Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Best Songs on Veterans Day


Veterans Day is an important day declared as an annual holiday in the United States, honoring the military veterans for the sacrifices that they had made for the freedom that they fought that ended the dreaded World War II. In fact, according to history, it ceased with a treaty and document that was signed on the 11th day of November 1918 at the 11th hour where the Germans signed the Armistice, which is also known as Armistice Day. The following year, November 11, 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the day as an official holiday wherein he said in his statement during the declaration that it is a sign of gratitude to the servitude that these veterans had given for the cause of liberty. By June 04, 1926, President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed this day to be celebrated with appropriate activities and ceremonies. However, it was officially called as Veterans Day when Alvin King from Emporia, Kansas had been active in inviting and encouraging everyone that convinced Representative Ed Rees from US Congress that brought this bill to be approved by President Dwight Eisenhower on May 26, 1954 then later amended this act recognizing it as Veterans Day on June 01, 1954. To remember their heroic acts, here are the top songs that would let everyone remember this day, especially the military veterans.


10. Star-Spangled Banner



The song is the official national anthem of the United States wherein the lyrics came from the Defence of Fort McHenry, which was actually a poem written by Francois Scott Key who was a lawyer that personally witnessed the bombardment that took place in Chesapeake Bay. It is a well-known patriotic song that is also being sung by different schools in memories of the soldiers who have sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the country.


9. Gene Simmons’ Military Tribute

This song is a tribute and a thank you song for those military that have served and sacrificed their lives, especially those who are now disabled. It also includes marines and other law enforcers who are protecting the freedom and rights of all.


8. The Battle Hymn of the Republic

This is written by Julia Ward Howe, which was actually an inspiration came from John Brow’s Body Song. In fact, it became popular in 1862 and it is used during the American Civil War. It was actually a patriotic song for the American citizens.


7. Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue

This is actually written after the 9/11 attacks that terrorized people in the United States and people in other parts of the world. This is not just an ordinary song, which in fact, is called as song for the Angry American people. It was written in 2001 and released in 2002.


6. A Soldiers Prayer

This was written during the Civil War by an anonymous confederate soldier from the US. It is a song asking for strength amidst the weakening effects of the war against individual soldier.


5. Ballad of Ira Hayes

The popularized version of the song has been famous, especially the Johnny Cash version that has become the 1965 self-titled debut album. The song revolves in the story of one of the 5 marines and a Navy Corpsman who became popular for raising the flag on Mount Suribachi during World War II.


4. My Country, ‘Tis of Thee

It could be associated with the Americans since it is an American patriotic song that was written by Samuel Francis Smith in 1831, while he was still studying at the Andover Theological Seminary and has actually various renditions and translation thereafter. It has become one of the favorite tribute songs during Veterans Day.
         

3. The Ballad of the Green Berets

This was a big hit in 1966 in respect to the Vietnam War, which was written by a Green Beret Medic who was one of the US Army staff that had to go home after receiving serious wounds. He was convinced to record the song that he made it together with Robin Moore, a known author of The Green Berets.


2. Am I A Soldier of the Cross?

This song was written by Dr. Watts in 1709 after the sermon that he gave that came from 1 Corinthians 16:13 but the music score of it was made in 1762 by Thomas A. Arne. Although this song is a battle for religious belief, it has been a favorite song being played during Veterans Day.


1. Onward Christian Soldiers

Upon listening to this song, anyone would receive a different kind of energy and spirit to keep on fighting. No wonder why it bagged the number one spot among all other songs being sung every Veterans Day Celebration. It was written by Sabine Baring-Gould and its music came from Arthur Sullivan in 1971. This was a musical military theme that encourages courage and strength to fight on.

10 Different Ways To Get Noticed By Seniors


Everyone at work wanted to be promoted and to have their working status raise up so that their salaries go up with them. Despite that it is not a simple objective to impress the higher ups, you can be surprised that it only takes work ethic and discipline for you to get noticed by your seniors.


10. Be Organized

Control is seen when you know how to handle your office life easy. It can be seen in as obvious as your workstation. When you are working in a clutter-free space, then people, including your seniors could believe that you can be organized in handling any given task that can be thrown to you.


9. Be Time Strict

When you say time strict, it does not only apply on aspects like punctuality towards work. Strictness in time is not only shown when reporting to work on time. Another way that you can show your discipline towards this important commodity is by making the most of the time you have in doing tasks that are handed to you. Learn to beat deadlines and show performance even before you hit the buzzer beater or avoid asking for allowances and grace periods. Be sure to have your breaks with no extension and become productive 100% of the time you are on your working station.


