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15 Short Funny Quotes for Humor Month

Last Updated: 2011/10/07

April is “Humor Month” and the very first day of this very month is loved by pranksters and jokers everywhere. To honor this comical time of year, we’re fondly revisiting fifteen short funny quotes that are sure to light smiles everywhere.

1. “The Internet is a great way to get on the Net.” ~ Bob Dole

2. “Ugliness is better than beauty. It lasts longer and in the end, gravity will get us all.” ~ Johnny Depp

3. “On cable TV they have a weather channel – 24 hours of weather. We had something like that where I grew up. We called it a window.” ~ Dan Spencer

4. “When choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I’ve never tried before.” ~ Mae West

5. “A bank is a place where they lend you an umbrella in fair weather and ask for it back when it begins to rain.” ~ Robert Frost

6. “There’s no half-singing in the shower, you’re either a rock star or an opera diva.” ~ Josh Groban

7. “I’m astounded by people who want to ‘know’ the universe when it’s hard enough to find your way around Chinatown.” ~ Woody Allen

8. “Charlie Brown is the one person I identify with. C.B. is such a loser. He wasn’t even the star of his own Halloween special.” ~ Chris Rock

9. “The difference between genius and stupidity is; genius has its limits.” ~ Albert Einstein

10. “I never forget a face, but in your case I’ll be glad to make an exception.” ~ Groucho Marx

11. “People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.” ~ Anonymous

12. “When I was born I was so surprised I didn’t talk for a year and a half.” ~ Gracie Allen

13. “If at first you don’t succeed, blame someone else and seek counseling.” ~ Erma Bonbeck

14. “My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start. So for today, I have finished 2 bags of M&M and a chocolate cake. I feel better already.” ~ Dave Barry

15. “Procrastination is like a credit card; it’s a lot of fun until you get the bill.” ~ Christopher Parker

Here’s to a wonderful Humor Month! I hope you’ve enjoyed these short funny quotes. May your April be filled with laughter (and may you be lucky enough to have fewer April pranks played on you than you play on others). Remember, laughter is the best medicine and he who laughs loudest wins!

Read more: 15 Short Funny Quotes for Humor Month

GMOs: It’s Time for the EU to Fulfill Its Obligations to WTO

Last Updated: 2011/10/06

The Final Report of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Panel in the genetically modified organisms (GMOs) approvals dispute, pitting the U.S., Canada and Argentina, on one hand, against the European Union (EU) on the other, is out.

As expected, the report finds the EU in violation of WTO rules, for imposing a moratorium in 1998 on all GMO products. Europe purports to have lifted the moratorium in 2004, but the WTO Panel thinks otherwise. “…the panel determined that it could not rule whether the EU had abandoned its ‘de facto’ moratorium on approvals of GMOs after August 2003,” notes the report.

It’s instructive to mention that there is no ambiguity in this report to warrant discretionary interpretation by the EU. The report is clear that “the EU must bring its practices into compliance with WTO rules if and to the extent that a moratorium still exists.”

Europe’s main argument throughout the arbitration process has been that GMOs pose risk to human health and the environment.

The WTO ruling addresses this issue conclusively. “…Member State measures are not justified by the precautionary principle, which under WTO rules permits Members to impose measures so long as relevant scientific evidence is insufficient,” notes the report.

“The Complainants have established . . . that [the] safeguard measure[s were] imposed in respect of a situation where relevant scientific evidence [about the safety of GMO products] was not insufficient,” adds the report.

“As the EU’s own scientific committees reviewed and gave the green light for these applications, there is nothing “insufficient” about the scientific evidence.” In fact, the WTO panel alludes to the fact that the EU is just playing politics in the guise of “protecting its people from the harmful effects of GMOs when it states that “…….a politically-motivated ban on GMO approvals, whether in the EU or elsewhere, cannot be maintained consistent with WTO obligations.”

So, what next for Europe in the face of damning WTO ruling that finds it culpable of unlawfully banning GMOs from its soil? The only logical thing for the EU to do is to fulfill its obligations to WTO, by according the biotech industry unfettered access to its markets. The current situation where some biotech products applications have been pending for more than ten years is unacceptable.

The U.S. Trade Representative, Susan Schwab, is right when she appeals to Europe to stop stonewalling on biotech products licensing.

“I urge the EU to fully comply with its WTO obligations, and consider all outstanding biotech product applications, and evaluate their scientific merits in accordance with the EU’s own laws, without undue delay,” says Schwab, in a statement.

It should not take the U.S. and other countries currently growing biotech crops to prod the EU to abide by the WTO ruling. The EU must prove to the rest of the world that it upholds international trade laws. Failure to do so will only erode its credibility as a responsible economic bloc.

The EU must remember that its stance on GMOs hurts the whole world, and more so developing countries. Europe has always maintained that it would not tolerate agricultural products from developing countries that grow GMOs. These countries are, therefore, technically barred from growing genetically modified crops, lest they lose their European markets. What is the rationale of preventing developing countries from exploring the enormous potential inherent in modern agricultural biotechnology?

Read more: GMOs: It’s Time for the EU to Fulfill Its Obligations to WTO

African Countries Must Speed Up Enacting Biosafety Laws

Last Updated: 2011/10/06

Opponents of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) regularly cite lack of biosafety policies as the main reason why there should be no rush to introduce genetically modified crops in Africa. I agree with them on this, and in fact I once posted an entry in this blog encouraging African countries to speed up the enactment of biosafety rules. Biosafety laws are needed to safeguard the health of consumers of genetically modified food.

