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Bruce Wilkinson’s book, The Prayer of Jabez, became a huge success. It became so successful that many people felt that there must be something wrong with it. But this prayer from 1 Chronicles 4:10 is a great prayer for one simple reason: God answered it. And we need to take another look at this simple, but effective, little prayer.

“Oh, that You would bless me indeed, 1 Chronicles 4:10b

Many people feel that it’s wrong for us to ask God to bless us, but they miss the point. The point is: God wants to bless us.

Psalm 67:1-2 says, God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, Selah. That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. When God blesses us He reveals to the entire earth just who He is. And God’s salvation, His power, love, and mercy, are proclaimed when He blesses His people.

…and enlarge my territory, 1 Chronicles 4:10c

Jesus’ disciples got into an argument about who was going to be the greatest among them. Jesus knew that they were having this discussion so He confronted them about it. What’s interesting is that He did NOT say to them: You shouldn’t want to be great. Instead He gave them specific instructions about HOW to be great.

In Luke 22:24-27 Jesus tells the disciples that the Gentiles believe being great means ruling over people, but that is not how they are to understand greatness. He says, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. To be great, we must become greater servants. Our greatness is not determined by who we look down on or who works for us, but by the kinds of people we serve, the number of people we serve, and the way in which we serve them.

…that Your hand would be with me, 1 Chronicles 4:10d

Most people spend their lives trying to figure out how little they can get by with. They want to get more for doing less.

Jabez knew that by asking God to help him serve more, he was asking God to help him do more than he could possibly accomplish on his own. He purposely asked God to put him in a position where he had to depend on God. As Michelangelo once said, The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.

…and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” 1 Chronicles 4:10e

Jesus taught His disciples to pray, And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, in Luke 11:4. Sin and evil are all around us and we need to be aware of our dependence on God to live a life that pleases Him in every area.

But a second aspect of this prayer becomes clear when we read that the name Jabez means pain. It was the name that his mother gave him because of the pain he caused her during birth. Jabez had spent his entire life, every time he was introduced to someone or whenever someone called his name, being reminded that he had brought pain into his mother’s life.

We all have to pray for God to help us overcome the wrong beliefs that we have about ourselves. Whether it was our parents, teachers, or anyone else who said them, we all have beliefs about ourselves that simply aren’t true. They are nothing more than what others have projected onto us because of what they were experiencing or what they believed.

God wants to bless us and help us become greater servants. In order to do that He wants us to depend on Him completely in every area of our lives. And He wants us to believe the truth about who we are. We are His children, He loves us, and He is with us every moment of our lives. He wants to do great things in our lives.

At the end of of this simple prayer in 1 Chronicles 4:10 we read, So God granted him what he requested. When we pray this prayer that God answers, just like Jabez, our lives will never be the same.

Copyright 2006 Rob Marshall

Rob Marshall is the author of Taking On Goliath - How to Unleash the David in All of Us. Learn how you can unleash your faith and overcome any Goliath that may stand between you and your dreams. www.TakingOnGoliath.com http://www.TakingOnGoliath.com .

AFP - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is to visit Israel and the Palestinian territories later this month to spur Middle East peace talks, a senior Palestinian negotiator said Sunday.

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What makes a good film noir romance? And how is it different from, say, a romantic comedy or romantic drama?

A romance in any genre surely must have plenty of trouble and complications to create enough tension to captivate audiences.

The difference in classic film noir lies partially in the universe which the characters inhabit. Whether it’s a seedy dive bar, a stuffy New York apartment, or a fancy house on Russian Hill, the noir ambiance pervades.

But film noir lovers are different too. They’re not just two schmucks in love trying to make it work.

Instead, our protagonist is usually overcome with an obsessive and/or fatalistic desire. And, it’s usually the male (except in Joan Crawford movies), who is the one haunted and driven.

And that’s why the femme fatale is so prevalent in noir. She may be consciously or unconsciously seducing him into her web for her own desperate needs or she may be merely using him to further her own position in an underground world of crime. She often belongs to some more powerful, even evil kingpin.

