A never ending journey..

As an avid, yet amateur photographer, I enjoy the challenge of capturing the wonder and beauty of the world around us.  I have posted a few photos in the form of photobooks at rv-visions.com

Food for thought

“When  the people fear their government there is  tyranny; when  the
government fears the people, there is  liberty.” Thomas  Jefferson

Amendment  28

“Congress  shall make no law that applies to the citizens of  the United States  that does not apply equally to the Senators and Representatives, and Congress shall make no law  that applies to  the Senators or Representatives that does not  apply equally to  the citizens of the  United States  .”

Maybe they consider the Constitution a bit outdated??????

rv-visions

Tools for gratis

In my never ending search for FREE anything that I can incorporate into my websites, I came across several free tools that I thought enough about to actually give them a test run.  If your endeavors here is to bow to the SEO idols to assist you in reaching higher placement in the rankings, then these might be of interest…

Free Slogan Generator

Free Keyword Niche Finder

Free Keyword Grouper

Now, the key concept here is “FREE”.  One usually receives only the quality one pays for, but for in this instance, these free generators are worth their cost…..

rv-visions

Take a break and enjoy something healthy

It all tastes the same….

The majestic animals that dominated the landscape of the plains during our country’s early history are often called buffalo. Even though referenced in popular folklore, the buffalo did not roam in America. The animal commonly referred to as a buffalo, is in actuality, the American Bison.  There are two species of buffalo, the African Buffalo and the Asian Buffalo, but these animals are completely unrelated to the American Bison.  At one time it is estimated that there were 6 million head of Bison.  Today, there is approximately 200,000.   Bison of Custer State Park.

Tanka Bars; cranberry and bison meat energy bars

Bison meat has fewer calories and less cholesterol than chicken, or fish.

Bison meat is 97% fat free.

Bison meat has 40% more protein than beef.

Eating 5oz of bison, 3-4 times per week can help reduce LDL cholesterol 40 to 45% over a period of several months.

ryeder at rv-visions

Cold, oh so cold…..

Here we go again. Another 90 degree turn on subject matter. The past few weeks we have seen below average temperatures here in the hills. Though it wasn’t the coldest I have seen, 11 below put a bit of nip into the air. It brought back some memories of living in Greenland for a year. Now, unless one has lived in the polar regions, it is hard to understand that this is a whole different world. Night time lasts for months, 60 below zero is not rare, and the northern lights have center stage. I was in Greenland, where our mission was in support of the DEW Line. The airbase has been closed, but is being utilized by a number of research organizations and the major airport in Greenland.

It was a small enclave called Sondestrom Fjord, now known as Kangerlussuaq. The base consisted of approximately 120 Americans and 20 Danish nationals, and no females. It was a long year…..

ryeder at rv-visions

Come on in for a coffee.

A cup of good coffee on the breakfast table is always a great way to welcome the morning. Since its inception centuries ago, coffee has become the most popular beverage and the world’s most traded and sought-after commodities.

Over the years, many coffee variants have originated from different places, which paved the way for gourmet coffee to have a niche in the world market.

Aside from the basic Robusta and Arabica variants, there are other rare coffee variants which gained a good following from coffee aficionados.

First, there is the Civet coffee or Kopi Luwak, which is made from coffee berries which were eaten and excreted by the common Palm Civet. This rare process takes place only in countries like the Philippines, Sumatra, Java, Indonesia, Vietnam and India, making Civet coffee one of the more expensive variants.

Kona coffee from Hawaii, Turkish, Colombian and Maraba coffee are some other premium variants which have become popular for coffee drinkers the world over.

The Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee is considered to be the world’s finest and rarest coffee variant. Words cannot describe the taste of this premier coffee blend.

A 100% Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee has this distinctively rich taste and aroma. Compared to other coffee variants, this has a milder flavor which is less bitter yet a little sweet, giving it that smooth, clean taste.

The choices are many and difficult, the rewards are delicious.

The Race Track

Everywhere we see the speed of life increasing.  The age of instant gratification has done a number on our schedules. It started with business people wanting to provide better service by being more available for customer requests. Longer hours, faxes, pagers, cell phones, mobile computers, and more have become commonplace in the push to be better than the next guy.  Continued…

rv-visions

A New Hope…..

