Archive for February, 2009

Budget Travel and Having Fun While Doing It

Saturday, February 28th, 2009

Traveling can be expensive. Sometimes there is just no other choice but to travel and it may not be something that you want to spend a lot of money on. There are some ways that you can save money while traveling and still have a comfortable and enjoyable trip.

How to save money by flying If you have to travel remember that holidays are the best days to fly. Thanksgiving is a great day because hardly anyone will be flying that day. The day before and the day after a holiday are the worst days to travel. These are the busiest days of the year to be on a plane. Pack light when you are traveling. Extra baggage could cost you time and money and you can save by packing a little less and you will save a lot more. Take a train instead of flying Trains are a great way to travel because they are usually less expensive than a plane. They are also less crowded. When you decide to take a train you will save money that can be used for other things on your vacation.

Traveling with your children can sometimes be a little stressful and maybe even a downright nightmare. However, this does not have to be the case. There are ways for you to keep your children occupied while you are on the road or in the air. You can keep them happy and at the same time keep your sanity.

Bring along some snacks The one thing you can always depend on is your child getting hungry. They are always asking for a snack or something to nibble on at the worst possible times. These times are when you are busy or when you have nothing for them to snack on. One good way to prepare for this situation is to bring along a variety of their favorite things. Another good idea is to have some drink boxes on hand for them also. You know if they are hungry then the next thing they are going to say is they are thirsty. Think ahead and get a list of the things they like and pack them along with you.

When you are traveling either alone or with your family, bring your own snacks. This will save you time and money when you get hungry. Sometimes with the hustle of traveling we forget to get ourselves something to eat. This may cause an all of sudden sick feeling for you. By having some snacks on hand you will save yourself the trouble of feeling sick. This will also save you money. Snacks on coach flights and sections are not free and can be expensive in some cases.

Driving in a car

When you are driving to your destination, there are some things that you can do to save yourself money. Remember to not drive too fast. Driving fast can cause your car to use more fuel. It may also get you a speeding ticket, which will cost you a lot of extra money in the end. It is better to stay at a steady and safe speed while you are driving. Also bring your own food. Make up some sandwiches and bring along some sodas and water. This will save you money and time by not having to stop for food.

Another good piece of advice when traveling by car is to take turns driving with someone. Make sure that you have another safe driver for times when you need a break. You can sleep while someone else drives for a while and then switch back and forth when a rest is needed. This will save you the expense of paying for a room and get you to your destination sooner.

If you are traveling with children on a plane, remember to arrive at the airport early. Make sure that you allow yourself plenty of time to get you and your children checked in and not to mention leave yourself some time for bathroom breaks. You know how kids can sometimes slow you down and you want to make sure that you have enough time for the unexpected things that can come up at any given time. Traveling with your children can be memorable experience in your life and with a little planning and thought; you can make that memory a great one.

Abs Exercise – Simpler with these Suggestions

Saturday, February 28th, 2009

Are you like many older men? Feeling your area around the middle is extending or just heading due south. Is buttoning those pants growing more difficult? Are you learning the months passed on your bottom watching TV, downing snacks and chugging six packs has finally done you in, and you are wearing love handles? Have you lost your 6 pack abs(6-pack-abs.biz)? You’re definitely not alone and there is good news for you.

If you desire definition in your mid section you should start some ab exercises (http://ab-exercises.org). Whether you are a man or a woman, you can benefit from a stronger back. When your stomach muscles are fortified your back is also fortified. Some elementary drills to drop off those spare tires are sit ups and stomach crunches.

Dealing with the lower back you can try lying on the tummy. Raising your feet and knees off of the flooring and lightly kicking your legs as if you were swimming. Do repetitions of 15 seconds action, resting 30 seconds.

You may want to cut salt and sodium loaded foods from your diet. It is accepted to link salt and salt rich foods with heart troubles and risk of stroke. Sodium can produce water retention which can in turn add to the tummy fat. Don’t add extra salt to foods and stay away from processed foods. Drinking water can also aid in losing the spare tire. Water helps in breaking down stored fat, producing energy and also hydrating the body.