Problem is, she usually falls for the very guy she set out to use and then the two of them are really in trouble. So, either she follows her heart and goes with the ever-suffering protagonist, thus incurring some form of mortal or legal danger for both of them, or she nobly sacrifices her own happiness to save her beloved.

Either way, it generally doesn’t end well. But oh, how we love identifying with those fierce passions run amuck.

Other variations of the classic film noir love triangle involve a real sweet girl or wife, our male protagonist and the femme fatale.

Another common characteristic of film noir lovers is that our main guy knows he’s going down, but just can’t help himself. One or both of the lovers may be headed towards self-destruction, yet feels powerless or lacks the will to stop it.

Why are we so fascinated with film noir romances? Perhaps it’s the irresistible fatalism these characters are caught up in, where the fragile promise of desire consummated is supplanted by an inner torment taken to the nth degree.

And for our voyeuristic pleasure, here are five examples of some favorite doomed-from-the-start film noir love affairs:

1. Johnny (Glenn Ford) and Gilda (Rita Hayworth) in Gilda (1946). The pain is palpable in this complex love triangle. Johnny’s best friend and boss is Ballin (George MacCready), a man whose new bride happens to be Johnny’s ex flame. He can’t bear the way she treats his friend, but is also tormented by his own rekindled attraction to her and vice versa.

2. Mae Doyle (Barbara Stanwyk) and Earl (Robert Ryan) in Clash By Night (1952). Mae Doyle tires of her new nice- guy husband and goes after his dark and moody friend Earl. They embark on a torrid, unhappy affair.

3. Mark (Dana Andrews) and Laura (Gene Tierney) in Laura (1944). Quietly intense detective Mark McPherson falls hard for the beautiful woman in a portrait who is supposedly dead. His obsession grows as he investigates her things and the men in her life.

4. Helen (Claire Trevor) and Sam (Lawrence Tierney) in Born to Kill (1947). He’s a killer and she knows it, but Helen and Sam are fiercely attracted. She tries to avoid him since she’s already engaged, so he goes after her rich sister instead. This only incites their passion and things get lethal.

5. Jeff (Glenn Ford again) and Vicki (Gloria Graham) in Human Desire (1954). Jeff’s the nice-guy train engineer who gets sucked into murder and mayhem by the irrepressible Vicki, whose husband Carl (Broderick Crawford) is obsessed with jealousy and suspicion.

As these films illustrate, a film noir romance is rarely a just a sweet love affair which happens to be set in a dark alley. Rather, it’s usually a desperate attraction between two otherwise alienated souls who find a rare kinship in one another. But due to circumstances of their noir universe (whether external or internal), it seems their union can only lead to destruction, whether to themselves or to others.

Laura Eggers operates Film Noir Alley, a site which is a resource to help film noir fans find books, music, dvds and posters. Also delves into specific psychological aspects of film noir, such as strangest scenes, passions, obsessions, oddball characters, deviant relationships, and more. www.film-noir-alley.com http://www.film-noir-alley.com . This article may be reprinted with this About The Author box included.

AP - A suicide bomber drove a car full of explosives into a line of applicants at an Algerian police academy Tuesday, killing at least 43 people in the deadliest terror attack to jolt this energy-rich U.S. ally since the 1990s.

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Persian cats have always been a favorite breed with cat owners.

They make wonderful pets and have their good points and bad points.

On the Pro list, they are very beautiful to look at and generally have a sweet disposition, a quiet manner and regal character. They usually tolerate everything and walk off if bothered.

They are very gentle, by nature. Another Pro is the variety of colors they come in.

You have silver, white, black, red, multicolored and golden shades, just to name a few.

They are an ornament to your life and home. They make attractive pets to look at.

They have lovely fur and are not usually prone to be destructive in any way.

Persian cats usually adjust quite well to new surroundings quickly although some can be shy around loud noises.

There are some other things you need to know. This will help you adjust to possible problems of owning that may occur.

The Cons of owning a Persian cat are the shedding of hair, the possibility of runny eyes, as Persians seem prone to this and they may also have some grooming problems.

Usually only older Persian cats have a tendency not to groom themselves.

Some owners have their Persian cat shaved by the vet occasionally if grooming becomes a problem.

