10 New Rules for Today's Job Hunt
Karen Burns, On Wednesday May 5, 2010, 11:45 am EDT
If you are mid-career, out of work and looking, you've probably already figured this one out: The tried-and-true job-hunting techniques that served you so well in the past no longer fill the bill.
[See 15 essentials to getting hired.]
While you were faithfully toiling away for the same employer, maybe for decades, a lot changed. Today it's a brave new world of social media and digital resumes and Google-ability. What's more, many extremely qualified people are willing to take positions clearly "beneath" them. Some will even work for free.
What's an experienced, qualified, truly valuable potential employee who needs a job that pays actual money like you to do? You really have only one choice: Get to know this brave new world, and conquer it.
Here are the 10 biggest differences between then and now:
[See 40 things you can't discuss at work.]
1. You can no longer depend on a resume to get an interview. Simply mailing out resumes and then sitting back and waiting for responses was never that effective, and today it just doesn't cut it. It's a waste of time, paper, postage, and psychic energy. (It can't hurt. Just don't count on it).
2. Your experience matters less than it used to. This is unfair, even counter-intuitive, but people don't want to hear about everything you did way back when. They want to hear about everything you can do, specifically, to help them today. And tomorrow.
3. You shouldn't expect to hear back. Unfortunately, this little courtesy has gone the way of the vinyl record. Keep on networking, interviewing, and researching right up until the moment you have a firm job offer in your hot little hands. Maybe even a little after.
[See 25 tips for acing the lunch interview.]
4. A resume is no longer a comprehensive summary of your work and education history. Don't bother to list jobs more than 15 years old. Emphasize recent accomplishments, certifications, and training.
5. More about resumes: You need a digital-friendly one that is easily uploadable, downloadable, and scannable (i.e., no bullets, boxes, boldface, unusual fonts, indenting). It should be rich in the "keywords" that employers in your field are looking for.
6. In fact, overall computer literacy is a must. Get comfortable with applying for jobs online and learn how to research on the Internet. If all this is new to you, your public library is a good place to start. Oh, and have a professional-sounding E-mail address.
7. A good idea is to go one step further and establish a lively Internet presence. Explore LinkedIn (get some stellar endorsements), Twitter, and Facebook. Become active in your field's social media sites. Consider building your own Web site (with a career-oriented blog, professional photo, and resume).
8. One of the first things a potential employer will do is Google you. That means you need to find out if there's anything negative about you online. If there is something bad, try to get it removed. Your best bet may be to "bury" it with more recent, more favorable, links (see No. 7).
9. More than ever it's about who you know, and who knows you. This is important: Finding employment nowadays is less a matter of applying for existing open positions and more about identifying needs potential employers have and demonstrating to them that you can fill these needs. Fortunately, there are more networking venues (real life and virtual) than ever before.
10. Many interviewers/hiring managers/recruiters may be younger than you. Get used to it. (We live in a youth obcessed society, unfortunately). Treat them with respect and learn how to speak their language. Do not say "You remind me of my son/daughter," or "When I was your age... !"
You can do this. So go forth. And conquer!
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Monday, May 3, 2010
Five Must-Ask Interview Questions
Five Must-Ask Interview Questions
by Willa Plank
Friday, April 30, 2010
As the economy picks up, companies are starting to hire more. But managers often only get funds for a few key hires, so they have to select new employees wisely. That makes conducting a smart interview critical.
More from WSJ.com:
• The Five Mistakes You're Making With Top Talent
• Five Rules for Making Smart Hires
• As Crisis Eases, CEOs Give Staff Some TLC
Reporter Willa Plank checked in with Ben Dattner, founding principal of organizational consulting and research firm Dattner Consulting, to get his interview advice.
Here are his five must-ask interview questions:
1. In what ways will this role help you stretch your professional capabilities?
This is a reversal of the common question, "What are some of your greatest weaknesses?" Normally candidates dress up their weaknesses, or talk about "positive weaknesses" such as a tendency to work too hard.
Phrased Dr. Dattner's way, this question may better prompt the candidate to describe skills she wants to improve and goals she'd like to achieve. Watch out for candidates who say the prospective job would simply incrementally add to what they already know.
2. What have been your greatest areas of improvement in your career?
This is another question that gets at weaknesses, but in a new way. It also allows interviewees to tell their career histories and ambitions. A red flag answer: "I've always been a natural. I don't need to make any improvements."
Popular Stories on Yahoo!:
• 'Avatar' Director Gives Mars Rover a Boost
• Most Polluted Cities in America
• Bush's Reputation Ready for a Rebound
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More from Yahoo! Finance
3. What's the toughest feedback you've ever received and how did you learn from it?
This shows a candidate's ability to learn from mistakes. A good answer would involve the candidate recalling specific feedback and detailing how she learned from it and changed. Sometimes candidates say they can't remember tough feedback. That can be a red flag. It may indicate the interviewee hasn't worked in a high-risk or creative environment, that she has never solicited advice, or that her co-workers viewed her as too fragile for feedback.
4. What are people likely to misunderstand about you?
This question reveals social intelligence, or the ability to understand others. A candidate might say he asks a lot of questions, and that some people have misinterpreted this inquisitiveness as aggression or criticism. If the candidate says he once found himself in this situation and changed his managerial style, that would indicate he can sense other people's perceptions and adapt.
5. If you were giving your new staff a "user's manual" to you, to accelerate their "getting to know you" process, what would you include in it?
This lets the candidate reveal her work style. A straight answer should indicate the interviewee is self-aware. For example, a candidate might reveal that she prefers to hold conversations in person rather than over the phone, that she likes to be kept in the loop or that she dislikes surprises. Those answers can help a hiring manager determine whether the candidate's style fits with the office culture. A bad answer, Dr. Dattner says, would be: "Just do your job and there won't be any problem," or " They'll figure it out soon enough."
Write to Willa Plank at willa.plank@dowjones.com
by Willa Plank
Friday, April 30, 2010
As the economy picks up, companies are starting to hire more. But managers often only get funds for a few key hires, so they have to select new employees wisely. That makes conducting a smart interview critical.
More from WSJ.com:
• The Five Mistakes You're Making With Top Talent
• Five Rules for Making Smart Hires
• As Crisis Eases, CEOs Give Staff Some TLC
Reporter Willa Plank checked in with Ben Dattner, founding principal of organizational consulting and research firm Dattner Consulting, to get his interview advice.
Here are his five must-ask interview questions:
1. In what ways will this role help you stretch your professional capabilities?
This is a reversal of the common question, "What are some of your greatest weaknesses?" Normally candidates dress up their weaknesses, or talk about "positive weaknesses" such as a tendency to work too hard.
Phrased Dr. Dattner's way, this question may better prompt the candidate to describe skills she wants to improve and goals she'd like to achieve. Watch out for candidates who say the prospective job would simply incrementally add to what they already know.
2. What have been your greatest areas of improvement in your career?
This is another question that gets at weaknesses, but in a new way. It also allows interviewees to tell their career histories and ambitions. A red flag answer: "I've always been a natural. I don't need to make any improvements."
Popular Stories on Yahoo!:
• 'Avatar' Director Gives Mars Rover a Boost
• Most Polluted Cities in America
• Bush's Reputation Ready for a Rebound
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More from Yahoo! Finance
3. What's the toughest feedback you've ever received and how did you learn from it?
This shows a candidate's ability to learn from mistakes. A good answer would involve the candidate recalling specific feedback and detailing how she learned from it and changed. Sometimes candidates say they can't remember tough feedback. That can be a red flag. It may indicate the interviewee hasn't worked in a high-risk or creative environment, that she has never solicited advice, or that her co-workers viewed her as too fragile for feedback.