But more importantly, a sound biosafety protocol is a prerequisite to a thriving biotechnology industry. In fact, there is a nexus between well thought out biosafety laws and a successful biotech industry. United States, Canada, Mexico, South Africa, Argentina, and India all have effective biosafety laws. This explains why they have a thriving biotechnology industry.

Biosafety laws are needed not to restrict, but to promote biotech-related activities. This justifies why African countries must urgently enact and implement them. Doing so would alleviate fears that GMOs are being force-fed on Africans without considering their safety.

The laws will, according to the United Nations (UN) Convention on Biological Diversity’s Cartagena Protocol to protect biodiversity, “ensure an adequate level of protection in the field of the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity…”

Opponents of GMOs would, however, prefer the status quo so that they can continue exploiting the lack of lack of biosafety laws in many African countries to spread all sorts of misleading information about GMOs.

It’s encouraging that lately, there have been small, but significant efforts by some African countries to enact biosafety policies. Already, Cameroon, Kenya, Namibia, and Uganda have national biosafety policies, which have made it possible for them to start conducting field trials of a wide range of genetically modified crops.

Kenya is busy experimenting on genetically modified sweet potatoes and maize. An article appearing in SciDev.net reports that Uganda is preparing field trials of bananas genetically modified to resist black sigatoka disease, a serious fungal condition. Cameroon, on the other hand, is conducting tests on cowpeas that are drought tolerant, resistant to viruses and insects.

It’s important that African countries put in place biosafety policies if they want to benefit from modern biotechnology.

Read more: African Countries Must Speed Up Enacting Biosafety Laws

The Freedom Tower – Signature of the New World Trade Center Complex

Last Updated: 2011/10/05

The new World Trade Center complex currently under construction in Manhattan, New York City is a very ambitious project designed to fulfill multiple roles: stand out as a symbol for national strength and freedom, pay homage to the victims fallen during the terrorist acts on 9-11, as well as provide people with thousands of job opportunities and bring a major contribution to the local economy. Regarded as a controversial and challenging concept a few years ago, the new World Trade Center complex has recently begun to take shape, revealing the monumental figure of an infrastructure complex that corroborates latest technology materials and advanced security features with innovative, interesting, modern and unconventional designs. When completed, the complex will comprise the Freedom Tower, three adjacent tall buildings, a residential tower, a museum and a cultural center.

Although the project is far from being completed (the new World Trade Center is expected to be completed by 2012), it has already become very popular worldwide and has generated lots of divergent public opinions. While some people consider the project to be more spectacular and interesting than the previous constructions, others regard it as too ambitious and radical, claiming that the new complex should share more characteristics with its predecessor.

People who aren’t very impressed by the magnitude and the sumptuous character of the new project are concerned about the efficiency and the reliability of the security measures incorporated in the designs. However, the team of architects, engineers and constructors in charge with bringing the colossal, imposing World Trade Center buildings to life have assured everyone that the new complex will not only be impressive through size and aspect, but also through safety and efficiency.

The signature of the magnificent World Trade Center complex is undoubtedly the Freedom Tower (World Trade Center Tower 1), the centerpiece building of the new project. The Freedom Tower has a monumental yet very modern aspect and includes many symbolic features. First of all, the total height of the structure (from its base to the top of the spire) will be 1776 feet, making reference to the year 1776, when the United States Declaration of Independence was established and made public. Once completed, the Freedom Tower will also become the tallest building in the United States (surpassing the Sears Tower in height) and among the tallest buildings in the world.

The shape of the Freedom Tower will resemble a gigantic Egyptian Obelisk, adding new, innovative features to the popular and ancient obelisk design (the aim of the teams of architects and engineers is to situate the Freedom Tower at the crossroads between modern and traditional, slightly modifying the popular obelisk design and using innovative materials for the construction). One on top of the other, the Freedom Tower is expected to be a masterpiece in terms of design and engineering, combining advanced functionality with state-of-the-art technology and great engineering.

Read more: The Freedom Tower – Signature of the New World Trade Center Complex

Terrorism – A Major Concern Worldwide

Last Updated: 2011/10/04

In an already insecure society dominated by crime, conflict and injustice, terrorism has a major impact on global level, having the ability to generate panic, chaos and destruction of indescribable proportions. Terrorism adds even more tensions between nations guided by territorial or political interests, increasing the risk of armed conflicts both regionally and globally. Although the major political powers of today are struggling to solution any emerging disputes peacefully, on diplomatic ways, elaborately and carefully planned terrorist acts can even trigger a new World War if they are not timely anticipated and neutralized.

With so many terrorist attacks of major impact that have taken place in various corners of the world during the last decades, governments are constantly trying to develop more effective means of discouraging, preventing and overcoming such events. Government authorities worldwide have properly mobilized against such acts and are ready to intervene in case of emergency. With the help of experienced, properly trained teams of professionals, as well as new technologies and equipments, the nations exposed to the highest risk of becoming the target of terrorist attacks declare to be prepared to deal with a wide variety of scenarios.

