Think Twice About Identity Theft

If you think identity theft happens only to other people, think twice.

I woke up to that the reality that anyone could be a victim of identity theft when my son called and told me he was notified of suspicious activity on his credit card. He lives in California and the charges occurred in Washington, a state he had never visited before.

Identity theft happens when someone uses your personal information without your permission to commit a fraud crime. An identity thief needs only a small amount of personal information to make the crime happen. Often your first hint that your identity was stolen is when you start to get calls about overdue bills. When the calls stop that does not mean your identity has been restored. The thief may just be changing the address to where the bills are sent when he uses your credit card.

Identity theft refers to the theft of name badges, driver's licenses, social security numbers and other financial information.

If your social security number is stolen, you can place a "initial fraud alert" by calling one of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies:

Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; [http://www.equifax.com;] P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742); [http://www.experian.com;] P.O. Box 2002, Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; [http://www.transunion.com;] Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790

If the theft involves your driver's license or other government ID, call the agency immediately to cancel the document and get a new one issued.

To help thwart identity theft use internet passwords with random letters and numbers. Using your mother's maiden name or even a pet's name is insecure.If you discover that you are an identity theft victim, call your credit card companies and cancel your credit cards immediately. Call your bank and discuss whether you should close any accounts there as well.

You can also monitor your personal credit report to spot incorrect information. Remember that fraudulent activity may not show up right away so it is good to monitor often. Here is one website where you can obtain a free credit report: https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp

Keep an eye out for missing bills and be suspicious if you receive a credit card you did not apply for. Another warning sign of identity theft is denial of a new credit card you applied for or more stringent terms on a new card.

Check out the Federal Trade Commission's ID Theft website for valuable information: [http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/]

Identity theft is definitely on the rise. In 2003 over 198,000 identity fraud complaints were issued. According to the latest government report in December 2005, identity theft complaints rose almost 30% to 255,000 complaints were made. In fact, identity theft complaints represented 37 percent of the 686,683 complaints filed.

Identity theft will probably never go away. Be smart and take precautions now to avoid a horrible experience in the future.

Choose Cheap RC Cars As Inexpensive Educational Toys

Everyone would like their children to learn and have fun as they play. Today, there are many expensive toys that are said to focus on many different areas of education and development; however, simple toys like cheap RC cars can have just as many benefits.

To get a better idea why RC cars are an excellent choice for different developmental stages, consider the following benefits:

Sharpen Fine Motor Skills

Remote Control cars as racers or models are a wonderful tool to help children sharpen their fine motor skills. The controller will generally have a series of buttons, switches or levers that must be manipulated with different fingers and thumbs. The car itself is perfect for fine motor skills, especially when replacing parts with the help of an adult. The small parts, screws and attachments need the use of small fingers for proper placement. Since cheap RC cars will have inexpensive replacement parts, they can be purchased to help train fine motor skills whether it's needed or not.

Hand-eye Coordination

Using RC cars with the controller greatly helps older children develop their hand-eye coordination. By creating tracks or obstacle courses that the car must go through is a sure way to make the practice fun. By making sure the children manipulate the correct combinations on the controller to make the car do exactly what they like takes practice and creates an enjoyable way to develop their skills.

Science and Math in RC Car Racing

When it comes to helping pre-teens and teenagers learn from something as simple as cheap RC cars, there are several avenues to explore within the subjects of math and science. While driving an RC car, they will be able to observe changes and relationships with velocity and momentum, learn about angles and gravity with ramps and loops and figure out different variable combinations to achieve a wide variety of stunts and movements each time.

Responsibility

The children will get a chance to learn responsibility with radio controlled cars more than other toys since they are fairly complicated in design. If a part should require replacement or repair, the children will get a chance to do it on their own or with the help of an adult. By repairing the different parts of the toy, the children will learn to take better care of them and how to use simple tools for repair like adults.

This may not seem like a very beneficial point for some parents but it's definitely a good quality to teach early on so that the children will be able to understand why taking care of objects is important. The children will also be able to learn important lessons that will greatly help them in the future, when they will have more responsibilities to deal with and no help around them.

