March_2011_GIR(L)

MARCH 2011

YOUR LOCAL LADIES MAGAZINE

WOMEN’S

HISTORY

MONTH

FACE 2 FACE

COMMUNICATION

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WWW.THEGIRLMAGAZINE.COM

March 2011 10 I Wonder: Women through the ages 14 The Lost Art of Face to Face Communication, Have you forgotten how to talk to people?

20 Faith Vs Fear, Fear is faith turned inside out.

24 Healthy Snacks for Kids, With a little planning, you can erase those trips through the drive through.

26 Tips To Make Your Bird Happy, Great ideas to liven up your parrots life.

30 The Middle Wife, Some ladies have all the luck!.

34 The Case Against Fear, Putting terrorism into perspective.

42 Business 101, A humorous story with a very good business lesson attached.

46 Natural Childbirth, The Pink Kit Way Whether you’re pregnant or know someone who is, the Pink Kit is the only method you want!

50 Save Money, Help the Environment See how checking your tire pressure can save you money and help cut pollution.

58 26th Annual Palm Beach Boat Show, The weather is beautiful this time of year, and PBBS is a perfect way to enjoy it.

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Publisher’s Note

Shelly Allen

“There is no security in life... only OPPORTUNITY!” - Douglas MacAurthor

Jackie Branca 6

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Happy Women’s History Month ladies and welcome to yet another awesome issue of GIR(L) Magazine! Here at GIR(L) we love Women’s History Month as it makes us take the time to reflect upon how far we have come over the past 200 years. Life for a woman 200 years ago in these United States and all over the world for that matter was no bowl of cherries. Of course, we really don’t even need to go back 200 years, even 100 years ago life for women was pretty rough. It wasn’t even 100 years ago that we finally won the right to vote! Think about that one. But here we are with our full rights and as a wise person once said, “You either use them or lose them!” It is our hope that every lady in this country is “using” all of her God given rights to better her life and the lives of generations to come.

Now, have we got a great issue for you!

We have dug up some really cool stuff for this issue. We have this issue jammed with funny stories, inspirational quotes, life enhancing products, you name it! My favorite story in this issue is the Middle Wife. This story is so hilarious I think it will be one of your favorites too. This issue was a lot of fun to put together and we hope you enjoy every nook and cranny of it!

Now sit back, relax, and enjoy this issue of GIR(L) Magazine and don’t forget to join our facebook family! See you next month!

WWW.THEGIRLMAGAZINE.COM P.O. Box 50111, Lighthouse Point, Florida, 33074, 954.829.1982, 954.815.3220 PUBLISHER ALLEN-BRANCA MEDIA COMPANY, INC Managing Directors Shelly Allen, Jacqueline Branca Editorial Senior Editor Shelly Allen Research Alicia Polacek Contributing Writer Lindsey Peppar Contributing Writer Sue Willis Contributing Writer Allison Singer Contributing Writer Jennifer Davis Contributing Writer Claudia Beckenstein Contributing Writer Pam Wall Sales Director of Sales Jacqueline Branca Sales Associate Amanda Pearl Internet Sales Associate Lindsey Peppar Studio / Production Art Director / Production Design Pink Parrot Productions Advertisement Design Joya Design 954.829.9915 Layout Design Pink Parrot Productions Web Site Director / Designer Joya Design Distribution Tri-County Distribution Services 2011 Copyright here and abroad of all editorial content is held by the publishers of GIR(L) Magazine. Reproduction whole or in part is forbidden without prior written consent from the publisher. Publisher may not be held liable or responsible in any way for any actions ensuing from advertisements or content.

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GIR(L) HERSTORY

I WONDER

Shelly Allen

M

arch is a such a fantastic month.

The weather here in South Florida is gorgeous and there are so many things to do! But there’s another reason we women hold the month of March dear in our hearts. March is Women’s History Month and all month long women’s history comes to the forefront for all to see and learn. As women, it’s our collective time of the year so it got me thinking. A lot has changed for women in the past couple hundred years and some things have stayed somewhat the same.

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There are a lot of really great things that have come out of the women’s movement. I wonder how many women stop to think about how hard our foremothers had to fight for the right to vote. Some of those women, such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B Anthony, fought hard their entire lives and didn’t live long enough to see the day where they could go to the ballot box and cast their vote. I always wonder what they would think of the women today who never make it a priority to inform themselves of the politics of the day and make their voices heard.

I wonder how much harder life was for a women at the turn of the last century when women were treated as property and their inheritance turned over to their husbands upon marriage. I wonder if they felt trapped or like the caged bird, satisfied with their lot in life? I think about the young women, 13, 14 years old forced to marry a man they didn’t want, I wonder what kept them going, what kept them happy throughout their lives.

