Rick Adams asked:


Serious Injuries and Fatalities from Auto Collisions have become almost epidemic in the United States.  In the last 10 years, the US has had over 500,000 automobile related fatalities.  Few of us take the time to ponder the possibility that we are actually operating a potential “lethal weapon”.  While DUI and Excessive Speed are statistically the leading cause of fatalities and severe injuries, distractions is third and rising rapidly.

In our fast paced techno society, multi-tasking has progressively worked its way into our normal driving habits.  Multi-tasking is considered to be a mixture of things that takes a drivers attention away from the road with cell phones (and text messaging) being added to the list in the last decade.   Over the last 15 years, younger drivers in particular consider cell phones as an extension of their lives using them at will and for extended periods while driving their cars.

The exact number of collisions caused by drivers distracted using a cell phone is still not clear due to the way data was collected at the scene in the past.  However, the current estimate is that Cell Phone Distraction causes about 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries in the US annually.

Growing statistical data and studies show that a driver’s attention span is severely challenged while talking on a cell phone.  More recent studies from the UK clearly indicate that a driver’s reaction time using a cell phone is actually slower than a driver that is legally DUI – even in hands-free mode.  Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2004 showed that drivers talking on cell phones were 18 percent slower reacting to brake lights, and they also took 17 percent longer to regain the speed once they brake.

There are a growing number of States and countries around the world that have enacted laws limiting or banning cell phone use while driving.  At least 49 countries (including most industrialized nations) and 24 States have partial or complete bans on using cell phones while driving.

Should Florida enact laws that limit or ban the use of cell phones while driving?  Or should the government stay out of it allowing High School Drivers Education Programs, Defensive Driving Schools and Public Service Announcements to educate citizens.

 

Is using a cell phone while driving a “fundamental right”?  Or is it a significant Safety Risk that the government has a responsibility to regulate.

What do you think?  Go to our Blog to take our survey and leave comments for others to read including our State Legislators.



Ron

Su Ericksen asked:


Self defense starts with self awareness. You should always be conscious of what’s happening around you. Let’s say you are out for your daily exercise walk. I try to walk for twenty minutes during my lunch break from work. I work for a large medical center that advocates this activity by mapping out indoor routes, through the various hallways, tunnels and building connections complete with mileage. If I’m walking indoors due to adverse weather (which is 75% of the time here in the upper Midwest) I do wear my MP3 player. When walking outdoors I never wear my MP3 player. Not only does it block my sense of hearing, but the wires dangling from my ears only broadcasts anyone who is interested that I am essentially deaf. Go ahead and sneak up behind me, pull the van up to the curb and hop out to abduct me.

You could walk with a buddy. Some people find that this helps to keep them on track with their exercise program. I’ve always felt that if two people are walking together, one of them is not walking to their full aerobic potential, but it is safer. You could walk the dog. This would also be safer, whether it’s a small barking dog or a huge intimidating dog. I do, however know of cases where the dog is found later, wandering after the walker goes missing.

So, we’re walking alone, outside, no dog, and no MP3 player. Keep your eyes moving. Look at everything. This should become habit. Don’t look at the ground as you walk unless you are walking on rough terrain, then just glance down, then back to scanning. Perpetrators are looking for victims with low self esteem, which may be demonstrated by keeping their eyes down. Listen. Hopefully you’ll hear bird chirping, a breeze blowing through the trees, perhaps children laughing. Be aware of vehicles driving on the street- are they slowing down as they approach you? Do you hear footsteps? If you hear these last two things turn and look at them. Assess the situation- don’t be shy. You have the right to know what’s happening around you.

Someone approaches you walking on the sidewalk. They are probably just out walking also. Make eye contact with them. Don’t stare at them, they may find that confrontational– just what we want to avoid. I like to give them the “tight smile” and if I feel real friendly, even a quick nod. If they say, “Hey”, I say, “hey”– then I look away. They should anticipate that at my pace I’m walking for exercise– no time to chat. That should be the end of it. It someone is running toward me, in front or behind, I cross the street. If they follow– either the walker or the runner– it may be time to exercise some techniques. I know many techniques, I teach them, and I practice them. I am confident that I could defend myself against one or two perpetrators.