In order to successfully predict terrorist attacks, countries from many corners of the world have joined forces in an attempt to gather data regarding the existing sources of terrorism, their origins and their distinctive traits. The authors of terrorist acts are most often fanatics driven by extreme religious, philosophic or politic beliefs, aiming to generate mass hysteria, conflicts and insecurity. Terrorist attacks can be either random (poorly organized but more difficult to predict, they are often planned by small, anonymous terrorist groups) or carefully planned (elaborately developed, having a well established goal but being easier to predict and neutralize, such acts are often carried away by declared terrorist networks). Regardless of their nature and radical beliefs, terrorist groups are undoubtedly powered by diabolic minds that seek to impose their conceptions through fear, panic and inhuman acts.

While some government authorities primarily aim to accumulate data on past terrorist acts and identify valuable leads for investigations, others work to annihilate suspected or declared terrorist groups and networks. Considering that even a poorly planned and organized terrorist attack of small proportions can take many innocent lives, cause substantial material damage and generate global panic, government authorities are nowadays focusing on forecasting such inhuman acts and catching their authors unharmed in order to provide the government with valuable information needed for dismantling larger terrorist networks. Government representatives inform that the fight against terrorism is on, and assures us that in the near future the world will become a safer and a more secure place, free from terrorist attacks, innocent victims, fear and destruction.

Read more: Terrorism – A Major Concern Worldwide

Hurricane Lane Hits Mexico As Dangerous Category 3 Hurricane

Last Updated: 2011/10/04

Hurricane Lane and its eye have just come ashore in rural Mexico. According to NOAH and the National Weather Service, it is still a destructive category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of over 125 mph. Warnings of 6 to 12 foot storm surges and possible flash floods and mudslides have been made as this could be a very devastating hurricane. Hurricane Lane has already become deadly as it caused its first death with a child crushed by a mudslide and the resulting collapse of the house they were in.

On Saturday morning Hurricane Lane changed course and headed directly inland on the Pacific coast of Mexico. Earlier trajectories and storm tracking plotted the area of Acupulco and the tip of the Baja peninsula similar to Hurricane John from just 2 weeks ago. Regardless, Hurricane Lane is just as strong if not stronger and is a very sizeable hurricane with damaging winds of 125 or more mph.

The most damage may not come from the actual hurricane itself, but the storm surge, flooding, and resultant mudslides as the hurricane goes inland and over hilly and mountainous terrain. The biggest and most devastating hurricane of all time in the east pacific was the Mexico Hurricane of 1959. It came ashore as a category 5 hurricane with over 160 mph sustained winds. Over 1000 people died due to the flash floods and mud and land slides. Many more died from the thousands of venomous scorpions and snakes that were unearthed and misplaced by these mud and land slides. This could very likely happen here with Hurricane Lane as it is powerful enough to unleash similar mud and land slides and flooding.

This could also be greatly impacted, just like New Orleans, in that being rural many people are trapped and cannot get out in time. Emergency workers and help may not be adequate enough and will have a hard time reaching hurricane victims. Also the threat of deadly poisonous scorpions and snakes aggressive from displacement will conjure much fear in the minds of emergency personnel from the memories of thousands of lives lost to these venomous reptiles during the great hurricane of Mexico in 1959.

In preparation many people have been evacuated, but many are left stranded and unable to leave. As the eye of Hurricane Lane moves farther inward we will get more of an idea of the damage and destruction. The hurricane prediction center and the National Weather Service can only predict 3 to 5 days ahead of a storm, but all indications show the hurricane moving inward into more hilly and mountainous regions. This could be a repeat of the great hurricane of 1959 and a terrible disaster for the people on the pacific coast of Mexico and our hearts go out to them.

Read more: Hurricane Lane Hits Mexico As Dangerous Category 3 Hurricane

Croc Hunter and the notion of risk in business and life

Last Updated: 2011/10/03

Steve Irwin the international crocodile hunting celebrity from Australia died while filming a new TV program on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. A videotape of the incident is purported to show Irwin on one side of a stingray, while a camera man was on the other side. It is possible the stingray felt trapped, his tail came up, and spiked Irwin in the chest. The spike managed to get under Irwin’s rib cage, and pierce the heart. After that it couldn’t have been long before Irwin died from the piercing.

What does this personal tragedy have to teach us about risk? The first thing to know is that Irwin was a pro, and never forget it. A professional is constantly assessing risk both on a conscious level, and an unconscious level. He’s measuring it; he’s taking into the calculus of what he has to do. A professional tries not to go outside his zone of control.

Irwin however entered the stingray’s comfort zone, and the sting ray then perceived him as a threat. When Irwin got so close that the stingray was able to pierce him with his barb, the stingray exercised that option. We all know that Irwin has proven himself countless times to be comfortable with situations where the rest of us would be “out of here”.

In the case of the ocean incident, Irwin was not the professional. He was in many ways like the rest of us. His knowledge involved face to face encounters with crocodiles, and snakes. He took their measure, and they took his. In the ocean, he was out of his element. He probably had no idea how much risk he was facing.

This was certainly true of thousands of people in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. If you are counting on the federal government to save you during a hurricane, you’d better make sure your insurance is paid up. You’re on your own in this world.