Today’s woman certainly has a lot more choices in life but I wonder how many more would stay home and raise their children if raising children these days didn’t require both parents to work. I wonder how many women would choose the simple life and leave the career and the money on the table to make sure their children were raised right. Of course nothing about staying home and raising children is simple.

I wonder how many women had to survive

on the kindness of others because their husbands weren’t good providers or perhaps had a drinking problem. I wonder how many women still do. I wonder how women felt about doing equal work for substantially less money than their male counterparts. I wonder how women still feel about it. The more things change the more they stay the same.

I wonder how our definition of “raising a child right” became so skewed. I see children with their mothers today out of control, calling their mother names, and I wonder…where did we go wrong? How on earth did it become okay to be disrespectful to your mother? I wonder what my own mother would have done had I spoken to her so disrespectfully, wait…I don’t wonder, I know exactly what she would have done. I can tell you I would not have the sense about me to write this because I would have had to leave my head in the very place where she knocked it off of me. It’s kind of ironic isn’t it? As women we have fought so hard for equal rights, equal pay, equality in the workplace, and respect in the workplace, yet we allow our children to treat us like their servants, not their mothers. Hm. I wonder how much better off women are today than we were a century ago.

Collectively, I think we are much better off and much more free to live the lives we want to live. This IS the land of the free and the home of the brave after all. I wonder how much longer it will stay that way.

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GIR(L) TRUTH

“If you love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.�

Signer, Declaration of Independence -Samuel Adams

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GIR(L) BUSINESS

The Lost Art of

By Stacey Hanke

FACE TO FACE Communication

C

ommunicating meaningfully is becoming more difficult than ever before.

While technology has created an ever increasing number of ways to communicate rapidly over great distances, many people are now so well insulated and protected by these devices we use that we are losing the skills and abilities to communicating in the most influential way – face to face.

Stacey Hanke, a Chicago based management consultant and author of the book Yes You Can has serious concerns about the ever increasing use of technology in business and organizations.

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nance and perpetuation of meaningful communications and personal and professional relationships. If you become overly dependent on email or text messages, you focus on the object, but not the person.”

Ms. Hanke explains that tweets, text messages, email and Facebook posts, all transmit words over distances so they can be received without presence of the sender. The human element and context is absent.

“It’s a one-sided blast –Take that!

Click!” she observes. “You cannot communicate meaningfully with 140 spaces!

All you can say is “Wassup!”

These messages are typically short, sequential, controlled and directed. There’s

no instantaneous interaction or connection that allows the other person to understand the tone, inflection or emotion that is carried with the words. The sender cannot express or effectively project the elements of trust, confidence, credibility, warmth, empathy, and concern that are crucial to developing and building a personal relationship. The recipient cannot perceive these elements either.

That failure to convey the feelings that accompany the words so people build trust, credibility, and understanding can have a phenomenal impact on business and success. Meaningful communications that carry these powerful and important characteristics can only be achieved in face-to-face interactions.

Communicating with impact and achieving influence with people is not only about what you say-it’s also how you say it. You have influence on others because you see their face, observe and experience their emotion, and actively listen and engage their interest and support and build relationships.

You know it’s probably time for a face-toface when: • You no longer really understand what is important to your listener.

• You think they have become bored or are losing interest in you or your message.

You feel they are no longer listening and do not understand you.

• There are also certain topics of conversation where face-to-face communication will absolutely be the best way to achieve clarity and understanding needed for mutual success and beneficial action.

• Negotiating salaries, vacations, termination; Resolving a dispute, a challenge or a conflict between two or more people or organizations; Seeking clarification after written communications has failed.

Face-to-face communication is a very crucial skill. It requires you to focus. You have to be able to be comfortable in the presence of other people for more than a few minutes. Communicating with impact and influence face-to-face also requires discipline, determination, and self-control.

Here are some of her best recommendations: Make your moments together count.

Everyone has the right to speak. Listen before you speak. Earn the right to be heard. Think about what you want to say before you say it. Make every communication moment worth you and your listener’s time. Tailor what you say to meet your listener’s needs.

Pay attention by listening for the unspoken emotions. Concentrate on the speaker closely. Focus intently on their face. Do not let your eyes dart away and drift off, since that signals you are no longer paying attention. Do not interrupt. Wait to speak only when the person has finished what they want to say. Hear their words and read their face so that you gain maximum understanding of the why behind their words.

