Mud Mosh

Being a freelance writer for the last few years has made me realize a lot more about beating writer’s block than simply knowing it happens sometimes. Writing to make money means often writing when I’m least inspired. Fortunately, I have a hefty tool box of exercises to help me brainstorm effectively and beat writer’s block….

Lesson 23 – The Nehru Era (1947- 1964)Nehru was the architect of India ‘s foreign policy and its five-year plans. The five-year plan model was copied from the Russian five-year plans created by Stalin for Russian development after WW2. Kashmir posed a different sort of problem because 3/4 of its population was Muslim, but its…

Apparently, that hot dog of a congressman, Anthony Weiner is seeking a leave of absence from his role of Chief Peter Tweeter or whatever the hell he was doing in congress. Perhaps he was giving those rascally republicans lessons in ethics, morality, virtue and ah — “constituent services — ” It used to be, when…

I was ten when my mother sent me to the west coast to spend the summer with a rich uncle. Before I boarded the airplane, she told me about his beautiful home in the California hills, a charming jet setter lifestyle and the fleet of luxury cars he owned. What dear old mom neglected to…

Dancing is one of the best exercises. Dancing improves motor function in children, helps to develop motor function in general, and strengthens bones and muscles. Dancing is also fantastic for your heart. Dancing for as little as ten minutes, three times per day, is beneficial on so many levels. Dancing also helps circulation, and gives…

Bebe is a clothing brand inspired by contemporary and modish fashion. Created by Iranian-American Manny Mashouf in 1976, Bebe represents an appeal that is current but highly influenced by past eras. Bebe is a fashion brand that defines confidence and refinement, as well as classiness and trend. The year is 2011, so I have decided…

Hey,hey,hey, it’s me, Miller again. How’d ya like South Beach. Everything I said it was? I know. I’m kinda of a genius that way. Well look folks, I’d be remissed if I didn’t mention all the fun things the family can do while in Florida. So moms and dads, get your rugrats and listen to…

Brown is associated with the Earth and haze. Sometimes it is associated with excrement. Brown can also mean depression and concealment. Brown is often associated with tree bark and wood. It is a symbol of the home. Stability and and reliability are also associated with brown. Chocolate may be a shade of brown but it…

Want to learn more about your favorite “Glee” cast members? You might be surprised at how many had very little on screen acting experience prior to being cast for “Glee.” The hit FOX show was cast with a mixture of unknown actors, and ones that have been in the entertainment industry for a while. All…

This week the FDA unveiled to the public some of the graphic images they plan to require cigarette companies to include on their packaging in 2012. All of these images are supposed to show how smoking cigarettes can have a negative impact on your health. With all of the media attention and campaigns against smoking…

Immigration issues are on the forefront of government talks growing into a situation that can no longer be ignored. But for teachers in the United States, it is a different issue they must overcome. The growing number of Spanish speaking students who will not be able to understand them as they deliver their lesson plans….

Research data keep showing that ordinary Aspirin is truly a miracle drug. It is the most widely used medicine in the world for good reason. Thankfully it has been around a long time and is incredibly cheap. If a pharmaceutical company had invented this substance and found all the health benefits of it that we…

Competition is very tough when it comes to finding jobs, and those who want to have a chance at getting hired need to resume heavily. The first applicants are often the ones called in for an interview, especially if their information reaches the right person who has some say in who is hired for the…

Harold Egbert Camping, a self-styled Biblical prophet has predicted the end of days — Again. This time it’s on 21 May 2011. Some atheists are cashing in on the Christian belief that when Christ comes again, true believers will be snatched up into the air in an event known as the rapture. No dog or…

As a lesbian who happens to be madly in love, I am following the Respect for Marriage Act hearings in Congress. I donate to the HRC as often as I can. I believe in marriage equality (not “gay marriage”). Heck, I just plain believe in equality. As the preachers and religious pundits in this country…

I have often used my frequent flier miles for airline tickets. I belong to several airline mileage programs so that no matter which airline I fly with I’m collecting miles which I accumulate until I can use them. I have also transferred miles to another person’s account and bought a frequent flier ticket for someone…

It is sometimes difficult for a woman to know if she can really trust a boyfriend, especially if he stabbed her in the back or the heart in the past. However, when someone is lying they cannot continue the rouse for long and get away with it. Find out before investing a lot of time…

It’s summer. Who doesn’t want to have a little ice cream during the hot summer months? Worried about putting a freeze on your diet by indulging? There are several guilt-free options you can choose from that won’t sabotage your diet and goals of slimming down. Skinny Cow Low Fat Ice Cream Sandwiches These are always…

100 years ago, the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire captured the attention of a nation when a fire broke out at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City. Many workers were trapped and others jumped to their death to try to escape the flames. 146 died in the fire, mostly women, in a grisly public spectacle….

