Just Blogging

Peter Cox asked:




British war medals are highly collectible and can change hands for tens of thousands of pounds. The UK has no equivalent of the U.S. Stolen Valor Act of 2005 and so there is no limitation upon their sale and purchase by dealers and collectors. It is vital though for the novice collector to be aware of the substantive difference between service (or campaign) medals and gallantry medals.

Service medals, otherwise referred to as campaign medals, are awarded to every serviceman or woman who has taken part in a particular conflict or campaign. There is no requirement that the soldier, sailor or airman has behaved in a particular, simply that they were there. The most common and collectible are British service medals from World War One, usually sold in pairs, and easily identifiable from their ribbons, assuming, of course, that the correct ribbon has been attached!

Every soldier taking part in the Great War received a War Medal and a Victory Medal. The name, serial number and regiment of the recipient of each medal will be stamped on the side and it will be possible to research details of his war record via the British Public Record Office and/or the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. It is even possible sometimes to trace the recipient’s living relatives!

Other service medals to look out for are the 1914 Mons Star, awarded to members of the original British Expeditionary Force, and the 1915 Star. For those interested in the ANZAC involvement in the Great War, the 1915 Gallipoli Star is also highly prized. Be aware though that the recipients of these medals were far fewer in number and, consequently, the medals become more expensive to acquire.

A pair of War and Victory medals will change hands for something in the region of $40 and the Mons Star perhaps for $80. Compare this to the $120,000 you will need to pay for a Victoria Cross and you will immediately appreciate the difference to the collector between service and gallantry medals.

The Victoria Cross is, of course, the highest award for gallantry in the British Armed Forces, equivalent to the U.S. Medal of Honor. It is rarely awarded and then, very often, posthumously. More often seen in a museum there are some very substantial collections of Victoria Crosses in private hands.

The award of British gallantry medals is also interesting in that a distinction is made between officers and other ranks. For the same act of bravery that would result in an officer receiving the Military Cross, a member of the ranks would receive the Military Medal. Similarly, in the Royal Air Force, where an officer might receive the Distinguished Flying Cross, a member of the other ranks would receive the Distinguished Flying Medal.

Collecting British War medals is a highly rewarding and interesting pastime and it is possible to build up a substantial collection of service medals. Collecting gallantry medals requires far greater resources and, very often, attendance at specialist auctions.

Candis Reade asked:




You have begun to climb the long mountain of acceptance. You have said goodbye to your loved one. You have gone through setting up the funeral, and it was much harder and more expensive than you ever dreamt it would be. You sat through the service, and dealt with the remains as they wanted them to be. You shook the hands of the people who came, pondered why the people who didn’t show never arrived, listened to the I’m sorry’s till you were tired of the words and they held little comfort, and you came back to the new world you never thought would come. But now there’s one more step - thank-you cards filled with funeral thank you verses.

When a person is done with the funeral, the funeral thank you verses is the last thing that crosses their mind. What do you say? Why have you never heard of this? The truth is, most people don’t talk about this part of the funeral. However, the rules of etiquette, even for funerals, say it’s polite and respectful to send a thank-you card to everyone that came or did something for the funeral. It shows that even in your time of grief, you are polite, well bred, and thankful that you have people who care around you. Funeral thank you verses also show that you still want a relationship with everyone who was there.

What should funeral thank you verses say? How are you suppose to sound sincere and elegant while crying your heart out and reevaluating your entire life? Here are few ideas that will help. As with all thank-you cards, address it directly to a person or persons, such as Dear Dan and Rose Bennet, rather than The Bennet family, or worse, The Bennets. Start off with a comment on how glad you were to see them. Then continue with thanking them for what they did or the mere fact they came, and how much it meant to you for them to be there: “It helped so much that you took the time to send those beautiful flowers. It helped me a lot “. For direct family members: mother, father, sister, brother, etc. , explain how wonderful the person was and some of the great memories you have of him or them: Phil loved when he spoke of you, and I know it meant a lot to him that you were there. Finally, invite them to come over, call, e-mail etc. Feel free to call or e-mail me, I’d love to reminisce or just talk.

Not only will the recipient of these funeral thank you verses feel warmed and thought of, it will help you with the healing. They will have a new respect for you and all that you have done. Not only that, they will also see how well you shine, even in this time of trouble. The type of warmth and happiness that a thank-you card brings, is exactly what everyone needs to overcome that sense of loss.

