Thursday, December 20, 2007

Telephones - The History Of 911

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell]Michael Russell In this article we’re going to discuss the people responsible for what is now our emergency call system known as 911. Actually, the first system in being to dial in case of emergency was used in Great Britain in 1937. In Great Britain the citizens there could dial 999 to either call for the police, medical assistance or the fire department in case of fire. This could be done from anywhere in the country by anyone owning or leasing a standard telephone. No special equipment was needed. It wasn’t until 1958 that the American Congress first investigated the possibility of a universal emergency number for the United States. Finally, in 1967, a legal mandate for this action was passed. The very first 911 call placed in the United States was on February 16, 1968 in Haleyville, Alabama made by the Alabama speaker of the house Rankin Fite. The call was answered by Congressman Tom Bevill. There was no actual emergency. The call was simply done as a test of the system itself. The difficulty in instituting the system was that the three numbers had to be three numbers that were not in use anywhere in the United States, neither as the first three digits of a phone number, nor as any of the individual states’ area codes. This had to also be true for all phone numbers in Canada as well. On top of that, the numbers had to be easy to use and remember. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) along with American Telephone And Telegraph (AT&T), which had a monopoly on phone services at the time, announced plans to build the first 911 system in Huntington, Indiana. The President of Alabama Telephone, a man by the name of Bob Gallagher, was annoyed that the independent phone industry had not been informed of this decision and consulted as to their thoughts so he decided to get the jump on AT&T and built the first emergency service in Haleyville, Alabama. Gallagher got together with his state inside plant manager, Bob Fitzgerald, who told Gallagher that he could go ahead with his plans. Gallagher then quickly went to get approval from Continental Telephone and the commissioner of Alabama Public Service and then put out a press release on February 9 to announce that the Alabama phone company would be making history. Fitzgerald went ahead and looked at all 27 Alabama exchanges and chose the Haleyville location. He then engineered new circuitry and made the necessary modifications needed for the existing equipment. Fitzgerald and his whole team worked around the clock and got the new 911 system up and running in under a week. The team was actually doing double duty at the time, working their regular day jobs and then traveling to Haleyville at night to complete the project. They did this at off peak hours so as not to interfere with normal operations. The project was completed on February 16, 1968 at exactly 2 PM. Eye witness accounts of the event say that when the work was finally completed the whole work team shouted, in unison, “Bingo!”. ——————————————————- Michael Russell Your Independent guide to [http://telephone-guides.com/]Telephones ——————————————————- Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell http://EzineArticles.com/?Telephones—The-History-Of-911&id=171138 ultram online pharmacy buy ultram 50mg cheap online purchase ultram tramadol without a prescription next day fedex
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Wednesday, December 19, 2007

The Unbaptized Wallet (A Stewardship Illustration)

By Rod Rogers There is a story told about Ivan the Great who ruled Russia as Czar in the 15th century. He was a warrior, a fighter, and a conqueror of kingdoms. The Soviet Union as we knew it a few years ago was basically put into place by Ivan the Great. Ivan was so busy doing battle that some of his comrades became concerned because he hadn’t taken time to get married and have a family. They came to him and said You’ve got to get married because you’ve got to have an heir to the throne. But Ivan said I want to do battle and to conquer more territory, you go find a wife for me. So they did. Ivan’s men found a wife for him from the daughter of the king of Greece, a beautiful girl. They said to Ivan, We found a wife for you, but there’s one problem. What’s that? he asked. If you’re going to marry her, you have to be Greek Orthodox, they said. Ivan the Great said, Well, if you think she’d make a good wife for me, that’s no problem, I could be Greek Orthodox. The king of Greece was thrilled with this because it meant that Ivan wasn’t going to invade his territory. So the Greeks sent tutors to Russia to tutor Ivan and 500 of his elite soldiers, everyone a great warrior. The soldiers required tutoring because Ivan said, If I’m going to be Greek Orthodox, they’re going to be Greek Orthodox. They tutored all these men in the Greek Orthodox faith and finally Ivan and the soldiers went down to Greece for the wedding. But before the marriage they had to be baptized into the Greek Orthodox church. It was an incredible sight as thousands of people came to watch Ivan the Great and his 500 soldiers all wade into the water at one time to be baptized by immersion into their new church. Five hundred soldiers with full armor and five hundred Greek Orthodox priests were standing in the blue water of the Mediterranean Sea for the baptism, when all of a sudden the king of Greece said, We’ve got a problem. The problem was that in the Greek Orthodox church you could not be a warrior and a member of the church at the same time. So they held a hastily-called diplomatic meeting in the water to ask, “How are we going to work this out?” They came up with a simple answer. Just before the priests immersed the soldiers, each man took out his sword, held it high above the water, and allowed the priest to baptize everything but his sword arm. This came to be known as the unbaptized arm. There are many Christians today who have unbaptized checkbooks. They have dedicated every part of their life to God except their money. As someone has said, “The last thing to be converted is our pocketbook.” Copyright 2006 Rod Rogers Rod Rogers, D.Min., is a stewardship consultant, speaker, and author. His ten-step Dynamic Giving System has helped over 900 churches worldwide biblically increase their giving 10% - 300% in five weeks. Get a FREE twelve-page eSermon when you sign up for his FREE monthly e-zine. http://www.profitautomation.com/app/contact.asp?id=64228 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rod_Rogers http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Unbaptized-Wallet-(A-Stewardship-Illustration)&id=166647 where to buy cheap ultram buy ultram prescription cheap online pharmacy tramadol purchase ultram
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Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Marketing; Watching Buying Activity, Revenue, Expenses and Customer Response

