Flood Insurance - Reinstatement of FEMA Flood Insurance Just in Time

Knowing that the lapse of Flood Insurance Funding could literally devastate millions in the path of Hurricane Alex, the U.S. Senate temporarily reauthorized the federal flood insurance program, though this temporary fix is only in place through September 30th of this year. If things in Washington go according to normal, they might get through a permanent bill just in time to delay the budget process for the DOD, Department of Defense, which will be due in October, another annual milestone that always seems to be a day late and a dollar short.

Regardless, the bill was passed June 30th, is retroactive to June 1st, when the funding of the program expired and will be in effect through September 30th. President Obama signed it on July 2nd.

It is amazing that this program, that is so critical to the housing market, especially during this financial crisis, was not only in jeopardy, but not enacted in time to prevent the trickledown effect that this would have. Any home purchase deemed to be within a flood zone could not close as planned. Realtors and prospective home buyers and sellers were grinding their teeth in frustration as once again the guys in Washington seemed to be totally disconnected from the mainstream by not understanding the importance of having the new funding and bill in place prior to the old one's expiration. Even those who already owned homes in flood zones but that required renewal were put on hold and at risk. In Texas alone, more than 680,000 residents have flood insurance policies and almost 10,000 of them are in Nueces County, where hurricanes often come ashore or cause flooding and devastation.

If this had not been enacted, then those same people would have been applying for disaster assistance instead, which would have done nothing more but cost millions of tax-payer dollars in claims. And, in true Washington style, there has been no apology and Congress has not given a time-frame for revisiting the original legislation; they are only expected to revisit it before the temporary reauthorization expires. In the mean time, everyone is now scrambling to get homes sales closed and to reinstate lapsed policies, no doubt tapping into overtime pay that would not have been required if Congress had acted in a timely manner.

Maybe it is time that the options for flood insurance be given to the private sector, rather than being controlled by the government. Wouldn't that make a whole lot more sense? Doesn't Congress have a whole lot more to worry about than continuing to manage a program that would be better handled by the insurance companies that are experienced at this kind of thing? Wouldn't it reduce government spending? It is surely true that Congress's inability to get things done on time would not have impacted so many if the private sector held these flood insurance policies. What do you think? Let your representatives in Congress know how you feel, especially if you have been affected, or know of persons affected by Congress's historic, but normal, inability to act on time and the government's inability to properly manage one of its programs.

Build Self Confidence

What is the main purpose with your life? Most people would probably say to be happy. When you build self confidence you build up a state of happiness. Therefore the first step in a self esteem improvement process is to do all you can to be happy every day. And how do you do that? You can start with smiling. In every situations you run into during the day, smile. This is just a start and you may need to do happiness exercises every day to become happy and gain self confidence. If you are unhappy try acting as if you were happy. Sooner or later you will become happy and thus build a higher self esteem.

Use your fantasy to visualize yourself as a positive person. Be enthusiastic in your visualization. Give yourself reasons to believe in yourself. Do things that you have never done before which means a real challenge for you. Self esteem is based on your beliefs. The more rocks you are able to face on the road you're walking, the more you will believe in yourself and the more self confident you will become. Do a new and really challenging thing every day, and your confidence will soar.

Each time you start up with something whether it's a new project at work or a repair job at home, always look back and remind yourself of previous successful experiences. When you uncover these memories and really feel the good emotions associated with them, you will simply feel successful and you will act according to that; like a person with high self confidence. You can even say to yourself: "I am self confident" and it will immediately enforce a feeling of self confidence. Just try it, say it out loud and repeat it to yourself. Say it many times a day and when it is not appropriate to say it out load, just think it. When practiced consistently and often, these small simple 'tricks' adds up to your self esteem and will contribute to it's growth day after day.

We all have negative feelings from time to time. Look at these negative thoughts and feelings that inevitably will appear as challenges. Each time you feel a negative vibe, feeling or thought penetrating your mind, start to think of something positive like your previous successful merits - whatever they are - or repeat to yourself "I am self confident". Self confidence is all about levelling yourself above negative feelings, thoughts and miseries. If you follow these words of advice consistently each day, your confidence will grow equally.

New Aircraft Design Engine Pivot Aft of Fuselage

Due to the new advances in directional thrust capabilities and the advent of UAVs which can take higher “G” loadings, we need to design aircraft and UAVs which have better turning capabilities. This would allow UAVs to fly between city buildings like Felluhja or monitor down town areas like DC for crime. We can build better directional thrust intake flows to allow jet engines to get continual flows for full power and thrust a very slow speed and extremely high angles of attack while completely departing from the forward flowing relative wind. By doing this we can maintain high rates of turns to dodge enemy fired missiles, maneuver in tight proximity of structures and obstacles while staying on mission.