Unemployment was 8% when Obama took office. Obama spent $1 trillion dollars and now it’s 9.1% Was that a change you could believe in? 8 Million Americans who want to work don’t have jobs. 8 million illegal aliens, who broke at least three laws have jobs. When Obama took office the national debt was $10…

These days it’s easy to look back on our finances and wish that we had made different choices when we had the money. It is harder than ever to hang on to any money that we have because our economy is still wounded. Whatever money we do make has to go to paying bills. There…

Don’t be left out of the conversation with nothing to say. Here is some conversational fodder you might use whenever things get boring or you just want to hear yourself talk. Amazing Equations: Did you know if you were born between 1900 and 1999 and you write down the last 2 digits of the year…

It’s been a while hasn’t it? When was the last time we talked? I know that I did last time, but just for today I’d like to reminisce about our past, if that would be all right with you. Can you remember our house atop that grassy plain? Just picture for a moment what it…

Though at 33 years of age, many would argue that I have not been on this planet for very long, compared to many I have made it to an age that was not reached. In the time that I have been here, when I was just a little fella and through all the time that…

July is National Ice Cream month but anytime is a fun time for ice cream theme lesson plans. Sure letter I is for igloo an insects but everybody loves ice cream. Ice cream lesson plans lend themselves to concepts like shapes and colors. There’s plenty of science, math and of course tasting to go around….

As a nod to Bob Dylan’s seventieth birthday (May 24, 2011), I thought I’d compile a list of five of my favorite lesser-known/acclaimed Dylan songs. These may differ from the stalwarts of your everyday Dylan lineup, but in no way are they bench players. The beauty of being a fan, whether it’s going live shows,…

For three weeks, British families unwittingly ate carcinogenic dioxin-tainted eggs. Thousands of Germans farms were shut down [From “Chemical Month” on 13.7 Billion Years] Yesterday, the Belgium-based SGS Consumer Testing Services said that “the recent health scare in Germany has once again focused international attention on the necessary measures required to avoid the contamination of…

With gas prices rising over $4.00 a gallon, Americans are searching deeper into their pockets to try and balance out the amount of money going out with the amount coming in. Often cutting back on the “big purchases” many Americans don’t realize that cutting back in small ways can be just as effective. The small…

CSI was once the biggest show on television, and is still fairly big today. Yet the original CSI is facing a lot of challenges ahead for Season 12 — the least of which is finding a new lead. The show already has to start over in a new time slot, having lost its spot as…

As we age, my husband and I are more aware of our health, like many people. So, we have been working on shedding 60 pounds or so that we acquired over the last couple decades and don’t want anymore. At first, we tried doing it “right”. We kept food journals and consulted nutritionist. We went…

Poetry is difficult to limit. In its broadest sense, poetry takes everyday life and redefines both its routine and unique elements to create a bridge linking the senses, experiences, and ideas of the poet with other minds. Poetry is a fabrication where metaphor reaches an inclusive eloquence — drawing living minds and hearts into a…

Tensions are always high as the live quarterfinals open on “America’s Got Talent,” and not just for the performers. As soon as the judges were introduced by Nick Cannon on Tuesday, things got so testy between Piers Morgan and Howie Mandel that throwing started, leaving Mrs. Osbourne only the option of ducking! Some of the…

The latest news on Carlos Guillen is that his knee is pain-free and he’s attempting to get to the running stage of the rehabilitation process. In fact, Guillen is not even certain he’ll be back this season. Going into spring training, it was unclear who would man second base for the Tigers in Guillen’s absence….

Mitt Romney has all of the advantages of a potential frontrunner. He is telegenic, a former governor, has a reputation for sound, economic acumen, and has run for president before. But he had one very heavy millstone hung around him. Romney had passed a version of health care reform as governor of Massachusetts that bears…

Many people remember chicken fried steak from their school days. It was typically small, round and served on a bun, and it did not look like chicken or steak. It was unidentifiable mystery meat. It is actually round steak that has been pounded almost flat and breaded and fried like chicken. Some restaurants serve this…

Canned peas have far less flavor than fresh or frozen varieties, but they are still good when properly seasoned with herbs, spices and add-ins. Instead of simply opening a can and eating them plain, use the following ways to add flavor to canned peas. They can taste absolutely delicious without investing much time or effort….

Two recent studies released by the New England Journal of Medicine are giving cancer patients new hope. The studies involved the drugs, Vemurafenib and Yervoy, which were combined with chemotherapy to treat the skin cancer, melanoma, a very aggressive and deadly form of cancer which takes the lives of approximately 9,000 cancer patients every year….

Every year between May and June on Neopets the Altador Cup rolls around and leaves some very frustrated players behind that don’t understand how to play Yooyuball. Once mastered Yooyuball can earn the most points for your team and points for you to spend at the prize shop later. A simple basic strategy is all…

Many of us have busy lives outside of article writing. Do you find yourself struggling to squeeze in time for writing between grocery shopping, taking the kids to extracurricular activities, driving to your own classes and keeping the house in order? Why not multitask, and sneak in a little extra work as you can throughout…

Credit cards in and of themselves are not bad. As with anything it’s what you do with them that determines whether it is good or bad. Here are 5 advantages and disadvantages of credit cards. Pros 1. Cash back bonuses, zero percent interest & rewards – this is an excellent perk only if you pay…

Overall Rating: 2.5/5 Stars In 1981, Nintendo released an arcade cabinet called Donkey Kong, a strange yet pioneering video game that helped set the foundations for the platform genre, and represented the company’s last-gasp effort to market a profitable machine. The unit was a hit, and very quickly was not only a popular arcade game,…

Extreme couponing has found its way into homes across America. In southern California keeping up with the Jones’s and image control are integral parts of every day life. As a result couponing is often frowned upon. Presenting coupons at a store could be image suicide. As a minimum, it is embarassing to the image concious….