By Lance Winslow Is your company’s marketing achieving a good return on investment? Is the marketing that you put out and the message you put out to your target market and potential customer bringing them in? When these customers come in are they buying stuff? You need to be watching the buying activity of your clientele and customers and chart where they are coming in and why? Did they see an advertisement, a promotional marketing event or did a long-standing customer refer them. Are you getting a good return on investment on your marketing dollar? Are you focusing your money on making sure that your target market understands your message and remembers your company? Is your marketing increasing the number up buyers and purchasers of your products and services? Do you know the answer to these questions; you should. This is not to say that focus all of your time and your efforts on charting or tracking the results of your marketing, but if you do not know if you are getting a proper return on investment on your advertising and marketing expenditures then one has to ask if you are a competent and savvy businessperson? If your business acumen is on the low side then perhaps you need a little data and proof of return on investment to make up for it. I hope you will consider this in 2006. “Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance in the Online Think Tank and solve the problems of the World; www.WorldThinkTank.net/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow http://EzineArticles.com/?Marketing;-Watching-Buying-Activity,-Revenue,-Expenses-and-Customer-Response&id=226093 prescription services ultram buy tramadol ultram online pharmacy tramadol cheap no prescription
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Monday, December 17, 2007

A Brief History Of Reverse Painting On Glass

By Mayanne Mackay Reverse painting on glass has been a form of artexpression since extremely ancient times. It is difficult to precisely date a number of much more ancientartworks. Art history has revealed that painting on glass became quite fashionable in Italy during the Renaissance. Italian paintings on glass during the 14th and 15th centuries were associated with Venice and with the Island of Murano. These paintings were primarilyminiatureswhich later began to be utilised as alters and reliquaries in churches. Gradually a more artisanal approach began to develop in which artists copied well-liked landscapes or painted portraits and biblical representations. By the 17th century painting on glass had spread to Austria and the characteristics of this work now began to be influenced by a more popular form of art which also led to the development of small family industries of painters on glass. In Europe the reverse painting technique had by this time reached as far north as Poland.In those times glass-making was carried out by methods that gave glass a very characteristic appearance due to the glass being blown and not poured.There existed certainproblems in creating high enough temperatures which allowed for the successful fusion of chemicals that were used, and which consequently permitted identification of paintings on glass from a much earlier era. The knowledge for painting on glass began to spread through Europe when glass makers were forced tomigrate due to diminishing supplies of quartz sand, or when wood supplies were lacking which prevented them from creating the fires they needed to make glass. With transportation becoming more efficient frontier taxes began to increase and the necessary chemical additives became more expensive.This led to a constant movement and migration of glassmakers all through Europe. The technique of painting on glass has created its own cultural art history not only in Europe but also in India, China and The Far East, North America, South America, The Middle East and Africa. Extract from “A guide to reverse painting on glass” at http://www.artpostermania.com (English and French website) Copyright Mayanne Mackay 2005 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mayanne_Mackay http://EzineArticles.com/?A-Brief-History-Of-Reverse-Painting-On-Glass&id=47120 how to buy phentermine phentermine waterview pharmacy phentermine no prescription overnight delivery cheap phentermine online consultation
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Sunday, December 16, 2007