8. Take the Initiative

Bosses and superiors love it when they have someone in the company that knows what he is doing and even thinks of what can be done in case others run out of ideas to think of. Brainstorming and doing it often is very helpful to your career as you become someone who does not only work for the company, but becoming a person who has the ability of running it the way higher ups do. Seriously speaking, the ones who are promoted and noticed are the ones who take action and those who are not acted upon.


7. Explore, Excel, Exceed

A game changer is what makes everyone else become successful, no matter what race or level of competition it may be. When you feel like the company you are working with is already on the slump of the conventional and routine, spend some time on your own, observe what is going on, and then think of ways of how things would get better. Once you have decided that you can become more productive than others; keep it and maintain it, until you get called by your seniors and ask you suggestions.


6. Speak Out

A person that knows how to present himself can create an impact of getting attention the right way. However, when you speak out more frequently, plus you are hitting the right notes almost all the time, then expect that you may be the talk in someone else’s next meeting. You should master the art of communicating in person-to-person levels, in groups, and in high-profile settings. Show your best self by being confident in what you say and in being firm in what you believe. Bosses love it when they see someone with an unshakeable conviction of his views, thoughts, and feelings.


5. The Power of Example

There is power in doing good all the time. However, you should do this in a manner that you should realize alone. When you are trying to teach people on how to become a good employee, you do it for your own, and do it secretly by being consistent. You will be surprised that someone will blurt to you about your boss observing the things you are doing.


4. Follow the Golden Rule

It has been stated over and over again that you should follow the Golden Rule no matter what you do. This means that you should do unto others what you want to be done unto you. Learn to love others as you love yourself, particularly at work, by showing to your fellow employees, bosses, and even simple janitors, or guards, the goodwill of being kind. If you love being praised at the great work you’ve done, praise other people. If you like to see a smile first thing in the morning to boost you energy, then smile to others. Paying it forward will create a very healthy environment at work, which starts with you.


3. Be Enthusiastic and Positive

Enthusiasm is measured by how happy you are in doing the work or tasks that have been delegated for you to do. When you are more than glad with your job, it shows with the way you spend your time and the quality of the work you provide. It will be obvious with the way you use your energy while fixing files, typing documents, submitting reports, and accepting feedback from your seniors. When they feel that you can be a person that will not be trodden down with disappointments and any other negative vibe, then they may have a word with you about your feelings.


2. Be a Team Player

Since a business or a company is made up of teams, departments, and groups, and overall success is dependent of the functionality and drive of each, a person who wants to be noticed should know how to adapt himself or herself with everyone who he or she works with. If you hate someone in the team, your boss, or other snoopy fellow employees, setting aside those feelings and being professional can go a long way. When you have done a great job being a follower, it would never be so hard for you to become a leader.


1. Seek Mentors

You may not realize it, but most of the higher ups who have been too old in the business are looking for people who can follow or overshadow their footsteps. This way, the legacy of the individual, particularly those who have contributed much in shaping the good future of the company, will stay and linger, and may even flourish more. Learn to look at seniors that show wonderful performance and ask for counsel on how you can emulate and even exceed their performance. As you absorb the good things from more mentors, the likely they will rely on you as their colleague and not just an underling.

Top Thanks Giving Dishes


Thanksgiving Day is the most celebrated holiday in the United States every 4th of November each year. In fact, this is part of the top 6 holidays that American citizens look forward to aside from Christmas Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Memorial Day, and New Year Celebration. Originally, this celebration normally lasts for 3 days and yet it was superseded as years passes by. It is an event that happens after Black Friday. The first celebration took place in the fall of 1621. It was an event where people are feasting where you could see and eat fish, berries, boiled pumpkin, fowl, deer, and plums. Let us see the top dishes that can be seen on each table in the many residences in the United States of America.


10. Ham

This is the best replacement for those who do not like to eat turkey when the time to gather around the table comes to celebrate the day and indeed give thanks. Just a loaf of ham will do to keep the season balanced and enjoyable.


9. Cranberry Sauce

This is one of the staples in American, which has a strong sweet taste. It is actually made of cranberries, which actually serves as a sauce for turkey meat and other dishes, which is best served as a dipping sauce. It can also be applied on biscuits and breads.


