Book Review – Born to Kill – The Rise and Fall of America’s Bloodiest Asian Gang – By T.J. English

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It was a sweltering summer day in 1990 and more than 100 Asian gang members and their families were gathered at the Rosedale Memorial Park Cemetery in Linden, N.J to bury 21-year-old Vinh Vu, the No. 2 leader of the violent Born to Kill Gang (BTK).

Suddenly, three men approached wearing long coats covering the automatic weapons they were carrying. These men then did the unthinkable: they opened fire on the mourners and pandemonium broke loose. Frightened people ran in all direction, including the gang’s leader David Thai and 19-year old Vietnamese refugee Tinh Ngo, called Timmy by his cohorts. Over 100 rounds were fired into the crowd. Five mourners were wounded, but, shockingly, no one was killed.

Tinh, like most of the typically teenage gang members, had no family in America and he gravitated to the mostly-Vietnamese BTK gang for the same reason the other gang members did: he wanted a sense of family in a foreign land – people he could trust and converse with in his native language. Tinh never realized he would be drawn into a viper’s nest, where the 34-year old Thai would order his underlings to perform violent crimes (shakedowns, robberies and even murders) against other Asian immigrants – people who traditionally never reported crimes to the police.

Tinh did his first dirty deed when he participated in the holdup of a Chinese brothel in Chinatown. While Tinh didn’t enjoy the caper, it still gave him a sense of exhilaration, knowing that he now was “one of the gang.” As he committed robbery after robbery, Tinh gradually began to question whether this violent life was meant for him.

David Thai sent his underlings all over America to perform their mayhem. In late 1990, Thai directed a group of BTKs, including Tinh, to Doraville, Ga. to rob a Chinese curio shop owned by Odum Lin. Lin, not impressed with gangsters who barely shaved, resisted and was shot in the side of the head.

Miraculously, Lin survived but Tinh did not know the owner was still alive; he thought he was an accessary to murder. This senseless shooting sent Tinh over the top, and when he was arrested on a minor charge soon after, he was met by a group of investigators, both Federal and New York City law enforcement officers, who were trying to build a case against the Born to Kill Gang, and it’s leader David Thai specifically.

Tired of the gang life, Tinh easily flipped, and under the guidance of New York City Detective Bill Oldham, Special ATF Agent Dan Kumor, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Vinegrad, he began wearing a wire during his meetings with Thai and other top BTK gang members.

In Born to Kill, T.J. English, a former New York City taxi driver and the author of another fine book – The Westies, gives us a vivid account of Tinh’s confidential activities which decimated the Born to Kill Gang. Tinh’s inside information was so accurate; Kumor and Oldham were even able to thwart several BTK robberies before they were able to occur.

At first, Tinh was terrified of wearing a wire. On one occasion, while Tinh sat in the living room of a safe house watching television with several other BTKs, another gang member noticed a red glow inside Tinh’s shirt. The glow was the battery light on his tape recorder which was taped to his chest.

Thinking he was now a dead man, Tinh rushed to the bathroom, removed the recorder, and then slinked back to the living room to await his fate. Amazingly, the other gang member were glued to the television set and barely noticed Tinh had left the room and returned. Tinh mumbled something about a bad beeper to the gang member who had noticed the red light; the gang member bought Tinh’s explanation, and Tinh was safe – for now.

After Thai tried to engage his gang in a robbery in concert with Italian mobsters from New Jersey, which was again prevented by Tinh’s inside knowledge of the impending event, Oldham, Kumor and Vinegrad decided it was too dangerous for Tinh to stay undercover. They pulled Tinh off the streets and began the prosecution of Thai and other top BTK operatives. This resulted in Thai being sentenced to life behind bars with no chance of parole.

Benefits of Music for Seniors

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It is generally acknowledged that musical activity can have beneficial results for seniors. These benefits come in different forms for different people depending on their circumstances.

