Well Behaved Women Seldom Make History: Eleanor Roosevelt

Seldom does a first lady in the United States rise above the honor of being someone else's wife, given the power and prestige that comes with the Oval Office. Eleanor Roosevelt is an exception to that rule, and therefore she will be the first in our series on inspirational women. Provoked by a book given to me recently, (thank you Marcia) with the saying "Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History," this article discusses Eleanor Roosevelt as a complex woman, doing the best she could with the gifts and support structure she had at hand.
She definitely made history. Born in 1884, over the course of her life she was awarded a Doctorate of Human Letters, Doctor of Laws, the Nobel Peace Prize and the United Nations Human Rights distinction. She also was not considered for her times to be well-behaved. Looking at her life from the lens of the 21st century woman she would be seen as the first blogger writing a regular column entitled My Day, six out of seven days a week for almost 30 years. Active in the way that many modern women are active she balanced a life that included the politics (speaking out on political issues where policy impacted people living in poverty), the war effort (working for the Red Cross and traveling to support and bolster the troops), writing (several autobiographies), and the duties of motherhood (six children including the first son who died in infancy).
While many women today may take on this variety of tasks, her example was rare in her time. This does not mean she led an easy life, although a privileged one. Her mother died when she was eight with her father (reportedly an alcoholic) following two years later. She also overcame personal shyness, going on to be such a great public speaker that Pres. Kennedy made her a delegate to the United Nations just a year before she died in 1962.
Like all women who are not well-behaved, she was the brunt of many scandalous tales (some with foundation, some not). She was disliked as much as she was revered. She was seen as "unnatural" by small-minded people who considered the norm as equating to what is natural in the world, not being prepared for or embracing the evolutionary potential of human beings unless it suits them. Eleanor not only lectured, but encouraged women through all female press conferences, and hosting her own radio show.
Eleanor Roosevelt deserves whatever distinctions are offered her. She remains an inspirational woman long after her death, with her example continuing to demonstrate the potential of overcoming both a difficult beginning and the small-minded norms of the times. We'll close with a quote from her newspaper column, "It takes courage to love, but pain through love is the purifying fire which those who love generously know. We all know people who are so much afraid of pain that they shut themselves up like clams in a shell and, giving out nothing, receive nothing and therefore shrink until life is a mere living death."
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Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History: Amelia Earhart

