Croatia’s Dalmatian coast has become one of Europe’s most exciting destinations but getting there can be tricky. If you’re coming from outside Europe, be aware that there are no direct flights from North America to Croatia. You’ll need to make a stop in another European city for a flight to Croatia. Fortunately there are more and more routes opening up. If you’re coming from Italy however, the best bet is usually to take a ferry to Croatia. That’s what most Italians do which is why there are more ferries than flights from Italy to Croatia.

In travelling to Croatia, there are four main entry points: Dubrovnik, Istria, Split and Zagreb. Let’s take them in order.

Travel to Dubrobnik

It’s Croatia’s most beautiful spot and well connected by flight, ferry and train. Taking a flight to Dubrovnik is easier between March and October when the season begins to gear up but you’ll find connections from London to Dubrovnik three times a week all year. To get to Dubrovnik from Italy, your only choice is Jadrolinija’s Bari to Dubrovnik ferry which runs all year but more often in summer. There are buses to Dubrovnik from most other Croatian cities that run frequently and efficiently.

Travel to Istria

The main entry points in Istria are Umag, Rovinj, Porec, Pula and Rabac which are all connected by ferries to Italy but only in the summer season. In addition, there are buses to Pula from Venice and to Rovinj and Porec from Trieste. Pula airport has non-stop flights in the summer from Manchester, London, Edinburg and Glasgow.

Travel to Split

Split is situated in the middle of the Dalmatian coast and makes an excellent entry point. There are non-stop flights to Split from London, Cologne, Frankfurt, Munich, Prague and Rome. If you’re coming from Italy, you’ll find frequent ferries all year from Ancona and less frequent ferries from Pescara. In the summer, there’s a highly convenient overnight ferry that runs from Venice to Split. Split is connected by bus with most other Croatian cities as well as Ljubljana, Mostar and Sarajevo.

Travel to Zagreb

Zagreb is Croatia’s capital and connected to most other European capitals by Croatia Airlines. The cheapest way to Zagreb from the UK is by Wizzair which just opened a new service from London to Zagreb. Other low-cost carriers include SNBrussels which has flights from Brussels and Germanwings which has cheap flights from Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg and Stuttgart. There are buses to Zagreb from other Balkan cities but the train is most convenient if you’re coming from Ljubljana, Venice, Budapest or Vienna.

Jeanne Oliver is the author of Lonely Planet’s Croatia travel guidebook. Find out more about travel to Croatia plus accommodation, sights and travel planning at her website, http://www.croatiatraveller.com

A common parental concern that, as a martial arts instructor, I continue to encounter is in the difficulty that parents often encounter in getting their youth student to class.

“I have to fight to get them here,” or…

“He just wants to play with his friends,” are common statements that I hear.

Often, parents consider letting their child quit but then come to find that’s not what the student wants.

“How,” they ask me, “can he want to keep training but fight me when it’s time to come to karate class?”

They find it very difficult to understand the contradiction between having to fight to get their child to class and the fact that they have so much fun when they get here.

To solve the ‘mystery’ and eliminate the misunderstanding we must understands the way a child thinks and the way their brain has developed to this point in their young lives. It’s very important for parents and teachers alike to remember that…

…kids are not adults in little bodies.

And, many of the things that we, or more correctly, our fully-developed brains, take for granted aren’t even possible in the still-developing processes of a child’s mind.

So, what makes them resist coming to class but enjoy it once they are there?

The answer is: timing.

Quite frankly, children (and some adults) have not developed an understanding of the concept of scheduling and timing. That is to say that, once they have become involved in something, that’s what they want to do. Anything else, regardless of how pleasurable or necessary, at that moment, is seen as a hinderance to ‘this moment’s fun.’ Whether it’s watching TV, playing with their friends, or whatever, once a child becomes involved in something, anything, that “thing” gets ALL of their attention - period.

So, what’s a parent to do elleviate the frustration, both themselves as-well-as the child?

How do they avoid making the mistake of pulling their child out of martial arts training - the one thing they need to teach their son of daughter the life lessons that won’t be taught in any other school they ever go to?

Of all of the possibile answers that I share with the parents who bring their children to me, my best advice is…

“Don’t let your child get involved with anything that you know will grab their attention in a way that will make it difficult for both of you, within at least one hour of leaving the house to go to martial arts class.”

But, what can they do if they can’t get involved in anything?