Irwin was a natural risk taker. He transferred his knowledge of risk in the reptilian world to the ocean, and he came up short. Only a handful of people have died from a stingray related injury. Yes, Irwin should have known that this was a possibility, but he lacked the knowledge of sea life that he had of alligators and snakes. Face to face with a crocodile, there is no question that Irwin understood the natural instinctive moves of the reptile, and would come out on top in that situation. It just wasn’t true of the stingray. Irwin probably had no idea how a stingray would react to an invasion of space.

Let’s look at another situation. All of us are use to seeing a story in the newspapers several times per year that goes like this. “Mother leaves children alone, 5 perish in fire”. The story never ever talks about how many times in the past the mother in question left the children alone. There is always the implication that this is the first time this has happened. This is what you need to know about risk. Very rarely, does somebody who is involved with risk, GET CALLED ON IT THE FIRST TIME.

Usually you get a couple of free passes. I am sure that each of the women in these stories who have left their children alone and subsequently perished in a fire, have left them alone before. They have probably left the kids alone more times than we can count. At some point, you do get called on it. The game of luck runs out.

Read more: Croc Hunter and the notion of risk in business and life

Sumner Redstone Fires Viacom CEO Tom Freston

Last Updated: 2011/10/03

On Monday, Sumner Redstone fired Viacom’s CEO, Tom Freston. Yesterday, Viacom announced that its Board of Directors had appointed Philippe Dauman President and CEO and Thomas Dooley Senior Executive V.P. and Chief Administrative Officer (a newly created position). Mr. Dooley’s role is expected to be similar to that of a Chief Operating Officer.

Both Dauman and Dooley are members of Viacom’s Board of Directors. They served in key positions within the previous incarnation of Viacom, which was split into two separate public corporations, Viacom (VIA) and CBS (CBS), approximately eight months ago. Sumner Redstone is the Chairman of each company. Viacom’s new CEO, Philippe Dauman, will report to Mr. Redstone. Thomas Dooley will report to Mr. Dauman.

Although The Financial Times went with the no nonsense headline “Freston Removed as Chief of Viacom”, I fear The Wall Street Journal may have had the more accurate headline: “Ouster of Viacom Chief Reflects Redstone’s Impatience for Results”. In fact, I couldn’t have said it better myself. Of course, I was planning on writing more of a personal opinion piece than a front page article (the story made the front page of both the FT and the WSJ). Still, I can’t fault The Wall Street Journal for putting the painfully obvious in big print.

The Journal article (which is a good outline of the whole affair) won’t encourage faith in Sumner Redstone among Viacom’s shareholders. It begins by quoting Mr. Redstone’s assurance (given just six weeks before) that he could imagine “no circumstance” under which he would fire Mr. Freston. Cut to Monday, at Sumner’s estate, where Tom Freston, a 26 year company veteran, is told he has managed to lose his job, just eight months after being given the helm of the new (CBS-less) Viacom.

The most obvious objection to Mr. Freston’s firing is simply that he wasn’t given enough time. There are billions of people on this planet and it took more than eight months to produce the majority of them; so, I imagine doing something truly remarkable, like steering a media company through troubled, transitional waters, takes quite a bit longer.

The other objection is that Freston had already proved himself a capable executive. He may not have been able to answer the question “What have you done for me lately?”. But, he had built up quite a reputation at MTV. Recent results have taken some of the shine off that golden boy (the channel, not Freston, who is no golden boy at age 60).

Actually, MTV is more than a golden boy; it’s Viacom’s crown jewel – accounting for about 70% of the company’s revenue and nearly all of its profits. The aforementioned Journal article fears “Mr. Freston’s departure could lead to a wider shake-up at the company, particularly within MTV networks, much of whose management has been with the company for years and is intensely loyal to Mr. Freston.”

Those fears are rational. Any time an executive this connected to a particular division is lost there is a danger others may follow – especially when such an unceremonious exit is forced upon a company vet by the powers that be. In this case, the (perceived) motives of those powers is also a cause for concern.

Read more: Sumner Redstone Fires Viacom CEO Tom Freston

How Much Should We Care About The War?

Last Updated: 2011/10/02

Really, how much time do you spend thinking about wars in the Middle East? And, if you’re not traveling by air, about terrorist threats?

Do your thoughts and words affect either in any way? They affect you, though. They affect how you feel.

Do you have a choice in policy? Recognizing our limitations to influence wars frees us to experience the joy available to us in our daily lives. Focusing on war simply attracts misery. There’s enough of that going on everywhere. Think about any big war in history. Except for the people actually doing the fighting and those who happen to be in the location of the battles, the world’s inhabitants went about their daily business in peace. And they were by far the majority. If they had little or no news, they were, most likely, unconcerned about the war.

If you watch regular television news this century you cannot feel much joy. However, you can feel joy watching a kitten stalk a hummingbird.

If you argue politics over dinner you don’t notice the flavor of the lemon-caper sauce on your poached salmon.

I admit there’s fun in a good argument, and I know that fear is excitement’s first cousin. Why else would snakes on a plane be entertaining? I’m just suggesting that we need to be careful about what we invite into our lives unwittingly by focusing on the worse things going on in the world that television news happily provides and ignoring the other 95% of the pleasantries that surround us.

Koyaanisqatsi is a Hopi Indian word meaning “life out of balance”. Acupuncture is an ancient medical practice for restoring balance in the body’s flow of energy.

Aristotle advocates balance between extremes.

