A Brief History of Drug Testing

Drug testing is a big business. With at least fifteen large U.S. corporations supplying laboratory testing, employees and others are only a few minutes' drive from a testing facility. From employers who use drug testing as a pre-employment screening tool to parents who want to keep tabs on the well being of their teenagers, there are many groups that frequently use drug testing as a screening mechanism.

Since the mid-1980's, drug testing has become more and more common. Probably the group that is tested most often is prospective employees. With strict workplace safety legislation and the fact that employees can use dangerous equipment or have access to sensitive information, employers want to be certain that their employees are not drug abusers. With a sample of urine, hair, blood or swab from the mouth, drug-testing laboratories can often product positive or negative results within 24 to 48 hours.

Recently, drug abuse testing has become increasingly common in professional athletics. With the controversies surrounding the use of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs, athletes are under a great deal of scrutiny. The government has also stepped in, and has begun to implement stricter controls and more frequent screening of athletes. A positive result on a drug test can result in penalties such as fines, loss of game time, or complete dismissal from the team. It is safe to say that drug-abusing athletes are taking huge risks with their careers by abusing performance or other illegal drugs.

Opponents of drug testing argue that it violates a person's rights to privacy. They hold that even if an employee is a recreational drug user, it does not necessarily follow that his or her work will be affected. With random drug testing gaining popularity in the workforce, one may literally be drawn out of a hat as the next one up for a drug screening. While states only loosely enforce drug-testing laws, opponents say that random drug testing can ruin a person's life. Even recreational weekend usage may result in the loss of employment if the drug usage is determined with a drug test. Random drug testing is often argued to be testing without any probable cause.

Blossoming Blossoms of Poetry: Selected Poems of Hsu Chicheng

Hsu Chicheng. Blossoming Blossoms of Poetry: Selected Poems of Hsu Chicheng (Chinese - English). Translated by Zhang Zhizhong. Chongqing City: The Earth Culture Press (USA), 2012. Pages 382. Price CNY 50.00, US $ 25.00. ISBN 978-0-9637599-6-2/E.009

The volume of Selected Poems of Hsu Chicheng seeks to present his poetic excellence, or, as the poet would like to say, "a new starting point" in his life after 70. Hsu Chicheng has been writing poetry for the past five decades, celebrating nature and humanity: His poems depict native landscape, idyllic life, and human values with respect for Chinese tradition and culture:

"-I am determined to devote myself to human beings And I don't care about whether you eat up my flesh or drink up my blood." (p. 361) and "The fire of strength shall never die out And shall burn more wildly, wildly... " (p. 359)

Since I do not know Chinese, I cannot say whether he follows the traditional Chinese poetic forms and styles, too, but he is modern in his outlook and true to his personal experiences and vision. As he notes in his prefatory:

"My pieces are written in more blood than in ink. Humanism is the basic point in my writing; with the usual subjects of countryside, landscape, and nature, to eulogize the sunny side of human life and to spur people onward, so as to finally bring benefit to my readers... In the past 50 years, the poetry forum of Taiwan has been an animated scene: various styles and various schools of poems. But I do not follow any other school than my own pastoral school. I go my own way by tilling my own land, sowing my own seeds, and cultivating my own crops... " (p. 13)

Obviously, Hsu Chicheng writes with a commitment. His poetic sensibility is rooted in nature, the sea and rivers, the hills and mountains, the winds and rains, the fields and agricultural activities, the docile domestic birds and animals, the sincerity and simplicity of the rural folks, their honesty and tolerance, and the hardships of rural and urban life, etc. He is also aware of the transitions experienced at various points of time in his career as teacher, journalist, military judge, and post-retirement pursuits as a poet, translator and editor. His poetic imagination exudes a sense of history.

While he puts up with challenges of various sociopolitical nature and ups and downs in his own life, his visionary orientation is 'self'-ward despite the disappointing political and economic climate outside. The fighter in him exhorts: "Hold fast to the will/Never let go of the target/Afraid of no bitterness/Afraid of no loneliness/He shall go his own way by himself alone/To tread ruggedness even/To dispel haze/Walking out of winds and rains/To embrace sunshine" p. 357), just as the meditator in him rejoices: "Sitting silent/Quietude is here/Quietude accompanies me/Only two: she and me" (p. 369). Hsu yearns for peace and enjoys it through inner quietude "in the depth of night". In fact poetry is his spiritual aspiration and fulfillment.

