asianews: 09/17/09

[Thai] 2nd Army to rein in PAD border protest

Cambodian police go on alert to prevent possible intrusions

Bangkok Post and AFP

The 2nd Army plans to restrict a rally scheduled for tomorrow by a group linked to the People's Alliance for Democracy in a bid to prevent any possible intrusion into a disputed border area claimed by both Thailand and Cambodia.

The move comes amid fears the PAD protesters will enter the 4.6-square-kilometre disputed area and proceed to the Preah Vihear temple ruins.

There are concerns this could lead to possible clashes with Cambodian troops and villagers, which would further complicate the border dispute.

Second Army chief Wibulsak Neepal yesterday said an area on the Thai side of the border had been designated for the PAD demonstrators to hold their rally.

Communism and capitalism are mixing in Laos

President and Communist Party General Secretary of Laos Choummaly Sayasone (L) meets with Chinese President Hu Jintao at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing in this file photo (Reuters)

TheMalayInsider.com

VIENTIANE, Laos, Sept 18 — Hammer-and-sickle flags flutter above government offices in central Vientiane, and the entrance to the national museum is decorated with massive sculptures glorifying the workers’ revolutionary struggle.

Officially, this sparsely populated country is still communist — and has been since 1975. But these days, that really depends on whom you ask.

Three months ago the Obama administration declared that Laos, the country the United States tried so hard to prevent from toppling toward communism during the Vietnam War, had “ceased to be a Marxist-Leninist country.”

Border burning death increases Thai-Cambodia tensions

ABC Radio Australia

The Cambodian government is calling for an investigation into the alleged shooting of illegal loggers by Thai troops near Cambodia's north-west border. A 16-year-old Cambodian boy was reportedly burnt alive, after being wounded by a bullet and captured by Thai soldiers.

Presenter: Desmond Ang
Speakers: Koy Kuong, Spokeman for the Cambodian Foreign Ministry, Nhem Peng; Yon Saing, godfather to Yon Rith; Dr Christopher Roberts, Lecturer with the University of Canberra.

5 Tips For Buying The Right Laptop Computer

It's easy to be intimidated by all the laptop models on the market today. There are literally dozens and dozens in every price range.

The key to finding the right one for you is to step back and consider exactly how you plan to use your laptop. When you define what you need before you go shopping, buying the right machine becomes much easier.

Here are 5 basic factors to consider:

1. SIZE

In the world of mobile computing, size definitely matters. The size of a laptop affects two key areas: portability and display size.

If you're always on the go and will be using your computer only in short bursts, a so-called ultralight will save you some shoulder strain.

On the other hand, if you're going to spend hours in front of your laptop, a larger display may be in order.

Today, some laptop displays exceed 17 inches, rivaling the display size of many desktop systems. The down side is that these monsters can easily weigh three times as much as an ultralight.

2. HARD DRIVE

Speaking of size, what about the size of the hard drive? One way to approach this issue is to ask yourself the following question:

Will this be my primary computer, or will it supplement my desktop system?

If the former, you should look for a bigger hard drive - 60 GB or more.

If the latter, you may be able to make it with a 20-30 GB hard drive.

But even this isn't absolute.

If, for example, you plan to copy a huge MP3 library from your desktop system to your laptop to make your music library portable, you'd be well advised to err on the side of too big.

3. MEMORY

In determining the right amount of system memory, or RAM, take a look at the ways in which you intend to use your laptop:

If your needs are somewhat mundane - email, spreadsheets, word processing, etc. - 256 MB of RAM should be plenty. This is a common configuration for many laptops, so it means you probably won't need to spend extra for more RAM.

On the flip side, if you're an aspiring mobile digital photographer or videographer, you should stuff your laptop with as much RAM as it can hold.

In fact, exactly how much RAM your laptop can hold may in part drive your purchase decision. Applications for editing and manipulating multimedia content are notorious resource hogs.

4. NETWORK CONNECTIONS

Thanks in no small part to the Internet, computing in the 21st century relies heavily on being connected:

Connected to the Internet, connected to a corporate network, connected to a wireless network, connected to a home network, connected to an online service.

Your life will be easier if you buy a laptop that includes built-in means to connect to them all.

5. PRICE

If you're considering a laptop, you're probably wondering how much money you'll need to spend.

A few years ago, you'd be hard-pressed to find one for under $2,000. Today, there are plenty of laptops to be had for under $1,000.