“Music Therapy” is one well established method of helping people with physical and cognitive disabilities caused by conditions such as dementia. “MT” as it is referred to, often involves relatively passive activities like listening to music under controlled conditions. But it can also involve singing, drumming or tapping, and playing other simple instruments like the harmonica.

Research has shown that the soothing effect of music leads to better social interaction and often helps improve communication skills where they have been impaired by such things as stroke, or been the result of some other injury or sickness.

For what we might call “ordinary” seniors, music is often used in retirement communities and senior centers in the form of special musical entertainment, sing songs and even dancing classes.

Participants are encouraged to engage in singing, clapping, and dancing to old familiar standards. This type of musical experience provides pleasant and enjoyable social interaction, a valuable bit of physical activity, and a jolt of positive emotional stimulation.

Can seniors benefit from playing musical instruments?

Listening to music can be emotionally stimulating, but it is a relatively passive activity. Can seniors benefit from being more actively involved in making music – by, for instance, singing or playing a musical instrument?

Of course it depends a lot on the senior, and on the instrument. Many seniors have physical limitations that make fingering a violin or a guitar almost impossible. But those same people might benefit from participation in a drum circle.

Participants in activities like this quickly get involved in making music, having fun, even dancing, chanting, and singing.

As Shannon Rattigan of drumcircles.net says,

If a facilitated drum circle is presented properly, in a matter of 10 minutes everyone can be playing a drum rhythm together… The key to it is setting the right tone that this is going to be playful and fun. You can improvise, play around, and just have a good time. Like we did when we were kids.

Can this be done with other instruments?

Again, it depends a lot on the senior and on the instrument.

Many older people have played a musical instrument when they were younger, and stopped playing when family and work intervened. I often read on music instruction forums comments from older guys (most of them seem to be men) who have picked up the guitar after it sat in the closet for 40 years.

Yes, 40 years! That is not an exaggeration. I am an example. I played the guitar and trumpet in my teens and twenties, and didn’t actively pick them up again until I was in my 60s.

The incentive for me was the opportunity to teach some of my grandchildren a bit of what I knew. And that led to many opportunities to perform with them at family gatherings. And of course that has resulted in the joy that comes with watching the kids become talented musicians in their own right.

The point is, it is possible to dust off old talents if the circumstances are right. Reviving old talents and playing in a small, informal band with friends or family is one possibility.

A retirement community seems like the perfect place where a group of people might get together to make music together in a more structured way – say as a singing ensemble or a little band.

An enterprising social director in a seniors community might even form a larger band – using regular musical instruments or simple ones such as whistles, harmonicas, and a variety of percussion items (drums, tambourines, shakers, wooden blocks, etc.)

Playing traditional musical instruments

Is it realistic to think that a person who is 70 or 80 years old might continue to play a traditional musical instrument like a keyboard, guitar or trumpet? Or could he or she learn an entirely new instrument – a keyboard, for instance, or a banjo, harmonica or even a saxophone or guitar?

Again, it depends on the circumstances a person finds herself in – in particular, her physical limitations. Many aging people have lost flexibility in their hands. They may have a sore back or hips that make it difficult to sit in positions required by some instruments. And often an older person has difficulty seeing or hearing.

If none of these things are holding a person back then why not go for it!

But there is always the question of motivation

Learning to play an instrument like a piano – even in the most basic way – has real benefits. It provides enjoyment, mental stimulation, and a sense of accomplishment. And that may be enough incentive to get you to take on (and stick with) a project like teaching yourself a musical instrument.

But playing for your own enjoyment is often not enough of an incentive to keep you going. Playing a musical instrument, or even singing in a small ensemble, almost inevitably involves the opportunity to perform for others – usually friends, family or fellow community residents.

In other words it is often just the prospect of performing for others that keeps musicians going. Taking music lessons when you are a child almost always involves a “recital” every now and then to display what you have learned. Without the recital practicing starts to seem pointless.