Simple. Have them get ready for class. Have them make sure that their uniform, including martial arts belt, is in order and folded neatly. Have them review their moves, any vocabulary that is required, or even tell you something “cool” or “awesome” that hope to work on when they get to class.

The point is, to really help your child to develop the discipline necessary to succeed in the martial arts and to achieve their goal of becoming a Black Belt, you will have to use your brain to help them make up for those areas of their own that have not yet developed.

By understanding your child’s needs, from THEIR perspective and not simply your own, you will rise above the masses of clueless parents who act out of frustration born of a lack of understanding of what it means to be…

…a parent.

Too bad they don’t hand out Black Belts to parents who achieve this level of understanding, don’t you think?!

Jeffrey M. Miller is the founder and master instructor of Warrior Concepts International. A senior teacher in the Japanese warrior art of Ninjutsu, he specializes in teaching the ancient ways of self-protection and personal development lessons in a way that is easily understood and put to use by modern Western students and corporate clients. Through their martial arts training, his students and clients learn proven, time-tested lessons designed to help them create the life they’ve always dreamed of living, and the skills necessary for protecting that life from anything that might threaten it. To learn more about child development and other subjects related to the martial arts, self-defense, personal development & self-improvement, visit his website at http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com To subscribe to his online newsletter, go to http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/newsletter-subscribe-self-defense.html.

If boondocking is not a familiar RV or camping term to you, it will not be long until other RV camping enthusiasts introduce you to this time honored RV camping tradition. The art of boondocking is also referred to as dry camping or dispersed camping and offers many campers the opportunity to enjoy the comforts of their RV while still enjoying nature without the modernization or amenities that campgrounds offer.

Boondocking is also an alternative to one night stopovers at a campground while traveling from one destination to another and many RVers find Wal-Mart parking lots and truck stops to be just the solution. Places like Wal-Mart know the value of catering to the camping community, as they provide a perfect place to stock up on RV camping supplies and outdoor necessities while on the road.

Whether you are boondocking for convenience while heading toward your camping destination, or if you have chosen boondocking as the RV camping experience you are seeking, there are certain boondocking tips and camping protocol to follow.

The first is courtesy and common sense. If you are boondocking in a Wal-Mart parking lot, it is not a good idea to pull out the lawn chairs and camping equipment and setup shop. Doing so will quickly ruin the boondocking option for others and sour the reputation of campers in general. Any overnight RV stay in public locales should be treated as a privilege and not an entitlement. The same holds true for boondocking in remote locations, always honor the environment and leave it pristine for other campers who are to follow.

When RV camping without full hook-ups, there are other considerations as well that will assist you in getting the most out of your boondocking camping adventure. Water and power utilization and conservation is always the foremost concern among dry campers. With a little experience and planning, RV campers can easily become accustomed to conserving both.

Water conservation while dry camping comes down to paying attention to details. Don’t let the water run while brushing your teeth; run water slowly to conserve consumption; and capture water in the shower to recycle for rinsing and flushing. When you are waiting for the water temperature to adjust for a shower, reclaim that water — you will find many other uses for it. And remember to always shower using the wet and rinse technique. There are many other water conservation options available for dry campers as well and the RV industry has a wide variety of electronics and accessories available.

Power and electrical needs follow the same laws of conservation and require paying attention to detail as well. Inverters, generators, and solar panels are all options and in combination can extend power usage quite adequately. There are so many alternatives and they are dependent upon your existing RV configuration, so the ideal solution is planning. Determine the type and amount of power that your TV, satellite dish, VCR, refrigerator, or microwave places on power consumption and calculate the load requirements and how best to disburse them before venturing out.

Boondocking can be intimidating at first, but with advanced thought and planning it can provide tremendous pleasure beyond what RVers are looking for in a traditional campground. And you are certainly not alone in the great outdoors when it comes to boondocking! A simple Google query will yield other RV camping enthusiasts who share boondocking tips, routes, locations, and many other valuable pieces of information that only the experienced boondocking camper would think of.

There is also a huge assortment of LTV (Long Term Visitor) Areas in California and Arizona, and BLM (Bureau of Land Management) Information available detailing designated wilderness areas, regulations, and amenities. Other experienced boon docking RV campers have put together huge online lists of creative ways to boondock, camping and boondocking forums, travel blogs and other valuable resources.

So if boondocking is in your future RV camping plans, you will find you are in good company — it’s just that the company won’t be sitting in the campground site five feet from yours!

