Another Way to Enjoy Boracay

BORACAY DURING THE LEAN SEASON? WHY NOT!

Night parties, overflowing drinks, too much crowd, polluted shoreline, and so on are the prevailing comments we see (or hear) referring to the famous island of Boracay nowadays. This is not so surprising since the island has become one of the most, if not the top, prominent tourist destination in the country over the years. Just like any other now-commercialized tourist destination islands, Boracay was once a quiet and more picturesque island than it is today. I can definitely and personally attest to that owing to my first ever Boracay experience that can be dated back to 1999.

Roughly, fourteen years after my first visit. I took my wife, and I decided to have our 2nd honeymoon there to renew our vows. We were booked for a 4-days, 3-night stay on December 10-13, 2013. A month prior to our travel date, the Philippines was hit by super typhoon 'Yolanda' (Haiyan) where most of the Eastern Visayas Region was hit, including Boracay. Flights were cancelled and guests were stranded for a couple of days. Some of the guests scheduled after the typhoon up until those booked around December, foreign and local, intentionally cancelled their hotel bookings upon seeing how massive the damage was and expecting major rehabilitation and on-going relief operations. And so, I made sure that hotels and commercial establishments were up and running before we came. I kept on trying to recall the vivid memory I had in Boracay when I first came to visit. It's a bit hard but one thing's for sure: I cannot, in any way, remember any resorts and restaurants just right along the shore line. In a normal pace, December would have been a peak season in Boracay but because of the typhoon, we were lucky to have witnessed what Boracay is like during the lean season.

I was looking for the "crowded and polluted shoreline" side of Boracay which I had seen countless times in the news and in Facebook. I was, in a way, frustrated because I saw it myself that Boracay was not as exploited as how they portray it to be. There were only a few people and it was peaceful, and the water was so clear. The beach was still picturesque just the way I remembered it fourteen years ago.

After more than a year I had, once again, an opportunity to go to Boracay, this time together with my growing family. Around first week of April 2015 when my wife was four months pregnant, I had a chance to see Boracay on a peak season. So, again the beach was filled with a plethora of beach going vacationers. All frolicking on the white sand of the beach by day and partying in one of the many night clubs and bars at night.

Don't get me wrong I still had a blast with my family and friends but I can't help but yearn for the peace and quiet I enjoyed on my second visit back in 2013. So I guess visiting Boracay island during the lean season from the first week of June until the last week of October, might not be a bad idea.

To avail of affordable tour packages visit our Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/BesTravelAd/


 By Jeffrey Baluyot

Article Source: Another Way to Enjoy Boracay

Bleeding Hearts

''Mummy, mummy, mummy come ooo, yellow anty is dragging broda Ezeashi's 'hand-brake' oooo. She say she would cut his 'lugi' off ooo, she is dragging it as if she wants to pull it off.''

Little Kelechukwu ran off towards the direction he had come from. I followed him immediately, my inner instinct told me that Eziashi Austine was at it again, but this time around I was going to give him a piece of my mind. The fact that he is the only boy in the family shouldn't be a yard stick for him to always misbehave. If he wasn't smoking Igbo in the toilet, he would be drinking Alomo in the kitchen, or sniffing papa's snuff in the wardrobe... in a house full of kids! haba na, it was getting too much, who knows what he has done this time around.

kelechukwu stopped in front of Austin's room, I paused too. My nose picked up a funny smell, something smelt like oiled cucumbers (not the Anambra type).

I peeped into the room with the intention of catching the rascal unaware. It seemed like he was engaged in a hot argument with somebody, quickly I opened the door to forestall any physical confrontation.

''walahi my moni must complete before I leave here... if not, heaven will receive one visitor without a third leg and Insah Allah, I know it wouldn't be me.

I opened my mouth in shock, I couldn't believe what my eyes were seeing. Standing menacingly close to Austin was a fair, tall, and very clean girl, as fresh as yellow pawpaw, she was dressed like one of those girls in playboy mansion, and by the gods! She had Austin's 'Hand brake ' in her slim, firm hands!

From the look of things, Austin wasn't enjoying the 'hand job'. His face was contorted like a mallam's 'yansh' when he is 'shitting' strong shit. His eyes looked pleadingly at me, begging me to come to his aid.

I rushed in quickly to separate the quarrelling duo.

"Ka chineke ne me si ugwu... what in God's name is happening here?

eeeeehhhh... young lady, do you want to kill my only brother for me..

Can somebody tell me what is going on here", I screamed.

Austin started mumbling incomprehensively amidst heavy panting.

'it's... this, this, were almajiri...

The girl cut him short immediately...

"Aunty, abeg tell this useless brother of yours to pay me my money ooo, let him pay me my 100 thousand before heavy kasala will break loose here today ooo... abi you think I am one of those small small girls you mess around with".

You know the part where they say 'Blood is thicker than water? Well, it's actually very true for even though Austin was wrong, the blood in me stirred me up to his defense.

"Abeg Abeg Abeg... who be your aunty? Heh, answer me! May Thunda divide the balls that produced the dirty mouth you just used in calling my brother useless... are you insane, please if you don't know how to talk just shut up and get out!

The young lady was caught unawares, she calmed down and tearfully explained what transpired the previous night... I was shocked beyond expression.

I paused, looked from one person to another, my mouth opened slowly as the situation of things began to unfold.

It seemed Austin had regained his strength, so I asked him to explain his own side of the 'Nigerian movie' that was unfolding before me...

"Aunty, don't mind this criminal oooo... I saw her on the street, toasted her ooo and she agreed to be my friend. We came home and 'helped each other' now she is asking for money. Me I told her that I 'liked it better for free', real men don't pay for sex, why should I? After all she enjoyed it too."

"Thunder fire that your dirty mouthy!... For free... eehhhh! He be like say you dey craze, who you toast, I be like your level to you? guy if u no pay me my money sharp sharp gbege go gas for here na na" the now very wild girl screamed.