I think everyone should have a self defense plan. Studying a martial art can be helpful, some more than others. At the very least being a martial artist can help build fitness, discipline and self esteem. Some martial arts are more sport and some purely self defense. Knowledge of pressure points is also useful; there are a lot of them.

Should you carry weapons? I wouldn’t carry a weapon I wasn’t proficient with and willing to use. Make sure you know that you would use it if confronted! If you carry a weapon and it is taken from you, it will be used against you! A personal alarm is a handy item to have. They emit a squealing sound of up to 130 decibels- enough to be heard up to a quarter mile away. Because the bad guy does not want the added attention, this is probably enough of a deterrent to chase him away without being something that could be used against you. Have it ready to use, though. It’s not any good to floating down in the black hole of the bottom of your purse! Some of these personal alarms can also be used on door knobs and used for home security as well.

Self awareness and preparedness are the essence of self defense for all occasions. In a perfect world we would not have to worry about this. This is not a perfect world.



Sheila

Donald Mitchell asked:


Any attitude or behavior that delays you from adapting to irresistible forces (factors outside of your control that drive your market and environment) will create stalled profit performance. Let’s look at three common attitudes that result in such delays.

“Circle the Wagons!” –The Defensiveness Stall

Although some organizations avoid being left helpless by irresistible forces, they may fall prey to turning their attention inward too much in creating bulwarks against the impact of the irresistible force. By focusing on defensive actions, they delay adapting to the new conditions and risk falling behind or even not surviving at all.

Many companies whose stock prices carry low price-earnings valuations will proudly describe what they are doing as a “value-improving” strategy. When asked about investors deserting this strategy in droves, the CFO will often confidently reply that it will all turn out in the end.

On further inspection, the result is more often being taken over by another company at a bargain price. The new owner will immediately initiate a better strategy that does translate into significant, sustained stock-price growth that the earlier management could also have done.

“We Can Do It All!” –The Independence Stall

When new irresistible forces arrive or existing ones change their impact, enterprises may find themselves compelled by the need to adapt as quickly as possible. In their rush to respond, the organization’s leaders may tend to rely on people or practices that have worked successfully in the past. They may not stop to consider whether the enterprise has the right resources to accomplish the now-required tasks.

Many Internet start-ups have a sound marketing and value model, but do not yet understand how one has to support that model with effective sourcing, supply, and service. Soon they find themselves falling further behind in meeting customer expectations with no clear idea about to solve the mountain of fulfillment problems.

“How Can We Miss?” –The Overoptimism Stall

A sense of certainty about success or that an enterprise is well prepared for the future, or simply viewing the world through rose-colored glasses can result in rigid commitment down the wrong path. Successful enterprises are more likely to become subject to this stall, which is one reason why they have such a hard time anticipating and adapting to new circumstances.

Everyone in the company assumes success and is slow to perceive that progress is not occurring from the organization’s new initiatives. Press reports stated that Digital Equipment founder and CEO, Kenneth Olsen, had little regard for the potential of personal computers, likening them to toys that would never be serious tools for engineers.

During this time, Digital dominated the market for minicomputers, and had been successful in replacing mainframe computers in many applications. The same forces that allowed the company to prosper as a minicomputer specialist doomed the company to being replaced by competitors making smaller, cheaper machines with the same functionality.

A few years after Olsen was replaced by the board, the company was sold to Compaq Computer, one of the producers of those smaller, cheaper machines. Compaq, in turn, had problems with wishful thinking, and as a result had trouble integrating the two companies and keeping up with Dell Computer’s build-to-order business. Compaq’s CEO soon lost his job as profits and market share faltered. Compaq in turn was acquired by Hewlett-Packard in a controversial transaction that ultimately cost Hewlett-Packard’s CEO her job.

Instead, you should be on the lookout for irresistible forces and develop strategies that cause you to prosper regardless of what direction the forces take.

Copyright 2008 Donald W. Mitchell, All Rights Reserved



Melvin

Kerry asked:


Women’s Self Defense 101

There has been a great deal written about the topic of self defense and how it pertains to women. There is also a great deal of debate and misconception around what constitutes “Self Defense”. True self defense is much more than just personal protection and learning a set of techniques to escape from a violent situation. Self Defense in its truest form means never being placed in danger in the first place.