4. What are people likely to misunderstand about you?
This question reveals social intelligence, or the ability to understand others. A candidate might say he asks a lot of questions, and that some people have misinterpreted this inquisitiveness as aggression or criticism. If the candidate says he once found himself in this situation and changed his managerial style, that would indicate he can sense other people's perceptions and adapt.
5. If you were giving your new staff a "user's manual" to you, to accelerate their "getting to know you" process, what would you include in it?
This lets the candidate reveal her work style. A straight answer should indicate the interviewee is self-aware. For example, a candidate might reveal that she prefers to hold conversations in person rather than over the phone, that she likes to be kept in the loop or that she dislikes surprises. Those answers can help a hiring manager determine whether the candidate's style fits with the office culture. A bad answer, Dr. Dattner says, would be: "Just do your job and there won't be any problem," or " They'll figure it out soon enough."
Write to Willa Plank at willa.plank@dowjones.com
How To Tell When It's Time for a New Car
How To Tell When It's Time for a New Car
Buzz Up!0 votes
By Jamie Page Deaton
If you're one of those people who feels like your car is an old friend, deciding when it's time to let go can be agonizing. Even if you feel like your car is more your enemy than your friend, thanks to expensive and inconvenient repairs, deciding to pull the plug and get a new car can be tough.
Faced with an expensive repair bill, how do you know if you should go ahead and get the car fixed, or cut your losses and buy something new?
The Math Myth
At some point, almost every car owner will be faced with repair bills. And as the bills start to add up to a large proportion of a car's value, many owners start to figure that their car has officially kicked the bucket. But thinking that way is actually a costly mistake.
More from U.S. News & World Report
» Best 2010 Cars for the Money
» This Month's Top Car Deals
This way of thinking confuses a car's potential monetary value with its actual value. At a basic level, a car's value -- any car's value -- is its ability to provide transportation. An older car and new car can both do that. The question drivers whose cars are on life support should be asking is: How can I get the transportation a car provides at the lowest cost? Once you take a car's potential monetary value out of the equation, the math becomes clear.
For instance let's say you have a 2000 Honda Civic DX in fair condition with 100,000 miles on it. According to Kelley Blue Book, it has a trade-in value of about $2,000. Then let's say you need to have the head gaskets replaced. According to repair estimates from Repair Pal, in the DC Metropolitan area, that can cost you anywhere from $861 to $1,135 -- about half the value of the car.
Faced with this, most people would opt to get a new car. After all, $1,000 worth of work is a lot to spend on a car that's worth only $2,000. But, you shouldn't act so quickly, because while it would take about $1,000 to keep that old Civic on the road, buying yourself a new Honda Civic costs about $16,000. Now the math isn't so clear, is it?
The Real Math
Here's the math any car owner should do when deciding if their older car has shuffled off the mortal coil: Compare the cost of the old car over a year to the cost of a new car over the same timeframe. Chances are, if your car is more than five years old, you're looking at some hefty repair bills. You're also probably looking at owning the car free and clear -- which means no more monthly loan payments.
Look again at the Civic situation. If you spend $1,000 a year on the old Civic, plus $1,571 a year on gas (that's what the EPA says it would cost to drive a 2000 Honda Civic 15,000 miles per year), that adds up to a total yearly cost of $2,571, plus insurance.
Now, let's take a look at the cost of a new Civic. Assume you can get one for $16,000 (which is about the average price buyers are paying for the car nationally, according to TrueCar, a company that collects new car pricing data), taxes, tags and title included. If you get $2,000 for trading in your old Civic, you're going to have $14,000 left to pay.
According to Bankrate, if you get a four-year loan for that $14,000 at four percent interest, you're looking at a monthly payment of $323. Over a year, those payments add up to $3,869 -- plus gas, which the EPA says will run you $1,465 if you drive the new Civic 15,000 miles this year. Even before you factor in insurance costs, which tend to be higher for new cars, keeping the old Civic makes more financial sense. In fact, keeping it could save you $2,763 over the year.
Other Factors to Consider
Of course, there are other things you should think about. If your older car is consistently unreliable and causes you to miss work show up late, or repeatedly leaves you stranded along dark highways, it might be time for a new one. Also, there are some problems that are incredibly difficult and expensive to fix, pushing the cost of the old car above the cost of a new one. If your car has had a number of major issues, and your mechanic sees more coming down the pike, it might be time to start thinking about a new ride.
There are also some people who like getting a new car, and don't mind that they are spending more to do so. There's even the argument that getting older cars off the road in favor of newer, more fuel-efficient and less polluting models benefits all of us.
Still, when deciding if your car is finally dead, the one factor you shouldn't be looking at is the ratio between repair costs and the car's sale value. Instead, do a hard comparison of your old car's cost and what a new car would cost you over a year before you decide it's time to pull the plug.
Buzz Up!0 votes
By Jamie Page Deaton
If you're one of those people who feels like your car is an old friend, deciding when it's time to let go can be agonizing. Even if you feel like your car is more your enemy than your friend, thanks to expensive and inconvenient repairs, deciding to pull the plug and get a new car can be tough.
Faced with an expensive repair bill, how do you know if you should go ahead and get the car fixed, or cut your losses and buy something new?
The Math Myth
At some point, almost every car owner will be faced with repair bills. And as the bills start to add up to a large proportion of a car's value, many owners start to figure that their car has officially kicked the bucket. But thinking that way is actually a costly mistake.
More from U.S. News & World Report
» Best 2010 Cars for the Money
» This Month's Top Car Deals
This way of thinking confuses a car's potential monetary value with its actual value. At a basic level, a car's value -- any car's value -- is its ability to provide transportation. An older car and new car can both do that. The question drivers whose cars are on life support should be asking is: How can I get the transportation a car provides at the lowest cost? Once you take a car's potential monetary value out of the equation, the math becomes clear.
For instance let's say you have a 2000 Honda Civic DX in fair condition with 100,000 miles on it. According to Kelley Blue Book, it has a trade-in value of about $2,000. Then let's say you need to have the head gaskets replaced. According to repair estimates from Repair Pal, in the DC Metropolitan area, that can cost you anywhere from $861 to $1,135 -- about half the value of the car.
Faced with this, most people would opt to get a new car. After all, $1,000 worth of work is a lot to spend on a car that's worth only $2,000. But, you shouldn't act so quickly, because while it would take about $1,000 to keep that old Civic on the road, buying yourself a new Honda Civic costs about $16,000. Now the math isn't so clear, is it?
The Real Math
Here's the math any car owner should do when deciding if their older car has shuffled off the mortal coil: Compare the cost of the old car over a year to the cost of a new car over the same timeframe. Chances are, if your car is more than five years old, you're looking at some hefty repair bills. You're also probably looking at owning the car free and clear -- which means no more monthly loan payments.
Look again at the Civic situation. If you spend $1,000 a year on the old Civic, plus $1,571 a year on gas (that's what the EPA says it would cost to drive a 2000 Honda Civic 15,000 miles per year), that adds up to a total yearly cost of $2,571, plus insurance.
