Washington Historian Remembers Harriet Lane, the Greatest First Lady

WASHINGTON DC: She was the first White House Hostess to be called “First Lady.” Enough said.

“Harriet Lane was a century ahead of her time,” says Washington Historian and Biographer Milton Stern. “She used her intelligence, political skills, charm and beauty to push legislation through Congress when she was only twenty-seven years old.”

She was the niece of America’s Bachelor President and his official hostess in Lancaster, London and Washington. Anyone who met her was instantly enamored. Queen Victoria bestowed upon her the title “Honorary Ambassadress.” The Washington press corps proclaimed her “Our Democratic Queen,” and the Chippewa named her “the Great Mother of the Indians.” U.S. Naval and Coast Guard ships were named after her and still are. Songs were written about her, and women dressed like her. She was the most admired woman in the country and established a style of entertaining never before seen in the White House. She was the first of her kind to be an advocate for social causes: hospital and prison reform and the plight of the American Indians. And only she could get away with beating the Prince of Wales at bowling, which she taught him in the first place!

Her world was guided by tragedy and death, yet she lived every day to the fullest. She conducted herself with grace and dignity and dedicated her life to the perpetuation of the memories of those dearest to her heart and the social welfare of all Americans, especially children.

Although no monument has been dedicated in her memory, her legacy and generosity live on in Baltimore and Washington through the establishment of the Johns Hopkins Pediatric and Teaching Hospital, St. Albans School for Boys, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the President James Buchanan Monument in Meridian Hill Park.

No Washington guest list was complete without her, as a society columnist wrote, “There is no more elegant figure in the official and social gatherings during the social season than the niece of President James Buchanan.”

More than twenty years after her death, she was named one of the most memorable women in American History, but more than 100 years after her death, few remember America’s greatest First Lady.

Milton Stern is the author of “Harriet Lane, America’s First Lady” (www.harrietlane.net), the first extensive biography of President James Buchanan’s niece. Due to his thorough research of Harriet Lane’s life, he has been interviewed on numerous radio programs and is considered the definitive expert on the life of Harriet Lane.

“Unfortunately for Lane, she was the niece of a chief executive who was wrongfully blamed for events that had been unfolding since the drafting of the Constitution,” Stern says. “His position as the fifteenth President, who was followed by America’s greatest President, Abraham Lincoln, made him the scapegoat. Few realize that Lincoln supported Buchanan’s policies in regard to South Carolina’s secession from the Union until Fort Sumter was attacked, and Buchanan supported Lincoln’s during the entire Civil War.”

When asked why he wrote Harriet Lane’s biography, Stern said, “She was an inspiration not only to American women, but also all Americans, as she devoted her entire life to social causes and for the betterment of this great country. Americans still benefit from her generosity.”

Milton Stern is also the author of “America’s Bachelor President and the First Lady” and the Executive Editor of “SelfPublisher News” (www.selfpublishernews.com). He resides in Washington, DC, with his toy parti-poodle, Serena Rose Elizabeth Montgomery. His next book, “On Tuesdays, They Played Mah Jongg” (www.mahjongg.us), will be released in the fall.

Harriet Lane, America’s First Lady,
© 2005 ISBN 1411626087,
Milton Stern,
http://www.harrietlane.net,
miltonstern@harrietlane.net

The Power of 2: Win Big with People in Your Work and in Life by Anthony C. Scire

Here is another in a growing number of “mini-books,” 170 pages in this case, which seem to be taking over book store shelves from coast to coast. What’s interesting about this trend lies in the fact that some of the shorter books pack more power in the way of useful information than many of the 500-page monsters we so often see. This is obviously the case in Anthony C. Scire’s The Power of 2.

The subject matter of this particular book falls into another category for me. The content revolves around networking and human relationships which is critical in assisting anyone in their effort to excel in all areas of work and life. Therefore, wouldn’t it make sense to expose our younger generations to such valuable resources at a very early age? I’d like to see the concepts in this book shared with students as young as middle-school age. I’m certain it would impact their high school, college and early work life in a very positive way. Networking is one of the many areas we share with our audiences ranging in ages from 12 to 25, and this book, written in the tradition of Dale Carnegie’s classic, How to Win Friends and Influence People, cuts to the core of what it takes to win BIG with people. It is an easy-to-read, powerful approach to starting and building relationships and solving people problems.

