November 30, 2007
Let’s face it!!! Our children are judged based on their grade point average and their performance on standardized test such as ACT/ SAT. Our children’s high school and college admissions are based on those credentials. As parents, we invest money in sophisticated desktop/ laptop computers to give them access to the worldwide web. We establish home offices, libraries and structured areas to encourage daily homework and studying. We believe constant studying and attention to homework will groom our children to brilliant status and give them impeccable credentials. To a certain extent, we are correct. Homework and study skills lay the basic foundation for school success as high grade point averages flow from high test scores.
Memory skills and repetition is the key to high grade point averages; however, they are not the key to brilliance on standardized test. Standardized test, such as California Achievement Test (CAT), Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), American College Test (ACT), assumes students are exposed to different cultures, climates, countries and experiences at least 10 times before reaching 10th grade. Students who perform the best on standardized test have exposure to diverse experiences. What better way to gain this exposure than a vacation to another city, state, country or continent!!!!!
Wealthy families have always known that trips, getaways and vacations are the secret to grooming brilliant students. Family vacations are an opportunity for students to apply all their classroom knowledge quickly. The average vacation is three to seven days. Some wealthy families are known to vacation up to 45 days on multiple continents. Nevertheless, most families are on a limited timeframe requiring them to make quick decisions regarding currency exchange, climate differences, navigation of city, etc.
These decisions while extremely practical require the use of mathematics, science, geography, social studies and reading. Unconsciously, students are immersed into lessons fueled by sheer excitement and curiosity.
Imagine how productive the lesson would become if a family vacation evolves around a classroom lesson. Children learn lessons at a faster pace. For example, a train trip to an Indian Reservation in Arizona/ New Mexico really solidifies a lesson on Native American History.
I know you are thinking “I don’t have the money for vacation as travel is too expensive.” Under normal circumstances and full prices, travel can be extremely expensive. However, prices drop substantially September 7 through November 20 as this time period is considered the travel slow season. Other lesser known slow seasons are December 1 through December 20, January 3 through February 1 and 2 weeks after Passover/Easter through May 20.
Combine slow season discounts with internet discounts, a family can experience the world at the fraction of cost of your holiday (Christmas, Hanukah, and Ramadan) gift fund. “I spent $1500 dollars for a 3 day vacation in Nassau, Bahamas. That cost included air travel to Miami for 3 people and a cruise to Bahamas. Since food was include, the trip was relatively inexpensive,“ states Ida Byrd-Hill, a parent of 7th grade twins, Kevin and Karen Hill who attend Duke Ellington Conservatory of Music and Art (a Detroit Public School). “My children learned about world colonization, but better yet they learned about opportunities as they met the Bahamian Governess, a woman of African descent. I am glad I was able to find that trip on the web. as Karen scored 96 percentile on the Social Studies portion of the California Achievement Test and Kevin scored 87 percentile on the Science portion of the California Achievement Test ” states Byrd-Hill.
Great deals can be found on the internet by booking at least 14 days or even 21 days in advance. There are also websites that specialize in last minute travel. Often these trips (air/ hotel combos) are for a weekend departing the same week you book the vacation or the next weekend. Since there are so many travel websites on the internet it pays to spend some time price comparing. There are websites, that allow individuals to surf many of the top websites and not so well known sites to compare vacation pricing.
If you want to groom your children into brilliant students, improve their grades and performance on standardized test, implement the secret wealthy families have known for generations – Take a Family Vacation.
Good Trip!!! Bon Voyage!!! Viaje Bueno!!! Arrivaderci!!! Viaggio Buono!!! Gut Tschus!!!
Ida B. Byrd-Hill is the President of Uplift Inc.and www.livinginstyleonline.com. She was the President of The Harvard Group Wealth Management L.L.C. for 10 years. She has served as guest columnist for the Michigan Front Page for 2 years and a speaker for the Better Investing television show hosted by David Chilton, author of The Wealthy Barber.
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Trade shows are a great place to network. People are there to meet other people, and learn about who’s doing what. These 6 tips will help you maximize the networking opportunities at any trade show.