You should likely consider cutting back on calories from alcohol. Many of us are let down that we can’t use alcohol to replace water. Alcoholic beverages contain a lot of empty calories which tend to get situated around the stomach area creating spare tires. No need to eliminate alcohol altogether, just keep in mind how much you consume and adjust as needed; same method as scaling down your food intake.

Where To Stay in Bangkok?

Saturday, February 28th, 2009

Finding a Thailand hotel is super easy these days. Do a search at google, and you’ll have some pretty good idea of where you want to stay. Plus, you can just go ahead and book for a Bangkok Thailand hotel right online.

If you plan to find a Bangkok hotel, you have tons of choices. Stay at Kaosan road if you’re a backpacker. If you’re not one, then stay close to the skytrain if you love shopping. If you’re into good atmosphere and don’t care much about getting around the city, then stay close to the Chao Phraya river, which is the main river of Bangkok.

If you want to stay at Kaosan road, you don’t even need to book in advance. You can just walk around to see the guesthouse you like, and then just walk in. They always have a vacancy.

If you prefer to stay in the city center in order to get around easily for shopping, (and let me tell you, Bangkok is shoppers’ paradise — Hong Kong isn’t cheap… but Bangkok is) then I suggest you check out Patumwan Princess hotel. It’s right in the MBK shopping center (fake jeans, watches and bags) and also right at the Siam Square skytrain station. Erawan hotel, Le Meridien and the Four Seasons hotel are more luxurious. They’re right at the intersection where you can see Zen and Isetan shopping malls right across the street. The Siam Square (where they sell funky clothing) and the Chidlom (Central shopping mall) skytrain stations are within minutes away.

A lot of tourists like to stay at the Asia hotel, which is right at a Rajdevi skytrain station (one station away from MBK shopping center). It may be cheap, but it’s kind of old. Well, very old actually. I don’t recommend it. But it’s totally up to you.

If you don’t care much about shopping in Bangkok, then I’d really suggest you stay at the Sukothai hotel. It’s a classy and luxurious Thai-styled hotel –but you’ll have to take a taxi if you want to go anywhere. Or even better, stay by the Chao Phraya river if you can. It will give you a different feel of Bangkok, especially at night. It’s rather expensive though, especially if you want to stay at the world-renowned Oriental hotel or the Peninsula hotel. If these two are too expensive for you, try Shangri-la hotel. It may be a little bit cheaper. And don’t forget to book a Bangkok river cruise dinner at your hotel. The Chao Praya river is glamorous at night — with a view of well-lit Wat Arun.

To get around town from your Bangkok hotel, you can ask the hotel’s doorman to help you get a taxi. It’s not expensive at all.

How to Plan a Cheap Vacation in the Bahamas

Friday, February 27th, 2009

A trip to the Bahamas does not have to also mean a trip to a loan officer. The beautiful islands offer vacations for every budget. Even those with little to spare can make their way to the white and pink beaches by finding a cheap Bahamas vacation online. Websites such as Priceline and Hotwire are great places to start looking for a cheap Bahamas vacation These websites generally offer all-inclusive vacations, which helps to make the shopping experience easier. There are also plenty of other, lesser-known websites where travelers can find amazing deals on rentals, plane tickets, and more.

A cheap Bahamas vacation rental does not have to mean a lower standard of living. Consider Cookies Cabanas, a guest house on the beach of Cat Island. The home features a bedroom and bath with a double bed plus a hideaway bed and sits just 20 feet from a restaurant. Even better, this vacation home is only $90 per day. This low-priced home sits on an island considered one of the most beautiful in the Bahamas with high cliffs, densely-forested foothills, and 60 miles of deserted pink-and-white sand beach.

