Friday, June 8, 2012

Royal University Women Recognized

One great characteristic of Bahrain is the concentrated support given to women.  In a world that screams for equality for women, Bahrain is a leader in the Middle East world of how this is to be done.

131 graduates of the Royal University of Women were honored in a ceremony at the Gulf Hotel.  The honored graduates have diverse educational and training backgrounds, ranging from business, science, arts and design, education, and information technology.  The event was attended by Her Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim al Khalifa, wife of His Majesty, King Hamad.  She is also the president of the Supreme Council for Women.

Congratulations to these fine women for their great accomplishment.

To read entire article please visit Gulf Daily News.

WWII Heroes Recognized

The effects of World War II are still being felt by many.  Nightmares of days gone by haunt them.  Lost loved ones are still missed.  But, stories of heroes are still remembered and shared.  And honors are still being given to those who risked everything.

In France, six US veterans will be honored with the country's highest award, the Legion of Honor.  The honored veterans showed great bravery and critical action that helped liberate France from German invasion in 1944-1945.


Those that will be honored are Orville Stanley Smith, George Wheeler, Benjamin Herlong, Harry Duvall, John McCarty, and Truman Trotter.  Each are from South Carolina.

To read entire article please visit FoxNews.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Personal Wealth On the Rise

I recently heard someone say, "There are three kinds of people in this world.  Those who realize what is happening and do something about it.  Those who watch what is happening and do nothing.  And those that ask afterward, 'what just happened?'"

The global economic crisis has caused many problems.  There is scarcely a country or people in the world that has not felt its effects.  However, out of great challenge comes great opportunity.  And the victor will be the one that recognizes that and takes advantage of it.

Bahrain is a country that has realized what is going on and has taken advantage of it.  The number of millionaires in the private world has increased from last year, this according to The Boston Consulting Group.  In fact, Bahrain in 2011 was ranked in the Top Ten Countries in the world by proportion of millionaire households.  Three other Middle East countries cracked the Top Ten; Qatar, Kuwait and UAE.

Never Too Old

The Great Depression caused a lot of people to do things they didn't want to do.  Some quit school to help with the financial burdens.  Others took jobs that they were overqualified for just to put food on the table. It was a traumatic time that caused for drastic measures.  But through that experience, many of that generation learned hard work and determination.

Meet Ann Colagiovanni of Ohio.  She was 17 years old when the depression struck her family.  She made the decision to quit school to help with the finances of the family by working at the family market.  To her, that was the most important thing at the time.  The market closed in the 60's, Ann eventually married and had children.

Ann, now 97 years old, is accomplishing a life long goal that has eluded her for these many years.  She marched to "Pomp and Circumstance" with the Shaker Height High School Class of 2012 to receive her high school diploma.  What makes this day even more special is that she walked with her grandson, who was a senior.  78 years in the making!  Ann finally gets to say, "I am a graduate!"

You are never too old!  Congratulations to Ann Colagiovanni!

To read entire article please visit FoxNews.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Outstanding Achievement Award

People always like to be appreciate and recognized in their work.  A could be as easy and simple as a "thank you," or as grand and elaborate as a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.  But whatever it is, it's human nature to desire recognition.

In Bahrain, recognition was given to Minister of Foreign Affairs Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa for his outstanding work in public relations for promoting Bahrain on the international stage.  At the 6th GCCC Public Relations Forum, patroned by His Majesty the King, FM received the award from the Bahrain Public Relations Society.

Congratulations to Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed al Khalifa.

To read entire article, please visit Bahrain News Agency.

Walker Wins Again

It's the gubernatorial race that caught the nation's attention for a few reasons.  One, it was a recall election.  Two, recall elections usually end badly for the incumbent.  Three, it was the union against the government.  Four, many believe the results will act as a shadow of things to come.

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker survived the recall election.  Actually, he received more votes in the recall election than he did in the original 2010 race against the same opponent, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.  The reason for the recall was the actions of the governor to fulfill his promise to balance the state budget, which was $3.6 billion in debt.  Not only did Walker cut the debt, but ended the fiscal year with a surplus!  In order to do that, he made cuts to how much the government spent on benefits for public workers.