Honor the other person’s space and time. Prepare ahead of time. Match the message to the opportunity. Get to the point quickly. Don’t frustrate your listener 2011 I GIR(L)

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by taking too long to get the key message across. Don’t ramble and clutter your message with unnecessary points. Ask for the right action. Be clear and be specific.

Watch the time. Don’t take 20 minutes when you only asked for ten. Show you know how to respect the other person.

Prepare for your face-to-face meeting ahead of time. K.N.O.W. your listener.

• K – What does your listener know about your topic?

• N – What does your listener need to know to take the action you want them to take in the time frame you have for this conversation?

• O – What is your listener’s opinion about your topic?

• W – Who is your listener? What additional information do you know about your listener to help you customize your message for them?

Tailor your agenda and message to achieve the understanding you need and to influence your listener to act on what you have to say. Watch Your Body Language. Avoid non-verbal abuse. Every movement you make counts.

Control your facial expressions. Don’t smile, snicker, whistle, roll your eyes, or grimace, look sideways, wink, or send the evil eye. Your behavior and non-verbal cues are as important as the words you say. Don’t fidget, act nervous, express fear, or allow your posture to convey uncertainty, insincerity, lack of caring, arrogance, overconfidence, dismay or criticism.

Be Sincere and Authentic. Be genu16

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ine and allow others to see the real you.

Maintain the Power of the Floor. Be interesting.

If you see the signs that you are no longer the center of attention: • Your listener begins working on their Blackberry, iPad, IPhone, etc.

• Your listener starts nodding off.

• Your listener begins to have side conversations.

• Your listener interrupts you.

Stop. Break the flow. Earn their attention.

Get back on track.

Ask for Feedback. Face-to-face communications is a two way street. Balanced feedback allows people to be relaxed and comfortable. However, when people start feeling comfortable they also may become lazy and lose their professionalism. Don’t forget who you are and what you are doing. Maintain your self-control.

Ask for specific feedback…about the points you raised, the manner in which you presented, the way you responded.

Ask for balanced feedback about how to improve and immediately begin applying this feedback.

The Book: Yes You Can Everything You Need From A to Z to Influence Others To Take Action

By Stacey Hanke and Mary Steinberg

GIR(L) HUMOR

Dear Internal Revenue Service: Enclosed you will find my 2010 tax return showing that I owe $3,407.00 in taxes.

Please note the attached article from the USA Today newspaper, dated 12 November, wherein you will see the Pentagon (Department of Defense) is paying $171.50 per hammer and NASA has paid $600.00 per toilet seat.

I am enclosing four (4) toilet seats (valued @ $2,400) and six (6) hammers valued @ $1,029), which I secured at Home Depot, bringing my total remittance to $3,429.00.

Please apply the overpayment of $22.00 to the “Presidential Election Fund,” as noted on my return.

You can do this inexpensively by sending them one (1) 1.5” Phillips Head screw (see aforementioned article from USA Today newspaper detailing how H.U.D. pays $22.00 each for 1.5” Phillips Head Screws). One screw is enclosed for your convenience.

It has been a pleasure to pay my tax bill this year, and I look forward to paying it again next year.

Sincerely, A Satisfied Taxpayer

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GIR(L) INSPIRATION

FAITH vs FEAR

By Dr. Napoleon Hill

F

EAR is faith in reverse gear. Fear is a negative belief in something, and belief is the very foundation of faith.

Faith is a positive mental attitude in action.

Your mental attitude is the sum total of your thoughts at any given time.

A positive mental attitude has its roots in the spiritual wells of one’s soul. And it is the medium by which adversities may be transmuted into benefits.

Your achievements are limited only by your mental attitude, for it is true that your only real limitations are those which you set up in your own mind.

Keep your mental attitude RIGHT and your future will always be BRIGHT. Success goes to the person whose mental attitude is such that he expects success. And health, wealth, happiness are products of a positive mental attitude.

Your mental attitude, whether it be positive or negative, weaves into your character every thread of your thoughts.

A positive mental attitude is the factor which makes prayer pay off. Keep your mental attitude positive and everything else will take care of itself

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in your favor.

People who work with a positive mental attitude are constantly doing the “impossible.”

The difference between mediocrity and genius is mainly a question of mental attitude. If you don’t like what life has given you, change your mental attitude and attract something else more to your liking! And remember that not all of the wisdom of the sages and the ages can help the person who quits trying to help himself.

Remember that the Creator has so made us that our strength grows out of our struggles, and we are no bigger than the circumstances which we permit to frighten or worry us.

Faith is a state of mind which has been called “the mainspring of the soul,” through which your aims, desires and plans may be translated into their physical equivalents.

Besides a positive mental attitude, free from negatives such as envy, hatred, jealousy and fear, applied faith has other fundamentals.

