The Brogue Hog

Our farm, Highland Hill Farm, is located in solid clay. We therefore like plants that grow well in clay. An arborvita, the Green Giant is our favorite. Here is why.

The hardiness zone for the Green Giant Arborvita is from zones 5 to 8. Its evergreen with rapid growth rates that in ideal conditions can be up to 3 feet per year. Site requirements for the green giant is sun to partial shade, moist well drained soil but does well in clay, and needs protection from wind . Its texture is fine with its form conical being narrow to broadly pyramidal, reaching from 50 to 80′ in height to 15 to 20 feet in width. The leaf is rich green graceful foliage. It keeps its foliage color in the winter. The Green Giants flowers/fruit are .5″ erect female cones. The Green Giant has strong wood, casts dense shade, and has cinnamon red bark when young. This arborvita does not tolerate salt spray. This arborvita should outlive even your children.

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.

There are other useful definitions in this field, for example, creativity can be defined as consisting of a number of ideas, a number of diverse ideas and a number of novel ideas.

There are distinct processes that enhance problem identification and idea generation and, similarly, distinct processes that enhance idea selection, development and commercialisation. Whilst there is no sure fire route to commercial success, these processes improve the probability that good ideas will be generated and selected and that investment in developing and commercialising those ideas will not be wasted.

Blocking: saying YES or NO

Personalities can be divided into many types, but one of the simplest and easiest classifications that benefits idea generation and creative thinking is the concept of YES and NO.

a) People who generally say NO are rewarded by the security they gain.

b) People who generally say YES, are rewarded by the adventures they have.

Consciously acting to ACCEPT, that is say YES, rather than say NO, has benefits including:

a) A wider diversity of ideas as none are rejected.

b) More novel ideas as none are rejected.

c) A greater tendency to not evaluate ideas before expressing them.

d) A greater propensity for accepting first thoughts.

e) A greater tendency to see value.

f) A greater tendency to think outside comfort zones.

These and other topics are covered in depth in the MBA dissertation on Managing Creativity & Innovation, which can be purchased (along with a Creativity and Innovation DIY Audit, Good Idea Generator Software and Power Point Presentation) from http://www.managing-creativity.com/

You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.

You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author’s name and site URL are retained.

Kal Bishop MBA, is a management consultant based in London, UK. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached on http://www.managing-creativity.com/

Snowboarding in Patagonia? What kind of place is that? Is not Chile more about jungles than about snowboarding? In truth not. S. America embodies a continent that extends from the equator south to Tierra del Fuego close to the northernmost of Antarctica. Along the ridge of S.America lay the Andes. It is amongst the most grand mountain range in the planet and still as the mountain chain passes across the tropical zone, the summits are always covered in snow and the alps in summer are equally majestic . Therefore why not consider it as a interesting place for your snowboarding trip.

S. America’s best ski destinations are to be found in Argentina and Chile with fantastic skiing deals. In the central regions of of Chile and Argentiuna you will be able to locate several snowboarding towns. The most far-famed skiing town in Chile is known as by a few Little Suisse and whenever you visit you’ll imagine that you’re in the Swiss alps with the attractive Suisse houses. The snowboarding area has hotels, a casino, pubs, and all that you need to make a awesome skiing vacation. The most famous snowboarding resort in South America is in Chile. Set merely 30 minutes from the airport you are able to make it with a quick ride having flown in direct from numerous cities not forgetting Lyon, Paris, Zurich, New York and LA.

Awnings are a great feature to have on your RV. There are several different types of RV awnings and they serve different purposes. There are window and door awnings that provide shade and keep rain away from your RV windows or entry door. There are slide-out awnings that protect the slide-out roof from debris and water. And there are patio awnings that provide us with shade when we want to sit and enjoy the outdoors. The awnings on your RV will provide years of reliable trouble free operation, if you take the time to do a little preventive maintenance and cleaning.

The fabric used on awnings is made from vinyl or acrylic. Some awnings have an aluminum or vinyl wrap-around weather guard that protects the awning fabric when it’s in the travel position. When you open the awning for the first time each year, or if it has been stored for a while, you will need to inspect the awning fabric for any signs of mildew or stains. Vinyl awnings will mildew. If the awning fabric is fairly clean, normal cleaning can be accomplished with a soft brush and mild soap and water. Do not use oil based or abrasive cleaners. Clean and thoroughly rinse both sides of the awning.

For more difficult stains, or mildew, there are after market commercial cleaners made just for awning fabrics. One method that seems to work well is to spray the inside and outside of the awning fabric with the appropriate cleaner, then roll it up and let it sit for several minutes. This distributes the cleaner over the entire surface of the awning fabric and allows the cleaner time to work. Open the awning and thoroughly rinse both sides of the fabric. It may be necessary to scrub stubborn stains with a brush before rinsing.