Little kelechi started laughing... 'Uncle pay her money oooo... you no know say even touching body don add money for market?

Come on close that your dirty mouth dia, I shouted at him... the young child kept giggling while Austin ran to hide behind me. The young rascal, he lacked the courage of a man but was always doing things meant for strong men.

Nedu eeeee (I called him by his pet name) eeh... so this is what you now do? This is what you spend the small pocket money I give you on? you now bring home prostitutes eeh. Austin oooo, where did you learn this one from ooo...

"Ehhhn, abeg, abeg, abeg, I no be prostitute ooo I am a professional sex therapist please. I decline and refuse to be addressed as a prostitute abeg" retorted the fair girl.

'Ehhhh, chisos ooo.,wonders shall never end. So prostitution has now gone professional, chai... what will I not see in this country, I said as I crossed my arms over my 'pimple' of a breast.

I turned to my very frightened brother; So Austin, you now employ the services of 'sexual therapist? I asked the scared young man with my finger pointing at his 'hand brake'

'hmmmm... well since you enjoyed the services of this young lady, I think you should pay her sharply without any further delay because 'na where person dey work im dey chop'... so saying I closed the door on them and dragged kelechi away from a scene that was obviously going to get messy.

Two hours later, Austin came to the backyard with a swollen eye and without his golden wrist watch and necklace.

''chai aunty... walahi, Kano girls are mad people oooo, that girl almost killed me...

I looked at him expressionlessly, though he did the wrong thing, but I just couldn't bring myself to chide the young rascal. He was sweet and looked so innocent, besides being the only brother I had. I just wished I could change him to be the responsible young man father always wanted him to be...

As I was there staring at him, my mind went back to my younger days as a teenager. I was about the same age as Eziashi Austine when I first met Obinna, he was every woman's dream... tall, handsome ebony dark with a smile that could melt even the heart of Jessica korchia. I had fallen instantly for him.

Obinna would do stuffs most guys wouldn't dare do... he would cook me surprise meals, rinse my clothes while I washed them and even make me up every morning. His generosity knew no bounds both to me and my friends. I felt on top of the world... like Queen Elizabeth on mount Everest...

Everything went good and smooth between us until I missed my period... then I saw a whole new Obinna, a beast in prince Charming's flesh.


 By Wilson Don Lee Levi


Article Source:  Bleeding Hearts

A Traveller's Guide for Exploring Singapore

If you need to experience the world, come to Singapore! Amidst the hustle bustle of busy billionaires, this cosmopolitan city has booster dosages of some world class and phenomenal attractions at affordable prices, endless restaurants, nightlife and gastronomic options, colourful local shopping experience, exotic beachside exploration, mesmerizing cultural diversity and everything else. Singapore is also known for its cleanliness, strict law, punctuality and public obedience. Here is your guide to explore the city of divinity - Singapore:

Flying to Singapore

The Changi International Airport (Airport Code: SIN) is located about 20 km away from the Singapore main city and some of the top Airline companies in Singapore include names like Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, AirAsia, TigerAir, Cebu Pacific, Lion Air and Jet. July and Christmas are the peak season.

For luxurious flying: Singapore Airlines provides you with French style luxurious suites/cabins that bestow you with your own corner of private space, personal bed, and international culinary and inflight entertainment. You can also experience luxurious flying with First Class and Business Class.

For Economy flying: TigerAir, Kayak and Jets are amongst the top rated Airline companies in Singapore that provides you the best services at the cheapest rates possible.

Staying at Singapore

Places to book hotels at Singapore

• Marina Bay - If you are going to stay in Singapore for a short duration, then the Marina Bay area is a one stop destination to explore both water and skyscrapers - two most important themes of Singapore. Though staying here can be a bit pricey (for it's a businessman's paradise), yet one cannot avoid it if he wants to explore the best restaurant and bars, nightlife and all major attractions of the city.

- Popular Hotels - Pan Pacific, Marina Mandarin, The Ritz Carlton.

• Clarke Quay - Book your hotel here if you are a party animal, backpacker, adventure enthusiast or a great foodie.

- Popular Hotels - Park Regis, Novotel Clarke Quay, Park Hotel.

• Sentosa - Those visiting with families, Sentosa is the best place to stay for this stretch of land is bestowed with dozens of attractions, beaches, greenery, resorts and a complete escape from the hustle bustle of the city.

- Popular Hotels - Siloso Beach Resort, Moevenpick Heritage Hotel, Capella.

Other popular places to stay in Singapore: Civic District, Little India, Bugis, Chinatown and Orchard Road.

Travelling within the city

Public Transport: Singapore is well connected with a network of Bus Operators (SMRT and SBS), Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), Taxis, Cable Cars and Trishaws. You can also travel via water, through ferry, to destinations like Clarke Quay, Boat Quay and Singapore Southern Islands.

Car Hire: Some of the top car hire companies in Singapore are Avis, Ace Drive, Sixt, Advance, Aka, Motorway and Asia Express. You can hire a car with charges as low as $30 a day.

Popular Things to See & Do

• Exploring temples - Singapore has a dynamic history and culture and one should start his journey with the divine touch of beautifully crafted and world renowned Hindu and Buddhist temples, mosques and cathedrals.

• National Museum of Singapore - Experience Singapore's past with static collections from the islands and events and history of this mighty land, at the National Museum of Singapore.

• Night Safari - Located few hours away from the main city, experience a thrilling nocturnal life at the world's first Night Safari. What's more? You can also witnesses' rare tribal performances as well.

• Orchard Road - Singapore is certainly a shopper's paradise and you can pick all those souvenirs, gift items, and clothing as well as fulfil all your gastronomic desires at the Orchard Road.

• Marina Bay - The very heart of Singapore- explore towering skyscrapers, the city's symbol 'Merlion', the Marina Bay sands, science museum, casinos, light shows, Esplanade and more at the Marina Bay.


