Life After Graduation - Family Vision Column

Ben Cel Fish is definitely a guy with street cred. With his tattoos, body piercing, and wardrobe, he promotes that he's 'ghetto fabulous.' Unfortunately, Ben has wasted his time throughout high school. Now, as a senior, he doesn't have enough credits to graduate. Ben doesn't care about anything because he's going to 'keep it real.' On graduation day, there is one empty chair...Ben's. Ben's teachers didn't understand him. Ben was a white suburb kid with highly educated parents, living in an exclusive neighborhood.

An Age of Uncertainty

This month millions of students will graduate from school and begin a tedious journey towards adulthood and personal responsibility. Graduation speakers provide students with worldly wisdom for the future. I only wonder if they listen. Several years ago, I lectured at John C. Smith University, a prestigious North Carolina institution. I met a perplexed father who had a graduating senior. The daughter had informed her father that she wanted to be a deejay instead (after he had spent $80,000 on her college degree). You can imagine the frustration of this parent. The truth is, however, this situation is not peculiar in these times. Many young people feel when they turn 17 years old, they don't need to listen to anyone.

Sadly, many don't want to hear that being grown-up means being responsible. I constantly talk with students about life after school. When I explain the challenges of adulthood, I can be assured of a smile, and "It's cool, Mr. Green. I got it covered." In my mind, I am saying, "Young man, young lady, you need to keep it real!" From the very rich to the poorest of the poor, we see people caught in a vicious cycle of bad decision making. Despite all the wise counsel, the poor decisions continue. Let's explore this matter closer.

The Cultural Clash

Are kids pursuing their own dreams or the pipe dream of pop culture? The reality is our students are dropping out of school. Let's review an example from my own state. A national study in 2005 showed that the State of Tennessee graduation rate (57% versus the national average of 71%) was ranked toward the bottom, moving ahead of only South Carolina and Georgia. Furthermore, meeting educational expectations continues to be a problem even after high school. The University of Tennessee is on an aggressive campaign to increase its freshman retention rate of 81%, one of the lowest among its Tennessee Higher Education Commission-selected peer institutions. These problems are not unique to the state of Tennessee. No one is exempted from these types of problems in society. Clearly, today's youth have an abundance of resources to help them be successful. Why is the overall achievement so low then?

Currently, parents are in the midst of a fierce battle over their children. Pop culture, aided by mass media, bombards impressionable youth with value systems in conflict with those of parents and schools. Reality shows such as Pimp My Ride, American Idols, and Cribs depict life of lavish living on Easy Street. However, the producers never discuss the price of fame. To gain street credibility, rappers exchange rap music for police rap sheets. Sadly, pop culture portrays success like it is cheap penny candy. Therefore, our children who are raised on the emptiness of pop culture, are destined for a rude awaking as reality hits. Some liberal thinkers believe that exposing youth to adult material will make them better people. This is not the case. Instead it leaves young people with a false confidence that they know everything about life.

The Path Forward

Life is not a reality show. Parent and students should be proud of the accomplishment of graduation. There are severe consequences in making the wrong choices. Bestselling author Brian Tracy argues, "The further you think into the future, the better decisions you will make in the present to assure that future becomes a reality." Throughout their schooling, most young people are shielded from the sacrifices that their parents make for them and all the cost that is associated with being an adult. For the graduating class of 2007, the future is bright. Life is really a marathon of decisions. By making better decisions, graduates can look forward to improving the quality of their lives and perhaps 'keeping it real.'

Nature Hidden in the Mountains of Bulgaria

Bulgaria is a little country found in the Balkans, south eastern Europe. What many people are not aware of is that Bulgaria is the home to some of the most wonderful and rare wildlife there is on the planet today, all hidden away in the high mountain ranges found across this country.

Below is just a small taster of what animals and plant life can be found in this great country.