Omar Mazatleen asked:




Do you have a kid who likes to play with guns and war games on your PC? For sure you are bothered of the violence that these war elements give your kid. Well you should but not to the extent that you force your kid to stay away from it. Maybe your kid is starting to develop an eagerness of becoming a soldier someday. If this is the case you better support him and unleash that dream of your boy. You can give him a military cap or military inspired clothes or gears that resemble the real military tactical gears. The molding of a good soldier usually starts at younger age so better start it now with your kid.

Military tactical gear and camo gear are not only for the big boys, but for the kids too. The younger generations or should I say the future soldiers can now feel like the full-grown and real military men. The kids too can wear all the clothes, gear, and accessories that was once only for the big boys. The kids will no longer try to use the military jacket of their fathers that fits them as a coverall and almost runs down their feet. And the fathers who are rushing for an operation will never go crazy gaga looking for the headgear that the kid snatched from their closet. The kids can have their own that fits them well so they don’t have to borrow from their parents.

The military supplies and surplus shops do not only sell military issue and surplus equipments. They also specialize in sales of camo gear and military inspired kids clothing and accessories such as jackets, pants, coverall, and even patches or insignias. Sorry kids but no guns for sale. You can ask your father for a toy gun but the real gun is a big no no.

Nancy Fulton asked:




After World War II, returning GI’s were offered a series of benefits designed to make them a functional part of the US economy. Among the most important benefits of the GI Bill were funding for:

a full college education for returning vets and zero down payment home loans for vets and their widowed dependents

With 16 million military personnel deployed, and with so many taking advantage of these benefits, there may be more than strong family values and hard work to explain why the folks that fought in WWII are called the “greatest generation”. Those benefits, so widely distributed and so tightly targeted at the age group that has always been the “engine” of an economy, set the stage for some long term prosperity.

Benefits provided to vets after military deployment have declined over the years. The more than one million military men and women who have been deployed since 9/11 do receive some benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill, but they are far less comprehensive than what WWII vets received.

Active Duty service members who give up $100 a month for their first year of deployment can receive a flat payment of up to $1101 a month for college for 36 months under the MGIB-AD program. Educational benefits for on the job training or apprenticeship programs are less. Qualifying for full benefits under this program requires that the vet have met a significant number of service and requirements. Selected reserve and national guard, though they may also have seen long deployments, are not guaranteed the same benefits.

The VA still guarantees loans for vets, allowing banks to make some loans available for now down payment. But “regular military” professionals must meet several eligibility requirements related to their length of active duty service in order to receive ACE certification. Selected Reserve and National Guard may be eligible for these benefits if they have complete six years of service or were discharged with a service-connected disability.

There are, as there always have been, additional benefits Vets can receive. The Small Business Administration’s Patriot Express makes it easier for vets to get a loan to start a new business. States sometimes provide business loans, unemployment and insurance benefits to vets. But these benefits are no replacement for the holistic support originally provided to vets under the GI bill.

The VA estimates that more than 200,000 vets are homeless on any given night, and 400,000 experience homelessness over the course of a year. These vets have served in every war, but the majority have come from Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam War, Grenada, Panama, Lebanon, Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) and Operation Iraqi Freedom. 47% of homeless vets are estimated to be from the Vietnam era.

Vets from Iraq and Afghanistan are already appearing on US streets. In some cases they are victims of slow or inadequate treatment for injuries (mental and physical) sustained in the war zone. In other cases they are simply unable to find employment which makes exercising home loan benefits or taking real advantage of piecemeal educational benefits unfeasible.

After World War II, a four year war, the US faced the problem of how to reintegrate military professionals into the economy head on. They developed the GI bill to support their educational and financial requirements soon after their return. The result was a generation of vets who were able to contribute to our society in almost every capacity.

Failure to meet the needs of vets returning from subsequent wars has resulted in an increasingly ill and desperate population of homeless vets. Perhaps the smartest investment we can make in the military is to remake the GI Bill for a new generation. It is the best way to insure, as the “Greatest Generation”would have wished, that this generation is “Greater Still”.

Leigh A. Matelas asked:




An attractive, inviting bedroom can play a big role in keeping the romance alive in your relationship. Whether you’re looking to completely redesign your bedroom or just add a few decorative touches, there are plenty of ways in which you can create a romantic haven where you and your other half can unwind after a busy day and rediscover your love and affection for each other.