Don’t misunderstand me. This is far from a children’s book. I’m simply convinced it contains a very important message for all ages. I’ve worked with a large number of front-line employees, middle-managers, CEOs, and board members who would benefit greatly from the proven methods and skills shared within these pages. The Golden Rule of networking is simply this: All things being equal, people will do business with and refer business to those people they know, like, and trust. That’s it. That’s what it’s all about and Anthony C. Scire presents timeless principles for building productive, enduring relationshipskey ingredients to success and happiness. Tony shares pertinent anecdotes and penetrating insights from his wealth of experiences. He teaches you how to meet more people, build finer relationships, and better nurture the ones you already have. The Power of 2 gives you the edge in getting results by sharing these wonderful gifts:

• How to create verbal magic and become a people magnet.
• The secrets of expanding your sphere of influence by using The Power of 2 business card technique.
• How to build the sincere, long-lasting, loyal, productive friendships of peak performers.
• How to turn more contacts into contracts.
• Creative approaches to overcoming the relationships challenges of communicating electronically.
• How to create an automatic can-do spirit to eliminate procrastination and stagnation.
• The Ten Commandments of High-Touch Relationship Building.
• How to receive gratitude in the form of referrals, new business, and greater cooperation.

Don’t expect a theory book or a “quick fix.” You won’t find it here. This is a philosophy which will transform every area of your work and life. You’ll learn why it’s essential to care about others and build relationships. It’s the best way to make a difference, reach worthwhile dreams and goals, and have truly rich life experiences. The Power of 2 is a thoroughly practical and even inspired resource especially suited to the paradoxically globalized yet socially isolated world of today. This one belongs on your bookshelf.

More than 100 business book reviews written by Harry K. Jones are available at http://www.AchieveMax.com/books/.

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Harry K. Jones is a professional speaker and consultant for AchieveMax^®, Inc., a firm specializing in custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has made presentations ranging from leadership to employee retention and time management to stress management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. He can be reached at 800-886-2MAX or by visiting http://www.AchieveMax.com.

HARD CANDY: Nobody Ever Flies over the Cuckoo’s Nest; Written by Charles A. Carroll is a must read.

This book should be sitting on the desk of every governor, senator, representative, every director, educator and all students in departments of human and social services, psychology and public health available as a ready reference to the bureaucratic nightmare and lost humanity of a system set up to protect and care for our abandoned children and our mental and physically deficient citizens of all ages. Hard Candy is a must read for anyone who even pretends to care about the welfare of our children. This is an unforgettable saga of the will of a young human spirit to survive incarceration in one of our nation’s institutions with living conditions so sadistic, brutal and degrading that “child abuse’ doesn’t come near describing this disgrace.

I had the privilege of meeting the author and reading an advanced copy of this soon to be released book. The ever gracious host, Charles has devoted his life to the pursuit of knowledge and generating awareness about the abuse that still occurs to this day inside such institutions. Do not for one moment think that his is a tale of yesteryear and we have fixed the problems, improved the system.

Told with the innocent clarity of a young child interspersed with the accumulated knowledge and hindsight analysis of the adult, this true story travels through a decade during which the author as a young boy was repeatedly abandoned by the system and lost in the tombs of a bureaucratic hell.

Left on the doorsteps of an orphanage as a toddler with his less than one year older sibling who was probably borderline retarded, this is a tale of an enduring love between two brothers who had no one else in life but each other. Never loosing the impish grim and charming good looks, Charles along with his brother traveled from orphanage to foster home to state institution to foster home and back to state institution. As a court order required the brothers not to be separated, a terrified young Charles found himself joining his brother in a state facility for boys with mental disabilities, “a nuthouse” as one would call it. No one bothered to notice that this was not an appropriate placement for a perfectly normal little boy.

The story relates in chilling detail the daily living horror that was Charles’ life. A normal youngster dumped in with society’s outcasts in a nightmarish hell of abuse, hunger, filth, punishment, neglect and unending loneliness. A world where almost all adults he encountered continued the pattern of outright brutality and physical abuse or in true institutional form looked with strong blinders the other way and just did their time at the job. A world where children were left just to sit for years, suffering unending misery and boredom, never given the chance to develop their natural capabilities in any manner. The will to endure, protect his brother and survive kept Charles placing one small foot in front of the other each despairing day. The will to maintain his sanity in an insane place, to endure suffering no child should ever be expected to face and to survive to bear witness against an unjust and little known system gives Charles the strength to speak for the all but forgotten.