Suslik

The Suslik is a ground squirrel; it is small and slender but has a very strong body. The back is a yellow to grey colour and white speckles across it.

The Suslik likes to be out and active during daylight hours and lives in the mountain ranges found in Bulgaria. They do not like wet areas too much and are not normally found in densely wooded areas as they like open space.

Capercaillie

The Capercaillie is a type of wood grouse that can weigh over six kilograms and grow to over one metre in length when fully grown. The body of the Capercaillie is brownish to grey and they have shiny dark green feathers underneath on their breast.

Edelweiss

The Edelweiss belongs to the sunflower family but only grows to between three and twenty centimeters in length. The flower is star shape with white fluffy petals with little hairs all over. Normally blooming between July and September the Edelweiss only lives in rocky limestone areas in mountainous regions between two thousand and two thousand five hundred metres above sea level.

Brown Bear

Surprising to some I know but Bulgaria is the home of around eight hundred to one thousand bears that roam the mountainous wilderness in relative harmony. These beautiful creatures are a sight to behold as they live in their wild habitat.

Summary

The wild animals of Bulgaria are wonderful and diverse, if your a nature lover you could do a lot worse than take a trip to the mountains and valleys of Bulgaria to sample some of its natural wonders for yourself.

E-Books and Internet Publishing Will it Replace Print and Bookstores - A Writers Comment

Today we have all sorts of options as writers that we just did not have a decade the prior. For instance if there is only a limited market for our chosen topic, we can publish without all the hassles immediately online. Indeed, I am a co-author of one book in print, but this year I produced 10-ebooks and put them online and realize that was in only 4 months.

In fact my goal is to write a total of 90 more e-Books in the next twenty months, sure it can be done and without all the hassles or barriers to entry, or marketing angles that the publishers are looking for. What is this new trend going to do to the Publishing Industry? Well, I suppose over time that the publishing industry is dead meat. But it will not go quietly or easily of course.

If your books sell well on the Internet you may find yourself with a much bigger chuck of the price of each book sold. Think about it, no shipping costs, no inventory costs, no printing costs and the marketing costs are quite low. There are many advantages to writing eBooks on the Internet and skipping the printing industry entirely.

Another advantage to selling eBooks on the Internet is the fact that you have a much closer link with your audience and the reader, for quick feedback. With a fast feedback loop you can modify your works slightly and give the readers more of what they want and insure continued sales growth too. Think about it.

Window Film to Prevent Overheating and Solar Glare in Schools

Solar energy can have a detrimental effect in many workplaces, whether that is in offices, warehouses or even schools. The common complaint of overheating and solar glare can make working environments extremely uncomfortable to be in, consequently leading to unhealthy (and unhappy) employees. In schools - the focus of this article - both pupils and teachers are finding these problems increasingly difficult to cope with.

Whilst the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends 24 degrees Celsius as a maximum for comfortable working, Safety law does not set a legal limit for workplace temperature. And despite the WHO regarding anything above 26 degrees Celsius as "definitely unacceptable", many pupils and teachers continue to suffer with overheating and solar glare as a result of inadequate countermeasures.

Tim Lucas, a chemistry teacher and NUT branch secretary in East Sussex, says: "Schools can get so hot there is a deleterious effect on the ability of teachers and pupils to concentrate." Many people also complain of dizziness, fainting and even heat cramps as a result of overbearing temperatures.

Thankfully there is an effective solution: Window Film. The application of Window Film can reduce solar heat gain by up to 75%, and also reduce glare by up to 85%. In schools where pupils are expected to concentrate for long periods of time, reducing indoor heat is essential if children are to receive the best possible education. Likewise, if teachers are to teach effectively they also must enjoy a comfortable working environment. In addition, with more and more schools investing in Information Technology infrastructure and computers, reducing glare on Visual Display Units (VDUs) has never been more important. Window Film can effectively solve these two problems in one fell swoop. Applying solar Window Film to glass can also minimise UV (Ultra Violet) radiation whilst maintaining natural light - yet another significant benefit!