In addition to cheap Bahamas vacation rentals, the Internet also offers many Bahamas vacation deals. Once again, vacation websites such as Priceline, Hotwire, and Orbitz are always publishing new Bahamas vacation deals. These websites often have last-minute vacation deals that offer spur-of-the-moment travelers a lower-price airline ticket so that the airline company can sell as many seats as possible.

Regardless of whether the traveler is leaving immediately or planning a vacation months in advance, it is always a good idea to purchase vacation packages on websites such as these, as packages often mean a savings over vacation arrangements purchased individually. The Bahamas is no longer a vacation destination only for the well-to-do. Thanks to online vacation websites, cheap deals can be found to suit any budget.

The Dominican Republic The Real Truth

Thursday, February 26th, 2009

A carribean paradise or a haven for corruption.

White sandy shore lines and beautiful reasonably priced all-inclusive beach resorts.The Dominican Republic can offer you the best vacation of your life.

If you plan to get outside of your hotel room a good tour guide can be worth the money.

For a retirement destination it can be risky because the economy is very unstable and the dollars yo yo has left American products at about 10 times the their prices in the United States.When the dollar started going up from about 19 to 1 to 57 to 1 you could see the merchants in the stores and supermarkets raising there prices every five minutes. But when the dollar dropped from 57 back to 27 to 1 the stores owners didn’t notice and just sat in there offices and forgot to lower the prices. The Dominican people are close to starving to death because of the prices of food in the stores. Which also equates to extremely high prices for a person vacationing in dollars or living in dollars in the Dominican Republic. The tourist can get around the gastly prices by simply staying in an all-inclusive resourt. I had a stomach ache after eating my favorite peanut butter and fried banana sandwhich and went to buy a bottle of Pepto Bismol that cost $1.98 back home and I had to pay $15 dollars. That gives you an idea of how prices are set.

For a bachelor looking for a girlfriend or wife, there is no place better. The Dominican Republic has many available beautiful women. And I don’t say beautiful lightly. The Dominican Republic holds the crown for Miss Universe. Amelia Vega was crowned Miss Universe in 2003. To avoid the wrong girl again the bachelor looking for that special girl needs that special tour guide who is also a professional matchmaker. These beautiful girls are readily available but you have to know how and where to look for them. Again you have to have the right professional guide for the job. See the resource box listed below.

Getting around . You will need the military version of the Humvee. I couldn’t imagine any worse roads in the world. You can go into the most exquisite areas in the Dominican Republic where their wealthy live and you will find mud roads with deep holes in the roads. The wealthy have no respect for their communities. Trash , Dominicans aren’t happy if they don’t have some trash in the street. Even in the most exclusive areas.

The people. The nicest people in the world. They are kind, friendly and beautiful people. They seem to love Americans.They have an American raised and educated President. He was born in the Dominican Republic but raised and educated in New York.

Safety, In my opinion one of the safest countries on earth. Less violence against their own people and tourists than most places you might want to vacation or retire.

Theft issues. They will steal your shirt off your back if your not looking. However, very little armed robbery. Again it’s a very safe country if you use common sense as to where you go.

Bank safety. The government seems to be more honorable than most countries. When A local banker stole 2.5 billion dollars from a local bank the government stood behind the bank and paid back the money, but in pesos. You wouldn’t get your money back if a U.S or Western Country banker stole that much money.

Corruption. The banker stole 2.5 billion and walked away as free as a bird. He is flying around in his helicopters and cruising in one of his private yahts in the French Riviera right now. While the poor people can’t even buy a green banana to eat. Why? That’s the Dominican system. If your going to steal… steal big. You can walk away as free as a bird. Steal a Papaya and you could be gunned down in the street. Both events actually happened in the Dominican Republic. Moral of the story. Steal 2.5 billion dallars and you walk. Steal a papaya and you can be shot dead. You can buy your way out of anything in the Dominican Republic with 2.5 billion dollars. But if you don’t have 100 pesos for the papaya you could be in trouble.