Now, let's take a look at the cost of a new Civic. Assume you can get one for $16,000 (which is about the average price buyers are paying for the car nationally, according to TrueCar, a company that collects new car pricing data), taxes, tags and title included. If you get $2,000 for trading in your old Civic, you're going to have $14,000 left to pay.
According to Bankrate, if you get a four-year loan for that $14,000 at four percent interest, you're looking at a monthly payment of $323. Over a year, those payments add up to $3,869 -- plus gas, which the EPA says will run you $1,465 if you drive the new Civic 15,000 miles this year. Even before you factor in insurance costs, which tend to be higher for new cars, keeping the old Civic makes more financial sense. In fact, keeping it could save you $2,763 over the year.
Other Factors to Consider
Of course, there are other things you should think about. If your older car is consistently unreliable and causes you to miss work show up late, or repeatedly leaves you stranded along dark highways, it might be time for a new one. Also, there are some problems that are incredibly difficult and expensive to fix, pushing the cost of the old car above the cost of a new one. If your car has had a number of major issues, and your mechanic sees more coming down the pike, it might be time to start thinking about a new ride.
There are also some people who like getting a new car, and don't mind that they are spending more to do so. There's even the argument that getting older cars off the road in favor of newer, more fuel-efficient and less polluting models benefits all of us.
Still, when deciding if your car is finally dead, the one factor you shouldn't be looking at is the ratio between repair costs and the car's sale value. Instead, do a hard comparison of your old car's cost and what a new car would cost you over a year before you decide it's time to pull the plug.
6 biggest mistakes homebuyers make
6 biggest mistakes homebuyers make
CNNMoney.com
Apr 20th, 2010
Buying a home is the biggest purchase most people will ever make, yet many go into it blind. Here are the 6 most common -- and costly -- mistakes homebuyers make.
1. Not knowing your credit score
If you're even toying with the idea of buying a home, you must find out exactly what your FICO score is. If you find it is less than ideal, wage a systematic campaign to raise it. Too many borrowers ignore this step and get surprised when they get interest rate quotes.
Once you've pored over your credit history and corrected any errors, your next step is to pay down revolving debt balances to no more than 30% usage. That will help raise your score significantly.
Why does it matter?
The lower your score, the higher your costs of borrowing. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, for example, charge higher up-front fees to borrowers with credit scores below 740.
MORE AT CNNMONEY.COM
See America's most overvalued cities
Learn How foreclosure impacts your credit score
Don’t Miss: Homebuilder stocks on fire
For a buyer with a credit score between 680 and 700, the fee comes to 1.5% of the mortgage principal. On a $200,000 mortgage, that adds up to $3,000. Someone with a 740 score pays nothing.
Lower-score borrowers also get saddled with higher interest rates, about 0.4 percentage point more for the below 700 borrower. That costs an extra $62 a month -- $744 a year -- on a $200,000, 30-year, fixed rate loan.
2. Buying a car before a house
Anytime consumers open new credit accounts -- credit card, auto loan, etc. -- their FICO score could drop, according to Craig Watts, a spokesman for Fair Isaac, the creator of FICO scores.
"Hence the admonition to not open other new accounts while your mortgage application is in process," he said.
A big purchase would use up a considerable proportion of a borrower's total credit limit, which results in a drop in the score. Lenders often continue to check credit scores in the weeks before closing.
"The lender will likely slam on the brakes if the applicant's credit scores have suddenly dropped below the minimum required for the requested loan rate," Watts said.
3. Skimping on home inspection
Buying a pig in a poke can cost buyers big bucks -- just when they can least afford it. So It's vital to find all the costly flaws before you buy.
Many homes on the market today are distressed properties -- foreclosures and short sales -- and that only increases the importance of good inspections, according to David Tamny, president of the American Society of Home Inspectors.
"The owners usually didn't have the money to keep up these homes," he said. "There's a lot of deferred maintenance."
A home inspection can find problems with the foundation, electrical, plumbing, roof, attic insulation, and heating and air conditioning. In some states, separate licensed inspectors offer mold or termite inspections.
Often homebuyers, who may be strapped for cash, stint on inspections and look for the cheapest way to go. That can lead to disaster.
"The cost of repairs far exceeds the cost of inspection," said Tamny.
4. No lawyer
Nearly everyone involved in a real estate transaction -- the seller, the buyer's real estate agent, the seller's agent and the mortgage broker -- has a vested interest in getting the deal done because they only get paid when the house is sold. So they may push a deal even if it's not in the best interest of the buyer.
One of the best defenses against making am expensive purchase you'll regret is to hire a real estate attorney -- even in cities where it's not standard practice. These professionals charge flat fees and their advice is objective.
It's nice to have someone on your side.
5. No contingencies
When signing a sales contract, buyers usually have to put up 1% to 3% in "earnest money," which they don't get back if they pull out of the deal except under certain conditions spelled out in the contract.
Sellers try to limit the grounds for canceling, and inexperienced buyers may sign contracts that don't include common exceptions, such as uncovering major problems during the home inspection, failing to obtain financing and failure of the house to appraise.
Failure to obtain financing is common these days because lenders have become very picky; underwriting is very strict.
Even if your mortgage company is still willing to finance your purchase, the house itself may be worth less than you've contracted to pay for it, and the lender will pull its approval.
With residential real estate markets still slow, sellers usually accept contingency clauses, but if they resist, it may be better to rethink the deal. Losing a deposit of $2,000 to $6,000 on a $200,000 home hurts.
6. Not budgeting for insurance
Don't underestimate insurance costs and fail to budget for them.
Many homebuyers don't understand just what is -- and what is not -- covered. Standard policies pay for theft and wind, fire, lightning, hail and explosion damage. Not covered is flooding, earthquake damage or problems caused by neglect of routine maintenance, according to Jeanne Salvatore, spokeswoman for the Insurance Information Institute, an industry-sponsored educational group.
"The most important thing is before you buy a home, find out what it will cost to insure it," she said. "Insurance needs to be calculated into the cost of owning a home. Unlike a mortgage, which you can pay off, you'll be responsible for the insurance costs forever."
For flood insurance, most buyers use the National Flood Insurance Program. Earthquake coverage may be available through a state authority or some private companies.
Depending on location, flood insurance can run into a lot of money. The cost of $250,000 worth of government flood coverage on the building and $100,000 of its contents can go as high as $5,714 in high-risk, coastal areas.
CNNMoney.com
Apr 20th, 2010
Buying a home is the biggest purchase most people will ever make, yet many go into it blind. Here are the 6 most common -- and costly -- mistakes homebuyers make.
1. Not knowing your credit score
If you're even toying with the idea of buying a home, you must find out exactly what your FICO score is. If you find it is less than ideal, wage a systematic campaign to raise it. Too many borrowers ignore this step and get surprised when they get interest rate quotes.
Once you've pored over your credit history and corrected any errors, your next step is to pay down revolving debt balances to no more than 30% usage. That will help raise your score significantly.
Why does it matter?
The lower your score, the higher your costs of borrowing. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, for example, charge higher up-front fees to borrowers with credit scores below 740.
MORE AT CNNMONEY.COM
See America's most overvalued cities
Learn How foreclosure impacts your credit score
Don’t Miss: Homebuilder stocks on fire
For a buyer with a credit score between 680 and 700, the fee comes to 1.5% of the mortgage principal. On a $200,000 mortgage, that adds up to $3,000. Someone with a 740 score pays nothing.