EFT, Emotional Freedom Technique, combines the emotional power of words with acupressure on the body to restore any part of your life that feels out of balance.

Acupuncturists have been saying for years that stimulating key acupuncture points improves the body’s flow of energy for optimum health. According to University of Michigan researchers, do-it-yourself acupressure can keep students awake in class without caffeine or high-sugar snacks. Their results were reported in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.

But the student alertness study used only physical stimulation. Students tapped on the tops of their heads and on their legs, feet, and hands for several minutes at a time. Practitioners of EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques), which combines acupressure tapping with focused thought, report significant results for not only mental alertness but relief from pain, stress, anxiety, phobias, and other problems.

EFT’s basic premise is that the underlying cause of every negative emotion and almost every physical symptom is a disruption of the body’s energy flow along the same meridians that were mapped over 4,000 years ago by Chinese physicians.

Acupuncturists use needles to stimulate key points along the meridians but in EFT they tap on these points. Tapping requires less precision, so it’s easy for almost anyone, including children, to get good results.

Read more: How Much Should We Care About The War?

Katrina: The Big One

Last Updated: 2011/10/01

Storm refugees, nearly all of them black, are on the move throughout the city. And they are refugees, as in, people fleeing misfortune and seeking refuge. NPR and other news organizations caved to pressure from critics who did not like the word. We substituted “evacuees.” Some listeners thought “refugee” carried a pejorative foreign connotation, something that happens in Sudan or Somalia but never the United States. That’s precisely why I preferred the term. I hoped it would shock people into realizing that an American city had sunk to Third World conditions.

Hawke and I hop out of the truck to interview a ragged string of refugees walking up Howard on the way to the Superdome, trailed by an obese woman in stretch shorts. “I got a bad heart. I ain’t got no business travelin’ like this,” she says.

A woman with matted hair in a Tweety Bird T-shirt says, “We slept all night on the bridge. They say go across the river and the buses will pick us up. Now they’re turnin’ us all around. We need somebody who knows what’s goin’ on!”

I ask more questions, but they want answers. Where to get a meal? Where to find a bus?

“Tell the truth,” a young man in a Bob Marley T-shirt asks in exasperation. “Y’all care about us?”

“Of course we do,” Hawke replies.

“Well, help us,” he says sharply. “They got people layin’ up there on the bridge dyin’ . . . I know y’all want our story, but we need help!”

We don’t know where they should go, either. And we’re worried that if we hand out the little food and water we have in the truck, we’ll cause a scene. Still, he makes a powerful point: We need a story; he needs a rescue.

A couple of weeks later, a listener will e-mail NPR and ask, “What about the demands of suffering humanity? Do you ever feel that journalism is an inadequate response to the tragedies you report on?” Other listeners suggest we should have turned our sat phone over to the cops after they lost communication.

The role of journalist as detached chronicler or part-time rescuer will be discussed intensely after Katrina. Purists argue that journalists should never participate in a story — period. We bear witness to history; we don’t step into it. But it’s not that simple. We don’t leave our humanity at home when we cover a disaster. Anytime I, as a journalist, record a person in misery and then walk away, I feel like the photographer who queasily described his role, saying, “We came to take our trophies and left.” There’s something unbecoming about that behavior, particularly if we can offer a small kindness without neglecting our job.

Later in the week, Hawke and I hand out water and snacks to individual refugees we encounter, and the NPR crew gives four desperate Canadian tourists a ride to Baton Rouge. I heard of other journalists using their news boats to rescue people. I believe you do what you can, but you never let go of the story. And on this story, in particular, journalists will perform a service by being on the ground and in the water to show the world and our own government the terrible conditions in New Orleans.

Read more: Katrina: The Big One

What’s Going On In The “GO Zone”

Last Updated: 2011/10/01

Duck!!! Here comes another hurricane……. This is becoming a common mantra on the Gulf coast the last few years. I personally have cut more fallen trees out of my yard the last couple of years compared to the other 30+ years that I have lived in the state of Florida.

Hurricanes have had a major impact on coastal properties because of the growing concerns of people with regard to living in storm-prone areas. Hurricane Katrina, which hit the Gulf Coast region almost a year ago and is considered to be the most devastating and most expensive natural disaster, brought a lot of damage to real-estate properties in the area expanding to three states: Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. The after-effects of the hurricane were so unnerving that there are no doubt residents who would have considered of moving instead of just rebuilding their homes in the same disaster-prone region. Moreover, the effects of the hurricanes on insurance companies are as devastating because of the huge property losses caused by these natural disasters. Hence, insurance premiums on coastal properties will definitely go up to help insurance companies recover from their current and future losses due to natural disasters.

The hurricanes have also had a big impact on real estate investors. In 2002 to middle of 2005, investing in condos on the beach in preconstruction was exploding. Investors took advantage of the rise of the real estate industry during those times. Offers to sell properties would frequently sell out in hours or days. There was even a condominium tower near the beach front that got all units sold out in just a matter of two days. Prices were very competitive and promos and discounts were also offered. However, the hype reached a sudden halt with the series of hurricanes that hit the gulf area. These natural disasters affected the market value of beach properties.