There is no reason to think it should be any different for a senior. My father played his violin in church for at least 50 years, and it was those “performances” that kept him interested in playing. When his faculties started to deteriorate and the invitations to play dried up, so did his interest in playing at all.

It is performances like this that provide the incentive to become better and to learn new material, or for an older person, to hold on to the skills they developed earlier in life.

So I would answer “Yes” to the question “Can a senior like me learn a new instrument?” It will give you enjoyment as well as mental and spiritual stimulation. And it will give you something meaningful to do with your time.

But don’t keep it to yourself. Play for friends and family. Join a group or form a band. Have fun being a musician, and share the joy with others.

Can You Market Audio Interviews Without a List?

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As I have said before, list building is the way to go in marketing. But I’m also going to say, another best way to market is joint ventures, hands down. You don’t have to have a list and you don’t have to be an expert. If you can be the guy who just can do the interview and you can secure the rights to the interview, and if you can take that interview to someone who does have a list, but doesn’t have any marketing, you are set.

You’ve got an interview, you’ve got a tool that sells, that you want to hope it sells, if you’ve done it right and you’ve done your research and you take your time with it you’ll have a good audio interview that will sell either an expertise or a product or a service, that is valuable. It’s like a winning sales letter. What’s a winning sales letter worth? You know, in a huge market.

I mean if you have a large market on something and if you have a sales letter that sells a product and every time you put it on the Internet or every time you mailed it and you tested it, it makes money for you, it’s like a money printing machine.

Well, the same thing a good audio interview is like that. It’s a valuable asset that you can turn off and turn on anytime you need it. I’ve got an interview on my site, it’s an interview with a cold calling expert and I was able to negotiate a good joint venture proposal with him and I went the extra mile to do this interview with him for free and this has been going on for about five years, maybe five years I’ve had this audio on my site and just for some reason and first of all it’s a very hot topic; cold calling within the sales field.

A lot of people on the phone want to learn how to cold call and he’s a very good marketer so once I generate the lead through that audio recording that plays on my site, it gets downloaded on my site, that is seen on YouTube, seen on Facebook, seen on iTunes and its’ seen out there and the intellectual property that I control and it’s a little money machine and it just refers them over to their affiliate deal, that keeps track of everything.

That is really the easiest thing and I don’t have to ship a product and all I have to do is that one interview, one time, edit it, get it done right, set up an affiliate deal and you want to make sure you can trust the person and you want to make sure you can control the flow of that lead that you generate because you’ve invested a lot of time and effort in creating that audio recording, that sales piece and you want to make sure you’re paid on that.

There are methods that I teach  how to do that and it’s very important. Every single audio recording is valuable.

How to Plan a Hunting Safari to South Africa

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When planning a hunting trip anywhere there is many factors to take into consideration such as the proper seasons for the game that you wish to hunt, the different hunting guns and bows that you want o use and which seasons go paired with that. Accommodation at the proper lodges or if preferred camping trips at bounty full game Ranches. And lastly the permits that are needed when hunting big game if needed.

The seasons of hunting comes to when it is wet and when it is dry, this makes a big difference in hunting because of the watering hole aspect. Different styles for hunting can be used for both. Some hunters would like rather to use a bow but that would cut out the possibility of hunting thick skinned large animals such as elephant, white and black rhino, crocodile and so forth. Although some provinces do not allow bow hunting, the northern cape is one of the ones that do. Bows are usually more used when animals are gathered around the watering hole as it is easier to shoot from close range where the bow is most effective.

There are no automatic rifles allowed for hunting in South Africa as well as no weapon using a rim fire.22 or smaller caliber ammunition. No air guns are permitted for hunting with shotguns except in the case of birds. The minimum legal caliber to hunt South African dangerous game is 375, you are also allowed in most cases of big (dangerous) game you are to use other calibers that are larger. Always remember to in all instances to always make use of premium grade ammunition.