Lower-score borrowers also get saddled with higher interest rates, about 0.4 percentage point more for the below 700 borrower. That costs an extra $62 a month -- $744 a year -- on a $200,000, 30-year, fixed rate loan.
2. Buying a car before a house
Anytime consumers open new credit accounts -- credit card, auto loan, etc. -- their FICO score could drop, according to Craig Watts, a spokesman for Fair Isaac, the creator of FICO scores.
"Hence the admonition to not open other new accounts while your mortgage application is in process," he said.
A big purchase would use up a considerable proportion of a borrower's total credit limit, which results in a drop in the score. Lenders often continue to check credit scores in the weeks before closing.
"The lender will likely slam on the brakes if the applicant's credit scores have suddenly dropped below the minimum required for the requested loan rate," Watts said.
3. Skimping on home inspection
Buying a pig in a poke can cost buyers big bucks -- just when they can least afford it. So It's vital to find all the costly flaws before you buy.
Many homes on the market today are distressed properties -- foreclosures and short sales -- and that only increases the importance of good inspections, according to David Tamny, president of the American Society of Home Inspectors.
"The owners usually didn't have the money to keep up these homes," he said. "There's a lot of deferred maintenance."
A home inspection can find problems with the foundation, electrical, plumbing, roof, attic insulation, and heating and air conditioning. In some states, separate licensed inspectors offer mold or termite inspections.
Often homebuyers, who may be strapped for cash, stint on inspections and look for the cheapest way to go. That can lead to disaster.
"The cost of repairs far exceeds the cost of inspection," said Tamny.
4. No lawyer
Nearly everyone involved in a real estate transaction -- the seller, the buyer's real estate agent, the seller's agent and the mortgage broker -- has a vested interest in getting the deal done because they only get paid when the house is sold. So they may push a deal even if it's not in the best interest of the buyer.
One of the best defenses against making am expensive purchase you'll regret is to hire a real estate attorney -- even in cities where it's not standard practice. These professionals charge flat fees and their advice is objective.
It's nice to have someone on your side.
5. No contingencies
When signing a sales contract, buyers usually have to put up 1% to 3% in "earnest money," which they don't get back if they pull out of the deal except under certain conditions spelled out in the contract.
Sellers try to limit the grounds for canceling, and inexperienced buyers may sign contracts that don't include common exceptions, such as uncovering major problems during the home inspection, failing to obtain financing and failure of the house to appraise.
Failure to obtain financing is common these days because lenders have become very picky; underwriting is very strict.
Even if your mortgage company is still willing to finance your purchase, the house itself may be worth less than you've contracted to pay for it, and the lender will pull its approval.
With residential real estate markets still slow, sellers usually accept contingency clauses, but if they resist, it may be better to rethink the deal. Losing a deposit of $2,000 to $6,000 on a $200,000 home hurts.
6. Not budgeting for insurance
Don't underestimate insurance costs and fail to budget for them.
Many homebuyers don't understand just what is -- and what is not -- covered. Standard policies pay for theft and wind, fire, lightning, hail and explosion damage. Not covered is flooding, earthquake damage or problems caused by neglect of routine maintenance, according to Jeanne Salvatore, spokeswoman for the Insurance Information Institute, an industry-sponsored educational group.
"The most important thing is before you buy a home, find out what it will cost to insure it," she said. "Insurance needs to be calculated into the cost of owning a home. Unlike a mortgage, which you can pay off, you'll be responsible for the insurance costs forever."
For flood insurance, most buyers use the National Flood Insurance Program. Earthquake coverage may be available through a state authority or some private companies.
Depending on location, flood insurance can run into a lot of money. The cost of $250,000 worth of government flood coverage on the building and $100,000 of its contents can go as high as $5,714 in high-risk, coastal areas.
Monday, April 19, 2010
9 Ingredients to avoid in processed foods user
9 Ingredients to avoid in processed foods user
by Brett Blumenthal - Sheer Balance,
You should know that I’m an advocate for whole, unprocessed foods. However, many of us inevitably turn to packaged or processed foods when we are short on time. Maybe we grab a frozen dinner or pizza for a quick dinner for our family. Maybe we grab a quick nutrition bar to satiate our hunger until we can sit down for a real meal. Or maybe, we just don’t like to cook. Whether we like it or not, packaged and processed food has become a huge part of our food industry and, as a result, a part of many of our diets.
Although there are some brands that I hugely advocate for, there are many more that border on outright unhealthy and “scary.” Many packaged foods that seem healthy often contain fillers, preservatives and other ingredients you don’t want in your diet. It is always preferable to choose products that have only a handful of ingredients, all of which should be recognizable. One test to know whether an ingredient is healthy is to ask yourself whether your grandmother would recognize it. If not, there is a good chance the ingredient is less natural food and more man-made chemical. Another good test is whether or not you can easily pronounce the ingredient. If you feel like you need a science degree to pronounce it properly, chances are the ingredient is worth avoiding.
If you do have to resort to a processed food for a snack or dinner (anything canned, packaged, etc.), try to avoid those that contain the ingredients listed in the following chart. Although this isn’t an exhaustive list, these ingredients are some of the most highly processed and least healthy of all:
Ingredient: Why it is Used Why it is Bad?
Artificial Colors Chemical compounds made from coal-tar derivatives to enhance color. Linked to allergic reactions, fatigue, asthma, skin rashes, hyperactivity and headaches.
Artificial Flavorings Cheap chemical mixtures that mimic natural flavors.
Linked to allergic reactions, dermatitis, eczema, hyperactivity and asthma
Can affect enzymes, RNA and thyroid.
Artificial Sweeteners
(Acesulfame-K, Aspartame, Equal®, NutraSweet®, Saccharin, Sweet’n Low®, Sucralose, Splenda® & Sorbitol) Highly-processed, chemically-derived, zero-calorie sweeteners found in diet foods and diet products to reduce calories per serving.
Can negatively impact metabolism
Some have been linked to cancer, dizziness hallucinations and headaches.
Benzoate Preservatives
(BHT, BHA, TBHQ)Compounds that preserve fats and prevent them from becoming rancid.
May result in hyperactivity, angiodema, asthma, rhinitis, dermatitis, tumors and urticaria
Can affect estrogen balance and levels.
Brominated Vegetable Oil
(BVO) Chemical that boosts flavor in many citric-based fruit and soft drinks.
Increases triglycerides and cholesterol
Can damage liver, testicles, thyroid, heart and kidneys.
High Fructose Corn Syrup
(HFCS) Cheap alternative to cane and beet sugar. Sustains freshness in baked goods
Blends easily in beverages to maintain sweetness. May predispose the body to turn fructose into fat. Increases risk for Type-2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke and cancer. Isn’t easily metabolized by the liver.
MSG (Monosodium Glutamate)
Flavor enhancer in restaurant food, salad dressing, chips, frozen entrees, soups and other foods. May stimulate appetite and cause headaches, nausea, weakness, wheezing, edema, change in heart rate, burning sensations and difficulty in breathing.
Olestra: indigestible fat sub used primarily in baked & fried foods.
Inhibits absorption of some nutrients. Linked to gastrointestinal disease, diarrhea, gas, cramps, bleeding and incontinence.
Shortening, Hydrogenated and Partially Hydrogenated Oils
(Palm, Soybean and others) Industrially created fats used in more than 40,000 food products in the U.S. Cheaper than most other oils. Contain high levels of trans fats, which raise bad cholesterol and lower good cholesterol, contributing to risk of heart disease.
