So your not one of those fabulous actresses or models who has the luxury of the finest gems and diamonds being loaned to them by the likes of Harry Wintson.

No matter, you can add a little sparkle and look extra-ordinaire in your gown on your wedding day. Here’s some helpful tips on how to shine on your most important day!

Faking It is Fine! It doesn’t matter if you cannot afford to adorn yourself in diamonds and pearls. The quality of Faux diamonds, gems, and pearls is amazing.

Gone are the days were anyone could tell real from fake. Only your gemologist will know real from fake. You can sparkle like a million dollar babe and you won’t break the bank.

The best way to choose earrings is to try them with your gown. The best styled earring will depend on the neckline of your gown, the type of necklace you are wearing, and how you will be wearing your hair.

You want your earrings to be seen but you do not want them to be overpowering. Drop earrings or short dangle earrings work well and pearls or diamonds [real or fake] add elegance and sparkle.

If you’re not wearing a necklace you may want to wear more dramatic earrings. If your dress is beaded and sparkly then you’ll want to choose a more subtle earring so as not to detract from your gown..

Diamonds are a girls best friend, Pearls are truly a bride’s best friend. Pearls never go out of style, but this season they aren’t just in style, they are “hot”.

Not only are they “hot” they are very versatile. Pearls have been worn by fashionable women for ages. You can choose to spring for cultured pearl or purchase quality imitation pearls for a fraction of the cost.

When buying pearls you will need to choose a strand length that enhances the neckline of your gown. The best size pearls to choose are in the 5 to 7 mm range.

There are many length choices with pearls. A pearl collar is usually made of 3 or more strands and measures 12-13 inches. A pearl collar will hug the middle of the neck so it works well with a v necks, plunged necks or off the shoulder gowns.

A choker measures 14-16 inches and is the most versatile length to own. It will work with any gown neckline.

The 17-19 inch Princess with either very high or very low necklines. There are longer lengths of pearls available however they are not very suitable for wedding gowns.

If your lucky enough to have a fabulous piece of jewelry that’s a family heirloom, your wedding can be the perfect time to wear it. Feel free to ask family and friends to borrow a piece of jewelry you adore. They’ll be honored that you asked.

It’s also a great way to cover the “something borrowed.” Wearing jewelry that’s close to your heart is extra special because of emotional attachments.

Vintage jewelry is hot right now and can lend an added dimension to your bridal look. So if you have a favorite piece you’d like to borrow - ask. If you spot a wonderful must have piece to buy, don’t hesitate - it’s a hot statement this season!

Colorful jewelry is a great way to spice up your wedding day ensemble. Rubies, emeralds, and sapphires [real or fake] can add some punch to your wedding jewelry.

This season, colored pearls are a very “hot” fashion statement, available in a wide range of color from silver to bright pink. Just remember a little color is very good, but don’t go overboard and take away from your beautiful gown.

Dare to Be Bare. The options in jewelry can be overwhelming. How do you know which length necklace looks best with your wedding dress? Is your trendy four-strand pearl collar strung on wires a bit too trendy? One way to go is to keep it simple.

As for necklaces, you might decide to skip them altogether. This allows you to show off your dress’ stunning neckline whether it’s strapless or high or in-between. And it allows you to show off your neck, which you might not want to show off in 30 years. You can also completely forego bracelets. Especially if you’re going to wear gloves, a bracelet can look funny and get in the way.

The norm is to not wear a watch unless it is elegant and delicate enough for wedding day attire. However, these day’s even your watch can count as a piece of jewelry.

There are some fabulous fashion watches available, many look like a bracelet. So if you just can’t bear not wearing a watch, go shopping.

The choices for your hair jewelry are endless. Tiara’s are very “hot” right now, however adding a necklace with the tiara might be a bit much. Sparkling crystal and rhinestone clips or pins are a nice touch to the brides hair adding a subtle sparkle.

The most important thing to remember is to keep your gown the center of attention. What ever jewelry choice you make, be they trendy, traditional, or funky be certain they work well with your gown and compliment it not over power it.

Jewelry is an important accent on your wedding day, but make sure it doesn’t become center stage.