If you want to keep the focus on romance in your bedroom, it’s important to eliminate other distractions. This means keeping the room clean and free of clutter. Links with the outside world such as telephones, TVs or computers should ideally be kept in another room or placed somewhere unobtrusive. Avoid bringing the stress of the workplace into your bedroom - keep office files and documents well out of sight!

You may not be able to change the size or location of your bedroom, but repositioning the furniture can dramatically change the appearance of your room. If your bedroom is smaller than you’d like, positioning the bed at an angle in a corner can make the room appear larger, while mirrors add depth. If your room looks bare, a plain wooden floor can be made more romantic with the addition of a richly patterned oriental rug or carpet.

Beds and romance

Your bed is obviously the key piece of furniture in your room when it comes to love and romance!

Certain styles of bed, such as four-poster, Victorian or canopy beds evoke old-fashioned romantic moods, while for some couples the playfulness and adventure of a waterbed does the trick. Generally speaking, large, soft, inviting beds of any type are romantic when everything else is right.

For a luxurious, sensual feel, sheets should be made of satin, silk or soft, high-quality cotton. Quilts and bedspreads decorated with lace or embroidered with floral designs are very romantic and feminine. Scattering a number of soft, fluffy pillows in different sizes and colours on your bed creates a charming effect. Curtains or valences with fringes, beads, or lace can complement the style of your bed and add detail and elegance to your windows.

Inspire romance using all the senses

The colour of the walls in a room is known to have an influence on our mood.

Your choice of colours will be determined by your personal taste, but be aware that softer colours are more relaxing and tend to inspire serenity. Red and pink are associated with love and passion, however too much of these colours could be overpowering, so combine touches of red or pink with a neutral background colour such as white or cream. Whatever colour scheme you choose, make sure you keep it consistent, as introducing too many colours or styles creates disharmony in your room.

Flowers are always romantic and instantly brighten up a room. For a classic romantic gesture, red roses are the obvious choice, though daisies and tulips are popular alternatives.

The artwork you hang on your walls can also be used to inspire romance. Display your artistic taste with beautiful prints, watercolours or oil paintings, or for something more personal to your relationship, hang a series of photographs of the two of you, or other mementos that have special meaning. Surrounding yourself with personal memories can inspire your relationship like nothing else.

We all know soft lighting is crucial for creating a romantic atmosphere, whether it’s in a dimly lit restaurant or at home in your bedroom. Candles are indelibly linked with romance, so light as many as you like, in all sizes, colours and scents. You could also install lights that can be dimmed or make use of bedside lamps with shades in a soft colour. Don’t allow external light to spoil the mood - If there’s a harsh streetlight outside your window, block it with curtains.

Scent can also have a significant effect on our emotions. To set the mood with scent, use perfumed candles, essential oils burned in an oil burner, or simply a splash of your favourite perfume on your sheets. Choose calming or sensual scents such as jasmine, ylang ylang, rose or vanilla and don’t overdo scent to the point where it becomes overpowering. In addition, bear in mind any allergies or sensitivities to scents your partner may have.

Finally, soft music is a key element in setting a romantic mood. Place a stereo in your bedroom with the speakers away from the head of the bed, so the sound is not too intrusive. Make a CD with a collection of romantic songs or music (bearing in mind again your partner’s taste). Be creative, be inspired, and revitalise the romance in your life!

J Stone asked:




Around the world, organized military forces of governments have many different types of military uniforms that they wear. Clearly being one of the founding fathers of the uniform, the militaries of countries have contributed greatly towards what constitutes a good uniform today.

In addition to offering protective features from the elements or even enemy fire military uniforms are also worn to signify a specific job role within the military. After the early 1900’s, uniforms stopped being supplied in bright colors and instead, were supplied in more drab colors. Partially to aid in combat, these colors would often blend in with the surrounding areas on the battlefields. The dress uniforms, however, would continue to remain colorful and elaborate.

Uniforms have been designed to serve many purposes. Among these purposes are distinction, camouflage, logistics and psychological warfare. A brief description of each purpose follows:

Distinction:

One main reason for having uniforms is so that combatants can distinguish individuals protected by the laws of war and those who are allowed to carry weapons. Some individuals in war who carry weapons and fight back are often not protected by these laws. One other reason was to prevent army deserters from being able to modify their clothing to reflect more ordinary civilian clothing. The uniforms themselves were so distinct in design and style that these deserters could be easily identified.