At 73, Hsu exults in hope and faith:

"There is nothing bad about retirement There is nothing bad about dusk I can paint still --Though it is painting the afterglow It can paint better" (p. 165)

and

"Now dusk! Twilight is gathering What is the length of the long lane ahead? Is the lane smooth or hard of walking? In spite of uncertainty In spite of tiredness and difficulty in walking No stop and no rest One's courage has to be taken in both hands To appreciate and draw the colorful sunset glow" (p. 475)

and

"Still he does not abandon his hope He is on the seeking without sparing any effort ... (p. 367)

Hsu loves brightness (p. 355) and sees hope in winter, "Never lose your faith/And wait patiently" (p. 353),as he says. To him, aging is a bliss, a new opportunity:

"This time to be more steady and more steadfast Spiritually oneself must be thoroughly remoulded To overcome corporeal aging To shoulder the load of years To be walking in scorching heat, severe coldness, and winds & rains To overstep myriads of hills and rills, as well as bumpiness of roads... " ('Seventy Years as Spring', p. 351)

and

"We raise our heads and overlook, expecting another world We raise our heads and overlook, expecting another spring" ('Reappearance', p. 347) Hsu Chicheng as a sensitive observer of himself, others, and nature, voices a free spirit with awareness of the cycle of changes and memories of childhood, growth, and aging. His poems are as genuine as his silvery hair and keep the fire of hope and faith burning (cf. pp. 333, 299, 271, 257).

Poet editor Zhang Zhizhong 's word for word literal translation, as it seems to me, successfully shows the growth of Hsu's mind and personality and places him in the forefront of contemporary Chinese poetry. He is ably joined by a couple of other translator poets, namely Yang Zongze, Yang Xu, and Hsu Chicheng himself who translate some of the best poems in the collection. I also feel that with their close reading of Hsu's poetic texts and/or their presentation in true contexts, Zhang Zhizhong and others have helped open up new spaces in Chinese poetry, be it from main land China, or from Hong Kong and Taiwan. The translators deserve congrats for their expert rendering of Hsu's inspiring and refreshing texts and contexts.

Today's Music Industry - How Technology & the Internet Has Changed It

The music industry has been changing greatly. Today, there are more & more opportunities for anyone who is an aspiring musician to get noticed, whether they be a singer-songwriter, rock band, rapper, or producer. The creation of Myspace (& other musical online communities) allows for exposure of people's music. With a self-produced demo, you can post your songs up on Myspace, and after establishing a great following of fans, Major Record Labels might notice you & even choose to sign you. This is very different from the olden days, when trying to get your music exposed wasn't as easy.

Also, the creation of mp3's, online music stores & distributors (such as iTunes, Soundclick, & Pure Volume), has made it very easy for artists to distribute their music. No longer will you have to go to a studio to record your songs onto cd's in order to give out to your friends and other people to listen. All you have to do is buy a computer, and with the necessary digital recording programs out there available, you can record your songs as mp3's & distribute them all throughout the internet. Obviously if your songs are good enough, people will like them and pass them along to others, and you will get noticed.

Besides audio recording, digital technology has made the creation of music easier in other aspects. Due to more & more developments in digital audio workstations, anyone can produce their own music at home. No longer will you need to buy drum kits, keyboard synthesizers, & other music production hardware. You can go through the whole process of creating your own music through the use of your home computer. Anyone including YOU, can make your own hip hop & rap beats using simply your computer!!!

Planning Your First Cruise - Things To Consider Part 1

So you've heard how great cruise vacations are, and now you've decided to take to the high seas for a fortnight of luxury and pampering. But there's a lot to think about. So before you select a cruise line, a cruise ship or even get in touch with a travel agent, there are certain issues that are vital to consider.

1) Who is going on the cruise?

Although this question should be easy to answer, it can have a bearing on the type of cruise line and ship that you ultimately choose.

If you and your partner want to take a relaxing cruise, there are many ships that are aimed at couples. In fact some cruise ships actively discourage or even ban people from taking children onboard.