It is always best to be aware of all these facts before owning a Persian cat.

Persian cats make delightful pets and will bring you much joy.

They tend to live long lives and get very attached to their owners.

In summary, this breed will make a wonderful addition to your family and a great pet as long as you are prepared for all of these things.

Bridgitte is retired and a persian cat owner. Her webpage can be found at All4Webs.com/i/3/bridgitte/home.htm http://All4Webs.com/i/3/bridgitte/home.htm

AFP - Investments in the bonds of struggling US home-loan financers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have earned Russia more than a billion dollars in the past six months, press reports said Tuesday.

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Finding Your Past

There is something to be said for a bit of nostalgia. You might be cleaning out and find old love notes or the CD you burned for your now ex-girlfriend. A song comes on the radio and you find yourself singing along. Fashions you thought had come and gone are back again and you just can’t decide if you want to give them a second try. After all, the first round of the eighties wasn’t too great for you style wise.

On a rainy afternoon, when you just happen to be thinking about your old self, you might try bringing back of those few old memories just for the simple amusement of it. Certain television shows even specialize in creating shows about the 70s, 80s or 90s. You can make your own mini-show right over your computer.

Finding Your Past

Your past is all over the internet. You can look it up through the white pages or do a more complex people search to see what happened to all your old buddies. MySpace actually has divided people into high schools and colleges which means you can spend hours reading about your ex girlfriend or crush without feeling like too much of a stalker. When you get bored with that, you can go back and relive even earlier memories.

The Early Stuff

Most of the toys you loved as a child are still around. Light-Brights, Barbies, Legos and more can be bought online and enjoyed again. If you feel funny buying yourself toys and don’t have a niece or nephew to use as an excuse, consider trying something else. Coloring pages ( www.thedollpalace.com/coloring-pages/ http://www.thedollpalace.com/coloring-pages/ ) and paper dolls are online now, too, through websites like TheDollPalace.com. You can spend time carefully shading in the coloring pages on the site and playing with the doll makers.

If dolls aren’t your thing, there are other sites out there with free access to the original Atari or Nintendo games. There is no time like the present to reclaim your position as Donkey Kong champion or see if you can still find all of the warp zones with Mario and Luigi. Even PacMan and his wife are still around and chomping.

Who Cares?

Even if you claim to hate every minute of your own childhood, or more commonly, your teenage years, there is no reason you can’t make up a new one. If you were deprived of Barbies and coloring pages ( www.thedollpalace.com/coloring-pages/ http://www.thedollpalace.com/coloring-pages/ ) as a child, make up for lost time now. Grab a hairbrush and sunglasses and jam out the way you always wanted to the tunes of Tiffany or Slayer.

If you had a pretty normal childhood and still don’t care about the memories, you just haven’t fully experienced them yet. Have you kept up with old friends? Do you have all your favorite songs from high school on your iPod yet? If not, you probably just don’t know what you’re missing!

This article was provided by The Doll Palace - creator of doll makers and fashion dress up games for girls. For more information about cartoon dolls, avatars and The Doll Palace, visit www.thedollpalace.com/ http://www.thedollpalace.com/

Reuters - Soft drinks giants Coke and Pepsi are slugging it out for supremacy outside the home of Thai Olympic boxing hopeful Worapoj Phetkum, who faces his first fight of the Beijing Games Friday, the Bangkok Post said.

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The President of the United States is one truth away from 99% popularity in the United States of America. Right now he is like a hockey player standing in front of an open net in a tie game with the clock winding down refusing to shoot the puck into the open net for the win. With his distortion of one truth he is shooting himself, the Republican Party and the people of the Western World in the foot. His reluctance to tell this one truth could lead to the fall of the Western World just as the Roman Empire fell to the Barbarians.

Five years after 911 on national television President Bush is still fudging this one simple statement of fact. He continues to tell the American people that the war on terror is a fight against a fringe group of radical Muslims who are perverting the peaceful religion of Islam. The truth that could gain him total popularity and rally the Christian Western World behind him is this:

The Holy Scripture of Islam is the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the Koran. When the Prophet Muhammad spoke of the people of the scriptures, the books, he was referring to the Jews (The Old Testament) and the Christians (The Old Testament and the New Testament). The Koran is the Muslim Holy Bible sent from God, Allah, to the angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad 1400 years ago. The Koran is followed as the word of God by all Muslims.