1. Meet the exhibitors
The exhibitors at any trade show paid to be able to talk to you. Make an effort to visit as many vendors as you can. Learn about them and what they have to offer. You might also ask who their target market is, or who their ideal client is.
2. Make it fun!
Consider making a game out of your networking efforts. Try to meet at least one new person every 10-15 minutes. That’ll give you enough time to spend 5 or 10 minutes getting to know them. You’ll also have a few minutes left over to meet your next new friend.
3. Listen
When you’re meeting new people listen more than you talk. Try to find a common interest. Ask them about their business and their personal interests. This information will come in handy later when you follow-up.
4. Give people value, be a resource
Be listening for ways that you can help people. Direct them to the exhibitor you met earlier who might have a great solution for them. Tell them about the great drawing you just entered, and suggest that they do the same. Offer to introduce them to someone else you know at the event who you think they might be able to make a good connection with.
5. Use business cards
Business cards are a tool. After you meet someone be sure to ask them for a business card. Take a couple of seconds to make a couple of notes about what you learned about them. Before handing someone your own business card you might want to write a quick note that will add value. Write the name of a website they might find useful (NetworkInAustin.com perhaps?), a book, another networking event. Anything that will make your card stand out, because you’ve show that you’re a valuable resource.
6. Follow-up
This is probably the most important tip of all. Your networking efforts at any networking event are unlikely to bear any fruit if you don’t take the time to follow-up with those you met. Be sure to make at least one, preferably two, contacts during the week following the show, with each person you met. A hand written note and a voicemail. A brief phone conversation and an e-mail. Just be sure to reconnect so you can truly begin building a relationship.
Happy networking!
Scott Ingram is the founder of etworkInAustin.com a networking resource for networkers in Central Texas. He also posts regularly to his Business Networking Blog where you’ll learn more about Scott as well as how to become a better networker. When he’s not out building relationships at trade shows and other business networking events you’ll find Scott out running with friends on the trails of Town Lake in Austin, Texas or spending time with his growing family which currently consists of 2 cats and dog and his expecting wife Emily.
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There are many opinions on cleaning a Dutch Oven. Not all Dutch Oven cooks believe you can use soap in your Dutch Oven. Some cooks suggest never to wash them, others wash them, but not with detergent. We have found that a well-seasoned oven will not be damaged by using a few drops of dishwashing soap if you have been cooking something really greasy. Just be sure to rinse several times to make sure there is no soap residue. If your oven is not well-seasoned, whatever you put in the oven will be absorbed into the pot and become part of your next meal.
Dutch Oven care begins with seasoning, but it’s important to clean them properly after each use. Cleaning cast iron is easier than scrubbing pots and pans. As soon as possible after using your Dutch Oven, scrape out as much food as possible with a plastic scraper. Put 1 - 2 quarts of hot water in your oven and scrub with a plastic scrubbing pad or a vegetable brush. Immediately after washing, dry the oven thoroughly by putting it in your kitchen oven at 150 to 200 degrees for about 10 minutes.
Cast Iron can only be dried by heating. Heat dries out the moisture in the pores. If a pot is not completely dried after it is used, it will rust. The pores must be opened by heating up, and the moisture dried out of it. Don’t let the oven set around after washing, go straight from draining the rinse water into the kitchen oven if possible. If you are camping and don’t have a kitchen oven to dry a Dutch Oven, dry it the best you can and try and store it away from moisture.
Dutch Ovens when cared for, will last for generations. Be sure your oven has been cleaned and lightly oiled before putting it away. Try to keep your ovens in a dry, warm place. Remember, moisture with cause cast iron to rust. Leave your lids slightly ajar, allowing the air to circulate. I like to store with a paper towel rolled up and sticking out from under the lid. The towel inside the oven acts as a wick and will help absorb moisture.
Tip: Here’s another idea. If you need to store an oven for long periods of time, use a light-weight food-grade Mineral Oil and coat the oven, inside and out. It’s cheap and effective. Once you have sealed the oven with mineral oil, no oxygen can reach the seasoning and it will last many months.