Michelle Portney

Recently chosen by Writer’s Digest magazine as one of the best new self-published books of 2005, ‘Buddha in the Boardroom’ is a clever and entertaining blend of business challenges and Buddhist philospohy.

Buddhism teaches us that if we learn to handle our relationships properly our life will be easier. Learn how your chaotic and stressful workplace environment is really a series of relationships, whether it is with your boss, co-workers, customers, salesmen, competition, or suppliers. Each chapter shows how by learning to handle these workplace relationships properly, you not only increase your chances of success, but your job can actually becomes less stressful and more enjoyable.

“You will see yourself and everyone you know in the chapters of this book.” Heather McGough

Sometimes funny and sometimes serious, discover for yourself why Buddha in the Boardroom has been called ‘the business book that is inspirational.’ Chapters include: competition, conflicts, controlling anger, risk taking, ethics, handling change, teamwork, goal setting, time management and many more in 30 chapters and 138 pages.

Buddhism is universally accepted because it is not in conflict with any religion nor with science. See for yourself why Buddhism is not for everyone, it’s only for those who want to live a happier and more productive life.

RAT RACE BLUES: How To Break The Stranglehold

Darlene Arechederra

DAR N-Centives

25 Della, Fenton, MO 63026, 636-343-5495

October 2002, ISBN: None, Format: E-book

92 pages, $16.95

http://www.RatRaceRemedies.com

Rat Race Blues is a beautifully designed and easy to navigate e-book with valuable strategies for living the life you want and deserve. This e-book begins with an analogy that most of us can understand: comparing our lives to a merry-go-round. How many of us spend our days overworking, overspending, frustrated and feeling like we can never get ahead? We work harder to pay the bills, overspend in response to the stress and work harder to pay for the overspending. On and on it goes. Darlene Arecheddera offers readers a way to get off the merry-go-round, improve their lives and reduce their stress.

This e-book is not about budgeting or finding yet another part-time, work at home job to accelerate bill paying. It is not about which credit card to pay off first - although it does cover that issue. This e-book is about living within the income you make without working dozens of hours of overtime unless you really want to. It’s about reducing stress, analyzing what it costs you to work and breaking down what you owe and what you own. Filled with worksheets and examples, Rat Race Blues helps readers make calculations, offers suggestions and provides examples that make you look at your money in a completely different way.

Early in the e-book we are introduced to Marcy and Paul, a married couple working too hard and spending too much. Marcy discovers the techniques taught by Rat Race Blues and begins to apply them to her life. Later, her husband Paul sees the change these techniques make in Marcy’s life and he begins to use them as well. The story of Marcy and Paul keeps us entertained and engaged while learning how to live better within our means. We learn along with Marcy and Paul how to save rather than spend and in return gain a new respect and appreciation for the money we work so hard to earn.

This e-book is appropriate for anyone caught on the merry-go-round of modern life. It offers clever money saving strategies and encourages readers to keep a small notebook of expenditures, goals, lists, etc. I started my “Life Book” as the notebook is called the day after finishing Rat Race Blues and found $200.00 in unnecessary expenditures from this month’s income. I thought of new ways to save money and began calculating how little I could actually spend every week. For an investment of $16.95 readers will find ways to save hundreds of dollars every year while reducing the number of hours they work. Rat Race Blues is a life changing e-book that everyone should read.

About The Author

Bonnie Jo Davis is a Virtual Assistant and the author of the e-book “Articles That Sell.” For more information about Bonnie visit http://www.DavisVirtualAssistance.com.

Violet the Pilot in Hawaii is the third book of a children’s series written by author Bettina Bathe. One of the very first striking aspects of this book is the illustrator’s use of bright colored fish and birds, a flowery helicopter, tropical scenery and agriculture within the Hawaiian Island region. The illustrations by Barbara Fortin (www.bellocchioillustration.com) also reveal lush forest and wildlife scenes including a myriad of creatures that dwell in the waters surrounding the islands.

This adventure begins when two Hawaiian youth, Kimo and Malia, request a scenic tour ride in Violet’s purple helicopter. As always, safety comes first for Violet, and they spend a few moments discussing air currents and looking at maps before starting out.