These include: A definiteness of purpose, supported by personal initiative or action . . . Recognition of the fact that every adversity carries with it the seed of an equivalent benefit; that temporary defeat

is not failure until it has been accepted by you as such . . . The habit of expressing gratitude for one’s blessings daily, in the form of a prayer.

To create a mental attitude favorable for the expression of applied faith, follow these instructions:

1. Know what you want and determine

what you will give in return for it.

2. When you affirm the object of your prayers, let your imagination see yourself already in possession of it.

3. Keep your mind open for guidance from within, and when you are inspired by “hunches”—take heed of them immediately, for they may bring you the answer you seek.

4. When you are overtaken by defeat, as you may be many times, remember that man’s faith is often tested in many ways, and defeat may be only your testing time; therefore, accept defeat only as an inspiration for greater effort.

There is no such reality as a “blanket” faith. You must have a definite objective, purpose, or desire before you can enjoy the benefits of applied faith. Faith is guidance from within which will not bring you that which you seek, but it will show you the path by which you may go after that which you desire.

Source: Success Unlimited, May 1955, pp. 20-21.

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GIR(L) WISDOMT

“Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.�

-James Madison

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GIR(L) HEALTH

Healthy Snacks For Kids

www.leading.wholefoodfarmacy.com

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hese days it is so easy to hand our kids a pre-packaged convenience item to munch while we race to get to the next meeting or practice that we are already 10 minutes late for. Parents, we are not doing our kids, or ourselves, any favors by letting them suck down sugary drinks and nutritionally void snacks in the backseat of our cars. Taking just a little time, when we have the time, to prepare healthy snacks for kids will have them feeling and performing better throughout the day’s long schedule.

Good quality cheese sticks are just as easy to reach for as those neon colored “fruit” snacks. Delicious and full of protein, your kid will be satisfied and energized until dinner. Peanut butter is another high protein, kid friendly snack.

Spread atop a rice cake or used as a dip for apple slices, peanut butter can be a versatile and tasty mini-meal-onthe-go. Choose a sugar free, natural peanut butter to alleviate any worries about unnecessary additives.

Mix up a batch of “sneaky” muffins to have ready during the week. Throwing a few extra fruits or veggies into a batter for banana or zucchini bread will make a nutritional difference, but nobody but you will be the wiser.

Whole grain cereals are also a great,

convenient choice. In a pinch, fill up a ziploc bag with dry cereal for munching on in the car. At home, try mixing it with yogurt and fruit to create an easy parfait. Tubes of yogurt can also be frozen into healthy snacks for kids and used to replace those syrupy popsicles and chemical laden ice-cream treats.

Hummus may not sound like a kidfriendly food, but it is a fun and excellent dip for chips (try making your own sweet potato chips with olive oil and sea salt) or veggie sticks. Hummus is also a great source of vitamins and iron and can serve as a sandwich spread in place of mayonnaise.

Include your children while making new snacks. Let them use their imaginations and get creative! If things get messy in the kitchen, don’t worry! Kids can have as much fun cleaning up as they have cooking. Kids are more likely to try a new food when they are proud of preparing it with you. Equipped with healthy snacks for kids, we are better prepared to lead our children towards healthy habits for life.

Wholefood Farmacy specializes in healthy, raw, naturally vitamin packed foods and snacks.

For more great snack ideas go to www.leading.wholefoodfarmacy.com 2011 I GIR(L)

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GIR(L) PETS

10 T

You Can Do to Make Your Bird... hings

HAPPY!

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NationalBirdDay.com

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rovide a healthy and varied diet — not just seeds, but grains, beans, vegetables (cooked and raw) formulated pellets, and some fruit.

(Harmful foods include chocolate, avocado, highly processed or overly salted foods, human junk food, and caffeine.)

Offer daily or weekly misting with a clean spray bottle of water to promote feather and skin health and for fun!

Some birds prefer to bathe in a small container (like their water dish); others enjoy being misted with water. It is important to allow the birds to air-dry in a warm room or in the sunshine.

Give your bird the largest enclosure possible — no space is too big for a creature adapted to flying through jungles and across savannas.

Develop games and teach your bird skills (“jobs”) like foraging or treasure hunts (this can be done in the house or with creative toys in the cage), cleaning up toys by putting them in a basket.

Provide daily exercise and ample outof-cage time, preferably to include free flying in a safe, supervised environment. (Bird-proofing a room for out-of-cage time includes keeping birds away from items containing lead and zinc, and from paint chips, ceiling fans, electrical cords, cats and dogs, and open windows.)