The problems associated with solar energy are generally more prominent in schools that have been built more recently. New schools tend to contain a great deal of glass and feature more complex designs, making solar energy even more difficult to combat. The problem is exacerbated further since UK schools rarely have air conditioning installed.

Window Film also provides other practical benefits, such as increased security. Many "combination" Window Films offer both solar protection and security benefits, thereby helping to reduce the threat of burglary. Security Window Film can offer increased glass protection (ideal for preventing smashed glass), or may act as a deterrent by hiding equipment from view. But one must not forget the aesthetic benefits of Window Film. It can improve the appearance of school exteriors and completely transform glass facades, so much so that once completed, a school may look completely regenerated.

With a significant reduction in heat coupled with the additional benefit of anti-glare properties, solar Window Film it fast becoming the product of choice for schools wishing to combat overheating and solar glare. The product enhances the learning environment by creating a more comfortable atmosphere, and benefits both pupils and teachers alike.

Interview with Sammy Shu, Author of "There's a Season for All"

Sammy Shu resides in Denver, Colorado with her family. In 1992 she finished her first children's book, and quickly discovered a love of the genre and has been weaving her fantasies ever since. Sammy writes four hours a day and spends her time dedicated to the whimsies of childhood. She hopes to bring smiles to the faces of children all over the world and her stories are a testament to this. Fairies, dragons, mermaids, centaurs and creatures yet to be discovered are but a few of the fabulous topics of her wonderful books. Sammy has written nine children's books with more planned for the future.

Juanita: Welcome to Reader Views Sammy, and thanks for the opportunity to talk with you about your wonderful new children's book "There's a Season for All." Sammy, have you always been a writer? Why did you begin writing children's books?

Sammy: I've been writing for as long as I can remember being able to hold a pencil. My first stories were related to role-playing. You learn about character development, Finding a reason for things and developing storylines. It's a great fun way to relax and stretch your imagination muscles. As I grew older I stopped gaming and began really pursuing more fairytale themes in my work. My love of children's book arrived with my children watching their faces light up as I tell them a story makes a challenging day melt away. That's good stuff.

Juanita: What is the age range of "There's a Season for All"? Is this the same for all of your books?

Sammy: This book is for young readers, ages 5 - 9. My next book is for young adults and the ones coming next year are again for the younger reader.

Juanita: Is there anything specific to the 5 - 9 year age group that you keep in mind when writing?

Sammy: I try to remember how amazingly intelligent children are today. I never dumb it down. I use big words and situations that I know they deal with. I want to relate to these children. My writing has a purpose, a goal, and that's an important factor to my work. I want to create an emotional response, make them think. So far the response has been great.

Juanita: What happens in "There's a Season for All"?

Sammy: Four fairies sisters inherit the running of Tweenland. They have many responsibilities and soon discover that things are far more difficult than they thought. Running a kingdom is demanding. Soon they are fighting and causing problems for the people. I think this is something that happens with siblings, they fight, they work it out and in the end they remain loving and considerate. This is what happens in the book. But I don't want to give away how that happens. The ending is pretty cool.

Juanita: Would you tell us about Tweenland, and its metaphoric message?

Sammy: I wanted a land that represented real life situations while remaining true to a child's fabulous imagination. This is the place in be Tween.

Juanita: What inspired this highly creative storyline?

Sammy: I have daughters and of course they love all things fairy tale. Seasons are very important to me. I grew up in Florida where there really weren't many changes, that part was inspired by Colorado and all of its beauty and variety. Sometimes I forget that I came from a place that didn't have that. It's so beautiful here and I draw a lot of my inspiration from that. all of the rest comes from the children. They're so open and so fascinated by it all. I remember that and I miss the innocence. I'm inspired to keep that alive.