By: Anna Jennai
Article Source: A Traveller's Guide for Exploring Singapore

Theme Your Way Into A Creative Mood

Creatives of every form and medium, from all walks of life and for as long as we can remember will all have one thing in common - the dreaded blank. Call it writers block, drawing a blank on a new canvas or a lack or idea in photography. No matter the medium, the creative will inevitably have to go through this.

The answer is to just get started. It might not be a masterpiece initially but the simple fact of getting yourself moving, drawing, writing and clicking will get the juices flowing again. Photographic creatives have a slight advantage up our sleeves, we can see tangible results immediately which will further stimulate our senses creatively.

One deceptively simple method that we have in our arsenal is the power of the theme. Working within a theme allows us to then concentrate on creative methods of expressing the theme rather than drawing a blank from the world at large.

To get you started or at least get you thinking about it, below are a few samples of themes that can be used as a guide or starting point.

Urban

There are heaps of hidden gems still around town, regardless of where you live. Doing some urban exploration safely is a great theme and there are plenty of social media sites that will help you get started.

Color

Pick one particular color and then click away. It can be that color in fruit, on the street, in the sky, water - your only limit is your imagination. Don't forget, color could actually mean lack of color. Think tones in black and white.

Street

Pick a street, any street. Preferably one with lots of foot traffic and then go forth and have some fun recording the daily goings on around you.

Food

Whether it's food at home, from a food van, restaurant or perhaps the making of a beautiful dish.

Signs

There's always an abundance of sometimes weird, wacky and often wonderful signs all around us. Experiment!

Buildings

If you're lucky enough to be able to get to cities that have some older buildings, stand up and take notice. There are some beautiful buildings with unbelievable architecture design both within and outside.

Golden Hour

This one is always a go-to theme for most. That beautiful part of the day called golden hour. That's the hour at dawn and the hour just before dusk. Beautiful colors should remove even the most stubborn of blocks!

The above is only a handful of ideas for themes. Hopefully this list is enough to get your imagination firing and to get you back out there and creating!

My crazy world has included successfully combining all the skills of a artist, photographer, designer, programmer, and marketer into one crazy life.

I'm available for guest blogging, article writing and speaking events.

~ Frank

Tazz 1 Pty Ltd

Follow me in my crazy world via my site
or Insta!


 By Frank Perez


Article Source: Theme Your Way Into A Creative Mood

Don't Miss Out on the World Around You, Start Traveling Today

Almost everyone wants to travel more, but many continue to put off life-changing trips. You never know what tomorrow holds, which is why it is so important to start experiencing the world today. The world is full of wonders that are just waiting for you to explore them.

There are many things that make traveling so difficult, but the biggest of all is the price. Many have plans for future travels but do not have the funds to support their dreams. Unfortunately, is no way to lower the costs completely. However, when you work with an agent, you will ensure that you are receiving the most competitive prices on the market.

Most agents are eager to work with you and find you the best deal. Agents usually have insider knowledge that you as a civilian won't. This means that they can find you deals that are not always readily available to the general public. Also, agents can take into account your budget and plan your trip accordingly.

Maybe funds are not the problem, but you just do not know where to start. Traveling the world can be a daunting task. When you have never been to an area, you may not know exactly what to expect. You can always read over reviews online, but you still will not have the first-hand knowledge that an expert will have.

Working with an agent can help you find the best quality resorts and excursions that fit your budget. Since they have worked with so many clients before you, they will have real life experiences to take into consideration when planning your trip. You can tailor how much you work with your agent, from a basic hotel booking to letting them plan your full itinerary.

Another common fear many have about international trips is that they will get scammed. Reserving a hotel or tour in another country can be very intimidating. Agents have worked with many resorts in the past and know which ones are secure. This will ensure that your funds are always safe and used correctly.

Another great perk to working with a company when planning your next trip is that you will have payment protection. The worst thing that can happen to someone who is a planning a trip is to have a last-minute cancellation. Most agencies will offer you payment protection up until the time of the trip. Life is very unexpected and payment protection is crucial when it comes to your future endeavors.

If you are not certain on where you would like to go or just want more information on traveling, it never hurts to talk one on one to an agent. When you partner with an agent, they can inform you on what to expect from various areas, while also offering you valuable knowledge on the base price of many trips. Most websites will allow you to request a quote from an agent or have contact information available.

Do not let life pass you by without fully enjoying the world around you. Vacationing around the world will not only be fun but can also be extremely enriching to your life. When you partner with a knowledgeable agent, you will receive the best care while ensuring that your trip is exactly how you want it.

Partnering with an experienced agent will give you complete peace of mind. You will know that you are getting the best trip possible for your money. You will also be certain that the resort you book will be of the best quality. You do not know what tomorrow brings, start planning your dream vacation today.

Lets Talk Travel is one of the most successful travel agencies based in the UK. The company works with clients to help plan and bring to life their dream vacation. They pride themselves on offering top-notch customer service to every individual they work with. Their award-winning agents are very knowledgeable and ready to help you. If you are more interested in planning the vacation yourself, the website also offers an online search and book option. Vacations booked through Lets Talk Travel will have 100% protection through ABTA and ATOL. Customers use this amazing website to book family vacations, business trips, cruises, honeymoons, and more! To speak to an agent about planning your dream trip, please visit http://www.letstalktravel.co.uk


 By Alnashir Janmohamed


Article Source: Don't Miss Out on the World Around You, Start Traveling Today

Top 23 Free Music Streaming Online Sites

Music is life. It inspires, elevates, changes moods and has the power to bring out the best in us. Without music, the world would make not very much meaning. There are many ways to access and listen to music, especially in the modern world.

Advancement in technology has made it very easy for us to access music on the go, online, via different mediums like smartphones, tablets, and mobile phones. If you want to enjoy unlimited access to great music that will cost you no money, here are the top 23 sites.