Note: Carefully follow all awning and cleaner manufacturer directions.

You can clean the awning hardware with the same cleaner you use to wash the RV. Now you can inspect the awning fabric for any tears or excessive wear. Talk to your RV dealer about what materials to use to repair or patch the awning fabric. Do not store the awning when the fabric is wet. Allow enough time for it to dry completely, on both sides, before storing the awning. While the awning is out, inspect the awning hardware. The bottom awning brackets support most of the load from the awning. Check the lag screws in the awning brackets for secure mounting. Inspect the arm pivot holes for any enlarged holes or broken rivets in the handles. Check for a warped roller tube. If the roller tube is warped it will be noticeable when you roll the awning out. Inspect the awning end caps for secure mounting and broken rivets. Make sure the awning rail is securely mounted to the side of the RV. Have any damaged or broken parts repaired before using the awning.

Caution: Never attempt to remove the awning end caps. Spring tension can result in serious injury.

In addition to cleaning and inspecting your awning there are a few things to keep in mind when using the awning. Always lower one end of the awning to allow for water runoff. The weight from water pooling on the awning fabric can cause extensive and costly damage. Any wind gusts over 20 miles per hour can also cause extensive damage to the awning and to the RV. Never leave the awning out unattended. If everyone is leaving the campsite, store the awning in the travel position. When you go to bed, store the awning. Even when you are at the campsite, you should use awning tie downs to prevent any sudden damage caused by high wind gusts or a sudden storm. You have the option to position the awning arms straight down and stake them to the ground, but you will get better support if they’re attached to the bottom awning brackets on the side of the RV. Remember, it is much easier to prevent damage to your awning than it is to repair it.

Awning Tip: Check with your RV insurance provider to make sure your RV awning is covered in the event of any damage. Some insurance companies require separate insurance coverage on the awning.

Happy Camping,
Mark

Copyright 2006 by Mark J. Polk, owner of RV Education 101

RV Expert Mark Polk, seen on TV, is the producer & host of America’s most highly regarded series of DVD’s, videos, books, and e-books. Sign up for your free “RV Education 101″ Newsletter http://rveducation101.com/email/
Mark Polk is a retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Three, specializing in wheeled and track vehicle fleet maintenance operations. Polk owns and operates RV Education 101, (based in North Carolina) since 1999, and also has an extensive RV background working in RV service, sales and management. Polk has a degree in Industrial Management Technology with 30 plus years of experience in maintenance includes working as an RV technician, a wheeled vehicle and power generation mechanic, an automotive maintenance technician, Battalion and Brigade level Maintenance Officer, an RV sales manager and also in the RV financing department as the Finance & Insurance manager. http://www.rveducation101.com/

The first spring day that I can hike without my coat motivates me to grab my large backpack and prepare for a long trek.

Personal commitments prevent me from getting out in the back country until next month, but it’s never too soon to get ready for the great outdoors.

I blog repeatedly about my favorite suppliers www.writerbynature.com; this is a good opportunity to order items that need to be replaced. Most important, taking the following steps has ensured that my extended stay in nature is the fun side of adventure.

1. Make a checklist. My pocket survival kit is a good start, but you need to think about what gear you plan to take including, sleeping bag, inflatable sleeping pad, tent, camp stove, fuel, food, water, clothing and other essentials.

2. Examine your gear. Unfold your tent and check the seams. Make sure there are no tears in your sleeping bag, check your backpack frame and straps, test your camp stove, sharpen your knife and replenish first aid kit items. Make sure your clothing and shoes fit correctly.

3. Study maps and routes. Make sure you have the most updated maps. Trails may be rerouted due to changes in land ownership, severe weather or other reasons. It’s not unusual for unmarked trails to be overgrown or for new unmarked trails to be created. In many areas, trails that are navigable in one season may not be navigable in another season.

4. Determine how much weight you’re willing to carry. One gallon of water weights 8 pounds, almost 4 kilograms. If you do not have access to potable water, you either have to carry it or carry water purification materials. Add the weight of your gear, tools, food and items like a camera, journal, and cell phone - and it’s an easy 35-50 pounds or 16-23 kilograms.

5. Leave information on your planned route with family or friends. Aron Ralston, the climber who cut off his arm to survive a fall, told interviewers that his biggest mistake was not letting anyone know where he was going. No one knew where to look for him. Cell phone signals are not always reliable, especially in mountains and canyons. Even the most experienced and careful outdoors person can get into trouble.

6. Have a contingency plan. Nature is unpredictable. Once you get out on the trail, the planning continues. Make a mental or written note of where you find patches of edible plants, accessible water, and good shelter locations as you hike. The best way to stay out of a survival situation is to practice what you’d do if you were in a survival situation. If you have access to a wooded area, practice building a debris shelter, making a hand drill fire or twisting dogbane fibers into rope. You don’t have to master these skills, but knowing what is possible is often the difference between survival and disaster.

