Author & Book Views On a Healthy Life!

Friday

03Jul

Fun Free 4th of July Celebrations around the U.S.

Jul 3, 2009

It’s time to celebrate the 4^th of July again, but why do we celebrate the 4^th of July? It’s the day the United States celebrates Independence Day, a federal holiday that commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain on July 4^th, 1776.

In honor of our nation’s day of independence, cities all around the United States hold celebrations. Here is a list of a few free 4^th of July celebrations in neighborhoods that may be close to you.

Atlanta, GA – There are festivities all day at Centennial Olympic Park with arts and crafts as well as face painting for the kids (children’s activities are held in the south end of the park around the Fountain of Rings from 12 PM – 5 PM) and an AirTran Airways Fireworks Spectacular at 9 PM. Free music entertainment begins at 5 PM.

Seattle, WA – Chase Family 4^th at Lake Union. Free family festivities and activities throughout the day with fireworks beginning at 10 PM.

Great Falls, MT – Free 4^th of July celebration in downtown Great Falls. You will enjoy a great parade with clowns, antique cars, gun salute and aerial displays. Free water, soda’s and free ice cream.

Anchorage, AK - Free activities and fireworks finale. Pancake breakfast (not free) starts at 8 AM. Parade begins at 11 AM and then there is the reading of the Declaration of Independence at 1 PM.

Santa Clara, CA – All-City Picnic with a pancake breakfast (not free) followed by free entertainment and family activities from 8 AM to 5 PM. Central Park, 9090 Kiely Blvd. Fireworks begin at 9:30 PM.

San Francisco, CA – Fillmore Jazz Festival 10 AM – 6 PM. Fillmore Street between Jackson and Eddy Street. Free admission.

New York, NY – One of the nation’s most impressive firework displays begins at 9:20 PM. There will also be the iconic hot dog eating contest on Coney Island sponsored by Nathan’s on Saturday afternoon.

St. Louis, MO – Free concerts and fireworks with this year’s headliners being The Counting Crows and Train on July 3^rd and July 4^th. Fireworks both nights. Held at the Archgrounds and St. Louis Riverfront. Kids will have fun enjoying crafts, games and the K-Town Kids Zone.

Washington, DC – What better way to celebrate the 4^th of July then at our nation’s capitol? Held at The National Mall, the all-day event begins with a parade along Constitution Avenue and ends with a spectacular display of fireworks at the Washington National Monument. This breathtaking event begins at 10 AM.

Colorado – From Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Castle Rock, Aspen and Alamosa, there are festivities galore in Colorado. The Air Force Academy will have a family-oriented evening with games, music and fireworks beginning at 5 PM to 9:30 PM. Boulder at Folsom Stadium have festivities that include a performance by the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra and the Colorado Shakespeare Company. Gates open at 7 PM with fireworks at 9:30 PM.

These are just a few hot spots around our nation; with thousands, more held in cities close to you. Why not make it a fun, free family night and celebrate one of our nation’s most treasured moments in history.

Jaci Rae is known as The Fabulously Frugal Diva and The Queen of More Green. She is the author of several books including the bestseller 5 Meals For $5. Other books she's written: Shop For a Day With Jaci Rae, How To Get Almost Anything For Free, and Winning Points With The Woman in Your Life One Touchdown at a Time. Jaci Rae, who was raised in poverty and knows the value of a dollar, can show you that it doesn't have to be a struggle. Recently Jaci Rae went on a shopping spree and filled an entire truck, inside and out for under $400. Jaci is currently working on a Ph.D.

7 Tips to Spending Less on Cosmetics and Hair Care

FREE Meals For Kids This Summer

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Thursday

02Jul

FirstLook Book Review: Saving Freedom By U.S. Senator Jim DeMint

Jul 2, 2009

A FirstLook Book Review By James Holland

U.S. Senator DeMint's book is surprisingly good. It makes the reader believe that maybe some politicians in Washington D.C. actually see the dangers ahead as the current administration rushes the nation toward full-fledged socialism. The American public is being given the proverbial "bums rush" out the door of freedom into the slavery of a socialist, fascist "Big Brother" state. Most American voters don't even realize it because they don't understand the terms or the concepts. The good senator is a master of explaining the problem. He makes wonderful use of metaphors in explaining how the "Siren Song of Socialism" works. His "Fox and the Gingerbread Man" is a wonderful way of explaining the dangers of gradually giving up one's freedom to the crafty fox or the wolf in sheep's clothing. He also tells stories about his own youth and uses favorite incidents from the Andy Griffith Show to explain some of his own beliefs. While this approach may seem corny to many readers, it actually works very well. It makes the difficult easy to explain.

It was interesting to read about a small businessman who didn't consider running for political office until age 47 after he'd built a business and life in the real world where he describes the public as looking at two kinds of people--"normal people" and a different breed known as "politicians." Most people had little respect for the latter. It was rare to find a "statesman" among the breed. Before he entered the political stage, he had spent years raising his four kids while his wife remained a "stay at home mom" who filled her free time volunteering for the school board, etc. DeMint also spent considerable time volunteering for his church and other charitable organizations such as the Rotary Club. He learned early that some of the very problems he and his wife were working to solve through their charities were either government caused or greatly aggravated by government policies. He recalls being surprised at this discovery.