What's more, most of the major manufacturers offer a variety of financing options.

Laptop prices have come down, to be sure. However, a laptop still represents a fairly major purchase for most people.

If you take the time to search for a laptop that meets your specific needs, you should get many years of use and enjoyment from this important investment.

--

You may republish this article, but must keep the resource box and copyright at the end.

The author, computer journalist John San Filippo, has created the definitive guide for buying a laptop computer. It's an easy read and explains everything you need to know. Check out ==> http://howtobuyalaptop.com/

11 Essentials Tips for the Business Traveler

As they say, getting there stopped being half the fun when airplanes were invented. If you travel a lot, here are some tips to make it more palatable.

1.Go ahead and pay to join something like AA's Admirals Club.

With it you’ll get assistance with reservations, seat selection and boarding pass issuance; a quite place to wait and work; complimentary snacks and beverages; private bar at most locations, and showers at some. At around $450/yr. for one person, it could be well worth it.

2.Use airport Conference Rooms and Executive Centers.

Saves everything from nerves to time to money. No membership required. Eliminates need for overnight stay, hotel or car rentals.

There are 22 available at O’Hare, for instance.

Executive Centers come equipped with everything you need to conduct business. Call 1-800-237-7971, option 3.

3.Keep all your luggage on wheels, use one carryon, invest in good luggage.

According to the US Transportation Dept., about 1 in 200 bags are lost, misdirected or stolen, which is about one person per flight. 87% of this happens at the curbside check-in station.

Advantages: don’t have to tip porter; don’t have to arrive as early; if you miss your connection, you can easily rebook yourself; you can easily volunteer to be bumped on a full flight; no wait once you land.

4. Take a book with you.

Better than TV in most hotel rooms, good for waits, also good to hide behind if you get next to someone in the plane who annoys you. Leave it behind for another traveler or tear off chapters as you go along and lighten you load.

5. The travel wardrobe.

Coordinate to one color, like black. Many women, myself included, swear by Tencel®. Indestructible, always looks nice. Choose the right print blouses and it won’t show stains. Gentlemen, consider microfiber fabrics. Choose something with inner pockets (that zip!) for important papers and cash.

6.Don’t appear wealthy.

Especially important in 3rd world countries. Wear cheap-looking watch and jewelry and leave the diamonds at home. Makes you less of a target for pick pocketers and luggage theft. If you must take a camera, guard the lens; popular with pick pockets as well.

Remove luggage tags from other trips. It’s a tip-off for thieves looking for the “rich frequent traveler”.

7.Cash.

Hide cash in different parts of your body. If traveling internationally, get new bills, as some countries won’t take “dirty” money. In Africa, for instance take new $100 bills. The exchange rate on anything lower is not good. Check with someone else who’s been where you’re going. i.e., in Russia, they aren’t supposed to take US dollars, but they sure do.

8.If you get a rental car, write down all the information about it. Just in case you forget what you’re driving.

9.Stay alert. Take a water bottle with you for dehydration and drink 2 glasses of water before you board. While on the plane, splash water on your face; when you get to the hotel, take a warm bath. Dry membranes are more vulnerable to infection.

Go rested.

Try the Argonne Anti-Jet-Lag Diet: http://performance.netlib.org/misc/jet-lag-diet .

10.Take measures to avoid developing deep vein thrombosis.

Drink lots of water, avoid beverages that dehydrate, avoid salty food, wear support socks, get up and move around whenever you can, exercise your feet and legs 4-5 mins. every hour.

11. Check out some of the travel products at sites such as www.magellan.com .

You'll find No-Jet Lag tablets, head and foot rests, packing aids, micro fiber wear, all sorts of helpful things.

About the Author

©Susan Dunn, MA, The EQ Coach™, http://www.susandunn.cc . Bringing the power of Emotional Intelligence to YOUR life through coaching, distance learning, The EQ Learning Lab™, business EQ programs, and eBooks, http://www.webstrategies.cc/ebooklibrary.html . Mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc for FREE eZine. Want to be a certified EQ coach? Go here: http://www.eqcoach.net

Cold War

People once thought the Cold War would never end. Sometimes they feared nuclear bombs would blow up the world. Now the Cold War has faded to a distant memory.

The Cold War was a conflict primarily between the United States and the Soviet Union. Each power brought other countries into the conflict on its side. The Cold War lasted more than 40 years, from the mid-1940s to the end of the 1980s.