Sher from Estate Jewelry International has been serving customers for over 20 years, providing fashion, jewelry, and wedding help. So stop by and visit us at http://www.estatejewelryinternational.com/
We’ll help you make your fashion statement! Remember looking good doesn’t have to cost a fortune!

Wedding planning is a difficult task for everyone. Unless you have done it before, you don’t know all the answers. But, you can find them!

By far the most important thing to remember about wedding planning is that it should be enjoyable. There is no need to work yourself up over the small details of the day. Instead, spend your time planning a wedding that is perfect with your loved one by your side. You will find invaluable resources to guide you along the way. Wedding plans are actually one of the first major decisions couples have to make within their lives together. So, breathe a little and smile a lot!

You did it! You are engaged! It’s time to start your wedding planning. But, where do you start? Who do you talk to? Where do you go to find everything? There are many questions floating through your mind. You’re worried about planning every detail. You’re thinking about so much all at once. The first thing you need to do is to breathe!

Begin by picking your date. Of course, everything else will be centered on this fact. Once you know when it will be, you can start planning the wedding of your dreams. To do this, you will have to know your budget though. Sure you can dream big and plan big things for your wedding, but unless you can afford to pay for it, it’s senseless to do this. Instead, wedding planning should be centered on a budget that you create for yourself. Some people choose to use credit as a means for having the big wedding of their dreams. For others, simplicity is much more important. Talk about this and make sure that you and your fianc

I have learned some new things in the last two days and thought I would share them with my readers. I am just a simple and humble columnist and op-ed writer. I usually don’t try to write about anything too hard. There are your sophisticated writers and then there are your humorous writers like that guy, what’s his name, who works for the Miami Herald but who is taking a small sabbatical (May he never returnI want his job.) I fall somewhere in the middle. Anyway.

New term: Ideological Imperialism.

Definition of term:

1. Ideological: Concerned with or suggestive of ideas.

2. Imperialism: A policy of extending your rule over foreign countries or a political orientation that advocates imperial interests.

I cannot say that I have coined this term. I think minds more mighty than my (feeble) own have thought this through and coined this term or phrase.

What got me to thinking about this is that recent business with the African-American Ideological Imperialists Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. They got their boxer shorts all twisted into a knot over President Vicente Fox’s most innocuous statement about Mexicans doing jobs that even American blacks will not doreferring to the Mexican migrant worker issue.

In the Mexican mind, in their cultural context, it was an innocuous and harmless statement. I should know because I live in Mexico and am exposed to this daily. Mexican mothers affectionately call their lighter-skinned children Blanquito and their darker-skinned ones Negrito.

Nevertheless, all political correctness hell has broken loose with the African-American branch of the American Ideological Imperialists, Jesse and Al, with Warp engines at maximum and PC phasers at the ready.

Even as I write these words, the African-American Imperialist, Lord Jesse Jackson, is in Mexico City giving President Fox and earful of his ideology of what is Politically Correct and what is not as applied to African-Americans. Jackson will not leave this alone.

Let me tell you why this is a prime example of American Ideological Imperialism.

Jackson and his ilk have an ideology of what should and should not be said when referring to people of the black color. Or, for that matter, what should be said, thought, or felt. He is here in Mexico, right now, “extending his rule over Mexico with his political orientation that advocates imperial interests”.

Jackson’s imperial interest: Force the rest of the world to adhere to his African-American Political Correctness.

Do you see this? Are you getting what I am trying to say? Jackson, Sharpton, and their organizations are not alone.

American Ideological Imperialism applies to the Jackson and Sharpton blacks, the Gay Agenda Activists, the Feminists, the Abortionists, you name itif there exists an American ideology about ANYTHING there will someone trying to force it down the throats of the rest of the world.

This is a major reason, I believe, why the world hates America! Why can’t America get that? America engages in Ideological Imperialism, they will not stop, and the rest of the world recognizes this as the height of super-arrogance.

Americans apparently believe that their views, and no one else’s, on issues of race, homosexuality, economics, terrorism, Mexican migrant workers, immigration, Homeland Security, feminism, and whatever else under the sun are the only right views!