Juanita: The four fairy sisters in this story represent the four seasons, who struggle to assert their power. This really is a fascinating way to connect children with the environment, while teaching personal responsibility and working with others. Would you elaborate on these characters - the four fairy sisters, and the magic they hold in this story?

Sammy: The great thing about this story for me is each character represents a child in my life so they are all very special to me. They have such power to control their own environment and you can see how competent and successful they are by the end of the story. Girls need to know that they are powerful and capable I love that my girls feel that and I hope this book can put those ideas out there for other girls.

Juanita: What is the take home message in "There's a Season for All"?

Sammy: Every person has something to offer in the big picture. We're all so different and if we could just learn to work together we could achieve anything.

Juanita: Sammy, have you always been interested in fairy tales and mystical themes?

Sammy: Yes, as a child I wrote about magical bunnies and a land where you could sip chocolate milk from streams. I also played some role-playing games. I love fantastic themes. It's so wonderful to be able to write about the places in my dreams and know that I can share that with the world.

Juanita: Even in this modern-day, why do you think fairies, dragons, mermaids, and elfin creatures provide such timeless fascination for children?

Sammy: It's the belief that magic is real. I think as children are growing they are frustrated by their lack of control on their lives. In fairy tales they can use their imagination to create situations that they enjoy and have some control over.

Juanita: I know that imagination is a significant theme in your books, as well as in your personal and professional life. Would you comment on your desire to spark children's imagination as well as inspiring your own?

Sammy: Life can be so demanding. We all need a place to go and recharge our batteries. The imagination is abundant and you can make it anything you want. For me it's writing and my hope for the children is that they enjoy my stories, come away feeling refreshed and ready to take on all of life's challenges.

Juanita: Sammy, would you tell us about Carl Cone, the illustrator for "There's a Season for All," as well as the collaboration process?

Sammy: Carl is my best friend. We've worked together for years and I'm sure we will continue to do so. He's amazing. All of my work comes to life because of his astounding talent. I give him a story and he usually shows me sketches. We talk about possibilities and then he's off and running. He's always right on with his great ideas. I'm lucky to have such talent surrounding me. He has a site for people in need of an artist in different mediums. It is www.myspace.com/carltheartbug.

Juanita: Are you working on any other books/projects at this time?

Sammy:"The Legend of the Vampire Fairies" is the next book coming out. It's a darker fairy tale for teens and young adults. The art is primarily my photography with some sketches and detail work by Carl. We're very excited about it. I've also written several books that are about the Land of Imagination (where the fairy queen goes to rest in the first book) in that book the main character is a centaur boy learning the responsibilities of adulthood. Both project hold a special place in my heart and I cant wait to share them.
They will all be coming out as soon as the art is done.

Juanita: How can readers find out about you and your books?

Sammy: You can buy my books at Borders, Barnes & Noble, Tattered Cover, Amazon.com any retail store should have them or be able to get them. My web site is www.Sammyshu.com .

I also have several other sites that are linked to that one. If you go to Youtube.com you can put in Vampire Fairies and watch a book trailer of my upcoming book.

Juanita: Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us today Sammy. We encourage readers to look for "There's a Season for All" at local and online bookstores, as well as stay posted to your website for future releases. Before we depart, do you have any final thoughts for your readers?

Sammy: I'd like to mention that a portion of the proceeds of my book sales go to a foundation I started called AFFECT (artists function for enhancing children's tomorrow) The purpose of the foundation is to give children in need the opportunities that the rest of them have, Good books, entertainment, Art. We go to children's homes and hospitals we read to them, do short skits, teach them fun safe choreographed combat techniques. Drawing classes, and anything else our members are willing to provide. We are always looking for people who are willing to donate their talents for the lost children of this world; hopefully through my writing I can make a difference. Thank you for this opportunity to get my message to more people.

To find out more about our cause go to makeanaffect.com and keep reading!

