(Akiit.com) *There we were with rubber gloves and plastic bags picking up trash in two parks in our neighborhood. It was not my idea of the perfect family outing.

The two eldest boys were working to earn a badge for their karate school. The sour looks on their faces reflected my own queasiness with the task. Is it possible to wear two pairs of rubber gloves?

After a bit, however, we all got in the spirit and two things became apparent: First, my sons and I were bonding and while picking up trash at the park will not become a favorite pastime, it is fair to say we all ended up having fun.

Second, our neighborhood was the better for our 125 minutes of work. The parks were cleaner and, more importantly, our work may have inspired others to follow our example. Trash pick-up might not be their thing.

As the song says, “Different strokes for different folks.” But whether you define community as your immediate neighborhood or the larger community of man, we made clear that everyone can become involved and change that community for the better.

The good book says that the poor will always be with us. It follows then that there will also always be a corresponding need for those of us that have more to spend time in service to those that have less.

There are shelters in every community that find themselves volunteer rich during the holidays, but sorely short on help during the rest of the year. Food banks are in need of non-perishable food items.

Why not spend this weekend going through the pantry and fill a bag of canned goods to deliver to the local food bank? Why not make it a habit to do it once every few months? Perhaps you and the spouse could spend one date-night serving food at a mission.

You might find that it brings the two of you to a new level of intimacy. You may also discover that many visitors to the kitchen need spiritual food as much if not more than they need food in their bellies.
Read The Full Story…

(Akiit.com) Here’s what a spokesperson for Democratic Presidential contender Barack Obama said when he got wind of former Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan’s virtual endorsement of Obama’s White House bid, “Senator Obama has been clear in his objections to Minister Farrakhan’s past pronouncements and has not solicited the minister’s support.” Farrakhan made the glowing tout of Obama at the NOI’s annual Savior’s Day confab in Chicago. Obama’s denunciation of Farrakhan was blunt and pointed. But he did not reject Farrakhan’s implied endorsement.

Even after Hillary Clinton publicly demanded that he forcefully reject Farrakhan’s endorsement, Obama waffled. He weakly said after more Clinton cajoling that he rejected the endorsement. He still did not mention Farrakhan by name. A candidate shouldn’t need to be prodded by his opponent to emphatically reject the endorsement of a controversial, and in the case of Farrakhan, much vilified figure. Obama, of course, does not endorse Farrakhan’s views, politics, or his organization, and he has made that clear on more than one occasion.

Yet his failure to flatly say he does not want his endorsement is no surprise. Farrakhan may be a controversial and much vilified figure but he is not a fringe figure within black communities. He is still cheered and admired by thousands of blacks. They are also voters too and most have embraced Obama with almost messianic zeal. This zeal has been a driving force in powering Obama’s surge past Clinton. Many blacks are exhilarated by the prospect that a black man will sit in the Oval office. In other words, Obama is a racial fantasy come true for many blacks.

Few blacks publicly demand that he assume the role of a black leader. They have made no demand that he tell what he’ll do to boost civil rights protections, fight the HIV/AIDS plague, or take strong positions on the other pressing social issues. It’s just as well they haven’t since his image is that of the new generation African-American elected official who thinks and speaks as a unifier and consensus builder, not a racial crusader.

However, many blacks quietly expect or at least hope that if he’s elected it will be more than a historic first for blacks. They hope that he will be a vigorous proponent of civil rights and social programs. As long as that hope is there their impassioned zeal be for him will be there too. If Obama denounces Farrakhan too strongly that would raise the eyebrows of the thousands of blacks who admire Farrakhan and his organization.
Read The Full Story…

(Akiit.com) Have you abandoned your New Year’s Resolution to get healthier? If you have, you are not alone. You are amongst millions of Americans who unfortunately by this time of year have not done as well. Don’t beat yourself up about it. Make the decision to just get back on the saddle, start from where you are in order to get healthier. It is better to make small changes at a gradual pace that are realistic and achievable, than to give up, throw in the towel and go back to unhealthy eating.

In 3 simple steps you can immensely enhance the quality of your health and life - today!

1. Never skip a meal – instead snack on any of the foods. Apple halves, dried fruit combinations, brown rice cakes, raw almonds or, dry whole-grain cereal packed in little baggies can provide a practical, inexpensive, yet healthy alternative to junk food when you are in a hurry!

2. Drink pure water – essential to human health, drinking pure water helps with digestion, keeps the skin healthy, wards off fatigue and removes impurities from the body quickly to optimize good health. *You must use a pure water source or you will be doing more harm than good* Using an inexpensive water filter in your home to bottle your water is ideal. It is best to sip on water throughout the day to hydrate the cells rather than gulping down huge quantities all at once. Drinking half your total body weight in ounces is recommended to be properly and thoroughly hydrated.

3. Physical activity – 20-30 minutes a day will help keep the doctor away! If it’s doing laundry, put extra effort into it. Walk the dog, go out dancing, and just go at it vigorously! This helps with good cardiovascular function, good mood, increased energy and more. Start out with doing some kind of physical activity for at least 20 minutes a day and gradually increase the time as you get into a routine. If you miss a day, don’t scratch the whole week, just pick it up the next day and do 30 minutes on that day.
Read The Full Story…

(Akiit.com) To my delight winter is almost over, and in a few months summer will roll around… Can’t wait to get out the house again, as a vacation is in order… Would like to once again head west, and enjoy the sunshine literally… Been looking into booking the family Las Vegas hotel reservations early this year so we can get a nice place near all the casinos, etc… Luckily a dear friend recommended I check out I4vegas, as such a site shall help me save some money… Discount deals galore, so I will have more money to spend and play with when it comes to the slot machines, shows, restaurants, etc… Las Vegas here I come…

Written By CTA

(Akiit.com) As a business man I’m always staying up to date on the latest happenings within the industry… For the past year commercial real estate has become the new hot thing, as there is money to be made nationwide… Luckily a friend came across Cityfeet, as such a site happens to list thousands of prime estates in which if one has the money can purchase… I myself shall soon pick up a few new properties and add to my portfolio… If not already I would encourage anyone to start becoming more business minded, as being one’s own boss is the way to go… In summary, CityFeet is your online home for Real estate, etc…

Written By CTA