Amelia Earhart is the topic of this third installment in the series, Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History. Because the purpose of the series is to be inspirational to women, and while there are enormous opportunities to discuss women in history, a thread that will run throughout all of these articles is that of the woman who has to push against the norms of her life, her family, or her society in order to be truly herself. This takes a particular brand of courage, to know in your heart that you are different and to be with reconciled to that difference while pushing to make your dreams come true. Amelia Earhart would therefore have to be one of the inspirational women highlighted here.
Getting Past a Difficult Childhood
As is true of many famous people who have gone beyond the norm, her early life was not an easy one. Amelia was born in 1897 at her grandparent's house in Kansas, and while her grandfather was one of the leading citizens of this small town, there was always a push and pull between the grandparents and her father. Always a tomboy, some relate that she may have been a trial for her otherwise timid grandmother and ailing grandfather. Stories differ, but it seems that Amelia and her sister did not actually live with their parents until she was about 10, when her father began to drink publicly. By all accounts, her teenage years were scarred by the difficult challenges of having everyone be aware that her father was a drunkard. By 1914 her mother had left her father (a difficult thing in those days) and Amelia and her sister experienced loss of social status, while being the object of gossip and pity.
Amelia trained as a nurse and worked in a Voluntary a Detachment at the end of the First World War from 1917 to 1918. In her own words: There for the first time I realized what the world war meant. Instead of new uniforms and brass bands, I saw only the result of four years desperate struggle; men without arms and legs, men who are paralyzed, and men who were blind." When the war ended she pursued medicine as a career, but she lost her heart to aviation in 1920.
From Stunt Shows to Flight
Again accounts differ, but it seems that Amelia first enjoyed aviation as a hobby, watching stunt routines for entertainment at local fairgrounds, as was popular at the time. She took her first ride in 1920 with a barnstormer pilot named Frank Hawks. But she is quoted as saying, "As soon as we left the ground, I knew I myself had to fly." And it seems as though that dream came from her very soul, and she never looked back. Flight in those days, as now, was expensive, and she had to work hard save her money and do things in small doses. Apparently she did odd jobs and put together her first $1000 -- for flying lessons. Flight in the 1920s was very different than it is today with the small planes occasionally crashing, and Amelia's record was no different. Nevertheless by 1921 she was flying solo and by the next year she had purchased her own plane. By 1928 her hobby became her vocation and she became (although just as a passenger) the first woman to cross the Atlantic in a plane. The publisher who wrote an article on that flight, George Putnam, became her husband in 1931. And by 1932 she had crossed the Atlantic flying solo and setting a new record of 13 hours and 30 minutes for which she received a medal from the United States President at the time, Herbert Hoover.
What was it like to be a woman in a man's territory in the early 1900s? We can get some glimpse of the courage and tenacity of Amelia Earhart from her own words.
Never do things others can do and will do if there are things others cannot do or will not do......The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward......Please know that I am aware of the hazards. I want to do it because I want to do it. Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail, their failure must be a challenge to others.....Obviously I faced the possibility of not returning when first I considered going. Once faced and settled there really wasn't any good reason to refer to it.
As most people are aware, Amelia's story ends in tragedy and mystery. As she tried to circumnavigate the globe, the Coast Guard lost communication with her plane and it is assumed she went down, although the remains of the plane were never found. Amelia's own words sum up the challenges all women face as they lead uncommon lives:
Women must pay for everything. They do get more glory than men for comparable feats, but, they also get more notoriety when they crash.
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Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History: Margaret Sanger

There is no question that when we look into the lives of inspirational women, every woman born in the Western world today has been influenced by Margaret Sanger. The fact that as women we enjoy reproductive rights stems from a the vigilant hard work of this very controversial woman. She is still controversial (the web being filled with claims of racism, eugenics, etc.) and this is indicative of the time she lived and the kinds of ideas that thinking people were hashing about during the early 1900s. But who was this woman who had such effect? This article tries to unpack the life and ideas of this inspirational woman.
Difficulties of women in childbirth, and strong radical political activities were used to gather through out Margaret's life. Born Margaret Louise Higgins she was the middle child in a family of 11 children. Her father was known as a freethinking man and his politics must have had influenced her, as did watching her mother died at age 50 after 18 pregnancies. Her own reproductive life was made more difficult by frequent bouts of tuberculosis, although she had three children with her husband William Sanger. Two other influences come into play as she and her husband enjoyed the radical political intellectual world of Greenwich Village in New York City in the early 1900s, at the same time she worked as a visiting nurse in city tenements.
Who knows or understands the difficulties taken on during a single-handed pursuit of what you think is right? That both of the Sanger stopped at reproductive rights were right is clear when you follow their history from 1910 to 1920. First Margaret wrote a pamphlet called family limitation, at the same time she wrote articles and a free publication known as the woman radical. This brought her up against the federal postal obscenity laws of the time and she flees to England while her husband remained in the US distributing her work. In 1915 when he was arrested she came home to face the charges against her but personal tragedy in the form of the death of her five-year-old daughter aroused public sympathy and the charges were dismissed. While in Europe, she visited Holland, thinking back to the United States with a sense of what birth control could be. This prompted her work in public health resulting in lines of Jewish Italian immigrant women crowding into our clinics daily.
Courageous work in the fight of the norm of the time always brings backlash from the people in power. As was true with many suffragettes, Margaret and her sister were convicted, JL, and engaged in hunger strikes. The publicity surrounding these activities made birth control a matter of public debate, thus turning the tide so that by the 1920s public favor towards her ideas began to make legislative change possible. Her work branched out from the United States to the international level, where she lectured to large audiences throughout the rest of her life. It is sobering to note that it was not until 1965, a few months after her death, that the Supreme Court of the United States made birth control legal for married couples.
Nevertheless, the controversy that caused her racist and points to her eugenics philosophies are not wrong when viewing her with the eyes of the 21st century woman. And I think that is one potential outcome of single-minded focus -- it becomes easier to lose sight of the broader picture, in this case human rights. Nor did she consider the rights of the unborn child when she discussed abortion. These issues are still being sorted out by cultures around the world. In his book,Leadership without Easy Answers, one Heifetz discusses the changes brought forth by Margaret Sanger as an example of informal leadership. One person, doggedly pursuing what they believe is right in one area can create great change because they don't have to be responsible for the outcome of anything other than what they are focused on.
This is a different type of inspirational story, then the previous article in this series on Roosevelt. Margaret devoted her life to one thing, being a formal leadership, had to consider the broader range of people's needs and ideas. Nevertheless, both women lived lives that remain inspirational many years after their death.
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When Life Is Frustrating