Spotify

With over 20 million song options, there is hardly any site that can beat Spotify when it comes to delivering quality music to the masses free. Users can open the site and listen to any music on their desktop, laptop, tablet and Apple devices.

iHeart Radio

This site is about one of the best online music site that does not have any paid subscription options whatsoever. With over 18 million songs, 4,500 artists and 1,500 live radio, this site offer the best options for all types of music lovers.

The Sixty One

If you are one of those people that believe that there are great songs that are unpopular, you would love this free music streaming site. They select great songs that have not been heard and put them in the limelight.

BandCamp

This free music sharing and streaming site offer something unique that benefits both the artist and the users. Artists can post their songs, while users can listen to the songs, add comments and support the songs.

Jango

This site offers music lovers the opportunity to search for thousands of music in different genre and categories, play the songs or play a collection of songs altogether. It is an excellent place to discover great music.

Last.fm

There are very few online sites that can offer users the opportunity to find great music, talented artists and exceptional bands than Last.fm. Users can also use the website's radio option to locate fresh music.

Pandora

This site is like an online radio station where you can find different types of songs, but with a little difference. During sign up, users are made to provide details of their favorite music genre, and Pandora will automatically forward them songs that relate to their interest.

iTunes Radio

Apple's premier online music streaming channel needs no introduction. Users are given access to over 25 million songs; they can play on their Mac and other iOS devices. The site updates every day with great new songs.

SoundCloud

Step into the world of unlimited music with SoundCloud collection of music supplied by the most creative talents on the planet. The site's uniqueness is attributed to its unique features, compatibility, and ability to share on social media.

RDIO

The RDIO model offers music lovers something extra unique among other sites. Users can listen to their favorite song or album, create a playlist, and listen to songs on multiple platforms like Android, Windows, and iOS.

Slacker Radio

Listen to all your favorite songs without any need to download on the Slacker Radio Platform. Users have access to more than 10 million songs they can play at any time and any day.

Di.fm

Listen to songs, find talented bands, get music information, all free at the Di.fm online music streaming site. It is loaded with cool features that enable you to choose songs based on categories like years of releases and genre.

Grooveshark

There are very few free online music streaming sites that can beat Grooveshark. Users are given the opportunity to explore cool features like unlimited streaming, social integration, folders and music selection options.

YouTube Disco

Although not very well known, this website offer users with the opportunity to search songs and playlists. You can also find your favorite artists, and use it online without any need for downloading.

Amazon Cloud play

With this free online streaming platform, music lovers can upload the playlist they already have and listen to them at any time. Also, when you purchase any songs on the Amazon, cloudplay automatically adds it to your playlist.

TubeRadio

This search engine offers something unique for music lovers. With TubeRadio, users can search for any songs and will be presented with a list they can choose. The site relies on YouTube to find and display the songs you're searching.

Live365

Internet radio is a phenomenon and live 365 has come to make the magic even more realistic. The website allows users to find online radio where they can listen to their favorite songs, from different parts of the world.

8tracks

The playlist has gone to another level thanks to 8track's innovative style. Anyone can sign up on the site, select eight tracks and share it. If you like the playlist, you can follow the creator or further share it on social media.

Jelli

Jelli offers music listeners the power to upvote and downvote a song they have listened. This way, the site owners will know which songs they should play more often and which ones they should eliminate.

Myspace

The social media site turn online music streaming site has been around for years. You can listen to songs from your favorite artists, or local artists, which are available in a huge selection on the website.

StereoMood

Mood-based playlist is becoming more and more popular because they offer a unique way. Songs are tagged together into a playlist based on the mood they express. Users can find the generated playlist and skip as they wish to listen to songs.

Turntable.fm

This site is another unique free music streaming site that strives to immerse users into a community. Anyone can sign up and join a room where a DJ plays songs based on their choice. If there is a vacant DJ spot, you can take it and serve others.

CitySound

While other online music streaming sound focus on the global audience, CitySound tries to focus on local content. Users can find their favorite music which comes from or are reigning in a particular location or city.

Music can easily make you forget everything that goes around you. Here are some top free music streaming sites which will help you spend some wonderful time. If you are looking for a Online Streaming Recorder then you can certainly check this site - Streaming Audio Recorder. If you have any query you can always get in touch with me.


 By Michael Sadeash Kumar


Article Source: Top 23 Free Music Streaming Online Sites

Trade-Offs That Matter

A few years ago, when both the national and world economies seemed unstable, my husband and I began casually prepping. It wasn't much. We picked up a few extra items here and there and stored them away, just in case.

I also decided that I was too dependent on the luxuries of modern life. If I needed water or electricity I could just turn a handle or flip a switch. It was a simple matter to run to the store to pick up any food or other items I needed. But at some point I asked myself what I'd do in the event those conveniences were no longer available. It was a scary conversation, to say the least.

So, along with storing a little bit of food away, I decided to learn some new skills. Not the general baking and sewing skills that I already had. But I wanted to learn how to make stuff that I'd always purchased in the past. I began using goat milk (we have goats) and making my own soap. I also used goat milk to make yogurt and cheese. I got hold of some vanilla beans and made my own vanilla. Then I decided I should grow my own vanilla. I got fruit from the store and learned how to do canning. And then I decided to start growing my own fruit. And on it went.

It was a great exercise, but the biggest thing I learned was that there is a trade-off for nearly everything. For example, alternatives to paper towels and toilet paper will most likely require water and soap. Water is easy if everything is up and running. But if the water system goes down, where will I get water? I could dig a well. But that takes time and money, and then I'll need to hand carry all that water. And making my own soap? I'll need to have lye and lard, along with various types of oils on hand. And I need heat. So all I will have accomplished is that I'll have substituted store-bought soap for store-bought lye, oils and lard, and electricity. The amount of labor required for making my own lye is too enormous, and I would need to get the wood to do it. The same is true for the oils and the lard. By the time I'm done, a single bar of soap will have cost me a fortune in materials and labor.