8. Green Bean Casserole

Thanksgiving Day is not complete without this 1950’s dish, which is a mix of canned cream of mushrooms, fried onions, and green beans. This is one of the healthiest ways to celebrate the day without succumbing too much on the meat of turkey.


7. Potato Salad

This is one of the common dishes found in most holiday celebrations in the United States. It is a combination of potato and mayonnaise.


6. Macaroni and Cheese

It is commonly called as Mac ‘n’ cheese. This is made of authentic macaroni pasta, with creamy butter, creamy sauce, and cheese.

5. Sweet Potatoes

Thanksgiving is not complete without the sweet potatoes served on the table of American citizens. It is called as yams where it has a mix of marshmallows and candies.


4. The Classic Stuffing

Stuffing is an ordinary and classic way of achieving crumbly, heavy, and slightly dry being placed on the heavy bread. It could be spices, vegetables, and eggs. It could also serve as a side dish or can be stuffed in the turkey itself. It perfectly combines for a healthy and savory meal.


3. Mashed Potatoes

Another dish made of potatoes, which would make any thanksgiving dinner complete by following the simple recipe that has a main ingredient of potatoes, which are being mixed with vegetable oil, milk, butter, cream, and garlic. Of course, the tasty gravy would cover the mashed potatoes that can be used too to dip the turkey meat.

2. Pumpkin Pie

This is the favorite dessert to complete the thanksgiving feasting, which is made of baked pumpkin custard, which is actually formed out of corn syrup and pecan nuts that would be spread over to a pie shell. It is up to you if you would like this pumpkin or an alternative called pecan.


1. Turkey

It does not matter how you would want to cook it, but there are two popular and favorite dishes out of this turkey, which is the primary meal that you can see in each house of the American people in the United States. In fact, without turkey, Thanksgiving Day is not complete. It could be deep-fried, roasted, and the favorite Turducken, which is a turkey stuffed with duck and chicken. Have you ever tried it? Start including it on your lists of meals this coming Thanksgiving Day.

Top Expensive Places to Live in the US



Whether you are planning to stay in America for a short vacation or you would want to explore one of the richest places that they have, it could add more interest to you if you would discover expensive locations whether you‘ll have to avoid them or keep them in mind. Yearly, Forbes is releasing its list of places and people who are really at its creamiest, expensive, and wealthiest. To those who are naturally born citizens of the United States, you might be amazed as to how much that one has to spend just to reach these following places, yet this would help you to assess how rich America is, despite of the economic problems that it encountered in the past.




10. Monterey

Last year’s 2010 result was different along with Santa Barbara; Monterey replaced San Diego and San Francisco in the top list. According to results, the average rate for its room is $131.93 that would give you enough bucks to spend on your favorite get away, burger, clothes, and other gadgets.


9. New Orleans

This is one of the favorite places that travelers would want to visit and stay; despite of the damages that Hurricane Katrina left in 2006, not just to the place but also in major hotels, it has recovered. It has the biggest comeback and with its nightly offer room rate of $132.27. It will surely recover the money that has been lost with the historical calamity.


8. Idaho Falls

This is not just one of the best expensive places because of its nightly room rates that average at $132.53, but it is rich in culture and a region for sceneries. Aside from that, it is recorded that this is the best place for small careers and starting up businesses.


7. Chicago

This is part of the most expensive places that you can find in the northern part of America along with Boston, Honolulu, and New York. It still tries to pick up from the successful rate that it had in 2000, but it definitely clutches the expensive rate of $133.93 for its room rate, although it has picked up in 2008 to 2009, but it is making progress though.


6. Miami

It is one of the perennial holders in the Washington list when it comes to beautiful landmarks and centers. In fact, it carries a status of an international hub that consistently maintains travelers and visitors, which are coming from the south. It has an average nightly room rate of $139.58.


5. Washington, D.C.

The price on their major hotels went up by 20% including Miami, Boston, and Honolulu. Its current average room rate is $140.33. This is the best place to relax at the end of the week, which becomes the reason why it is a weekend getaway place where you can stay for a while.


4. Santa Barbara

With $143.33, it is really a big price that made it to the fourth spot according to Forbes for this year’s expensive places in America. It actually dropped down Los Angeles City that has really made a big jumpstart. It is the place for leisure travelers, being one of the most affluent places too.