“It’s my way or the highway!”

And they seek to ram their ideology of human existence down the throats of the worlda.k.a. Jesse and Al, in Mexico. God only know what they are saying!

Ideological Imperialismmemorize it!

Doug Bower is a freelance writer and book author. His most recent writing credits include The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Houston Chronicle, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Transitions Abroad. He is a columnist with Cricketsoda.com and the Magic City Morning Star. He is also listed with Ezinearticles.com. He lives with his wife in Guanajuato, Mexico. His new book Mexican Living: Blogging it from a Third World Country can be seen at http://www.lulu.com/content/126241

The design of the traditional wedding cake has varied greatly over time. Once a sign of fertility, the wedding cake of the Roman Empire was made of wheat or Barley. The small cake was then broken over the bride’s head, celebrating her fertility.

The design of the wedding cake changed and it became a tradition to pile several small cakes on top of each other. The bride and groom then tried kiss over the top of the cakes without knocking them down. A successful kiss was a good omen, bringing a lifetime of prosperity to the new couple.

The current traditional design of wedding cakes first appeared in the 1660’s. A French Chef visiting London attended a cake piling ceremony. He was shocked at the way the cakes were stacked on top of each other, and how often they fell over, so he created the tiered iced style of wedding cake we know today.

The wedding cake is more than just a desert at your reception. It is a symbol of good fortune and married bliss. Your guests always enjoy admiring the wedding cake and devouring the cake too. Even on a limited budget, you can present a beautiful wedding cake. Low cost options could include buying a stacked cake from your local bakery and dressing it up yourself. Ordering a cake from a pastry class at a culinary school could also be an option. There are also supermarkets and wholesale clubs that may offer bargain priced customized cakes.

For more information, visit these sites:

http://www.WeddingCakesInfo.com
http://www.WeddingFavorsInfo.com

http://www.WeddingReceptionInfo.com

I was reading this morning that in November 2004, Congress approved all the $16.2 BILLION dollars NASA sought for its 2005 budget. Can you even fathom that much money? What makes me particularly surly this morning after reading that piece of “Space: the Final Frontier” news is that I did so with a sinus infection that could kill a herd of elephants, a pod of Killer Whales, and the population of Costa Rica. I have been fighting this infection for the past three weeks.

So I am thinking at this point that, hey, $16.2 BILLION is a heck of a lot of loot for NASA to crash probes into planets and then send another one to try to find the one that crashed (costing $158 million dollars) to take pretty pictures of the debris field. I am not making this up. [1]

How much, I wonder, is the U.S. federal government spending to fight the sinus infections that torture me every year during May and have done so all my life? The thing is that if anyone knows he isn’t telling. Does this smell (as if I could smell anything at this point) like a cover-up to you?

I have been trying to find out how much the U.S. spends on sinus infection research each year. I have written the National Institutes of Health, all the “Sinus Central”, “Aren’t Sinuses Fun”, and “Sinuses-R-Us” web sites as well as the makers of the most popular sinus medications in the U.S. You know whatno one is answering my question! All I get is silence!

“Let Doug stew in his infected sinus juices.” I can hear them saying while laughing maniacally through clear nasal passages!

However, I have learned many things from the web sites I have been reading. One is that under normal conditions, your sinuses produce one quart a day of “mucus”–which is really a polite word for what we know it is REALLY called–More on that later.

Let me make this point: I am sure that with this sinus infection I have been producing a quart of “mucus” multiplied to the power of infinity and beyond each hour of the day! I am suffering with no relief in sight. God help me!

Another thing that I’ve learned is that in America, chronically infected sinuses affect more than 37 million of its citizens each year.

“An estimated 37 million Americans each year suffer from sinusitis, an inflammation or infection of the sinus cavities that prevents mucus from draining properly. The blockage can cause headache; pain and pressure in the forehead, jaw, cheeks and teeth; swelling of the eyelids and tissues around the eyes; a loss of smell; and a stuffy nose. It can even cause earaches, neck pain and deep aching at the top of the head, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.” [2]

I want to know two things.