When it comes to permits the owners of the farm obtain permits to cover hunting on their property. There are spices that are listed as threatened or protected and permits are obtainable accordingly. The rules for hunting these animals apply to the listed species under the Biodiversity Act of 2004 and they are categorized accordingly.

Endangered: Tsessebe, Black Rhinoceros, Mountain Zebra, African wild dog, Oribi

Vulnerable: Cheetah, Samango monkey, Bontebok, Roan antelope, Suni, Leopard, Blue duiker

Protected: White Rhinoceros, Black Wildebeest, Spotted Hyaena, Black-footed cat, Brown Hyaena, Serval, Elephant, Sharpe’s grysbok, Reedbuck, Cape fox.

Hunting on the southern tip of Africa has always, just in the rest of the world been very popular, maybe even a little bit more. The vast difference in climates as well as the great diversity of spices that are on offer allow for year around hunting. But more so the beautiful landscapes that the hunting is done on make it a worthwhile experience even if that trophy you seek escapes your grasp.

The Elite Records That Followed Rock’s First Flawless Album, Bob Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited

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Fifty years ago Bob Dylan released Highway 61 Revisited, which is arguably the best album ever. Some could defend a choice of one of three of The Beatles albums, or even Dylan’s very own Blonde on Blonde or Blood on the Tracks.

One point that cannot be debated, however, is that Highway 61 Revisited is the first album to be flawless in that it has no bad songs. Every record until then, no matter how good, contained at least one clunker.

In the half century since its release, Highway 61 Revisited has been joined by just a handful of other albums that are flawless. Here are the ten, all perfect and from a wide range of the rock genre.

Hunky Dory by David Bowie

The biggest single from the album was “Changes,” but each tune is a gem. There is a song honoring Dylan, another praising Andy Warhol, one about a drag queen and another about Mickey Mouse.

Watch by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band

Just seven songs are on the disc, but each one is among the best of the band’s career. “Martha’s Madman” and “Circles” are my personal favorites, but arguments could be made for “The Mighty Quinn” and “Chicago Institute.”

My Aim Is True by Elvis Costello

The debut offered gorgeous insight into what fans could expect from the wittiest songwriter of the rock era. “Watching the Detectives” and “Allison” are the most well-known tunes, even though both are inferior to “Miracle Man” and “The Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes.”

High Land, Hard Rain by Aztec Camera

Roddy Frame was just a teenager when his band made this debut, which was highlighted by “Oblivious” and “The Boy Wonders” among the ten excellent offerings.

The Royal Scam by Steely Dan

While side one is the better of the record, there is much pleasure to be heard after you flip it over. Basically, there is no need to skip any of the songs from “Kid Charlamagne” all the way to the title track at the end.

They Want My Soul by Spoon

Although it is just on e year old, this extraordinary album has already been established as a classic. Brit Daniels’ songwriting has never been better, leaving the album absent of any of the occasional duds that have popped up on the alt band’s prior discs.

Somewhere I’ve Never Travelled by Ambrosia

The quartet’s sophomore album, unlike all of the rest in their discography, contains no hits. Overall, though, it has by far the best collection of songs, especially epics like “Danse with Me, George (Chopin’s Plea)” and “The Brunt.”

Long Distance Voyager by the Moody Blues

Spurred to the top of the charts by the single “The Voice,” this record showcases the range of the veteran British rock band. Each of the group’s five songwriters offer sharp compositions here.

Self-titled by The Smiths

The Morrissey and Johnny Marr collaboration was first revealed on this debut, whose songs are still receiving air play and influencing alternative radio. There is no feeling short of awe as the record proceeds from “Reel Around the Fountain” all the way to “Suffer Little Children.”

Self-titled by John Prine

Deems as the new Bob Dylan I’m 1970, the folk songwriter earned that moniker because of the stunning collection of songs on his first release. Many of the tunes, especially “Paradise (Muhlenberg County)” and “Sam Stone” have been covered by dozens of bands.