Do you hate it when you can't find the things you want? That can be downright frustrating. I loved various tasty spice mixes in a certain country where I served God as a missionary. Now returning back to Canada, I can't find those same spice mixes anywhere, and my food just does not taste the same. Life can certainly be much more frustrating than not finding spice mixes.
Life can be unpredictable and hard with broken friendships, loss of health, loss of jobs, loss of homes, broken marriages, betrayal, misunderstandings, loss of a child, death of a loved one. And you know how the list goes on. Such things are very hard on us and could lead to depression.
But God does not want us to give ourselves over to depression. He wants us to completely trust in Him. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways, acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths."
Our life situations will not always feel good and they can honestly cut us to the core of our hearts with much pain. We don't always know why things seem to be going so badly for us, and sometimes God will only reveal the answers to us in Heaven. But in such situations we must believe that God knows what is best and that things are working out for our good, because He is wise and knows what is best for us. Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."
When life is always changing and throwing many disasters our way, we can be sure that God is unchanging and will always be there for us because He loves us. Hebrews 13:8, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today and for ever."
Visit my website at http://ourchurch.com/member/g/greatthings
Article by Tina Coates
I am a Christian writer of articles, poems, Christian romance novels and books for Christian women and girls. I have served God on behalf of over one hundred nations of the world so I am able to bring an international flavor and much experience to my writing. If you as a Christian publisher would like me to write for you and would pay me fairly, please contact me at juliamnl249@gmail.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tina_Coates
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Why Every Mom Should Take a Mother's Day Out

What is a Mother's Day Out?

A mother's day out can be as simple as leaving the kids with your husband to have a day to yourself. Or it can be a regularly scheduled program you are signed up with at a local church. Maybe it's taking a few minutes to read your favorite website. A Mother's Day Out is a time for mom to walk away and regroup for a bit. Run errands, engage in activities that are difficult to enjoy with children underfoot, and rest!

Who can benefit from having a Mother's Day Out?

I am of the firm belief every mother needs some time to herself. From time to time we all have those moments where we just need a break! Especially for those moms who have young children who need so much of mom's time and energy every single day.

Do you feel guilty taking a break? Please don't. Every human being is allowed some time to rest and recharge, just because you're a mom doesn't mean that doesn't apply to you! If you do feel guilty, make the time productive. Eventually you'll ease into a routine and look forward to your break. You'll find that you return to your children refreshed and energized. A mother's day out could be just the thing you need to increase the quality of your time with your children.

What are some advantages of a regular Mother's Day Out?
Socialization for your childrenOpportunity to engage in social settings child free for momHelp with separation anxiety. If you leave and come back, kids learn to trust that it's okay for mom to leave. They know that you will be back.This will be a helpful skill when they go into school full time!Ability to run errands and complete chores quickly and get them out of the way so you can spend more quality time with your children (instead of "mommy is mopping...go to your room!").Time to rest and recharge! Even moms need a time-out sometimes!