The Koran Chapter Sura 9:29-30 states clearly to every one of the 1.3 billion Muslim men, women and children on Earth, “Make War on the Christians and the Jews…Do battle with them!” “Kill those who join other Gods with Allah wherever ye shall find them, and lay wait for them with every kind of ambush: but if they shall convert to Islam then let them go their way.” (Koran Sura 9:5) For this you shall be rewarded with eternal paradise in Heaven with Allah, crystal clear streams, 72 virgins, wine without side effects, and the Garden of Eden forever. (Koran Sura 56). The Koran clearly and expressly commands all of the 1.3 billion Muslim people on Earth today to engage in Holy War, Jihad, to conquer the world for Islam, for Allah. (Everyman, The Koran, Translated from the Arabic by J.M. Rodwell, J.M. Dent, Orion Publishing Group, London, 1994).

Two days ago on 09/11/2006 Osama bin Laden’s Al Qaeda deputy Ayman al-Zawahri released another Al Qaeda propaganda videotape. It said, Among the devout group which responded to the order of Allah and the order of his messenger (the Prophet Muhammad) were the heroes of Sept. 11, who wrote with the ink of their blood the greatest pages of modern history, he said, referring to the hijackers who flew the planes into the Pentagon and the World Trade Center”.

It is the plan of the Muslim world to use 2/3 of the world’s oil, in the Persian Gulf, to build and purchase thousands of nuclear weapons with which to conquer the world for God, Allah, Islam on these express orders of God, Allah in the Koran. The Muslim people plan to choke off the American oil supply and choke off the American economy and nuke America into the ground. 911 was the first shot to hit America on American soil. The Taliban, Iran, Al Qaeda, Hezbollah, Hamas, Shiite and Sunni Iraq are all part of the world wide Muslim Holy War for world domination by Islam being carried out right now on the direct orders of the Muslim God, Allah, to every Muslim man, woman and child right in the Koran. Forewarned is forearmed and as long as President Bush keeps you in the dark about what is actually going on in the world you don’t stand a chance.

Despite the truth, President Bush continues to tell the American people that the war on terror is a fight against a fringe group of radical Muslims who are perverting the peaceful religion of Islam. The truth that could gain him total popularity and rally the Western World behind him is this: The war on terror is a war on mainstream Islam and 1.3 Billion Muslims who are united in their quest for World Domination just like Adolf Hitler went on a mission to conquer the world for Germany and the white skinned blue eyed human beings.

President Bush knows all of this. This is why after 911 he announced that he was launching a Crusade. This is why he is calling the war on terror a war on Islamo Fascists. The goal of the Muslim world is to slaughter every non Muslim person on Earth until the Muslim Imams control Earth for Allah and Muslim law is the law of the entire world, including multiple 9 year old virgin wives. The Muslim people are coming at you right now and they are thrilled to give their children and their lives for this cause because if they die in the battle then they are guaranteed eternal paradise. Their gateway to Heaven is to massacre in cold blood every single JonBenet Ramsey. Their goal is to burn down every Church, every Synagogue, every Buddhist Temple, every Hindu Temple and forcibly convert the world to Islam.

If President Bush would just tell this to the American people then the Republican Party would not be drowning in false criticisms like: The war in Iraq is not part of the war on terror. This is not a war on terror. The Christian United States was viciously attacked on 911 by Islam, by 19 Saudi Arabian Muslims, 20 if you include Osama Bin Laden. The war is a war of self defense against Islam. Iraq is a Muslim country. Saddam Hussein was a brutal Muslim dictator giving $25,000 to the families of every Muslim Palestinian suicide bomber. He had and used chemical weapons of mass destruction on his own Kurdish people. Saddam built nuclear reactors but Israel bombed them.