1. How much of NASA’s Crash-A-Probe-Into-Planet 16.2 BILLION dollars budget could be diverted into a Let-Us-Cure-Sinus-Infections Project?

2. Why won’t any one tell me IF indeed there is money for infected sinus research?
I am going to start a foundation called S.N.O.T. (I told you I would get to that word, didn’t I?) This stands for Scientific Nasal Obstructive Technology.

S.N.O.T. is going to dedicate itself to going after some, if not all, NASA’s yearly budget. We must prevail. We have suffered too long!

Don’t misunderstand me. I am all for space exploration. I really am. I would love to have starships, transporters, phasers, Vulcans, and food replicators. But one doesn’t spend the rent money on lottery tickets when there are hungry mouths at home to feed. Do you get my point? Can America afford NASA?

Stand up you Sinus Suffers (and future members of S.N.O.T.) and scream a hale and hearty NO!

[1] Has orbiter found NASA’s lost Mars Polar Lander? http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0505/05mpl/

[2] Sleepless Nights? Could be Sinus Trouble By Karen PallaritoHealthDay Reporter

Doug Bower is a freelance writer and book author. His most recent writing credits include The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Houston Chronicle, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Transitions Abroad. He lives with his wife in Guanajuato, Mexico. His new book Mexican Living: Blogging it from a Third World Country can be seen at http://www.lulu.com/content/126241

Q: I can’t believe I’m asking this question, because I can’t believe I’m even feeling this way. My wife just got an offer that would give her a better and higher paying job than I have. I can’t believe I am jealous, and even worse, I’m tempted to encourage her not to take it. How do I stop myself from doing something really stupid?

I’m glad you wrote, because not only would you be doing something really dumb, you’d be pulling what I call a “Darrin Stevens.” In the old TV series “Bewitched”, Samantha Stevens was a witch who could simply wiggle her nose and make things happen. Her husband, Darrin Stevens, an advertising executive, wanted them to live like a normal family and thus discouraged “Sam” from using her powers.

Even as a kid, I always thought he was really dumb. Here was this guy with a wife who had all these gifts and talents that could get them whatever they wanted, and he kept trying to block her from using them.

Now, am I suggesting your wife is a witch? Of course not. What I am suggesting is that you find a way to encourage her to use her gifts and abilities to the fullest, be proud of her, and enjoy the process.

Otherwise, you’ll be pulling a “Darrin Stevens” and snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

And one more thing: as one husband to another, where is it written that we have to make more than our wives? If you do find it written anywhere, throw the book out, it’s not very useful!

Just one more word of suggestion, and I do mean one word: celebrate!

Visit SecretsofGreatRelationships.com for tips and tools for creating and growing a great relationship. You can also subscribe to our f*r*e*e 10 day e-program on how to enrich your relationship today, from relationship coach and expert Jeff Herring.

In the teachings of Taoism, after death the soul passes into another human or animal body. It is believed that there are Ten Tribunals in the Underworld or Hell. When a human being dies, his soul will have to face judgement there and if found sinful, the soul will have to go through all the Tribunals, to be punished according to the magnitude of his sins, and then to the Tenth Tribunal to await retribution before his soul can be reincarnated. In the Tenth Tribunal, the Holy Spirit in charge is “Zhuan Lun Wang” and this is what he said about reincarnation according to the magnitude of sins:

There is a department in the Tenth Tribunal called “Magnitude of Sins Department”. This department will investigate what sins a soul had committed when alive on Earth - to judge whether a sin was light or heavy, minor or serious and the consequences.

a] If he had done some small good deeds and had never committed grave sins, he will be reborn with just enough to eat and wear, and will get protection from parents; husband/wife relationship will be normal, the children will take care of him.

b] If his merits and demerits balance even, on rebirth he will have enough to eat and wear, family will be alright; husband/wife relationship will be alright, and he will be surrounded by children, but he will have to slog for his living. If he does not work he will starve, unlike some people who can enjoy life without doing any work.

c] If one had no merits whatsoever, but had accumulated a string of demerits, on rebirth he will meet with many difficulties in life. Although he/she may be well provided for, yet there is bound to be widowhood/widowerhood; or the family circle (parents, brothers/sisters, children) will be broken early.

d] In the case of one who had committed grave sins when alive, he will be reborn a deformed pauper with some form of disability - dumb, blind, lame, deaf, etc.

e] In the case of those who discarded the:

1) Five human relationships; husband/wife; brother/sister; parents/children; friendship; and loyalty to country.