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Offer a variety of toys and enrichment activities.

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Provide plenty of socialization with other birds and/or human caretakers.

Give access to unfiltered sunlight and/or full-spectrum lighting. Birds need exposure to UVA and UVB rays from direct sunlight (windows block necessary UV rays) or full-spectrum lighting to synthesize vitamin D necessary for bone health.

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Provide a secure enclosure, carrier, or harness so your bird can enjoy the outdoors with you.

Place multiple perches/stands throughout the house so that your bird can benefit from ambient “flock time” while being included in family activities like watching TV or movies, preparing meals, playing cards or games.

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National Bird Day recognizes that birds are non-domesticated animals that belong in the wild where they can fly free and express their natural behaviors. However, due to the large number of birds living in captivity which cannot be returned to the wild and the limited space available in avian sanctuaries, optimizing care of birds held in private hands can go far in reducing suffering and improving the welfare of captive birds.

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GIR(L) HERSTORY

THE ‘MIDDLE WIFE’

By an Anonymous 2nd grade teacher

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’ve been teaching now for about fifteen years. I have two kids myself, but the best birth story I know is the one I saw in my own second grade classroom a few years back.

When I was a kid, I loved show-and-tell.

So I always have a few sessions with my students. It helps them get over shyness and usually, show-and-tell is pretty tame.

Kids bring in pet turtles, model airplanes, pictures of fish they catch, stuff like that.

And I never, ever place any boundaries or limitations on them. If they want to lug it in to school and talk about it, they’re welcome.

Well, one day this little girl, Erica, a very bright, very outgoing kid, takes her turn and waddles up to the front of the class with a pillow stuffed under her sweater. She holds up a snapshot of an infant, “This is Luke, my baby brother, and I’m going to tell you about his birthday.“ “First, Mom and Dad made him as a symbol of their love, and then Dad put a seed in my Mom’s stomach, and Luke grew in there. He ate for nine months through an umbrella cord.” (She’s standing there with her little hands on the pillow, and I’m trying not to laugh and wishing I had my camcorder with me. The kids are watching her in amazement.)

“Then, about two Saturdays ago, my Mom starts saying and going, ‘Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh!’ Erica puts a hand behind her back and then groans. “She walked around the house for, like an hour, ‘Oh, oh, oh!’ (NOW this kid is doing a hysterical duck walk and groaning.)

“My Dad called the middle wife. She delivers babies, but she doesn’t have a sign

on the car like the Domino’s man. They got my Mom to lie down in bed like this.”

(Then Erica lies down with her back against the wall.) “And then, pop! My Mom had this bag of water she kept in there in case he got thirsty, and it just blew up and spilled all over the bed, like psshhheew!”

(This kid has her legs spread with her little hands mimicking water flowing away. It was too much!)

“Then the middle wife starts saying ‘push, push,’ and ‘breathe, breathe. They started counting, but never even got past ten.

Then, all of a sudden, out comes my brother. He was covered in yucky stuff that they all said it was from Mom’s play-center, (placenta) so there must be a lot of toys inside there. When he got out…the middle wife spanked him for crawling up in there.”

Then Erica stood up, took a big theatrical bow and returned to her seat. I’m sure I applauded the loudest. Ever since then, when it’s show-and-tell day, I bring my camcorder, just in case another “Middle Wife” comes along.

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GIR(L) CHANGE

Another Heresy:

The Case Against FEAR Perry Willis, Vice President, Downsize DC

“Courage is grace under pressure.”

- Ernest Hemingway

We predicted it before the election.

The new Republicans will be like the old Republicans. Consider the mounting evidence . . .

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* GOP leaders are proposing only $68 billion in spending cuts, even though the deficit is $1.4 trillion. * They’re also violating the promises they made about following new procedures.

EXAMPLE: GOP leaders rushed the

Patriot Act extension to the floor on Tuesday, without warning, hearings, deliberation, debate, OR READING, in spite of their so-called “Read the Bill” rule! In other words, it was just like the old days.

So don’t be surprised by the result . . .

The Patriot Act was defeated. Here’s why, a handful of new Republicans joined with the Democrats to give the GOP leadership a slap in the face. This move was purely tactical, NOT principled. Most of the “new” Republicans still voted for the extension, even though the Patriot Act violates the Constitution. Please be clear about this, New Republican does NOT mean Different Republican.

Our victory may be temporary, because Fear is the orthodox American position. We believe we must challenge this fear with a powerful heresy (a doctrine at variance with the official position). We hope that you will take the time to give our heresy careful consideration, and perhaps join with us in shouting to

the world, “I Am Not Afraid!”