What if traditional Mother's Day Out programs are out of my price range??

Switch off with your spouse. Each of you gets a certain amount of time every week to themselves. Or switch off with another mom. You can watch her kids while she takes some time to herself and vice versa. Enlist grandparents to watch their grandkids on a regular basis so you can get some time to yourself.

Whether you pay for a program, read your favorite mom blog or just leave the kids with dad for a few hours...make it a regular occurrence. Knowing you have a designated time to complete tasks, rest and relax can increase your patience and the quality of the time you have with your children throughout the week!

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Why Women Should Consider Having A SureTouch Breast Scan

SureTouch improves the Early Detection of Breast Cancer with new technology and expertise, namely the highly acclaimed SureTouch? Visual Mapping system.

The introduction of SureTouch now provides women of all ages with the option of having a regular Sensitive, Accurate, Pain Free & Radiation Free Computerised Breast Imaging with their own GP or primary health care professional. The procedure is non-invasive, requires no compression of the breast tissue and won't cause any harm to the patient as it uses no radiation to generate a scan.

? FACT: You could be 18 or 80, have dense breast tissue, have had a mastectomy or have undergone augmentation (implants), a SureTouch Computerised Breast Imaging is suitable for you.

? FACT: Breast Cancer does not discriminate as it can occur at any age.

? FACT: Women under 40 years do get breast cancer.

? FACT: A SureTouch CBI is a pain free breast examination.

? FACT: SureTouch is TGA Approved (Therapeutics Goods Administration) of Australia and by the regulatory authorities in the USA.

What is SureTouch?

SureTouch Visual Mapping system is a unique digital sensing device that assists a physician or other trained healthcare professional in screening for breast cancer in the coursework of scheduled exams, greatly increasing the chances of early diagnosis of breast cancer in women.

How does the technology work?

The SureTouch hand-held sensor is made up of a high resolution array of many small, proprietary, pressure-sensitive elements. These elements are the integral part of the technology that converts the measure of tissue elasticity in to an electronic signal, which is then digitized and computer analyzed.

Why should women have Computerised Breast Imaging?

Currently, women usually depend on self-examination or a similar hand examination by their primary care physician or gynecologist to identify breast lesions. Computerised Breast Imaging that's easy to receive and accurately displayed is beneficial to all women but to those between the ages of 25-40, who, unless we detect a concern, would not likely seek a mammogram. With breast cancer, early detection can make the dissimilarity between life and death.

Is the SureTouch examination accurate and reliable?

A two-year study of SureTouch funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH), and its surprising results for identifying and mapping breast lesions have been documented by the American Journal of surgical procedure and by the researchers involved in the project. Eight clinical studies carried out in various countries show that Suretouch is more accurate than conventional breast exams. In countries like India & China, Suretouch is used for breast screening in the general population. Suretouch can even pick up breast lesions after a mastectomy, whereas mammograms cannot where there is no breast tissue.

Can SureTouch be used as a diagnostic device?

It is not a diagnostic device. Its purpose is to visualize the sense of touch and generate an objective, reliable and consistent printed report for the information of the patient, a second formatted report for review by the attending medical practitioner and a digital document file that can be appended to the patient's electronic medical record viewable by mammographers and attending breast surgeons.

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Winter Accessory Must-Haves

Cool weather is upon us! Even the warmer states are starting to see chilly nights and northerly breezes. So now is the time to start packing away those strappy sandals and stocking up in the latest fall and winter fashion accessories.

Too often, people incorrectly rely on one utilitarian coat to carry them over in all conditions and all occasions. But coats are as important a part of your wardrobe as your shirts and shoes. Every woman should have a lighter, casual jacket for every day, such as a moto-chic fitted leather or rugged-but-girly twill military-style jacket. For both nicer casual and professional wear, purchase a wool pea coat or a trench coat, both of which famously highlight the feminine curves on almost every body type. For formal wear, look for a matching metallic or cashmere, knee-length or longer coat to stay warm in your sheer holiday dress.