For years the most prominent public role for Peter Sutherland as chairman of BP PLC was to play host at the company’s yearly meeting. But after a string of oil spills, deadly accidents and an energy-trading scandal at BP, the 60-year-old former rugby player has rushed into the scrum.

Last year, the Irish politician and prominent banker forced Chief Executive John Browne to publicly identify his retirement date. After Lord Browne’s shock decision last month to leave a year and a half earlier than planned, Mr. Sutherland must now buff BP’s image and manage the company’s first executive-suite transition in more than a decade.

Despite oil prices dramatically increasing its shares rose just 4.5 per cent in 2006, compared with a 36 per cent rise by Exxon Mobil Corp. and 15 per cent at Royal Dutch Shell PLC. Yesterday, the company announced 4th quarter net income decreased by 22 per cent, in part this can be seen as indicative of lower natural-gas prices and lower production.

BP, meanwhile, faces U.S. criminal probes on three fronts — corrosion and oil spills in Alaska; a March 2005 refinery blast that killed 15 in Texas; and its energy-trading practices, with federal officials alleging BP traders manipulated propane markets in 2004. BP refutes this claim and says it is cooperating with investigators on all three inquiries.

Mr. Sutherland’s prominent public standing also underpins a pattern that goes beyond BP: a shift in the boardroom dynamics at many of Europe’s biggest publicly traded companies. Nonexecutive directors here have in the past been criticized for leaving too much decision-making in the hands of powerful executives. Now, many companies are moving to strengthen their boards with independent and strong directors.

Until the point at which Shell faced an accounting controversy in 2004, Shell’s British holding company had as its chairman a professor of geology. After the scandal, it recruited Jorma Ollila, former chief executive officer of Nokia Corp as chairman. Unilever also appointed an outside chairman last month to cap a restructuring at the Anglo-Dutch consumer-goods giant.

Mr. Sutherland’s mission at BP has always been to focus on establishing a “robust” and independent board of directors he was quoted as saying in an interview recently. After short periods as Ireland’s attorney general and Europe’s competition czar, Peter Sutherland in 1993 was instrumental in taking forward the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade in Geneva. There, he clinched the Uruguay Round, an important trade agreement that set the stage for today’s World Trade Organization. For a man who has achieved so much it is difficult to forsee where he will find his next challenge.

Hiking clothes and backpacking clothes need to function to a higher standard than everyday clothes. That’s why they’re often more expensive. Shop all the sales you want, and you will save money, but that extremely expensive waterproof/breathable coat will only be marked down to “very expensive.” Time for some more radical ways to find cheap hiking clothes.

Consider what you really need for the trips you have planned. If you’ll be scaling peaks in Patagonia for a month, you may have to stick with the best sales you can find on the high-quality stuff. If, on the other hand, your trips are fair-weather overnighters, a two-ounce, two-dollar plastic poncho isn’t out of the question.

Even on the more extreme trips you can often find cheaper alternatives. Did I take a $400 waterproof/breathable rain suit to the top of 20,600-foot Mount Chimborazo? No, I took my papery Frogg-Toggs rain suit. You’ll find these at golf shops, and yes it’s waterproof and breaths well too. It cost me $49 for the set, and I have used it for years, on many rainy trips, with only one duct-tape repair.

Do you like to hike in running shoes, as I do? Start watching the sales on out-of-style shoes. I’ve bought brand-name $90 shoes for just $25. With savings like that, I’ll gladly be out of style.

I stopped getting blisters when I gave up on expensive, high-tech, too-hot hiking socks. I hike thirty miles now without a blister in comfortable, lightweight, white nylon dress socks. They’re less than an ounce and about a dollar per pair.

Buy Used Hiking Clothes

The only hiking clothes I won’t buy used is footwear. Other potential backpacking clothes are worth checking out whenever I find them at a rummage sale or thrift store. I’ve found a Gore-Tex rain jacket and North Face vest at a thrift store for a few dollars each. My thrifty used wool sweater weighs just 11 ounces, and is almost as warm as the newest models.

One of my favorite thrift store discoveries was silk shirts. I learned that they weigh just tree ounces, and show up on the racks regularly for $3. They are comfortable too, though on the trail some of the styles make me look like I’m searching for a wilderness disco.