3. Boston

It is far from the busiest and most crowded cities known not just in America but also in any part of the world. It is one of the favorite places of tourists and travelers, who want to relax and forget the populated buildings of the city. With its $154.62 average room price, it exactly defines the unique and extraordinary deal that you can think of.


2. Honolulu

Despite of the major drop off that transpired since 2010 due to the effects of the recession, which was one of the biggest slumps that Honolulu experienced, it is the second most expensive places in Forbes’ list again. The $158.95 average nightly room rate is still higher, although it dropped off by 12% from its 1% increase that it had in 2010.


1. New York City

This could be the strongest city in the United States where you could see the largest gathering of major companies, corporations, and businesses. The consistent $200 rate of overnight stays dropped down to $194.14 after it experienced a 24% plunge in 2009. It is not bad at all for one of the most prosperous and biggest cities in the United States.

Top Popular and Old Historical Places in the World


There are historical and popular places from the old world, which are being hidden and ignored by this new era and generation. It has been stated that before you could truly move on and appreciate what you have at the moment, you have to look back and see the beginning before you could really see the beauty of everything. Decades and centuries might have been a wide gap in our time to discover them, but some of them still exist. They are the precious treasures and memories of the people who have lived before our time with the kind of cultures, traditions, and customs that can be felt by touching, and witnessing the historical memoirs of the past. Here are the 10 oldest yet historical info and time.


10. Athens

It is believed that this is the wealthiest and largest state in the history of Greece in the classical history of the establishment of the ancient city. It is known to be the capital city with 3.7 million people that shows that it has grown a lot. There are various important places that can be seen in this city which are prominent in Greece such as Temple of Olympian Zeus, Acropolis, and Parthenon.


9. Jerusalem

This is the holy city, which has been mentioned many times in the canonical collection of sacred records compiled in the New Testament of the Bible. This is the center of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism that has been known since the 10th century. This is the largest city of Israel. It can be found between the Dead Sea and Mediterranean Sea. It was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 and it has been called the old city.


8. Beirut

Compared to other cities that can be found in other countries, this is the biggest city found in Lebanon, which is acclaimed to be the cosmopolitan city, the center of financial and commercial transactions and trade. Technically, it is known as Berut, which is the favorite place of the wealthiest people from Europe and Saudi Arabia. It is even called as Paris of the Middle East.


7. Jericho

Along with Jerusalem, Jericho is one of the cities mentioned in the Old Testament that was conquered by Joshua as noted in the book of Judges. It is known as the city of Palms that is near the Dead Sea and Jerusalem by approximately 55 kilometers.


6. Aleppo

This is a Muslim place where you could see various mosques intended for prayerful worship of the people. This is found in Syria, which is also the second largest city in the country. It is one of the most conservative cities not just in age but also in culture. The way of living and behavior of the people are well preserved, which makes it the friendliest place in the world.


5. Sidon

This is near the city of Beirut by about 25 miles or equivalent to 43 kilometers. It serves as habitation of people since 4000 B.C. You could visit the Castle of the Sea and temple of Eshmoun in Sidon city. It is one of the strongest phonetician cities, which is still in its original and historical form in its very essence.


4. Plovdiv

Despite of contemporary influences found in Europe, they were able to preserve Plovdiv, which is included in the oldest cities found in Bulgaria. It has been in existence for about 5000 years where you could find the tallest hills in the world. You could also see the oldest and one of the largest mosques in the world. It is located in between Balkan Range or Old Mountains and the plains of Rhodope Mountains.


3.Varanasi

This is the sacred place of Hindus in India, which is one of the oldest cities in the world. According to history, it was also known previously as Kashi and Benares or Banaras in the northern part of India. It is advised that you visit the place sometime October and March because other than this said period, you would feel the hottest season of all, which is not an ideal time to visit the place.


2. Byblos

Byblos is another historical place and city, which is located in Lebanon. It is also known as Jbell in its Arabic name and was included or recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Some of the oldest places that you can visit in Byblos are the Northeastern Gate, The Crusader Castle, Tower Temple, and Kings Tomb.


1. Damascus

This is the capital city of Syria that has accommodated 4.5 million people, which happens to be the largest city in Syria too. It was established around 10,000 to 8,000 B.C., which is also the oldest city in the world. It has maintained and retained the important architectural designs such as its walls, doors, and alleys. Tourists and visitors from other countries have well applauded the well-preserved place in Syria that continuously attracts people to learn their old life and past.

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