But let’s look at the over all picture. Would I recommend the Dominican Republic for retirement or a vacation . You bet your life I would. I love it. I am a 56 year old bachelor and the young women think I am Elvis Presley come back to life. Admittedly I have a stong resemblence and my name is Elvis and I was born in Mississippi and I later lived in Menphis. However, if you bachelors don’t know how and where to look for the nice girls you can and will go home empty handed without your Miss Universe. I couldn’t possibly pick one wife out of all these beautiful women so I decicided to keep just keep them all for myself. But one day my vacation will come to an end and I will take my Miss Universe bride home to live in Graceland. I’m coming home. The King. Elvis King. Since I can’t write songs any more I decided to write articles. Elvis.

Please feel free to publish this article and resource box in your ezine, newsletter, offline publication or website. A copy would be appreciated at loverboybachelor@yahoo.com

Elvis King specializes in finding that special dream girl or girls for the lonely, older man. His one on one Bachelor Dream Tours are becoming so popular that soon only the wealthiest will be able to go on the Bachelor Dream Tour do to the waiting list and popular demand. Email him at loverboybachelor@yahoo.com or join the group at http://www.msnusers.com/BachelorDreamTours

Getting Your Hands on Business Cover Is Extremely Critical to the Success of Your Firm

Thursday, February 26th, 2009

There is no refuting the fact that the success or failure of an organisation is as a result of the dedicated work of the personnel, however one event can promptly wipe out your hard work & reduce the profits to dust. Thus, to stay away from such an instance, you are suggested to insure your business, whether it is a small company or a big corporation. Nonetheless, please consider that smaller companies are considerably more probable to require business insurance in today’s hard world. This is essentially as SME owners will have put their entire lives & wages straight into the company.

A few of the things typically guarded by the majority of business insurance covers comprise of: natural tragedies, volcanoes, machine or apparatus defect that closes the company, loss of income on account of staff negligence & legal action brought against the company. If you want a professional indemnity insurance quote then visit this site today.

There are hundreds insurance companies, which have policy covers that include both protection for all major property and legal risks in one big package. You can also acquire a separate policy. Such a policy is often called a business owners’ policy (BOP). Large sized enterprises may well splash out on a commercial cover.

BOPs integrate building insurance for buildings and equipments belonging to the business. If there is any loss of earnings as a result of disruption of operation & trade because of tragedies like avalanches, it can be covered under the Business Interruption Insurance.

There are a mixture of policies, which protects the company’s legal responsibility for the injury it may well cause to others. It’s the result your company’s failure to do the business operations. It can as well be the actual injury or building damage caused thanks to defective goods, faulty fittings and slip-ups in services offered.

Despite this, BOPs don’t cover against professional liability, vehicle cover, employees’ costs or health and disability cover. With this in mind, separate policies are critical for professional services, motor vehicles & staff. As a rule, floods, earthquakes & terrorist attacks are not covered in the business policy. Please make sure before you buy!

San Diego’s New WOW – The W Hotel

Thursday, February 26th, 2009

San Diego’s New WOW – The W Hotel
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To read this entire feature FREE with photos cut and paste this link:
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It started the minute I was greeted by the W San Diego Hotel’s valet. A beautiful young woman, with a friendly welcoming smile opened my car door and my “W” experience began!

“Hi, welcome to the W San Diego, we’re so happy that you’ve arrived!” From the minute my foot touched the curb in front of this new “style” hotel, I immediately knew something extraordinary was about to occur. The “W” is located in the heart of the new residential loft district just south of Little Italy on State and B Streets, in downtown San Diego. San Diego has always been my favorite city in the world. Now that the downtown area is undergoing an exciting renaissance, I couldn’t wait to experience this new kind of urban lifestyle.

There wasn’t a moment that I wasn’t surprised, captivated, and thoroughly enthralled with the way the “W” captured the casual comfort and beach culture that makes San Diego one of the most quintessential Southern California cities. This place is like none other in all of its amenities.

As you enter the lobby you realize that you’ve found a place where “high touch” meets “high tech,” and you can’t wait to see, feel and taste what’s next!