Why was the war “cold”? Because the United States and the Soviet Union never got into armed combat—a shooting or “hot” war—with each other.

HOW DID THE COLD WAR BEGIN?

The Cold War began soon after World War II ended in 1945. The United States and the Soviet Union had been allies (friends) in defeating Nazi Germany in that war. The Soviet army had invaded Germany from the east.

After the war, the Soviet Union kept control of countries in Eastern Europe that it had freed from German control. Those countries included Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, and Romania.

An iron curtain fell across Europe. That’s how Winston Churchill, Britain’s leader during World War II, described the division of Europe. There was no actual curtain, but there were strong barriers between Soviet-controlled Eastern Europe and largely democratic Western Europe. The Soviet Union insisted on that.

Barbed wire and armed soldiers at borders kept Eastern Europe separate from Western Europe during the Cold War. Defeated Germany was split into East Germany under Soviet control, and West Germany. Berlin, Germany’s former capital, was a divided city. In 1961, a concrete wall went up in Berlin, along the dividing line. Broken glass on top of the Berlin Wall kept people from going over it and escaping to West Germany.

WHAT WAS THE CONFLICT ABOUT?

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union and the United States had different political and economic systems. The Soviet system was called communism. The United States and its allies feared that the Soviet Union wanted to spread communism to the rest of the world. They disliked this system.

The goal of communism was to end private ownership of property. Under communism, the people would own everything communally (jointly). They would make decisions as a group.

But things didn’t work out that way in the Soviet Union. Instead, the country became a dictatorship under the control of the Communist Party. Many freedoms were lost. Millions of people who disagreed with the Communist Party were arrested and sent to prison camps.

The United States and most of the countries of Western Europe had democratic governments rather than dictatorships. They valued freedoms that had been lost in the Soviet Union. Their economic system—capitalism—was based on private ownership and on individual rather than group effort.

At times during the Cold War, the United States lost some freedoms because of fear of communism. During the 1950s, many Americans who were suspected of sympathy for communism lost their jobs.

WHAT WAS THE ARMS RACE?

During the Cold War, each side built up its arsenal of weapons, especially nuclear weapons—atomic bombs and hydrogen bombs. These weapons could destroy cities and kill hundreds of thousands of people. Each side was afraid the other would start a nuclear war first.

A nuclear arms race began. Each side said it needed more weapons to retaliate (fight back) in case of a nuclear attack. Both sides believed that if they had enough weapons the other side wouldn't dare start a nuclear war. If it did, it would face total destruction in retaliation.

HOW DID THE COLD WAR SPREAD?

The Soviet Union had put Communist governments in power in Eastern Europe. Communist leaders had come to power in China. The Soviet Union and China backed groups that tried to take power in other countries. Wars broke out. The United States entered wars to stop the spread of communism.

With the Korean War (1950-1953), the Cold War reached Asia. China backed North Korea, and the United States supported South Korea. Korea was still divided when fighting stopped in 1953, and it remains divided today.

In 1962, the Cold War brought the world to the edge of nuclear war. The United States discovered that the Soviet Union had installed nuclear missiles in Cuba. The missiles were pointed at the United States. War seemed certain, but the Soviet Union backed down and removed the missiles.

The United States fought the spread of communism in the Vietnam War (1959-1975). The U.S. government feared that if one Asian country fell to communism, the rest of Asia would become communist as well. The war ended with a communist victory in Vietnam. But communism did not spread throughout Asia.

HOW DID THE COLD WAR END?

The Soviet Union nearly went broke as a result of the Cold War weapons race. The Soviet people had given up hope of a better life ahead. In the mid-1980s, a new leader came to power in the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev. Gorbachev was determined to improve life in his country. In the process, he helped bring the Cold War to an end.

Gorbachev called for more freedom for his people. He and U.S. president Ronald Reagan agreed to destroy many of the weapons their countries had built. Gorbachev encouraged change in Eastern Europe, and he said that Soviet troops would no longer keep communist governments in power there.

One after another, the countries of Eastern Europe got rid of their communist leaders. In 1989, the Berlin Wall came down. Europe was no longer divided. Finally, parts of the Soviet Union declared their independence. The Cold War ended with the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe in 1989, and the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Abraham of Chaldea

Abraham : From the Bible

The following is a narrative description on the life and times of

one of the most powerful characters in the Old Testament.