Scarves are no longer just for keeping your neck warm. They are the accessory extraordinaire that moves from spring to winter, from casual to dressy, in all sizes, materials and colors. Their use is only as creative as its wearer: worn draped simply around the neck, knotted in creative pretzel shapes, even tied around the waist as a make-shift belt, or looped to make a colorful fabric necklace. For warmer winter days, match a sheer, fringed cotton scarf with a simple long-sleeved tee or tunic. The chilliest days are made for fuzzy wool and cashmere scarves knotted around your neck and tucked tightly into the neck of your coat.

You know it's winter when the boots arrive! Whether petite or statuesque, every woman looks amazing in knee-length heeled boots paired with skinny jeans or leggings. When wearing tights and a mini, try cute suede ankle boots in place of your usual flats. For added coziness and warmth, seek out Ugg boots in either fleece-lined suede or wool cardi knits

Thanks to the popularity of leggings and tights, we no longer have to put away those miniskirts when the weather turns cold. A flounced skirt looks adorable with calf-length leggings and flats. Pair herringbone or argyle pattern tights with a solid colored cotton or jean skirt for an interesting punch of texture and color. Thanks to the mixture of jeans with leggings to make what is called jeggings, you no longer have to work with stiff, heavy denim. No more struggling to stuff jean legs into knee-length boots, and fitted long shirts, sweaters and tunics remain streamlined.

Before the weather gets too cool, head to a women's boutique to prepare yourself for a fashionable but cozy winter season.

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Women And Their Bags

Women love fashion. Who doesn't? One thing that will not run out in fashion is accessories which in general are girl's best friends. A woman's beauty is enhanced by the accessories that she wears. Handbags is one of the most adored women accessories, even though it is expensive, women still opt to have it not as a sign of vanity but as a necessity. If only every woman can afford to have a designer's handbag then every month there would be shortage of supply and high demand for this accessory.

Women can get away with a bad hair or even having not so very fashionable shoes but never without a handbag. Because women needs a lot of things when they walk out of the house that is why they need to have a good quality handbag which they carry with them. Handbags for women also symbolize the fashion statement which they opt to use.

There are many handbags which women could purchase, but women knows one rule and that is to have just one durable and high quality handbag. Although it can be expensive, women still invest in good quality bags even some opt to have designer's handbag.

Designer's handbag does not mean it has to be expensive. There are designer's handbag that are affordable and with high quality. Bags which are released during the last season will be obsolete after another style has been open to the public and the latter will be put on sale. Opting to purchase cheap designer's bag will be a great option for women to have their favorite brand of bag hanging on their shoulders. Purchasing outdated original handbags is also an option for women to own good quality of bags in a lower price. These items are all original but were stocked for a long period of time.

If you can't still afford to have cheap designer's bag, you can still own a very classy designer's bag by renting them. This is very popular for those women who love bags especially those with names and just can't afford to buy one.

Women and bags are two things which are inseparable. The joy and happiness which these accessories give to women is incomparable. Whether it is a classy expensive one, an outdated bag or even borrowed, women would still want to have those hanging on their shoulders when they are walking down the street. Bags will be forever part of every woman's closet and they would always want to have a new one every now and then even if it cost a hundred of dollars.

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Women Interests Reflected on Most Visited Websites

Women interests can be monitored with the most visited websites they tend to browse. Printed magazines with hosted sites online, article hosting sites, and other interesting enough URLs are sure to reflect the topics most women has been busy reading and learning about.

Wide lifestyle and entertainment site. The varied topics of the site catered to women's preference are one the top one website for females. The health, beauty, style, relationship, shopping, and many other genres of women lifestyle has been engaging visitors to come back to their site due to its features and content.