Cheap RC cars are versatile and beneficial for physical and mental development for children and teens. They are a small investment for a brighter future, not to mention they're simply enjoyable to learn with.

Tips to Play the Guitar Well

There are lots of methods that can be adapted in playing a guitar and one thing that I will give you is by motivating yourself like you are playing in front of a crowd. If you are the kind of person who can be motivated by a number of people that listen to you, then this one is a big advantage. The motivation that comes from the crowd can give you an edge to play the guitar farther than the others.

If you have a group of friends that knows on how to play the guitar then it is a plus factor to you. They can contribute in some point because there are some techniques that you will learn from them. Another thing that can help you to get motivated by a group of people is through your family. It is better if your family is musically inclined because you can get all the needed support and appreciation you need. On the other hand there are other ways that you and your friend can do to have the needed atmosphere that you need. Organize a small place or studio wherein you can jam around from time to time and also plan a simple recital each week for better benefits. This recital is something that you can always look forward each day and this will inspire you to practice more. Invite other people so that all your preparations will bear the needed fruits of motivation that you need.

On the other hand, if you are the type of person that cannot handle performing in front of a certain number of people, then do not worry because you can still learn on how to be a good guitarist on some other method as well.

If you plan to learn to play the guitar well, then one method that I can share to you is by using some tablature and asking advice from people who are already veterans in this kind of field. It is very important that you will learn on how to read a tablature, this is one way that you will be able to enhance and polish your guitar skills. Having to seek advice from some guitar veterans can give you an advance skill that you cannot get just by your own. It is always important that having to play the guitar means also sharing your talent to others.

Playing the guitar can give you some added benefits on different part of your life. If your friends and families are musically inclined then it is easier for you to learn on how to play the instruments. It will also give you the chance to perform and teach other people regarding the talent that you have gained. Learning on how to play the guitar is not easy at the start, but if you are motivated and inspired, it will not take a long time before you can play your own music. In anything that you do, render time and dedication so that you can achieved your goal.

Camping in Currituck County

Camping has been a popular recreational activity in the United States for many years and became more popular in the early 20th century. Campers use the time to get away from civilization and enjoy nature up close. Camping in the Outer Banks of North Carolina can provide the perfect retreat for all types of camping enthusiasts.

"Camping" describes a wide variety of activities; a survivalist may set out with just a pair of boots on their feet while recreational travelers may arrive at their camping site equipped with their own electricity, heat and air conditioning, and comfortable patio furniture. A popular kind of campers, those who use a tent, are commonly called "tent campers." Recreational Vehicles, or RVs, allow campers to have most of the comforts of home while traveling to camp sites that provide utility attachments. Campgrounds throughout Currituck County, NC offer these types of camping as well as others like survivalist, huntsman, and surf camping.

While camping is often the objective, it is usually combined with other outdoor activities such as hiking or hunting. Campers on Bells Island in Currituck can enjoy camping close to the Currituck Sound, where they can participate in boating, fishing, crabbing, and other water sports. Distant waves provide a comforting sound to fall asleep to at night.

Camping in Currituck County, North Carolina is also a great place for wildlife enthusiasts to photograph and catalog various species of plants, mammals, birds, reptiles, and aquatic animals. Several endangered species, such as piping plover, sea beach amaranth, and loggerhead sea turtles call the brackish water marshes home. Perhaps the most splendid could be the galloping groups of wild horses that roam the area, stunning observers with their speed and elegance.

Currituck County has long been a destination for people who enjoy camping activities. From the glory days of the hunt clubs to today, many people have made Currituck a favorite camping destination, offering every type of camping that an outdoor enthusiast could desire.

Bells Island Campground is about 22 acres of land on the Currituck Sound. Campers will find tent camping areas, RV hook-up sites and clean restroom and shower facilities on site. Available activities include fishing, crabbing, boating and sailing. Contact Bells Island Campground for more information at (252) 232-2590.

Hampton Lodge Camping Resort offers RV hook-ups and other amenities for all sorts of campers. Its numerous nature walks and bike trails are a great way to spend an afternoon outdoors. They can be reached at (252) 453-2732 for additional details.