Here’s the argument: Terrorists aim to cause fear, and by feeling fear we’ve given them what they want. But this also means that we can win the war on terror instantly, simply by NOT being afraid.

This will defeat the terrorists’ intentions immediately, and completely.

Our new-found courage will also correspond to reality, because fearing the terrorists is like a cat fearing a mouse. All the terrorists in the world amount to no more than an anemic mosquito on the snout of a whale.

The fact is, there are more murders by American criminals each year than have been committed by terrorists in the past two decades. There was but one successful terrorist attack in the United States, and last year more people died from dog bites than from terrorism within our borders. We don’t trash the Constitution because of it, as we have in the face of terrorism. This statistical truth makes it very clear that Americans have VASTLY OVERREACTED to the terrorist threat, and the politicians have encouraged and exploited our cowardice to expand the power of The State.

If Ernest Hemingway had the right definition of courage — “grace under pressure” — then our country has shown little grace in the face of not much pressure. To us, the official “War on Terror” amounts to one giant national cringe. We can do better, with less effort and more grace.

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There is really only one way to win a war on terrorism. Stop being afraid!

Achieving this victory does not require large armies, invasions, illegal spying, torture, detention camps, Kangaroo courts, or multi-billion dollar Congressional appropriations. Neither does it require us to shred the Bill of Rights or the Geneva Conventions. All it requires is a little backbone, and a little common sense.

The minute the first politician proposed the first imposition on the Bill of Rights, the first call to invade Iraq, or the first request for large new bureaucracies to fight the anemic mosquito, the terrorists won, and we lost. And they’ve been winning, and we’ve been losing, ever since. Can we stop being afraid? Can you?

Here’s what it means to not be afraid.

Here’s what it means to fight a real war on terror. Here’s what it means to win that war, instantly . . . It means that you do not participate in the public hysteria when terrorists attack, but instead react proportionally, placing the terrorist act in its proper place in the vast scheme of crimes, accidents, disease, natural disaster, and generic tragedy that is man’s lot on earth.

It means that you do not permit the politicians to feel terror on your behalf.

It means that you discourage them from fomenting and exploiting hysteria to expand their own power at the expense of traditional American principles. It means that you declare your lack of fear to the 36 GIR(L) I 2011

politicians, and recruit others to adopt your war winning strategy of not being afraid. You can do this by sending the “I Am Not Afraid” declaration to Congress.

It reads . . .

“I am not afraid of terrorism, and I want you to stop being afraid on my behalf.

Please start scaling back the official government war on terror. Please replace it with a smaller, more focused anti-terrorist police effort in keeping with the rule of law. Please stop overreacting. I understand that it will not be possible to stop all terrorist acts. I accept that. I am not afraid.”

Send this declaration to Congress on a regular basis, to remind them that some of us are not afraid. I did so again this morning, and added, in my personal comments, a request that they repeal the Patriot Act. I feel strongly that we must continue to withdraw our consent for the bad things Congress does until finally they submit to obey the Constitution. If we do NOT do this, then we are sanctioning their crimes through our submissive silence.

Downsize DC is a non-profit, non-partisan organization working to bring back the Constutional Authority of The People and for The People.

Visit them DownSizeDC.org.

GIR(L) INSPIRATION

“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.”

-Albert Schwietzer

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GIR(L) HUMOR

Business Lessons:

101

“A man is getting into the shower just as his wife is finishing up her shower, when the doorbell rings.

The wife quickly wraps herself in a towel and runs downstairs.

When she opens the door, there stands Bob, the next-door neighbor.

Before she says a word, Bob says, ‘I’ll give you $800 to drop that towel.’

After thinking for a moment, the woman drops her towel and stands naked in front of Bob, after a few seconds, Bob hands her $800 and leaves.

The woman wraps back up in the towel and goes back upstairs.

When she gets to the bathroom, her husband asks, ‘Who was that?’

‘It was Bob, the next door neighbor,’ she replies.

‘Great,’ the husband says, ‘did he say anything about the $800 he owes me?’”

MORAL OF THE STORY: If you share critical information pertaining to credit and risk with your shareholders in time, you may be in a position to prevent avoidable exposure.

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GIR(L) HERSTORY

Natural Childbirth

– The PINK Kit Way

By Martine Dansik

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y heart leaps with joy when we stop in front of the little bakery. I’m ready for my second natural childbirth and I drag my 38 week pregnant body out of the car and ask my husband, mom, dad and two year old daughter if they would like a cream donut and a hot chocolate. I order an extra cream donut for my midwife. You never know how long this labor will be, she might need a snack to pick her up at some stage!