Growing fruit trees isn't hard, but it requires that I get water and fertilizer in place of paying the grocery store for the finished product. In the long run it will probably be cheaper, but it certainly won't be free. One way or another, it's going to cost me to get that fruit. I either pay the store, or I pay for water and fertilizer, and I put in some effort.

The moral of the story is that it is possible to become more self-sufficient, but it's still going to cost us one way or another. There will always be some sort of trade-off. I can substitute solar for electricity, for example, but I need the stuff that goes with it, such as panels, wire, inverter, charge controller and batteries. And those things won't last forever, so I must consider replacement value. I can have a well dug, but it means a lot of hand carrying of water, unless I'm going to spend the money on having it routed into the house. Then I must have the water tested periodically. And consider food items, such as meat. It's possible to get away from buying store-bought meat in order to raise my own, but instead of paying the grocery store, I pay for feed and healthcare, along with barns, butchering, and all the equipment that's needed. It's better for me, undoubtedly. But it's not free.

It's always good to be more self-sufficient, but it will still cost something. I either buy it, grow it, build it, or trade for it. A good example is sugar. I must either purchase it or trade with someone for it, or live without it. Otherwise, I have no way to producing enough sugar on my small piece of property. Or hay, for that matter. My goats and horses need hay. I don't have enough property to grow it. So I must find someone who does. I either trade for the meat, or I trade for the items to grow the meat myself. Either way, I pay for that meat.

Nearly everything convenient has a cost or labor-intensive trade-off. I need to understand what those trade-offs are, and make a decision on what's most important. A good way to start is by paying attention to everything I use and do throughout the day. As I discover something, such as needing a way to charge my electronic devices, I can look around for an alternative, such as a solar charger. Then I can weigh the costs and benefits and decide which way is best. Some things aren't worth it. For example, I find that it's just plain cheaper to buy vanilla from the store. But if things go sideways, I at least know how it's made. The same could be said for other types of food. It may be cheaper right now to just buy it. But it's not a bad idea to know how to do it myself, and know what type of equipment or supplies are needed in order to accomplish the task.

It's a wonder our ancestors accomplished as much as they did, knowing now how much labor is involved in manually doing some things we have machines for these days. They spent hours on washing, cooking and building because they had to first grow and develop their resources, and then gather them by hand before any work could start. And though it's a lot of work, I highly recommend that people go through this exercise. Why? First, it makes them appreciate our modern conveniences. But second, and more importantly, it helps them think through all the trade-offs that will be required. They can then make more informed decisions on what things are important and what, ultimately, can be cast to the wayside.

We can't live without the basics of food, water, clothing and shelter. But if I can no longer charge my cell phone? I can live without that. It's critical that I focus on the trade-offs that really matter. Then I'll be prepared with the supplies and time for the important things so that I can not only survive, but thrive through the hard times.

Dr. Norita Sieffert has been a Christian author and speaker for more than twenty years. Her latest book, Unprepared, highlights the difficulties of surviving in a post-apocalyptic world. Visit her website at http://www.nsieffert.com to keep up with the latest on the upcoming sequel to Unprepared, or drop her an email at  author@nsieffert.com.


 By Norita Sieffert


Article Source: Trade-Offs That Matter

Three Reasons You Should Be Prepping Now

Need a good reason to prep? I have three really good ones. There are probably hundreds of reasons people prep but there are three critical reasons that you need to be prepping now. For starters there is an increasing sentiment in the United States that we are now entering or already in a Second Civil War. Though this idea is shared by many in the prepping community, this is not an idea shared only by a fringe element. Increasingly more mainstream people with a national reach are voicing this very idea. For instance conservative radio talk show host Dennis Prager has recently written a column, which is gaining a lot of attention, entitled, "America's second Civil War." In this piece he states," Americans are more divided morally, ideologically and politically today than they were during the Civil War. For that reason, just as the Great War came to be known as World War I once there was World War II, the Civil War will become known as the First Civil War when more Americans come to regard the current battle as the Second Civil War."

Mr. Prager goes on to say that though thus far it has been largely nonviolent, there is no guarantee it will stay that way. As this war continues on groups are beginning to act out by breaking windows, burning buildings, destroying vehicles and lighting them on fire, and brutally beating people that they disagree with. These tactics may continue to escalate and some have suggested that these riots are going to move out from the larger cities and into more rural communities. One thing is clear and that is if these riots continue to escalate law enforcement will be overwhelmed. If they do indeed move into smaller towns police officers there will be able to do little more than watch.

If tensions do indeed continue to ratchet up, and I think there is a good chance they will, protecting your family is going to be your responsibility. If there is a physical civil war the odds of law enforcement being able to help you will be slim.

To continue down the path of war, tensions between nations have been building as well. China is building islands in the South China Sea. This area of the South China Sea is disputed territory and China is not building these islands as some sort of vacation get away, these islands are militarized. ISIS is still alive and has operative spread throughout the world to include right here in the United States. Former Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev recently told Time Magazine that, "Politicians and military leaders sound increasingly belligerent and defense doctrines more dangerous." He also said that, "It all looks like the world is preparing for war."

The third reason for preparing is economic disaster. We are about to hit $20,000,000,000,000 (that's 20 trillion) U.S. Debt. This of course does not include unfunded liabilities. In June of 2016 the U.S. Had unfunded liabilities over $100 trillion. If that's not bad enough, according to David Perdu a junior U.S. senator from Georgia when the fed raised interest rates 0.25% that an additional $50 billion dollars annually, added to U.S. Debt. If rates continue to rise as they should, the U.S. Will be unable to service its debt. Federal direct revenue for 2017 is expected to be $3.6 trillion dollars while federal expenditures are expected to top $4.15 trillion. I am no financial expert but this sounds like a government in trouble and headed for its own version of the Zimbabwe meltdown. By now everyone has heard the Wiemar Republic story of a woman with a wheelbarrow full of money going to buy a loaf of bread only to have it stolen, (not the money, just the wheel barrow). The story may not be real but the idea behind it is. In Zimbabwe everyone is a millionaire and everyone is broke.