Sandy Point Resort Campground is on Knotts Island on the Currituck Sound. They feature 80 full RV hook-up sites, 30 water and electric sites and 40 primitive sites. This campground has a boat ramp, a sandy beach and fishing access. Contact Sandy Point at (252) 429 3094 to find out more.

Creative Ways to Get Inbound Links

Creativity is the key. When it comes to making a go of an Internet business enterprise, it is important for you to come up with creative ways to get inbound links. In this regard, this article has been prepared to provide you with creative ways to get inbound links for your Internet business website. By using these creative ways to get inbound links you will be able to enhance your business, increase your revenue and enjoy greater profits in not time at all.

There are a number of different creative and effective ways through which you can garner an increase in inbound links. Three important, creative and effective ways to get inbound links are itemized in this article for your general consideration and review. Indeed, you may end up wanting to implement a comprehensive program that utilizes all three of these creative ways to get inbound links.

First, people from all walks of life appreciate getting something of value for free. Freebies are great, when all is said and done. Therefore, one sure-fire method through which you creatively can obtain and enhance the number of inbound links that you have is to offer something interesting, enjoyable or worthwhile for not charge. Many people have found that this methodology attracts a significant number of new inbound links in a very short period of time. You need to keep in mind that this type of creative program does not have to be costly. You can offer some decent freebies that do not require a significant financial investment on your part.

Second, people like to win. On some level, this can be tied into the first creative way to get inbound links discussed in this article. You can develop a scheme and a program through which those who provide you with inbound links will be entered into some sort of contest. The winner of the contest can be provided with something that will be interesting, enjoyable or worthwhile. As with giving something for free in exchange for an inbound link or links, this program can provide a fantastic way of increasing inbound links in a very short amount of time.

Third, you can attract more inbound links creatively by offering your particular expertise in exchange for the inbound link or links. If you have a particular area in which you do have a special and sought after expertise, many, many people will be more than willing to trade an inbound link or links in exchange for gaining access to your wonderful expertise.

Be Happy! Happiness is Just a Matter of Mind

Though one could be infinitely happy by just enjoying the nature and family and all the human-made things, there are still millions of people who are unhappy. In the developed countries there is very fortunate circumstance of having both God-given and man-made things. Still majority of people there are unhappy. In the developing countries, where for millions there is a real scarcity of even basic needs, people seem to be happy. There are some people who are engaged in difficult tasks and in warfare, and even incarcerated in prisons, and are still happy! We have just discussed the factors of happiness. Millions of people have them, still they are unhappy. There are millions of others who don't have them, yet they are happy!

You would realize that the mere availability and abundance of God given and human-made things is not enough. There is something else which should be right to be happy. Of course, it is our mind that must have right attitude towards and capacity to be happy.

Milton in Paradise Lost says,

'The mind is its own place, and in itself

Can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven.'

One can give various examples of how mind can influence our body::

o Pavlov's dog starts salivating at the sound of the bell without any food in sight.

o If we are tense we often get headache, backache, and spondylitis, etc.

o Heart attacks are directly linked to worry and tension.

o Right mental attitude helps in curing many bodily maladies.

o By self-talk, motivation, and positive attitude we can become happy and successful.

o Through hypnosis one can have command over another person's mind and body.

o Through meditation one can have a healthy body and extra sensory abilities.

Mind has extra-ordinary powers and as far as happiness is concerned it has the ultimate power. We should, therefore, have a positive attitude towards life. Instead of concentrating on bad things in life and people, we should concentrate on redeeming features in them. We should not keep on thinking about past failures and bad experiences but be encouraged by our past success and good experiences. Similarly, we should not be unduly anxious about future as our anxiety is not going to have a positive effect, but we should plan and work hard for the future.

In whatever circumstances you are, you can never have total lack of God-given and man-made happiness. You cannot completely take away nature from somebody; you cannot take away all man-made things from somebody. Even if everything is taken, one's family and friends are there. One's precious body is there. And, even if you chain somebody securely in a dungeon, one's mind is free. One is free to be happy in one's mind! Mind is difficult to be mastered by oneself, but it is impossible to be vanquished by anybody, any authority, or whatever conditions or situations.