Visibility & Camouflage:

The evolution of military uniforms from bright colors (to help in identification on a battle field) to more camouflaged ones (where they become virtually indistinguishable from the surrounding landscape) is a clear indication of the purpose of a uniform. While previously important to find units in battle, the evolution of warfare has necessitated the more stealthier aspects of armies and hence more attention to camouflage.

Logistics:

During large wars, it is significantly easier to produce and equip armies with standard sized uniforms. This becomes a more economical way to outfit thousands of soldiers quickly and efficiently during a war.

Psychological Warfare:

In the past, uniforms were also used as a sort of psychological warfare. Form enhancing gear that make the soldiers appear larger and more formidable often strike fear into the opposing sides. Large caps, capes, specific colors all add to the psychological warfare of the military uniforms.

Modern day military uniforms are much more simpler. The US Army soldiers wear standard camouflage utilities for practically all purposes unless there is a dress parade or formal occasion where they will wear their full dress uniforms. Today, the tradition and reasons for wearing military uniforms still remain. It is unlikely that this tradition will change drastically in the future.

Ann D. Gill asked:




Just like any other kind of this service, the military background check also aims to investigate a person’s history. Specifically, with conducting military background searches you will find out or validate if someone has been part of the military, and if they have been enlisted or discharged.

Reasons vary why people conduct these searches. One of the most common reasons is the verification is someone was indeed a part of the military. An individual doing a search for military history data can look into where the subject served, how long they served and where they are assigned at present. In addition, the military record of the subject will reveal his/her awards and distinction while in the service.

People use this service in looking for children or spouses who are currently enlisted in the military. It is essentially a way of keeping in touch with a family member who is in the military.

Another use of the military background check is in making sure than a person has the education or training needed for a certain job. There are some businesses which ensure that the person serve the military before giving them the chance to have an extended period in their job. The information that will be collected in running a service like this include: date of birth, enlistment, deployment, rewards granted, disciplinary action, discharge, among others.

Military background check can really be of great advantage. Some people were able to pay tribute to men and women by conducting these and similar types of investigation.

Roy Maloney asked:




My wife is an excellent cook with my favorite meals she prepares being her prime rib and lasagna, with the newest dish being this her recipe for pulled pork and is just one of many quick easy dinner recipes she has added. Since my son started college we discovered the expensive for her to be at home. This ended a lot of the home cooked meals, due to time restraints. It’s just so hard these days to have only one adult working as gas prices seem to be pushing all of our costs upward. Then on top of that we tend to make some of these fast food establishments richer because no one has time to prepare meals. It seems the more money we earn the more it cost to make ends meet. We decided we needed to find some quick easy dinner recipes. Otherwise we would be eating dinner at 8:30 at night. In our search we discovered a great time and money saver in an appliance we had all along stuffed away in the basement. We pulled out our old trusty crock pot and searched for some verity of dishes to prepare with it. To our amazement we found that this was much more than a Band-Aid type fix. We found a huge collection of recipes online and found that even a recipe for pulled pork can be a quick easy dinner recipes.

We found we could still have great taste and could start it before work and let them cook all day unattended to return home and dinner was ready or near ready.

They say it’s so important to eat as a family when ever possible. I don’t think they had a fast food atmosphere in mind. Some of our greatest discussions come from around the dinner table as were eating. I don’t know how families can keep up with out this valuable time. We tend to use these quick easy dinner recipes about 3 times a week and usually on our busy nights. The recipe for pulled pork is only one of the many recipes available. It’s nice to come home again and smell the great food aroma smell in the air once again. I’ve included the recipe for pulled pork as just one of the many quick easy dinner recipes available.

Crock Pot Recipe For Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Cook Time: 10 hours

Ingredients:
3 to 4 lb lean boneless pork roast 1/2 tsp. garlic powder 1 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp.pepper 2 large onions. coarsely chopped 1 can (12 oz.) Coca-Cola 1-1/2 cups bottled hickory smoked barbecue sauce 3/4 cup water Preparation -

Spray the inside of a crock-pot with non-stick cooking spray. Trim any visible fat from the pork roast. Place it in the crock-pot. Sprinkle with seasonings. Top with chopped onions. Pour the Coca-Cola over top. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours. Remove the roast from the crock-pot. Discard the onions and liquid. Pull apart and shred the pork with a fork, removing any remaining fat. Place the shredded pork back in the crock-pot. Mix the barbecue sauce and water together. Pour over and stir into the shredded pork. Cook on low for 2 more hours. Ready to serve on bun or roll.