Abraham was indeed a man of God in a time where few men believed

in the One true God. Through many triumphs and errors, he always

returned to God to lead him back to his calling. His dedication

resulted in great promises from God that were eventually

fulfilled and affect each of our lives today. His story is our

story.

Abraham was a native of Chaldea, and a ninth generation

descendant of Shem, the son of Noah. He was born on the southern

tip of the Tigris and Uuphrates rivers in the city of Ur around

2161BC.1 Before his name was changed to Abraham, his name was

Abram. When Abram was about seventy years of age he moved with

his family to live in Haran. The reason he moved was because

"The God of glory appeared to our father Abram when he was in

Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, and said to him, "Depart

from your country and your relatives, and come into the land

that I will show you." 2

While in Haran, Abram's father died and God spoke to him again

saying, "Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and

from your father's house, to the land which I will show you." 3

He obeyed and left Haran with his brother Nahor's family and his

Nephew Lot without really knowing where he was going. At this

time, God did not reveal to him he was going to Canaan. God only

told him "the land which I will show you." 4 When he did arrive

in Canaan, he camped in the plains of Moreh, between the

mountains of Ebal and Cerizim. It was here he was given the

second promise from God that his seed would possess this land.

Abram built "an altar there to the Lord who had appeared to him"

5 He then moved to the mountainous district between Bethel and

Ai. Here, he built another altar to Jehovah.

Throughout the story of Abram, he consistently went back to

Bethel to make amends with God. All of God's children should

have a similar alter they should go to when praising God. This

could be the front of your church, but should be in public. 6

Archeo logy has since proved that Bethel is the modern village of

Baytin. 7 When in this area, a famine struck forcing Abram to

move southward toward Egypt. God talked to Abram on the mountain

East of Bethel where he built an alter unto the Lord. Each

person should have their own personal alter to go before God,

this should also be done in public.

When he did get to Egypt, Abram told his first recorded lie.

Because his wife Sarah was beautiful, he feared she would lusted

by after the Egyptians and endanger his life. He also knew the

Pharaoh was also concerned of Abram's presence along with other

Hyksos in the region. 8 Abram persuaded Sarah to pass herself

off as his sister. This lie could probably be considered a

lighter shade of gray considering Sarah was his half sister,

having the same father but a different mother. 9 When the

Egyptians saw how beautiful she was, they took her to Pharaoh's

harem. As a consequence, God plagued Pharaoh & his house. When

the Pharaoh found out Sarah was Abram's wife, he sent him and his

clan out of Egypt to fend for themselves in the famished land.

Because Abram told this lie, God allowed this to happen. Abram

went out of Egypt and returned to Bethel the second time to call

on the name of the Lord. While in Bethel, both Lot's and Abram's

livestock could not be supported by the land, and strife began

between their herdsmen. Abram gave Lot his first choice of where

he wanted to settle. Instead of choosing the unknown territory

toward Canaan, Lot chose the easy way out and went East to Jordan

near the populated city of Sodom. The motif of scripture for

this story is simple. Abram gave more than he took. He let Lot

take what he wanted and left it to God to bless him with what was

left. Lot's mistake was he stopped growing in God's faith and

stagnated. He soon found out that everything is not as it seem

s. If one only takes, but does not give, it soon gets them into

trouble. On the other hand, Abram was rewarded with a third

blessing for his faith. God reiterated His promise to give him

the land of Canaan and a posterity as numerous as the dust of the

earth. So Abram moved his clan and camped near Hebron where he

built another altar to Jehovah.

In the mean time, Lot got himself in the middle of a war between

rivaling Babylonian kings in the area. As a result, the kings of

Sodom and Gomorrah fell and their cities were spoiled. Lot and

his goods were also carried off. When Abram heard of this, he

immediately armed his dependents, 318 men, and some of his

neighbors. They overtook and defeated the kings at Dan, near the

springs of Jordan. To accomplish this, Abram must have been a

military genius. After Abram freed Lot, you would think he would

have learnt his lesson, but he returned with his family to live

in Sodom.