7. Check local weather conditions. This may still not be enough, as I discovered on October 4, 1987, when the weather forecast for rain turned out to be 12-15 inches of snow. I had the right gear, but it was still a 3-hour hike down a mountain to safety. The danger in that situation was the snow-ladened trees had not dropped their leaves and when branches broke, the weight could cause injury.

8. Check and recheck every item you plan to take. Lighters and flashlight batteries are light-weight; it’s a good idea to pack extras. Larabars have no refined sugar, last up to 9 months, and are an excellent alternative when you cannot prepare food.

9. Become familiar with local flora and fauna. Study field guides and well-organized websites, so you have an idea of what lives where you will be backpacking. Wild edibles in season make a delicious supplement to purchased foods. In a survival situation insects and small animals that are easy to catch could be the survival difference. Again, you don’t have to eat them, but knowing what is and is not edible and having a general idea of how to prepare wild foods is valuable. I have fun discovering new foods.

10. Carry an appropriate garbage container. In the back country you need to carry out what you carry in, so make sure you have a container that you can seal to avoid contaminating the other items in your pack. Biodegradable toilet paper is an alternative, but you will still have food wrappers and other products that cannot ethically be left behind.

Happy Trails.

JJ Murphy is an avid backpacker enjoying trails in Harriman, NY and neighboring states. She shares wild recipes, nature education materials, and wilderness survival knowledge at http://www.writerbynature.com - Creative Content for Your Nature Endeavors.

In case you haven’t figured out betting hall card-playing, do please read on —

By general definition a betting hall is a structure that focuses on card playing. Paying Customers will hopefully enjoy themselves at the slot-machines or alternate wagers. Gaming hall games generally include precisely determined chances constituting them which safeguard the house keeps hold of an advantage against the gambling buffs.

Quite a lot of betting hall games may cause you to get far too infatuated very swiftly. By way of illustration take the good old one-armed-bandit, a coin operated gadget with 3 or more cogs which circumvolve when a bar affixed to it is operated. This instrument typically pays up referring to an array of pictograms observable on the front panel of the gadget. Regretfully, gambling house games allow a false impression of being in full control, thereby hoodwinking the gaming devotee: the victim is given options, but in actual fact these cannot match up the player’s long-term disadvantage. This is caused by the the gambling saloongambling house never paying out the full wager as expected. This strategy is often noticeable in well known casino games such as Texas hold’em, dice games, roulette or blackjack.

Five-card stud poker is undeniably a very popular casino pastime. The patrons, meticulously guarding their guarded hands, bet in a central pot which is awarded to the winning player carrying the best combination of cards. (As everybody knows, the bluffer can win as well!)

casinos blackjack

Analogous to blind poker, blackjack too is a highly fashionable casino game. A sizeable amount of its acclaim is based on its particular mix of chance and smarts and choice making, not to forget a procedure identified as Card Counting. It is a very complicated strategy through which gambling aficionados can significantly change the chances of the card game to lend them an advantage both by wagering & systematic decisions based on the hands dealt.

“Craps” is yet another well-known game making use of the throw of a couple of dice. Gamers must place their stakes on the result of one cycle, or on a series of rolls on two dice. Contrary to blackjack, there isn’t any realistic bona fide killer tactics players can employ to boost the chances.

Roulette is another well-known casino based gambling pastime; a croupier will whirl a roulette wheel which accommodates a set of precisely 37 (as applicable to classical roulette) or thirtyeight (American or Vegas roulette) differently numbered pockets in which a white pellet will settle, which defines the winning number and the supplemental odds. Now if a gamer wagers on a single number and is successful, which is to say he’s indeed enjoying a lucky hand, the set payout is thirty-five to 1, the bet proper will be paid out. So in total it’s multiplied by a factor of thirty-six.

“Hodgepodge thoughts regarding Justice”

I think you will agree with me that Hitler and his Nazi party stand out as one of the most repugnant memories in the annals of history. The question I raise is this: Were the nations that condemned the Nazis at the Nuremberg trials justified in rendering justice? Now before you question my sanity, please read the following lines patiently. If positive law philosophy and macroevolution (theory that holds to the idea that all varieties of life forms emanated from a single cell or “common ancestor.”) are the highest law by which to bring condemnation upon another human being or sovereign nation, then all sovereign nations have the right to do good or do evil, and no other sovereign nation can hold the other accountable for its perceived crimes. Follow me. This gets clearer.