Making Hiking Clothes

I can’t recommend sewing your own hiking and backpacking clothes, but I have made a few simple things. The sleeve from an old thermal shirt became a one-ounce ski mask with scissors and three minutes of sewing. Socks with finger-holes make nifty hand warmers. As an insulating layer, I wore a four-ounce piece of poly batting like a tunic under my Frogg Toggs, to the top of Chimborazo and other mountains. Finally, without too much sewing, you can often modify clothes to make cheap hiking clothes.

Steve Gillman is a long-time advocate of lightweight backpacking. His tips, photos, gear recommendations and a free book can be found at http://www.TheUltralightBackpackingSite.com

It’s sad to think that we have to consider arming or equipping ourselves to feel safe. The truth of the matter is however, that violence can happen to anyone. A Personal Safety Device can help you avoid or escape a sudden attack. Should you carry one and, if so, what should you carry? Only you can decide.

The market is flooded with all kinds of gizmo’s and gadgets; guaranteed to ensure your safety and promising to instantly neutralize a violent assailant. Some are legit. The majority, unfortunately, are junk! Even good ones, if you don’t understand their proper use and limitations, can be a liability. How do you tell the difference?

If there is one thing I want to emphasize in this article, it’s this: if you are developing a realistic personal safety strategy, focus primarily on YOURSELF… not on a tool, toy or gadget. Your brain and your body are your most powerful personal safety “devices.” Your development in each of the “Seven Components of Self-Defense,” will have the greatest impact on your legitimate safety and sense of security.

If you are considering a Personal Safety Device, do your homework. Research what’s available and evaluate your options rigorously. Find one that you are comfortable with and suits your ability and personality. Easier said than done right? When evaluating the merits of a PSD, ask and answer the following questions…

================== PSD Evaluation Questions ==============
1. Is it legal?
2. Will I carry it all the time?
3. Will it be immediately available when I need it?
4. Do I have legitimate confidence in my ability to use it?
5. Is it as effective as it has been held out to be?
6. Could it be taken away and used on me?
7. Am I physically, mentally and emotionally prepared to use it?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~

Let’s take a look at each question in greater detail:

1. IS IT LEGAL?

Are you willing to run the risk of being arrested and criminally charged for being in possession of an illegal weapon on the off chance that someday you may need it to protect yourself? Before investing in a PSD, find out if it’s legal to possess and carry where you live. A phone call to the community services branch of your local police department should be able to provide you with this information.

2. WILL I CARRY IT ALL THE TIME?

My guess is that people seldom leave their homes thinking, “Gee, I think I’ll go out and fend off a robber, rapist or mugger today!” What happens to most PSD’s is that they are quickly forgotten about and find their way to the bottom of a purse, the glove box of your car, or the back of a kitchen drawer. They won’t do you much good there! Is the device you are considering something practical enough to carry with you all of the time, discretely, without looking or feeling paranoid? If not, don’t waste your money.

3. WILL IT BE IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE WHEN I NEED IT?

Even if you do carry it all of the time, will you be able to draw and ready it in time to use in the event of a sudden attack? Again, if it’s in your pocket or purse when you need it, it won’t do you much good. Is the PSD something that you will have ready, preferably in hand, if and when you need it?

4. DO I HAVE LEGITIMATE CONFIDENCE IN MY ABILITY TO USE IT?

Military and law enforcement research confirms that people who lack confidence in a technique or device will not resort to it in a stressful situation. Many people have been seriously hurt in violent encounters with a potential PSD in their hand. In the stress of the moment, they didn’t think to use it or doubted its’ ability to impact the situation. Perhaps they were afraid that it would only make matters worse. If you are thinking of carrying a PSD, are you prepared to learn how to use it and practice to become proficient with it?

5. IS IT AS EFFECTIVE AS IT HAS BEEN HELD OUT TO BE?

Over-inflated claims and quick-fix promises are the “cancer” of the self-defense business. Often, unscrupulous self-defense instructors and gadget salespeople exaggerate the benefits and capabilities of their systems and products.

Whenever you hear words like “guaranteed, quick, and easy” or claims that the product will subdue any and all assailants regardless of their size, strength or sobriety, it’s time to call, “bullshit!” Walk away, someone’s trying to rip you off!

Understand the psychological and physiological control principles associated with the PSD. In other words, how is it supposed to impact the assailant’s intent or behavior? What is the science behind the claims being made?

NOTHING works all of the time. Always acknowledge the limitations and potential failure of a PSD and have a back-up plan.