Get a Bargain at Festival Park – Mallorca’s Premier Shopping Centre

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Shopping is not something that you would usually associate with Mallorca, but the Spanish island’s Festival Park is a bargain-hunter’s dream that will be the highlight to any family holiday.

When staying in a Mallorcan villa, why not take a break from the sun, sea and sightseeing for a bit of retail therapy at one of Europe’s best shopping malls?

One of the bonuses about the shopping complex is that it is not just great for shopaholics – the fairground rides, kids’ games, cinema complex and many restaurants will keep the whole family entertained.

Festival Park is easy to reach from almost any location in Mallorca. Situated just a short drive from Palma, it is next to the Inca Highway at the Sa Cabaneta and Santa Maria exit. There is plenty of parking available, but for those without a car the public transport is regular and there are buses and trains that take you straight to the shops.

Clothes shops dominate Festival Park, but there are also jewellery stores, craft stalls and a spectacular puppet shop that will be a favourite with the kids. Bargains can be found all over the park with savings of between 30 and 70 per cent to be had on a range of popular brands. Some of the shops, where lucky holidaymakers can save heaps of money, include Diesel, Roxy, Quicksilver, Miss Sixty and Mango.

There are also a number of sports outlets, including Nike and Reebok.

But the pedestrian-only complex, which is designed like a traditional Spanish village, is not just about shopping, there are plenty of other activities to keep the family entertained.

A day care centre is available to drop off those little ones who are too young to appreciate retail therapy and you can guarantee that they will be looked after safely. There are slides, a bouncy castle, carousels, a bungy jump, pedal cars and donkey rides to entertain the kids.

If you want family-fun then a ten-pin bowling alley could be just what you need.

There is also a 20-screen cinema complex and laser games.

When you have exhausted all the shops and entertainment there is still more on offer at Festival Park, as the complex has more than 30 restaurants, cafes and bars.

Tips to Help You Buy the Right AR 15 Handguard

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If you want to choose the right type of handguard for the first time, making this decision can be a bit confusing for you. In this article, we are going to talk about the tips you need to keep in mind when buying the AR 15 handguard. You will read about some important features that your handguard should have. Read on to know more.

There is not a lot of difference between foregrips, handguards, and forearms. They look the same. Actually, the purpose of this product is to protect your hand from any harm while you are using the weapon.

Aside from this, the handguard can help you have a stronger grip on your weapon. Given below are some of the issues that you may want to consider before you choose a free-floating or drop-in forearm.

Look: You can find this product in different types of looks such as tactical or military. Some people prefer the regular AR 15 lock.

Shooting: For some people, accurate shooting is important. Therefore, you should keep this pointer in mind if accuracy matters more to you.

Installation: The installation time refers to the time you need to spend in order to modify your weapon.

Accessories: If you want to mount additional accessories on your weapon, you need to consider this point.

Use: Heat is another factor that you may want to take into account if shooting is your hobby.

Weight: If you are looking for something light, make sure you choose a product that is lightweight.

Cost: If budget is your primary concern, look for something inexpensive.

These are some important points that will help you to create a shortlist of products that you may consider. Let’s find out about two primary options that you may consider.

Drop-in Forearms

Some people prefer originally designed stuff. If you are like these people, you may try out the drop-in type. Basically, this type of handguard consists of two pieces. Moreover, they can be easily installed and removed. You just need to pull the delta ring back and then drop it inside.

The good thing is that you don’t need to modify it. Drop-in models are quite simple and inexpensive. If you are worried about heat, you may consider purchasing a polymer forearm. Moreover, if you want to use a bipod or laser, you can consider a drop-in guard that looks like a rail.

The Free-float AR 15 Handguard

If you are worried about accuracy, you may consider a handguard or a free-floating forearm. Basically, the forearm attachment should not touch the rifle barrel. This is important if you don’t want to get into trouble. You can also enjoy better accuracy if you choose to mount your rifle on something like a bipod.