As social Darwinism and nationalism merged in Germany during the early twentieth century, the concept of fostering a genetically superior race called the Volk (the people) was established. The idea of the Volk was extended to various biological analogies, shaped by the contemporary beliefs of heredity, and designed to protect Germany from ‘racial inferiority.’ The German’s were trying to perfect eugenics, the science that investigates methods involving the betterment of the genetic composition of the human race. (In this case the Aryan race.) One of their goals was to eliminate the ‘inferior’ races and offspring and preserve the ‘better’ progeny. (This method is perfectly consistent with macroevolution and central principle, the survival of the fittest.) Nazi Germany figured if they could win the war and purge the world of Jews and other undesirables, they could rule the world as a “revived Roman Empire” to last a thousand years.

Again I ask you: Can America, or any other country, charge German officials with crimes against humanity? Especially since Germany felt it had a national obligation to achieve genetic purity? The research being conducted at the death camps was in accordance with Nazi law, and Nazi law defined what was right and justin a word, what was legal. Dr. Geisler, in his book that he co-authored with Peter Bocchino entitled, Unshakable Foundations (Bethany House), makes a sobering and poignant comment that’s worth repeating here. He writes, “As long as naturalistic macroevolution and positive law are the dominating scientific and legal viewpoints both in theory (education) and in practice (law), we run the risk of returning to one of the darkest eras in the history of the human race.” If we continue teaching our children that the law of the state is the highest law in the universe, and man is simply a product of natural selection, then we are doomed to repeat the evils of the past.

I believe that national governments of all countries are responsible to God and its citizens to discover and protect human rights. However, positive law proponents disagree. They believe that nations and their governments create laws. In light of history, this is a dangerous philosophy to embrace. Accountability, according to the Bible, is first to God and then to the state. God ordained human governments to maintain order throughout the world. Citizens are to abide by the laws of the land; however when a man’s law supersedes God’s law, God’s people must resist it with all their might.

I conclude this “hodgepodge” of thoughts with a quote from Thomas Jefferson. He said, “God who gave us life, gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation remain secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that his justice cannot sleep forever.”

Terry Dashner.

About the Author

Senior Pastor at Faith Fellowship Church in Broken Arrow, OK. 918-451-0270

Saratoga National Historic Park preserves 3200 acres of battlefield where
American Revolutionaries, behind General Horation Gates, prevent-ed British control of the Hudson River in the Fall of 1777. In two battles three weeks apart the British suffered 1,000 casualties and General John Burgoyne, awaiting reinforcements that never arrived, was forced to surrender 6,000 men.

By thwarting the British initiative to split the Colonies in half, the Americans
went a long way towards gaining their independence. Saratoga is one of the most
famous and influential battlefields in the world and the National Park Service
maintains the ground much as it looked in 1777.

The dog-friendly Wilkinson-National Recreation Trail is a 4.2-mile loop across
the property, much of which was farmland during the Revolution. The trail is named
for the lieutenant who drew maps of the Saratoga Battlefield in 1777. Save for a
single dip into the Great Ravine, this is easy canine hiking across rolling grasslands
with islands of airy deciduous woods.

You hike with your dog on the roads British troops took to and from the two
battles. Interpretive stops include British and German redoubts (outlined in red and
white posts). The .6-mile Freeman Loop visits the sit of some of the fiercest
fighting on John Freeman’s farm and the British Balcarres Redoubt.

Behind the Breymann Redoubt, Station C, on the Wilkinson Trail, is the unique
Boot Monument. The boot in question belonged to American battle hero Benedict
Arnold (before he switched sides to the British). Arnold rode through a cross-fire in
front of the defensive position to secure victory and recieved a second wound in his
leg. The marble boot monument does not mention the eventual traitor’s name.

If you drive the auto tour road there are additional short explorations,
including a one-mile loop traill that passes the gravesite of Brigadier General
Simon Fraser, the spirited core of the British troops. There is no water along the
park trails and on hot days a canine canteen will be in order.

To reach the battlefield, leave the Northway (I-87) at Exit 14 (from the north)
or Exit 12 (from the south) and follow signs for Route 29 East to Schuylerville. Turn
south on Route 4 and you will find the main entrance to the Battlefield in eight
miles.

copyright 2006

I am the author of over 20 books, including 8 on hiking with your dog and the
widely praised The Canine Hiker’s Bible. As publisher of Cruden Bay Books, we
produce the innovative A Bark In The Park series of canine hiking books found at
http://www.hikewithyourdog.com Articles in the Doggin’ America series of dog-
friendly parks can be found at http://www.DogginAmerica.com During the warm
months I lead canine hikes for hikewithyourdog.com tours, guiding packs of dogs
and humans on hiking adventures. Tours, ranging from one-day trips to multi-day
explorations, visit parks, historical sites and beaches. My lead dog is Katie, a
German Shepherd- Border Collie mix, who has hiked in all of the Lower 48 states
and is on a quest to swim in all the great waters of North America - http://web.mac.com/crudbay/iWeb/Katies%20Blog/Katies%20Quest.html