6. COULD IT BE TAKEN AWAY AND USED ON ME?

This is probably the most common concern about personal safety weapons; and it’s a valid one. Are you prepared to use the device aggressively on a predator to protect yourself? Are you knowledgeable and skillful enough to retain the device if he attempts to take it away from you? Never carry a Personal Safety Weapon with the intent to “bluff” your assailant. If you are not prepared to use it decisively, don’t carry it!

7. AM I PHYISCALLY, MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY PREPARED TO USE IT?

Carrying a personal safety device without investing the time to become knowledgeable and proficient in its use is a big mistake. It’s as useful as a pair of boxing gloves to someone who can’t punch or a tennis racquet to someone who doesn’t have a clue how to play the game.

You must prepare physically by practicing the necessary skills and techniques associated with the device (if it requires such skills). You must prepare mentally by knowing when and how to use it and the situations that would make it’s use legal and appropriate. You must prepare emotionally by deepening your emotional and moral resolve to protect yourself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Can you come up with any other questions yourself? Have I left you hanging by not taking you by the hand and recommending MY favorite personal safety devices? If you haven’t noticed by now, my predominant teaching angle is to promote responsibility and independent thinking in my students and readers. Don’t believe me, or anyone else, about what’s best for your safety until you test it out or think critically about it. You must become your own expert, make your own decisions and draw your own conclusions.

==================== So What? ==========================

You should be asking yourself by now, “So what? How can I use this information?” Let me reiterate that I’m against the idea of carrying a PSD as a replacement for the phyiscal, mental and emotional development that self-defense training has to offer. I am not, however, against carrying a PSD as a supplement to a comprehensive personal safety strategy. There are some valid ones out there. In fact, I demonstrate and even sell them at my self-defense seminars.

I also believe in the merits of training yourself to recognize and use “weapons of opportunity” in the event of a violent encounter. A weapon of opportunity is a common, every-day object that can be converted into a weapon during an encounter.

If you are looking for, considering or evaluating a personal safety device, don’t do it blindly or impulsively. Do your homework and some soul searching. Will it serve your needs? Will it improve your ability to respond and your sense of security? Does it “fit” your lifestyle and personality? Only you can answer those questions.

If you are interested in specific reviews or recommendations about PSD’s in future newsletters, let me know and we can explore the issue in greater detail.

Take care, train smart and stay safe…

Randy LaHaie
Protective Strategies

Final Note:

I may have created a limited perception what a PSD is. Keep in mind that PSD’s are not necessarily exotic or concealable weapons with the potential to inflict injury. In fact, many of the best one’s are no such thing.

If I had to select just one PSD to carry myself (which I do) or recommend to a loved one, guess what it would be… a CELL PHONE! I could go on for an entire newsletter trumpeting the powerful personal safety benefits of a cell phone and the ability to summon help that they provide.

If you can afford a cell phone, it’s one of the best personal safety investments you can make.

============== Self-Defense Quotable Quote ===============

“Self-defense gadgets don’t cut it. Not even guns work for most people because they can’t use them safely and effectively. The advantage of a survival mind-set over everything else is that it’s always with you and ready for immediate use. That’s crucial and lifesaving because when violence explodes the security of your world, there are no second chances and no time-outs to think it over and decide what to do.”

Strong On Defense
Sanford Strong

============================================================

Randy LaHaie is the president of Protective
Strategies and has been teaching reality-based
self-defense for over 30 years. He is the author
of several “Toughen Up Combative Training Guides”
(http://www.ToughenUp.com)

Subscribe to his FREE SELF-DEFENSE NEWSLETTER at
http://www.ProtectiveStrategies.com

Homeland security has become much more than an often used catch phrase for describing national, regional, state and local efforts to eliminate the threat of terrorism. The expenditures that collectively make up the U.S. homeland security budget are now a substantial portion of our federal spending. State and local spending for homeland security related measures has also risen proportionately. One result of this spending and it’s increasingly prominent portion of our gross national budget can be seen in the availability of positions that are related to homeland security.

>From local law enforcement to the administrative levels of the Department of Homeland Security itself, new positions have been created for the express purpose of meeting the nations ever expanding demand for qualified personnel in this field. Unprecedented growth for homeland security related employment opportunities is expected for the next several years, as the complete development of the protocols that will serve as an integrated national security policy are implemented and fully realized. The availability of non-federal homeland security positions has dramatically increased for state and local governments, municipalities, townships and private industry. Emergency preparedness for every conceivable event, from disasters to data loss, has become a major industry in the last few years.

