The Kid Casino

A great deal has been written about the group thinking concept. Members all participate in solving problems, coming up with new ideas or dreaming up new products. (Many heads are better than one?)

They discuss the product, idea, or problem with each person throwing out their thoughts on the subject regardless of how ridiculous it may seem. This is supposed to generate a vast pool of knowledge, including the answer to what the group is trying to find.

Each idea is written down by one of the group and eventually the puzzle is supposed to fall in place and the solution found.

Another method is for you to do your own private brainstorming, using a tape recorder. When it is played back, it just may have the solution for you.

Generally, however, neither method produces any better results than if you study the matter thoroughly and look at it from every possible angle. After you have “busted” your brain capacity in this manner, sleep in it and let your “subconscious” find the solution.

If you are looking for the place to get better ideas, Best-internet-businesses.com provides tools for you to brainstorming hundreds of good ideas and help you establish a profitable business online. If you want to learn about the details and get the software, you are welcome to visit http://www.best-internet-businesses.com

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Julia Tang publishes Smart Online Business Tips, a fresh
and informative newsletter dedicated to supporting people
like you! To find out the best online business opportunities,
and to discover hundreds more proven and practical internet
marketing secrets, plus FREE internet marketing products
worth over $200, visit: http://www.best-internet-businesses.com
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St. Patrick’s Day has become a celebration of all things Irish.
Most public celebrations include quite large quantities of
alcohol. Many families serve corned beef, cabbage, and mint
chocolate pies every year on March 17th. And some cities like
Chicago turn large bodies of water green to commemorate the life
of St. Patrick.

But who was St. Patrick? St. Patrick is the patron saint of
Ireland and is one of the most celebrated figures in modern
Christianity. He was born to British aristocrats in the late
fourth century; as in most aristocratic families at that time,
Patrick as a later son was destined for the priesthood in order
to bring tax incentives to his wealthy family. When he was 16
years old, he was captured by Irish raiders and held for six
years. During this time, he became much more spiritual as he was
a lonely shepherd and required his faith to keep him strong.

After six years in County Mayo, Patrick heard a voice, that he
believed to be God’s, telling him to leave Ireland (as was
indicated in his writings many years later). He walked hundreds
of miles to the coast where he was able to escape to Britain. He
was then ordained into the priesthood. He returned to Ireland as
a priest, as the majority of Irish were at that time Pagan.

Patrick’s time in captivity in Ireland had influenced him
greatly and he brought many Irish customs to his parishioners.
He began celebrating Easter with a large bonfire, following the
Irish practice of honoring their gods with fire. And he created
the Celtic Cross by superimposing the image of a sun onto the
cross. St. Patrick died in 460 AD, and it is largely believed
that he died on March 17th.

As time went on, St. Patrick’s legend grew throughout the United
Kingdom and particularly in Ireland. He became a figure that was
larger than life, and it is believed he completed many
near-impossible feats, including the driving out of the snakes
and abolishment of the Druids at Tara. His influence on
everything Christian in Ireland; however, is unmistakable. He
can be singularly credited for spreading Christianity throughout
all of Ireland.

The first St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated in New York City on
March 17, 1762. Irish soldiers serving in the British Army in
the American Colonies marched through the streets of New York to
celebrate their Irish homeland from which they had long since
been away. St. Patrick’s Cathedral stands in Manhattan as a
majestic reminder of the history of Irish people in New York
City.

As America grew, so did its Irish population. Throughout the
late 18th century, Irish Aid societies like the Friendly Sons of
Saint Patrick would hold annual parades celebrating St.
Patrick’s Day. These parades came to include bagpipes and drums,
even though bagpipes were known more as a Scottish custom than
Irish.

When the Great Potato Famine hit in 1845, almost a million poor
Irishmen streamed into America. Unlike their middle-class
Protestant predecessors, these immigrants were Catholic and
often uneducated. They found great difficulty in finding work,
and were ridiculed in public and in the press as drunken monkeys
with undecipherable accents. During this time, St. Patrick’s Day
celebrations grew decidedly more subdued.

By the early 20th century; however, the Irish population in the
United States came to realize that they were large in number and
thus had voting power. They began to court public opinion and
became quite a political machine. When Harry S. Truman attended
the New York City St. Patrick’s Day parade in 1948, many
Irish-Americans knew that they were at last an accepted part of
American culture.

In Ireland itself, St. Patrick’s Day was traditionally a
religious holiday. In fact, until the mid-1970’s, Irish law
dictated that all pubs and bars had to be closed. By 1995;
however, the Irish government began to use St. Patrick’s Day as
a driver for tourism as people all over the world clamored for
all things Irish. St. Patrick’s Festival in Dublin now draws
over 1 million people in a multi-day celebration with parades,
concerts, and fireworks.

