Read A Book - Fast!

Did you know the average reader reads about 200 wpm off a computer screen? And about 240 wpm from paper, at 60% comprehension? This right here says a lot about comprehending what's going on in the world. A lot of folks are missing a lot of stuff - just a traveler

Researching, and blogging takes up lots of time, and if you learn to scan groups of phrases, you get a lot more done, and have more time for all those other important things we all like to do.

I took the test and got 638 wpm, and was a little disappointed because I thought it would be higher. So head on over and check your reading skills.

P.S. They are selling this product, but the test is free. No need to buy, you can do this on your own, unless you just feel like spending some money.

Free Online Reading Speed Test

Get more tips like this at Increase Your Website Traffic

Hip Hop Kids

Hip Hop Legend Grand Master Jay was the master of the turntable.

But you gotta take a look at these two 8 and 5 year old kids scratching - better watch out DJ's . . . just a traveler

A White Tree in Jena

Black bloggers, DJ's and other conscious people took the story of the Jena 6 from an internet movement to over 20,000 marchers who showed up to the small town in Louisiana yesterday in support of racial and social justice.

What seems to be missing from this story is the role of the adults in Jena - parents, school officials and the school board. Kids are not, and have never been in charge of school policies.

The policy at the Jena high school was to ignore a tree that only white kids could sit under. At no time did any of these school officials think this was unacceptable. And it's obvious that any discussion of racial diversity was not present at this high school.

As this discussion continues, let everyone be mindful that parents, teachers and school officials have a role in shaping how kids see this world and each other. Rather than just look at these kids, both black and white - why not take the adults in this small southern town to task? They are truly the ones who allowed this racism to continue, and responsible for the situation as it stands today. It's 2007 people, and "whites only facilities" went out back in the 60's.

A lot of people say these kids should not have handled this situation with their fists. I say it could HAVE been handled differently. But I also go back to my original point of the role of adults. Do not put kids in situations that should be handled by adults, and don't cope out when you allow kids to take matters into their own hands.

Free the Jena 6

Words of Wisdom from Rev Run

Rev Runs Word of The Day (Persevere)
Being tough is not about how hard you can hit. It's all about how hard you can get hit and still keep going... (Always remember!) Sometimes the world is rough... so get tough!

God is Love
Rev Run

Freedom

Keep the faith in freedom America!

Timeline to Tyranny

Oppose Mountaintop Removal Mining!

After blogging about this in a recent post, a visitor sent this info and asked me to please post. No problem, I believe mountains need to keep their tops . . . just a traveler

Mountaintop removal mining is the nation's most destructive form of coal mining, and it has to stop.

Mountaintop removal is exactly what it sounds like: Mining companies clearcut native forests and blow off mountaintops with explosives to uncover thin seams of coal, then dump millions of tons of the waste rock into the valleys below, permanently burying streams.

This devastating practice poisons drinking water, lays waste to wildlife habitat, increases risk of flooding, and wipes out entire communities.

Little by little, mountaintop removal mining is destroying the mountains, streams, communities, and heritage of Appalachia.

Sign the petition . . .
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/938205292?z00m=9952304

Corporate Media Boycott

I'm an admitted news junkie, and also admit to visiting way too many blogs. I'm just like that - love to know what's going on the world, and share a little info along the way. I like to think of myself as a conscious person, but right now I have a problem . . . just a traveler

This coverage of OJ is really getting me down. Personally I, along with many others, do not share this obsession about his every move, motives, lifestyle, etc.

There are way too many other important stories in this country and the world besides stupid OJ. This is the reason why so many people have turned to the internet and blogs to get information.

People we have nuclear bombs flying illegally over U.S. air space, two wars that are not going well with soldiers dying or being badly injured daily - with rumors of another war with Iran, our dollar is in serious crisis on the world scene, and there is some kind of secret government martial law operation scheduled for next month - Vigilant Sheild 08 and Topoff - and that's just for starters.

But the corporate media is hooked on OJ, Britney and other 24/7 nonsense that has nothing whatsoever to do with the problems this country is facing.

