Muhammed Babangida Talks Blues

You might say that blues music has little to do with my life, New England and the state of modern culture in the world. You might say that, but you'd be dead wrong. The great thing about blues music in particular, and all music in general, is that it crosses cultures and boundaries to make new meaning for each set of ears that hear it. Blues music is art of the most visceral kind, a pure expression of human suffering and emotion. Although there may not be as many blues fans now as in the past, it still speaks to those, like me, who are listening.

Muhammed Babangida, a Nigerian businessman with many interest outside of music, has started a blog to talk about blues music, in particular the development of slave culture music in early America and how traditional African music has influenced the blues. The blues, Muhammed Babangida says, depict the harsh and unforgiving side of life. We've all experienced this side in one way or another. Blues music is simply one way to express it, a way that Muhammed Babangida well respects. You can check out his blog to read more about his interest in the emotional world of the blues.

Rebuilding Communities: Braden Power

Everyone has their own idea of the perfect living space. For many, the current trend of standard, identical apartments in sterile decor is unattractive and reminiscent of college dormitory life. This design trend, or rather, lack-of-design trend, has extended into every part of the real estate market. Even in the suburbs, houses have become repetitive and lack vitality. As a young person just a few years out of the dorms, I can sympathize with those that prefer a home with character. People want to live in a house or apartment building that feels like home, that is distinct, and that harmonizes with but is not identical to the other buildings in the neighborhood. People want to be part of a unique community.

The type of free-character, community-based living I'm talking about is often achieved through projects like Braden Power 's building rehabilitation project. Braden Power took run-down buildings in Dallas and turned them into unique, customizable living spaces that would appeal to the young professional. The old buildings were outfitted with high-end features like hardwood floors, granite countertops and attractive landscaping, turning them into something more than just a place to sleep. Braden Power has also applied this method to condominiums and other living spaces to create a blend of classic and modern design that is far from today's cookie-cutter trends.

Managing Systems, Not People: Nachshon Draiman

The American system of care for the elderly is often considered a mess. Many people don't like to think about what will happen to them when they grow old, and prefer not to take responsibility for their parents or grandparents who can no longer take care of themselves, but the reality is that we may all end up in their shoes. With reports of mistreatment, mismanagement and financial trouble flooding the media every year, the idea of sending a loved one to a nursing home is a fearful prospect. It's in everyone's best interests that the level of care is properly managed. Nursing home facilities all over the country are in need of help. That's where people like Nachshon Draiman come in.

Nachshon Draiman, the CEO of Future Associates, is committed to taking over and reorganizing care facilities in the Illinois area. He started out working in social services, but moved into geriatric care as the need for improvement there became apparent. The Nachshon Draiman philosophy includes working to change not only the structure of care but the attitude toward caring for the elderly. Draiman strives to remove as much administrative clutter from his facilities as possible so that residents receive the best, most individualized care. After all, systems are in place to benefit people in these facilities, not to manage them.

Mastering Philanthropy: Frank Hanna

It's not a great exaggeration to say that many people feel like they don't do enough to help out their fellow man. Not that people don't intend to help others, but life often gets in the way and the end result is guilt. However, many people also don't realize that every little bit counts. You can tell when a person is really trying to help others, especially when they have little money to spare. When an economic crisis becomes apparent, like now, these people shine. I've frequented many a forum online where its members lately rallied to a cause, despite most of them being either too young to have much money or too affected by the current economic climate. People can be amazing.

However, we could all learn a little more about when and how to help. Frank Hanna, an investor, educational leader and co-founder of the Solidarity Foundation, talks about managing money and how we can waste less in order to spend more on helping others in his blog. Frank Hanna  is the CEO of Hanna Capital, which has been involved in numerous charities and other philanthropic ventures designed to serve the poor and disadvantaged, and believes that people have a responsibility to use their money wisely in serving their communities. Frank Hanna 's philosophy of people and businesses as stewards can be applied to many charity situations.

Remodel Your Home With K-Designers

With the housing market gone haywire and the consistent economic issues associated with buying a new home, many are choosing to instead remodel their existing homes for an exciting, updated appearance. While some have the desire for remodeling on the level of full additions or gutting a house to its framework, most people simply want a fresh, new look. Most homes are built in the style of the decade, and let's face it: most of us don't live in classic-looking Victorians. Once trends change, houses start to look like they need a bit of sprucing up. This can be achieved through a change of decorative protective materials like siding, windows and doors. Much like playing a virtual home-building game, real homes can have their old outer decor swapped out for a stylish change.

Too, many prefer to hire contractors rather than go through the long effort of learning about working on a home themselves. One affordable source of remodeling products and services is K-Designers, home of the dream exterior. K-Designers offers exterior siding, windows, garage and patio doors, exterior paint, overhang coverage and more. The company has worked on remodeling homes for 30 years and has won many awards for excellence in service, production and workmanship. They strive to take away the stress of remodeling by providing good service and a variety of financing options in these tough times. K-Designers  is also ranked in the top 10 largest remodeling firms in the country. You can visit their website to look over their options, and start planning your dream home without having to move house.