Why won’t President Bush tell the truth that all Christians are in a world wide fight for their lives and the lives of their children against Islam? Ask him. Then ask yourselves why the Western media isn’t trumpeting this truth from the headlines of every media outlet. Are they choking on their own sophistication and political correctness? Is it a hate crime to say that a religion of hate is a religion of hate coming to get you? The truth happens to be a complete defense in any slander and defamation action, and whatever happened to freedom of expression especially when you need the whole truth to save your life and the life of your children? How is Islam even legal now in the Western world? Haven’t the Christians and Jews read the Koran commanding their deaths and the deaths of their children and grandchildren? George Bush is this one truth away from total popularity in the United States of America and the Western World: “Islam is attacking Christianity world wide and every other religion and seeking world domination for Allah and they will stop at nothing to accomplish this goal.” If you are unaware of your problem then you have no motivation to solve your problem.

Karen Fish is a writer currently living in Los Angeles California.

AP - While this year’s presidential election shows signs of drawing in more young voters than any since 1992, the candidates who pulled some of them into the Republican race are long gone - and it’s unclear whether they’ve taken their young supporters with them.

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Many people ponder the perfect way to raise a child. Here are some thoughts to consider and contemplate:

It takes a village to raise a child. - African proverb

There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One is roots; the other, wings. - Hodding Carter

Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands. - Anne Frank

Don’t limit a child to your own learning, for he was born in another time. - Rabbinical saying

The best way to keep children home is to make the home atmosphere pleasant — and let the air out of the tires. - Dorothy Parker

You know children are growing up when they start asking questions that have answers. - John J. Plomp

I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it. - Harry S Truman

If you as parents cut corners, your children will too. If you lie, they will too. If you spend all your money on yourselves and tithe no portion of it for charities, colleges, churches, synagogues, and civic causes, your children won’t either. And if parents snicker at racial and gender jokes, another generation will pass on the poison adults still have not had the courage to snuff out. - Marian Wright Edelman

No matter how old a mother is, she watches her middle-aged children for signs of improvement. - Florida Scott-Maxwell

Too often we give our children answers to remember rather than problems to solve. - Roger Lewin

Becoming responsible adults is no longer a matter of whether children hang up there pajamas or put dirty towels in the hamper, but whether they care about themselves and others — and whether they see everyday chores as related to how we treat this planet. - Eda LeShan

People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don’t even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child — our own two eyes. All is a miracle. - Thich Nhat Hanh

There is no perfect way to raise your child. Just provide the support and love they need to grow and prosper.

Sophia Ton is a freelance writeer who writes about baby shower gifts, maternity, pregnancy & family topics. She loves to shop for baby memory books at www.beforebaby.com/category/baby-books http://www.beforebaby.com/category/baby-books and she loves the diaper cakes a www.beforebaby.com/category/diaper-cakes/ http://www.beforebaby.com/category/diaper-cakes/ .

AP - Tropical Storm Fay meandered north along the Florida Atlantic coast Wednesday but did not immediately head out over the ocean, lessening the chances it will gain strength and become a hurricane.

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How to choose the right breed of dog for you and your family

The importance of choosing the most suitable type of dog breed for your personal circumstances, preferences and limitations simply cannot be stressed enough. While dogs are like people, in the sense that no two dogs have the same personality, it is also true that different breeds exhibit different behaviors and, in fact, are often bred in such a way as to heighten these particular traits. Therefore, it is possible to have a fair idea of how a potential pet will react to different situations on the basis of the breed chosen. A true dog lover will make a special effort to take into consideration all factors to ensure that the breed selected as their pet adapts well to their needs.

Anyone for a Dalmatian?

The first thing to bear in mind is that the type of dog chosen must fit in with your current - or projected - lifestyle. The Dalmatian can serve as a good example. This breed is well known for producing cute little puppies, but what many dog owners don’t realize is that they’re going to need a great deal of exercise and playing even well into their mature years. So, if you choose this breed, you have to be aware that your dog is going to need the attention and love of a master, or mistress, that has the time for it. It’s going to need plenty of physical exercise and mental stimulation to be a truly healthy and happy pet. As you can imagine, this is no easy task.

Considerations

Before you decide on a breed of dog, consider the following questions, as a minimum:

· How much time can I, or my family, spend with the dog or puppy?