When Abram was returning, the king of Sodom came out to meet him

at the King's Valley along with Melchizedek, king of Salem and

"priest of the most high God." 10 Melchizedek brought him bread

and wine, and blessed him by saying, "Blessed

be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:

And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine

enemies into thy hand." 11 Hebrew tradition says that

Melchizedek was Shem, son of Noah and survivor of the flood This

tradidion believes he was still alive at the time and the earth's

oldest living man. Others think that Melchizedek was an Angel or

the Messiah himself. 12 In return, Abram presented Melchizedek a

tenth of all he had. This is the first mention of tithing, and

is still used as a guideline today. The king of Sodom attempted

to give Abram the spoils of the war, but he refused. Abram told

the king, "I have sworn to the Lord God Most High, maker of

heaven and earth, that I would not take a thread or a sandal-

thong or your, lest you should say, "I have made Abram rich." I

will take nothing but what the young men have eaten." 13

After this episode, The Lord rewarded Abram for his faithfulness

and came to him in a vision. God said, "Fear not, Abram, I am

thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward." 14 In response,

Abram asked how this could be since he did not have any children.

God proceeded to encourage Abram through a distinct and detailed

repetition of former promises He had made and by a solemn

covenant contracted between himself and God. God told him his

seed should be as numerous as the stars of heaven, that his

posterity should grow up into a nation under foreign bondage, and

that after four hundred years they should come up and possess the

land in which he sojourned.

After living in Canaan for ten years, Sarai went to Abram and

said, " The Lord has prevented me from bearing children." 15 As

she was seventy-five years of age, she followed contemporary

custom and allowed Abram to impregnate Hagar, 16

her Egyptian handmaid. After this, Sarai got jealous of Hargar

and told Abram that Hargar was looking at her with contempt.

Abram told Sarai that Hargar was under her authority, and she

could to with her as she pleased. Sarai subsequently dealt so

harshly with Hagar that she fled. But an angel of the Lord

appeared to her in the wilderness and convinced her to return to

Sarai and submit herself to her. The angel told her she was

pregnant and would give birth to a son who would greatly multiply

her descendants. The angel told her to call the name of this

child Ishmael.

Thirteen years later, when Abram was 99 years old, God appeared

to him and changed his name from Abram to Abraham and Sarai to

Sarah. In a token to consummate the covenant, God commanded that

Abraham, all males of his tribe and male descendants of his be

circumcised. God also renewed his covenant to Abraham through

the angles by assured him that Sarah, then ninety years old,

would bear a child from his loins. Abraham laughed at this and

questioned how an old man like himself could impregnate a 90 year

old woman. Abraham said, "O that Ishmael might live in thy

sight!" 17 God assured him Ishmael would make him fruitful also

and make a great nation of him. But God told him that Sarah

would indeed bear him a son and he should call his name Isaac.

God said he would establish a covenant with Isaac and all his

descendants. After this meeting with conversation with God,

Abraham obeyed him and all males were circumcised.

After this covenant, Abraham was visited by three travelers. One

of these travelers was the "Angel of Jehovah" and two others were

attending angels. 18 These angels proceeded to reiterate to

Abraham the promise of a son by Sarah. Sarah was listening at

the tent door and laughed to herself thinking of how preposterous

it was for a woman and man of their age to actually have sex, let

alone for her to conceive a child. The angels knew of this

laughter and asked why she had done so. Sarah denied it, but the

Lord said through the angels "No, but you did laugh." 19 These

angels then left and set out toward Sodom. As Abraham was

walking with them for a part of the way, God chose to disclose to

him the destruction he had in mind for Sodom and Gomorrah. At

this time, God allowed Abraham to negotiated with Him over

destroying the cities if any righteous people were found living

their. As it was, no righteous people lived in these cities, not

even Lot and his family. The next morning, Abraham got up early

in the morning and saw the fate of the cities as smoke rose "up

as the smoke of a furnace. 20 When Abraham was one hundred years

old, and Sarah ninety, Isaac was born. Abraham circumcised Isaac

when he was eight days old as commanded. Subsequently, during a

feast on the day Isaac was weaned, Sarah saw Ishmael and Hagar

mocking her. This infuriated her so much that she insisted to

Abraham they be sent away. Abraham reluctantly consented after

God told him that not only would his descendants be numerous

through Isaac, but also Ishmael. Abraham gave Hagar bread and

water and sent her off. God subsequently kept Hagar from leaving

Ishmael to die when all food and water was gone. An angel of

God called to her from heaven and told her a great nation would

rise from Ishmael. This great nation would be the Arabs. God

opened her eyes and she saw a well of water and gave her son a

drink. Ishmael eventually grew up in the wilderness of Paran,

and became an expert archer. The dispute of who received the

promise of Canaan, Isaac or Ishmael, still broils the hatred

between the Jews and Arabs today. The Jews believe Isaac was

given the promise of Canaan, and the Arabs believe Ishmael

inherited this promise.