Have you checked your ingredient lists recently? Do they contain any of the above? Have you tried cutting some of these ingredients out?
by Brett Blumenthal - Sheer Balance,
You should know that I’m an advocate for whole, unprocessed foods. However, many of us inevitably turn to packaged or processed foods when we are short on time. Maybe we grab a frozen dinner or pizza for a quick dinner for our family. Maybe we grab a quick nutrition bar to satiate our hunger until we can sit down for a real meal. Or maybe, we just don’t like to cook. Whether we like it or not, packaged and processed food has become a huge part of our food industry and, as a result, a part of many of our diets.
Although there are some brands that I hugely advocate for, there are many more that border on outright unhealthy and “scary.” Many packaged foods that seem healthy often contain fillers, preservatives and other ingredients you don’t want in your diet. It is always preferable to choose products that have only a handful of ingredients, all of which should be recognizable. One test to know whether an ingredient is healthy is to ask yourself whether your grandmother would recognize it. If not, there is a good chance the ingredient is less natural food and more man-made chemical. Another good test is whether or not you can easily pronounce the ingredient. If you feel like you need a science degree to pronounce it properly, chances are the ingredient is worth avoiding.
If you do have to resort to a processed food for a snack or dinner (anything canned, packaged, etc.), try to avoid those that contain the ingredients listed in the following chart. Although this isn’t an exhaustive list, these ingredients are some of the most highly processed and least healthy of all:
Ingredient: Why it is Used Why it is Bad?
Artificial Colors Chemical compounds made from coal-tar derivatives to enhance color. Linked to allergic reactions, fatigue, asthma, skin rashes, hyperactivity and headaches.
Artificial Flavorings Cheap chemical mixtures that mimic natural flavors.
Linked to allergic reactions, dermatitis, eczema, hyperactivity and asthma
Can affect enzymes, RNA and thyroid.
Artificial Sweeteners
(Acesulfame-K, Aspartame, Equal®, NutraSweet®, Saccharin, Sweet’n Low®, Sucralose, Splenda® & Sorbitol) Highly-processed, chemically-derived, zero-calorie sweeteners found in diet foods and diet products to reduce calories per serving.
Can negatively impact metabolism
Some have been linked to cancer, dizziness hallucinations and headaches.
Benzoate Preservatives
(BHT, BHA, TBHQ)Compounds that preserve fats and prevent them from becoming rancid.
May result in hyperactivity, angiodema, asthma, rhinitis, dermatitis, tumors and urticaria
Can affect estrogen balance and levels.
Brominated Vegetable Oil
(BVO) Chemical that boosts flavor in many citric-based fruit and soft drinks.
Increases triglycerides and cholesterol
Can damage liver, testicles, thyroid, heart and kidneys.
High Fructose Corn Syrup
(HFCS) Cheap alternative to cane and beet sugar. Sustains freshness in baked goods
Blends easily in beverages to maintain sweetness. May predispose the body to turn fructose into fat. Increases risk for Type-2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke and cancer. Isn’t easily metabolized by the liver.
MSG (Monosodium Glutamate)
Flavor enhancer in restaurant food, salad dressing, chips, frozen entrees, soups and other foods. May stimulate appetite and cause headaches, nausea, weakness, wheezing, edema, change in heart rate, burning sensations and difficulty in breathing.
Olestra: indigestible fat sub used primarily in baked & fried foods.
Inhibits absorption of some nutrients. Linked to gastrointestinal disease, diarrhea, gas, cramps, bleeding and incontinence.
Shortening, Hydrogenated and Partially Hydrogenated Oils
(Palm, Soybean and others) Industrially created fats used in more than 40,000 food products in the U.S. Cheaper than most other oils. Contain high levels of trans fats, which raise bad cholesterol and lower good cholesterol, contributing to risk of heart disease.
Have you checked your ingredient lists recently? Do they contain any of the above? Have you tried cutting some of these ingredients out?
Saturday, April 17, 2010
I am a Jew
I am a Jew by an Israeli named Dan Sporn
אני יהודי
נכתב ע"י ישראלי בשם דן ספורן
Our-condition, in Israel, has never been better! Only the media make people think the end of the world is near. Only 65 years ago, Jews were brought to death like sheep to slaughter. NO country, NO army. Only 60 years ago, seven Arab countries declared war on little- Israel, the Jewish State, just -a few hours after it was established.
המצב שלנו, בישראל, מעולם לא היה טוב יותר מאשר עכשיו!
רק הטלוויזיה והתקשורת גורמים לאנשים לחשוב שסוף העולם קרב.
רק לפני 65 שנים, יהודים הובאו למוות כצאן לטבח. ללא מדינה, ללא צבא.
רק לפני 60 שנים, 7 מדינות ערב הכריזו מלחמה על ישראל הקטנה,
מדינת היהודים, רק כמה שעות לאחר היווסדה.
We were 650,000 Jews against the rest of the Arab world.
No IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) or Air Force. We were only a small group of stubborn, people, with nowhere to go.
היינו 650,000 יהודים כנגד שאר העולם הערבי.
ללא צה"ל (צבא הגנה לישראל) או חיל אוויר. היינו רק קבוצה קטנה של אנשים עקשנים עם שום מקום לאן ללכת.
Remember: Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, Libya, and
Saudi Arabia? They all attacked at once. The state that the United Nations "gave" us was 65% desert. We started it from zero.
כרו: לבנון, סוריה, עירק, ירדן, מצרים, לוב וערב הסעודית, כולם תקפו בעת ובעונה אחת.
המדינה שהאומות המאוחדות "נתנו" לנו הייתה 65% מדבר.
התחלנו את זה מאפס.
Only 43 years ago, we fought three of the strongest countries in the Middle East, and crushed them in the Six Day War.
רק לפני 41 שנים, נלחמנו נגד שלוש המדינות החזקות ביותר במזרח התיכון, וריסקנו אותם במלחמת ששת הימים.
Over the years, we fought different coalitions of 20 Arab countries with modern armies and with huge amounts of Russian-Soviet ammunition, and we still won.
במהלך השנים נלחמנו בקואליציות שונות של 20 מדינות ערב עם צבאות חדשניים וכמות עצומה של תחמושת רוסית – סובייטית, ועדיין ניצחנו.
Today we have a beautiful country, a powerful Army, a strong Air Force, an adequate Navy and a thriving high tech industry.
Intel, Microsoft, and IBM have all developed their businesses here.
היום יש לנו מדינה יפיפייה, צבא רב עוצמה, חיל אוויר חזק, חיל ים הולם ותעשיית הי-טק משגשגת.
אינטל, מיקרוסופט, ו- I.B.M פיתחו כולם את עסקיהם כאן.
Our doctors have won important prizes in the medical development field.
הרופאים שלנו זכו בפרסים חשובים בתחום הפיתוח הרפואי.
We turned the desert into a prosperous land.
הפכנו את המדבר לאדמה פורחת ומשגשגת.
We sell oranges, flowers, and vegetables around the world.
אנחנו מוכרים תפוזים, פרחים וירקות בכל רחבי העולם.
We launched our own satellite! Three satellites at once! We are in good company: US (280 million), Russia (220 million), China (1.3 billion) and Europe (France, England and Germany 35 million), we are one of the few countries in the world to launch something into space!