Can You Earn Any Cash Investing In Coins

By Douglas Taylor Anything you invest your money into will have some risk involved. Coin collecting can be a fulfilling and rewarding hobby but if you want to make a profit from your coin buying you need to be prepared for this risk. Make sure you do enough research on the coin you are considering. If you do not have enough knowledge please seek the advice of a coin collecting professional before sinking a bunch of money in something. You can buy a fake coin all too easily if you do not have the proper knowledge. Counterfeit coins that have been altered are not uncommon. Even the pros with many years experience can sometimes be fooled by some of the better counterfeits. Less than honest people may alter a common coin by adding a mintmark and make it look real to boot. If the coin has been certified by one of the major graders this should go a long ways in easing your mind. In the absence of a professional make sure you have enough knowledge to accurately judge the coin. The value of a coin is often marked with a certain grade. You must know if this grade is correct. Things like whether the coin has been cleaned and how much wear it has will affect the grade of the coin. Remember whatever grade the coin has been assigned is just an opinion. Sometimes the graders do not always agree on everything so go with someone you respect and trust. The coin market is no more stable than the stock market in many ways. You can buy a coin and have the value fall by the time you get ready to sell. This means you have the chance for big time gains or big time losses. You may want to buy the coins you have been wanting and hold on to them for a while and when you get ready to sell them they might be worth more than you paid for them. Investing in coins could finance your coin collecting hobby if you do things right. For more information on how to value coins using a coin value guide visit http://www.find-coins.com where will find useful tips, articles and resources to help you find old coins Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Douglas_Taylor http://EzineArticles.com/?Can-You-Earn-Any-Cash-Investing-In-Coins&id=522287 cheap non prescription phentermine buy phentermine site phentermine without prescription free shipping no prescription for phentermine
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Saturday, December 15, 2007

Humans Can’t Get Bird Flu from Humans: But that Could Change Soon

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=George_McKenzie] George McKenzie Bird flu, or avian flu, is an influenza virus strain that typically infects birds - including wild birds like ducks and domestic birds like chickens. There are many forms of bird flu, and most are relatively harmless, producing mild symptoms or even no symptoms. However, several strains of bird flu produce a highly contagious disease that kills quickly and could lead to a massive bird flu epidemic. These dangerous viruses are known as “highly pathogenic avian influenza.” One such bird flu virus is currently spreading among chickens in Asian countries. In recent years it was discovered that the bird flu virus can infect people who have close contact with live birds. The current strain cannot be passed from human to human, but heath officials say it may mutate and become contagious in our species. If that happens, according to David Nabarro of the U.N. and World Health Organization, “an epidemic could kill between 5 and 150 million people,” which would be a much larger disaster than 2004’s Asian Tsunami and 2005’s U.S. hurricanes combined. Symptoms of bird flu (avian flu) in humans include: Conjunctivitis Cough Fever Muscle aches Sore throat (Severe cases) Breathing problem and pneumonia How dangerous is bird flu? Bird flu can be fatal. There have been a number of small outbreaks of bird flu since 1997, and people who get it appear to have a high mortality rate. *1997 Hong Kong - 18 people were infected and 6 people died. *There were two cases and one death in Hong Kong in 2003. *As many as 10 deaths have been linked to an outbreak in a number of Asian countries last year. How can bird flu be treated? Anyone with bird flu symptoms should see a health care professional immediately. The bird flu virus currently infecting birds in Asia that has caused human illness and death appears to be resistant to Tamiflu, according to officials at Queen Mary Hospital in Australia. Tamiflu is the most common drug used to treat flu in humans. There currently is no vaccine to protect humans against the strain of bird flu virus that’s been detected in Asia. However, research studies to test a bird flu vaccine to protect humans began in April 2005. Additional information and resources, including tips for avoiding bird flu, can be found at http://www.symptoms.name/birdflusymptoms.htm George McKenzie is a freelance writer and CEO of Mastermind Learning Systems [http://www.mastermindlearning.com] http://www.mastermindlearning.com He’s a former TV news anchor and radio talk show host. Article Source: [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=George_McKenzie ] http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_McKenzie [http://ezinearticles.com/?Humans-Cant-Get-Bird-Flu-from-Humans:-But-that-Could-Change-Soon&id=80774 ] http://EzineArticles.com/?Humans-Cant-Get-Bird-Flu-from-Humans:-But-that-Could-Change-Soon&id=80774 cheap non prescription phentermine buy phentermine without a doctor cheapest phentermine pharmacy get a prescription for phentermine
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Friday, December 14, 2007