2) Eight Virtues; filial piety; brotherly love; loyalty to country; trustworthiness; courtesy; righteousness; chastity; and shame,

and particularly, in the case of a woman soul, where there are three degrees of dependence to be observed, namely, first upon her father, then her husband, and later upon her children,

and also Four Virtues;

1) right behaviour
2) proper speech
3) proper demeanour and
4) proper employment,

they will be regarded as having committed grave sins and will be reborn as beasts; example born via the female womb, born through eggs, born as sea creatures, born as worms. This is known as retaliatioric recompense. All these punishments are the responsibilities of the Magnitude of Sins Department.

Author: T.A Chew
Website: http://www.white-sun.com

T.A Chew, an accountant by profession, is a strong believer of transmigration of souls according to the magnitude of sins committed when one is alive. Good people will ascend to Heaven without having to face the sufferings of the Underworld.

Legislation was introduced into Congress this week that would establish a national data privacy law. The bill would require businesses to disclose to consumers any breaches that result in the exposure of personal information.

The legislation is a reaction to the massive security breaches that have occurred over the last year. In the most notable breach, over 40 million credit card numbers were exposed in a security breach involving CardSystems, an online processor. LexisNexis, Bank of America and other corporate entities have also suffered breaches exposing the personal information of millions of individuals.

Under the new legislation, businesses exposing the personal information of more than 1,000 individuals would be required to notify the individuals. Failure to comply with the law would result in penalties of up to $11 million per incident. Interestingly, the legislation would bar businesses and schools from putting Social Security numbers on any form of identification.

Upon receiving notice, consumers would be allowed to put a notice on their credit reports, which would prevent any company from providing new credit under their name. This would effectively stop thieves from opening new credit accounts with the stolen information.

Will It Pass?

The new legislation has a very good chance of becoming federal law. Sponsored by two Republicans and two Democrats, the bill appears to have bipartisan support. Avoiding the vicious partisan politics on Capital Hill is half the battle for any legislation.

Corporate America also appears to be getting behind the bill. Although this might seem surprising at first, there is a good reason. States including California, Washington and Georgia have already enacted similar laws, but each requires different actions. A federal law, however, will trump all of the state laws and create a uniform requirement for businesses. From a practical standpoint, Corporate America would prefer one standard instead of many.

The new bipartisan legislation is a welcome step in the effort to fight identity theft. Many more steps, however, will be required. You should continue to closely review your credit card statements and credit reports for any unauthorized charges.

Richard Chapo is the lead attorney for the law firm http://www.SanDiegoBusinessLawFirm.com - a firm providing legal advice to California businesses. Visit http://www.sandiegobusinesslawfirm.com/business_law_articles to read more business law articles.

Begging the Question

When someone who is debating an issue assumes the answer to the very point that is being debated, that argument is said to “Beg the Question”. This is also known as circular reasoning.

Those of the Minuteman-like groups who argue their position Beg the Question because they assume the dump truck of statistical speculation they dump into your lap really supports their contention that ALL “Legal/Illegal Mexican Migrant Workers” are:

1. drug runners.
2. murderers.
3. men who want to rape your daughters.
4. people who want to rape, rob, and pillage you.
5. people who want to close your hospitals.
6. people who have run Americans out of countless cities and communities.
7. people who have ruined school systems.
8. people who have thrown trash throughout the park systems.
9. people who have brutalized our schools with their language.

(I would dare add here that I will continue to characterize their position as applying to Mexican “legals” and “illegals” until I hear a change in their rhetoric and a retraction printed to the contrary.)

Here is a classic example of a Begging the Question argument that I’ve heard from readers about the articles I have written concerning the “Gay Movement”.

Doug’s Question: What scientific evidence exists to prove that gays are born gay?