Great Books for Cat Lovers

Love Cats? Then why not consider devoting a section of your bookshelf to your love of all things feline? There are some wonderful titles available these days on all aspects of cats from cat care to folklore and mythology and even books of quotations. Here are some great titles to get you started on your collection:

The Cat on My Shoulder: Writers and Their Cats edited by Lisa Angowski Rogak: A book whose pages are filled with dozens of essays penned by prominent writers, about the cats who share their lives, this is a marvelous start to any cat lovers bookshelf. With authors ranging from Sue Grafton to Richard Scarry, the essays are sometimes touching, sometimes funny, often surprising, and always entertaining, and essay is accompanied by a black-and-white photo of the author with his or her cat(s). It's a book to be picked up and enjoyed again and again.

Cat Talk: A Book of Quotations: Cat Talk is a wonderful little book filled with quotations, anecdotes, nursery rhymes, proverbs, superstitions, and a half-dozen other wonderful tidbits. It's an unpretentious book with quips that range in tone from serious to downright silly. It contains quotes from the likes of Chaucer, Rudyard Kipling, and Mark Twain, among many other famous cat lovers. This is the kind of book that lends itself to being picked up often. You'll find yourself flipping page after page, a smile on your face.

Black Cat by Christopher Myers: Yes, this is a children's book, but not to be overlooked in your search for great cat books. This is an enchanting tale of a lone black ca" as it roams the big city at night, prowling both subways and rooftops alike. Black Cat, with its unusual mixed-media artwork and edgy poetry, perfectly captures the essence of the cat. Cat lovers both adults and children will love this one.

Cat Facts by Marcus Schneck and Jill Caravan: Did you ever wonder if cats are capable of love? Have you ever been curious about their origin, about their dreams, the way they communicate? If so, then Cat Facts is the perfect book for your collection. A great book to flip through, its pages are packed with both photos and color illustrations. You'll find tips on cat care and cat watching and information about common myths and the truths behind them. What's great about this book is that you don't need to devote a large amount of time in any one sitting to reading. Just a minute here and there will provide you with entertaining tidbits and digestible chunks of information.

The truth is that most bookstores have an extensive section devoted to books on pets. Whatever your fancy, be it folklore and mythology, quotations, or true stories of people and their cats, browsing the local bookstore is sure to provide just the right books to start adding to your book collection.

Metaphysical Careers Today

Find Metaphysical Careers in the United States and Canada. Today, individuals can pursue one of several metaphysical careers as more and more metaphysical schools and colleges are offering in-depth curriculum in an array of spiritual, metaphysical and paranormal studies.

Students who are interested in becoming an ordained minister or would like to be certified in spiritual or intuitive healing will find that these metaphysical careers carry some degree of education and training. For example, if you're one of the many persons drawn to God, then metaphysical careers as ministers, associate ministers or pastoral counselors require comprehensive training in how to conduct worship services, funerals and weddings, new age thought, spiritual philosophies, prayers, meditations and theology.

Some metaphysical careers are quite innovative. Metaphysical practitioners, for instance will have gained extensive education and training in how to integrate spiritualism into energy healing techniques. Energy healing education for these metaphysical careers often entail visualization, chakra balancing, meridian therapy, healing touch, reiki, affirmations, hypnotherapy, counseling, and other metaphysical studies.

Metaphysical careers, too, offer an enlightening approach to not just helping others but for personal growth as well. Many individuals who enter metaphysical careers will discover new ways of thinking, innovative philosophies and renewed sense of self. Whether one chooses to become a holistic health practitioner or energy healer, metaphysical careers can be both personally and professionally rewarding.

Furthermore, depending on the occupation you pursue, some metaphysical careers require certification, degrees or licensure; especially in the ministry division, and as healing arts practitioners. Be certain to examine education programs carefully for curriculums, time involved and tuition costs; as these may vary from school to school.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in finding metaphysical careers, let career training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore career school programs near you.

Metaphysical Careers Today

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