· How often will the dog be left alone, and for how long?

· How big is the yard or exercise space?

· Is it fenced?

· Do I want the dog to be inside the house or outside? For how long?

· How much time do I have to walk or exercise the dog?

· Do I want a dog that is playful and friendly with everyone or one that is a good watchdog?

· How often am I prepared to groom and maintain the dog’s coat?

· How much time can I spare to work with the dog for training and obedience?

· Will there be any small children around the dog?

· Are their other pets in the family?

· How much money am I prepared to spend on getting - and maintaining - the dog or puppy?

Once you’ve answered these questions, and any more that may be relevant to your particular situation, you can then start looking at the different dog breeds and their characteristics, in the knowledge that your choice will be based on sound reasoning.

Make sure you get it right

If you’re planning to get a new dog or puppy, the breed chosen definitely does matter, both for you and for your future pet. If you spend the time and effort to ensure a good match, you can be much more confident that both you and your pet will be happy - make sure your dog can fit easily into your lifestyle, so that you can give it, in return, the lifestyle it deserves and needs.

Terry Roberts has always been interested in dogs and the way people and their pets get on.

AP - Barack Obama and John McCain have burnished images as politicians who keep special interests at arms’ length, yet there won’t be much stiff-arming at their nominating conventions.

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Hip dysplasia is a very common condition in most breeds of dogs. Often larger dogs are more prone to hip dysplasia but it can also occur even in the small and toy breeds. Hip dysplasia is a degenerative condition that usually affects dogs as they age, although some breeds can start showing the symptoms of hip dysplasia at young ages as well.

The hip of the dog works the same as the hip joint in a human. It is a ball and socket joint with the socket attached to the pelvis and the ball part of the joint attached to the femur or thigh bone. Normally the ball and socket fit together properly and there is movement in all directions. There is a ligament and other protective tissues that hold the ball and socket together and keep the joint strong and healthy.

Dogs that develop hip dysplasia have an abnormal growth of the soft tissues around the joint and within the ball and socket mechanism of the hip. This starts when the dogs are very young. The result is that the bones of the hip joint are not in close contact with each other; rather they are separated by the layer of abnormal tissue that has developed in the joint. The constant outward pressure of the joint by this tissue then further leads to a stretching of the ligament that holds the joint together. The result is a separation of the joint known as a subluxation.

Hip dysplasia is a hereditary condition that means that it can only be passed down through breeding. With conscientious breeders having their dogs tested for hip dysplasia before breeding the condition can be controlled. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) has collected data on various breeds and lines since 1966. This database is the largest in the world and is used by reputable breeders to ensure that the lines that they are crossing have little chance of carrying this genetic condition.

Treatment

Hip dysplasia in dogs is usually first noticed by stiffness and pain with walking. This will often result in dogs having trouble sitting or standing as the joint is flexed and extended. Many owners think that their pet has arthritis when this occurs. A vet can verify hip dysplasia with a physical exam, which will manipulate the joint. The vet can tell be the tension or lack thereof in the muscle and connective tissue around the hip. An X-ray can also be used to verify the condition.

There are several ways to treat hip dysplasia and usually the treatment method will depend on the age of the dog and the cost of the procedure. All the methods that involve surgery are very costly and may not completely cure the problem, depending on the amount of damage that has been done to the bones. Usually younger dogs are more effectively treated with the surgical procedures. Total hip replacements as well as altering of the pelvic bones and even removal of part of the joint or connective tissue are all options.

Non-surgical methods include anti-inflammatory, arthritis medications as well as controlled diet and non-strenuous exercise. Since it is a hereditary condition there is no medication that can control the disease but the damage to the joint and the pain that the dog may be experiencing can be effectively managed for many years.

Kelly Marshall is a popular contributor at www.ohmydogsupplies.com http://www.ohmydogsupplies.com - where you can find dog beds, dog steps, pet ramps, and more unique dog gear that you’ll never find at your local pet store.

AP - Barack Obama and his newly named running mate will campaign together Saturday at the place where the Democratic presidential hopeful formally launched his White House bid.