Avoiding potential danger seems like an easy concept to master and on the surface it is. One merely avoids running lemming like off of cliffs and into the ocean and stops undressing with the shades drawn in order to stay out of harms way right? Wrong. Avoiding potential danger is not always as simple as A+B=C. Every woman is an individual with different patterns and risk and resiliency factors that will make her more, or less susceptible to risk, potential danger and as a potential target for crime.

First of all we need to understand risk. As I’ve stated in previous articles and blogs, everything in life has a risk attached to it. For instance there is the possibility that while walking to your car you will be run down by a stampeding heard of rhino’s that has escaped from a nearby zoo. The probability of this happening is likely very low, but it does exist. There is a much higher risk level of you becoming a victim of a sexual assault. Statistically we can say this because we know that one in three women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime. Both of these potential risk factors must be taken into account when assessing your level of risk. You would however put a much greater effort into planning to avoid instances that lead to sexual assault than you would looking for rhino’s.

Risk factors are anything that predisposes you to an undesired outcome in any given set of circumstances or events. Clear as mud? Let’s look at it this way, risk is anything that can make you cry, hurt, bleed, die, disappear, broke, victimized etc. Resiliency factors are the individuals, circumstances and choices that make it less likely that you will experience any of the above or at least reduce your risk substantially.

Women need to take the time to educate themselves on the basic principles of personal security and self defense in order to mitigate risk in their lives whenever possible. They can do this by critically examining how they live their lives. It’s certainly not my intention or place to tell you that you must stop doing anything or change anything that you don’t want to change. Look at each area of your life; your home, work and leisure life. Take careful note of the potential risks in each area and activity in your life. Assign a number value based on the level of risk involved. Zero would be a “no risk” activity or situation; a ten would be “immediate and painful death by simultaneous incineration, spontaneous combustion and asphyxiation”. This collection of personal information is a Personal Security Audit.

Here’s a newsflash “People don’t plan to fail, they fail to plan”. Obviously you are probably going to avoid any activity or situation that rates an eight or above due to the threat of a painful and untimely demise. Area’s of lower risk can be assessed and place into a Personal Security Plan. Your personal security plan will be unlike anyone else’s. It will be tailored to your life and your individual risk and resiliency factors. The key to successfully putting together a personal security plan is K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Sister). If you don’t make your security plan something that is easy enough to put into practice ever single day of your life, then it is a waste of your effort and you may as well cast runes to determine personal risk because it will be about as effective as your plan.

Here’s the other thing you must practice your plan. Some skills and mindsets are frangible. This means that if you don’t use it, you will lose it. Just like First Aid, CPR, Self Defense and Fire Drills your personal security plan needs to be practiced. Why you ask? Well number one it imprints valuable mind-muscle links into our neural pathways. This means that the skills and mindsets we’ve practiced will be available for retrieval and use at a moments notice. A second value is retention. The longer we go without reviewing and practicing the more we forget.

Personal Protection is another area in which women need to take the time to educate themselves. Personal protection is a mindset not a martial art or a technique. It is a combination of “Mental Toughness”, “Situational Awareness” and “Combat” combined to provide complete protection for the woman and her family.

Mental toughness can be defined as; “as having a natural or developed psychological edge that enables you to;

•         Cope with the many stresses and demands that life places on you.

•         Be more consistent in remaining determined”.

Mental toughness is not about being the biggest or baddest hombre on the block. It is a “Never Quit” attitude that allows an individual to keep fighting even in the worst of circumstances.Mental toughness training is not an easy skill to acquire. It takes time, effort and practice just like self defense training. Most of us go through our lives believing that we are small, insignificant and incapable. Unfortunately many times this is reinforced in our personal and professional lives. What we need to realize is that we are Powerful, Capable, and Competent. Believing in your self and your ability to take protect yourself and your family is vital because without that belief you’ve already lost.How do we become mentally tough? We start by repetition. Just like your self defense concepts, your mental toughness will improve with repetition and practice.

Take 1000 sticky notes and place them all over your home/office/car. On these notes write statements such as;

I will never give up. I can and will succeed at all costs. I am Confident, Competent, and Powerful.

Mental toughness is based on Neuro-Linguistic Programming. The basic concept of NLP is that our brain is like a computer and when the proper message is inputted enough times it becomes incorporated into our subconscious mind and we begin to believe it and act accordingly.

1.     Developing Mental Toughness starts with having the right attitude and state of mind.

•         Confidence comes from knowing that you have prepared and that you believe that you will achieve your goals.