If you will be cruising as a couple, it's also important to consider the dining situation. On ships with assigned seating, you will have to specify the size of table that you want. However, on many ships, tables for two are in short supply, so if this is an important issue, this may influence your choice of cruise line and ship. Just make sure that you make this clear to your travel agent or the cruise line when booking.

On the other hand, if you want to take your children or travel with the rest of your extended family, there are certain cruise lines and ships within cruise lines that are specifically tailored with family vacations in mind.

2) How much have you got to spend?

It's possible to find a cruise vacation to suit almost any budget. So before you go any further it's important to work out how much you're willing to spend on your holiday.

But as a general rule, you'll need to set aside at least $150 per person per day to cover the cost of your cruise. However, bigger cabins in more luxurious ships can cost many times this figure.

However, it is possible to get more for your money if you;

a) Book early. Most cruise lines are willing to give generous discounts if you book your cruise 6-12 months in advance.

b) Book late. Likewise, if you book within 2 months of setting sail, most cruise lines will give you hefty discounts to fill the remaining cabins.

3) How long have you got?

The number of days that you want your vacation to last will determine the type and location of cruises that are available to you.

If you only have a few days, the main option is a one port cruise. This means that the ship leaves port sails around the sea/ocean for two or three days and then returns to the same port. The ship doesn't call at any other ports, but it does give you a few days at sea. This is a good way to get the feel for a certain cruise ship, or even cruising in general.

If you have a week to spare, this gives you more choices. If you live in the US, this gives you the choice of Hawaii, Alaska, Florida, Mexico or even a Caribbean cruise. If you live in Europe this will give you access to the mediterranean, north africa, or even a nordic cruise.

Alternatively, if you want to increase the number of locations available, you could fly to and from the start/finish location of your cruise or take a one way cruise either flying to the start location or flying home after disembarkation.

If you have two weeks or longer, you can cruise almost any part of the world.

4) What time of the year?

The time of year that you take your cruise will have a major affect on two issues;

a) The Price: As with all forms of travel, your holiday will cost more during the peak season. In contrast, most cruises are cheaper in the spring or fall.

Traditionally, the winter was considered the high season for Caribbean destinations, but due to the weight of supply and demand (people who have to take their vacation during the summer) the summertime costs are almost on a par with the cost of a winter Caribbean cruise.

b) The Locations Available: The time of year that you take your cruise will also determine the locations that are available. Although this won't make much difference to the more mainstream locations such as the Caribbean or the Mediterranean, certain places have a distinct cruise season.

If you want to go to Alaska or northern Europe, the main cruise season lasts from May till September.

For Antartica, the season is even shorter, running from November to February.

Although the tropical regions are in season all year, there is a great variation in the amount of rainfall throughout the year. Locations such as the Caribbean will have less rain during the summer months and more rain during the winter months.

And finally, although not a restriction as such, some people prefer to avoid places that may be affected by the hurricane season. If a cruise ship encounters a storm it will alter its route to avoid it, which means you may miss certain places that you wanted to visit.

5) What part of the world do you want to visit?

You can cruise almost anywhere in the world, even landlocked countries are often available to explore through river cruises. So it's no surprise that this is one of the hardest decisions for cruise newcomers to make.

The amount of days that you have for your vacation will narrow your options, but beyond that, consider other issues, such as;

If you want to or have to take your vacation at a certain time of the year, which locations are available?

If you particularly want to use a certain cruise line, which locations do their ships visit?

What type of weather and climate do you prefer?

Are there any particular landmarks that you want to visit?

Are there any activities or adventures that you want to experience?

Now all you have to do it to get in touch with your travel agent.

Loan Officer Marketing - Creating Expectations

A loan officer marketing to generate loans doesn't need to be difficult. Sometimes it's simply knowing where and how to start. Your best starting point is to create expectations. Loan officer marketing that focuses on building expectations captures easy opportunities and makes your job easier.

For example, remember the experiments of Pavlov and his dog? Pavlov trained his dogs to receive a treat each time a bell was rung. Eventually he removed the reward and simply rang the bell. The dog responded by salivating every time the bell was rung, expecting a treat.

Pavlov created an expectation for the reward and his dog quickly learned the drill. We aren't all that different from the dogs. People frequently have a perception about an experience, and our perception creates an expectation about our experiences.