The visually stimulating “technowall” over the lobby bar is a grouping of ten individual television screens measuring six feet high and five feet wide. The video showed a surfer riding the big blue Pacific waves, a vision of perfect symmetry in motion. When I’m at the beach I always feel a tremendous sense of awe and wonder at the ocean’s magnificence. This virtual reality “technowall” instantly, gave me the ocean experience I craved.

So without fighting for parking, or being mobbed by tourists, I was getting my beach fix just by entering the W San Diego’s lobby. The warm and inviting beach colors greeted me like the call of a friendly seagull. The plush sofas and extravagant window seats invited me relax and enjoy the exhilarating beach sensations The sky blue of the chairs and the sandy beige stripes accented by golden tones and sunny images made me feel like a perfect Southern California day. I began to believe that “W” stood for Wow!

As I checked-in, I admired the dramatic round entryway that led me to the reception area. Behind the desk was a clear resin wall embedded with floating shells that served as another visual seascape. As I looked up, I was captivated by the soaring ceilings and sheer drapes that framed the lobby décor. It was a grand mixture of textures and natural fibers that are usually found in luxurious Mexican retreats but a strong influence of American Modernism eclectically integrates the colors and lines creating a marriage of substance and style.

There were two rows of eight tall dark wicker chairs that had individual acrylic game tables that included oversized and colorful checkers, chess, and other unique board games. It was festive and sporty. The lobby décor captured everything I love about San Diego and it gave me the distinct impression this was one of the most sophisticated and sizzling places to be. Like being at the beach, where people watching is a spectator sport, the lobby of the W was a place to relax and enjoy, watch and wait or see what would happen next?

What happened next for us was that our exuberant valet couldn’t wait to take us up to our room! I’ve never met someone so genuinely happy to be working at a hotel. It appeared as if the W was her home, and she was completely thrilled that we were going to be spending time enjoying her private beach resort. In fact, every hotel staff member we met made us feel like honored guests and it was their pleasure to serve us.

I had the opportunity to talk with Rob Stirling, Director of Sales and Marketing for the W San Diego and asked him about the refreshing enthusiasm each employee exhibited. He told me, “We made a point to hire people that never had hotel experience but loved being with people. We didn’t want our staff tainted with how things ’should be done’. It was important for us to have people who loved our hotel and thoroughly enjoyed serving our guests. It’s part of what makes us so unique.”

Again I felt that soothing, cool sea breeze that always gives me a sense of well being and happiness. I felt privileged to be experiencing one of America’s preeminent leisure destinations. The grandeur of the ocean always leaves me speechless. The first ten minutes of my stay at the W San Diego did the same.

The sensations and pleasures of this hip and upscale hotel continued to astound my husband and myself! San Diego is often compared to the Mediterranean Riviera and the mod touches of the décor of the hotel, combined with the ethnic and rustic weaves truly captured this ambiance.

The next big surprise was our room. I didn’t know what to think.

The walls were a deep sea blue and were dramatically contrasted against striking white furnishings. The beach-like slated window treatments cast a hazy, misty, light into the room. I could almost smell the comfort of the night sea mist rolling in. But my thoughts of an afternoon nap were abruptly interrupted with my valet’s grand gestures to get my attention. She wanted to make sure I was aware of all the amenities this room offered.

She smiled infectiously and bragged, “As always, your luxurious W bed is the focal point of the room, with its pillow-top mattress, 250 thread count linens and goose down comforters and pillows, you will have the best sleep of your life!” Her speech was rehearsed but genuine. The bed was an inviting, heavenly blue, with a large round pillow in the center that looked like a beach ball. I waited until our ice bucket was filled before I dove on top of the bed to prove how luxurious it truly was. I wasn’t disappointed. My husband and I playfully tossed the beach ball pillow back and forth. This room, like the rest of the W San Diego was filled with expectations of fun and pleasure!