Tips For Growing Beautiful House Plants Even If You’re A Beginner

By Mary Hanna If you are new to live house plants, you may not have noticed the popularity of some of the tropical plants. Many thought for years that those tropical plants would not survive the dry hot atmosphere inside the house. Naturally some do better than others and you should look for thick leathery foliage, for placing in your home. Their ability to survive and to thrive is because the leaves are tough in texture and some are constructed so that minimum amount of moisture loss is slowed down. The Christmas Cactus is a typical example. On the other hand plants like the maidenhair fern have thin leaves allowing for quick evaporation and do not fair well in dry hot rooms. However, you could hang a Maidenhead Fern in a bathroom where steam form the shower or bath would help it retain its moisture. If you added moisture to any other of your rooms, say with a humidifier, it may be detrimental to your furnishings or art work. There are steps to take when decorating with house plants. Try to buy your plants after the need for heat is over. This will give the plant time to get use to the atmosphere with plenty of fresh air, and allow the foliage to harden while preparing the plant for the unfavorable conditions of heated rooms. It is always important to keep the leaves free of dust so as not to clog their pores. Watering is always a delicate balance. Rule of thumb is that a plant in active growth will always need more water that those that are dormant. During the growing season, April to October, plants will use more water then in other times of the year. To be really safe buy an inexpensive water meter from your Nursery Garden Supply store. Generally, potted plants should be watered when moderately dry. Be sure to give a good soak right down to the drainage hole. A few sprinkles of water a few times a week will do nothing for the feeding roots that are situated at the bottom of the pot. There is a tip for checking if the plant is dry at the bottom. Tap the plant half way down the pot with your knuckles, if a hallow sound is heard it needs water. If you heard a dull noise, it does not require water. Always water the plant with water that is at room temperature so as not to shock the roots. One sure sign that the plant is over watered is sickly yellow leaves. Stop watering immediately. Use a pointed stick to aerate the soil around the plant and do not water again until the soil is quite dry. Inspect your plants daily since some pots retain water while others do not. If using unglazed pots do not place them directly on a table or you will get damage from water seepage. You must feed the plants to keep them healthy and happy. Plants that are well rooted and thriving need more feeding. Be diligent from May to August. Use a fertilizer like Miracle Grow for easy nourishment. Visit Mary Hannas websites at: GardeningHerb, CruiseTravelDirectory and ContainerGardeningSecrets. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Hanna http://EzineArticles.com/?Tips-For-Growing-Beautiful-House-Plants-Even-If-Youre-A-Beginner&id=175000 buy phentermine no prescription required get phentermine without a prescription phentermine diet pills online buy phentermine from canada
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Thursday, December 13, 2007

Breakthrough for the Business Person: How to Overcome Career Disappointment and Create Your World