With correct use and proper care, a well seasoned oven produces a unique flavor unequaled by any other cooking utensil. That’s the Magic, it looks great and tastes even better!
Glea Reno and Dennis Reno are the owners of Dutchovenmagic.com. They are based at Billings, Montana and have taught Youth Groups, Scout Troops, Church Organization and friends what they have learned over years in Dutch oven cooking. They also do cooking demonstration at various retail outlets. They can be contacted at help@dutchovenmagic.com
info@dutchovenmagic.com
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Most people who complete a self build will go on to make a profit if they decide to sell afterwards, but what steps can you take to ensure that you don’t totally blow the budget?
There are lots of advantages to a totally unique self-build but most important is sound financial planning before and during the self-build, to ensure you stay within budget and make worthwhile savings.
Research all your costs carefully and get as many perspectives and quotes as possible. Self management skills will save you money from the word go and are useful as good planning and anticipation can relieve much of the pain and frustration that may occur.
The Right Site
Aside from the cost of buying the site, building plots often require a site survey to check boundaries and other variables that should be investigated. You will need to research the costs of this. There may be other investigations needed, depending on the type of land: a soil investigation and survey should always be commissioned in order to assess the type of foundation likely to be necessary.
Changes to foundations can be expensive and can vary from having to avoid a soft spot such as on old pond, right through to deep excavation or pile and ring beam foundation involving extra costs.
· There are a lot of important questions to ask about the site itself.
· Establishing the ground condition and available to utility services are vital.
Architects Fees
Make sure that you agree fees with your architect in writing and ask for details of any additional cost.
· Printing out sets of plans.
· Producing color elevations.
Ensure that you allow for all of the drawings and specification documents necessary to build the house.
Remember employing an architect to oversee the design project from start to finish can cost anything from 8 to 14 % of the budget.
One thing to keep in mind, the architect is an important go-between for you and the contractor and knows all the steps and costs involved and can actually save money.
Equipment Hire
This is another aspect to remember, not every self-build project will need vast arrays of equipment. But, if there are delays on the site and the hire period needs to be extended then there might well be a weekly penalty on the total hire charges. Check this on the contact before you sign to hire the equipment.
Materials
Other building materials vary so much that it’s up to you whether you want them to become a budget blower or not. Ask the advice of the contractor, first and foremost; builder’s merchants normally include delivery within their price, so it shouldn’t be difficult to get a quote first. Any materials ordered direct from manufactures will usually incur a delivery charge.
Make sure that you get prices for you budget that the quote includes delivery . If your site is difficult to access, there may be additional delivery charges for staged deliveries on smaller vehicles.
Connecting to Utilities
Suburban plots or sites in towns are nearly always adequately covered for utilities. This may not be the case in all areas. Check for cost for supply of water, sewage and main services, all of this needs to be thoroughly research.
Delay and Pay
A vastly underestimated budget buster! Time is money in any building project and delays caused by lateness or non-delivery of materials can incur extra labour costs for waiting time, plus increased finance, rental and hire costs.
Building work not itemised in the original contract price is know as “extra”. The cost of “extras” can total thousand on top of the fixed contract price.
Other Essentials
Remember also that there will be a host of other cost categories, all with the potential to become budget busters if not properly considered and researched.
· Drains/pipes
· Wall structure
· Cills & Lintels
· Roof finishes
· Chasing
· External doors & windows
· Decorating
About the Author
Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for home buyers and consumers on purchasing a variety of
unique house plans which includes
cottage plans,
beach house plans,
and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information.
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An oven is one of the most common kitchen appliance that is used in various forms of cooking, such as the following:
Heating
Baking
Broiling
Roasting
Ovens are generally grouped into 2 common kinds: gas ovens and electric ovens. Then there are also microwave ovens (uses microwave radiation to cook or heat food) and convection ovens (uses a circulating fan to move hot air around the food inside the oven).
With this range of choices, not to mention the variety of features and designs available in ovens, shopping for one can be a difficult task. Below are some guidelines that you need to consider - helpful hints that will help you buy the right oven.