But I did notice that if you were there for business, the hotel didn’t miss a beat with all of its high tech amenities. There was a large desk, two telephones, one with a dataport and speakerphone capabilities, for all those required conference calls. There was a high speed internet broadband access line available, that’s also wireless. No need to waste your time at your computer. The phone by the bed was cordless.

“Nice touch,” I thought. I always hated being held captive by a telephone cord when I wanted to roam the room, answer the door, or gaze out the window, especially if I could see the ocean!

Above the desk, where there’s usually a mirror or painting, hung a huge black board, equipped with eraser and white chalk. Our valet signed her name… Carly, and told us to call her if we needed anything.

Later, my husband and I sent each other chalk messages and drew funny cartoons. I’m still smiling at how mischievous it felt to write on that big black chalk board!

To read this entire feature FREE with photos cut and paste this link:
http://jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/hotels/calif/sanw/wsan.html

Janice Wilson, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com

About the Author

Janice Wilson, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent. Join the Travel Writers Network in the logo at www.jetsettersmagazine.com

Zimmer Durom Cup Recall Not Advantageous for Hip Replacement Patients

Wednesday, February 25th, 2009

Numerous unfortunate people who experienced durom cup hip implant used in their hip cup replacement operations are witnessing that there are negative ramifications that far surpass the average expectations for recuperation. These people are feeling a lot of uncalled-for anguish for longer periods of time, needing a revision surgical processes and enlarged medical costs, and losing revenue by not being able to work at their normal jobs. Although Zimmer Holdings, Inc. is claiming that that their hip replacement implant is in no way flawed and not to blame for the faulty surgical procedures, some patients are filing lawsuits against them and receiving settlements.

These suffering patients definitely deserve some assistance and compensation which is why product liability lawyers are encouraging them to initiate the filing of a lawsuit. zimmer total hip has been paying out of court for some of these claims. All The Same, even if the settlement they are being offered seems like a lot to them, in many cases individuals are resolving too fast and without provision put in place for repeat issues if they return. If they don’t wait to find out what an actual case is worth, individuals might find themselves paying thousands of dollars from their own pocket when more problems start to surface.

Anyone who realizes they probably have a claim against Zimmer needs to start checking into it. If you imagine you may qualify, you can call a attorney to find out for sure. Try to find a lawfirm that covers countrywide and who has a main focus on litigation against flawed medical devices. This law firm has gone so far as to setup a special division to research and process claims against Zimmer and secure equitable settlements for their customers.

If your orthopedic Dr. updates you with bad news that you will definitely have to undergo a revision surgery to correct your Zimmer Durom hip replacement device, contact an lawyer as soon as humanly possible.

As soon as lawyer figures out that you havea viable case, be ready to stick it out for awhile in order to get the very best settlement that your attorney will be able to negotiate for you. Take the advice your lawyer provides for you and do not rush the process including the restitution. You may end up losing a lot of money if you arent willing to be patient.

Holidays: A Great Tradition You Might Try for Your Kids

Monday, February 23rd, 2009

For several years now, we have had a Christmas Eve/Christmas Morning tradition that we all get a kick out of.

The Christmas Eve part

Once the kids are in bed, and forbidden from leaving their rooms, we haul out all the stuff we have been hiding all year. We are one of those strange families that shop for Christmas all year long and avoid the last minute craziness. After all, Christmas is the same day every year.

We do not wrap stuff. Once we haul out all the stuff, we take out what needs to be taken out of boxes, and I put together what needs to be put together.

We then set up a display of all the gifts for each kid. We really get into how to set everything up for the best Christmas morning presentation.

This usually takes about half an hour to 45 minutes on a good night. On a bad night, it can take much longer. One year it took us about an hour and a half to correctly put together a miniature replica of the Genosian Arena from the second Star Wars movie. Give me a bike to put together any day!

The Christmas morning part

Another strict rule is you cannot leave your room to wake us up until 7 AM. Then we make sure it is all set, cameras ready and video rolling, and we invite the kids into the great room.

The cheers and smiles and hugs are worth all the late night set up, ad then some!