A financial collapse here would be devastating. With tensions already high here, shortages of food and supplies would make for a serious powder keg. You are going to need some way to feed your family and keep them safe. The majority of the U.S. Population is used to going to the local grocer or mega mart and picking what they need when they need it. When that is no longer an option and they have no supplies, no idea how to grow their own food or procure it by hunting or gather, they will be looking at you.

These are some very powerful reasons to take a second look at prepping. Those people you thought were off their rocker might actually be pretty securely fastened to that chair and though there are no guarantees that you will be ready for the unforeseen you will definitely have a better chance.

For More information and ideas go to http://www.PreppingInRealLife.com


 By Richard L Burkey

Article Source: Three Reasons You Should Be Prepping Now

Writing Systems Define Their Own Sciences

The world would have been much simpler than it is if only one writing system exists. One of the most salient characteristic of human civilization is there are many writing systems, some with great variations. Tremendous efforts and time have been taken by billions of people in learning other languages and associated cultures and sciences. There is an immediate need to investigate how the variations mean to science. It is taken for granted that science can be represented in different writing systems and still being the same science. That apparently belittles and overlooks writing system, or simply bypass it altogether. Our opinion is totally different since it is considered the foundation of science.

1 writing systems build their own sciences

Even though describing same theories and experiments, science of one writing system should be considered not the same of another since stemming from different foundations, which vary with each other by exactly their visual features and manners of reading them. That represents the essential differences between their sciences. For instance, there are Korean science, Russian science.

2 textual classification of science

Conventionally, science is subdivided regarding its non-textual portion, which are the information things present to our senses. For example, a photo of a blue sky with stars relates to astronomy, while a photo of cats relates to zoology. Since the sciences of different systems are considered separate ones, it is necessary to introduce a new method of classification of science based on the types of writing system, which is a more basic level of classification of science than the branches and disciplines. E.g. In the photos of the sky and cats described by Korean or Russian, Korean and Russian sciences are more basic level divisions than astronomy and zoology. The development of non-textual portions of science are based on specific writing systems. The sky with Korean description can be called Korean astronomy.

3 translation

A scientific mind usually cannot understand science in non-textual mode. When science is written in a language they are not acquainted to, translation is needed, in mental, oral or written form. During translation, they are employing their textual mind to learn the science written in another system, aiming to approximate the explanations and incorporate non-textual portions of the source system into their own system.

Intuitively, people think that they translate to represent the same science. In fact, by translation, they are expanding their own foundation. When people read the translated work, they are actually learning a science different from the original one, even the non-textual portion is the same. People do not acquire the exact science until they learn the source texts.

Based on translations, people also develop their own work without referencing the source texts. As a result, translations can develop science of increasing variation from the original system's. The greater difference between the symbol shapes and word patterns of the source system and target system, the more variations there would be.

4 quality of science

Knowing a writing system founds its own science is important because different systems usually are not equal in the properties, particularly for those with distinct symbol shapes. The differences on the key properties of the written languages lead to differences in the key qualities of their sciences. That is to say, the quality of science is determined by the specific writing system. Theoretically, the textual foundations facilitate as well as limit the scientific progress qualitatively.

Although having writing systems as their foundations, the assessment of science is based on their effects - the inventions and discoveries and changes of the non-textual world that benefit humanity. An important aspect of our writing-centered model of science is that non-texts are built upon texts. That indicates the analysis and creation of non-texts are constrained by texts. Non-textual creations of one system might not be within the capability of another.

Conclusion

This is a consequential paper of "language - the core of science".

Science is a conceptual term. Our argument should also be applied to fields of technology, engineering and other areas deemed to be scientific. It is crucial to separate them regarding the types of writing system in this bewildering complex multilingual and scientific world.


 By Charley Pein


Article Source: Writing Systems Define Their Own Sciences

Opposing Intelligent Design Is Not Intelligent

Many people, even people with respected scientific credentials, suggest that the universe - even the amazing and vast varieties of life on our planet - are not functions of intelligent design but rather that of random chance natural happenings. In some academic settings today, to advocate "Intelligent Design" as a teacher or professor is to assure a marginalized position at best and loss of position at worst. To me, this is irrefutable evidence of foolishness by the intellectuals who run mainstream academia in our day.

To illustrate my point, I ran a little scientific experiment of my own. I want you to consider the implications of this simple experiment. First, I will describe my experiment, in case you want to duplicate it and compare results. (This is how true scientific experiments work.) My experiment went like this:

I used an online random generator to assemble 109 consecutive letters from our 26-letter alphabet. (Yes, I had a reason for choosing 109; you'll see later.) Then I generated random numbers from 1-10. I used these numbers to insert spaces, creating random "words." Next, I again generated random numbers from 1-10, using these to identify which letters would be capitalized. Finally, I randomly chose a series of four punctuation marks (period, comma, dash and question mark). (Though there are other punctuation marks in our language, I thought use of these four common possibilities would suffice for my simple experiment.) Having randomly generated the sequence of punctuation marks, I then inserted these at random intervals from 1-10 spaces.

Below is the result of all that randomness:

fqzjJ mfv.lMa lYy.na jXn,rcdq oeRv- f?ufx,Cdyi t.fttcoE p,faWobrz?v,j A.ypIllzf uf-Z.butdmt.wfH k,tndazj-m?o Gnigchy,aHi x.gjgXktSbs,xe bljd tK

Now, compare that result of randomness to the following 109 letters with spaces, capitalization, and punctuation from Psalm 51: "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me, Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me" (verses 10 & 11). Only an absolute fool would deny design and purpose in the construction of those words from Scripture. You can confidently conclude, without having witnessed it being done, that an intelligent order of letters and spaces and punctuation was done on purpose, not by accident. Likewise, only a fool would see anything but chaos in the random results I documented from my experiment. And a rational mind should expect nothing else.