1. The location. Whether ‘freestanding’ (set in a range) or ‘built-in’ in walls (known as wall ovens), make sure that you measure the size of the oven against the location where you plan to have it installed. The location should not only have enough space; it should also be sturdy enough to support the unit.
2. The capacity. The “actual” size of the oven is defined by its capacity. The oven capacity refers to the amount of food or the size of the container that it can hold. The ’size’, therefore, that you need to consider when buying an oven is the size of its interior (the cavity). Note that some ovens seem large on the outside but are actually smaller inside.
There are many things to consider when deciding on a particular oven capacity to buy. Some of them are the following:
Family size:
The amount of food you need to cook at one time (i.e., the oven capacity) depends on the number of people in your family. Below are some of the recommended oven capacity (in liters) for various family sizes (denoted by the number of members):
2 members - less than 29 liters
4 members - 20 to 29 liters
6 members - more than 30 liters
Usage:
The oven capacity should also depend on how you intend to use the oven. An oven that will be used for actual and all types of cooking will naturally require a higher capacity than that which shall be used as a mere supplement (such as defrosting or reheating food).
Cookware:
Make sure that the dishes (such as baking sheet, pan, and other cookware) that you regularly use will fit comfortably (and circulate freely) inside the oven.
3. The controls.
The control panel is where you manage and control the functions and operations of your oven, which can be any of the following:
Analog - mechanical switches that use knobs. Are less expensive but more durable; can also be less precise, since everything is set manually.
Digital - electronically-controlled push buttons. The most common nowadays, they can be more expensive and less durable; but they have more accurate and precise settings, since everything is set automatically.
Different ovens have various (and sometimes complicated) control panels, but all of them generally include these basic components:
Clock or timer displays - properly sets the length of time for cooking
Temperature settings - allows you to set the temperature for cooking.
Thermostat - senses and maintains a set temperature to stop or further the flow of heat. This prevents an overcooked food and an overheated oven.
Oven light - enables you to see the interior of the oven to check the status of the food the you are cooking.
4. Additional components. Some ovens may come with additional components, such as the following:
Oven rack - allows you to place more than one dish in the oven at the same time; should be thick and durable.
Rotisserie - a removable grill with a turning spit; for better and uniform grilling.
5. The add-on features. In addition to the basic functions, most ovens today are designed with additional (and advanced) features, some of which are as follows:
Clear-view window - it enables you to watch the cooking process without having to open the door.
Self-cleaning option - found at the control panel, pushing this button enables the oven to clean itself.
Lockout feature - can be a button in the control panel or a door lock switch, it prevents misuse or unintended and accidental operations, especially when cleaning the control panel or when there are children in the house.
6. The price. Of course, everything is greatly affected by the price, so it is important for you to set the amount that you would like to spend.
With these guidelines, you will surely be able to find the oven that is perfect for your money’s worth.
For more great oven information and resources check out: www.bestovens.info
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In his multimedia “Unleash Your Greatness Success System” Mike Litman gives his audience a virtual “kick in the butt” - albeit nicely. In this program he pushes hard to get the reader past their desire for “feel good” motivation; instead he offers a plan that, if followed, should result in the listener making strides towards achieving his or her goals.
The first time I listened to Mike Litman, being a somewhat reserved person myself, I was - to put it mildly - taken aback. The level of energy conveyed in his presentations is comparable to that of a category 5 hurricane. I have to admit that in the first few seconds the thought did cross my mind as to whether his energy levels were artificially high because something else was lacking, but that concern disappeared quickly as I began to absorb the principles being conveyed.
Mike became widely recognized when his co-authored book “Conversations With Millionaires” became a #1 bestseller. He intimates that after spending several years seeking and studying success principles, he finally captured the essence of what was required to really make it. In the following four years he was able to practise a simple - but often overlooked - strategy that propelled him to the success he is today.
Included with a digital copy of the acclaimed bestseller and other valuable texts are audio interviews with such personalities as Jim Rohn and Tony Robbins. What I found particularly helpful in these interviews is the practical, concrete advice on conquering mediocrity and the honest insight into what it really takes to be an achiever. Some of these nuggets of wisdom seem to have largely disappeared in between our busyness and fixation with technological solutions.