•         Courage is the ability to “lay it on the line” and live life with focus and determination.

Program your mind for success with positive thoughts and affirmations.

•         Expect the best from yourself and affirm what you are going to do to be successful.

•         Visualize yourself performing at peak function. (Confident, Strong, Fully Focused)

Develop a systemized routine that focuses on the desired mental and emotional state of mind.

•         Practice, you must practice the skills you’ve learned and execute them with full focus and attention.

•         Once you’ve committed yourself to a course of action, be persistent and never give up. 

Learn to let go of mistakes quickly if things do not go the way you want.

•         Key components to mental toughness training are compensating, adjusting, and trusting.

•         If plan A does not work go to plan B, or C.

•         Use focal points to help you stay focused to the task at hand.

•         Be persistent and don’t allow frustration and failures to get in the way.

Take control over negative self talk and the “I Can’t attitude”.

•         Look at situations that make you intimidated, frustrated or lose focus. Reframe these situations into positive “mentally tough” thoughts.

 

Situational Awareness can be defined as a heightened state of consciousness. It is the use of all of your senses and your instincts and intuition to view the world around you. People who have situational awareness are rarely caught off guard. They are constantly scanning the environment around them and receiving, processing, assessing and reacting to these environmental stimuli.

We’ve all heard the phrase “In the zone”. This is a state of being that is completely focused on what is immediately in front of us. Even worse we become turned inward and lose site of what is happening in the world around us. While this state may be desirable for concentration on the sports field or when we are concentrating on work it can be hazardous when we are considering our personal safety.

 

How many people have had this happen to them? You are walking/driving home from school/work. You’ve had a busy day and there are a lot of things on your mind. You arrive at home to realize that you have no recollection of how you got there. Is this type of mind set dangerous? Only when it is applied to times and places where you would be better served paying close attention to what is going on around you; times such as driving your car, and when you are alone on the street. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing bad about a state of intense concentration on what you are doing. It is all about the context. Situational awareness can often be the difference between avoiding danger and needing to confront it.

 

Part of Situational Awareness is learning to trust your instincts and gut feelings. Too many times we don’t listen to the little voice in our head that says there is something wrong. We like to call this the “Creep Meter”. Your Creep Meter is the warning bell inside of you that say’s “This is not right” “I need to leave”.

Our instincts and gut feelings are part of what has kept the species alive so long. Living in polite society we’ve been taught to ignore these feelings or that they are wrong.

Learn to listen to your Creep Meter every time. It may not always tell you exactly what is wrong, but it will always tell you that something “IS” wrong.

 

Every woman should take a self defense course. A properly designed and facilitated course will address all of these issues and provide the woman with professional training in combat techniques designed to teach women the dirty tricks they need to employ in order to incapacitate a larger, stronger attacker and escape the situation. Oops…did I say dirty tricks? Sorry to be harsh voice of reality, but the only fair fight is one that you win. There is no honor in assault, robbery and **** so you owe your assailant nothing. Biting, eye gouging, elbows and knees to the groin are all recommended and acceptable techniques. Did I also forget to mention that the fight’s not over until you say it’s over?

 

Part of what a well structured self defense course will teach a woman is how to avoid the “Freeze” reaction that occurs as a result of the “Adrenaline Response”.  The first time a person is exposed to danger they typically have the same reaction every person has in a “fight or flight” situation. This is known as the Adrenaline Response. This massive dump of the hormone adrenaline into our systems is what enables small women to pick up cars that have fallen on their husbands. Adrenaline also has some negative effects as well. It causes dry mouth, a rapid increase in heart rate, loss of fine motor coordination, shaking hands and sweating. It also causes a phenomenon known as “Tunneling”. This is a state of mind where we become so focused on the threat in front of us we lose Situational Awareness to the other potential dangers around us.

 

A well structured course places women in situations where they experience the Adrenaline Response in order to teach them how to overcome its debilitating effects. This can be accomplished through “Padded Attacker” training combined with “Saturation Training”. Saturation Training is really nothing more than systematically desensitizing yourself to the negative effects of the Adrenaline Response. It also imprints the techniques learned into the muscle memory, making them available instantly when needed. Through repetition the body learns how to adapt to this infusion of hormones. One of the best methods for helping to alleviate “Tunneling” and the “Freeze” response during an Adrenaline Response is to breathe. Deep, rhythmic breathing floods the cardiovascular system with oxygen. This helps the body to prepare to either fight or flee. It also clears the fog of “Tunneling”.