When my child was a toddler, he would eat vegetables with no never mind. When I heard other mothers complaining of their kids not eating vegetables, I thought I had it made, until he started becoming more aware of his sense of taste. I had lost my veggie eating monster. For a while there, getting…

It was a perfect partnership when bluesmen Hal Reed and Ellis Kell joined musical forces to educate youth about the roots of American music through Blues in the Schools and Winter Blues programs. Together they are taking today’s kids and making them into the next generation of bluesmen. Reed and Kell immediately struck the right…

Oh the everlasting, ongoing effort to keep your child(ren)’s room(s) clean. Begging, pleading, threatening, deal-making with your child is not only wearing you out but is unnecessary. Try a different approach instead. With the help of a few storage ideas, you can stop pulling your hair out and start living a stress-free, organized life. 1….

Many Tennesseans look forward to the tax free weekend during the preparation for back to school. This year the state’s sales tax free weekend is this weekend, August 5 through August 7, 2011. Many items that children will need for back to school will be available for purchase with no additional sales tax to pay….

The 12th annual Christy Awards were held on Monday, July 11, 2011, at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta. Staged during the International Christian Retail Show each year, the Christy Awards recognizes excellence in novels written from a Christian worldview. The award encompasses nine categories and is named in honor of one of the most famous…

With the volatility of gas prices, crossover vehicles have become popular with consumers looking for a smaller option than a traditional SUV. They are already a staple in auto sales that nearly every manufacturer offers in one or more models. In general, a crossover is defined as a vehicle with SUV features and that is…

So you want to get started on planning your own almost Royal Wedding, well we’re here to help you get started! Weddings are one of the most important days in the lives of women all over the world. Since childhood they have dreamed of walking down the aisle covered with fresh rose petals or on…

When the Colorado Rapids defeated FC Dallas 2-1 at BMO Field in Toronto on November 21, 2010 and lifted the MLS Cup as champions, it marked the end of a conquest dating back to MLS’s inauguration and the end of a long journey for Colorado fans and supporters. Fittingly, Colorado’s 2010 championship season also signaled…

“Nature & Humans” There are some truths which are so obvious and for this very reason they are not seen or at least not recognized by ordinary people. They sometimes pass by such truisms as if they are blind and most are found amazed when someone suddenly discovers what everyone shouldalready know. Men wander through…

Before you jump to any preconceived notions that torture is never acceptable, let me ask you about this situation. You are in a bank with your children and a gunman comes in and kills the guard. Let us also assume that he automatically qualifies for the death sentence or the maximum penalty allowed for killing…

When it comes to being a business owner, at some point you are going to need a credit card to make purchases for your business no matter if it is a new car for your business or supplies and equipment. However, when it comes to applying for a credit card, you should know the process…

One of the issues that caregivers cite as a high concern when senior family members are living on their own in their own home or apartment is safety. What happens if there is a fall or a burner is left lit on the stove? What can you do, even if you’re in the same town,…

This week, Jonathan Rhys Meyers landed in the hospital after a suspected suicide attempt. Paramedics had found Meyers slumped on the floor. They called the police after he refused treatment. Witnesses suspect that he had taken a number of pills. It is unclear whether or not Meyers’ condition was the result of a suicide attempt….

It was with a fond smile of nostalgia that in the early morning hours of July 21st, 2011, I heard the double sonic boom of a returning space shuttle for the last time. After all, the space program has formed a backdrop to my entire life. When I was born, fifty years ago, the space…

If you are planning a trip overseas, your biggest financial concerns may be getting the best rates on air fares and hotel rooms. In fact, there are a number of other financial issues you should consider before going abroad. Here are 6 financial tips for traveling overseas. Protect Your Money and Other Valuables. Pickpockets are…

My good friend Ellen Degeneres gave me the Kodak Easyshare 5500 printer. What? OK, OK, I won it from the Ellen Degeneres show! I did not remember even signing up to win it and was surprised when it came to my door! I told the Fedex guy that he had the wrong house, but he…

You see success in the string of letters after my Rottweiler’s name. You see titles in obedience, Rally, carting, drafting, and pack dog hiking. What you don’t see are the flub-ups, the times in the ring where we didn’t earn a qualifying score, where we just missed a passing score, where we didn’t even come…

Medium-length and long hair never lose their appeal. After all, what’s easier than washing your hair and then creating a simple, flattering style in a matter of minutes? Longer hair provides options that are especially welcome in warm summer months. Whether you’re dropping by a friend’s house, spending the day at the beach or attending…