Abraham Lincoln has beautifully expressed it: "Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."

BE HAPPY!

Termite Inspection - Inspect The Munch Monster!

Termite inspection refers to visually inspecting all the accessible areas in a home where wood destroying organisms and insects can attack. The inspector conducts a termite inspection by looking at the exteriors and interiors of the home including subspaces such as the basement and other crawlspaces. The inspector will also check the attic in areas where Drywood termites are present as well as in houses where sub-areas are not present.

After performing the termite inspection, the inspector reports the findings on the required applicable form. On an average, a termite inspection takes around half an hour to forty five minutes for a complete inspection, depending on the conditions and the size. It also depends on the kind of storage, clutter etc. in the home. Be patient with the termite inspector and pay heed to what he says if you want a thorough check up of your property and if you want a proper feedback on the condition of your house.

Once the termite inspection is complete and you have the report in your hand, you should consult a pest control company that is licensed so that you can get rid of the existing termites in your home and prevent them from coming back. While the termite inspector is conducting his inspection, find out from him the areas in your house which have higher tendency for termite attack so that you can direct the pest control company to these spots and make them concentrate the termite killing chemicals here.

A termite inspection costs around hundred dollars but this usually depends on the location and neighborhood you live in. But when the pest control is conducted after the termite inspection, the prices will vary. The amount of infestation and damage will determine the number of areas in your house that must be treated and the prices will differ accordingly. Ensure that you receive a price quote prior to beginning the service.

You will see immediate results after your termite control treatment. After the application of the chemicals, the pests should directly disappear. But repairing damage is another issue altogether. Periodically conduct termite inspections on your home if you wish to avoid damage and destruction of your home. This will help prevent future infestations and will also tackle on going infestations immediately. You would have spent a good amount of money on your home, so it is only fair that you spend a little more on protecting it from these pests; it is worth the money.

How To Ride a Caster Board

We are all starting to hear about wave and caster boarding which is a new form of skateboarding. But compared to skateboarding with this you need to learn a whole new set of techniques if you want to ride yours correctly. As you will soon discover these boards have been specifically designed so they can contain the same attributes that you will find in skateboards, snowboards and surfboards. But in this article we will be showing you how to ride your caster board including the Ripstik model much more effectively.

Step 1

You will need to learn how to move your feet on the board correctly in order to propel you and the board along. It is important that you learn to move each of your hips by themselves in a twisting motion. If you think about the dance the twist then this is the type of motion you should be getting your hips to carry out. But as you twist your hips you should then be moving your feet so that they respond to the up and down motion that is being caused as your hips twist.

It is best that before you actually start riding your board that you practice this motion a few times whilst stood on level ground. It is best if you try this for about 10 minutes in order that you get a real feel for how your hips and feet should be moving before you actually beginning riding the board.

Step 2

Get on your protective gear and then place your board on a pavement which has a very slight downward slope to it. If your left leg is more dominant than your right one then this is the one that you should lead off with and if it is your right then lead off with this. Now once you have your feet placed on each platform of the board you will now need to start carrying out the twisting motion that you have practiced in step 1 above. Then after a while you will find that you have reached a certain speed and no longer will you need to move your legs as much in order to keep the momentum going.

It is important that when learning to use any kind of caster board such as the Ripstik that you practice as much on level ground as possible just so that you can learn how to effectively twist your body to get the motion and momentum going properly. Then as you begin to gain confidence in your abilities then you can start to learn new and different things.

Infrared Saunas - Turn Your Home Into a Spa

An Infrared sauna can turn your home instantly into a spa. These affordable saunas are therapeutic and can really make a dramatic improvement on your overall quality of life. You may find your friends and family visiting a bit more too. Of course, if you are going to invest in one of the many infrared saunas on the market you want to invest in a good one.

Over the last few years, my husband and I have owned three different homes that have had infrared saunas (yes, we move a lot, but that is a topic for another day). The sauna the two of us liked the most was from Precision Therapy. This particular In Home Sauna was made from cedar (which I love) and looks great and functions even better.

We bought the Precision Therapy sauna because it came with a lifetime warranty. The first In Home Sauna we owned was already in the home when we purchased it and it did not last too long, nor did it have a warranty. My husband and I feel strongly that we will only buy from companies that stand behind the quality of their products.