 

Kerry Sauve

StreetSense Safety and Security Inc

http://www.streetsensesafety.ca

 

 



Rosa

AudiBoy asked:


The Audi Driving Experience is a driving scheme introduced by Audi in the year 1983. This driving programme is an advanced and is based on the high performance. The primary motto of this scheme is to enrich drivers’ knowledge, by using physical “hands-on” tution and theory, which is primarily based on the complexities in modern Audi cars. This usually includes ESP (Electronic Stability Programme), high speed handling, ABS (Anti-lock braking system), quattro 4 wheel drive system. Usually, this training programme is being conducted in a safe environment, far away from public highways and roads, but in the location where a driver can be taught the techniques so that he / she can cope in any real time situation and emergency periods.

In the UK, the Audi Driving Experience is organised by Audi UK and is located at the motor racing circuit, Silverstone. Whereas, in Europe the programme is being offered in various formats, which include special ice driving in Finland and Nürburgring’s Nordshleife. In China, the programme was launched on September 2nd 2003 which was the first advance training scheme offered for drivers to the Chinese motoring public. The three styles or themes of the driving courses are “advanced track training”, “defensive driving training” and “winter rally training”. Now, the training programme is operated at two centres namely Zhuhai international circuit and Shanghai.

In South Africa, Audi’s training programme is located at the Kyalami historic race circuit where the course is running for many years and established themselves as the most popular high performance course in the entire nation. Vehicles take part in the course in South Africa are new Audi A4 2008, TT, RS4 and S5. There are other courses conducted for advanced safety that feature Q7.

The story of this training programme in USA is quite different. Emotive and Audi of America offers the course to the drivers of USA, to feel comfortable with all latest Audi vehicles on all roads, by conducting various courses. The US version of this course is followed in Germany as well, and it turned out as one of the biggest enthusiast driving education experience in the world, that offer courses in more than 40 countries. In the year 2007, the tour in USA had 10 stops which rose to 15 in 2008. The newest Audi models featured in 2007 season was S5 and A4, A5 took part in 2008 season.

The introductory program offered by Audi is just a complementary to registered guests and the enthusiast program is half-a-day experience which includes track time in both R8 and RS4. This is offered only in USA now.



Tracy

Shawn Collin asked:


Yellowstone National Park is one of the best reasons for living in and visiting the United States.  The vast natural forest is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna and it’s been preserved so well that pleasant and exciting surprises await the adventurous visitor.  If you’re planning a trip to Yellowstone soon, here are some travel tips you can use for your safety and security:

Be aware of prevailing conditions but be ready for anything

Yellowstone is like a whole different world in itself.  Conditions vary here, changing easily from calm to stormy within just 24 hours.  When traveling to Yellowstone, always check weather conditions in the area and use precautions to ensure your safety for the trip.

Practice defensive driving.  The area going to and within Yellowstone is often used by both humans and animals.  Be especially aware of distracted drivers, animal crossing and other related incidents.  These will result to travel delays, so be very patient.

Bring all necessary gear and supplies

When traveling to Yellowstone, bring all the basics with you in terms of food, water, clothing and survival gear.  Having sufficient supply of clean water is essential since water from the park itself is not guaranteed safe.  Drinking water from streams, lakes, ponds or creeks that have not been boiled or treated could put you at risk of intestinal infestations and infections.

Even water from thermal pools isn’t safe for consumption.  They have been known to cause serious burns in numerous visitors over the years.

As for equipment, think of worst-case scenarios.  Bring a tent, weather-resistant clothing and other survival equipment such as lighters, all-purpose knives, flashlights, first aid kits, etc. to ensure your personal safety and protection.

Take care of your trash

Food, food scraps, containers, tissues and other materials that end up in your trash should be disposed of properly.  During travel to Yellowstone, be aware that the trash you leave behind could have a negative impact not just on the environment but also on the animal residents of the area.