Scientists at least ask you and me to believe - whether they believe it or not - that Psalm 51 could be created by those random processes I used - if we allow enough time for innumerable reordering of letters, spaces, and punctuation by random "chance." Though that might be theoretically possible, it is not a philosophically sound assumption to expect it ever to actually happen. And, if it did eventually happen, those 29 words would be buried in a huge mountain of waste paper. I am not mathematician enough to begin to estimate the size of that mountain. Let me help you begin to digest the unlikelihood of generating that little Psalm passage via random selection.

For simplicity sake, let's just assume that all we needed were the letters (capital and lower case) and spaces. For sake of this point of illustration, we shall ignore all punctuation. Thus, the random options would be 53 (26 lower case letters, 26 uppercase letters, and a space). Let's look at the probability of randomly achieving just the first word, "Create." The probability of randomly getting the first letter - "C" - is a one in 53 chance. That is not highly likely, but within the realm of possibility to most of our minds. Right?

Suppose you are fortunate and randomly get that capital "C", the probability that you would get the next letter, the lower case "r", is also one in 53. That same probability exists for each following letter, (e, a, t, e). If you are not aware of calculating statistical probability, here is how that works: The probability of getting the correct sequence of letters multiplies with each additional letter. Thus, to get a capital "c", followed by a lower case "r" is one in 53 times 53, or one in 2,809. To get the capital "c" followed by a lower case "r", followed by a lower case "e" is one in 53 times 53 times 53, or one in 148,877. Calculating the probability of randomly achieving the whole word "Create" would be one in (53 x 53 x 53 x 53 x 53 x 53) or one in 22,164,361,129. That is one chance in over 22 billion tries - just to get the first word, the first six letters correct. Oh, wait a minute: If we want to add the "space" after the word Create, the probability increases another 53 times. Now we are up to one in 1,174,711,139,837 chance of seeing this by random action. That is one chance in over one trillion random tries.

Remember, we have only "created" the word Create with the appropriate space after it. There are over 100 letters and spaces to go, with each successive letter increasing the probability by 53 times. I'll let you do the rest of the math if you are interested. I don't think you really need to do that; we have seen, in the random creation of the first word, a mind-blowing improbability.

You should easily see that no rational mind would expect that little Psalm passage would ever be generated by randomness. It grossly insults our intellect to suggest otherwise. Clearly, a creative mind was behind the penning of those verses. We may not know the specific mind that created the words in the verses, but we would not doubt that there was a mind behind the words. Likewise, as we honestly look at our world, we see so much evidence of "Intelligence behind the scene" that randomness is ruled out as a rational explanation of the phenomena we encounter.

Let us assume that all the prerequisites of life somehow existed on planet earth - naturally. That would be similar to assuming that the alphabet was a natural occurrence. For sake of illustration, let's assume both existed on their own - naturally. So, if all the necessary elements of life just happened to be lying around on planet Earth, randomness could conceivably create life. The life that randomness would create, however, would not look anything like the life we see all around us. The life we see is highly complex and highly ordered - actually far more complex than those Psalm verses. Whatever the "life" that randomness would create would surely look like the chaotic mess of my experiment - nothing close to the beauty of life in the air, on the land and in the seas.

Tucked into the Genesis creation story are some important words and phrases, the significance of which can be easily overlooked. Repeatedly, we read of trees and vegetation with "seed and fruit," which refer to the reproductive process put into the organisms. At least twice, we read of the Maker speaking to the creatures, "be fruitful and multiply." I submit that it is this feature of life on planet earth that absolutely removes "randomness" from the rational explanation of ourselves and the teeming life all around us.

Clearly we were designed to reproduce our lives. Individual cells were designed to reproduce. Organisms were designed to reproduce. And they are designed to reproduce "according to their kinds." Furthermore, this reproductive process is different for different plants and different animals; even in this vast array of reproductive processes we should see design, not randomness.

When I contemplate the scientific minds of my day who attribute our universe -
and especially life on our planet, to mere random chances of nature, I cannot help but recall words of the Apostle Paul written over 2000 years ago. Speaking of fallen humanity, who rejected the Maker and made gods for themselves, he said, "Professing to be wise, they became fools... " (Romans 1:22). For well over a century, people who "profess to be wise", people who are revered as wise by most of us, have rejected the Maker as "unscientific speculation." The Psalmist's words still ring true: "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.' " (Psalm 14:1). The strong bias in our day against the presentation of "design" is because secular educators know it is a very small step from contemplating design to contemplating a Designer. And the secularists must oppose this passionately.

I wrote this piece to encourage you to think for yourself. You do not have to be as intellectually brilliant as Richard Dawkins to reason for yourself about these crucial matters of life. I am certainly not Dawkins-bright. You do not have to be intimidated by the intellectual brilliance of others; I am not. Sometimes intellectually bright people become so enamored with their brilliance that they choose to believe some philosophically irrational stuff. To deny design in nature is just one such example of this error.

Finally, lest anyone think I think I have just proven the existence of God, or especially the God of the Bible, I am not so deluded. I have only suggested that a rational look at the evidence before us makes it more than reasonable to ponder the Amazing Intelligence behind the amazing creation. When we are prepared to honestly ponder and seek to know more about this Creator, the Bible begins to speak on page one. From there to the last page of the Revelation, the Bible forms a lens through which we can more clearly see our world, ourselves and the One who made it all. It emphatically declares that you are no cosmic accident; you were created on purpose for a purpose by the God who made everything. I pray you find Him and find your purpose in Him.