With contractions about five minutes apart, I feel calm, in control and HUNGRY. I know exactly how to breathe through my contractions.

I rock my pelvis in circles to let the pain pass quickly. I feel I am dilating faster now. 10 minutes later we arrive at the maternity centre and my midwife speaks the magic words “already 8 centimeters dilated!”

The Pink Kit teaches you exactly how to get to know your body so that you can take charge in labor to ensure a smooth and successful childbirth, without the need for intervention and drugs. Imagine giving birth in control, no drugs or gas and experiencing birth as a positive, enriching experience. This is exactly what the Pink Kit did for me.

The Pink Kit taught me techniques I could not find anywhere else. Every one, every midwife and every maternity unit in the world should have access to this. If more people used the Pink Kit there would be far fewer Caesareans in the world. In the USA alone, Cesarean Sections account for one third of all births!

One recent study released by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Services says, “Labor is often induced to speed up labor and delivery.”

According to the study, lack of patience may be a huge factor in the number of c-sections performed. A high proportion of c-sections were performed among women for “failure to progress” even though the woman’s cervix had dilated to six centimeters and had only been in labor for two to three hours. Of course, a c-section takes only 15 to 45 minutes.

Then there is cost. Hospital fees for an uncomplicated vaginal birth costs between $3,000 to $6,000 depending on your region. A Cesarean Section with no complications typically costs between $10,000 to $40,000! Common sense dictates that the majority of c-sections 2011 I GIR(L)

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don’t necessarily serve to benefit the mother.

and smooth natural birth, although very overwhelming.

Everything I have learned through The Pink Kit about natural childbirth I put into practice now and see the amazing results.

It turns this labor into a powerful and ecstatic experience. The beauty of the kit is it explains exactly how to speed up your labor and what happens to the bony structure, the soft tissues and the muscles in the pelvis area while you are in labor.

How you birth will depend on the shape of your pelvis. This kit shows you exactly how to work out the shape of your pelvis and based on its shape you will know which birth position will work for you. You even learn how to map your own pelvis so you are able to ‘open’ the area for your baby to come through as easily as possible.

My second labor was very different, I knew what to expect but I prepared myself much more. I practiced The Pink Kit techniques again, but now even more thoroughly. I also practiced the exercises on how to massage the perineum (the area between the anus and the vulva) and internal areas. This prevents tearing of the skin tissue so you don’t have to experience extra pain and discomfort during and after labor.

It then teaches you how to be in control of pain and tension through your breath and by moving into positions that are right for your body type.

This detailed information gave me and my husband clear direction about what to do during my first labor. I knew which positions were good for me to relieve the pain and to allow my baby as much space as possible to come down into my pelvis, ready to be pushed out.

This really sped up my labor and by the time we arrived at the maternity centre I was 8 cm dilated. Our first baby girl was born after an hour and a half and I considered my first birth a successful

With the kit you will be able to recognize what is happening inside you while you are in labor, which stage of labor you are in and act on it so you can make your birth an amazing, powerful experience.

When labor came second time around, I was in complete control from start to finish. I knew how to breathe and move through the pain and even experienced a kind of ecstasy throughout labor by being so in control. Even the strong contractions towards the end I could handle well.

After 4 pushes my second baby girl was born. I felt strong and powerful throughout this labor and was very proud afterwards that I was able to give my daughter such a controlled and calm welcome to the world.

For more information about the Pink Kit, go to www.TheGirlMagazine.com and click on the Pink Kit banner.

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GIR(L) MONEY

SAVE MONEY, HELP THE ENVIRONMENT WITH PROPERLY

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INFLATED TIRES

Shrader

T

ire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) are now a standard safety feature on all new cars in the United States. TPMS automatically monitors tire pressure and alerts the driver when the pressure in one or more tires becomes significantly low -- and potentially dangerous.

Still, conducting monthly tire pressure checks is one of the smartest driving moves you can make. Not only are properly inflated tires critical for vehicle safety, they also increase fuel efficiency and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Increase Fuel Efficiency According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 3.56 million gallons of gasoline are wasted every day due to incorrectly inflated tires. The good news is you can improve gas mileage just by keeping tires inflated to the proper pressure. In fact, one study showed that if gas costs $3 per gallon, proper tire pressure can save you up to $432 at the pump each year.

Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emissions According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the typical car in the United States releases more than five tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year. By keeping tires properly inflated, you can reduce

your vehicle’s “carbon footprint” by an average of 327 pounds per year.

Because a tire can lose up to half its air pressure without appearing to be under-inflated, you cannot rely on a tire’s appearance to determine whether it’s properly inflated or not.