While there happen to be several other current books on this subject including Catastrophe, Common Sense, and Liberty and Tyranny by Mark R. Levin, this one is different from the others. First of all it's written by a U.S. Senator with all the experience and the insider understanding of a one of our lawmakers. He admits there is plenty of blame for the current government problems. Both political parties are guilty. They all helped create the bureaucracy that has turned into an insatiable monster that must constantly expand in order to survive. That perspective adds great weight to his thoughts. It also gives the reader a little hope that somebody inside Congress understands the problems we are facing. That is comforting because DeMint does an unusually good job of describing the "Siren Song of Socialism." As in the ancient myth, anyone who follows the irresistible call of the sirens to their Utopian Island will be devoured. The promises of a paradise on earth, simply persuade the unsuspecting victims to drop their guard, check their common sense and freedoms at the door, and follow the blinding light of hope into the hidden abyss of "broken promises." Like a fifth or sixth marriage, experience is trumped by hope.

DeMint does a superb job of explaining why socialism, collectivism and utopia are so irresistible. The fact that socialism has never worked anywhere on the planet throughout all of history is cleverly disguised as a promised new suit of lifetime security, that in fact will eventually turn out to resemble the Emperor's Clothes that weren't. It seems a universal human desire to always "be taken care of." The great intellectuals of mid-19h century New England attempted to form and live in a socialist utopia that soon foundered and disbanded. Most of the world is currently running away from socialism as the USA runs full-speed ahead toward the failed philosophy. Many people say that the nation is not headed for socialism as can be noted in some of the critical reader reviews of this book. People who can't see that the nation is slipping into socialism either don't understand the philosophy or are suffering from a bad case of either naivety or denial. They have forgotten the age old sage wisdom that "if it sounds too good to be true, it isn't true."

I don't feel I've even begun to do justice to this excellent book. You'll have to read it yourself to learn the definition of socialism, the history of it, the results of it or the cure for it. This book will change your life.

5 Stars

Saving Freedom: We Can Stop America's Slide Into Socialism (B & H Pub Group/ Jul 2009) by U.S. Senator Jim DeMint

Glenn Beck: National Debt to Balloon to $806 Billion

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Wednesday

01Jul

2050: Indian and Chinese Economies Double That of USA

Jul 1, 2009

A FirstLook Review by Loyd Eskildson

Shuman's expertise and openness combine in one of the most important books on economic development - The Miracle. He begins by reminding us of the obvious, but too easily forgotten - that Asia has produced the most sustained economic boom in modern history, bringing unprecedented gains in wealth and economic opportunity to billions. This was accomplished despite, for some, centuries of colonial domination or the devastation of war. Economic discipline and sacrifice were key.

South Korea leads the group, with a 15,046% growth in GNP/capita from 1965 - 2007; Japan's was "merely" 4,133%, China's 2,260%, and India's 764%. East Asia's 1981 poverty (surviving on $1.25/day, or less) rate led the world at nearly 805; this fell to 18% by 2005. (During the same period sub-Saharan Africa remained at 50%.)

As Asia's financial and political power have grown, it is inevitable that the West's has declined - especially given Goldman Sach's well-known 2003 prediction that by 2050 the Indian and Chinese economies together would double that of the U.S.

Shuman's focus is on first reporting how each economy blossomed, and from that, providing material to help explain this. Three are most prominent: 1)"There is something special about Asians" - eg. Confucianism's stress on societal order, and devotion to a strong work ethic and education. (Akin to earlier studies crediting Protestantism's "The Lord helps him who helps himself" for the rise of capitalism in the West.") (Shuman also could have credited the number of politically-incorrect yet credible studies concluding that Asians, in general, benefit from about a ten IQ-point lead over Caucasians.) Regardless, Shuman suggests this explanation does not address the question of "Why not earlier?"

A second explanation is that Asians did a superior job of planning that was contrary to pure U.S. laissez-faire ideology. Asian governments have picked specific industries to nurture, and then created policies to nurture (eg. protectionism) and accelerate them.

A third common theory is that Asians simply took advantage of American-supported free-trade while also boosting the education of their peoples and infrastructure (eg. transportation, power networks). Again, however, Shuman challenges such thinking with "eg.Why not Africa?"

Shuman sees nationalism as a key contributor - leaders seeking strong growth to lift their people's standard of living, as well as a defense against the Communist threat (eg. South Korea, Taiwan). (Ironically, part of Deng's motivation in China was to favorably impress citizens in Taiwan and Hong Kong - in hopes of later re-uniting with them.) The author also notes that, with one exception, Singh, in India) the leaders were not economists, but were quick to borrow from nations demonstrating early success (Japan was first). Shuman also is quite impressed by the creativity of early Asian business leaders - eg. Morito (Sony), and those involved in developing the Toyota Production System (TPS) that turned "Fordism" on its head. (Actually, Shuman talked about Honda, not Toyota - however, Toyota's TPS has had much greater impact.) China's recent battery and solar power entrepreneurs, also not mentioned, are nonetheless supportive of Shuman's thinking. Finally, The Miracle also quotes Asian leaders crediting the U.S. for providing security and stability to the region.