While the quality of sound in a few of the audio clips leaves a bit to be desired because of background noise, my attention was captivated. I don’t know at what point I tuned out the noise while intent on absorbing each word. Audiophiles may find the interference on some sections annoying, but the positive impact of the classic, powerful audio content on the listener’s way of thinking should be significant.
If you already know that there’s a lot more you want to achieve in this life you probably know as well that you need a plan, and you need to stay motivated to work that plan. You’ll need proven steps - strategies and tactics that have created millionaires but that are uncomplicated enough that regular people without a lot of resources can apply to their lives and drive themselves to success.
I think the “Unleash Your Greatness Success System” does a very good job of directing our focus back to the uncomplicated core principles of cause and effect in life. If you are passionate about achieving your goals and want success to be your end result but need your mind de-cluttered, someone to help you take stock, point you in the right direction and help you get going a personal mentor, whether in person or via recorded media, is a good start.
As Mike says, “You don’t have to get it right, you just have to get it going.” Don’t look back over your life years from now and regret not even trying to reach for your dreams. Be secure in the knowledge that you at least gave it your best shot. Start today.
About the Author
Sabrina Hinds has a professional background implementing and supporting technology in corporate environments. Her technical expertise was honed as she worked her way through helpdesk, desktop, LAN and internet specializations. Now, she enjoys freelance writing on technology and a multitude of other topics. More information about “Unleash Your Greatness Success System” is available at http://www.consorts.net/UnleashYourGreatness
[You are free to use this article as long as you include the section “About the Author” as well as all live hyperlinks when posted to the web or in html emails.]
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November 29, 2007
Wood flooring is beautiful and increases the value of your home. They continue to be loved more than stone flooring or slate flooring. Wood has depth and warmth that looks great and gives your home a warm feeling.
A variety of choices are available in both hard woods and other wood types. The type of wood you will choose depends on your personal preference and the décor of your home. Wood is suitable for nearly every room in your home. It may not be best in kitchens and bathrooms due to the amount of moisture found in these areas.
Choices in Wood Flooring
Hardwood remains a popular choice in wood floors. You have the choice of several different hardwoods. Popular choices include oak, cherry, hickory, maple, walnut and bellawood. These can be stained a variety of shades and tones. Consider leaving the wood in its natural color. Some hardwoods, such as walnut and cherry have a rich tone without the need for staining.
Once you have chosen the material, consider your finishing options. You may decide to purchase pre finished wood. This is already stained and protected with a clear coating. Pre finished is generally more expensive, but saves a significant amount of time.
Another option is to install the floor and then finish the wood. You will need to sand, stain and urethane the floor. After each coat, the floor will need to be sanded. This process takes several days to complete. The more coats of urethane you need the better protected the surface.
Another option is distressed or reclaimed flooring. These floors don’t have a smooth texture. However, they are beautiful and have character unlike other finishes. Another major benefit of these is they won’t show scratches as easily as urethane floors.
You have some choices other than traditional hardwood. Laminate flooring offers a choice in flooring. These are made to resemble real hardwood at a lower price. With good quality laminates, it can be difficult to tell the difference between this and real hard wood. Companies such as Armstrong flooring make high quality laminates. Other choices include cork flooring or bamboo floors.
Caring for Wood Flooring
Proper care will ensure your wood flooring has a good, long life. Whether you choose hardwood, laminate or other options, the care is basically the same.
o Sweep or vacuum the floor regularly to keep dirt and dust to a minimum. Dirt and grit on the floor wear away the surface and leave scratches in your floor.
o Use mats at the entrances to your home. This way feet can be wiped, preventing much of this dirt from entering your home in the first place.
o Lightly clean the floor when needed. If occasional mopping is needed, use a nearly dry mop. Too much water can seep between the slats and damage your floor. This can cause warping, damage the surface or cause water to become trapped under the floor. This can result in damage to the backing and mold can grow under the floor.
Erica Bosworth is a contributing designer for www.inside-woodworking.com a website with resources. The writer is publishing about wood flooring .