After this, God tested Abraham by commanding him to go to Mt.

Moriah and offer up Isaac as a sacrifice. This was a great test

of Abraham's faith, because Isaac's death would nullify all the

promises God gave to Abraham concerning Isaac. Abraham probably

decided to obey, because "he considered that God is able to raise

men even from the dead." 21 Abraham rose early in the morning,

cut wood for the burnt offering, and set off for the mountains

near Moriah with two of his servants and Isaac. On the third

day of their journey, Abraham saw the place God told him to go

to. He told his servants he and his son would go on without them

to worship and then return. When Isaac asked Abraham where was

the lamb for the burnt offering, Abraham told him that God would

provide the lamb Himself. Abraham proceeded to build the altar

and secured on top of it. As he was about to slay Isaac with a

knife, the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said,

" Abraham! Abraham! Do not lay your hand on the lad, for now I

know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son

from me." 22 Abraham stopped, looked up, and saw a ram caught

in a thicket by his horns. He took the ram, and offered it up as

a burnt offering instead of his son. This test of Abraham 's

faith is a Type of Christ. This is because Abraham can be

considered like God when he was willing to sacrificed his only

son on the cross. Also, Isaac was a young man as was Jesus and

adult Ram was offered in Isaac's place. Abraham called the name

of this sacrificial place "The Lord Will Provide." 23 After

this, the angel of the Lord called Abraham a second time and

said, "Because you have done this, I will indeed bless you. I

will Multiply you descendants as the stars of heaven and as the

sand on the seashore. They shall possess the gate of their

enemies, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed by

them, because you have obeyed my voice.". After this event,

Abraham returned to his servants and with them went to Beer-sheba

where Abraha m dwelt. 24

The next event recorded in Abraham's life is the death of Sarah

at 127 years of age. She died near Hebron in the land of Canaan.

Abraham buried her in a cave he cleverly purchased from the

Hittites n the field of Machpelah.

The next significant act of Abraham was to procure a suitable

wife for Isaac. He commanded his eldest servant to go to Haran,

where Abraham's brother Nahor lived to get Isaac's wife. The

servant went to Haran with many camels and gifts. When he got to

Haran, he made the camels kneel down by a well during the

evening. He did this because he knew the women of the city would

come out at that time to get water from the well. He then prayed

to the Lord, "O Lord, God of my master Abraham, grant me success

today, I pray thee, and show steadfast love to my master, I am

standing by the spring, and the daughters of the city are coming

out to draw water. Let the maiden to whom I shall say, "Pray let

down your jar that I may drink, "and who shall say, "Drink, a nd

I will water your camels"--let her be the one whom thou hast

appointed for thy servant Isaac". 25 Before he had finished this

prayer, Rebekah, a beautiful virgin, and granddaughter of Nahor,

came out with her water jar upon her shoulder. When she had

filled her jar with water, the servant ran to meet her and asked

her for a drink. Rebekah quickly let down her jar and told him

she would draw water for his camels also. After the camels

finished drinking, the servant gave her gold ring and two

bracelets and asked her who her father was. Rebekah said she was

the daughter of Nahor and ran to show her family the jewelry.

After some convincing by the servant who told the family it was

God's will for Rebekah to return with him, they let her go. She

returned with the servant and married Isaac.

Abraham died when he was 175 years old and was buried by Isaac

and Ishmael in the cave of Machpelah around 1986 BC with his wife

Sarah. After Abraham's death, God blessed Isaac as promised.

SUMMARY

Abraham was truly a man of God. Although he still had his human

frailties, he ultimately trusted in God and always came back to

Him for forgiveness and guidance. His spiritual experience with

God was indicative of four specific areas in which his faith was

tested. First, he gave up his country and kindred; second, he

broke off with his nephew, Lot; thirdly, he abandoned his plans

for Ishmael to be his hope for his ultimate heritage, and fourth,

he was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac. 26 In the end, God

rewarded Abraham by fulfilling the four great promises He made to

him: 1) Great nations would come from him. 2) God would bless

and prosper him. 3) Sarah would give him a child named Isaac.

4) His generations would produce the savior of the world, Jesus

Christ.

Praise God for the lessons he has given us through the life of

Abraham. I stand in awe thinking that not only will I be able to

meet Abraham in heaven, but also our Lord who guided him

throughout.