Darryl Schoon asked:




Make Millions By Loaning Money That’s Not Even Yours That You Don’t Even Have—its all legal too

You may think this is how loaning money works: You have $10,000. You loan it at 15 % and at the end of the year you get $1,500 in interest and your $10,000 back. Not bad. If you had put that money is a money market account you would receive at most 6 % interest or $600.

But this is NOT the way the game works, not if you know how it is really played, not if you play by the rules that have already been established for others. Not if you become ONE OF THEM.

THIS IS HOW THE GAME IS REALLY PLAYED:

Let’s take that original $10,000. Let’s assume that it’s not even your money. Let’s assume it’s someone else’s $10,000. Of course, if it’s not yours, you’re going to have to pay something, say 6 %, $600, for the use of that money.

But, with that $10,000 using completely legal rules and existing laws you can now loan up to $300,000

Yes, you heard me. Under existing laws, if you have $10,000 (and the money doesn’t have to be yours), you can loan up to $300,000 as long as you keep the original $10,000 on hand. (3 % to 10 % of your outstanding loans must be kept)

WOW!

Now, the question you need to ask, the question you want to ask, the question you should be asking is:

HOW MUCH MONEY CAN I MAKE LOANING MONEY THAT I DON”T HAVE AND IS NOT EVEN MINE?

The answer: THE SKY’S THE LIMIT

Yes, you heard me correctly. THE SKY’S THE LIMIT.

Based on your original $10,000: If you loaned $300,000 at 20 %, you would receive $60,000 in interest (note: the average credit card rate in the US is 18.9%). Remember that money only cost you $600

YOUR NET PROFIT IS $60,000 - $ 600 = $59,400 a 10,000% increase on net invested capital using some else’s money. And please don’t feel sorry for that person. They’re actually happy to get 6 % for their money BECAUSE THE US GOVERNMENT WILL GUARANTEE THEIR $10,000. Yes, you heard me. You pay the US government 7¢ per $100 and the US government guarantees anyone up to $100,000 (this program is called the FDIC)

Let’s say instead you got $100,000. With $100,000, you could then loan $3,000,000 and receive $600,000 interest (at 20 %).

Expenses: $6,000.00 interest for other peoples’ money

$70.00 to FDIC to insure the $100,000
Total expenses : $6,070.00

Your net profit: $593,930.00 (using someone else’s $100,000)

AND THERE’S LOTS MORE because there’s NO LIMIT to the interest or the amount of fees you can charge.

WHY?

Because the US deregulated the loan (banking) industry and bankers can now charge as much as they want, as often as they want to anyone anywhere and ITS ALL LEGAL.

In 1978, the US Supreme Court deregulated interest rates on bank loans, i.e. no more usury laws, and allowed banks in states that allowed high interest rates (i.e. South Dakota) to issue cards at high rates in other states—even if other states outlawed higher rates.

There You Have It.

Make Millions By Loaning Money That’s Not Even Yours That You Don’t Even Have

All You Have To Do Is Be A Bank

Be A Banker Or A Bankrupt

It’s Your Choice

For instructions on how to start your own bank, go to:

http://money.howstuffworks.com/bank5.htm

(not legal in Canada)

Darryl Robert Schoon

http://www.survivethecrisis.com

“How To Survive The Crisis And Profit In The Process”

Craig W Smith asked:




Male or female increasing pull-up power and strength is possible so there is no need to make excuses. It’s a fact increasing pull-ups will make you stronger, more functional and help balance out your muscles, keep in mind we do so many different pushing exercises we need to do some pulling ones too.

Increasing pull-up power and strength builds muscle in the back, your shoulders, your arms, and don’t think you won’t get a great grip work out too, the longer you are on the bar the stronger your grip becomes.

Even if your someone that can’t even do one pull up yet don’t worry about it just use some assistance. Find something to stand on a box or chair and use your legs to help push you up. Plus work at negatives-coming down from the bar and resisting all you can.

Just hanging from the bar is a great way to increase your strength and work up to better number of reps plus you can also do this and just pull like crazy until the day comes when your able to do a pull-up yourself!

Make a point of practicing a full range of motion, all the way to the top, chin up and over the bar then all the way back down, arms fully extended. For beginner a medium grip is recommended.

Training the same body part 5 days a week is perfectly fine because we are talking about body weight exercises here not pumping iron in the gym, there is no need for split sets and resting X number of days before hitting the same muscle group again. You never see monkeys taking a days off do you? Seriously, If you train this way with you’ll have great results.