On the other hand, hurricanes may offer one of the major opportunities in decades. Just before America bid goodbye to the series of unfortunate events in 2005, President George W. Bush signed the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act of 2005, also known as HR 4440. This act is being envisioned by the president to help the communities and residents of the Gulf Coast region which received the most devastating effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The bill aims to help these people get back to their normal lives after all that had happened. This Act has become known as the Go Zone Act and areas impacted by this bill are now referred to as the Go Zone.

GO Zone Act

After the tremendous Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma hit the Gulf Coast region, these natural disasters left the area so devastated that many people could not find housing or shelter to restart their lives. While some people will want to leave, others are just as determined to rebuild bigger and better than ever. The GO Zone Act was approved by the government to help bring life once more to the affected areas. The government offered this bill mainly to encourage investors to build their businesses in the area and create more jobs for the residents in the region. With the different provisions in this approved bill, the government entices residents to stay and rebuild their houses and businesses as well as new investors to buy properties and help in the fast recovery and development of the affected states’ economy.

Read more: What’s Going On In The “GO Zone”

Indoor Gardening Plants

Last Updated: 2011/10/01

Eventually we are all given a house plant either as a gift or a plant from someone who is moving and can’t take their plants with them, instantly giving you the basis for indoor gardening. Many times if you don’t know how to care for it the plant will wither and die. Other times people start to care for the plant and suddenly become avid gardeners.

Indoor gardens are similar to outdoor gardens, it’s just that you are caring for plants in your home instead of in your garden. A big plus to indoor gardening is that it can be enjoyed by people that live in the cities with no access to land. It is also a joyful hobby for people that are confined indoors. The real bonus is that they are healthy for us. Basically plants take in carbon dioxide and turn it into oxygen (photosynthesis) thereby purifying the air that we breath. So you have attractive plants with added benefits.

Indoor gardens are ideal for people that live in hard, cold climates or for someone who lives in a climate that gets searingly hot. With an indoor garden the gardener can manipulate the environment so that their plants thrive. If it is dreary, cold and grey wouldn’t it be delightful to have gorgeous plants sprinkled around your home that not only add beauty but cheerfulness too?

After choosing the plants you wish to grow you must choose a container for it. You can opt for a small plant that can be placed on a counter or windowsill. Even a large evergreen in a big pot can be placed next to your door or in a sunny spot in the corner. You must make a plan for your indoor garden. Figure out where you want to place your indoor garden so you will know how much space you have for the plants. Once this is done you can choose the container and the plants you wish to grow. Don’t forget to research the plants needs, like watering, sunlight and food before you go to the nursery center.

Once you have gathered all of your material you can start planting and arranging your indoor garden in your home. When arranging your garden be sure to put plant that needs bright sun near a window. Plants that just need indirect light should be put in a more comfortable spot of low or indirect sun for them. If you get this wrong you will be throwing out your plants and buying new ones.

Don’t overlook planting an indoor herb garden especially if you like to cook. Herbs needs are four to six hours of sun per day and loose easily drained soil. They are pretty plants and will add zip to your meals.

If you have pets carefully choose your plants. Pets and plants must be able to cohabitate in your home peacefully. Some plants are toxic to animals. You have to be sure that your animal and the plant can live together. For instance, a tall plant may be seen as a scratching tool by cats or even a litter box. Cats have been known to wrap themselves around larger plants and snuggle in the warm dirt. Sometimes this can disturb the roots. One way to beat this is to put ornamental rocks or crushed seashells right on top of the soil.

You can have an indoor garden and enjoy all of the benefits of beautiful plants. Just do some research either at you local nursery or on the internet. What are you waiting for? Start planting.

Happy Indoor Garden!

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The Tale That Dogs the WAG

Last Updated: 2011/10/01

Glancing through the red-tops on certain days over the past few weeks, one could be forgiven for thinking that England’s World Cup bid revolved not around 11 strapping male athletes on the pitch in Gelsenkirchen, but rather the occasionally dubious antics of a group of Cristal fuelled, bejewelled glamour queens in Manolo Blahniks and oversized sunglasses.

Certainly this does not constitute any great departure from form on the part of either the tabloid reporters or the WAGs themselves. The likes of Victoria Beckham (neé Posh Spice), Coleen Mcloughlin et al enjoy a tumultuous but mutually beneficial relationship with the tabloid press the year round; the designer label and conspicuous consumption led lifestyle financed by their HABs’ (Husbands and Boyfriends’) nosebleed-inducing salaries providing the perfect fodder for the type of journalist that eschews ‘real’ news and the tabloids in turn providing that all important limelight presence that is the lifeblood of glamour models and dried up pop has-beens. Few can have been generally shocked at the ‘mistake’ that saw the WAGs and other family members of the England team booked into the same hotel as the majority of the British press deployed to cover the World Cup. For a few short weeks the Brenner’s Park Hotel played host to a bona fide match made in Heaven as the WAGs trailed journalists pied-piper-like around Baden Baden’s hot spots, handing out tabloid-friendly photo opportunities and faux-shocking examples of ‘scandalous’ behaviour with the generosity of spirit of an anorexic at a soup kitchen. This was truly the blonde leading the bland.