Mitt Romney, Republican nominee for the Presidential race praised Walker for his fiscal responsibility and made a plea to the American people to vote for the same thing in November.

There has been three gubernatorial recall elections in US history.  Walker is the only one to survive.
In his speech after the election was concluded, Walker called for unity, saying, "Tomorrow we are all Wisconsinites."  Tom Barrett, echoed that call in his concession speech.

To read entire article, please visit FoxNews.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

The Cosmos


It's incredible to think about space.  The glorious lights, the explored planets and those that are still hidden, and the ever burning question, "are we alone in the universe?"  So many questions, so little answers.

Looking to the sky has always educated and guided man.  Stars were the world's first "compass" for navigation.  Night and day are established by elements in the sky.  For Bahrain, looking to the sky will bring even greater and unique opportunity tomorrow.  It, along with a few other countries, will have a great view of a phenomenon that happens just once a century.  The planet Venus will pass the Earth and the sun, and will be visible as a small black dot.  Bahrain should count itself fortunate.  This event happens once every hundred years.  This will be the second time in less than ten years the people will be able to see it!

Star gazers, get ready!  And don't be late.  If you miss it, you will have to wait until about 2117 to see it again.  Chances are, you won't be able to see then!

To read entire article, please visit Gulf Daily News.

A Fair Trade

Professional sports is entertainment.  People pay money to watch extraordinary athletes play and perform. Whether the athlete can hit the ball 500 feet, rush for 200 yards, get into a fight before the game even starts, or soar above the competition to dunk the ball, these athletes get paid to play.

But what many don't remember is that professional sports is also a business.  There are "behind the scenes" people that make the wheels turn.  They staff the team.  They figure out how to market the players.  They even trade pieces, almost like trading a piece of the company for the piece of another company.

Jim Duquette knows all about that.  Duquette is a former New York Mets general manager and Baltimore Orioles executive.  He knows the ins and outs of trades and business of baseball.  So when his 10 year old daughter needed a kidney transplant, he knew what was being asked.  In baseball vocabulary, this was a "trade" situation.  Lindsey, his daughter, had lived without full kidney function for over a year.  Jim loves his daughter as any father does.  So the trade was really a "no brainer."  Jim would say, "I will give you my kidney.  You will get better and make me happy."  A true win-win situation.


The transplant went well and both father and daughter are recovering.  Wishes for a continued and quick recovery!

To read full story please visit FoxNews.

Monday, June 4, 2012

Showcase for Charity

It's the "warm fuzzy feeling" that people get.  It's knowing that you did something, and participated in something that was bigger than yourself.  What does it feel like when you can use your talents to help others?  Probably something along the lines above.
In Manama, the American Women's Association will host the fourth annual art exhibition at Art Centre in the capital city of Bahrain.  There will be 27 artists from the AWA who will showcase their talents in sculpture and photography that will help raise money.  The donations will be dispersed between 32 different charities and organizations.

To read entire article please visit Gulf Daily News.

"If We Build It..."

Truly remarkable things happen when people volunteer their time and talents for the betterment of others. A common cause transcends gender, race, ethnicity, and anything else.  When that common cause is based in faith, it's even stronger.  And amazing things happen.
More than 300 volunteers came together to build a church as part of the "Church in a Day" program.  And no, it's not just a clever name.  They built a 2900 square foot church in Perry, Iowa on Saturday that was ready for use on Sunday!  This same thing has happened in 27 other states and across Canada.  The church is now home to the members of the Calvary Tabernacle Church, a Pentecostal church.  But they weren't the only ones helping.  Other Christian denominations assisted in the construction.  Even no-Christians helped!
Indeed, they built it, and people came!  Not just a group of people, but several different groups.  Yes, that common goal and cause once again transcended difference and worked for the common good.


To read the entire article, please visit FoxNews.