The particular model we purchased was for 2 people. Not only because we do like to sit in the sauna together, but also because my husband is a pretty big guy and he feels more comfortable in the 2-person sauna than the 1-person sauna. Precision Therapy sells infrared saunas in both sizes.

I am a big fan of cedar, my husband likes it too. The sauna we bought was cedar wood on the outside. It is very well made and is standing up to some rough challenges. By challenges I mean our sons are not the most gentle when playing near the sauna.

Since my most recent pregnancy, I still get lower back pain. My husband works out five times per week so he is prone to getting stiff and achy at times too. The two of us love using the sauna for that reason. We typically set it for 120 degrees but we have been known to crank it to 140 degrees at times.

The Precision Therapy infrared saunas are comfortable and safe. We did our homework about safety before we purchased the sauna. It is also pretty energy efficient which was another important consideration. My husband did hours and hours of research comparing saunas before settling in on Precision Therapy infrared saunas.

In addition to the above, we also liked the bells and whistles. The magazine rack is handy (though my poor husband does not get to put any of his magazines on it) and the towel rack is convenient. The glass is tempered glass which makes it safer and the back rest makes the sauna more comfortable.

If you are in the market for a sauna you definitely want to focus on infrared saunas. When it comes to In Home Sauna you can not go wrong with Precision Therapy's infrared saunas.

Delicious Tomato and Mozzarella Salad

I'm half Italian. My mother, who did the cooking, was 100 percent Italian. And I was raised in n predominantly Italian town with many of my Italian relatives near by. This means I have a strong leaning toward Italian food. I love it! And I love to cook!

This tomato and mozzarella salad is distinctively an Italian dish...and it is delicious. The best time to make this is when you are growing your own tomatoes (or you know some generous person who is growing tomatoes). Fresh tomatoes are so much better than what you can usually get in the store, especially in the winter time.

If you don't grow your own tomatoes and have no one that is giving you some home-grown tomatoes, you might want to try any farmer's market that might be in your area. But if it's winter time and all you can get is supermarket tomatoes, don't let that stop you. They still will make a decent tomato and mozzarella salad.

Here's the recipe:

4 SERVINGS

- 3 cups sweet grape, cherry or larger chopped tomatoes - 1/2 small white onion, diced small - 2/3 cup small diced mozzarella cheese

1. Mix the above ingredients in a bowl.

- 1 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (good quality) - 2/3 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (good quality)

2. Blend the olive oil and vinegar in a cup by beating them together with a fork. Mix this in well with the tomato mixture.

- Salt and pepper to taste

3. Season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste.

- 4 leaves of romaine lettuce (sized to suit the size of servings you want)

- Italian parsley for garnish

4. Spoon the tomato mixture into an attractive pile on top of the lettuce and garnish with parsley.

Serve this immediately...you don't want your lettuce to get flimsy.

Enjoy!

Golf Holidays in Poitou Charentes South West France

Come and Play Golf in South West France

If you love playing Golf on holiday then you really must visit Poitou Charentes in the South West of France. Whatever time of year you like to play and whatever time of day, the temperate climate and long periods of daylight here will enable you to indulge yourself for hours.

What's more, there are no crowd problems or congested teeing off times, because there are no less than twelve courses to choose from in Poitou Charentes. All of them are magnificent to play on, with friendly, helpful course staff on hand to assist with any difficulties. Most of the courses boast their own restaurants and of course all of them feature a 19th hole! Many players that would previously have headed to Spain and Portugal for their golfing breaks are now discovering the benefits of golf breaks in South West France and choosing to go there instead.

You can fly to Poitou Charentes in less than 2 hours from London, making it quick and easy to get to. This is ideal for a long-weekend break, where you want to keep travel times down. There are six airports in the region - Angouleme, Limoges, Bordeaux, La Rochelle, Nantes or Poitiers - so you can choose the most convenient one to your holiday accommodation. Or if you prefer to drive, so you don't have to hire a car, you can reach your destination in around 6 hours from the Channel ports.