שיגרנו
את הלווין שלנו! שלושה לווינים בעת ובעונה אחת! אנחנו בחברה טובה: יחד עם ארה"ב (280 מיליון תושבים), רוסיה (220 מיליון תושבים), סין (1.2 ביליון תושבים) ואירופה (צרפת, אנגליה וגרמניה 35 מיליון תושבים), אנחנו אחת מהמדינות הבודדות בעולם ששיגרו משהו לחלל!
Israel today is among the few powerful countries that have nuclear technology & capabilities.
(We will never admit it, but everyone knows).
ישראל היום היא בין המדינות הבודדות החזקות, שהיא בעלת טכנולוגיה ויכולות גרעיניות. (אנחנו לעולם לא
נודה בזה, אבל כולם יודעים).
To think that only 65 years ago we were disgraced and hopeless.
לחשוב שרק לפני 65 שנים היינו מבוישים וחסרי תקווה.
We crawled out from the burning crematoriums of Europe.
We won in all our wars. With a little bit of nothing we built an empire.
Who are Khaled Mashal (leader of Hamas) or Hassan Nasrallah
(leader of Hezbollah) trying to frighten, us? They amuse us.
זחלנו החוצה מהמשרפות הבוערות של אירופה.
ניצחנו בכל המלחמות שלנו. עם מעט מכלום בנינו אימפריה.
מי אלו חלאד משעל (מנהיג החמאס) או חסאן נסראללה (מנהיג החיזבאללה) המנסים להפחיד אותנו? הם משעשעים אותנו.
As we celebrate Independence Day, let's not forget what this holiday is all about; we overcame everything.
בזמן שאנחנו חוגגים את יום העצמאות, בואו לא נשכח מהי המהות של היום הקדוש הזה: התגברנו על הכל.
We overcame the Greeks,
התגברנו על
היוונים,
We overcame the Romans,
התגברנו על הרומאים,
We overcame the Spanish Inquisition,
התגברנו על האינקוויזיציה הספרדית,
We overcame Russian pogroms,
התגברנו על הפוגרום הרוסי,
We overcame Hitler, Germany and the Holocaust,
התגברנו על היטלר, התגברנו על גרמניה והתגברנו על השואה,
We overcame the armies of seven countries
התגברנו על הצבאות של 7 מדינות
Relax chevray (friends), we will overcome our current enemies.
הירגעו חבר'ה, אנחנו נתגבר גם על האויבים הנוכחים
Never- mind -where -you –look- in- human -history.
Think about it, Jewish nation, our condition has never been better than now.
So let's lift our heads up and remember:
לא משנה לאן שנביט בהיסטוריה האנושית. תחשבו על זה, העם היהודי, מצבנו מעולם לא היה טוב יותר מאשר עכשיו.
אז בואו נישא ראשנו מעלה וזכרו:
Never mind which country or culture tries to harm us or erase us from the world.
We will still exist and persevere.
Egypt? Anyone know where the Egyptian empire disappeared to?
The-Greeks?
Alexander- the -Great?
The- Romans? Anyone speak Latin today? The- Third- Reich?
Anyone hear from them lately?
לא משנה איזו מדינה או תרבות מנסה לפגוע בנו או למחוק אותנו מהעולם. אנחנו עדיין קיימים ושמורים.
מצריים? מישהו יודע לאן האימפריה המצרית נעלמה? היוונים? אלכסנדר מוקדון? הרומאים? האם מישהו מדבר לטינית היום? הרייך השלישי? האם מישהו שמע חדשות מהם לאחרונה?
And look at us, the Bible nation –from slavery in Egypt, we are still here, speaking the same language. Exactly here, exactly now.
והסתכלו עלינו, העם התנ"כי – מעבדות במצרים, אנחנו עדיין כאן, עדיין מדברים את אותה השפה.
בדיוק כאן, בדיוק
עכשיו.
Maybe The Arabs don't know it yet, but we are an eternal nation.
All the time we keep our identity, we will stay eternal.
אולי הערבים עדיין לא יודעים את זה, אבל אנחנו עם נצחי.
כל זמן שנשמור על זהותנו, נשאר נצחיים.
So, sorry that we are not worrying, complaining, crying, or fearing…
אז סליחה שאנחנו לא דואגים, מתלוננים, בוכים או פוחדים.....
Business here is beseder (fine). It can definitely be much better,
But it is still fine. Don't pay attention to the nonsense in the media,
They will not tell you about our festivals here in Israel or about the people that
continue living, going out, meeting friends.
העסקים כאן בסדר. זה בהחלט יכול להיות טוב יותר, אבל זה עדיין בסדר. אל תשימו לב לשטויות בתקשורת, הם לא יספרו לכם על החגיגות שלנו כאן בישראל או על האנשים שממשיכים לחיות, לצאת ולפגוש חברים.
Yes, sometimes morale is down, so what? This is only because we are mourning
the dead while they are celebrating spilled blood.
And this is the reason we will win after all.
נכון, לפעמים המורל נמוך, אז מה? זה רק בגלל שאנו מבכים את המתים בזמן שהם חוגגים על דם שנשפך. וזו הסיבה לכך שאנו ננצח למרות הכל.
Forward this to all of your friends. You are all part of our force to keep our existence.
בבקשה העבירו מייל זה לכל חבריכם היהודים, בכל מקום בעולם. כולכם חלק במאמץ שלנו לשמור את קיומנו.
This e-mail may help some of us lift our heads up and be proud to say:
מייל זה עשוי לעזור לחלק מאיתנו לשאת את ראשינו מעלה ולהיות גאים לומר:
I AM A JEW
אני יהודי
אני יהודי
נכתב ע"י ישראלי בשם דן ספורן
Our-condition, in Israel, has never been better! Only the media make people think the end of the world is near. Only 65 years ago, Jews were brought to death like sheep to slaughter. NO country, NO army. Only 60 years ago, seven Arab countries declared war on little- Israel, the Jewish State, just -a few hours after it was established.
המצב שלנו, בישראל, מעולם לא היה טוב יותר מאשר עכשיו!
רק הטלוויזיה והתקשורת גורמים לאנשים לחשוב שסוף העולם קרב.
רק לפני 65 שנים, יהודים הובאו למוות כצאן לטבח. ללא מדינה, ללא צבא.
רק לפני 60 שנים, 7 מדינות ערב הכריזו מלחמה על ישראל הקטנה,
מדינת היהודים, רק כמה שעות לאחר היווסדה.
We were 650,000 Jews against the rest of the Arab world.
No IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) or Air Force. We were only a small group of stubborn, people, with nowhere to go.
היינו 650,000 יהודים כנגד שאר העולם הערבי.
ללא צה"ל (צבא הגנה לישראל) או חיל אוויר. היינו רק קבוצה קטנה של אנשים עקשנים עם שום מקום לאן ללכת.
Remember: Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, Libya, and
Saudi Arabia? They all attacked at once. The state that the United Nations "gave" us was 65% desert. We started it from zero.
כרו: לבנון, סוריה, עירק, ירדן, מצרים, לוב וערב הסעודית, כולם תקפו בעת ובעונה אחת.
המדינה שהאומות המאוחדות "נתנו" לנו הייתה 65% מדבר.
התחלנו את זה מאפס.
Only 43 years ago, we fought three of the strongest countries in the Middle East, and crushed them in the Six Day War.