The bulk of the book is taken up with an accounting of individual Asian nation transformations, starting with Japan. While covering South Korea's transformation he also posits that strong-man rule, certainly replicated in China and Indonesia also) has been another positive component. Deng Xiaoping's "turn-on-a-dime" leadership away from ideology to pragmatism after Mao's death, covered in the book, is in itself an incredible story of leadership courage.

My only criticism of The Miracle is that Shuman's thinking about long-term consequences for the U.S. are superficial. He believes, correctly, that continuation improves relations between the U.S. and Asia - but only up to a point. China's increasing concerns over holding U.S. assets is evidence that things may get tougher. More importantly, however, Shuman fails to realize that what's good for Asia (more free trade) may not be good for the U.S. One also wonders what Russia's fate would have been if it had followed the Asian model.

5 Stars

The Miracle: The Epic Story of Asia's Quest for Wealth (HarperCollins/ Jun 2009) by Michael Schuman

A Failure of Capitalism by The Honorable Richard A. Posner

An Economic Naturalist's Field Guide by Robert H. Frank

Agenda for a New Economy by David C. Korten

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Wednesday

01Jul

Book Review: 20/20 Money by Michael J. Hanson

Jul 1, 2009

Review By Tina Avon

I think that John Wiley & Sons have some of the most informative and well written books on personal finance and 20/20 Money is another great addition to my personal finance library.

In 20/20 Money the author explores an aspect of finance that has always fascinated me - the "oneness" of the stock market, that is what I call the "almost sheep like mentality" when it comes to the stock market. Every time I hear about a massive sell out of stocks I always ask myself, "What would happen if everyone said to themselves, I am not selling this stock right now," - obviously, there would not be a massive sell off and the stock would remain strong (or at least stronger).

In 20/20 Money, the author explores more than just the day to day ups and downs of the market, but also takes a close look at the relationship between the market and the psychology of the people involved in it - and the extremely close relationship between the two.

I found this the most fascinating part of this book: 20/20 Money is written in a concise and informative way - challenging us to look beyond the mere 1-2-3 of the stock market and to start investing in a different way. This book has its merits; I believe that we cannot continue to invest in the markets in the ways that we have been doing for the last 50 years.

I have taken down quite a few of the suggestions in this book and I intend to try them - I figure I may just get ahead of the game a little bit. This is a very informative book - if you are willing to think outside the box a little bit.

4 Stars

20/20 Money: See the Markets Clearly And Invest Better Than the Pros (John Wiley & Sons/ Jun 2009) by Michael J. Hanson

Book Review: New Rules of Retirement by Warren MacKenzie

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Tuesday

30Jun

FREE Meals For Kids This Summer

Jun 30, 2009

Jaci Rae--

The economy is in turmoil, but there is still help for children, adults and those with disabilities with free meals (in some cases free breakfast, free lunch and a free snack.), even though school is out for summer. Because of the obesity problem with children, the meals provided will be much healthier than they have been in the past.

Children ages are 0 – 18 are eligible for free meals. Adults in many states are given a huge discount some lower than $2.50 per meal and still other states provide free meals for the mentally or physically disabled communities.

The following states have specific programs, however you can find out more information at the USDA website. The USDA free meal program is called the Summer Food Service Program.

(National) The Society of St. Vincent de Paul has local programs in many communities that service families with meals. Check their website for free meal times and locations.

(California) California Department of Education's Summer Food Program. This program feeds not only the children, but the mentally or physically disabled community. Please check with the local state government website for additional information.

(Florida) Free meals are offered at most elementary school in every county in Florida. Check your local elementary school for times and locations.

(Georgia) The Seamless Summer Option program, funded by the United States Department of Agriculture For more information on times and locations, please check the USDA website.

(Illinois) Free Meals for Children and Youth Summer Nutrition Program. For information on where and when the free meals are being served, please go to their website: www.CityofChicago.org under the Chicago Family Services section.

(Indiana) Free Meals for Kids summer program in Bedford, Indiana. Their website has listings of times and dates free meals are available. Adults may purchase meals if they are over 18. www.BedfordOnline.com

(Oregon) Free Summer Food. Check their website www.SummerFoodOregon.org for free meal times and locations or call their toll free number 800-723-3638.

(New York) Free Summer Meals for Kids. Their website has a complete listing of places and times that free meals are served:

(Utah) Summer Free Food Service Program. Kids 0 – 18 can eat for free and a greatly reduced price of $2.50 per meal is for any adult. What a great deal! For more information go too: Utah Schools for free meal locations and times.

(Virginia) Free Meals put on by NPS Child Nutrition Department. Free meals for children and adults may eat for a discounted price of $3.25 a meal. Please contact Norman Public Schools Child Nutrition Department for additional information.

(Wisconsin) The Hunger Task Force. Please call (866) 211-3380 for locations that free meals are being served as well as times for free breakfast, lunch and snacks.

This is just a sample of states and programs. Please check your area for similar programs.