Unquestionably, the lack of properly trained personnel to fill the specialized positions that have arisen from this new source of employment is of great concern. While upper echelon management positions are often appointed, there are several administrative and non-supervisory positions which will need to be filled. The efforts of all levels of intelligence gathering and law enforcement personnel must be collected, coordinated and culminated into an efficient working database that can be accessed by the various agencies that are responsible for our nation’s security. The orchestration of a task of this magnitude is massive in scale and will require a substantial labor force.

The road to understanding Japanese in littered with lies. These lies aren’t intended to harm. The fact is, in the beginning the lies seem natural and helpful. They help make the language ‘feel’ closer to our native language (English, most likely). Unfortunately, the more knowledge you try to pile on the top of these lies, the more your house of learning resembles a home built on a foundation of sponges. Instead of helping, these myths only make life harder.

At points, they can make you wonder: “Why can’t I understand Japanese?” “What’s wrong with me?” “I must just be stupid.” When I started taking a formal Japanese class a few months ago, I realized how harmful those ‘friendly lies’ can be. I noticed that a class full of people who had completed almost three quarters of a textbook still couldn’t conjugate verbs in a negative plain form. I realized that it was difficult for my classmates to naturally conjugate an adjective. It was more than simple memory slips - my classmates genuinely didn’t understand how verbs worked. Though they had the benefit of a native Japanese teacher, and classroom conversation time, still, the basic verb seemed to evade them.

I realised, as the class progressed, that my classmates were victims of a number of myths that I had also faced. These myths seem inherent in most of the learning materials for students. Unless you are the kind of person who looks at an inconstancy, and really searches to find out why that inconsistancy is there, it’s easy to drink in these lies, until they grow so big they claw their way out of your brain, and go skittering into the night. .

So over the course of the next week, I’m going to post up all of the myths I’ve learned about Japanese verbs, and how you can defeat them. Hopefully you’ll find them helpful.

Know Your Verb! (Some myths about Japanese Verbs as seen from a student of Japanese)

Desu = Is

If you think ‘desu’ = is, congratulations, you are about to defeat your first big myth about Japanese.

Let me make this clear:

DESU DOES NOT MEAN IS!

Not today, not tomorrow, not ever. Desu is a word that has no equivilant in English. In short, it makes what you are saying more polite. This is exactly, word for word, what a Japanese friend told me.

Okay, but what about:

Kore wa penu desu This is a pen. (This is possibly the most inane sentence ever)

Doesn’t desu mean is in that sentence?

Now we get to the real secret of desu. Desu will sometimes pretend to mean is, if it is the last word in the sentence, and if there isn’t a more active verb at the end of your sentence. It’s exactly the same thing as using the masu form of a verb to make a verb more polite (The Masu Myth we will defeat next).

So why does believing that desu = is give me problems?

Because, a whole bunch of the time, desu doesn’t mean is at all. Further, if you try to think ‘desu’ means ‘is’ it will only confuse you to what’s really going on in a sentance.

EG:

Kore wa penu ja nai. This, a pen, is not. (casual)

Kore wa penu ja nai desu. This, a pen, is not (more polite - not normally heard, but gramatically correct and equivilant to penu ja arimasen)

Kore wa penu ja nai ‘n desu. This, a pen, is not. (I’m saying this to explain something - see previous post: no da/no desu. Polite. Seen often.)

If you believe (as I did) that ja nai means ‘is not’ and desu means ‘is’, the last two sentances are a complete mind-twist.

Lit: This, a pen is not, is …WTF!

You may convince yourself: well, something like that is just an exception to the rule, and memorize it. But if you are forced to memorize everything that is an exception to the desu = is myth, eventually, you will quickly experiece desu burnout. You also really run into trouble when you meet the word has a meaning a lot closer to is: (what the Genki textbook calls the ‘plain form’ of desu, though calling it a plain for of desu is more of the ‘desu’ = ‘is’ crap)

Da Is (in the sense of ‘this is a pen’)

I say a lot closer to is, because the word ‘is’ in English is a lot different than ‘is’ in Japanese. Japanese has a bunch of different kinds of words to express existence. The most common ones you will meet are:

da, aru (inanimate objects exist), iru (animate objects exist)

Also, because you tend to drop redundant parts of the sentence in Japanese, sometimes the word ‘is’ will be left off entirely. Finally, the word ‘is’ is wrapped up in every other verb, depending on how you conjugate it (which is why you don’t need to use a ‘to be’ verb to say, I am going to the store - Mise ni itte iru) We will get into that more as more myths are busted.