Let's say you've read a newspaper rave review about a restaurant. When you walk into the lobby of the restaurant you are impressed by the elegance and luxury, you're sure you'll get a great meal. Because you've built your expectations to believe that you'll get a great meal, the food and service is remarkable.

There are many examples of how our expectations shape our perceptions, but it's more important to consider how you can use perceptions of service to your benefit. Keep reading to learn how you can you shape expectations about your business.

Improve Your Materials

Take a look at your marketing materials. Do they give the impression or create an expectation of a trusted and highly skilled loan officer? Is there anything about the materials that make you look smart, competent, and experienced?

Your materials create the first impression with your prospects. They establish the expectation for your service. Do you need to improve your materials?

There are two important elements in your materials: brevity and image. Your window of opportunity is narrow. For instance, a loan officer marketing to Realtors only has an agent's attention for a brief amount of time. This isn't a good time to expound on your services. It's a "just the facts" moment. Images can sometimes covey powerful emotions. Consider using pictures to communicate part of your message.

A Website Shapes Expectations

Your website may be your most powerful loan officer marketing tool. Your prospects will often first look at your website to see if you look like a competent professional.

Does your website look like it was developed by a professional? Is it easy to navigate? Does it present information clearly? Does it appeal to both Realtors and consumers?

One way to evaluate your website is to compare it to other mortgage professionals. Your site should be an educational source. And it should distinguish you from the competition.

To get the attention of Realtors and establish an expectation of excellent service, your site has to address their needs. Just like with your other materials, the use of images can pack far more powerful punch than mere words.

Use Touchpoints For Emphasis

The expectation delivered with loan officer marketing materials is reinforced by those occasions of contact between you and the prospect. This contact is referred to as "touchpoints", and can refer to human, product or system touchpoints.

For instance, when a client calls your office and the call is answered by your friendly and courteous receptionist, this is a human touchpoint.

When you send Realtors an invitation to meet and discuss opportunities, you set an expectation with the quality of your letter and materials. This touchpoint is a product touchpoint.

When a Realtor calls your office and receives your voicemail with a professional greeting, that is considered a system touchpoint.

Each touchpoint is an opportunity to establish an expectation for your service. Think about every possible contact as an encounter and make those encounters a clear expectation of your professionalism and competence. Your loan officer marketing will seem exceptional, and just what the prospect is looking for.

A Guide to Finding an Unsecured Loan Online

Locating an unsecured loan online can seem to be a daunting task, but with a little bit of patience you may find it to be much easier than you originally imagined.

By taking the time to explore a number of different loan options, you will greatly increase your chances of not only finding the lowest interest rate that you can get on an unsecured loan online but will also be much more likely to locate a lender that offers fair and flexible loan terms.

Below you'll find some basic guidelines that will help you to locate an unsecured loan online as well as helping you to decide which lender's offer is the best one to meet your financial needs.

Unsecured Loans

In order to find one that meets your needs, you should make sure that you understand exactly what unsecured loans are and how they work first. When you apply for an unsecured loan, then you're applying for a loan that has no object of value acting as collateral to guarantee that the loan will be repaid.

This lack of collateral in most cases will lead to an increased interest rate or more rigid loan terms; at the same time, however, it allows you to not have to worry about any sort of claim being made on your property if you are unable to make your payments on time.

Finding Potential Lenders

To get the most out of applying for an unsecured loan online, you should consider a number of different options in regards to the lender that you choose. This will help to make sure that you can get the best interest rate offer that's available to you on an unsecured loan, and will help you to avoid lenders who offer unreasonable loan terms or that add on unreasonable fees or other charges.

Use your preferred search engine to find a number of potential lenders who might offer you an unsecured loan online, and take the time to look at several of the web page results that are presented to you in order to see whether they are right for you. Contact each of the lenders that you're considering, requesting a quote of the interest rate and loan terms that each would be likely to offer you should you apply for your loan through them.

Comparing Loan Offers

When you're received responses from a number of different lenders, then you can begin to compare the offers that you are given in order to determine which lender is the best match for your specific loan needs. Look at the interest rate that each potential loan provider offers, consider the terms by which the loan will have to be repaid, and look at how long you'll have to repay each loan.

The key to finding the best unsecured loan online is to take your time and comparing the offerings of a number of different lenders; this will help you to discover which lender will cost you the least overall for the money that you borrow.