Golf in Poitou Charentes is also cheaper than in Spain and Portugal; summer / winter green fees here are about 40 / 30 euros respectively for 18 holes.

If your partner or the rest of your family are not quite as passionate about the game as you are, then you needn't worry. There is plenty for them to do in South West France, off the fairway. The sightseeing is tremendous in this part of the world with many chateaux to visit, most of which are open to the public and some quite beautiful old churches. There is also water-sports, canoeing, fishing in the Atlantic, coastal walks, canals and fine restaurants to enjoy. Places to take the kids include the Futuroscope leisure park, The Valley of the Monkeys and the famous aquarium at La Rochelle.

A golfing break in Poitou Charentes can last for as long as you like. Anything from a couple of days, just to get out and stretch your legs, to a golfing marathon lasting 2-3 weeks. There is a tremendous choice of courses to play here, so you wont get stuck playing the same old holes time and again, unless you want to of course! After all, practice does make perfect.

Solo Vacations! The Ultimate in Self Indulgence

Remain Focused

If you are a perfect wanderlust then the solo trip could be of immense joy to you. Traveling alone gives the full freedom of choice of where to go and what to see in which a companion may provide hindrance. You can meet new people, interact freely and make friends too. These help in rediscovering yourself and your spirits. In a nutshell the focus remains entirely upon you. You return with a bag rich with experiences, stories worth sharing with family members and friends back home.

Single Penalty

In spite of the above advantages, the solo travelers are not that welcome guest for touring organizations. Ironically it turns out be double payment, for "you". So the cost involved in solo traveling rises. This penalty comes as a surcharge for wherever you stay, be at hotel, resort, cabin. You almost end up in paying more than 200% of the price published. Totally unfair deal! To cater this special category a cruise line has decided to think otherwise.

Latest offer for the solo travelers

Cruise liners generally cater to the needs of the family, groups, planning for their holidays. Of recent they are considering the solo tourists too, and offering packages which will suit their demands. Norwegian Cruise Line came up with some definite plans and a new ship named Epic.

Touring on Epic gives the solo traveler an option to choose between specially designed 128 state rooms, within affordable rates, no single penalty attached to it. Each and every cabin is unique in design with beds of full size, separate shower and toilet. The cabins are interconnected to provide easy access to solo travelers to communicate with other travelers on board and also to provide access to private Studio Lounge where you will be able to organize excursion with other solo travelers and also enjoy some privacy designed specially for you.

Norwegian Cruise being one of the reputed cruise lines offers all sorts of amenities on board. There are 20 dining options for you to choose from, serving delicacies round the world. Night clubs, dancing floors, casino gives you the perfect Las Vegas ambiance. Just sip vodka in the Epic ice bar and enjoy exclusive bottle service, dance under the stars in the night club or enjoy poolside parties.

Interested in gambling? The Epic casino offers you to choose among roulette, black jack, poker, craps and hundreds of more exciting slot machines. Special programs are there for most rewarding player. Come out richer at the end of the day.

If you like a vacation more challenging physically, Epic provides a 33-ft rock climbing wall, the world's only floating and rappelling wall.

To continue with the long list of firsts, the Norwegian Epic Cruise is going to introduce Blue Man Group to the audience, adding more zing to the cruising entertainment.

Solo trip is gradually coming up with new colors. So plan and sail off single, the Laptop being the sole companion to record your vast experience on and off the board in cruise. Amazingly you will discover a world beyond your world.

Unlock Features Of Your Cell Phone

Do you have a cell phone and are you aware of all of its features? By now, most people have a cell phone. With today's technological savvy population it isn't any surprise. But did you know, there are a few features on your phone you most likely didn't know you could unlock?

For instance, most of everyone knows about 911. But what if you don't have service, and can't call in case of an emergency? Not to worry, you can simply dial 112 instead, and you will connect to any network available to report an emergency even if your cell phone is locked.

You can also operate your car's remote entry system by your cell phone. Next time you leave your remote entry device at home, just call home and have someone use the device in proximity to the cell phone- and puts yours next to your car- it actually unlocks your car!

