A basic lesson in Civics (from a simple country boy)

Somewhere along the way our schools must have stopped teaching civics. After all, how else can one explain the fundamental lack of understanding of our American principles of government? On pretty much a daily basis I read an article or hear an interview in which a person demonstrates unbelievable ignorance of our Constitution and workings of the government.

As a perfect case in point, I refer you to an article entitled “What Ever Happened To Candidate Obama?” by Katha Pollitt. The article is little more than a rant about the President’s inability to get health care reform passed in a timely manner, but the most telling passage reads as follows:

“Thank you, founding fathers, for setting up the Senate so that white, rural, conservative states with the population of Staten Island get the same two senators each as multiethnic urban powerhouses like California and New York. That little gift to the slave states of 1788 continues its antidemocratic work today.”

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America at its best

If you know someone who has forgotten what America is all about, ask him/her to watch this video from ABC News. It just might make a difference in their outlook on life. There is no explanation necessary as it pretty much speaks for itself.

The rise of Samsung

Back in my youth the South Korean company Samsung was best known for producing 2nd tier electronics items such as radios and TVs. If you had enough money to buy a “good” TV you bought an RCA, Zenith or other American name-brand set. If not, you paid considerably less for a Samsung unit and lived with a poorer quality picture and sound. And of course you knew that your brand new Samsung would eventually “tear up” long before a comparable name-brand unit would have.

But in the last couple of decades Samsung has made tremendous strides in the quality of their products. Today the massive company is a world leader in all things electronic. Whether it’s a radio, television, cell phone or computer component, if it has the Samsung name stamped on it you probably feel pretty good about your purchase.

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Learn how to play accompaniment piano

If you have ever taken piano lessons and failed, it’s probably because you found the rote exercises uninteresting, and perhaps even a bit boring. At least that’s what happened in my case. When I began taking piano lessons as a youngster, I quickly discovered that I enjoyed playing baseball and participating in other “kid’s activities” a lot more than spending hours practicing on the piano. I soon gave the lessons up, and I have regretted that move ever since.

To the delight of children and adults alike, master pianist Yoke Wong has created a wonderful multimedia series of piano lessons that are fun, as well as easy to follow and master. Gone are the days of boring drills that never seem to end (or even work). These wonderful online and DVD-based tutorials make it easier and more fun than ever to learn how to play accompaniment piano, in your own home and at your own pace!

If you have ever had a desire to take up the piano, why not give it a try? These great multimedia lessons are very affordable, and they come with a host of free extras to get you started out on the right foot in your quest to learn how to play this beautiful instrument.

Shortcut to the Windows Desktop

If you have been using Microsoft Windows for a while you are probably familiar with the “Show Desktop” icon on the Quick Launch Toolbar. Clicking on the “Show Desktop” icon does exactly that. All open windows will immediately be minimized and the Windows Desktop will pop into view.

But what if your Windows installation isn’t displaying the “Show Desktop” icon at the time, or you want to show the desktop without removing your hands from the keyboard? The answer is simple: Just press the Windows key (between the CTRL and ALT keys) and the letter D at the same time. Windows-D does exactly the same thing as clicking the “Show Desktop” icon, only faster since you don’t have to move your hand from the keyboard to the mouse and then click on the icon.

Of course if you prefer clicking on the icon, that’s certainly your prerogative. That’s the method I use most often myself simply because my hand is usually on the mouse anyway.

911 dispatcher helps save his own son’s life

Imagine that you’re a 911 emergency services dispatcher and you answer a call from a frantic mother who’s infant son is choking to death. Would you be able to keep your cool long enough to help the mother on the other end of the line get the child breathing again? Now, imagine finding out that the frantic woman is your wife and the choking infant is your own child. How would you react?

Dispatcher Chris Scott of Olympia, Washington recently found himself in exactly that situation, and as you can see in the following video he did quite well indeed – even though he was still in training at the time!

Mystery billboard shows up in Minnesota

 

Check out this video for a good chuckle…

For an ever-growing percentage of the American people, the answer is a resounding “YES!!!”

Squire Parsons sings Beulah Land

In my opinion, Beulah Land is one of the most beautiful gospel songs ever written. Featured in the video below, the legendary Squire Parsons did a wonderful job singing Beulah Land in front of an appreciative audience at Heritage USA back in 1987. I hope you enjoy hearing it as much as I do.

AmericanCarQuotes.com

Shopping for car insurance is about as much fun as watching the sun rise high into the desert sky, but AmericanCarQuotes.com makes it fast and easy to find the best policy for you at a competitive price. In addition to their easy to use quote forms, they also offer a primer on automobile safety as well as information that can help you determine your precise auto insurance needs while helping keep your car related expenses to a minimum.

As in the real world, the Internet is replete with companies selling automobile insurance, and at first glance they all appear to be pretty much the same. This means of course that you’ll really need to to do a bit of research in order to find a car insurance policy that meets your unique needs without breaking the bank. A great place to start it AmericanCarQuotes.com. And while you’re there, be sure to read their excellent article explaining the cost of insurance coverage.

Snow in the mountains

Although I’m not that fond of cold weather, I do enjoy the beauty of a good snowfall. Cheria and I have taken and published many photographs of wintry scenes over the years, but we enjoy seeing the fine work of others as well.

Today’s “Picture of the Day” on TodaysPhoto.org features a spectacular winter scene captured in the mountains of western North Carolina by photographer Bonnie Reynolds. It is quite beautiful, and if you would like to check it out for yourself you can simply click here.