To better understand a good starting point of this discussion and to better visualize in your mind the basic concept building such a craft and the possible shape it might have; below are some links to Pictures of the possible general design we have in mind. In these pictures are previous no-pivoting versions of the basic design we have in mind. This aircraft is the “Optica” and it was designed for high visibility, efficiency and STOL – Short Take-Off and Landing Capability.

http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&lr=&saf...ilor.com+optica

Imagine this look and forward observation area with a shortened swept wingspan in prospective to relative size. The wing perhaps the shape of an A-4 or even an F-104.

In our model with the observation area, which could encompass a pilot or a set of sensors and/or video monitors would be up front of the jet engine intake. The observation area would pivot, similar to a double length bus in some cities, much like a snake. Thus when the aircraft was to make a turn the relative wind would assist in the rapid turning as the fuselage observation component turned as it would push on the side. The front part of the fuselage would then force air around it into the intake as the air tried to get around it, while simultaneously opening a larger portion of the intake to the relative wind prior to turning allowing for maximum thrust to be maintained as the turn was entered. Such abilities and erratic maneuverability would increase survival rates from SAMs – Surface to Air Missiles and other aircraft in dog fighting. We saw in the movie Matrix II that it was very difficult to hit and shoot down the swarms of UAVs as they moved like snakes. The aircraft would also have the latest directional thrust capabilities such as that of the hybrid F-16 with aerodynamic design to assist in trust vectoring performance. To help you better appreciate this concept I would like you to view this photo as well:

[http://www.homepages.mcb.net/bones/images/Optica.jpg]

Our model will be similar but sleeker for high speeds, as well as flying within a non-atmospheric tube of plasma, created by pulsed waves in the direction of the intended flight to eliminate the friction from air. Later models would also include an antigravity criss-crossed wave disruptions within such non-atmospheric tubes for complete control, unbelievable acceleration, hovering and increased useful loads once in flight. There are a few other interesting models, within the thinking phase of the concept, which are not so dissimilar to the Optica. The front observation fuselage component would be similar to the head of a bee and the thorax being the body or the engine in our model, but it would be relatively thinner in design, more like a dragonfly in length to width ratios, but of course with out the long wings to cut down on drag for higher speeds. We envision swept canards on the front observation fuselage, which are much similar to that of a shark but horizontal and slightly curved upward to disrupt the air flow enough to keep any wing tip vortices coming off them as the aircraft turns flowing directly into the engine since additional thrust will be needed and intake ram air during intense flight maneuvers.

The front observation fuselage will not be perfectly bulbus on it’s nose cone, but be more closer to a tropical fish than completely spherical looking like the ‘Opitca’ aircraft. This will allow for more horizontal directional control in flight, as the aircraft front fuselage comes back towards the engine it will become more rounded to allow for maximum and stable airflow into the turbine. The engine component or middle fuselage will be 3.33 times as long as the observation fuselage and will taper off aft-ward. Under the fuselage will be the wings, with landing gear apparatus. Since directional thrust will assist in landing it will not have a substantial landing gear like conventional aircraft.

The forward observation fuselage will be made of composite, along with wings and rear fuselage along with a circle tail with a cross which will be the vertical and horizontal stabilizers which will pivot to assist the directional thrust exhaust nozzles, thus the directional thrust is blown across final tail assembly for stability and increased turning radius effectiveness as well as stability control. It will cost us about $35,000 to build a miniature version of this, which in turn could lend itself well to battlefield observations in urban settings. A full size human piloted version will run about $400,000 for a workable prototype. Although it would take several prototypes to build a unit worthy of the aerodynamic innovation and an even larger prototype to hold the weight of pulse wave technologies for gravity wave disruptions and plasma ionization, although well within the realm of possibilities and modern technologies.

Exercise: What's In It For You?

That's the real question.........isn't it?

Just like anything else in life, right? (to a certain extent for most people)

I mean, what's in it for you when you take that new job, or when you help clean the house, or when you do favors for people?

Money? Compliments? Favors? Food?

Well, people think of exercise the same way (this is a negative way of thinking, but I digress)......................

So, what WILL exercise do for you? I thought you'd never ask, lol.

According to the US Surgeon General's Report, here are some benefits (there are literally hundreds) to a regular exercise regimen:

1. Improves your chances of living longer and living healthier - hmm, sound familiar? It's all a game of percentages, guys.

2. Helps protect you from developing heart disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol - of course, what kind of food you put in your hungry little mouth and something to do with this also........but exercise is a HUGE way to decrease the possibility of these things happening.

3. Helps protect you from developing certain cancers, including colon and breast cancer - once again, a major benefit.

4. Relieves the symptoms of depression and anxiety and improves mood - Forget the crazy pills that many people are taking.......get out and get moving, this will likely get you in an improved frame of mind.

5. Controls weight - Ding, ding, ding!!! We have a winner.........I've been telling you guys this forever!

Need I go on???