Now I know some people are also hooked on and love this mess. I say you continue on while the country falls apart. Let the major news networks give you a couple of hours of this mess daily - that way they can get all their daily gossip facts and give you a good dose instead of spreading it out all day, and into the night. Those of us who refuse to participate want to know exactly when the hot mess will be scheduled so we can be sure not to tune in.

I went over to CNN and MSNBC and told them just that. Perhaps if enough of us do this, we can get their attention back on some real news and investigation.

Just "google" some of the issues listed above, and see what you come up with - especially Vigilant Sheild 08.

U.S. Troop Blogs Show Criticism of War

With the world being bombarded by all factions on their side on the war in Iraq, U.S. soldiers Internet blogs provided the kind of public relations Madison Avenue would drool over.

Soldiers told of helping Iraqi families, the loss of friends and their dangerous daily missions.

In the past year, as soldiers and Marines return for the second, third or even fourth deployments, and the death toll approaches 4,000, some soldiers began questioning the war.

At the very least they risk administrative punishments, called Article 15s, though if it has happened it has been kept quiet.

“The toothpaste is out of the tube. And, try as they might, the military’s information nannies are not going to be able to stuff it back in,” said Noah Schatman of Wired Magazine in an e-mail from Taji, Iraq. He said soldiers will pay $55 a month for a private connection.

Read full article at the Air Force Times

World's Largest Oil Spill in New York

You can smell it before you see it say environmental officials from Riverkeeper. This oil spill is found between the waterway that divides Brooklyn and Queens.

Estimates say between 17 and 30 million gallons - 50% larger than the Exxon Valdez spill has been allowed to continue for half a century.

The big oil players have all played the blame game and the blame has changed hands over the years. Mobile sold to Amoco, and Texaco even had storage facilities in the area. In todays world these companies are known as ExxonMobile, BP and Chevron, and the story is still the same - don't blame us.

Government officials haven't been much help either pointing fingers at each other. Meanwhile the citizens of Queens and Brooklyn continue to live in an environment where you smell gasoline when it rains.

Checkout this timeline, and see how the largest oil spill in the world was, and is still being handled.

Read more on Breathless in Brooklyn

DC Altruism Under Attack

What would make a retired federal worker with a master's degree end up housing the homeless and drug addicted? Well some people are like that - they see the best of the worst situations, and just jump in and make a difference.

Harold said, "One day I'm walking my dog and I saw this old carriage house and thought, why not use that?" he says. "First time in the door I had to walk through a snowdrift. A homeless man, covered in snow, was sleeping in it."

Against the wishes of some Capitol Hill residents who didn't want his homeless clients around, Gordon got a 10-year lease to rent the space from the city. With the help of donated labor and material, he turned the stable with grain troughs into offices. With grants and sweat, he has grown CAG into a successful drug-rehabilitation organization that has housed and trained and uplifted thousands in buildings around Capitol Hill.

If you agree that the CAG should be allowed to remain in the Carriage House then please send a message to Washington DC Mayor Adrian Fenty, and the City Council.

It doesn't matter where you live or who you are. Please let them know that the eyes of the world are upon them. All it will cost is a few minutes of your time, and then count yourself as another person helping to make a difference.

For more information, visit this site

Southwest Flips Script on Mini Skirt Passenger

Talking about marketing PR, how do you apologize to a female customer you put off your plane because you thought her skirt was too short?

Now most of you have probably seen the passenger on TV, and we can all agree that she was not dressed as the airline described. Since the story has made Southwest look so bad, they have put a great spin on the story, and have named their new low fare campaign after her.

Yes, now all of us can travel on the new "Mini Skirt" one way low fares of $49 to $109. And here's the public apology - gotta give it to them on this one . . . just a traveler


"From a company who really loves PR, touche to you Kyla!" Kelly said. "Some have said we've gone from wearing our famous hot pants to having hot flashes at Southwest, but nothing could be further from the truth. As we both know, this story has great legs, but the true issue here is that you are a valued customer, and you did not get an adequate apology.