A major cause of poverty in Native American communities is the continuing lack of opportunity.  Only 36 percent of males in high-poverty Native American communities have full-time, year-round employment.
On the Blackfoot Reservation in Montana, the annual unemployment rate is 69 percent. The national unemployment rate at the very peak of the Great Depression was around 25 percent.
Beyond these stark statistics, there is very little discussion of the causes of Native American poverty and what to do about it. The sad truth is very few policymakers give Native Americans any priority on this national tragedy. Few people even know that November is Native American Indian Heritage Month and that the Friday after Thanksgiving is Native American Indian Heritage Day.
To put this in stark terms, communities on Native American reservations are among the poorest in the country and, nearly 60 percent of all Native Americans who live outside of metropolitan areas inhabit persistently poor counties.

One company that is making a change is Native American Natural Foods, created and based on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, has a two fold mission.  To provide economic sustainability to it’s community and to promote nationally branded food products that are delicious, and a way of wellness that feeds mind, body, and spirit.

Products that promote.

An American Tragedy

A suicide cluster that occurred on the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota and South Dakota involved ten young people took their own lives, and dozens more attempted to do so. The Red Lake reservation in Minnesota experienced high suicide rates following the deaths of nine individuals at the hand of a 16-year-old high school junior. According to a state survey of public school students, 43 percent of boys and 82 percent of girls at Red Lake thought about killing themselves, rates far above the state average, and many other Native American reservations have similar stories to tell.  Poverty, depression, a lack of jobs, drugs, alcohol and other social problems are among the reasons behind Rosebud teen suicides.  Here are some facts to think about…

South Dakota’s suicide rate of nearly 15 per 100,000 was well above the national average of 11 per 100,000.

Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for American Indian and Alaska Native youth aged 15-24. Young Indian males and young Alaska Native males are particularly vulnerable. Native American youth have the highest rate of suicide among all ethnic groups in the United States.

The Lakota Rosebud tribe has more teen suicide attempts than any other American Indian reservation in the United States.

Rosebud Sioux Tribe officials recently declared a teen suicide “State of Emergency” on the reservation.

Figures from the Rosebud reservation alone are shocking: 21 rapes in the past 18 months; over 600 attempted teen suicides and 15 deaths during the past two years – most teenage boys.

A federal report states violent crime against Native American women is 50 times higher and sexual assault is 3.5 times above other U.S. residents.

The suicides of seven young people last year left this northern outpost reeling with grief.
The Cheyenne River Indian Reservation lost 17 people to suicide in 2002 and 2003. Last month, a high school student on the Red Lake Indian Reservation in Minnesota killed 9 people before taking his own life.

The suicide rate among Native Americans in the Great Plains states is 10 times higher than the national average, according to a news release. During a six-month period, 144 people attempted suicide on the Rosebud reservation.

Very little is said about this on going tragedy.  Once the media attention fades, residents are left to deal with the devastation.  So where do our priorities lay?  We seem to have more empathy for homeless pets than we do for the plight of the Native Americans.  Is there a subtle attempted to disavow our treatment of the First People due to guilt, or is it that we just do not care?  Will you walk away thinking, “It is just an Indian problem.” or will you give it a second thought?  The choice is yours.

rv-visions

The only direction is up..

We all know people who have hit rock bottom in their lives.  Hitting rock bottom comes in many shapes and sizes.  It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere.  And it can happen to you.
Being at rock bottom can seem a hopeless and solitary place to be in.  You may believe that you are the only one who has declined to this level, but I can tell you that many others have bottomed out before you and are now living a successful life.
The first step is to recognize rock bottom for what it really is.  Rock Bottom is a  temporary situation with doors that lead out and up.  All you need to do is reach for them.
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” Howard Thurman
Learn to accept who you are, for you are unique. Your strengths and your weaknesses define you, the person, and give value to not only you, but to the world around you.

Know your purpose:  Identify your life purpose and you will have your own a compass that will lead you to your true destination.

Know your values:  What do you value most? Check your goals against your values. If the goal doesn’t align with any of your  values then reconsider.

During these difficult times, continue to look for the positive, find the strength you do possess, and remember that there is always a new day ahead of you.  It worked for me.  It will work for you.

rv-visions