In homes throughout the world, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated
without alcoholic excess. Many Irish Catholic families celebrate
with a day of prayers. Families cook the traditional Irish feast
of corned beef (also known as Irish bacon), cabbage, and soda
bread. Many of these families end the night with some coffee
with Irish crme, and a chocolate pie or cake liberally
saturated with mint flavoring. These traditions are passed from
generation to generation, and are revered as much as if not more
so than the alcoholic debauchery that is known so well.

There are many types of African safaris. I always thought of a
safari as something you did with John Wayne and chased big
rhinos, or hunted elephants and lions. Not so.

Certainly there are hunting safaris, but there are many other
types, too. If you are planning on going on an African safari,
you will want to familiarize yourself with your options so that
you may have a more enjoyable experience.

Drive Safari

East African and Central African drive safaris are usually done
in a mini-van, while drive safaris in South Africa are mostly
done in open 4 x 4 vehicles, which help you to better see the
scenery and wildlife. South Africa also offers self-drive
safaris which allow you to use their well developed road systems
to go off on your own tour.

Walking Safari

Some African countries, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Kenya and
Tanzania, offer walking safaris. On these you will generally
hike 5 to 8 miles per day, with plenty of breaks to admire the
wildlife and landscape. Being on foot allows you to access more
remote and untouched areas that hold plenty of wildlife such as
elephant, lion, buffalo and rhino.

Mobile Tent and Camping Safaris

This would be a combination of the drive and walking safaris.
Usually, in a mobile tent trip, you will stay at a lodge or
similar accommodation each night. In a true camping safari, also
called cross-country safari, you are roughing it with tents and
normal camping chores and activities. These trips can last for
several days.

Canoe Safari

Paddle your way down one of the great rivers in Africa, such as
the Zambezi River which divides Zimbabwe and Zambia. This will
give you a whole different perspective of the plant and animal
life.

Elephant, Horseback and Camelback Safari

Elephant back, horseback and camelback safaris bring you into
being one with nature. There are tours that offer the use of
these well trained animals which can really enhance your
experience. Imagine spending the day with an elephant, enjoying
its company, feeding and eating with it and becoming good
friends!

Rail Safari

In Southern Africa, you can take the tour by train. This kind of
safari might be more enjoyed by those who enjoy a little more
comfort and class in their trip.

Sailing and Houseboat Safaris

Do you really want to go in style Enjoy your safari from a
yacht! This is great way to see some of the wildlife that to
stay closer to the water like hippos and crocodiles. Choose the
houseboat safari and do little fishing while you are enjoying
the view.

Tracking Safari

Tracking safaris are a great way to see amazing animals that are
rare and hard to find, and enjoythem in their own natural
habitat. There are African safaris that track gorillas,
chimpanzees, and tree climbing lions.

Bird Watching Safari

Big game not your thing? Bird watchers can still get their
thrills on a bird watching safari. But, pay attention, you will
probably still see plenty of big game.

So, remember. Safaris: they’re not just for John Wayne anymore!

Effective January 1, 2005, California law requires all mattresses contain chemical based fire retardancy for “public safety”. This law may become national within a year, and is under consideration by the Consumer Products Safety Commission. California residents can buy chemical-free organic mattresses with a letter or prescription from a doctor, which can be mailed or faxed to at time of purchase. Unfortunately, this legislation may eventually extend to organic bedding and organic clothing.

The primary chemicals required to meet state and federal flammability guidelines include Boric Acid (which effectively kills roaches), PBDE’s, Formaldehyde, Decabromodiphenyl Oxide, Melamine, Zinc Borate, Vinylidiene Chloride, and Antimony Trioxide.

Up to 1 1/2 pounds of these deadly chemicals saturate just the surface of a larger size mattress!

It’s not that legislators aren’t aware of the toxicity and health risks of these chemicals. The law grudgingly nods to purchasing organic mattresses by prescription only. Imagine having to pay a doctors visit just to purchase organic bedding and clothing as well. For those with health insurance, an inconvenience. For those without health insurance, a potentially devastating and insurmountable health menace.

Your family spends 8 hours every day lying prone on mattresses, and will steadily inhale these toxins for years. This is being mandated by law regardless of scientific proof that these chemicals are highly carcinogenic, cause high prenatal mortality, birth defects, reduced fertility, plus liver, kidney, brain and heart damage. Americans with allergies, asthma and multiple chemical sensitivities, are keenly at risk. Infants are notoriously vulnerable to Boric Acid poisoning.

The authors of the legislation have good intentions, and expect to save 300 lives every year from mattress-ignited fires. Over 40 years, this law could harm more than 100 million people as a direct result of chemical saturation.

Organic bedding with wool fill and organic mattresses, naturally meet and exceed fire retardant standards in all cases, but will never contain a dram of toxic chemical inputs.

If this law becomes national, doctors will hopefully suffer an epidemic of writers cramp, and judging from their strenuous opposition to this legislation, will be more than happy to continue writing prescriptions for safe, healthy organic mattresses, and if necessary, organic bedding and clothing as well.

Susan Fullen-Yurek of Kushtush.com Organics, http://www.kushtush.com, is an online retailer of organic bedding and organic cotton products.