Lifestyle, beauty, and fashion tips. Women are particularly learning about their health and life in this favorite site. There are also other tabs that can entice women to linger around their URL. The entertainment and relationship tabs are two of the most informative pages of the site that keeps women entertained.

International websites about women and culture. With a cultural dent for all races of women, this website has good links that point to other women resources usually found outside US and Canada. With varied topics and international view points, women learn to adjust to the different cultures women face in different territories.

Church community sites with outreach and volunteer opportunities. Women can update themselves with the activities of this spiritual congregation and how they operate as a community. Many women willing to do outreach projects or share some volunteer time to communities can easily connect with the service orientation of the website.

Women against violence and abuse sites. Sites that can lessen abuse made to women are gaining more supporters by the viewers it gathers. Women who have the means and resources to help other women to be free from abusive situations can be found here, often helped by other women professionals that can contribute to the cases of mistreating women in general.

Networks for mothers site. A network of moms both married and single who can connect with each other by their functional message board feature. Motherhood is being presented in the website as a general theme from rearing children, being a mom and a wife and all other aspects of mothering.

All girly stuffs site. This site is full of articles written by women for women. Many topics are being tackled and posted here with rich content that most women can relate to.

History of women websites. The pages are full of information regarding the lifestyle of women in the medieval times. This can be interesting for modern women who would want to find out how society has changed in the view points of women who have lived in a distant period and who had a different lifestyle than the modern woman.

Instructional women projects site. This site offers instructional project guides that a girl can easily follow. With specific procedures, materials, suppliers, and instructions, any project like creating frames, can be done by any female who knows how to read and follow instructions. A good resource for women who wants to engage in creative projects and crafts.

Spotlight on fascinating women's site. The website centers on the woman of the moment feature that showcases women doing, having done, or planning to do extraordinary causes and changes in almost all industries. A good site to visit when there is a need to know what women is more concern about the rest of the world.

Rounding up the top ten listing of the most visited website by women can be an eye opener to the real thoughts inside a woman's mind. Conversations need substance and you can already know how far the talk can go with the contents of the words and topics you can explore.

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Women Rights Made Incredible Strides Between 1850 and 1930 in the United States

Today in the United States women have incredible rights, and for the most part they have broken down all the glass ceilings. But it wasn't always that way, and it is important to know the history so you can understand how far women rights have come. It's quite impressive when you look at it from afar, and you study the annals of history in the United States.

There is a great book on this topic that I think you should read, and it is a book that I own, and one that like to recommend to you at this time. The name of the book is;

"To Be a Woman in America from 1850 to 1930" by Nat K Baxter with Constance Jacob, published by New York Times book publishing, 1978, 240 pages, ISBN: zero - 8129 - 0764 - seven.

Why did I like this book you ask? Well because it is a great reference which I can use in my writing but more importantly it tells the story of exactly how women lived during those time periods. It goes through all the different types of jobs that working women had, all the stereotypes they had to deal with, and all the breakthroughs that they accomplished and the hard-fought battles for equality. This is your basic kaleidoscope of history, and it is featured with pictures and paragraphs throughout.

We've come a long way in America, and I imagine we will have our first female president within the next couple of decades. It is a tribute to our nation that we have come this far. If you are studying woman's history, or you'd like to know more about this subject, this is a book that I would highly recommend to you. I think you can still find a used copy on Amazon or on eBay, and if you are serious about this topic you should have this in your personal library like I do. Indeed, I hope you will please consider this.

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Women Want Their Fair Share Too

Many believe that women do not get a fair shake when it comes to government contracts in business. Perhaps this is why many women have gotten together in entrepreneurial women's groups, to work together towards the common cause of profits and sustainable businesses. Not long ago, I was discussing this with a female entrepreneur over a cup of coffee at Starbucks. We both laughed when we read an article in the LA times while we were sitting and talking about how she might go about marketing or business locally.

In fact, a recent article in the Los Angeles Times titled; "Minorities, Women Urge LA to Share the Wealth - Black, Latino, and Asian Owned Business call on the City to Steer 35% of its $1.1 Billion in Annual Contracts to them, and Women Owned Firms," by Cyndia Zwahlen published in November of 2010.