I hope this helps clear up points of confusion with desu/da.

Future myths busted: The Masu Form (it’s not the real deal) Adjectives and Verbs: One and the Same How to conjugate verbs and adjectives without sweating blood.

I love being a homeschooler. I am proud of my lifestyle. I love my family and am willing to make sacrifices to insure that my values and priorities are evident in everything we do.

So, why do I feel defensive? Why am I apprehensive at times to discuss my chosen lifestyle with those who disagree? Why should I care about those who don’t share my philosophy and are suspect of the sacrifices I make?

Well the short answer is most of the time, I don’t! But faced with the barrage of criticism from all sides, there have been times when I questioned my decision to homeschool and wondered if it’s worth it.

I started homeschooling 15 years ago when it I saw what was happing to the public schools. Private school were too expensive. At that time I was viewed as a weirdo, as an “overprotective” snob, and as someone raising socially deviant antisocial misfits. I was constantly justifying my position to people who just did not get it! It was difficult to constantly have to explain and defend my priorities to those who, I felt, abdicated their responsibilities to others they know nothing about.

I felt then as I do now that homeschooling is the best world for my children. The woman’s movement of the 70’s created unnecessary confusion for many women. Men always knew their identity was in their career. I knew woman could do anything, but timing was key. It was obvious to me that my children would be my career. Like any other profession, homeschooling required education, commitment, dedication, patience and creativity. We, as homeschooling pioneers, steamed forward and professed that our families were our careers and they would get the benefit of our education and training. I do not feel I wasted my 17 years of education.

This commitment to the family started a ground swell and now millions of families teach their children at home. We all know how students and teachers behave in the public schools. The metal detectors, DEA agents, police, gangs, riots, barbed wire, lock downs and random searches tell the sad story. I empathize with the innocents who are subjected to this cesspool daily.

Homeschooling is a gift I give to my children without reservation because they are special and deserve the best. The business world never missed my creativity and energy, but my children would have.

Accounting is defined as the measurement of assurance about certain information in the aid of resource allocation for managers and other decision makers. The most popular and most commonly practiced branch of accounting is financial accounting. This branch of accounting involves processes where data is recorded, summarized, analyzed, organized, interpreted and communicated to others concerned. Many individuals are enticed to enter the accounting field because it can be a very lucrative job.

Accounting is a very exciting field. It presents many opportunities for growth and development. It is perfect for individuals who are fond of solving problems and who are comfortable with working with numbers.

So you wanted to learn accounting and become a professional accountant? Don’t know what accounting school is right for you? With the increasing number of schools and colleges offering accounting courses, the choice of accounting school can get really confusing.

The best thing you can do in choosing an accounting school is to first determine and preferably list down the things you are looking for in a school. After doing this, the next step is to weigh the pros and cons of each school to determine which one could meet your needs.

The next thing to do is to perform the actual search for the accounting school. You can start by asking people you know, particularly those who have taken up or who are currently taking up accounting. You can visit the schools, colleges or universities near your location. You should also make very good use of technology. The Internet is a very good place to search the best accounting schools. Not only will it save you time and energy, the Internet can also be a very convenient way to compare accounting schools. Most schools list down course requirements and curriculum on the Internet.

These may seem like very tedious tasks. Yes, it definitely would take some time, but you can never be too careful when it comes to your education. Below are other tips to find the best accounting school.

Be sure of the things you want to gain by enrolling in an accounting school. Do you want an accounting degree or do you just want to simply learn the fundamentals of accounting? If you want a degree in accounting then you must consider schools that offer accelerated levels of teaching. But if you simply want to learn accounting then this is not very important.

If you are busy or if you are already working, then it is highly advisable that you choose an accounting school that will give you the greatest flexibility. Do you want to learn from home? Then choose an accounting school that offers distant online learning and courses. Distant learning schools are excellent choices for busy individuals. If you do not want distant learning, then choose schools that offer night or weekend classes.. For sure there are many of those out there.

Choose the schools that offer the best financial plan. Most schools offer financial plans that will help you and other students afford the high cost of getting and education.

Getting the right accounting school is very important. It is the choice that will determine the learning that you will acquire and most probably your future in accounting. So weight your options very carefully. Perform a very good research before you enroll and take up an accounting course.