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November 28, 2007
Though there are many different low carbohydrate diet plans, they are based on the same principles. When carbohydrates (such as starches and sugars) are consumed, the body’s blood sugar level rises. To counteract high blood sugar levels, the body releases insulin, which in turn increases fat storage and decreases the body’s ability to burn fat.
When a low carb dieter restricts carbohydrates, his or her blood sugar is only slightly raised, thus preventing excess insulin production. But many low carbohydrate dieters’ hopes are ruined by uncontrollable sweet cravings, hypoglycaemic mood swings, hunger urges and lethargy.
The truth about carbohydrate is that too much carbohydrate provides too many Calories and probably also has certain negative effects on blood glucose and insulin levels. Despite this however, the body must still have a minimum amount of carbohydrate (as glucose) to stay alive.
Although the brain and nervous system normally want the most glucose, these organs can get along without it in a pinch. But that’s not true for certain blood cells and other types of cells. They must have a steady supply of glucose, because without it they’ll quickly die.
For this reason, glucose is so important that your body will begin to make the glucose it needs for these cells out of muscle protein if it doesn’t get enough carbohydrate from food. But, although possible, this is a stressful emergency reaction (called ketosis), which also makes you miserable with hunger, cravings, and many other unpleasant sensations. Obviously, dieting would be much more successful if we could avoid all that.
When your body runs low on any nutrient it needs to stay healthy, it naturally triggers hunger to make you go get it some more of that thing. But if you habitually eat foods that have too little of whatever it’s running low on and too many Calories, you’re going to get fat from this reaction.
Fortunately you can lose the weight again by simply reversing the process. To do so, you learn to eat things that have lots of what your body needs but not many Calories. When you succeed at this your body has no reason to trigger hunger and food cravings even when you’re eating very few Calories and it’s burning excess fat (stored Calories) to make up for this.
This reaction is as true for carbohydrate as it is for each of the other nutrients. If you eat too little carbohydrate, your body will trigger hunger because it needs a minimum amount of glucose every day to supply the cells that can’t use anything else.
If you eat too much carbohydrate, you’ll get fat because too much carbohydrate has both too many Calories and the aforementioned negative effects on blood glucose and insulin levels. So how much is “enough but not too much”? That amount is probably highly variable depending on your lifestyle. A stressful “go-go” day can require a lot of carbohydrate while a relaxed day probably won’t. However, most scientists put the minimum amount of carbohydrate that most people will need in the range of 50-100 grams per day (which is 200-400 Calories from carbohydrate). This is the amount that prevents your body from starting to make glucose out of muscle protein.
Since most food labels list the amount of carbohydrate in the food you eat, tracking and controlling amounts is not difficult. Try to eat in the range of 400 Calories from carbohydrate per day. This will usually prevent the hunger and cravings that are triggered by too little glucose.
There are several other nutrients that also trigger hunger and cravings when you get too little of them - and which must therefore also be managed similarly.
Get low carb wraps recipes and find out what exactly
carbohydrate net means and how it can effect your diet.
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Copyright 2006 Dennis Watson
There are many free advertising programs out there and many of
them are worth the effort. Know, as I’m sure you know there is a
big difference between getting traffic and making a sale. This
article does not discuss the art of making the hard sale but
does discuss how to get a potential qualified customer to your
site the good old fashion way.
The good old fashion way means putting some effort into it and
saving your pennies. The effort consists of manually submitting
your site information to the hundreds of free directories and
free classified sites, plus joining and using traffic exchange
sites. It may seem daunting at first but believe me it will pay
off over time. I have promoted my site around these three
concepts and I can tell you they work.
I promise you that if you put out the effort on these three
concepts a good percentage of your traffic will be generated
from them and here’s why. In most cases these types of
promotional sites have a large affiliate program that bring in
good-targeted traffic. Once the surfer enters the directory or
classifieds site they will search on your keywords, which
classifies them as being a quality, targeted click-through. In
most cases the traffic exchange sites offer search capability as
well.