Think safety, regardless of where you are

When entering Yellowstone, know that you are at the mercy of Nature.  Your only defense is correct information and common sense.  When traveling to Yellowstone or participating in the numerous activities available there, be aware of animal activity.  Bears, for example, are just a few of the natural threats that you have to watch out for.  When driving, walking, hiking or camping, be aware of your surroundings and keep an eye out for signs of animal activity that might expose you to danger unnecessarily.

Follow regulations

Yellowstone maintains a strict system for its camps and backcountry areas.  Be aware of all regulations that are in place not just to ensure you don’t violate any rules but also for your own personal safety.

Certain activities also require permits.  Camping, for example, is allowed only in certain designated areas.  Permits for overnight stays have to be obtained personally in advance, so check with the administrative office for information.

Enjoy yourself

Yellowstone is too beautiful to ignore.  When traveling, bring a camera to capture the scenic routes and spectacular views.  As long as you keep safety and security measures in mind, you can be assured of a very enjoyable trip to Yellowstone again and again.



Jeremy

Chris Pizzo asked:


While some see Driving While Illegal (DWI) as another issue in the illegal immigration debate, for police officers around the country it is just another potential danger. Every time a police officer gets out of a cruiser for a routine traffic stop, he or she isn’t safe until it is over.

The Town of Framingham, Massachusetts, located twenty miles west of Boston, was recently in the news when a local paper profiled an illegal immigrant who says he lives in fear of being pulled over by police and the ensuing possibility of deportation. Sure he’s in the country illegally, employed illegally, and driving with an expired foreign driver’s license, but he was painted as the victim. Millions of illegal immigrants take to the roads every day, which is dangerous enough; to make matters worse, there are also violent criminals within the subculture. A traffic stop puts officers in a dangerous close combat situation, and only real combat self defense can protect them.

Police officers represent the state, and illegal immigrants have already shown they have no respect for our government or laws. Combine this disrespect with the fear of being deported and a traffic stop could turn into a volatile situation. While traffic stops have always been dangerous, the illegal immigrant issue provides us a chance to review tactics and training for full time and auxiliary police officers. Proactive self defense is the best way to prevent injuries and the escalation of violence.

When an officer approaches a vehicle he doesn’t know what he’s going to encounter, and if the situation doesn’t quickly come under his control it can be deadly. In 2006 alone 15 officers died from being hit by cars and another 45 died in auto accidents, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. An officer is all alone and even if help is minutes away a lot can happen, and weapons can quickly become irrelevant. Officers need an advantage in a close quarters combat (CQC) situation, and combat martial arts can give them that advantage.

Being a police officer has to be one of the hardest jobs in the world. For the men and women who put on the uniform it is a daily struggle; they have to be both a friendly public servant and a vigilant warrior, and for all those who praise them there are many relentless critics. For police officers it is about enforcing the law and protecting the community, and the best way to do that is to use self defense training that lets them take a suspect down quickly. If an experienced officer sees a situation beginning to deteriorate, he or she needs self defense training to take control of the situation quickly and effectively. Police officers don’t have the option to run away like civilians, and giving the bad guys the first shot isn’t an alternative either. A traffic stop is just another dangerous part of a cop’s routine; with the right training, though, they can all make it home at the end of their shifts.



Martin

Klaus H Hemsath asked:


First we watched the bungling of the financial crisis. Then GM demands the AIG treatment. Now the energy industry is stomping at the bits to get its helping of taxpayer monies. We are witnessing the best engineered and most profitable scams in history in which the financial industry looted well over one trillion dollars of taxpayer money.

The spectacle is awesome. The amounts of money we are talking about are incomprehensible for the poor souls who are called upon to pay for the mess. In the meantime, banks are laundering taxpayer monies. CEO’s and investors are chuckling while comfortably looting the savings of the working stiffs. Who wants to run a decent business anymore? You just have to learn how to steal money, legally!

The media have already decided that GM is going to get the money. But bets are still being taken on who gets the loot in the “Energy Race to Riches”.

“Solar Electricity” and “Wind Power” are the two favorites. “Nuclear Power” has the best record but has been hobbled with a high handicap. And then there are “Electric Cars”, “CNG Cars”, and cars holding one person and one shopping bag. There is “Ethanol”, a former favorite, and a new offspring called “Cellulosic Ethanol”. Even “Public Transportation” has been trucked in to stand at the starting line. And then there are several losers that are guaranteed to get a share of the prize money for just participating.