רק לפני 41 שנים, נלחמנו נגד שלוש המדינות החזקות ביותר במזרח התיכון, וריסקנו אותם במלחמת ששת הימים.
Over the years, we fought different coalitions of 20 Arab countries with modern armies and with huge amounts of Russian-Soviet ammunition, and we still won.
במהלך השנים נלחמנו בקואליציות שונות של 20 מדינות ערב עם צבאות חדשניים וכמות עצומה של תחמושת רוסית – סובייטית, ועדיין ניצחנו.
Today we have a beautiful country, a powerful Army, a strong Air Force, an adequate Navy and a thriving high tech industry.
Intel, Microsoft, and IBM have all developed their businesses here.
היום יש לנו מדינה יפיפייה, צבא רב עוצמה, חיל אוויר חזק, חיל ים הולם ותעשיית הי-טק משגשגת.
אינטל, מיקרוסופט, ו- I.B.M פיתחו כולם את עסקיהם כאן.
Our doctors have won important prizes in the medical development field.
הרופאים שלנו זכו בפרסים חשובים בתחום הפיתוח הרפואי.
We turned the desert into a prosperous land.
הפכנו את המדבר לאדמה פורחת ומשגשגת.
We sell oranges, flowers, and vegetables around the world.
אנחנו מוכרים תפוזים, פרחים וירקות בכל רחבי העולם.
We launched our own satellite! Three satellites at once! We are in good company: US (280 million), Russia (220 million), China (1.3 billion) and Europe (France, England and Germany 35 million), we are one of the few countries in the world to launch something into space!
שיגרנו
את הלווין שלנו! שלושה לווינים בעת ובעונה אחת! אנחנו בחברה טובה: יחד עם ארה"ב (280 מיליון תושבים), רוסיה (220 מיליון תושבים), סין (1.2 ביליון תושבים) ואירופה (צרפת, אנגליה וגרמניה 35 מיליון תושבים), אנחנו אחת מהמדינות הבודדות בעולם ששיגרו משהו לחלל!
Israel today is among the few powerful countries that have nuclear technology & capabilities.
(We will never admit it, but everyone knows).
ישראל היום היא בין המדינות הבודדות החזקות, שהיא בעלת טכנולוגיה ויכולות גרעיניות. (אנחנו לעולם לא
נודה בזה, אבל כולם יודעים).
To think that only 65 years ago we were disgraced and hopeless.
לחשוב שרק לפני 65 שנים היינו מבוישים וחסרי תקווה.
We crawled out from the burning crematoriums of Europe.
We won in all our wars. With a little bit of nothing we built an empire.
Who are Khaled Mashal (leader of Hamas) or Hassan Nasrallah
(leader of Hezbollah) trying to frighten, us? They amuse us.
זחלנו החוצה מהמשרפות הבוערות של אירופה.
ניצחנו בכל המלחמות שלנו. עם מעט מכלום בנינו אימפריה.
מי אלו חלאד משעל (מנהיג החמאס) או חסאן נסראללה (מנהיג החיזבאללה) המנסים להפחיד אותנו? הם משעשעים אותנו.
As we celebrate Independence Day, let's not forget what this holiday is all about; we overcame everything.
בזמן שאנחנו חוגגים את יום העצמאות, בואו לא נשכח מהי המהות של היום הקדוש הזה: התגברנו על הכל.
We overcame the Greeks,
התגברנו על
היוונים,
We overcame the Romans,
התגברנו על הרומאים,
We overcame the Spanish Inquisition,
התגברנו על האינקוויזיציה הספרדית,
We overcame Russian pogroms,
התגברנו על הפוגרום הרוסי,
We overcame Hitler, Germany and the Holocaust,
התגברנו על היטלר, התגברנו על גרמניה והתגברנו על השואה,
We overcame the armies of seven countries
התגברנו על הצבאות של 7 מדינות
Relax chevray (friends), we will overcome our current enemies.
הירגעו חבר'ה, אנחנו נתגבר גם על האויבים הנוכחים
Never- mind -where -you –look- in- human -history.
Think about it, Jewish nation, our condition has never been better than now.
So let's lift our heads up and remember:
לא משנה לאן שנביט בהיסטוריה האנושית. תחשבו על זה, העם היהודי, מצבנו מעולם לא היה טוב יותר מאשר עכשיו.
אז בואו נישא ראשנו מעלה וזכרו:
Never mind which country or culture tries to harm us or erase us from the world.
We will still exist and persevere.
Egypt? Anyone know where the Egyptian empire disappeared to?
The-Greeks?
Alexander- the -Great?
The- Romans? Anyone speak Latin today? The- Third- Reich?
Anyone hear from them lately?
לא משנה איזו מדינה או תרבות מנסה לפגוע בנו או למחוק אותנו מהעולם. אנחנו עדיין קיימים ושמורים.
מצריים? מישהו יודע לאן האימפריה המצרית נעלמה? היוונים? אלכסנדר מוקדון? הרומאים? האם מישהו מדבר לטינית היום? הרייך השלישי? האם מישהו שמע חדשות מהם לאחרונה?
And look at us, the Bible nation –from slavery in Egypt, we are still here, speaking the same language. Exactly here, exactly now.
והסתכלו עלינו, העם התנ"כי – מעבדות במצרים, אנחנו עדיין כאן, עדיין מדברים את אותה השפה.
בדיוק כאן, בדיוק
עכשיו.
Maybe The Arabs don't know it yet, but we are an eternal nation.
All the time we keep our identity, we will stay eternal.
אולי הערבים עדיין לא יודעים את זה, אבל אנחנו עם נצחי.
כל זמן שנשמור על זהותנו, נשאר נצחיים.
So, sorry that we are not worrying, complaining, crying, or fearing…
אז סליחה שאנחנו לא דואגים, מתלוננים, בוכים או פוחדים.....
Business here is beseder (fine). It can definitely be much better,
But it is still fine. Don't pay attention to the nonsense in the media,
They will not tell you about our festivals here in Israel or about the people that
continue living, going out, meeting friends.
העסקים כאן בסדר. זה בהחלט יכול להיות טוב יותר, אבל זה עדיין בסדר. אל תשימו לב לשטויות בתקשורת, הם לא יספרו לכם על החגיגות שלנו כאן בישראל או על האנשים שממשיכים לחיות, לצאת ולפגוש חברים.
Yes, sometimes morale is down, so what? This is only because we are mourning
the dead while they are celebrating spilled blood.
And this is the reason we will win after all.
נכון, לפעמים המורל נמוך, אז מה? זה רק בגלל שאנו מבכים את המתים בזמן שהם חוגגים על דם שנשפך. וזו הסיבה לכך שאנו ננצח למרות הכל.
Forward this to all of your friends. You are all part of our force to keep our existence.
בבקשה העבירו מייל זה לכל חבריכם היהודים, בכל מקום בעולם. כולכם חלק במאמץ שלנו לשמור את קיומנו.
This e-mail may help some of us lift our heads up and be proud to say:
מייל זה עשוי לעזור לחלק מאיתנו לשאת את ראשינו מעלה ולהיות גאים לומר:
I AM A JEW
אני יהודי
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Israel: Ally or enemy?
Sunday, April 11, 2010
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Israel: Ally or enemy?