The advantage of each one:
For most directories you will only have to list your site once,
providing your site description and keywords. Here are just a
couple of outstanding free directories; FreeDirectories.com –
http://www.freedirectories.com/ and SEO Lab –
http://www.seo-lab.com/directory-articles/best-free-directories.p
hp
You will need to renew your classified ads generally on a
monthly basis but for most sites an email is sent to you as a
warning of ad expiration and a link is provided that sends you
right to the renewal page. Here are just a couple of outstanding
free classified sites; Zeoh.com Free Classifieds –
http://www.zeoh.com and USFreeADs — http://www.usfreeads.com/
Traffic Exchanges in most cases will not expire your free
account as long as you surf at least once a week but the best
thing about this type of program is being able to earn free
click credits from your affiliate downline. Here are just a
couple of outstanding traffic exchanges; TrafficSwarm –
http://www.trafficswarm.com and TrafficG –
http://www.trafficg.com/
In conclusion, to receive quality targeted free traffic all you
have to do is submit your site to as many quality directories
and classified sites, plus spend some time surfing for credits
and recruiting affiliate for your traffic exchange programs.
Search Google on these free techniques and you will find
hundreds of resources.
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Despite their signature on the Biological Weapons Convention of 1975, it has been reported that China has the most advanced modern germ warfare arsenal in the world at Xian, Shaanxi province.
As proof, information obtained using the Freedom of Information Act shows that in 1997 Clinton administration officials approved supercomputer exports to a known Chinese germ warfare lab without an end use inspection. The computer was delivered to Jiatong University, Xian. The university is a known center for bioweapons research.
Furthermore, in April 2005, Deputy Director of China’s Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Cao Wuchun said “China is developing technology to resist possible bioterror attacks.” The science lab used to develop resistance to bioattack can be the same science lab to develop bioweapons.
In 2001, the U.S. State Department issued a report naming Sudan, North Korea, Iraq, and Iran as countries known to be developing dangerous biological weapons, but strangely, the Bush administration refused to put China on the list, saying “there may be some ‘friendly countries’ with biological weapons programs who would not be named.”
Given the reality of a Chinese bioweapon program, it is conceivable that a cell of young communist microbiologists, working within a weapons think tank, have proposed the following scenario to government officials:
Bird flu, or H5N1, is a readily available deadly pathogen. It is rapidly mutating into human-to-human transmission capability. Because bird flu is at the epidemic stage in southeast Asia, it would be completely transparent to the world if our labs were to release a concentrated form of this virus on our enemies, such as Taiwan. We could even retaliate against Japan for the 1940 bombing of China with plague-infected fleas.
By itself, the scenario above sounds far-fetched, until you recall a very similar scenario that featured SARS instead of bird flu. It’s been more than two years since the Chinese government lied about their knowledge of SARS and then finally confessed that SARS somehow “escaped” from a Chinese military lab, but we still don’t have a vaccine for SARS. Why? Because it was genetically engineered by Chinese scientists, making it very difficult to produce a vaccine.
The U.S. has been playing rather fast and loose with the BWC,too.
In 2001, New York Times journalists, Judith Miller and Stephen Engelberg, uncovered the Defense Intelligence Agency’s effort at the Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, Ohio, to genetically engineer a strain of vaccine-resistant anthrax, just to name one secret project. There are many others ongoing, so it is logical to assume that the U.S. is experimenting with H5N1 as a bioweapon, also.
In the first year of his administration, President Bush sent John Bolton to ambush the BWC, and put in its place a biological weapons treaty that would place the U.S. above question by any country.
With two superpowers considering H5N1 as a secret bioweapon, and no vaccine in sight, the earth’s population may suddenly find itself intentionally being thinned down. After all, the planet’s 6,446,131,400 billion people are pushing the limits of sustainability. The risk of getting caught in this thinning is very high. If H5N1 is unleashed as a weapon, or it reaches pandemic proportions on its own, it will be far more devasting than a nuclear attack.
John Hart is the author of “How to Protect Your Family Against the Coming Pandemic,” an ebook available in PDF at http://www.urgentebooks.com, and he is the editor of Daily Healthcast, a daily digest of important health stories, at http://www.dailyhealthcast.com
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