Unfortunately, all present proposals for solving the energy crisis look more like a horse race with several highly touted favorites than a well conceived plan to prepare the USA and eventually the world for a new, long-lasting energy future.

In the following we leave the world of high stakes gambling with other people’s money, of special tax preferences, and with rules like “heads I win – tails you loose”.

Instead, we are going to look at some simple facts, try to learn from the past, and attempt to provide for the future.

The most pressing problem facing the US is the steady and accelerating drain of US currency to foreign, petroleum exporting countries. Every year the US pays more than half a trillion of dollars for imported crude oil. Additionally, we are going to spend more than a trillion dollars for the failed effort of gaining control of Middle East petroleum reserves. Continuing crude oil imports are increasing our indebtedness to hostile countries and are providing the monies for terrorists, who keep us under a permanent threat. Our efforts to neutralize these threats do not come cheap.

The conclusion is simple and has been drawn repeatedly; the USA must regain energy independence!

A few billion dollars, spent wisely over the last two decades, could have done wonders for energy independence. However, all efforts were successfully defeated by well connected lobbyists at home.

We can become genuinely energy independent by one single means only; we must produce energy on US lands!

The energy lobby says: it cannot be done. However, their opinion is biased at the tune of several trillion dollars. US energy industry fears low oil prices. There are approximately 25 billion barrels of petroleum left in US oil deposits. The US petroleum industry is looking at the difference between $175 and $75 per barrel. The difference represents a cool $2.5 trillion. When talking about trillions of dollars we are talking real money. This money is there for the taking!

The world and the US are going to run out of crude oil soon. It does not matter if it takes forty or seventy five years. Oil reserves will be depleted. End of discussion!

Energy drives world economies. Lack of energy will lead to the immediate collapse of economies. World energy consumption is still predominantly based on fossil fuels. Combustion of fossil fuels discharges huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which creates global warming. Global warming causes sea levels to rise, brings on worldwide climate changes, and will lead to global overheating when not stopped in the near future.

The world consumes energy in three forms; electric power, liquid fuels, and heating gases. We can generate electric power without harmful emissions with nuclear fuels, hydro power, wind power, and solar power. Wind power and solar power are still too expensive and must be further developed before they can and will take over most of electric power generation.

Intermittent wind and solar power cannot be used effectively as long as we have not succeeded in developing storage facilities for storing electric power in huge quantities. This technology has received minimal attention despite its tremendous profit potential.

Nature has made fossil fuels from biomass thousands and even millions of years ago. There is no reason that we cannot imitate nature. In fact, we have many more technical capabilities today than nature ever had. For mysterious reasons ($2.5 trillion?) there are no efforts to find out how nature converted biomass from fossil fuels. If we ever learn to mimic nature, we will have solved all our energy problems for the next several centuries.

Most importantly, we will be capable to convert free solar energy into abundant, inexpensive electric energy and into plentiful, affordable transportation fuels. We will still be able to cross oceans in airplanes, our national defense will not be threatened by lack of motor fuels, terrorists will run out of money, and everybody can buy cars one favors and can afford.



Melissa

Marian Aldana asked:


Countless teenagers try out in college sports recruiting for a spot in college soccer teams. Soccer is a sport played between two teams consisting of eleven players, and is thought by many to be the most popular sport in the world. It is played on a rectangular field of grass or turf, with a goal set up at the opposite ends. The object of the game is to bring the ball into the opposing goal. Generally, the goalkeepers are the only players allowed to use their hands or arms to catch the ball, while the rest of the team usually make use their feet to kick the ball in play, or else use their torso or head to propel a ball in midair. The team that manages to score the most goals by the end of the allotted time wins. Depending on the format of the game, if the score is tied at the end of the game, a draw is acknowledged, or else the game proceeds into overtime and/or a penalty shootout.

The first defender in any soccer team should as much as possible be the player closest to the one holding possession.  He also needs to be at the defending side of him if he is to do an effective job. He should maintain a distance of about 2 meters from his opponent, though the ideal distance shall vary depending upon the given situation. The whole objective is to put as much pressure on the opponent as possible without giving him a chance of a dribble.  In certain instances, the first defender should make an attempt at a tackle. However, this may often increase the probability of the ball being dribbled and passed.