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Alicante is the second largest city in the Valencia Province. The city is a major tourist attraction and there are many opportunities for sightseeing in Alicante. Over six million tourists visit the Costa Blanca region each year. Many of them enter the region through the Alicante airport and spend some time in the city.

Sightseeing in Alicante: Attractions

The Old City centre is home to many museums and historic buildings. There is so much to see and do in this area to experience Spanish history and culture. It takes days to see all that the area has to offer. Plan to spend a few days of your trip in this area, taking in all the sights.

The Nativity Scene Museum is located on San Augustin Street. The museum features hundreds of Nativity scenes on display from all over the world. Kids and people who love Christmas will love this museum. Admission is free. This attraction is popular even in the summer tourist season.

The Concathedral of San Nicolas de Bari is an amazing old Cathedral. The large blue dome on the church is a landmark in the city. There is a large black marble sculpture of Saint Nicholas in the entrance of the church. It is also home to the Bishop of the Province.

The Avenida del Teatro is a huge theatre. It has large, Roman style columns at the entrance. The theatre is a great place to go for evening entertainment. A variety of shows and plays can be seen in this theatre.

The Castle of Santa Barbara is one of the largest Medieval fortresses in Europe. It was built by the Moors in the ninth century. There is a great view of the city from the tower. The castle is full of local history. Artifacts dating back to the Bronze Age have been found at the site. There is an amazing display of Spanish sculpture inside the castle.

Alicante has plenty of opportunities to enjoy the night life. The Barrio Santa Cruz, also known as the Old Quarter is a great place to experience the city at night. The area has a Medieval style feeling. There are a lot of bars and pubs in the area. If you enjoy music and abundant nightlife, be sure to visit the Old Quarter at least one night of your stay in the city.

Sightseeing in Alicante: Shopping and Beaches

The beaches are the biggest attraction in Alicante. The Costa Blanca has the longest summer season in Spain and is the best place to enjoy the sun. There is a promenade near the beach that is lined with palm trees. There are several sidewalk cafes here for eating and enjoying the beautiful weather.

The Plaza Nueva Alicante is a little aquarium in this area of the city. It is surrounded with palm trees and a modern display. The aquarium is a great place to relax and take a break from sightseeing.

There are many small and large stores for shopping throughout the city. The harbour and old city area have an abundance of small shops as well as El Corte Ingles, which is a large department store chain. In addition, there are local craftspeople along the waterfront selling a variety of crafts.

Alicante also has a large shopping mall. The Panoramis Shopping Mall is located near the harbour. It is similar to malls found in America, with a large variety of stores for shopping. In addition to the great shopping, the mall offers a beautiful view of the harbour area.

The Real Club de Regatas, or Royal Regatta Club is located in this area as well. Members of the Spanish Royal Family have been known to visit the club. You may get lucky and get a glimpse of royalty during your visit.

Peter J. Wilson often creates newsletters on ideas associated with Torrevieja and Benidorm. You might come across his articles over at www.alicante-spain.com http://www.alicante-spain.com and other sources for Alicante information.

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If you are hankering for some fine German wine and food, you should take a look at the Rheinhessen region of southwestern Germany. Who knows, you may even find a bargain, and I think that you’ll enjoy yourself on this fact-filled wine education tour in which we review a local red Dornfelder.

Rheinhessen is a relatively small area, sometimes called the land of the thousand hills, nestled between the Rhine and the Nahe Rivers. It already was known for its wines in the days of Charlemagne. To some extent it is famous or infamous for Liebfraumilch, to be reviewed in another article in this series. It is the German region with both the largest area planted in wine grapes and the highest wine production. Rheinhessen alone claims over a quarter of the German wine acreage and wine production. It is also produces the highest percentage of generally low quality table wine, coming in at almost 12%. More than 60% of Rheinhessen wine is middle quality QbA wine, and a bit more than 25% is higher quality QmP wine. About seven of eight bottles contain white wine, but the percentage of red wine is increasing. The most widely grown varieties are the German hybrid Mueller-Thurgau and Silvaner. The usually higher quality Riesling represents about 10% of the total production. Dornfelder is the most widely planted red grape variety. The marketing materials, quoted below, present one viewpoint of this German-bred grape.

