risks. One of the elements of the score is based on your payment history and this one aspect alone can weaken your credit score faster than anything else. However, your credit report is only valid for 24 months prior to the date that someone is checking into it. After that period of time your bad payment history will fall away and you get to start again.  

Interestingly enough in the state of Missouri we were surprised to find that everything revolves around your credit score from the amount you will be charged for car insurance to the interest rate that you can negotiate on a loan. We had no idea of the significance of our score until we arrived to apply for our home loan, with personal info out the kazoo for everything from income and assets to expenses, only to find that the bank didn’t need them. The only thing that mattered to them was our credit score. Credit scores can range from 300 to 850. 

One thing that amazed us is that despite a past bankruptcy incurred due to a divorce  no one took any notice of the ding on our credit and since our credit since then was exemplary and it was over ten years old we were treated as if we had never been forced to file. So how does one repair bad credit or attain new credit?  First one must realize that gaining credit is largely a numbers game and consumers can use some common sense guidelines to improve their creditworthiness. When studying your credit report, according to Mike Cherry, president of Consumer Credit Counseling Services in Springfield, MO. you need to be aware that the report carries only your last two years of credit history. Therefore “if you start paying your bills on time today, and you haven’t been for a year, in 24 months, that bad payment history will fall away”. 

Another important thing that is looked at for the determination of about 30 percent of your credit score is your debt-to-credit ratio. That is the amount of debt a person has compared to their total credit limits on all revolving credit. To improve your score you must make timely payments but that is not all. Marita Thomas, vice president of commercial lending for Empire Bank says that you should “make sure that the outstanding debt on your revolving lines of credit is 50% or less.” She also added that “if you’re maxed out on credit cards, you’ll probably be over when the interest is added at the end of the month – and that carries a lot of weight.” 

Other considered factors in the determination of your credit score include the number of active accounts that you have  (too many accounts can be detrimental and account for about 15% of your credit score) and the length of credit history (the longer your credit history the better and be advised that the number of active accounts weighs in for about 10 percent of your score.  If you are unaware of your credit score you can check your score annually, for free, at www.annualcreditreport.com . At this web address you can check the three most commonly used credit bureaus records on yourself. If you find discrepancies or errors you can then contact the bureaus to remedy them.  Good luck and I hope you find this information helpful.

Tags: fico, fico score, credit score, credit reporting, credit, free credit report, payment history, bankruptcy, payment records, home loans, auto insurance

According to MIKE SNIDER with USA TODAY millions of TV viewers who are dependent on rooftop antennas are going to lose their signal when signals are turned off as the nation changes to digital TV.

The currently scheduled effective date for this change is Feb. 18, 2009. As of that date the nation’s broadcasters will use only digital signals meaning that all old analog channels ( used by at least 21 million Americans on a daily basis) will not be sending out any signals. In other words older TVs will not work unless they are hooked up to cable, satellite, or have an add-on digital tuner, which could be price prohibitive to lower income citizens. So what happens to the airwaves that the analog signals took up? They are not surprisingly being confiscated by the government to be auctioned off for billions of dollars, to other communication services. Of course, we all know that the government needs all of this extra income to finance their own personal wars against foreign countries who don’t want us there in the first place.

However, the hardship to the average consumer is not being considered. That is obvious when one considers that to date only 30 percent of
U.S. households own digital HDTV sets while 20 percent of households rely strictly on antennas to receive free over-the-air broadcasts.  This 20 percent represents approximately 20 million homes throughout the nation. In addition the NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) believes that another 14.7 million homes have at least one antenna-powered TV.

Additionally, this will cause an unexpected expense for over 60 percent of consumers, some who are buying sale inventory at record lows not realizing that their new sets are not equipped with the required new technology, and that these new sets will require additional equipment or replacement in less than 18 months. This could result in consumer outrage and shortages when homeowners are suddenly faced with the dilemma of buying a new television set or going without.

To combat the anticipated response by consumers the government is offering discount coupons for purchases of add-on digital tuner boxes and the NAB plans to hit 200 cities over 18 months to inform consumers of the pending changes. However, it is a real fear among some groups representing the poor and elderly that these groups may well find themselves without the money for new equipment or the ability to access that equipment and will therefore be left without television access. This could in fact leave millions of Americans with TV sets that don’t work and not knowing what to do about it.

Will your TV be among those that will not function without add-on equipment? The answer is if you have a 35” or larger TV manufactured after July 2005 or a 25” or larger TV manufactured after March 2006 your unit should have a built-in digital TV tuner. All TVs manufactured after March of 2007 have this built-in converter. However, if your TV is older than that or is old inventory being dumped on the market your TV may not work unless it is hooked up to cable or satellite.