Tire Pressure Tips From Schrader To help ensure your tires are properly inflated year-round, here are some tips from Schrader, the inventor and leading manufacturer of TPMS worldwide: * Check the pressure in all four tires -- and the spare tire -- monthly with an accurate tire gauge, and always check tire pressure before a long road trip. * The “right” pressure for your vehicle’s tires can be found in the vehicle’s manual or on the driver door edge, glove box or fuel door. Do not follow the information listed on the tire sidewall. * For the most accurate reading, tires should be checked when they are cool. * Always remember to replace the valve cap.

For more tips, including what to do if the TPMS symbol illuminates on your dashboard, visit TPMSMadeSimple. com. Schrader created the site to help educate drivers about TPMS and the importance of proper tire pressure.

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Tell them,

“I saw you in 52 GIR(L) I 2011

”

GIR(L) HERSTORY

Blanche: Sophia, by placing this pearl necklace between my bosoms, does it make me look like I’m a sex-starved slut who is in need of a man to bed?

Sophia: Yes. Blanche: Good, then pearl it is.

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LOOK FOR IT! The GIR(L) annual directory is jamb-packed with annual events and happenings, fun facts, and companies that value YOU as a consumer! It’s your annual resource guide to everything Southeast Florida. Pick up one today at your favorite GIR(L) distribution site. Check it out online and bookmark it to have GIR(L) at your fingertips.

TheGirlMagazine.com

DON’T MISS THE 2012 ANNUAL DIRECTORY! For a limited time: Deep discounts for early birds wanting to reserve their spot and get the biggest bang for their buck. Call 954-829-1982 for an advertising consultation today.

Hurry these deals won’t last all year!

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26th Annual Palm Beach GIR(L) FUN

International

Boat Show Set for March 24 to 27

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W

ith more than $350 million worth of boats, yachts and accessories from the world’s leading marine manufacturers, the 26th Annual Palm Beach International Boat Show is one of the top ten boat shows in the country. The spectacular yachting event takes place from March 24 through March 27 along scenic Flagler Drive, featuring hundreds of boats ranging from small inflatables and center consoles to fishing boats and superyachts over 150 feet.

In addition to the impressive selection of boats for every budget, this year’s Palm Beach International Boat Show offers an array of new interactive marine related activities:

The Blue Wild Dive and Travel Show is an innovative presentation that aims to help people enjoy the ocean safely, whether learning to dive or continuing their diving and boating education.

The show will feature renowned experts speaking on safe boating, scuba diving, freediving, spearfishing, lobstering, first aid, environmental issues and emergency boat repairs.

The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) School of Sportfishing presents “mini-sessions” with some of the area’s best captains and professional anglers. While checking out the latest gadgets or considering a new skiff, anglers will be able to pick up hot tips and tricks from the most experienced fishermen on the water.

Don Dingman, host and founder of Hook the Future, returns this year to host his Kids Fishing Clinics for little anglers ages five to 16. Each session runs approximately 45 minutes. Hook the Future was created by Dingman to show parents how important it is to spend quality time with their children and to empower children to do things for themselves.

The past year marked the completion of a revitalized waterfront area perfectly complementing the yachting lifestyle the boat show brings to West Palm Beach.

Updates include shaded areas, water features, a faux beach, pavilions, and floating piers.

Show goers will find navigating their way to this year’s Palm Beach International Boat Show easier than ever before. Multiple show entrances will

be located at Evernia Street and North Clematis Street at Flagler Drive. Various municipal parking garages and privately operated lots are located throughout downtown West Palm Beach, most of which are within walking distance to one of the two show entrances. For parking and transportation maps, visit ShowManagement.com. Guests are also invited to come by boat and may tie up to the free Come-by-Boat docks located south of the in-water displays.

BOAT SHOW SCHEDULE: Thursday, March 24 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Friday, March 25 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 26 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Sunday, March 27 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

SHOW ADMISSION: Adults $14 at the gate; $12 online Children (6-15) $ 5 at gate; $3 online Children under 6 Free ABOUT THE PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW:

The Palm Beach International Boat Show is owned and sponsored by Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach (MIAPB), managed and produced by Show Management, and presented by Mercedes-Benz, Aqualuma, Palm Harbor Marina, Yachts Magazine, The Palm Beach Post, Budweiser, Hook the Future, Enterprise Rent a Car, IGFA, Blue Wild Dive & Travel Show, and Identity Travel. Show Management is the world’s leading boat show company and produces the world famous Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show®, The Yacht & Brokerage show in Miami Beach, The Palm Beach International Boat Show and The St. Petersburg Power & Sailboat Show.

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T H E COT TAG E

LAKE WORTH