Mainz has a population of about eighty thousand. It is one of the centers of the German wine trade. It is the state capital of Rheinland-Pfalz which is the only German state government with a wine minister. The city is built on the site of a two thousand year-old Roman citadel. In this part of the world two thousand years is a short time; a local museum contains three hundred thousand year-old artifacts. In season the Marktplatz (Market) and Höfchen (Little Courtyard) buzz with farmers selling their wares on Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday. Check the exact dates for the annual Sektfest (Sparkling Wine Festival) held in late May or early June and then Johannisnacht, another wine festival several weeks later.

Other sites to see include the Dom (Cathedral of St. Martin and St. Stephan) which broke ground shortly prior to the turn of the first millennium. Because of seven fires most of the Cathedral is newer, dating from the Eleventh to the Thirteenth Centuries. The cloisters contain a museum of religious artifacts. Right near by is the Gutenberg Museum. Other local museums are devoted to the Middle Ages, Roman warships, art, plants, animals, and fossils. If all this touring makes you thirsty for more than knowledge visit the Kupferberg Sektkellerei (sparkling wine cellars), the deepest on earth. There are several concert halls, theaters, night clubs, and wine bars. Not far from the city are the Mainz Sand Dunes, a tiny area home to plants and animals rarely seen in Western Europe.

Before reviewing the Rheinhessen wine and imported cheeses that we were lucky enough to purchase at a local wine store and a local Italian food store, here are a few suggestions of what to eat with indigenous wines when touring this beautiful region. Start with Zweibelkuchen (Onion Pie). For your second course enjoy Haxen und Bratkartoffeln (Pork Hocks and Home Fries). As a dessert indulge yourself with Frankfurter Kranz (Buttercream Cake).

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed Rappenhof Dornfelder Trocken 2004 13.0% alcohol about $15.50

Let’s start by quoting the marketing materials. Dornfelder is a cross, bred in 1956 by August Herold. In its genealogy, the grape claims every important red vine grown in Germany. Fortunately, it has inherited most of the positive attributes and very few of the negative. The wines are deeply coloured, velvety in texture with hints of floral. Slightly off-dry, this example gives good aroma replays on the palate. Serve with Wiener schnitzel. Now for the review. (By the way, I found its color more of a dark rose.)

My first pairing was with a barbecued, marinated rib steak with potato patties, potato wedges, and a commercially prepared eggplant and tomato side dish. The wine was very short with moderate fruit when imbibed with the meat and potatoes. It crept back into the woodwork when faced with a fairly powerful eggplant dish.

The next tasting involved a cheeseless broccoli, mushroom, and zucchini quiche with mashed potatoes. The Dornfelder tasted sour and I sensed some sort of strange fruit in the background. I finished the glass with beer nuts. The wine was fairly flat but its sourness disappeared.

The final meal consisted of meatballs in a tomato sauce with rice and green beans. The wine was somewhat rounder than before but was still ever so short. I thought I was drinking an alcoholic fruit juice.

The initial cheese pairing was with a French goat cheese that really resembled a Camembert. While the wine was a bit flat it did taste lightly of black cherries. Then I went to a Swiss Gruyere. The Dornfelder became somewhat more robust but the fruit was less distinctive. I finished the bottle with a local, fairly sharp Asiago cheese that I prefer to its presumably more authentic Italian cousin. Finally a decent pairing; the wine was pleasant.

Final verdict. I didn’t plan to be reviewing two Dornfelders in such short order. But we don’t get many of them in our neck of the woods so I figured why not give it a try. There certainly won’t be a third round in the near future. I fail to see why such a grape should cost more than many better grapes from German and other countries. Of course, if I had liked the wine…

Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten computer and Internet books, but would rather just drink fine German, Italian or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He teaches computer classes at an Ontario French-language community college. His major wine website is www.theworldwidewine.com http://www.theworldwidewine.com which links to his other web sites.

Reuters - The worst of the global financial crisis is yet to come and a large U.S. bank will fail in the next few months as the world’s biggest economy hits further troubles, former IMF chief economist Kenneth Rogoff said on Tuesday.

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