The direction in which a player is to move towards the opponent with possession may be the shortest one to take. However, it may be necessary to curve the defensive run, to direct the opponent in a certain direction. If a defensive team is well organized, that player should be directed towards the centre of the pitch. In a less ideal defensive organization, conversely, he should be drived towards the line.

It is usually the case that only the indisputably best players will be approached with offers to play in college soccer teams without having to make any effort.  Most soccer players will have to promote their skills and abilities themselves in the process of college sports recruiting.

Fortunately, the Internet has proved to be a useful venue for both athletes and coaches looking for promising players to play in their college soccer teams. D1Athletes is an online community wherein athletes and coaches alike can share and exchange information they need regarding college sports recruiting.  D1Athletes offers them a place to build an online presence and gain important public exposure.



David

Jim Edwards asked:


How do you persuade someone to do what you want them to do?

A whole world of marketing exists around us trying to do that every minute of the day. Do you even notice it anymore or, like your prospects, have you subconsciously set up a system of “radar defenses” against the daily bombardment of marketing messages?

Take a minute and count up the advertising methods which fight for your attention (and money) every day. Just the basic list includes:

· Yellow page ads

· Newspaper and magazine ads

· Postcards, catalogs, and direct mail circulars in your “snail mail” box

· Radio pitches interrupting the flow of your favorite songs

· TV ads – about 20 minutes worth per hour now

· Hundreds of storefronts, “mega” malls, and strip malls

· Highway billboards by the thousands

· Circulars hung on your doorknob

· Illegal signs on stop signs and telephone poles

· Legitimate email messages

· Spam email or UCE (unsolicited commercial email)

Just these 11 sources can overwhelm your brain with marketing messages. Like trapped rats, people develop defenses against this never-ending onslaught. They throw up a wall or a “radar defense” that goes into action the minute they smell a “pitch” or a sales job. Don’t blame them. We all do it!

So how can you get around this psychological wall against the constant sales and marketing messages? Well, the answer does NOT lie in hitting people with more frequent and obnoxious advertising or sly, sneaky tactics. You might get them to trust you for a minute, but it will backfire in the long run.

You must do two things instead:

1. First, you must establish credibility for yourself and your business as an expert.

2. Second, you must reduce their fears about doing business with you.

Doing these two things will get you past their defenses and allow you the opportunity to persuade them to buy your product.

So how do you accomplish these two “simple” things? What will win someone’s attention, raise your credibility, and lower their fear factor all at the same time? The one-word answer really applies to most everyone.

Trust!

If a seller can get behind your defenses with information which makes you trust them, then that credibility will carry over into a sale much of the time.

How can you get this credibility?

Well, take this next fact as online marketing “gospel,” for many people have proven its effectiveness.

Fact: Publishing and promoting with free articles gives you one of the most powerful opportunities available to tip the buyer’s credibility scale in your favor.

How can we prove this works? Quite easily actually. Take a break from reading this and go check out a newspaper or magazine for a minute.

Which do you trust more, the ads or the articles? Most people will choose the articles hands down. Why? Because the articles don’t try to “sell” you anything. Instead, they hand out useful information for educational or other practical purposes.

Most of us grew up in a culture which says we can believe and “trust” what appears in the standard “news” or “information” format. In other words, if it appears in print, then we can believe and trust the author.

So go ahead! Use this lifetime of conditioning to your advantage in selling your products and services!

Very few things will create an atmosphere of trust and confidence in people as reading one of your articles on a subject that greatly interests them. It shows you know your business. It also demonstrates you will do more than just try to sell them something.

Publishing articles literally lets you fly under their advertising “radar defenses.”

So remember these points when deciding whether or not to use articles to promote your business:

1. Few things create as much trust and confidence in the minds of potential customers as reading an article you wrote on a subject which specifically and intensely interests them.

2. Articles establish credibility quickly because, right or wrong, we’ve all been trained to trust the “news.”

3. An article, or series of articles, will differentiate you from the competition, who bombard people with nothing but sales messages.

4. Providing content-rich, non-sales-oriented articles will also help build and solidify your relationship with existing customers so they give you repeat business.

—-

Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist and the co- author of an amazing new ebook, “Turn Words Into Traffic,” that will teach you how to use free articles to quickly drive thousands of targeted visitors to your website or affiliate link! Click Here ==> http://hop.clickbank.net/?iknowhow/ezarticles

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Theresa