By Paul Davis Disappointment is something we all deal with at different times in our lives. When your vision for the future nowhere to be seen in your present it is easy to be disillusioned. Nevertheless there is a way to create your world and to get your internal reality to manifest outwardly. Be encouraged! Your present reality is not your destiny! Here are 12 Secrets to Overcome Career Disappointment and Create Your World 1. See the big picture Hold to your inward vision despite that which you see going on around about you. If you can see it, you can conceive it. Your vision is your ultimate mission. Though your job description may be miniscule and confining, your vision should be magnificent, liberating and invigorating. Remember what you see is not for everybody. Maintain rejoicing in yourself alone, as you journey toward the realization of your dream. 2. Dont sweat the small stuff Dont let trivial irritants obscure your vision and thwart your progression toward your future. Sometimes it is the small stuff that can be most aggravating. Its easier to dodge a rock than if someone were to come up and throw sand in your eyes. The smallest of things sometimes can be the most hindering. Avoid unnecessary conversations and complaining sessions among your coworkers. Be productive and avoid conversations that are corrosive. Focus on the future and stay on track in your journey to get there. Tune out to the small stuff that comes to distract you from your dream, detour you en route to your future and demobilize you by entangling you in pointless conversations. 3. Go where you are celebrated not merely tolerated The majority of people will not acknowledge or see your gifts, talents and unique abilities. Dont be surprised. Most people are selflessly fixated and still trying to discover their own uniqueness. Those who are self-aware are often fully engaged in realizing their own dreams. Dont be alarmed if they dont give you the time of day. Nevertheless serendipity will shine on you and cause divine relationships and appointments to come your way. As you cross paths and intersect with like minded people who celebrate your gifts take heed to what they say, express and see pertaining to your destiny. Remember oranges dont grow in Alaska. If you want to grow oranges, try Florida or California. Likewise must you be planted in an environment and climate conducive to your personal growth and enrichment. Only you will know what that is based on the treasures within you are endeavoring to bring forth. Go where you are celebrated not merely tolerated. 4. Guard your tongue and flourish where you are planted Wherever you are guard your tongue against character assassination. Though you may see some things, that does not mean you need to say anything. Remember we all are continually growing and maturing. Allow people time for personal growth and transformation. Change can come to any and all of us. People make changes in an atmosphere of unconditional love and acceptance. Better is it to make friends than enemies. Flourish where you are planted by finding your place and happily contributing where you are. Once people feel how much you care, they will take interest in how much you know. Earn the right to be heard by your continual contribution and by showing yourself a team player. Remember trees dont fight and struggle to bear fruit. They just remain planted and naturally flourish. 5. See problems as opportunities Contrary to popular belief, a problem is an opportunity. You wouldnt think so by the way people murmur and complain. Consider problems as opportunities for you to arise and shine. Rise above the mediocrity and manifest your creativity. Doctors get paid for solving medical problems; lawyers solve legal problems; and mechanics solve car problems. Problems therefore are a pathway to your next promotion. While others meander in the mud of mediocrity and allow problems to bury them, let problems carry you to your future as you show yourself a problem-solver and someone who can be counted on to provide visionary leadership. 6. Be a peacemaker and an encourager Workplace strife fills and floods the lives of many. Have no part in such negative counterproductive energy. Be a peacemaker and bridge builder. By doing so you will make friends, feel better and find new ways to overcome organizational obstacles. There are far too many tearing each other down and far too few building one another up. Avoid the trap of discouragement by being a continual source of encouragement to yourself and those around about you. Infuse people with energy through encouragement and make yourself an indispensable source of motivation. 7. Go the extra mile Dont be like everybody else. Break the mold. Lift up your head and throw your shoulders back. Stand tall and separate yourself from the crowd. Arrive at work early and leave late. Pull out of the hustle and bustle. Stop the rat race. Manage your emotions and martial your energies. In so doing your productivity, creativity and resourcefulness will increase. By going the extra mile and exceeding your job description you will show yourself to be a true asset to the company and somebody who can be counted upon. Go the extra mile! There are few who do so. When you go the extra mile you quickly separate and identify yourself from the crowd. There is a lot of room at the top for you to spread your wings and fly higher. 8. Replace anxiety with creativity Dont be overly anxious. Anxiety drains you of your energy and immobilizes your resourcefulness. Get a grip on yourself and patiently possess your soul. Be more childlike and playful. See things differently. Get various viewpoints from others outside of your scope of employment. Fully consider all of your options. Shift the variables and consider rotating criteria. Playfully and skillfully evaluate the best alternatives available until you determine the most appropriate course of action. 9. Be a lifelong learner There are two types of growth: inward and outward. Most look for outward growth, profitability and expansion. Yet inward growth is equally if not more important. For without inner growth outward growth never occurs, neither can it be sustained. Commit to be a lifelong learner. Continually listen, learn and explore new bodies of knowledge. One thing is certain. You dont know it all. Its amazing how much you can learn after you know it all. The greatest minds and highest achievers are committed to continual personal growth and inward expansion. They challenge themselves intellectually and endeavor to have new experiences personally that will build them inwardly. 10. Serve selflessly Everybody wants to lead but few want to serve. You cant always be the top dog. Very often the top dog is the guy who chose to humble himself a long time ago and serve everybody. People dont care how much you know until they know how much you care. When you serve people you show them you care and that you recognize they are important. When you make people feel important, they pour gratitude back into you. Those you honor will assuredly honor you. Serve selflessly and opportunities will be many, successes sweeter and people pleasant. 11. Remember the future is in you not the job Contrary to popular belief, the future is not in the job. The future is in you. With or without the job you can excel and come into your dreams. Your inner world once acknowledged and embraced can be made to manifest in any place. So should your current employer and coworkers be clueless, you can still come into your destiny single handedly. When you are firm and solid in your identity, you can bring about your destiny. Never underestimate your personal power to experience dream fulfillment when you put feet to your faith. Sometimes the first steps into to your future are those out the door of your limiting beliefs that have held you a captive. 12. Set your intent and follow your instincts You dont always have to know how it is going to happen. Just set your intent as to that which you want to happen. Thereafter be led by your gut and instincts. Intuitively within you know what to do. Now stop questioning yourself and being double minded about it. Trust your internal knowings and move on them! As you do you will continually create your world and wholeheartedly enjoy the journey! Paul Davis is author of Breakthrough for a Broken Heart a book telling us “How to overcome disappointments and blossom into your dreams!” He is a creative consultant, life coach (relational & professional), fitness trainer, minister, popular worldwide keynote speaker, adventure capitalist, explorer, negotiator, mediator, liberator and dream-maker. Paul’s compassion for people & passion to travel has taken him to over 50 countries of the world where he has had a tremendous impact. Paul has also greatly impacted many in war-torn, impoverished and tsunami stricken regions of the earth. His nonprofit organization Dream-Maker Ministries is building dreams and breaking limitations. Paul’s Breakthrough Seminars inspire, revive, awaken, impregnate with purpose, impart the fire of desire, catapult people into a new level of self-awareness, facilitate destiny discovery and dream fulfillment. Paul can be contacted at: RevivingNations@yahoo.com 407-967-7553 or 407-282-1745 For additional info: http://www.CreativeCommunications.TV http://www.DreamMakerMinistries.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Davis http://EzineArticles.com/?Breakthrough-for-the-Business-Person:-How-to-Overcome-Career-Disappointment-and-Create-Your-World&id=183966 buy phentermine by cod phentermine 30 mg diet pills phentermine no doctor prescription buy phentermine with out a prescription
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Wednesday, December 12, 2007