Reader’s Answer: How dare you reject the “indisputable evidence” just because you are a religious fanatic.

This reader assumes the very point we are debating. This reader assumes there is such a preponderance of evidence to support his contention that “all gays are born that way” that only a “religious fanatic” could possibly reject the “indisputable evidence”.

A person who uses this Question-Begging Argument (circular reasoning) typically believes that ALL THE EVIDENCE WITHOUT EXCEPTION is on their side of the fence and that only a fool could possibly reject the claim they are using that “evidence” to support their position in the debate.

This person, using this fallacy, will try to put you in the position of arguing against the mountain of “speculative statistics” which he used to construct a very nice Straw Man,[1] made not of the statistical results of “the test of experimentation”,[2] but from the “improper use of statistics”.[3]

If you allow this Straw Man maker to define the parameters of the argument in this way then you’ve lost before you begin the debate. How can you possibly debate someone who argues in a circle and with a construct of his own makingThe Straw Man?

Do you see how this form of reasoning (linear) connects together like a chain?

Here is another example of the Begging the Question argument:

Bill: “God must exist.”
Jill: “How do you know?”
Bill: “Because the Bible says so”.
Jill: “Why should I believe the Bible?”
Bill: “Because the Bible was written by God”.[4]

While I most certainly believe that God exists, I would not use this circular reasoned argument for proof. There are better arguments to use.

This is not one of them.

So how does this apply to the subject we’ve been discussing”Legal/Illegal Mexican Migrant Workers”?

Doug Wrote: “The number-one answer we give is that we simply could no longer afford to live in America, so we found a country where we could, and moved there. And your second line, “all my needed prescriptions refilled. I knew, from our research, to expect cheaper prices but I didn’t know how cheap!”"

Reader’s Response: “First of all, do you ever question WHY medical insurance is so costly in the United States? Perhaps you should look to the reason behind it. Do you question WHY your hospital bills and medical care is so costly in the United States, thereby causing you to leave America, per your column? You should have questioned that as well. The reason, in layman’s terms, is simple.”

This was a Begging the Question argument because the reader had already assumed the point in dispute. This reader already assumed, before even typing the words on the keyboard, that ALL the evidence on his side of the fence was “indisputably correct” and tried to get me to argue against his mountain of “speculative statistics” with which he had constructed his Straw Man.

Do not forget that apart from the “test of experimentation” your “stats”, your “proof” are speculationopinion!

Doug Wrote: “I had stated my reasons for living in Mexico and my opinions about the dreaded “X”-word (xenophobia)”.

Reader’s Response: “I do not understand your choice to live in a country that is systematically exporting its poor, its sick, and its criminals to the United States of America.”

I mention this example even though it is not a strong Begging the Question argument example.
But it most certainly assumes “the point in dispute”. It assumes that there is “indisputable evidence” that Mexico (and I assume he meant Mexico’s government) is actively and with intent “exporting its poor, its sick, and its criminals to the United States of America”.

I will use this same sample in the next column”Phony-Baloney Detection Lesson #5″: Lack of Testability

[1] See Phony-Baloney Detection Lesson #3
[2] See Phony-Baloney Detection Lesson #2
[3] See Phony-Baloney Detection Lesson #1
[4] http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/begging-the-question.html

Doug Bower is a freelance writer, Syndicated Columnist, and book author. His most recent writing credits include The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Houston Chronicle, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Transitions Abroad. He is a columnist with Cricketsoda.com and the Magic City Morning Star, and more than 21 additional online magazines. He is also a writer with EzineArticles.com with a readership of almost 6,000. He lives with his wife in Guanajuato, Mexico. His newest books, Mexican Living: Blogging it from a Third World Country and The Plain Truth about Living in Mexico can be seen: CLICK HERE http://www.lulu.com/content/126241

The Proper Use of Statistics

There are a lot of facts, figures, evidence, and statistics in the “Illegal Mexican” controversy. Everyone has something to quote in the debate no matter on which side of the fence he or she is standing.