Kyla, we could have handled this better, and on behalf of Southwest Airlines, I am truly sorry. We hope you continue to fly Southwest Airlines. Our company is based on freedom even if our actions may have not appeared that way. It was never our intention to treat you unfairly and again, we apologize."

Mini Skirt Fares at Southwest

Blogger Play

And the pics just keep on coming . . . just a traveler

Blogger Play will show you a never-ending stream of images that were just uploaded to public Blogger blogs.

You can click the image to be taken directly to the blog post it was uploaded to, or click “show info” to see an overlay with the post title, a snippet of the body, and some profile information about the blogger who uploaded it.

Risking Your Life for Music

Within the past 10 days 56 Africans died trying to cross from Somalia to Yemen, others were beaten and doused with acid according to the UN refugee agency.

But while most people are trying to escape the violence in Somali, one man's love of music drove him to actually cross the border from Kenya and sneak into the country of Somali.

Mohammed Abdi Jamal put his life in danger because he was inspired by the sounds of Waayaha Cusub, a musical group composed of young Somali refugees living in Nairobi. The group raps and sings about serious social issues including womens rights, AIDS and freedom of speech.

One of their songs, Freedom denounces an Islamic ban on music and a strict dress code for women. Another song Somalia speaks of the corruption of the countries leaders. Band members have been threatened by the government, and even their families for continuing to bring their message of music.

Check out Rap from Somali Group Waayaha Cusub

Animal Odd Couple

They're an odd couple in every sense but a monkey and a pigeon have become inseparable at an animal sanctuary in China.

I love this pic because it just shows that it is possible for the global human community to share more love and compassion for each other. . . . just a traveler

The 12-week-old macaque - who was abandoned by his mother - was close to death when it was rescued on Neilingding Island, in Goangdong Province.

After being taken to an animal hospital his health began to improve but he seemed spiritless - until he developed a friendship with a white pigeon.

Find out more about the "odd couple"

Google Bankrolling the Moon

Google Inc. is bankrolling a $30 million out-of-this-world prize to the first private company that can safely land a robotic rover on the moon and beam back a gigabyte of images and video to Earth, the Internet search leader said Thursday.

The race to the moon won't be easy or cheap - Teams have to raise money to build a roaming spacecraft that will be tough enough to survive a landing and have the smarts to complete a set of tasks. Each rover must also be equipped with high-definition video and still cameras to document the journey.
Read full story

Words of Wisdom from Rev Run

Good morning. God gives every bird its food, but he does not throw it
into the nest. God gives the nuts, but he does not crack them. (In
closing) If your ship doesn't come in, swim out to it!!!!! Let's go!
:-)

God is Love,
Rev Run

Australia Looking for American Youth Workers

Goway Launches Working Tours for American Youth
I've been away for awhile due to starting back to school and work. Got my work schedule changed so I have more time for homework and blogging. Damn, if I wasn't in school I would love to sign up for this program, so I'm posting in hopes that you or someone you know can take advantage!! If you do go, holla back - just a traveler

Goway Travel has launched a new working holiday program for young Americans. Under a new reciprocal work and holiday visa young Americans can travel and work in Australia for up to a year.

The visa, which had been under consideration for some time, will go into effect Oct. 31, 2007.

US citizens wishing to participate in the Australia work visa program must be aged 18 to 30 inclusive, be outside of Australia when they apply for and are granted the visa, show evidence that they are enrolled in a post secondary course of study or hold post secondary qualifications, have a return ticket or sufficient funds for a return or onward fare as well as sufficient funds for the first part of their stay, and meet health and character requirements.

Goway can assist with processing the visa through its G'DAY (Go Downunder for A Year) package which includes: assistance processing the visa; good prices on airfares to Australia; airport transfer; four nights' accommodation in Sydney; setting up an Australian Tax File Number; Australian pre-paid SIM card, including $30 of free calls; opening a bank account; a filofax travel and work diary; an orientation welcome meeting in central Sydney; an online account for storage of all important documents; computer, Internet and e-mail access; mail holding service; access to job boards and placement service; help in finding an apartment; the best in backpacker travel advice to Downunder; and toll free emergency number.

For more information, call 800-387-8850 or visit www.goway.com.