Tabloid journalists, by their very nature, are risky bedfellows who specialise in biting the hand that feeds. That docile, friendly poodle in the lap of the IT girl can turn to a ravening, bloodthirsty pack animal quicker than you can say ‘deviated septum’, and this summer’s WAG-watching exercise saw its fair share of savagery. Like wolves or hyenas, when packs of tabloid journalists select their prey they single out the weakest individuals on the outside of the herd. Top spot on the tabloid maul-o-meter in this case must go to Abigail Clancy, (erstwhile?) girlfriend of Peter Crouch, lambasted not only for having done the dirty on England’s Unlikeliest Athlete but for having come clean to him about it mere hours before England’s game against Trinidad and Tobago in which Crouch scored the opening goal. Whilst we can all appreciate that such news is never good, and few would deny that its delivery could have been better timed, the majority of tabloid umbrage at this fact seems to be drawn from the assumption that the pain of receiving such news might have stymied Crouch’s game. This, of course, quite ignores the fact that until Crouch’s golden moment in the 83rd minute and his subsequent lamentable dance display he was one of the lesser known stars of English football whose very inclusion in the squad was the subject of dark and doubtful mutterings in some quarters. Had Abi Clancy’s relationship misdemeanours indeed put the kybosh on Crouch’s ability to play at top level, the goal would never have gone in and the entire sorry episode would barely have been newsworthy to start with. There again, when did we ever look to the tabloids for logic?

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What is Bird-Flu?

Last Updated: 2011/09/14

Over the past year, Bird Flu has been pasted on the headlines of every major media outlet in the nation. It seems like everybody is worried about it, but when I ask, no one can tell me exactly what it is. Is it as bad as everyone makes it out to be?

Bird flu which is also known as Avian flu, is a type of influenza that infects birds. The A type flu virus is most common in water fowl. Held in the intestine and then shed amongst other birds, the virus can spread rapidly, not affecting the host bird.

Although most common in water birds, domestic birds are susceptible to the Avian flu as well. According to the Center for Disease and Control, “Domesticated birds may become infected with avian influenza virus through direct contact with infected waterfowl or other infected poultry, or through contact with surfaces (such as dirt or cages) or materials (such as water or feed) that have been contaminated with virus. People, vehicles, and other inanimate objects such as cages can be vectors for the spread of influenza virus from one farm to another. When this happens, avian influenza outbreaks can occur among poultry. “ Infection in humans occurs when direct contact is made with poultry or a contaminated surface. Symptoms for bird flu are the same as typical influenza including fever, sore throat, and body aches. Although the symptoms are the same as typical influenza, the affect of Avian flu can potentially be life threatening.

If you become infected with the Avian or are experiencing regular flu like symptoms, the Center for Disease and Control recommends that you consult your physician immediately. In this case, it is good to error on the side of caution than to leave a potentially fatal disease go untreated.

Visit this Consumer Advocacy website for more information on ordering from online with no prescription.

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Murder, Policies and Procedures

Last Updated: 2011/09/14

On a recent Sunday, the Philadelphia Inquirer shocked our local community by stating the obvious: “Even after the carnage at an Amish school in Lancaster County last week, a spot check by Inquirer reporters found a surprising number of security lapses at schools across the region. In spite of rules aimed at limiting public access, reporters who fanned out on a single day walked into more than a dozen schools unannounced and without being challenged.” Schools Caught Short on Security, The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 8, 2006

Many people think that security is the security manager’s issue. However, on a recent blog post, I stated: “You can’t rely on your employees and consultants to use common sense when it comes to your company’s security. Remember to continually communicate the boundaries of permission to remind everyone that safety and security are team issues.”

In the case of the school security breaches, well-meaning teachers and students, as well as hapless employees and contractors, provided unauthorized and unsupervised access. Luckily, the intruders were reporters; there were no casualties other than reputations and peace of mind.

In order to understand why this security lapse is particularly astonishing at this time, here is the background for those who don’t live in Pennsylvania and may not know: A gunman had recently invaded a one room Amish schoolhouse, killing 5, severely injuring 5, and traumatizing the whole community. Subsequently, the often repeated message has been, if this can happen at that one room schoolhouse in the middle of the countryside in a peace-loving community, it can happen anywhere. We should step up efforts to keep our kids safe because of the high likelihood of copycat crimes.

These security lapses occurred at a time of heightened security. If a murderer had come sneaking in the side door, the consequences would have been very deadly. While most of us don’t have to worry quite this much about our policies and procedures, it made me stop and think.

There were policies in place at all of the schools. Some of the policies were better than others, but each had security policies. When questioned, school authorities stated that there were policies that were not followed. For some reason, it seemed as though some felt that this settled everything, though I was left with many questions: * Are the procedures written in light of actual practices/are they practical? * Who is responsible for verifying that policies and procedures are followed? * How is accountability ensured? * What is the personal consequence of causing a security breach? * How are the policies and procedures communicated, and how can we be sure that the involved parties understand them? * What are you doing to make sure that these kids are safe, both now and in the future? * How are updates communicated?

You can use these questions to consider the effectiveness of the security policies and procedures for your business as well. (There are many kinds of policies and procedures; this discussion focuses on security.) Many people view policies and procedures as an unpleasant set of paperwork that is at times needed for regulatory or legal reasons. However, policies and procedures should be meaningful roadmaps to better business practices.