If local governments, and state agencies will open their contracts and bidding up to women-owned businesses, and work to steer those contracts towards them, then perhaps they can do just as well as many of the male owned businesses which currently dominate many of the contracts in some of the regional markets. Luckily, I am proud to announce that the Small Business Administration has indeed made it easier for women to bid on and get federal contracts for services and products.

In fact, when you fill out the form at the GSA, there are several boxes to check if you are a woman owned business and can prove it. Some men think this is unfair, because they believe everyone should be treated equally, and the best person to get the contract, whether it is a woman or a man. Suffice it to say, after talking to my friend who's a woman entrepreneur, I also saw her point, and understand that she is doing what is in her own best self interests to try to put her business where it belongs and in her opinion we must; level playing field for women-owned businesses. Indeed, I hope you will please consider this woman's topic of the day, and think on it.

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Women's Interest Topic of the Day

Today, we have the first black president, and that is a major statement about the United States, it shows that more and more glass ceilings and barriers are being broken. And it's very good to see that, but I ask you how much do you know regarding the history of how America came to this place in time? I ask because recently, I read and scanned through a very interesting book. In fact, I'd like to recommend it to you, as it is some interesting reading, the name of this book is;

"Book of Black Heroes - Great Women in the Struggle" Volumes One and Two, Edited by Toyomi Igus and written by Veronica Freeman Ellis, Diane Patrick, Valerie Wilson Wesley, published by Just Us Books, Inc, New York, NY, (1991), volume one = 110 pages and volume two = 107 pages, ISBN: 0-590-46629-1.

In these volumes are listed all the famous black women in history, those names we all know such as Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Coretta Scott King, Winnie Mandela, Maya Angelou, Aretha Franklin, Florence Griffin Joyner, Oprah Winfrey, and Mae C. Jamison - and yet, this book allows us to see much more, names that made absolutely significant contributions to black American women, names that you may not have heard of but whose contributions should be known.

Every true American should read through these volumes and get to know the people who brought us so far, contributed so much, and made America so great. Whether one is a racist, or sees no color, this book reminds us of who we are and how we got here, and the importance that one single individual can make in the cause of freedom. All women should know this history, and all men should understand and get to know these historical figures.

This is a book about America, and how far we've come - it's wonderful to see. Indeed, I hope you will please consider this and email me if you too are making significant contributions to this great nation. Think on it, focus, and deliver on that promise.

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Your Wedding Isn't a Disaster Until It Ends in Jail

A lot of women start dreaming about the perfect wedding from the first time they hear Snow White (or Cinderella). It's the one day in a woman's life when she gets to be a beautiful princess and the man in her life becomes a handsome prince. But sometimes, despite months of planning and conscientious attention to detail, things just go wrong. It's been said that all weddings have at least three minor hiccups. The definition of minor is subjective, but examples would probably include a big red pimple on the bride's nose, the groom arriving late (but still arriving) and having the wrong flowers.

Minor hiccups aren't enough for some people though, who end up having exceptionally memorable wedding days for all the wrong reasons.

Take for instance the bride who was arrested on her wedding day. Adrienne Samen apparently likes to party. When other brides would be mingling with their guests, dancing and reveling in the spotlight, Samen was getting drunk, and not quietly. Shocked guests witnessed the increasingly intoxicated bride have a slanging match with her brand new husband and when words were not enough they watched as she flung cake and vases at the man. She went back to the bar to drown her now evident sorrows and had a bit of a meltdown when the bar shut up shop for the night. The police had to be called in, which is when things went from bad to worse. Samen tried to bite a police officer and managed to kick out one of the police car windows. After all that, she was charged with breaching the peace and criminal mischief. She was fined $90.

MSNBC lists two more weddings that ended in arrests.