M.M. Schneerson: Messiah or Member of the Ibbur Class

By Shael Siegel The ultra-orthodox are once again in a tizzy about developments in the Lubavitch/Chabad hassidic sect. They are shocked that so many of their members can have a mishichist (messianic) twist to their theology. Apparently, when their Rabbi, M.M. Schneerson, died there were some, probably a minority, who did not accept his death. They assumed that he was the Messiah and would appear in the streets of Jerusalem in a white Mercedes S500. Even though arriving in a Mercedes would not necessarily be politically correct, the fact that he was the Messiah means that history would be revised. Indeed, his coming (assuming Schneerson is of the House of David) will restore the glory of Israel and all the Jews will return there. It is a fantastic story and utterly believable– if you believe in a personal Messiah as elaborated on by the Rambam (Maimonides) and others. What amazes me is the same people who cast doubt on the claims of the mishichistim (messianic) believe in the myth of a personal messiah. If you believe in a personal moshiach (messiah), then there is not much of a leap of faith to believe in M.M. Shneerson as the moshiach incarnate. Why not? They are both rooted in faith. Faith is a very powerful tool and can be used for the better or detriment of mankind. It can be used and exploited by cult leaders for personal aggrandizement or for the greater glory of humanity. The Jewish people claim to have survived through the ages because they are faith based. They believed that no matter how bad it got, there would be, at the end of that very dark tunnel, a savior. It actually sounds like a story one would tell his children. But that is exactly what they were– children, emotionally and intellectually less sophisticated than they are today. After all, it was their parents and grandparents generation that went through the concentration camps and gas chambers of Europe. There was no Moshiach there to save an entire continent of Jews from murder. To maintain that kind of faith is really blind faith– the kind of faith one expects from a dog, even after its master has abused it non-stop from the day he came into his life. Ask Job, better yet, read him. They can not let go of this image of a moshiach because where will Jews be without hope? In this world there are two kinds of people: followers and leaders. The followers are those who live on hope, the kind that need a rabbi to think for them– people who hold a job until they retire; never take an independent step; never explore the greater world of people or ideas. They are fatalists, hachol beyedei hashem (everything is in God’s hands) who say after every worded phrase, baruch hashem, (praise God), as though they would not have been able to do what they did without assistance. Then there are the leaders. They tend to be a bit irreverent because they can think for themselves. They are builders who do not depend on hope– people that we call self starters, entrepreneurs, and independent minded. They are not fatalists, but determinists, who prefer to take chances depending on their own true grit. The European Zionists of the 19th and 20th century were of this second category. There is an old parable in Pirkei Avot eiza hu chacham? Haroeh es hanolod,” that the wise man is the one who can anticipate or intuit the future. They saw the writing on the wall in anti-Semitic Europe and were not about to wait for mythical moshiach to arrive on the scene and do some “abra kadabra.” Then there were the followers, those with faith, who were determined to wait, because that is what their rabbis told them to do. They never had real faith, which implies that you have some belief in yourself, to be able to validate ideas and thoughts. How can you be creative, contribute to society and build a community if you have no faith in yourself? To abdicate it all to a leader is pure folly. History bears this out. So what is the difference between those who accept M.M. Schneerson as the moshiach and those who treat these mishichistim like pariahs? In truth, there really is no difference. Both groups fall into the first category of my construct. The mishichistim and those anti– mishichistim are both followers. The mishichistim believe that M.M. Schneerson is the moshiach, and the other group of followers believe in their gedolim (sages). Either way they lose, because they have abdicated their independence and ability to think critically. There is another side to this. The anti-mishichistim are not only followers like the mishichistim but are also dishonest with themselves. The resistance to M.M. Schneerson as the last great hope is the realization that if he is truly the messiah, then the Jewish community will have to make significant sacrifices (i.e. move to Israel) which they are not willing to do. Accepting the messiah is a heavy burden which a cursory look at Maimonides’ writings (Mishneh Torah, Hilkot Melakhim, Chapt. 11) will attest. The mishichistim are ahead of the game and maybe ought to be admired. While they carry the stigma of being followers, they are struggling with and showing some creativity, albeit infantile. Perhaps these are new beginning for a new group: mishichistim. What they are going through now is their “chevlai leida” (birth pangs). At worst, if M.M. Schneerson does not pan out to be the Messiah, maybe we can recommend him for a membership to Ibburim (spirits of the righteous dead). Shael Siegel is a post-denominational rabbi, educator, commentator and observer of the Jewish religious/social landscape. He manages a web site and writes a weekly blog which can be accessed through http://www.shaelsiegel.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shael_Siegel http://EzineArticles.com/?M.M.-Schneerson:-Messiah-or-Member-of-the-Ibbur-Class&id=460531 buy phentermine online free shipping cheap phentermine online prescription phentermine adipex pharmacy buy phentermine online cod
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Saturday, December 8, 2007