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FDI affects on the process of economic growth of developing countries

Last Updated: 2011/09/14

Foreign direct investment (FDI) is known as movement of capital across national frontiers in a way that grants the investor control over the acquired asset. That is how it is distinct from portfolio investment which may cross borders, but does not offer such control over the business. Firms which supply for FDI are known as multinational enterprises and in this case control is defined as owning 10% or greater of the common shares of an incorporated firm. In the years after the Second World War FDI in general was dominated by the United States, as much of the world recovered from the destruction formed by the conflict of the war. The U.S. was quick at realizing that Foreign Direct Investment is to become a real gold mine. It accounted for around three-quarters of new FDI between 1945 and 1960. Since that time FDI has become a truly global phenomenon; countries with different economic development can enjoy its benefits now, not only well industrialized ones. Currently the importance of FDI can be measured by its share in the global GDP, which comprises of 20% brought in by FDI capital. Economic growth is actually the increase in the value of goods and services generated by a particular economy. It is usually measured as the percentage of increase in real gross domestic product, or GDP. The growth is normally calculated in terms of adjusted inflation in order to net out the effect of inflation on the price of the goods and services produced. In economics, “economic growth” typically refers to growth of potential output, for instance, production at full employment rate rather than growth of aggregate demand.

It’s not a surprise that major portion of the FDI supply comes from the highly industrialized and economically developed countries. For example in 1988-1992 about 92% of all world’s FDI was between those countries, although it dropped to 85% after year 1997. The reason for such movement of funds is the desire of the developed countries to support themselves while establishing successful routes for their trade and generating growth in their own economies. The picture changed in the recent twenty years however, when huge emerging economies such as India, China and Eastern Europe began to attract investors. The distribution of funds however among those developing countries is quite unequal. The third of all capital was granted to China, mainly because of the size of the potential market, which is the biggest in the world. The biggest investor in China’s economy is Japan, the reason being that it’s closer to China that the rest of the world and distance is one of the major factors in determining the affiliates’ location. Those partners operating for instance in China nowadays sells more of the generated product in their host countries.

With FDI entering developing economies a lot of changes are taking place in the invested economy as well as in global trade. The entering of foreign capital in the Chinese economy first of all generated the development of various industries. Formerly this country was primary operating in the agricultural sector with lack of industrial growth. With money coming in and much of Japanese technology, China became on of the world leader in manufacturing automobiles, home appliances and other technical equipment. Consequently this mirrored positively on the labor market, providing millions of jobs. It’s a known fact that labor in China is one of the cheapest in the world, although the quality of work performed is decent, the fact that also attracted money to this country.

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Terrorism in Kashmir – India

Last Updated: 2011/09/14

India is fighting the terrorists in kashmir since 1989. Pakistan fought three war on kashmir- 1947-48, 65, 1971. but his every attempt to snatch kashmir from india become futile. Pakistan army understood the edge of indian army over pakistan army in conventional warfare. So change their modus operandi and wage proxy war against india. Pakistan support, trained and financed the local kashmiri youth for jihad against india.

In 1990 Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) terrorist group launch the terrorist activities in kashmir. JKLF attacked the indian army, para millitary groups and minority community hindu. They were demanding the freedom from india and declare kashmir as independent nation. JKLF terrorist group mostly comprises local kashmiri muslim. There agenda was to liberate the kashmir. During the period from 1990 to 1992 terrorist group created independent area in kashmir region like batmallo, sopore, kupwara, pulwama, anantnag where even india troops can’t enter. During that period it viewed to pakistan that kashmir is in their hand. But they were wrong, indian army, para millitary force fought these terrorists.

Then in 1993 Indian Govt raised the Rashtriya Rifles, an elite army unit created exclusively for counter insurgency operations in Kashmir valley. That was turning point in counter insurgency operation in Kashmir. Pakistan also raised many terrorist factions to counter the monopoly of JKLF group which was demanding Kashmir as independent nation rather than joined Pakistan. So many terrorist factions were trained and supported by Pakistan like Harkat ul-Mujahedeen, Jaish-e-Muhammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba. Even Lashkar-e-Taiba divided into two faction al-Mansurin and al-Nasirin. These groups philiosphy was to merge the kashmir in pakistan.

During 1993 to 1995 terrorist groups were fighting each other. Indian army and para military forces launch operations against terrorist groups. Even Special task force and special operation group was raised by jammmu kashmir govt to fight the kashmir terrorist. During these period local support to terrorist group was diminshing. Terroist groups were avoiding the direct encounter with security forces. Now their strategy is to use the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and launch grenade attack.

Kashmir millitancy phase from 1995 to now comprises mostly foreign terrorists from afghanistan, pakistan etc. They were funded, armed and trained by pakistan and pushed into the indian kashmir for jihad against indian army. These foreigner mercenaries or terrorist get monthy salary and even lump sum payment to there family on death, so called martayr. These foreigner mercenaries launch fidayeen or suicidal attack on the security forces for maximum damage. These tactics used to boost the morale the new recruit terrorists.

Now terrorists group have low morale and so called jihad is vanishing from the Kashmir. Even Kargil intrusion in 1999 was launched by Pakistan army to raise the Kashmir conflict in the international community. This shows that Pakistan and terrorists have low self esteem and confidence in their jihad. So far 90,000 lives were lost in terrorism in Kashmir.

Can Indian sub-continent afford another partition like 1947?

So, if you want to find out more about Kashmir terrorists or especially about jihad in Kashmir that Indian army is facing.

Read more: Terrorism in Kashmir – India

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