Finally, if you want to mount some accessories, you may want to purchase a railed forearm for better service. As an alternative, you can also consider a rail-less model, especially if you don’t have a lot of accessories to mount. Similarly, for heat resistance, you can consider a carbon fiber option.

Hopefully, these steps will help you purchase the right type of handguard.

Top 3 Alternative Internet Radio Stations

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It was in the 1990s when we first heard about the Internet radio. The first broadcast was that of a live band known as Sky Cries Mary. The Rolling Stones followed suit; and then traditional radio stations started broadcasting special shows on the Internet – live. Today, Internet radios have multiplied in number and the people using them have doubled (maybe even tripled) as well. These stations have become the alternative choice of music lovers and musicians all over the world because of many reasons.

Some prefer the Internet radio over traditional radio stations because it allows them to enjoy real-time live music. It also offers more in terms of music flexibility as one can listen to music from other countries; this means that your music choices are not limited to just one genre. Internet radio also allows one to listen to music without a lot of commercial interruptions. What’s more, since it is streamed, the music keeps playing even when the weather is bad.

Since Internet radio stations make use of streaming technology, music is transmitted directly into the computer. The music is played in real-time. Of course, one will need to have a reliable Internet connection in order to make use of their services.

There are a lot of Internet radio stations that offer their services for free. Although there are those that are offsets of traditional stations, there are a lot of independent ones, as well. Some stations work according to user recommendations. They base the music they play on the songs requested or indicated by the user. This is how most of the popular stations, like Pandora and Last fm, work.

If it is your first time to experience the wonders of listening to non-stop music online, and if you do not want to go the traditional way and use Pandora or any other popular option, here are the top three alternative choices you might want to consider:

• Maestro is perfect for you if you want the idea of being able to connect with your fellow music lovers. It works like a social network as it not only connects music, but people as well. You and your music Maestro friends can share and trade music and talk endlessly about your favorite songs, singers or bands. All your music is kept inside a remote storage.

The first thing that you have to do is create an account with Maestro. Then you are to connect your music library with the account through the Maestro Connector. Of course, you will need to download the Maestro Connector, first. This is what you need to be able to remotely access and stream music. Use the Connector, too, to scan your library. Once done, you will be ready to listen to all your favorite tunes and add playlists no matter where you are.

• If you use your mood to choose the music you want to listen to, then Musicovery is the best option for you. Its most interesting feature is a “mood pad” that you can use for picking music. Different moods are indicated in the pad and when you click one, you’ll be taken to a page that shows your song or music options. For example, if you click on “Positive”, you’ll have songs like Bob Marley’s Is This Love, George Michael’s Faith and Boyz 2 Men’s Beautiful Women.

Musicovery’s concept is a combination of two great ideas: the mood pad by Vincent Castaignet and the Liveplasma of Frederic Vavrille.

• Pirate Radio is another alternative Internet Radio Station you can consider. You can choose to listen to music in two ways with this selection. You can download a special player or you can use a web tuner. Either way, you get the music you want as Pirate Radio has a comprehensive playlist that usually includes new music.

Aside from good Internet connection, you also need to use a Windows-based PC. You should also have a reliable player, like the Destiny Media Player, which is what you need to connect to different broadcasters via the Pirate Radio Network.

The most interesting feature of Pirate Radio is the fact that you can create your own Internet radio station with the aid of an easy-to-download software.

These are just three options; there’s more online. To make sure that you choose the right one, do a little research first. The most important thing to remember, however, is that your choice should depend on what you really want – not on what’s popular and trending.

5 Things to Know Before Shopping Personalized Leather Bracelets for Women

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The engraved leather bracelets make an ideal gift for someone special in your life. They are the casual style of jewelry that looks cool on almost anyone. You can order these custom bracelets from any online gift store. So, lets check out the vital things to know before buying online personalized leather bracelets for women.