Types of Scholarship Grants

By Low Jeremy If you want to go back or continue attending school but are short of financial resources, you must learn the different types of scholarship grants you can apply for. College Scholarship Grants Colleges and universities allocate funds for students who want to pursue their studies provided they pass any of the 3 common scholarship grants: academic scholarship grant, athletic scholarship grant, and departmental award. All these require application but there are cases in while they are offered to students whom the school thinks really deserve. Academic scholars are required to maintain an average grade during the school term. An athletic scholar on the other hand are given to athletes who have proven their worth in the sport they enter or extracurricular activity they joint into, While the departmental award is given to either attract or retain students to take a particular field of study. Aside from college scholarship grants, there are several types of scholarships that are given by private organizations and institutions: Religious organization Religious organizations usually have allocated funds to their members who cannot afford to pay for college education. Checking on this would surely lead you to scholarship grant. Corporation Many corporations today offer scholarship grants for several reasons: the corporation want to retain employees; the corporation wants to take care of individuals that they think could greatly increase the profitability of the company; and the corporation wants to take care of the students of certain communities. Most of the time, there are grants that go un-awarded for the lack of applicants. You may check on company websites or ask from an employee of a certain company. Private individual or organization There is a certain number of individuals or organizations out there that are willing to finance the studies of students who cannot afford to pay for the tuition. Although the terms may not be fixed and may vary depending on the agreement of the applicant and the individual or organization, it is still one of the best scholarship grants available for they would not usually ask for return. Union Many unions today offer scholarship grants; sometimes awarded to the children of the union member. Unions are rich sources of scholarship grants. Local government Local government also offers scholarship grants to their residents. This is another good source of scholarship since grantees are usually given a job after graduating. This content is provided by Low Jeremy and may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more info on Scholarships, please visit http://scholarship.articlekeep.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Low_Jeremy http://EzineArticles.com/?Types-of-Scholarship-Grants&id=311135 tramadol purchase order tramadol ultram buy from online texas tramadol buy tramadol 0a
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