Designing Your Body With Dr. Joel Roskind

The question of whether or not to get plastic surgery is a personal one, and one surrounded by a great deal of controversy. Modern society has a habit of double standards in this area: the high expectation of people's physical appearances coexists with extreme judgment of those that try to fit the expectation. No one comments if a person disfigured by accident, illness or genetic condition gets corrective plastic surgery, as is right, but those that elect to have plastic surgery for other reasons immediately become the center of debate. With the rising popularity of new facial and body modifications like facial rejuvenation and liposculpture performed by doctors like Dr. Joel Roskind, people feel freer than ever to express their opinions on what others do with their bodies.

That is the crux of the matter: in the end, it is your body, and your choice. Whether you want to look younger, better or simply different, you should be the one to make the call to consult a plastic surgeon. There are many surgeons out there, so be ready to make an informed decision about who you would like to consult. Joel Roskind  himself is both a surgeon and peer educator who has been working in the field for over 26 years, and strives to work on enhancing people's facial and body image. That is what the issue is all about, of course: your body image, and making you happy with your physical self. Dr. Joel Roskind provides services in consultation, breast surgery, liposculpture and laser surgery.

Don't listen to the crowd. Put the question of plastic surgery to yourself.

Real Taxi Wisdom: Amos Tamam

Taxicab safety has been a concern among drivers and fares alike for a good many years. Have you ever ever ridden in the back of an old cab and wondered what's stopping someone from robbing or assaulting a driver? The answer is, not very much. Or at least it used to be that way. Today's cabs are much better outfitted to prevent criminal acts. Cab regulations have changed to protect drivers by implementing security cameras and better separation between passenger and driver in newer cabs, but few have done as much for cab safety as Amos Tamam.

The current CEO of Verifone Transportation Systems, Inc., Amos Tamam developed a system that allowed cabs to accept credit card transactions, lessening the amount of physical money a driver carries and, as a result, the amount of robberies likely to be committed. The current Verifone systems are quick and easy to use, and can range from adapted taxi meters to complete contact-free pay systems. Some of the recent technology developed by Amos Tamam includes screen options for allowing passengers to access weather, news and maps, and even to monitor the accumulation of their own fares.
Although I'm not in an urban area and there are few cabs available here, I do travel into the city and used to be a little nervous about handling money in cabs. With Mr. Tamam's credit card technology, I can ride worry-free.

Health Care and the United American Insurance Company

Health care is expensive, and in this day and age, it's simply not a feasible option to go without insurance. What happens when you become injured or sick and don't have insurance coverage? You may have trouble finding doctors who will take you, and although you won't be turned away from the hospitals, you may not be able to afford their prices. I went through a period of no insurance recently, and had the unfortunate luck to end up at the emergency room. Several thousand dollars later, I came out with no diagnosis and a new financial burden that I'm still paying off. People, myself included, never think health care will cost as much as it does.

So what to do when you're uninsured or looking for a better insurance company? Do your homework and shop around for good coverage. A great company to look into is United American Insurance Company, which provides flexible, affordable health plans and life insurance. Unlike many other companies, United American Insurance Company offers individual policies and supplemental health care to back up an existing limited provider like Medicare. United American Insurance Company is also a resource for careers, and offers many positions in sales, management and customer service.

Don't put off getting coverage. Remember, you only save money being uninsured if you can guarantee you'll never fall ill or get injured.

To Pick or Not to Pick?

We’re all guilty of romantic susceptibility at some point. For me, that hopeless romance manifests itself in flowers; specifically, flowers as gifts. I love giving flowers. In a pot, in a vase, fancy or country quaint, flowers make amazing gifts that brighten up any room. The search for unusual, unique blooms that make a statement can often lead to a nature hunt rather than a flower shop visit, as those of us who have more sensibility than sense often turn to wildflowers for our gift-giving needs.

But unlike Marianne Dashwood, we live in a world where wildflowers have to eke out a niche existence, growing in tiny biological enclaves easily threatened by outside invaders. My favorite local wildflower, mountain laurel, used to bloom in abundance, but is now being choked out by other plants. Even with legislation to revive and encourage its growth, mountain laurel and other, much more rare wildflowers can be plucked out of existence by appreciative hands. Every time a bloom is picked from a wildflower plant, that’s one less pollination opportunity and fewer flowers the next season.

Wildflowers are lovely, but so are flowers grown for the express purpose of decorating. These hothouse plants are neither dull nor commonplace, and are engineered to last much longer than their wild counterparts. Many flower shops carry unique and beautiful blooms you won’t find growing in your backyard, especially in winter. Personally, I love to give lilies as gifts, for their long petals and variety of colors. I’m also a big supporter of buying gifts online. There are some elegant arrangements of lilies in pink, white and yellow over at 1800flowers.com, which can save you the time of having to hunt through a dozen local shops for the perfect gift.

Sorry, Miss Marianne. When it comes to gifting flowers, I’d rather give a gift to us all and let the wildflowers flourish.