1. Eye-Catching and Multifunctional Piece

No matter which style and design you pick and how you decide to wear it, a leather bracelet is a versatile accessory goes with every outfit. At present, the fashionable leather engraved bracelets are enjoying popularity in a variety of styles, including ID Wristbands, charm bracelets, and more. A decade after decade they remain in style. You can pick wrist cuffs or slender strip bracelets secured by buckles, snaps, or a lot of other jewelry clasps.

2. Broad Color Choices

In the old times, the choices for the leather bracelets for women are limited to the shades of black and brown. But now you can find them in a rainbow of colors. While the men may still prefer the primary colors, the teenagers and women love sport leather wristbands in shades from blue to green, pink to orange tones.

3. Advanced Methods

The traditional technique of adorning leather by hammering it using metal or wood die is fast becoming the best thing of past. At present, you will find the leather bracelets engraved using the high tech way, i.e., laser etching. This method offers the engraver to create a more tailored design as per the requirement freely.

4. Engrave Almost Anything

Yes, you are not limited to just having words carved on the leather. The popular choices at the best online gift store include your full name, your lover’s name, only your initials, short & meaningful phrase, your school name, best friend’s name, your crew’s name, or a set of BFF bracelets engraved with both of your names.

Plus, you can also go for the logos and pictures in the space allowed as long as the engraver can handle your demand. For this, you need to discuss this before you make your purchase for engraved leather bracelets for women so that you won’t be disappointed by limitations later.

5. Look for the Correct Size

Few personalized leather bracelets manufacturers provide the adjustable sizing. So, you must measure your wrist to identify out the current size you will require for a bracelet. The way to accomplish this is t by wrapping a flexible tape around your wrist at the exact point you want your band to rest and then measure it. Few people usually prefer a tight fitting at the smallest point above wrist bones and other love their leather to lie below the wrist bones just above the hand.

Georgia Justice: Journey to Faith by Jackie Carpenter

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Jason Veitch Cleared of All Charges

Friday, April 17, 2009 The Time-Herald of Newman, Georgia carried the headline “Vetch Cleared of All Charges.” “Georgia Justice” is the story of the ten month journey to faith experienced by the family of Jason Vetch as told by his mother Jackie Carpenter.

After being the victim of seventeen copper thefts on his construction job sites, Vetch was guarding his property. In the early morning hours of June 28, 2008 another planned robbery was in process. Jason attempted a citizen’s arrest when an accidental firing of his gun wounded one of the alleged thieves. Hours later the man died at the hospital and Jason was taken into custody. At the arraignment that followed Jason was charged with felony murder as well as four other serious charges.

Carpenter’s earlier book “The Bridge” goes into detail regarding all the events that transpired on the night of June 28, 2008 and the trial that took place in April of 2009. “Georgia Justice” is Jackie’s story of the onslaught of her spiritual battle, the frustration and tears she endured right up to the time the decision of jury was announced. “Not guilty on all five counts.”

Jackie tells of her regular visits to her prayer closet to find release from the onslaught of Satan as he attacked her spiritually, mentally, and physically. There may be readers who feel Jackie’s description of her roller coaster ride of emotions is repetitive but anyone who has experienced a visit with their son or daughter separated by a partition of prison glass will understand Jackie’s heartbreak as she watched the tears rolling down her son Jason’s cheeks on her first visit after his arrest.

Jason’s exoneration is an affirmation of the power of prayer and the effectiveness of a prayer chain ministry. Thousands of people from Georgia to New York joined in prayer for the outcome of Jason’s trial and his future.

“Georgia Justice” is a powerful testimony of the strength Jackie discovered as she claimed the promises of Psalm 91 and other selected scriptures as her lifeline to her faith, her sanity and her physical well-being. Her story is a reminder to the reader of the spiritual strength available in the book Psalms.

I received a review copy of the book from a representative of the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

xulon Press

2180 West State Road 434, Suite 2140

Longwood, Florida 32779

978-1612157689, $ 14.99, 2011, 158 pages

As reviewed for Midwest Book Review.