To make sure that a TV you purchase is digital ready make sure that they say Standard Definition Digital TV and/or Advanced Television Systems Committee tuner. If your TV does not have this stated on it you will soon be able to purchase Set-top boxes. The boxes are expected to include closed-captioning and V-chip features are expected to cost between $50 and $70. To help with the expense consumers can start, as of January 1, 2008, applying for up to two of the $40 coupons that can be used toward the purchase price, one coupon per converter. (For more information, call 888-388-2009). However, remember that if the TV is connected to cable or satellite you will not need any additional equipment.

Another important thing to note is that even though you are required to buy a HDTV you will not receive HD unless your TV is connected to a HDTV tuner.

So, good luck out there in TV land and be aware that taking advantage of the government coupons may save you money since once you get the add-on you won’t have to buy a new TV set and will still be able to watch your favorite football games or your soaps.

Tags: digital tv, analog signal, digital signal, tv, hdtv, coupons, standard definition, antennas, national association of broadcasters, over-the-air, tv broadcasts, tv shows, soaps, football games, advanced televisions, systems committee, older tvs

Austrian Author Blumrich was until recently the chief of the Systems Layout Branch at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. In earlier years he is credited with developing the structural design of the Saturn V booster and for participating in the design of Skylab. Upon his retirement from NASA Blumrich began to pursue research concerning extraterrestrial visitors in ancient times and from that research he has written The Spaceships of Ezekiel. Blumrich’s theories from this book were written with the intention of reconstructing a model of what Ezekiel saw and recorded in the Bible 2,500 years ago.

For the average American the thoughts of visits from extraterrestrial beings is ruled out as ridiculous since such visits would require an unimaginable length of time as we know it. However, this knowledge is confronted with the wealth of mankind’s myths and legends which claim the exact opposite. Indeed early recorded history actually speaks to the “gods” who came down from the skies and with their appearance being accompanied by fire, smoke and a thunderous noise. When this information is handed down by word of mouth this information is often dismissed as hallucination or is degraded as a fictional story but when the records are those from more developed civilizations we interpret them to have a more spiritual or holy manner. Additionally, since we now pride ourselves on our scientific enlightenment we often view ourselves as superior to our ancestors who we see as too close to the cave to know what was really transpiring.

However, this impasse between science and legend can be cleared if we acknowledge the fact that science and engineering are two separate activities. First we must accept the current inability of science to formulate answers for the question of whether there could really have been extraterrestrial visitors in the past or if their arrival could be imminently possible today. Remember in the book of Revelations that Jesus comes back in a cloud. To John, this could have been his way of explaining the smoke that hid the bottom of a space ship. Then too, we must acknowledge that engineering and industrial technology have not been introduced to the controversy.

What I am saying, is very similar to what Erich von Daniken described in his book Chariots of the Gods. In that book von Daniken suggests that one only need to read the Bible’s book of Ezekiel to see how Ezekiel’s description looked similar to how we believe the legs of a space ship would look to someone unfamiliar with such technology. In Chapter 1 verses 1 through 7 Ezekiel describes “Their legs were straight and the soles of their feet were round; and they sparkled like burnished bronze.” The rest of the chapter makes it obvious that the prophet had no idea what it was he had seen and that he was using descriptions worded in the language that he and his contemporaries were familiar with .

As you read on in Ezekiel you first must consider that Ezekiel first saw this vehicle at a far distance and that as it neared the earth it would emit condensation as the engine entered its chill down phase thus creating what appeared to Ezekiel as white clouds. Despite the drama of what was enfolding around him, however, Ezekiel noticed the moving rotors, described the landing legs and the mechanical arms attached to the helicopter units. While he first tried to describe them in terms of man-like figures he becomes vague as the tale continues reflecting an uncertainty as to what he was actually seeing. Then in Chapter 1, verse 13 he goes on to say “As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightening.” It is also obvious that the prophet was fascinated by the wheels which, in their basic form, were the only element that he recognized. Blumich believes that the wheel within a wheel describes only a small part of the craft that Ezekiel saw and that chapter one in its entirety was a description of an alien encounter with an UFO.

Overall, I find the concept quite feasible and even Bloumrich admits that he expected to find Daniken’s theories seriously flawed and was amazed that after extensive research the engineering aspects were possible; actually coming to the point where he believed that the book of Ezekiel was a real and detailed account of an UFO encounter. I found that fact that Blumich is not religious nor gullible a formidable obstacle to overcome on the issue of alien life and the possibility that God is what we would call an extraterrestrial being. All that means is that He is from another planet or galaxy and visited earth in what we think of as an UFO.

For those of you who are skeptical I would highly recommend that you read The Spaceships of Ezekiel as a scientific recap of Ezekiel keeping in mind that it in no way negates or minimizes the importance of God in our lives. If anything it makes His existence more understandable and believable.

Tags: the spaceships of ezekiel, josef f. blumrich, ezekiel, bible, extraterrestrial life, god, ufo’s alien, wheel, engineering, non-fiction, book review, scientific evaluation, daniken, ufo encounters, chariots of the gods