The first is a case of lessons not learnt. A couple who had been married before decided to give wedded bliss one more chance. The problem is that the first time round the groom's foul temper had led to their divorce. His temper was so foul that the bride had a restraining order against him. Which hadn't been rescinded when they stood before the altar for the second time. All would have been well except that the groom's temper got the better of him and he got into a bit of a barney with one of the guests. The police were called in and they recognised the groom his previous arrests. They realised he was in violation of the restraining order and, possibly because they were tired of the same old pattern, arrested him.

The second is a lesson to always give the bride what she wants. A couple who had, presumably, been happily married for quite some time decided to renew their wedding vows. It's a romantic gesture and it's not unreasonable to expect it to be accompanied by a suitably romantic event and genteel behaviour. This might have been the case here, if the band hadn't unreasonably decided that their set was done and handed the music reins to the DJ. The bride got a little ticked off and gave vent to her frustration by throwing some of the band's equipment around. Once again, the police were called in and once again the bride did not go quietly. This time, however, the whole family got in on the action with the bride, the groom and their 21-year-old daughter having a right row with the police. They were all arrested.

Finally, we have a case of a near wedding disaster made good.

Shortly before a Halloween-themed wedding, a groom got cold feet and backed out of the wedding. The bride was unable to get back the deposit for the wedding hall, so she was faced with being ditched and losing her hard-earned money. She spotted a retirement community across the way from the hall and decided to turn her bad fortune around. Instead of moping, she threw a great big Halloween party for the community's senior citizens, donated her bouquet to their chapel and went on her "honeymoon" to Hawaii by herself.

All of which goes to show that some weddings are destined for disaster, but sometimes even greater disaster can be averted and gold spun from straw.

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What Are Fusion Weaves?

Fusion is a process in which human hair extensions are added to the ends of your natural hair strand by strand. This process is one of the most permanent forms of hair extension installation, lasting anywhere from three to six months with proper maintenance. When applying this semi-permanent weave, the stylist attaches each strand of the human hair to the end of your natural hair, extending the length and thickness of your hair.

Two Types of Fusion Applications

Hot fusion. In this technique, a hot fusion connector is used to bond the hair to the root of your natural hair. The hot fusion technique can last up to six months with proper care. This technique is best for those with strong, thick hair that can withstand the weight of both the hair and the glue.

Cold fusion The cold fusion technique uses a keratin-based polymer and ultrasound device to bond the human hair extension to the ends of your natural strand. This is a newer technique, and is more gentle to the natural follicle, preserving your natural hair and preventing damage. Many women who wear cold fusion weaves report that they have a more natural feel.

Benefits of Fusion Weaves

Unlike sewn in or bonded weaves, there are no tracks, wefts, braids or nets with a fusion weave. You can run your hands through your hair, just as you would your natural hair. The fusion weave typically lasts several months, but with proper maintenance, can last up to a year.

Human Hair for Fusion Weaves

The hair you choose for your weave is specific for the technique, and should be purchased from a reputable online retailer. Your supplier should specialize in Indian hair extensions. There are two types of extensions that you can buy for your weave. Make sure you purchase quality Indian human hair that will last for the duration of your weave.

I-tipped" or "shoelace tipped" extensions are the most commonly used type of extensions for fusion hair weaves. These strands of human hair have a tip on the end that make the bonding process possible. The keratin tips are easily removed and prevent hair damage during and after the weaving process. I-tipped extensions are most often used in cold fusion methods.

"U-tipped" or "nail tipped" extensions are made from the finest italian keratin, and allow for the easy bonding of the human hair extension to the ends of your natural hair strand. They are easily removed and don't cause damage to the hair.

U-tipped extensions are most often used in hot fusion methods.

Fusion hair weaves are a great way to enjoy the versatility and glamour of a human hair weave that is indistinguishable from your natural hair. Only you and your stylist will know.

Alison Moxley is a freelance writer, a small business owner and a stay at home mom. In her spare time, she enjoys researching, writing and being a diva.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alison_Moxley

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