Exclusive: Roger Hedgecock warns, Obama abandonment is 'recipe for nuclear war'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All my life I've admired the determination of Jews worldwide to re-establish a Jewish homeland in Israel and defend it (repeatedly) against the implacable hatred of surrounding Muslim states. I'm not a Jew, but the survival of Israel and, even more, its success as an economy and a democracy has earned my respect and the respect of a vast majority of Americans.
All of my life until now, American administrations since the establishment of Israel in 1948, both Democrat and Republican, have reflected this American respect and admiration and stood by our ally, Israel. Americans have been willing to, in effect, guarantee the survival of Israel.
President Obama appears poised to reverse this position and abandon Israel. This course will lead to war – possibly nuclear war.
Every president since Nixon has sought to further a "peace process" in the Middle East. This has largely been a waste of time for all parties.
To the Israelis, this interminable and fruitless exercise is the price for continuing political and military support from the West and particularly from the U.S. Israel knows it must look "reasonable" and "open to compromise."
To the Muslims, this "process" is a long-term strategy to separate Israel from its allies in the West and leave it vulnerable to defeat and extermination in a repeat of Muslim victory over the Western crusaders 700 years ago.
Obama built on the "two state solution" advocated by the last few American administrations by requiring new concessions from Israel. Not only were Jewish settlements outside the 1967 boundaries of Israel to stop, but even private residential construction in disputed Jerusalem must stop pending the boundaries of a new Palestinian state.
This new demand marked the first time an American administration conceded the Palestinian point that parts of Jerusalem now part of Israel should become incorporated in the new "Palestine."
In fact, Obama is more upset by a Jew building an apartment building in a residential neighborhood in Jerusalem than he is by Iran building an atomic bomb, a bomb the Iranians have promised to use to exterminate Israel.
(Column continues below)
Iran, says our president, has a right to nuclear power. Obama has not stopped Iran from importing gasoline. Until that sanction is placed on Iran, the constant call for "sanctions" against Iran for its ongoing crash program to produce nuclear weapons will be hollow, and all nations know it. Obama appears deliberately willing to live with the consequences of a nuclear-armed Iran.
The Russians and the Chinese will never allow Iran to be "sanctioned" in any meaningful way. Iranian oil has made China an Iranian ally. Iranian money has made Russia's military factories rich and bought Russian support.
Obama's disgraceful treatment of Prime Minister Netanyahu during Netanyahu's recent visit to Washington was second only to the notorious "no pictures, no joint press conference, and oh, can you exit the White House through the door where we put the household trash?" treatment of the Dalai Lama.
This week's 47-nation conference in Washington, D.C., on nuclear nonproliferation will continue to ignore the fact that China and Russia are the biggest
"proliferators" of all. North Korea got nukes and missiles tech from China, which got it in turn from Russia, who also supplied the Indians with same. Pakistan had to have nukes to offset India, and China happily supplied them, too. Chinese nuclear warhead and missile designs show up now in Iran and for a while in a nuclear reactor in Syria – until the Israelis bombed that reactor.
Obama apparently set up Egypt and Turkey to ambush Israel at this conference with the demand that Israel sign the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. It's increasingly apparent that Obama views Israel as more of a problem than Iran.
Netanyahu canceled his participation in the conference, sending a lower level delegation to the conference instead. Obama retaliated by barring U.S. entry visas to all Israeli scientists even remotely connected to the Israel nuclear program.
During this last year the infamous "lottery" visa program allowed citizens of Yemen, Syria, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, Qatar, Libya and Egypt (among other nations) to enter the U.S. legally – but not Israeli scientists. They're barred.
An emboldened nuclear-armed Iran bent on fulfilling an apocalyptic prophecy combined with a cornered and abandoned (and nuclear armed) Israel is not a "peace process." It is a recipe for nuclear war.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Israel: Ally or enemy?
Exclusive: Roger Hedgecock warns, Obama abandonment is 'recipe for nuclear war'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All my life I've admired the determination of Jews worldwide to re-establish a Jewish homeland in Israel and defend it (repeatedly) against the implacable hatred of surrounding Muslim states. I'm not a Jew, but the survival of Israel and, even more, its success as an economy and a democracy has earned my respect and the respect of a vast majority of Americans.
All of my life until now, American administrations since the establishment of Israel in 1948, both Democrat and Republican, have reflected this American respect and admiration and stood by our ally, Israel. Americans have been willing to, in effect, guarantee the survival of Israel.
President Obama appears poised to reverse this position and abandon Israel. This course will lead to war – possibly nuclear war.
Every president since Nixon has sought to further a "peace process" in the Middle East. This has largely been a waste of time for all parties.
To the Israelis, this interminable and fruitless exercise is the price for continuing political and military support from the West and particularly from the U.S. Israel knows it must look "reasonable" and "open to compromise."
To the Muslims, this "process" is a long-term strategy to separate Israel from its allies in the West and leave it vulnerable to defeat and extermination in a repeat of Muslim victory over the Western crusaders 700 years ago.
Obama built on the "two state solution" advocated by the last few American administrations by requiring new concessions from Israel. Not only were Jewish settlements outside the 1967 boundaries of Israel to stop, but even private residential construction in disputed Jerusalem must stop pending the boundaries of a new Palestinian state.
This new demand marked the first time an American administration conceded the Palestinian point that parts of Jerusalem now part of Israel should become incorporated in the new "Palestine."
In fact, Obama is more upset by a Jew building an apartment building in a residential neighborhood in Jerusalem than he is by Iran building an atomic bomb, a bomb the Iranians have promised to use to exterminate Israel.
(Column continues below)
Iran, says our president, has a right to nuclear power. Obama has not stopped Iran from importing gasoline. Until that sanction is placed on Iran, the constant call for "sanctions" against Iran for its ongoing crash program to produce nuclear weapons will be hollow, and all nations know it. Obama appears deliberately willing to live with the consequences of a nuclear-armed Iran.
The Russians and the Chinese will never allow Iran to be "sanctioned" in any meaningful way. Iranian oil has made China an Iranian ally. Iranian money has made Russia's military factories rich and bought Russian support.
Obama's disgraceful treatment of Prime Minister Netanyahu during Netanyahu's recent visit to Washington was second only to the notorious "no pictures, no joint press conference, and oh, can you exit the White House through the door where we put the household trash?" treatment of the Dalai Lama.
This week's 47-nation conference in Washington, D.C., on nuclear nonproliferation will continue to ignore the fact that China and Russia are the biggest
"proliferators" of all. North Korea got nukes and missiles tech from China, which got it in turn from Russia, who also supplied the Indians with same. Pakistan had to have nukes to offset India, and China happily supplied them, too. Chinese nuclear warhead and missile designs show up now in Iran and for a while in a nuclear reactor in Syria – until the Israelis bombed that reactor.
Obama apparently set up Egypt and Turkey to ambush Israel at this conference with the demand that Israel sign the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. It's increasingly apparent that Obama views Israel as more of a problem than Iran.
Netanyahu canceled his participation in the conference, sending a lower level delegation to the conference instead. Obama retaliated by barring U.S. entry visas to all Israeli scientists even remotely connected to the Israel nuclear program.
During this last year the infamous "lottery" visa program allowed citizens of Yemen, Syria, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, Qatar, Libya and Egypt (among other nations) to enter the U.S. legally – but not Israeli scientists. They're barred.
An emboldened nuclear-armed Iran bent on fulfilling an apocalyptic prophecy combined with a cornered and abandoned (and nuclear armed) Israel is not a "peace process." It is a recipe for nuclear war.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)