Even a lie or a sincerely held false belief is liable to have some facts to support, at least in the mind of the beholder, that the position is the correct one. Sometimes, it is a truckload of facts, manuals, abstracts, and studies that someone produces to “prove” a pointand it still turns out to support a falsely held belief.

How can this be so? I mean, if I inundate you with enough facts for my position, shouldn’t you yield to my point of view?

No, you should not.

There is a book that every person who seeks to take the position of the Frosty Wooldridges[1] of the world should read: How to Lie With Statistics, by Darrell Huff and Irving Geis.

(Disclaimer time: I do not believe that everyone without exception purposes in his or her heart to lie with statistics regarding the Legal or Illegal Mexican issue, but may indeed do so unintentionally.)

“There is terror in numbers, writes Darrell Huff in How to Lie with Statistics. And nowhere does this terror translate to blind acceptance of authority more than in the slippery world of averages, correlations, graphs, and trends.

The book remains relevant as a wake-up call for people unaccustomed to examining the endless flow of numbers pouring from Wall Street, Madison Avenue, and everywhere else someone has an axe to grind, a point to prove, or a product to sell.

The secret language of statistics, so appealing in a fact-minded culture, is employed to sensationalize, inflate, confuse, and oversimplify, warns Huff.”[2]

This is why it is important to keep the channels of communication in this debate wide open. Neither side should be allowed to pooh-pooh evidence it finds opposing its position.

This is why I make a point in my columns that I want (need) readers to challenge my position.

An example of what I am trying to say is in the issue found in Wooldridge’s essays claiming that illegal Mexicans are spreading Hepatitis and Tuberculosis throughout California and possibly the rest of the United States. He gives the impression, at least to me that America is in imminent peril of being wiped out from these diseases.

He quotes statistics.

If you will note in his writings, he targets Mexicans almost exclusively. I have to say “almost” because I cannot claim to have read everything the man has written and therefore have to concede that he could have written of other minorities.

I contacted the CDC who told me personally there is no evidence that any one racial or ethnic groupLegal or Illegal- has caused an increase in these diseases. The representative, in fact, did show me the stats that Asian minorities have a higher incidence of TB than the whites, blacks, and Hispanics.[3]

She then went on to say,

“Despite these numbers, CDC does not have data to show that foreign-born individuals have caused an increase in TB in recent years.”[4]

Did Frosty not know this? Perhaps not or maybe he did. I simply do not know. But, if he did, why didn’t he report it?

If you go back and read my column footnoted below, you will notice that I gave both sides of the issue:

1. “CDC’s data shows that foreign-born individuals - whether illegal immigrants or legal immigrants - accounted for more than half of TB cases reported in 2004. Overall, racial, and ethnic minorities also face higher rates of disease than white Americans, with both Hispanics and Blacks at a rate that is 8 times higher than whites and Asians 20 times higher than whites.”[5]

2. “Despite these numbers, CDC does not have data to show that foreign-born individuals have caused an increase in TB in recent years.”[6]

The evidence “appears to say” that though the minorities face a higher rate, minorities haven’t caused an increase of the diseases.

The whole point is that when using stats as evidence to prove your position, you have to have the highest ethic of honesty possible when reporting. It is what my journalism classes taught me. You have to not only report what you have, but you must be able to say what those facts “seem” to be saying and what else they could mean!

You have to “bend over backwards” with an absolute integrity (that you would rather die than compromise) to give ALL the information to help your reader make an informed decisionnot just the information that would lead your reader to side with your position.

Next Phony-Baloney Detection Lesson: “False Appeals to Authority”.

Stay tuned.

[1] An anti-Legal and Illegal Mexican Activist

[2] Amazon.com; Editorial Reviews Amazon.com;

[3] Cal Thomas at Foxnews–What’s Happened?; by Doug Bower

[4] Ibid

[5] Ibid

[6] Ibid

Doug Bower is a freelance writer, Syndicated Columnist, and book author. His most recent writing credits include The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Houston Chronicle, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Transitions Abroad. He is a columnist with Cricketsoda.com and the Magic City Morning Star, and more than 21 additional online magazines. He lives with his wife in Guanajuato, Mexico. His newest book is, Mexican Living: Blogging it from a Third World Country
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