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On Thanksgiving – Thank God for our Soldiers

Sunday, February 22nd, 2009

Not many people reading this article will remember the old television serial called “I Remember Mamma” and certainly almost none of the young men and women of our present day armed forces will remember it. I shudder when I think of how old I am getting, because I do remember it very well. “I Remember Mamma” was a TV series on every week about a Swedish family that came to America to start a new life away from the old country. Each episode was a perfect picture of what life was like for a family of immigrants in the new land of opportunity.

It was a typical family of four with mother, father and sister and brother. One unforgettable episode was when the young man of the family decided to join the army because the war had broken out and he wanted to serve his new country. The folks and the sister were devastated by his choice to go, but they seemed to adapt to the idea if only to support his decision although not fully agreeing with it. You could feel the sadness on that family as the young man slept in his bed for the last night. I cried so deeply when his mother came in to give him a good night kiss, perhaps his last. I became so emotionally caught up with the story that I could hardly sleep at all that night.

I knew nothing about war even though my buddies and I often put a nail in a stick for a trigger and played GI Joe with each other. All I was sure of was, that as a soldier someone was very likely to be shooting at you at some time. What I found hard to grasp was, why anyone would put themselves in such a situation of their own free will. I can’t say I have ever found a sufficient answer to that question but after more than six decades to ponder it, the question has been rewarded with some surprising and perplexing answers.

One of the answers is that some people really believe that the freedom we enjoy here in America is worth fighting to keep and if possible to share with others. Some of them believe that oppression and injustice should not be allowed to prevail unchecked anywhere in the world, not just here at home. I have heard all the comments about how a soldier is only thinking about saving his own life once the bullets start flying but they have been mostly neutralized by the stories of uncommon heroism on our country’s battlefields. There are countless stories of men and women who have risked and in some cases lost their lives while protecting the lives of others around them in their units. For me one story would be enough to prove that not all men are thinking of themselves even after the bullets are flying.

Some young folks still join our armed services for lesser reasons. Perhaps they are enticed by the chance to go to college at the expense of Uncle Sam. In some cases they may just be in that place where they simply don’t know what else to do with their lives. These reasons may not seem as noble as those of the young people who signed up after 9/11 but they are still legitimate reasons and they are not open to any ones critical judgment. Certainly all of those who joined for any reason had a moment when they reflected and faced the possibility that they could be thrust into a battle at any given time. They had to deal with that question but for everyone who signed on the dotted line the question did not deter them, this in itself is a form of bravery.

Soldiers once lined up by the thousands willing to fight against one of the world’s greatest despots, Adolph Hitler. No doubt there are those in Iraq today who see Saddam Hussein and his Bathist party members as something akin to Hitler. Still others in Afghanistan are still hoping to corral one of the worst terrorists of all time, Osama Bin Laden. Should we not liken their devotion to accomplishing these goals to those who fought in other wars? In today’s all volunteer army we have no other choice.

To offer the soldiers in the present conflicts any less than our complete support and gratitude is not only to dishonor them but it equally dishonors every brave soldier who gave their all in the past wars and battles of our nation. We may brag a bit about how well our soldiers are equipped and trained but we must never forget that they also are guided by certain beliefs and principles that are shared in our land by almost everyone. This then, is their purpose and it must be appreciated and respected or we are all fools indeed. They represent us in that purpose and anything less than our full support is to betray them and in my humble opinion is akin to treason.

This thanksgiving season among the other things I will be thankful for is our soldiers. They still give me a sense of awe like the night I cried in my bed trying to understand the young Swedish boy in the “I Remember Mama” series who decided to go and risk life and limb for his newly adopted country, the USA. I will pray that they all come home safely and if any do not, I will always have a home for them in my heart as will millions of other grateful Americans. Thank God for our soldiers this thanksgiving day.

Rev Bresciani is the author of two books; one is on the second coming of Christ. He has many articles published both online and in print. Visit the website at www.americanprophet.org