BIBLIOGRRAPHY

* J. A. Thompson, The Bible and Archaeology (Wm. B. Eerdmands

Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, Michigan)

* Henry H. Halley, Bible Handbook, 1951

* National Geographic Society, Everyday Life in Bible Times

* Samuel J. Schultz, The Old Testament Speaks (Harper & Row,

Publishers)

* John H. Tullock, The Old Testament Story (Prentice-Hall, Inc.)

* The Reader's Digest Bible Illustrated Edition (Reader's Digest

Associated Limited)

* The Holy Bible, King James Version (The World Publishing

Company)

7 Things to Know when Renting a Car

In today's society, there are a number of reasons why people rent a car. Some of the top reasons are vacations, a car they own is in the shop and renting a nicer car for a special occasion. Whatever the reason that you are considering renting a car; there are some things that you should know first.

1- It is wise to shop around when looking for to rent a car. Always find at least three rental car companies to compare, although more will be better. Be sure to ask all the companies the same questions to get the most accurate answers. Most rental car companies will have websites online to find basic information, but it is best to call as local branches may have deals that are not advertised online.

2- When you call, be sure to ask about price, vehicle availability, as well as any specials that the branch has to offer. It is worth noting here, that many of these companies will have special arrangements with hotels, airlines or even warehouse stores.

3- You will want to ask about any special instructions that are required of you while renting the car, for example, filling up the gas tank or pick up and drop off times. Not adhering to these policies can result in fees.

4- Many companies that will rent a car to you will also be willing to either deliver the car to you or pick you up and take you to your rental. This service may require a fee, but can be worth asking about if you are flying to your destination.

5- The rental company may offer you insurance to purchase, however, your personal auto insurance may be all you need in the event of an accident with a rental car. Call your auto insurance agent and ask before paying extra at the rental counter.

6- There are a number of choices that are open to you when renting a car. Each class of car will vary in price and gas mileage; consider this when making your decision. While many companies may be willing to upgrade you, this is not always the case. It is wise to choose the car you want and hope for an upgrade than to reserve less of a car and be disappointed when an upgrade is not offered.

7- Have a credit or debit card handy to reserve the rental car with, most companies will only guarantee a car with this assurance.

7 Things to Know when Renting a Car

An Introduction to Car Transporting

There are several ways to transport your car across the country or across the world. Car transporters are identical to other moving companies: they arrange to pick up your vehicle, load it, and deliver it to your final destination. All auto carriers are required to be registered with the Department of Transportation. You can look up a US DOT number or company name from the Department of Transportation's website. Make sure you are dealing with a legitimate business.

The most popular and inexpensive domestic option is by car carrier, the same type of trucks used to deliver new cars. Other more specialized choices, for antique and exotic cars, include enclosed rail car service, open flat bed truck, or enclosed trailer. Some more adventurous individuals will prefer to rent a trailer and pull it themselves. Auto transport companies will give you quotes over the phone or you can easily check online for rates and services.

Car transport companies are usually listed under the following titles: car transport, vehicle shipping, and auto transport. Additionally there are a host of international car transport services that offer worldwide vehicle transportation solutions to individuals. These companies specialize in reliable, efficient service with frequent departures from major U.S. ports. You should try to speak with a highly experienced customer service representative to insure the careful transport of your car.

You will need to make a reservation for your car to be picked up. If you prefer your car to travel flat without being tied down by chains then a flat bed truck, rail service or small open trailer are some your best options. You can also request a covered transport; this method will shield your car from inclement weather and other pitfalls of the road. Cost depends on distance, mode of transport and time of delivery, some car transport companies will deliver within several days of your arrival date others within a few weeks.

When contracting with a car transport company you have to consider some issues specific to vehicle transport, unlike your other belongings cars have specific requirements such as additional car insurance and vehicle inspections.

Be certain that the car mover adequately insures your car. When your car is picked up, the driver will do a condition report (bill of lading). Take photographs of the car, date the photos, and attach them to the condition report. When your car is delivered make sure you check for any new scratches or damage to your car before signing. Reporting damages or claims immediately is advisable. Get the estimated pick-up and delivery dates and times from your car mover or auto shipping company first thing. Make sure to get a guaranteed window for the pick-up and delivery and get everything in writing. Just knowing the basic facts about car transport will make finding the right company a quick and easy task.

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