Violet and her passengers are accompanied by as they fly above tropical forests, a beautiful waterfall, interesting volcanoes and agricultural fields. The adventure is interrupted when they are called upon to help rescue a baby whale. Thanks to Violet’s confident pilot skills and her loyal animal and insect friends, the frightened whale is returned to her pod. These unlikely heroes arrive to their destination safely and celebrate with a Luau and a feast. This is no ordinary feast - the table is laden with all kinds of Hawaiian foods. And later, they are entertained by Hula Dancers and Violet plays her Ukulele.

The author incorporates real life terms in her books, yet she is able to explain things in a way that young people can clearly understand. The last page has an illustration with all three of the flags from the countries Violet has worked in so far. These could be excellent teaching and memory tools for the reader to use with children. However, Violet the Pilot in Hawaii offers more than entertainment and education - the author has also dedicated a portion of the sales of this book to the Canadian Red Cross. Additionally, Bettina’s website (www.violetthepilot.com) offers contests and awards for young readers for her young readers to enjoy.

ISBN#: 0-9738290-1-X
Author: Bettina Bathe
Illustrator: Barbara Fortin
Publisher: Violet the Pilot Enterprises, Inc.
Published: January 2006

~ Book Reviewer: Lillian Brummet - Co-author of the book Trash Talk, a guide for anyone concerned about his or her impact on the environment - Author of Towards Understanding, a collection of poetry. (www.sunshinecable.com/~drumit)

Lots of consumers are nudging towards natural and organic products, but particularly natural organic skincare products. These most favourable words are sometimes used as if one, but realistically their meanings are more diverse. This writer fervently urges that you look into skin care products and the ingredients used by many manufacturers. Unfortunately, the labels of many products not only present less than honest claims about their effectiveness but the ingredients listed may also be either false or only minimally present in the product. Many manufacturers concentrate more on packaging and marketing than on researching ingredients and providing the best possible natural and organic skin care products. Some products may actually harm your skin. There are very beneficial ingredients for skin care. Phytessence Wakame is an exotic type of kelp that is native to the Japanese Sea. It blocks the enzyme called hyaluronidase that breaks down the hyaluronic acid. This acts as a “glue” keeping elastin and collagen fibers together. When the acid breaks down, so does the collagen and elastic causing lines, wrinkles, and dark circles under the eyes. There are some ingredients that should be avoided. Parabens-methyl, butyl, propyl, and ethyl parabens are used as a preservative and to increase the shelf life of the product. Parabens have been known to interfere with the endocrine system and have also been linked to cancer. Allergies and skin irritations can also occur. Alcohols including ethanol, benzyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol and AD alcohols should also be avoided. Each alcohol has different properties and can seriously dry out your skin. Irritations can also occur from products with these alcohols. Fragrances can make you smell nice but that is why you use perfume or colognes. Many ingredients in fragrances are known toxins and are carcinogenic. They can also irritate your skin. Other harmful ingredients include mineral oils also called paraffin, paraffin wax or petrolatum. Mineral oil clogs the pores and does not allow the skin to “breathe”. Many manufacturers use it because it is very inexpensive. Dioxane in concentrations of 1, 4 is known in the state of California to cause cancer. The harmful ingredients listed above have no place in natural and organic skin care products. You want a product that not only has the most beneficial ingredients, but also has high concentrations of these ingredients. One last thing, only, remains to be said: natural organic skincare is the only safe way to experience the important practice of beauty products and beauty regimes, because only natural organic skincare comes without potentially serious and hazardous health risks. So, when looking this week at your monthly shop, or when doing research into alternative methods of skincare, think first of natural organic beauty products, and all of the things that make them today’s outstanding source of beauty care.

Hordes of gambling afficionados have heard of the term “offshore sports betting” recently, though may not be completely assured what that means. A foreign gaming internet site essentially performs extrinsically to the jurisdiction of any given country instead it can be an internet based betting web site which bases their master computer inside the borders of a land where live sports gambling isn’t at this time disallowed. In short therefore, it can be defined as a gaming administration active extraneous of the supervison of the land of the customer. Computer accessible betting web sites are by and large governed by means of three councils. They are OSGA (the Offshore Gaming Association), IGC (Interactive Gaming Council) and the Fidelity Trust Gaming Association (the FTGA).