(All Scripture verses cited are from the New International Version.)

Dane Tyner is founder and director of Home Improvement Ministry, Inc. in Tulsa, OK. The ministry exists to assist Bible-teaching churches as they attempt to address the great needs of families in our day. Find out more about Dane or H.I.M. at the ministry website: http://www.forhim.org.


 By Dane Tyner


Article Source: Opposing Intelligent Design Is Not Intelligent

Types of Child Counseling

When a kid is growing up, he is going through a long developmental period. At times, it is hard for kids to deal with the day-to-day stress and bad experiences. One way to help your kid deal with these issues is to seek help from a child counselor. Read on to know more about it.

Does your child need counseling?

How can you find out if your kid really needs counseling? As a matter of fact, it's hard to determine if your kid is just acting up or he needs help to deal with a serious issue that he may have. So, if you have been trying to get the answer to this question, all you have to do is trust your gut and use the common signs of distress in a kid. Below are a few signs that you should be aware of:

� Your kid doesn't get enough sleep or his eating behavior has changed

� Your kid acts out aggressively

� He doesn't get good grades

� He doesn't show any interest in his studies

� He falls sick more often

So, if you notice these changes in your kid, you should rest assured that you have a bigger problem to deal with. Therefore, you should get in touch with your doctor in order to get advice and recommendations.

What child therapy Should You Go For?

You can benefit from various counseling methods. To choose the right method, all you have to do is determine your kid's needs. At times, multiple methods are used for the same kid. For kids, you can choose from a variety of therapies. Some of them are listed below:

Talk/Play Therapy:

If your kid finds it hard to talk about a certain subject or trauma, we suggest that you take him to a professional for talk/play therapy. Your kid can make use of different objects, such as toys in order to tell you what they can't tell you through words. Some kids who were abused benefited from this therapy greatly.

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy:

Actually, this is a behavior-oriented therapy. It is based on some underlying issues that your kid is suffering from. Due to these issues, your kid may be acting out. According to experts, once you have addressed the underlying issues, your kid will start behaving normal once again. If this method doesn't work, your kid may need another special therapy.

Cognitive Therapy:

This therapy spurs on your kid to make positive changes to his thought process. This will help your kid identify harmful things that make him feel stress. Kids suffer from depression, anxiety and PTSD. If your kid shows these symptoms, we suggest that you try out this therapy. As a matter of fact, this is one of the most common therapies as far as child counseling goes.

Aside from this, family counseling is another form of counseling that can help your kid feel normal once again. The fact of the matter is that all of these therapies can treat your kid emotionally as well as psychologically. If your kid also needs help, we suggest that you take him to a good therapist.

Have you been looking for a good child counselor? If so, we suggest that you check out this article about child counseling.


 By Shalini Madhav

Article Source: Types of Child Counseling

Students Can Choose Countries Other Than the US or UK for Higher Education

Utrecht University, Netherlands is ranked at 86th position by education advisory Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, 2017. Apart from being affordable, the campus is an abode for students all around the world.

Phil Baty, World University Ranking Editor at Times Higher Education, said that cities such as Utrecht, Cape Town of Africa and Daejeon of South Korea have varsities in the Top 100 and this shows about the options students have. Though the rankings are topped by the US and UK but there are countries from Asia and Europe on the list also.

The Asian and European countries include Universities from Germany, Sweden, Belgium, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland and Finland. The University of Hong Kong is ranked at 43th position, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in South Korea is at 89th position and University of Cape Town in South Africa at 148th position among the top 150 universities on the list.

RSS Mani, Vice President of Institutional Development at the ITM Group of Institutions, said that environmental location of the university should not matter much. Rather students shall be more concerned about whether the university is reliable, the courses it offers, whether the country is immune to political issues and whether the students can adapt properly or not.

According to Education Consultants, the courses in Sweden are very well-planned and faculty is also of good quality.

Sweden has five globally acclaimed universities with a huge strength of foreign students. Karolinska Institute in Stockholm is ranked 28th by Times Higher Education ranking. It has ample scope for research, English courses and many students across the world.

According to a consultancy service, if a student wants to learn subjects like Genetics, Molecular Biology or Agricultural Engineering, Finland is a place to be. It offers an eighteen month work permit after completion of the course, trouble-free immigration policies and a better shared culture. The University of Helsinki, Finland is ranked at 91th position on the Times Higher Education list.

Chris Parr, Digital and Communities Editor at Times Higher Education World University Rankings stated that Hong Kong has six of the universities in the top 500 Times Higher Education ranking list and most of the university courses are taught in English and the universities have well-built associations with the employers which makes getting a job easy after completion of the degree.

According to an online counseling firm, China provides good job prospects to foreign students in Multinational Companies (MNCs).

For students who are interested in making a career in the field of photography or graphic design, Poland is the ultimate destination. The courses are taught by well-acclaimed professionals around the globe and the courses are affordable also

South Korea is the place for IT courses and jobs. Though the cost of tuition may be relatively low and the scholarship programmes are easy to avail but cost of living is expensive in some of the European countries. Looking for low-cost lodging in Stockholm takes time.

The Times Higher Education Editor highlighted the fact that most of the universities are still in the run of etablishing their status globally. Employers are thoughtful to a degree from a renowned institution in a country which is known for its high- quality education like the US or UK than they would do to a degree from a university that possibly they might have not heard of earlier.

Experts say that because of smaller Indian student communities in the unusual countries, one might feel like a stranger especially if English is not their first language. Initially understanding new culture is difficult but gradually one gets adapted to it.

India's leading online education portal with a user base of 7 million+ students and young professionals across 250 cities in India. It is the preferred destination of the multitudes of students in India seeking information on higher education. Minglebox offers best content on colleges, courses, test preps, exams, scholarships and admission news.


 By Anjana Krishnan


Article Source: Students Can Choose Countries Other Than the US or UK for Higher Education