Many people wish they had bigger cell phone batteries- I bet you didn't know you can tap into your reserve power, for up to a 50% increase in battery life. To access this feature, just press * 3 3 7 0 #, and your phone will restart with reserve power- a handy trick. This power will be charged next time you charge your phone.

There are many tricks to use with cell phones- these are just a few to show you just how innovative you can be with one. With these new tricks, comes regulation. These tricks might not last forever- so make sure you take advantage of them!

How To Deal With Death

"100 per cent of us die, and the percentage cannot be increased." C.S. Lewis

Death is a difficult subject to talk about. It's even more difficult to face, especially if you have no idea what is waiting "on the other side". It's a common belief that all good people go to heaven, while really bad people go to hell or some other not-so-nice place that's maybe not as terrible as hell. But if there's no certainty, the prospective can be quite terrifying.

In addition to an unknown destination after death, there's plenty of other things that make death hard to deal with. Death means separation; separation from loved ones, from things one enjoys and well...everything.

It also means suffering. Most people leave this life through pain and suffering. It is not often one just closes their eyes, breathes their last breath and is gone without experiencing some type of suffering. Even if one dies quickly in an accident, there can be terrifying moments just prior to that which make their dying experience anything but pleasant.

Several years ago, my first husband was diagnosed with a quickly metastasizing brain tumor and given only a few months to live. When I asked him if he was afraid to die he said, "No, I'm not afraid to die but I'm very afraid of the process." That made sense to me. He anticipated, with great joy, what awaited him on the other side of death but knew the road he must take to get there would be filled with great pain and suffering - and it was.

Separation, suffering and the great unknown of death make it understandable why people fear it so. Yet, God's Word tells us death is something we need not fear, not if we "live" right. How we live makes all the difference in how we die.

"If you live wrong, you can't die right." Billy Sunday

If one chooses to live this life, for and by one's self, without God, then by their own choice, when their life ends, the only source of power and strength they will have to draw upon is their own. Sadly, they will quickly discover their personal reservoir has nothing to offer them and worse, they have no ability on their own to get to heaven.

Jesus is the only way to heaven.

John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father (God who is in Heaven) but through Me."

Once we know Jesus and have a relationship with God the Father through Him, we need not fear death any longer.

I Corinthians 15:55 "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"

In other words, death no longer has the last say. For all Believers in Christ, death is not final. It is just a doorway to our real home, our ultimate destination, the place we were created for. In our eternal home, all suffering, sadness, pain and disease will end. We will experience joy and delight like we have never known. Death, then, can actually become something we anticipate rather than fear because of where it will take us.

Even the process of dying loses its terrifying grip when one walks that journey with God, rather than on their own.

Do it Or Do Not Do It

We all have a choice in life to take rational action or not take rational action. To be ridiculous is to not take rational action when we know we should. We all have a choice, even when we think we do not. Choice is not an oblong idiocy that is the providence of those who are hasty. We all have to make them. Achievement comes through doing things and doing things only. The only way to get a batting average of any sort in baseball is to swing the bat, it is the same with life. When you think think in terms of solving problems, not causing them or making them worse.

Thomas Aquinas said "variance with reason is evil," this is what he meant, I know. All rational actions are oriented toward solving problems and making things genuinely better without any exception. The logic of laziness is "beating the system," which is a genuinely unrealistic premise in every way, indeed, if the system could be "beat," then there would be no need for thinking effort in life, and we all would live in an effortless place without work or anything of interest in existence.

Indeed, what would be the point of a life without desirable effort? "Nothing." But what is the point of achievement? "Something." No question marks to those statements in the mind of anyone, except the genuinely foolish, because it is all thrillingly clear through honest business minded logic that works in reality and not out of it.

To be happy, rational and honest with yourself and life is the highest achievement in life, no other achievement equals that in any way. To the people who say there is nothing above reason: You are right. Because, reality is what exists, no matter what. We either live with it, or we do not. We can be as chaotic as a coup of chickens running around with no worm in sight to eat, waiting for the reality of being eaten or we can be as orderly as the quail flying in formation beautifully in the skies above us. Get the metaphor? Life, reality and rational existence are choices we make all the time. If they were not, then anything goes, even the point of this article goes.