The Offshore Gaming Association is an unbiased authority that currently regulates the overseas gaming business, they undertake to present sports bettors the capability to swiftly select acclaimed internet organizations to play games with. It aims to defend consumer’s rights, also they don’t charge any annual dues.

The OSGA is a competent and equitable third party agency who formulate nonpartisan judgments, built on customer feedback, nonpartisan analysis, discussions, inside prompts furthermore to impart industry information.

The Interactive Gaming Council are a not-for-profit administration. The organization has been established to allow a forum for worried participants to address matters and in addition to advance communal concerns in the multinational web-based gambling business, to establish unbiased and also dependable professional standard procedures and methods which improve customer trust in internet gaming merchandise and benefits, and to be of assistance as the overseas gaming trade’s extensive policy advocate furthermore it offers an info clearinghouse.

The Interactive Gaming Council have built a regard for reliability, fairness and in addition believability by virtue of its tough industry ethics, and also its allure for ethical business enterprises. The Interactive Gaming Council regularises offshore gambling by means of employing a particular 10-point code of conduct and also bills sports gaming internet sites license fees to display their logo. Disenchanted gamers may, should they desire to, mention any of their challenges to the Interactive Gaming Council.

The FTGA has been formed in a venture to construct a standard to improve the transactions of internet sports gaming trading operations. The Interactive Gaming Council think that by conducting business with businesses of good reputation, they can build an alliance of the fairest and professional online gaming operations globally.

So, in summary there are organizations who control the behavior of world wide web based sports gaming and which should with luck work to mitigate some of the fears because of apprehension felt by detractors. Computer accessible gambling internet sites are actually secure, in that private details are not needed and the payments and the gaming odds are exactly as uniform and sportsmanlike as in a standard Vegas-style stake. These internet sites wipe out traveling, but maintain of a casino, but today you are enabled to bet in the comfort of home.

online sports wager

How To Pass A Drug Test

Drug examine has become a familiar phenomena round the globe. Numerous companies perform drug tests on freshly working individuals or existing employees to ensure a drug-free environment at work.

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BPH, or benign prostate hyperplasia, is a medical term commonly used for an enlarged prostate gland. This means that the prostate gland, a mass similar in shape to a walnut situated just below the bladder and wrapping the urethra, swells and this can impair or perhaps even stop the flow of urine. The prostatic gland grows with age and as a result may create complaints such as micturition problems, a diminished flow, and also the holding of residual urine inside the bladder. Frequent trips to the lavatory during the night and even infections of the urinary tract may also be caused by an enlarged prostate. What Is Benign Prostate Hyperplasia?

Prostatic enlargement is considered one of the more commonplace problems of males in their sixties. Yearly exams are urged for each man over 50, regardless of the presentation of any symptoms, for the maintenance of prostate gland health. Inability to pass water or blood in the urine is a sign to seek swift medical treatment.

Therapies for Benign Prostate Hyperplasia can include surgery or drug therapy. Nevertheless, erection difficulties or even loss of bladder function may be experienced as a result of a surgical procedure. An alpha blocker and drugs that reduce the prostate gland are frequently given to improve prostatic wellness, but medicines often result in unwanted results what alternatives are indicated? Prostate Gland Enlargment Troubles? Discover Alternative Solutions to Gain Better Prostate Health: - To reduce the frequent problems connected with prostate enlargement and also to further improved prostate gland health, many alternative remedies may offer ease. African pygeum brings down inflammation, supplying a marked reduction of any symptoms. Derived from the fruit of an evergreen tree indigenous to Africa, African pygeum has been prescribed extensively by the Europeans for a number of years as a natural therapy to further better prostatic health. Dietary factors for example a reduction in the consumption of fats may also help, and in addition increasing exercise, a higher frequency of ejaculations may relieve the pressure in the prostate gland, and avoiding sitting for a long time. Prostate Gland associated problems are often aggravated by the usage of antihistamines or decongestants bought over-the-counter, so consume them sparingly. Further hints also include to cut out drinking within a few hours of retiring for the night to cut down the need to urinate overnight, and cutting back alcoholic drinks and caffeine intake may also prove beneficial. Prostatic health may be additionally respond to other supplements specifically the herb saw palmetto, starflower oil capsules, selenium, and also lycopene, a compound found in tomatoes. Before you commence any which herbal therapy check with your doctor.