As you can see, these are NOT minor benefits, or benefits that may help you a little.......these are major, possibly life-saving benefits for you and your family. If this doesn't knock you upside the head, just write me an e-mail stating that you still don't understand the massive benefits of exercise and fitness, and I'll come over there and knock you upside the head myself, lol.

What you must realize is that even a TINY change in your lifestyle can start the process to massive health changes in your life. You have to want it, you have to believe, and you have to come up with a plan. I guarantee you, it's not that hard...........when you put your mind to it, starting an exercise program is fun, enlightening, and empowering.

The benefits that I have listed (and the hundreds of others I didn't list) are so massive, that you should be compelled to go start an exercise program right now...................have you started yet?

Want more ways to "get started"?....you should. Visit [http://www.fitnesswithchris.com] for a slew of ideas and tips on how to get started on your way to greater health.

Making An Employment Offer - Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

You have diligently followed the steps to hiring a new employee:

1. You created a hiring road map - the job description.

2. You advertised in the right places to attract good applicants.

3. You objectively screened all the applications received.

4. You conducted a thorough, relevant, objective job interview with each candidate.

5. You evaluated all interview candidates and have selected the best one.

You are now ready to make an employment offer.

In determining what to offer, you must:

1. Determine the pay rate

2. Determine benefits, if any, that you will offer (e.g. medical, dental, life insurance, etc.)

3. Identify other aspects of compensation (e.g. bonus, vacation time, etc.)

After considering all of these factors, prepare a written letter of offer. A written offer is important to ensure that the candidate is aware of the terms and conditions of employment. It ensures that there is no room for interpretation, and prevents misunderstandings from occurring. Any questions that arise will be dealt with prior to the start of employment.

Common components of an offer letter are:

1. Position title

2. Basic duties & responsibilities

3. Start date

4. Compensation, including rate of pay & overtime considerations

5. Bonus system, if any

6. Work hours

7. Probationary period

8. Benefits & insurance

9. Vacation entitlement

10. Statutory holidays

Depending on the relevance to the position, other components that can be included are:

- Applicable policies and procedures

- Confidentiality agreement

- Termination agreement

- Restrictions should employment end

The next steps are:

1. Call the candidate to make a verbal offer of employment and provide them with a reasonable time frame to consider their decision.

2. Follow-up with the written offer of employment.

3. Should the candidate make a counter-offer, be prepared to discuss the counter-offer and adjust the terms and conditions as you are comfortable. Know your budget restrictions and consider what is currently in place for other employees in your company and in the industry.

4. Reach an agreement on the terms and conditions of the offer.

5. Agree on a start date.

6. Start an employee file to keep all the records and documents for the employee.

7. Prepare for your new employee's orientation to your company.

If all goes according to plan, your new employee will come on board as soon as possible. However, be prepared for delays in the process. Also, should the candidate not accept your offer, you will need to make an offer to another qualified candidate. Should one not exist, you need to recycle back through the employee search process to find the right employee. Remember, don't settle! The right employee is critical to your success.

Good luck hiring your next employee!

Say Goodbye to Back Aches with Comfort Beds

Without personal experience you can never understand the difference a good mattress can make to your sleeping comfort. Living a life of austerity, with scorn for anything luxurious, shunning luxuries like a comfort bed; I was happy to sleep on a mattress just lying on the floor. As it is, I hardly had any extra cash to squander around, so I never did think of buying a comfort bed for years. I was getting along fine, but that was until started having severe back aches.

Of course, in the beginning I could have never imagined that they were on the account of comfort beds or rather the lack of them. The concept of sleeping in the wrong kind of bed never did enter my mind. Initially, I tried everything I could to get rid of the back pain, and many of these things did help. I consulted a chiropractor, started exercising and stretching as frequently as possible, had massages- in fact anything that would help assuage the back ache but nevertheless, the pain persisted in its intensity.

At last, following one of the many valuable suggestions from friends, I went to take a look at comfort beds in a mattress store. The first time I lay on a pillow top mattress, one which you could regulate with a dial- I was zapped by its softness and the sheer luxury of feeling as if I was floating on a cloud. I don't think I had ever experienced anything like that before. I, a firm believer in firm mattresses till then, was totally hooked for life.

I hate to shame myself by admitting it to everyone, but sleeping on comfort beds is one luxury that one must definitely try their hands on. For this luxury is not just a frivolous expense, instead it comes packed with health benefits for your backbone. I might not still be buying junk food or wasting money on gas for I do not drive a car. I still find no shame in borrowing books from the library rather than purchasing them from the bookstores. However, comfort beds and relaxed clothing have become a way of life, which is indispensable to me now.

I have changed the policy of my life a bit; to adjust comfortable sleeping habits into it. Scoffing at luxuries is fine, but the story gets a twist when your body starts on its protests. Material possessions prized in our society are still social evils to me, but comfort beds have bowed out from the list. If you possess one, you will know what I mean. Waking up refreshed everyday, without that nasty twinge in your back changes your perspective. It refreshes your mood and makes you positive for the entire day.